If your child has eczema, there is a lot you can do to help reduce its effects.

The most important thing is to understand that eczema is basically dry itchy skin, and it can occur spontaneously or in response to external factors in your child’s environment. The main aims of treatment are

• Don’t remove moisture/ oils from your child’s skin (with hot water and soap).
• Use cleansers and moisturizers that are designed to clean and moisturize the skin.
• Avoid trigger factors for eczema as I explain below.

Many children have inherited their tendency to eczema, which is called an “atopic” tendency, and is associated with other allergic conditions, especially hay fever.

 

Eczema can appear in very young children from birth, appearing as dry, scaly patches that are usually very itchy. The child may scratch at it, and this may cause it to become infected.

Some people confuse eczema with ringworm, which is a fungal infection. Ringworm (“tine corporis”) is unusual in young children; it has an inflamed red leading edge and is not very scaly or itchy.

What causes Eczema to flare up?

The most common causes are hot water, and soap.

In the morning, you should use a cleanser such as CeraVe Baby Wash & Shampoo.

In the evening, a lukewarm bath using CeraVe Baby Wash. Your child should spend no more than 10 minutes in the bath, preferably less. The water should be comfortably warm, not hot. The longer your child spends in a bath, the worse the eczema will be.

After drying (with a cotton towel, not synthetic) then apply a moisturizer such as CeraVe Baby Moisturizing Cream or Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream. You should apply the moisturizer to the child’s whole body, not just to patches of eczema.

Apply moisturizer within 3 minutes of bathing while skin is still damp, then the Healing Ointment to inflamed areas. Reapply the moisturizer 2- 3 times a day, especially in cold winter months when the eczema is likely to be more of a problem.

Some people use  2 or 3 different moisturizers, as they all have slightly different components and effects. Many people use the above ones plus Eucerin Baby Eczema Relief Body Cream, on different days, as shown in the table below. This is to reduce the chances of one moisturizer becoming less effective over time. However, if you find one that works and you’re happy to keep using it, then stay with that one.

If there is an inflamed or very itchy area you will need to apply a healing ointment such as Aquaphor Healing Ointment.

If the area of skin is hot and tender, you will need an antibiotic cream or medication- this is when you will need to get medical advice.

When cleansing, use lukewarm water and gentle circular motions. Limit baths to 5-10 minutes in the evening. Pat skin gently dry with a soft towel – never rub.

These triggers can make eczema worse:

*Wool and synthetic materials- 100% cotton is best.

*Perfumed and strong soaps (don’t use soaps at all).

*Laundry detergents. The best laundry detergents for children with eczema should be Hypoallergenic, Fragrance-free, Formulated for sensitive skin, and Gentle on the skin. The washing machine should be set on long warm-hot (40-60°C) washes.

Popular laundry detergents that are made for sensitive skin include All Free Clear Pure Liquid Detergent, and  Purex Free and Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent.

* Hot baths and overheating are bad for anyone’s skin, more so if the skin is already easily irritated, as in eczema.

*Cold, dry air -try to maintain the humidity in your house at 30-50% ideally, with the use of a humidifier if necessary.

*Allergens in the air and in carpets, such as house dust mites, can be removed with a good vacuum cleaner, and consider investing in an air filter/purifier; this will improve your child’s eczema significantly. Also, airing out the bedroom and bedclothes every morning (which should be cotton) will help. Ultraviolet radiation (sunlight) is a great sterilizer.

You will notice that using an air filter reduces the number of colds and other respiratory infections that occur in your house, so it’s a very worthwhile investment. Good budget-friendly air purifiers include Winix A231, Winix 5500-2, and for a smaller room, Levoit Core 200S.

*Mold is also a common source of skin irritation and a cause of chronic nasal congestion, hayfever, coughing, and asthma. Check for it not just in your bathroom but in the bedroom as well —especially on the back side of curtains facing cold window glass, where moisture collects.

Consider getting a dehumidifier if you have problems with mold- having this going in the bathroom for an hour or so after your child has had a bath, and in the bedroom to reduce the amount of mold that is growing.

It only takes a tiny amount of mold to cause problems, so small it can be hard to detect. If your child’s bedroom is cold and dark, with limited natural sunlight, providing plenty of fresh air during the day, then using a dehumidifier at night can be very beneficial.

*Other common allergens are pets’ skin cells, especially cats.

The main cat allergen is produced by oil glands in the cat’s skin, which sticks to the cat’s skin cells. These tiny skin cells are shed from the cat regularly and are almost impossible to remove from a house. They float up in the air, sticking to the walls and ceiling, and end up on the floor and in carpets as well. This is the situation where an air filter can make a huge difference; it will remove pollens, dust, allergens like cat skin cells, and mold. If you get an air filter, make sure you replace the filter regularly as per the manufacturer’s instructions.

I had a patient who developed severe hay fever after visiting a friend. It turned out that there had been a cat in the house – TEN YEARS earlier, and there were still enough of the cat’s skin cells in the house to cause a severe attack of hay fever that lasted several days.

Morning Routine

The “ Additional Care” is for an area that your child may be scratching a lot or that looks inflamed and red. If it’s very inflamed, then you should get medical advice, as it may need antibiotic cream or even medicine if it’s badly infected.

 

Evening Routine

 

Why These Products?

Cleansers

 

Moisturizers

Protective Barriers

 

Weekly Care Schedule

Daily Essentials

Routine	Frequency	Purpose	Key Points
Gentle Cleansing	2x daily (cleanse in morning, bath/shower in evening)	Remove irritants without stripping skin	Use lukewarm water; pat dry gently; limit bath time to 5-10 minutes
Moisturizing	2x daily minimum	Maintain skin barrier and hydration	Apply within 3 minutes of bathing; use generous amounts
Barrier Protection	2x daily	Prevent moisture loss and protect problem areas	Focus on areas prone to flare-ups; apply thick layer at night

 

Special Considerations

Day	Focus	Special Care	Notes
Daily	Barrier Repair	Alternate between different moisturizers (Optional)	Prevents skin from becoming “used to” one moisturizer
Evening	Extra Hydration	Thicker application of protective ointments (Aquaphore or Vaseline)	Nighttime is best for skin barrier repair
As Needed	Flareup Management	Extra applications during flare-ups	May need to moisturize 3-4x daily during active eczema

 

You Should Get Medical Advice if:

• Eczema doesn’t improve with consistent routine after 2-3 weeks
• Signs of infection (increased redness, warmth, pus, fever)
• Severe itching disrupting sleep
• Eczema spreading or worsening despite treatment