{"id":30887,"date":"2026-04-03T07:00:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T07:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/?p=30887"},"modified":"2026-04-03T08:18:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T08:18:24","slug":"eczema-and-atopic-dermatitis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/blog\/newborn\/eczema-and-atopic-dermatitis\/","title":{"rendered":"Eczema and atopic dermatitis in children and babies"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a common non-contagious skin condition in babies and young children. Flare-ups most often appear as very dry skin, red patches, and itching, also called pruritus, which can sometimes be intense. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How can you recognize eczema? Which creams should be used? <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What should you do or avoid?<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Eczema and atopic dermatitis in children\/babies:<\/strong> here\u2019s what you need to know.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><b>How to recognize eczema <\/b><b>in children or babies <\/b><b>?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eczema appears in <strong>recurring flare-ups<\/strong>. These are the well-known <strong>eczema flare-ups<\/strong>. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over time, the condition generally progresses with periods of flare-ups alternating with <strong>remission phases<\/strong>. These flare-ups are often accompanied by redness and inflammatory lesions visible on your child\u2019s skin.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Its duration varies depending on the child and can last from <strong>a few months to several years<\/strong>. In most cases, atopic eczema gradually improves and <strong>eventually disappears during childhood<\/strong>. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to French Health Insurance, atopic dermatitis persists into adulthood in only 5% of cases.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Symptoms to watch for in your child:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skin that is <\/span><strong>so dry<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> it becomes rough (you feel it more than you see it).<\/span><\/li>\r\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Red patches<\/strong> especially on the face, trunk, and in skin folds.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your child tries to scratch <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">day and night.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this case, there\u2019s little doubt\u2014it\u2019s likely eczema. <\/span><strong>A diagnosis by a doctor is still necessary<\/strong><b>. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make an appointment with your pediatrician to confirm the diagnosis. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In case of severe or persistent symptoms, a consultation with a dermatologist may also be recommended.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Good to know:<\/strong> atopic eczema is often hereditary. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to French Health Insurance, in 50 to 70% of cases, a first-degree relative has already had it.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Want to learn more? Feel free to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/app.adjust.com\/1pblulz8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">download the May app<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, where you&#8217;ll find plenty of resources to support and guide you throughout your journey as a new parent.<\/span> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-30867\" src=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/allergy-on-the-baby-s-face-lifestyle-2026-03-09-08-59-21-utc.webp\" alt=\"Eczema and atopic dermatitis in children or babies - May App Health\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/allergy-on-the-baby-s-face-lifestyle-2026-03-09-08-59-21-utc.webp 1000w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/allergy-on-the-baby-s-face-lifestyle-2026-03-09-08-59-21-utc-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/allergy-on-the-baby-s-face-lifestyle-2026-03-09-08-59-21-utc-768x512.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Where does eczema develop on a child\u2019s body depending on age?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Atopic eczema in children can present differently depending on age. The location of lesions, their appearance, and the affected areas of the body evolve over time.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eczema in babies between 0 and 1 year<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In babies aged 0 to 1 year, <strong>infant eczema usually appears symmetrically.<\/strong> Lesions mainly affect the convex areas of the face (forehead, cheeks, chin) as well as certain parts of the limbs such as arms and legs. However, the nose and buttocks are usually spared.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The folds behind and under the ears may show cracks and oozing, while the front neck fold is also often affected.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Good to know:<\/strong> if small greasy white or yellowish patches appear on your baby\u2019s scalp, they are probably cradle cap.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eczema in children aged 1 to 2 years<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Between 1 and 2 years, atopic eczema appears <strong>mainly on the head, neck, and flexural folds<\/strong>. Lesions may also appear on the trunk and limbs, forming round red patches about the size of a coin.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In general, the palms, soles of the feet, and nose are rarely affected.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eczema in children over 2 years old<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After age 2, atopic eczema lesions often become thicker and whitish, with a lichenified appearance, causing significant itching.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The face is less frequently affected, but the area under the lower eyelids may appear darker, thicker, and marked by pronounced folds. <strong>The area around the mouth may also be affected<\/strong>.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lesions are mainly located in skin folds (neck, behind the ears, elbows, knees), but also on the hands, wrists, and ankles. More rarely, they may extend to other parts of the limbs.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The skin is generally very dry, especially on the hands, where it may become cracked or fissured.<\/span> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-30871\" src=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/baby-face-with-eczema-on-cheeks-atopic-dermatitis-2026-01-07-05-59-55-utc.webp\" alt=\"Eczema and atopic dermatitis in children or babies - May App Health\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/baby-face-with-eczema-on-cheeks-atopic-dermatitis-2026-01-07-05-59-55-utc.webp 1000w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/baby-face-with-eczema-on-cheeks-atopic-dermatitis-2026-01-07-05-59-55-utc-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/baby-face-with-eczema-on-cheeks-atopic-dermatitis-2026-01-07-05-59-55-utc-768x512.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h2><b>What to do in case of eczema and atopic dermatitis in children or babies?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Treatments to relieve eczema in babies and children exist and are highly effective.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which cream should be used to treat eczema and atopic dermatitis in children or babies?<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Good hydration helps <strong>limit dryness and protect the skin from irritation<\/strong>.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Here\u2019s how to proceed: <\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wash your child<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with a syndet (\u201csoap-free\u201d) fragrance-free cleanser that won\u2019t further dry out the skin.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rinse thoroughly.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use an <\/span><strong>emollient cream<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> without fragrance, preferably in balm form such as Exomega Balm<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00ae<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or X\u00e9mose Balm<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00ae<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can apply this balm twice a day. Apply it preferably after bathing as it will penetrate the skin better,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> since the pores are more open.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emollient treatment is the foundation of eczema care in babies. It helps space out flare-ups and may even protect against the development of allergies by restoring the skin\u2019s barrier function.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eczema and atopic dermatitis in children or babies: topical corticosteroids<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are cortisone-based creams that treat your child\u2019s skin and help eczema disappear. They should be applied once a day to affected areas until symptoms completely disappear.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Warning<\/strong>: usually <\/span><strong>a different cream is used for the face and the body<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. For the body, doctors tend to prescribe a stronger corticosteroid, while for the face a milder, moderate-strength cream is used.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many parents are afraid of cortisone creams and apply them too sparingly. In reality, the skin is more damaged by eczema than by topical corticosteroids, which are essential for healing your baby\u2019s eczema.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other care to treat eczema and atopic dermatitis in children or babies<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Short baths (max 10 minutes) or showers<\/strong>. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bath water should be lukewarm (max 33\u00b0C). You can wash your child every other day\u2014no need to dry out their skin further.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>No vigorous rubbing<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when drying your child after bathing. Pat gently with a soft towel.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use cotton underwear. Avoid pressure points and buttons in direct contact with your child\u2019s skin.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Keep nails short<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and as clean as possible to prevent infections.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>No contact with people who have herpes<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (cold sores), as this may cause a secondary infection in your child.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make sure to <\/span><strong>ventilate the bedroom<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> well and maintain a moderate temperature (19\u00b0C).<\/span><\/li>\r\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Limit your child\u2019s exposure to allergens or irritants as much as possible<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, such as dust, pets, perfumes and scented fabric softeners, wool, synthetic fabrics, cigarette smoke, urban industrial pollution, dry cold air, and humid heat (sweating worsens lesions).<\/span><\/li>\r\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rinse thoroughly with fresh water after swimming pool baths, as chlorine is harsh on the skin.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-30875\" src=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/closeup-of-mother-applying-moisturizing-cream-on-h-2026-03-17-04-24-14-utc.webp\" alt=\"Eczema and atopic dermatitis in children or babies - May App Health\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/closeup-of-mother-applying-moisturizing-cream-on-h-2026-03-17-04-24-14-utc.webp 1000w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/closeup-of-mother-applying-moisturizing-cream-on-h-2026-03-17-04-24-14-utc-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/closeup-of-mother-applying-moisturizing-cream-on-h-2026-03-17-04-24-14-utc-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What to avoid <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in case of eczema and atopic dermatitis in children or babies<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Scratchy clothing can worsen itching<\/strong>. Avoid materials like wool and choose soft cotton.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do not use<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> skincare products containing sweet almond oil, wheat, or oats (except purified Rhealba oat plantlets without proteins), sesame, or other food-based ingredients. Not only do oils not properly hydrate, but these products may later cause food allergies, especially to nuts.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-30878\" src=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/food-allergies-eczema-or-diathesis-in-a-small-ch-2026-03-17-17-49-24-utc.webp\" alt=\"Eczema and atopic dermatitis in children or babies - May App Health\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/food-allergies-eczema-or-diathesis-in-a-small-ch-2026-03-17-17-49-24-utc.webp 1000w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/food-allergies-eczema-or-diathesis-in-a-small-ch-2026-03-17-17-49-24-utc-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/food-allergies-eczema-or-diathesis-in-a-small-ch-2026-03-17-17-49-24-utc-768x512.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<h2><b>Warning signs <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in case of eczema and atopic dermatitis in children or babies<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eczema can lead to more serious skin infections such as impetigo. These are usually bacterial infections.<\/span> <strong>Consult your pediatrician quickly if your child does not respond to standard treatments or shows one of the following symptoms:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the appearance of fever during flare-ups,<\/span><\/li>\r\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a change in usual lesions (oozing, crusting, pus-filled bumps, or even an unpleasant odor).<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><b>Does my child have \u201catopy\u201d and\/or a food allergy?<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Atopy is a genetic predisposition to develop \u201callergic\u201d diseases such as eczema (also called atopic dermatitis), asthma, respiratory allergies (such as hay fever or dust mite allergic rhinitis), and food allergies.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your child has eczema, they are at higher risk than other children of developing one of these conditions. <strong>But that does not necessarily mean they have a food allergy!<\/strong> Food allergy tests are only performed if eczema does not respond to well-managed treatment or if it is accompanied by other symptoms suggestive of a food allergy.<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In summary, eczema is a common condition in babies and children, characterized by flare-ups of red patches, very dry skin, and significant itching. Fortunately, proper skin hydration and effective treatment generally help relieve your child and control flare-ups.<\/span> ** Photo credits: aliona2194 | ta_bu | kryzhov | natalyaraeva <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This text was translated from French by an artificial intelligence. The information, advice, and sources it contains comply with French standards and may therefore not apply to your situation. Make sure to complement this reading by visiting the May US\/UK app and consulting the healthcare professionals who are supporting you.<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a common non-contagious skin condition in babies and young children. Flare-ups most often appear as very dry skin, red patches, and itching, also called pruritus, which can sometimes be intense. How can you recognize eczema? Which creams should be used? What should you do or avoid? Eczema and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":10413,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[192,196,197,199],"tags":[144],"class_list":["post-30887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newborn","category-infant","category-baby-6-12-months","category-baby-1-year","tag-baby-health"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30887"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30887\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30889,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30887\/revisions\/30889"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10413"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}