Baby Eczema

Medically Reviewed by Zilpah Sheikh, MD on September 10, 2024
5 min read

Eczema can show up as crusty, flaky patches on your baby's skin, often during their first few months. It’s common and treatable, and many infants outgrow it.

Not sure if your baby's itchy, irritated rash is eczema? Your doctor can tell you for sure. These questions and answers can help you understand what to look for.

Eczema doesn't look the same on every baby. In babies with light skin, it usually shows up as patches of red skin. In darker-skinned babies, the rash may look purplish, brownish, or grayish and can be harder to see.

These patches are almost always dry, itchy, and rough.

It’s easy to confuse baby eczema (also called infant eczema or atopic dermatitis) with cradle cap. But there are some key differences.

Cradle cap is much less itchy and irritated, clears up by the age of 8 months, and usually appears on the scalp, sides of the nose, eyelids, eyebrows, and behind the ears. See a photo of what cradle cap looks like.

Eczema can run in families. If a parent has the condition, their baby is much more likely to get it, too.

Problems in the skin barrier, which allows moisture out and germs in, could also be a cause.

Eczema happens when the body makes too few fatty cells called ceramides. If you don’t have enough of them, your skin will lose water and become very dry. Read more on what causes eczema.

To diagnose eczema, your doctor will first examine your baby, looking for a rash. Then, they'll run tests to find out the cause of the rash and other symptoms. These tests could include:

  • An allergy test
  • Blood tests
  • A skin biopsy

Baby eczema vs. acne

Baby eczema and acne can look alike but are different. Baby acne, caused by oil glands in the skin, results in pimples while eczema leads to dry, itchy patches and bumps. Unlike acne, eczema bumps aren’t filled with fluid. Acne usually clears up on its own, but eczema needs treatment to moisturize the skin.

It often does. Most children outgrow it before they start school.

It’s not common, but some kids may have eczema into adulthood. They might have symptom-free periods (even years) but could still have dry skin. Get more information on kids, allergies, and eczema.

Each baby is different. But there are some common eczema triggers to avoid, including:

Dry skin. It can make a baby's skin itchier. Low humidity, especially during winter when homes are well-heated and the air is dry, is a cause.

Irritants. Think scratchy wool clothes, polyester, perfumes, body soaps, and laundry soaps. These can all trigger symptoms.

Stress. Children with eczema may react to stress by flushing. That can lead to itchy, irritated skin. And that, in turn, worsens their eczema symptoms.

Heat and sweat. Both can make the itch of infant eczema worse.

Allergens. It’s not certain, but some experts believe that removing cow’s milk, peanuts, eggs, or certain fruits from a child’s food may help control eczema symptoms. Remember that your baby can get exposed to these foods if their mother eats them before breastfeeding. Find out the connection between food and eczema flares.

Give your little one's skin some TLC. That’s the first step in treating their eczema. Try the following:

A lukewarm bath. This hydrates and cools the skin. It may also ease itching. Make sure the water isn’t too hot and keep the bath short — no longer than 10 minutes. To further soothe itchiness, try adding oatmeal soaking products to your baby's tub.

Use mild, unscented body and laundry soaps. Avoid using perfumed, deodorant, and antibacterial soaps, which can be rough on a baby's sensitive skin.

Clean carefully. Use soap only where your baby may be dirty, such as the genitals, hands, and feet. Simply rinse off the rest of your child's body.

Dry off. Pat your baby's skin dry. Don't rub.

Dress for comfy days. Your child should wear loose clothes made of cotton to avoid irritation from fabric rubbing against their skin. Always wash new clothes before you put them on your baby. Use a mild, fragrance-free detergent.

To keep your little one comfy, don’t overdress them or use too many blankets. If they get hot and sweaty, that can trigger an eczema flare. Learn more about natural skin care for babies.

Keep your baby from scratching. Scratching can make the rash worse, lead to an infection, and cause the irritated skin to get thicker and more leathery. Trim their nails often, then take the edge off them with a file if possible. Some parents also slip "scratch mittens" onto their little one's hands. View a slideshow to get more eczema skin care tips.

Baby eczema cream

One with ceramides is the best option. These creams are available both over the counter and by prescription. Otherwise, a good moisturizer, fragrance-free cream, or ointment such as petroleum jelly, when used several times daily, will help your baby's skin retain its natural moisture. Apply right after a bath.

Some over-the-counter products, such as hydrocortisone creams and ointments, target itching and inflammation. Check the instructions and don’t use them too long, or they can thin the skin in the affected area.

Make the call if your baby’s eczema doesn’t begin to get better within a week of starting over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams. It may be time for a prescription medicine.

Also, check with your doctor if yellow or light brown crust or pus-filled blisters appear on top of the eczema. This could indicate a bacterial infection that needs antibiotics.

You should call your doctor if your baby is around anyone who has cold sores or genital herpes. Eczema can make your little one more likely to pick up those germs.

Eczema often appears as dry, flaky patches on a baby's skin, typically within the first few months. It's common and treatable, with many infants outgrowing it. If you're unsure whether your baby's rash is eczema, your doctor can confirm. Eczema looks different on babies depending on their skin tone — red on lighter skin and purplish, brownish, or grayish on darker skin. Usually dry, itchy, and rough, the rash mostly shows up on the cheeks or the joints of the arms and legs.

To manage baby eczema at home:

  • Use moisturizers with ceramides or petroleum jelly to keep your baby's skin hydrated.
  • Bathe your baby in lukewarm water for no more than 10 minutes using mild, unscented soap.
  • Dress your baby in loose, cotton clothes and avoid overheating.