Frequently Asked Questions: Eczema

Babies and children with eczema should bathe regularly – daily if possible, but at least a few times a week if a daily bath is not possible. Bathing in water that is not too warm helps to clean and cool the skin which can help to relieve itching.

Whether bathing or showering, prescribed topical preparations (creams or ointments you put on the skin) and moisturiser should be applied to the skin as soon as your child has been gently patted dry after getting out of the water. It is important that you wash your hands with soap and warm water to remove any allergens or bacteria from your hands before applying creams, ointments or moisturisers to your child’s skin.

Plenty of moisturiser should be applied to the face and body at least twice a day. Apply moisturiser more often if the skin feels very dry. There is no harm done by applying moisturiser more often. Wash your hands with soap and warm water to remove any allergens or bacteria from your hands before applying the moisturiser.

Moisturisers come in different forms, including ointments, creams and lotions.

Moisturising lotions have a high water and low oil content and are not typically moisturising enough for most babies and children with eczema.

Moisturising creams increase skin hydration and are excellent for everyday use. Moisturising creams can sting active areas of eczema, and if this is the case, an ointment moisturiser is preferred.

Moisturising ointments provide an excellent protective barrier for the skin. However, they are thicker and greasier and not always tolerated by the child. The thicker the moisturising cream, the longer it lasts and the less often it needs to be applied, however, it should still be applied twice a day.

For allergy prevention, it is important to make sure that moisturisers do not contain food ingredients such as nut oils, cow’s milk or goat products.

It is generally recommended to avoid products containing perfume or fragrance as these can irritate the skin. Plant extracts (such as lavender oil) can also irritate the skin so are best avoided.

For allergy prevention, it is important to make sure that moisturisers do not contain food ingredients such as nut oils, cow’s milk or goat products.

Yes, however it is recommended to avoid oils containing food ingredients such as almond oil, or other nut oils, on the skin of babies and children with eczema as this may increase the chance of the child developing a food allergy.

Moisturiser can be massaged into the skin if you are wanting to use it for baby massage and this is often a better option to keep the skin soft and well moisturised.

Wash your hands with soap and warm water to remove any allergens or bacteria from your hands before applying the moisturiser.

Babies with moderate or severe eczema have an increased chance of also having a food allergy.

This does not mean that the food allergy is the cause of the eczema and therefore the removal of the food will not result in eczema cure. However, if a child is allergic to a food, they should not be fed that food.

If there is no food allergy, very occasionally a trial of removing certain foods may be recommended in combination with other treatments for the management of severe eczema. This should only be done under the supervision of a clinical immunologist/allergy specialist and an accredited practising dietitian, with experience in food allergies. This is because there is a risk of malnutrition and of your child actually developing a food allergy to the foods removed from the child’s diet.

Yes. Cortisone creams and ointments (also referred to as steroid creams and ointments) are extremely safe when used correctly. It is important to apply them to all affected areas, not just the worst areas, until the eczema completely clears.

Parents are often told these creams or ointments will thin the skin, but this is very rare as eczema tends to thicken the skin.

There is very little absorption into the body so natural cortisone production is not affected. Poorly controlled eczema has much more potential to harm a child than using cortisone creams.

For example, under-treated eczema is prone to infection, sleep is disturbed by itching and this can lead to unsettled daytime behaviour, lack of concentration and may impact on learning ability.