When will baby eczema get better?

Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
Updated on September 04, 2024
00:00
00:00

Infant eczema is a common skin disease in infants and young children, also known as atopic dermatitis or a hereditary skin disease, and is related to factors such as allergies and the environment. Most cases of infant eczema gradually improve between the ages of one and three. Some children with allergic constitutions may continue to experience eczema throughout childhood, adolescence, and even into adulthood. However, for the vast majority of children, eczema resolves by the age of one to three. Once eczema is diagnosed, it is essential to maintain skin hydration and avoid contact with allergens. When necessary, under the guidance of a doctor at a hospital, use of mild corticosteroid creams may be recommended to control the outbreaks of eczema.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
1min 8sec home-news-image

Where does eczema occur in children?

Infant eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a common type of skin lesion in children. It mainly manifests as proliferative and exudative, and it is inflammatory. Infant eczema can appear all over the body. However, most children have it on their faces, and some children have it on their chests, particularly severe cases can have eczema all over their bodies. Once eczema is diagnosed, it is essential to first moisturize the affected skin areas to relieve the child's discomfort, and then use mild corticosteroid creams under the guidance of a doctor. For facial eczema, parents must apply a thick layer of baby moisturizer. Additionally, eczema in the ear area, especially inside the external auditory canal, might sometimes discharge yellowish fluid. Therefore, it is crucial to apply moisturizer thickly in these areas. These areas can cause significant discomfort for the child, so proactive treatment is very important.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
1min 11sec home-news-image

Can calamine lotion be used for baby eczema?

Infant eczema is a common skin condition in babies and toddlers. Generally, we do not recommend the use of calamine lotion for eczema, as although it has an itch-relieving effect when applied locally, it can make the skin even drier. Therefore, if the skin is itchy, temporarily using calamine lotion is possible, but it is not recommended for long-term use in treating eczema. The treatment of eczema consists of 60%-70% moisturizing and 30%-40% may involve the use of mild corticosteroid creams under the guidance of a doctor. Overall, moisturizing is the main treatment for eczema, while hormone therapy can be a supportive treatment. Calamine lotion can be temporarily used to relieve itching, but it is not recommended as a standard treatment method for eczema. Additionally, for infants who are on formula, it is important to use hydrolyzed protein formula, and if breastfeeding, the mother’s diet needs to be carefully managed.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
53sec home-news-image

Can olive oil be used for infant eczema?

It is not recommended to apply olive oil for baby eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis. The treatment of eczema includes two aspects. The first is localized moisturizing, and the second is the use of mild corticosteroid creams under the guidance of a doctor. Olive oil, being an oily substance, is not suitable for eczema. Moisturizing for eczema should be done with a baby-specific moisturizer, which can effectively alleviate the dryness of the skin. Additionally, if olive oil is used, it can make the skin particularly greasy and impede skin breathability, hence it is not advised for use on children. It is very important to use a baby moisturizer.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
1min 1sec home-news-image

What should be done about infant eczema in the summer?

If the baby has eczema, the hot weather and increased sweating during summer can easily aggravate the condition. Therefore, it is essential to keep the child cool. If it is hot outside and the child is sweating profusely, try to keep the child indoors, preferably in an air-conditioned room. However, the air in air-conditioned rooms is quite dry, which can also worsen eczema. In such cases, it is necessary to use a humidifier, which can effectively prevent worsening of eczema due to heat and excessive sweating during summer. Additionally, even in summer, it is important to keep the child's skin moisturized. If the eczema is particularly severe, it is also necessary to use mild corticosteroid creams under the guidance of a doctor. Children who are formula-fed should continue with amino acid-based formula and hydrolyzed protein formula.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
33sec home-news-image

Can infantile eczema heal itself after crusting?

Infant eczema is a type of skin allergy. If an eczema patient develops crusty skin, it often indicates that the condition is improving. In this case, it is important to keep the skin clean and hygienic, avoid scratching the crusted areas with hands, and also ensure that the local skin is well-moisturized to prevent infections. However, this does not mean that eczema will stop occurring once it crusts over. Eczema is a recurrent disease, so even if it heals this time, it may still reappear in the same areas in the future.