What to do if a child's eczema does not improve?

Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
Updated on March 31, 2025
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If childhood eczema is not improving, then it is crucial to actively search for the cause, rather than merely treating the symptoms. The care for childhood eczema mainly involves moisturizing and applying eczema ointment, but treating the primary cause is most important. The causes of eczema are varied, with common factors including genetics. If a child's parents have allergic rhinitis, eczema, or asthma, it suggests that the baby might have an allergic constitution, which can lead to recurrent episodes of eczema. Additionally, diet plays a role; consuming foods that are allergens can also trigger eczema flare-ups, especially foods containing proteins such as dairy products, eggs, and seafood products. Furthermore, contact with allergenic substances like animal dander and plant pollen can also induce eczema. Moreover, certain specific pathogens colonize on the surface of eczema-affected skin, leading to repeated outbreaks. These factors make the treatment of eczema less than ideal, so it is essential to understand the specific reasons behind the baby's eczema to tailor the treatment effectively.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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Eczema is divided into several types.

Eczema, based on common classifications, includes: 1. Eczema classified by the course of the disease can be divided into acute eczema, subacute eczema, and chronic eczema. 2. Classified by the location of the outbreak, it can be divided into eczema of the scalp, face, nipple, genital area, anal area, hands, and intertriginous eczema, among others. 3. Classified by age, it can be divided into adult eczema, infant eczema, etc. There are also some other classifications: 1. By the characteristics of the rash, it can be divided into erythematous eczema, papular eczema, vesicular eczema, pustular eczema, exudative erosive eczema, and crusty desquamative eczema. 2. By the nature of the cause, it can be divided into bacterial eczema (infectious eczematous dermatitis), fungal eczema, autosensitization eczema, seborrheic eczema (seborrheic dermatitis), dyshidrotic eczema, occupational eczema, atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis), among others.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Eczema is caused by what?

The causes of eczema are relatively complex, often resulting from the interaction of internal and external factors. Internal causes mainly include certain gastrointestinal diseases, insomnia, fatigue, emotional stress, and also include infections, metabolic disorders, and endocrine imbalances. External causes, for example, include food, living environment, and climate changes, all of which can lead to eczema. Additionally, external stimuli such as cold, heat, hot water scalding, cosmetics, and synthetic fibers can also trigger eczema.

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Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
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How to treat eczema with broken skin in children?

In cases of eczema in children, if there is broken skin, it is necessary to enhance skin care to prevent infection. Disinfectant solutions can be used to clean the skin, followed by the application of anti-inflammatory ointments to prevent infection of the wound. Additionally, attention should be paid to the fact that the skin in areas affected by eczema is sensitive and has lower self-immune capabilities, which can lead to worsening of the condition after infection, causing symptoms such as fever and sepsis. Therefore, once there is broken skin in the area affected by eczema, it is important to clean the wound promptly. If there are signs of pus formation, a specialist should examine and clean the wound, and oral anti-inflammatory medications may be necessary to prevent worsening of the infection. Also, dietary considerations should include avoiding spicy foods and those likely to cause allergies.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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How to treat infant eczema

Eczema is an intensely itchy skin inflammation reaction caused by a variety of factors, including both external and internal causes. External factors include environmental climate changes, sunlight exposure, animal fur, cosmetics, etc. Internal factors mainly involve food, endocrine disorders, stress, and more. Treatment primarily targets these causes. If caused by external factors, efforts should be made to avoid them. If related to food allergies, such as milk or eggs, these allergenic foods should be avoided. Treatment can also include the use of anti-allergic ointments, commonly corticosteroid ointments, as well as oral anti-allergy medications to assist in treatment.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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What is eczema?

Eczema is a type of skin inflammation caused by multiple internal and external factors, characterized by various forms of rashes that usually have a significant tendency to exude fluid, hence the name "eczema." It usually comes with significant itching and is prone to recurrence, causing distress in patients' lives. Infant eczema is a common type of skin disease in babies and is a specific type of eczema. Commonly known as "milk cradle cap" in folk terminology, it is not a fungal disease but, like eczema, is an allergic reaction type of skin disease. Unlike other forms of eczema, however, infant eczema typically diminishes and often disappears as the child ages, with only a small fraction continuing into adulthood.