Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Eczema?CausesSigns and SymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Eczema?
Causes
Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Does your child haveskin patches that are dry and itchy? Are these patches red and swollen? Do they sometimes bleed? It could be a condition called eczema.
Eczema isn’t contagious or typically serious, but it can be irritating to children and concerning for their parents. This article will discuss the causes, symptoms, and treatment for toddler eczema.
Kwangmoozaa / iStock / Getty Images
Eczema is referred to as “the itch that rashes” because it’s the scratching that leads to the rash (not vice versa).The itch can be severe and interfere with your toddler’s sleeping, eating, and playing. Plus, the scratching can cause skin infections.
Eczema is part of what doctors call the “atopic march.” This a theory used to describe the progression of “atopic,” or allergic, conditions.
Many children with eczema, for example, will also develop afood allergy,allergic rhinitis(hay fever), andasthma, usually in that sequence.Although it’s a chronic condition, eczema can come and go. The location of the rash may also wander over time.
Babies, for example, tend to experience eczema on their cheeks, chin, and scalp. In toddlers, it’s often seen on the face, hands, and in the creases of the elbows and knees.About two-thirds of kids will outgrow their eczema.
Causes of Eczema
Experts aren’t exactly sure what causes eczema, but they think it may be due to a combination of factors.
Genetics
Eczema seems to run in families. Research indicates that a child is two to three times more likely to develop eczema if their mother or father has a history of it.
One of the genetic factors that may predispose a child to eczema is an inherited problem with the gene filaggrin, which plays an important role in making the cells that build the skin’s outer “barrier” layer.
This layer helps prevent allergens and irritants from penetrating the skin while keeping moisture in. When that layer doesn’t perform properly, the risk of eczema increases.
Up to 30% of people with a filaggrin gene mutation have eczema, while 8%–10% of people without eczema have the mutation.
Immune System
People with eczema tend to have overactive immune systems. Exposure to a seemingly benign substance—a cosmetic, soap, or pet dander, for example—can cause their immune system to launch aninflammatory response, leading to itchy, red skin.
Environment
Environmental factors don’t directly cause eczema—in children or adults—but they can trigger the condition in someone with a genetic predisposition. Some things that can bring on a bout of eczema include:
Signs and Symptoms of Toddler Eczema
Dermatologists have a saying: “If it’s not itchy, it’s not eczema.”These are some of the other hallmarks of eczema in toddlers:
Eczema can occur on any part of the body, but in toddlers, it’s most likely to appear:
Diagnosis of Eczema
Eczema is generally diagnosed based on an examination of the skin and an evaluation of your child’s medical history. Your child’s doctor may ask if your child or anyone in your family has eczema, allergies, asthma, or food sensitivities.
Children with a family history of one of these “atopic” conditions are more prone to developing others. For instance, 30% of babies with severe eczema also have a food allergy, often to cow’s milk.
If a definitive diagnosis can’t be made, your child’s doctor may order a blood test to look for certain antibodies the body’s immune system produces in response to allergies. In children with eczema, these antibodies tend to be elevated.
Treatment of Eczema
There is no cure for eczema. Treatment generally involves calming the itch and keeping the skin moisturized, both of which can improve the rash and reduce the risk of skin infections.
At-Home Care
Many mild cases of eczema can be brought under control with simple at-home measures, including:
Medications and Treatments
In moderate-to-severe cases, your child’s healthcare provider may prescribe certain medications or therapies that help reduce skin swelling, alleviate the itch, and keep skin moisturized. Some of the more common medications and treatments include:
Prevention of Toddler Eczema
If your child is genetically predisposed to eczema, there’s not a lot you can do to prevent it from occurring. But you can try to minimize flare-ups when you can with these actions:
Summary
Eczema is common in toddlers. The skin disorder produces itchy, dry, scaly, and inflamed skin. It is a chronic condition and is not contagious. Treatment aims to calm the itch and keep the skin moisturized.
A Word From Verywell
Eczema is a common skin condition in babies, toddlers, and young kids. While you can’t cure eczema, you can control it. Y>our child’s pediatrician can recommend over-the-counter treatments and prescribe medications if necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you help a toddler with their eczema?
Helping your toddlerdeal with the itchcan go a long way in helping them manage their eczema. When you notice your toddler scratching, distract them with another activity, particularly one that keeps their hands busy, like coloring.
You can also try “wet wrapping” the affected skin to help alleviate the itch and keep little hands from getting at the rash.
Wet wrapping involves wrapping the skin with a cloth or bandage dressing that’s first moistened with warm water. When the wrap is in place, apply a dry cloth or dressing over the wet one.
Clothing can act as another barrier between your child and their eczema. If your child has eczema around their elbows, dress them in long sleeves when possible. If it’s on their legs, try long pants.
What does eczema look like in a toddler?
Eczema can look different in all children. It can even look different in your own child over time.
When should I take my child to the doctor for their eczema?
If you think your child might have eczema, make an appointment with your pediatrician. A trained eye can tell the difference between eczema and other skin conditions.
Speak to your child’s doctor right away if skin appears infected (it’s hot, red, or oozing pus and occurs with a fever), if the eczema seems painful and blistered, or if it’s preventing your child from sleeping or is just generally making them miserable.
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18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Seattle Children’s.Eczema.American College of Asthma, Allergy & Immunology.Eczema (atopic dermatitis).American Academy of Dermatology.Eczema types: Atopic dermatitis symptoms.American College of Asthma, Allergy & Immunology.Children and eczema.National Eczema Association.Understanding eczema in children.University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.Common questions about eczema.Biagini Myers JM, Khurana Hershey GK.Eczema in early life: genetics, the skin barrier, and lessons learned from birth cohort studies.J Pediatr. 2010;157(5):704-714. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2010.07.009MedlinePlus.FLG gene.Boston Children’s Hospital.Atopic dermatitis and eczema symptoms & causes.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Managing eczema in winter and year round: A parents guide.Stanford Children’s Health.Atopic dermatitis in children.UChicago Medicine.What is pediatric eczema, and when should we see a doctor?American Academy of Dermatology.How to treat eczema in babies.National Eczema Society.Topical calcineurin inhibitors.Food and Drug Administration.Eucrisa (crisaborole).Horimukai K, Morita K, Narita M, et al.Application of moisturizer to neonates prevents development of atopic dermatitis.Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2014;134(4):824-830.e6. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2014.07.060Epstein TG, Bernstein DI, Levin L, et al.Opposing effects of cat and dog ownership and allergic sensitization on eczema in an atopic birth cohort.J Pediatr. 2011;158(2):265-71.e715. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2010.07.026Henry Ford Health System.Is my skin condition eczema or something else?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Seattle Children’s.Eczema.American College of Asthma, Allergy & Immunology.Eczema (atopic dermatitis).American Academy of Dermatology.Eczema types: Atopic dermatitis symptoms.American College of Asthma, Allergy & Immunology.Children and eczema.National Eczema Association.Understanding eczema in children.University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.Common questions about eczema.Biagini Myers JM, Khurana Hershey GK.Eczema in early life: genetics, the skin barrier, and lessons learned from birth cohort studies.J Pediatr. 2010;157(5):704-714. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2010.07.009MedlinePlus.FLG gene.Boston Children’s Hospital.Atopic dermatitis and eczema symptoms & causes.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Managing eczema in winter and year round: A parents guide.Stanford Children’s Health.Atopic dermatitis in children.UChicago Medicine.What is pediatric eczema, and when should we see a doctor?American Academy of Dermatology.How to treat eczema in babies.National Eczema Society.Topical calcineurin inhibitors.Food and Drug Administration.Eucrisa (crisaborole).Horimukai K, Morita K, Narita M, et al.Application of moisturizer to neonates prevents development of atopic dermatitis.Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2014;134(4):824-830.e6. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2014.07.060Epstein TG, Bernstein DI, Levin L, et al.Opposing effects of cat and dog ownership and allergic sensitization on eczema in an atopic birth cohort.J Pediatr. 2011;158(2):265-71.e715. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2010.07.026Henry Ford Health System.Is my skin condition eczema or something else?
Seattle Children’s.Eczema.
American College of Asthma, Allergy & Immunology.Eczema (atopic dermatitis).
American Academy of Dermatology.Eczema types: Atopic dermatitis symptoms.
American College of Asthma, Allergy & Immunology.Children and eczema.
National Eczema Association.Understanding eczema in children.
University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.Common questions about eczema.
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MedlinePlus.FLG gene.
Boston Children’s Hospital.Atopic dermatitis and eczema symptoms & causes.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Managing eczema in winter and year round: A parents guide.
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UChicago Medicine.What is pediatric eczema, and when should we see a doctor?
American Academy of Dermatology.How to treat eczema in babies.
National Eczema Society.Topical calcineurin inhibitors.
Food and Drug Administration.Eucrisa (crisaborole).
Horimukai K, Morita K, Narita M, et al.Application of moisturizer to neonates prevents development of atopic dermatitis.Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2014;134(4):824-830.e6. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2014.07.060
Epstein TG, Bernstein DI, Levin L, et al.Opposing effects of cat and dog ownership and allergic sensitization on eczema in an atopic birth cohort.J Pediatr. 2011;158(2):265-71.e715. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2010.07.026
Henry Ford Health System.Is my skin condition eczema or something else?
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