Baby eczema: signs, triggers and what helps | Parenting Hub
Practical, nurse-reviewed guide to baby eczema — how to spot it, daily skin care, common triggers and when to see your GP. Aligned with Raising Children and RCH guidance.
Eczema is a common, itchy skin condition that flares and settles. Daily moisturising and short trigger-aware steps make the biggest difference.
What is it?
Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a long-term inflammatory skin condition that makes the skin dry, itchy and easily irritated. About 1 in 3 Australian children get eczema, most before their first birthday. It tends to come and go in flares.
It's not contagious and most children improve significantly by school age. Eczema often runs in families with hay fever, asthma or food allergy.
Symptoms
In babies, eczema usually shows on the cheeks, scalp, and outside of the arms and legs first, then around the elbow and knee creases as they grow.
- Dry, rough or scaly patches
- Red or pink areas (can look purple-grey on darker skin)
- Itch — babies rub their face on sheets or scratch with their hands
- Tiny weeping or crusting spots in a flare
- Disturbed sleep from itch
Causes & triggers
Eczema is caused by a sensitive skin barrier that loses water and reacts to irritants. Common triggers include:
- Soap, bubble bath, perfumed products and wipes
- Heat, sweat and overheating overnight
- Wool or scratchy fabrics directly on skin
- Dry winter air and overheated rooms
- Saliva and food residue around the mouth
- Viral colds (eczema often flares with illness)
What helps
The two daily habits that make the biggest difference are gentle bathing and generous moisturising.
- Bath once a day in lukewarm water for 10–15 minutes — use a soap-free wash, no bubbles
- Pat (don't rub) dry and apply a thick, fragrance-free moisturiser within 3 minutes of the bath
- Re-apply moisturiser 2–3 times a day, especially after nappy changes and before sleep
- Use cotton clothing and dress in light layers to avoid overheating
- Keep nails short and consider scratch mittens overnight in a flare
- If your GP prescribes a topical steroid, use it for the full course — under-treating flares prolongs them
When to see a doctor
See your GP, child health nurse or pharmacist if moisturiser alone isn't settling the itch, the rash is spreading, or sleep is being disrupted. Eczema usually needs a short course of topical steroid to bring a flare under control — this is safe when used as directed.
When to seek urgent care
Infected eczema needs same-day medical assessment. Signs include weeping yellow crusts, painful pustules, fast-spreading redness, or fever.
When to seek help
- Honey-coloured crusts, pus or fast-spreading redness (possible bacterial infection)
- Clusters of small fluid-filled blisters that look painful (possible eczema herpeticum — urgent)
- Fever with a flaring rash
- Eczema not improving with daily moisturiser and prescribed cream after 1–2 weeks
Common questions
How much moisturiser is enough?
A lot more than most parents use — aim for around 150–250g a week for a baby. If the tub lasts a month, you're under-moisturising.
Are steroid creams safe for babies?
Yes, when prescribed and used as directed. The strength is matched to your baby's age and the area treated. Under-treating a flare causes more harm than a short, correct course.
Could food be causing it?
Sometimes, but most baby eczema is not food-driven. Don't cut foods from your or your baby's diet without medical advice — early, regular exposure to common allergens is now recommended.