Spotting Eczema in Babies and Kids

It's normal for parents to worry about their children, especially babies and toddlers, given their vulnerability to a lot of health conditions. One common skin condition parents should watch out for is eczema or atopic dermatitis. It’s better to spot signs of eczema as early as possible for parents to learn how to manage their children’s skin conditions, as well as seek professional medical help if needed.

Signs of eczema (atopic dermatitis) can show during the first six months until five years of age. Also take into consideration that if there’s a history of eczema running in the family, children are most likely to inherit this skin condition. Lastly, remember that eczema can improve at age five or six but can still come back during puberty.

Here are some signs to spot for you to know if your child has eczema (atopic dermatitis):

Patches of dry and itchy skin

Skin tends to crack and gets itchy because of dryness, given its inability to hold water or moisture. These skin areas are also thicker and darker compared to other areas that aren’t affected. Dry cracked skin can lead to infection because bacteria, virus, and other germs can enter through here.

For six-month-old infants, affected skin areas may be their face (cheeks, chin, forehead) and scalp. For six- to 12- month-old babies, you could see small pus bumps on their elbows and knees, which look like they are crusting. It’s possible for this to happen in this age range because this is generally the time they begin to crawl. For toddlers, affected skin areas may be the creases of their elbows, knees, wrists, and ankles. They can also be behind their ears and the skin around their mouths and eyelids. Lastly, their hands and feet are almost always affected, too.

Skin infections

You can tell if the skin is infected if it oozes, crusts, has pus bumps, blisters, and rashes that aren’t getting any better even while religiously doing a gentle skin care routine. Some may bleed due to excessive scratching. The infection could then cause headache, fever, and fatigue. If your child experiences these, consult your child’s doctor for proper medication because the infection might need antibiotics or antivirals.

Immune system and blood composition

The development of the immune system can affect the body’s ability to protect the skin of a child. For children with eczema, the levels of immunoglobulin in their blood are high and this can be seen through blood tests and skin tests.

After you spot these signs and confirm that your child has eczema (atopic dermatitis), you can start applying medication to help ease your child’s discomfort. Mometasone furoate (Elica®) products can help stop itching, reduce redness, ease swelling, and provide relief within 24 hours. Mometasone furoate (Elica®) cream is applied on thin skin (like on the face) and moist lesions while Mometasone furoate (Elica®) ointment is applied on dry lesions and thickened skin.

You can also check our article How to Help Your Child Deal with Itchy Eczema. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

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