Smart Skin Care for Children with Eczema
When your child has eczema, daily skin care makes a huge difference. Experts agree that how you use moisturizer, not just which one you choose, can help reduce flare-ups and keep skin healthier. Good news: We recently interviewed some of the world’s experts on skin care for eczema, and they gave us some practical, research-backed tips to guide you.
The Role of Moisturizers in Eczema
Moisturizer therapy is the cornerstone of eczema management. However, the effectiveness of this approach depends on correct application technique, careful product selection, and proactive inflammatory treatments.
Children with eczema have a weaker skin barrier, which means their skin loses water more easily (dryer skin), irritants and allergens can enter the skin (itching and inflammation), and increased risk of infections. Regular use of moisturizer (also called “emollients”) strengthens the skin barrier and can reduce flare frequency by up to 50%.
Selection of Moisturizers
There are lots of options — lotions, creams, ointments, and gels. The best one is the one your child will actually use every day because there is no difference in effectiveness for treating childhood eczema (more information). Lotions and gels feel lighter and are often preferred by kids. Ointments (like Vaseline) sting less and are great for very dry skin.
Good choices include:
Ceramide-containing creams: May improve eczema severity by supporting lipid layer repair.
Petrolatum-based products: Effective, simple, budget-friendly and widely available.CeraVe cream, CeraVe ointment, plain petrolatum Vaseline, Cetaphil Cream, and Vanicream: these were all moisturizers approved for use in a recent study that found applying moisturizers to babies reduced the chances of developing eczema, especially if they had a dog.
Ingredients to avoid:
Lanolin
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)
Nut oils (acaris, peanut, almond, sesame)
Any known allergens your child may have (choose low-allergen where possible)
Fragrances, even “natural” plant ones, check the ingredients list
Preservative methylisothiazolinone or formaldehyde releasers such as Quaternium-15
Key considerations:
Adverse reactions: 37% of children experienced at least one reaction, if this is the case for your child try something different.
Allergen content: Approximately 75% of moisturizers contain at least one potential contact allergen. Ensure you read the ingredient list!
Colloidal oatmeal: Can be beneficial but carries a slight risk of sensitization if not regularly consumed in the diet. If this formulation is working for your child, just ensure they have oats in their diet.
Application Guidelines
The way you put moisturizer on is just as important as what you use to maximize benefit and minimize risk. Wash hands before applying and avoid direct hand contact with the moisturizer - use pump bottles, tubes, or if you must use a tub remove moisturizer with a clean spatula. This can prevent the moisturizer from becoming contaminated with allergens, bacteria or fungi. Ensure you apply enough moisturizer, the skin should appear shiny or slightly white (see below for suggested quantities). Apply moisturizer with gentle downward strokes in the direction of hair growth, to prevent irritation of hair follicles (folliculitis). Finally, timing is also important: Moisturizer should be applied within three minutes after bathing (“soak and seal” method).
Recommended quantities per week:
Infants (less than 2 years): ~250g
Children (2–10 years): 250–500g
Bathing routine
Bathe your child daily in lukewarm water no hotter than 32°C or 90°F. Baths should be short, around 5–10 minutes long and only use a cream-based body wash (not a detergent based wash or heavy, scented soaps). Gentle Don’t add anything to the bath water because additives like oils or bubble bath can make eczema worse. A favorite toy can keep hands busy and distracted from itchy skin. After the bath, pat the skin dry (don't rub), then immediately - within 3 minutes - apply moisturizer (also known as the “soak and seal” method).
Adding Anti-Inflammatory Treatments
Oftentimes, eczema needs more than just moisturizer and anti-inflammatory creams can help. A list and description of medicated creams for eczema (including newly improved ones like Zoryve, Opzelura and Vtama) can be found in our treatment navigator for parents!
Many parents are concerned about the risk of topical steroid withdrawal (TSW). However, research shows that in young children this syndrome is extremely rare. In one study of people with TSW, less than 0.3% were under three years of age. A review from last year only found 21 reported cases of TSW in children. If used short term, topical corticosteroids are generally safe when used safely. Check with your doctor about the right potency and application plan!
Controlling eczema well also lowers the chance of developing food allergies later on, so controlling the inflammation is really important.
The takeaway
Managing eczema isn’t just about slathering on any cream. The right moisturizer, applied correctly, plus short baths and (when needed) safe anti-inflammatory treatments, can make a big difference. Check out our podcast on choosing a moisturizer to dig deeper into the science on this topic.
With consistency, you can help your child feel more comfortable and even lower their risk of future allergies.
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