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Eczema (atopic dermatitis)


Disclaimer: This fact sheet is for educational use only. Please consult your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for your child.

Key points to remember about eczema (atopic dermatitis)

  • eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis) is a dry skin condition
  • eczema cannot be cured but it can usually be controlled
  • eczema in not catching (contagious)
  • avoid things which irritate the skin
  • go to your GP (general practitioner) as soon as possible if your child’s eczema gets worse or becomes infected

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What is eczema?

  • eczema (or atopic dermatitis) is a dry skin condition that causes the skin to become inflamed (red) and itchy 
  • it usually begins early in childhood

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What causes eczema?

The exact cause of eczema is not known but a child is more likely to develop eczema if there is a family history of eczema, asthma or hayfever.
 

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How long can eczema last?

Eczema cannot be cured but it can be controlled with treatment and by avoiding things which can trigger your child’s eczema (see How can I manage my child’s eczema?).
 
There is a good chance that your child’s eczema will improve or disappear as they get older.
 

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What puts my child at risk of getting eczema?

  • eczema occurs in about 15 to 20 percent of children
  • it occurs in children with an allergic tendency
  • it runs in families and goes hand in hand with asthma and hayfever

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What are the signs and symptoms of eczema?

  • when a child has eczema, their skin feels dry and rough to touch, and it is itchy
  • the skin can become inflamed (looks red), and may even get infected (gets weepy), particularly with scratching
  • in babies, the rash often involves the face
  • in older children, the skin in the creases behind the knees and elbows, around the neck and on the hands is often affected
  • in some children, the skin over the entire body is affected
  • at times your child’s skin will look good and at other times it gets worse; this is part of the disease and not caused by bad care
Baby with eczema
Eczema in elbow crease
 
 
See Acknowledgements for these images.
 

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How can I manage my child’s eczema?

Most eczema can be easily managed at home.
 
The basic treatment of eczema involves three important messages:
For information about managing and treating your child’s eczema, see:
Your doctor may also give you a management plan like the following:

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Are there likely to be any complications of eczema?

Baby with infected eczema
Children with eczema are more likely to get skin infections. The dryness, cracking, itching and scratching that eczema causes, increases the chance of bacteria (or sometimes a virus) breaking through the skin. Infants are particularly at risk of severe skin infections.
 
 
 
 
See Acknowledgements for this image.
 
If your child’s eczema gets worse or becomes infected, you will need to take them to your GP (general practitioner). Sometimes, a hospital stay may be necessary.
 
For more information about eczema complications, see:

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Where to go for more information about eczema

Allergy New Zealand www.allergy.org.nz
Allergy New Zealand’s website has a fact sheet about eczema  which includes a section on:
  • tips for keeping atopic dermatitis under control
Address: PO Box 56 117, Dominion Road, Auckland
Call free on 0800 34 0800
Email: membership@allergy.org.nz

DermNet NZ www.dermnetnz.org
The website of the New Zealand Dermatological Society has a fact sheet on atopic dermatitis. This includes:
  • a section, with photos, on what atopic dermatitis looks like
  • information about infantile atopic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis in pre-schoolers and atopic dermatitis in school-age children
  • links to other DermNet fact sheets:
    – What causes atopic dermatitis?
    – Treatment of atopic dermatitis
    – Complications of atopic dermatitis
  • links to more information on other websites
Itchy Kids www.itchykids.org.nz
A New Zealand support group run by parents for parents and whanau of children with eczema.
 

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Acknowledgements

Images of eczema on this page have been reproduced, with permission, from the website of the New Zealand Dermatological Society Incorporated. Published online at: http://www.dermnetnz.org.
 

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Endorsement

This fact sheet was endorsed by PSNZ - 19/02/2008

Copyright

Fact sheets are subject to copyright. In the interests of information sharing they may be copied but acknowledgement must be given to PSNZ and Starship Foundation.
© The Paediatric Society of New Zealand and Starship Foundation 2005 - 2012


The Paediatric Society of New Zealand
http://www.paediatrics.org.nz 		Starship Foundation
http://www.starship.org.nz