Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) in children

Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) is a condition that affects the skin, causing redness, itching and oozing.

Eczema mostly occurs in infants, with around 1 in 5 children under 2 years of age affected¹. It is common for people with eczema to have or develop allergies, suggesting that inherited (genetic) factors play a role in eczema development. There is currently no cure available for eczema, but it can be effectively treated and managed.

Children with food allergy often have eczema in early childhood². Food allergy may make eczema worse for some people, but is not the cause.

In people with eczema the skin barrier is less effective than in people who do not have eczema. In eczema there is a reduced production of fats and oils and the skin therefore has less water retaining properties. This means that skin with eczema does not provide the protection from the environment that normal skin does.

For more information see:

Atopic Eczema Management: It’s hard to get consistent information!

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