Eczema is a common childhood rash that can appear on several areas of the body, including the face. Caregivers can help manage symptoms with creams, bathing techniques, and medications.

Individuals with eczema may experience dry, sore, and itchy skin. The skin may crack, weep with clear fluid, and then scab over.

Infants with eczema often have a rash on their face, scalp, and behind their ears. Toddlers, older children, and adolescents may also have eczema rash in the creases of their knees, elbows, and ankles or all over the body.

This article explains the appearance and symptoms of facial eczema, its causes and triggers, and how eczema differs by age. It also examines how doctors diagnose and treat children’s facial eczema.

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If a child has eczema on their face, they may have symptomsTrusted Source, such as:

  • a rash on their cheeks and scalp that may appear red, brown, purple, or gray
  • dry, scaly areas that may weep or ooze clear fluid
  • itchy skin
  • small, rough bumps
  • scratch marks
  • blisters that crust over
  • facial skin that feels warm with some inflammation
  • after healing, lighter or darker skin than before
  • sleep disruption due to itching

Over time, eczema can cause thick, scaly, and tough skin that itches most of the time. Seeking early treatment can help prevent this.

Experts are unsure of the precise cause of eczema. However, researchers have found that several factors may play a role in this skin condition, such as:

  • genes
  • the immune system
  • objects or substances that come into contact with the skin

The outer layer of skin, known as the skin barrier, protects against things the skin may come into contact with, such as pollution, dust mites, and fragrances within lotions. It also helps keep the skin hydrated.

Gaps often developTrusted Source in the skin barrier when individuals have eczema. These gaps allow:

  • moisture to escape from the skin, resulting in dryness
  • dust mites, fragrances, and other things to enter the skin barrier, causing inflammation
  • bacteria and viruses to cross the protective barrier, possibly leading to infection

The location, signs, and symptoms of eczema may vary with age.

Infants

Eczema typically develops in infants before they reach 2 years of ageTrusted Source, with around 60%Trusted Source of cases starting by the time the infant is 1 year old. It can appear anywhere on the body but usually develops on the cheeks, forehead, or scalp.

Infants may rub against blankets or other objects when they have itchy skin. Rubbing their skin may cause tiny bumps that ooze fluid and crust over. If they rub their skin to try and relieve the itch, their skin may appear different in color, as well as swollen or raw.

Eczema causes itch, rash, and dry skin, which can cause an infant to act fussy or have difficulty sleeping.

Toddlers

Eczema also causes itchy, scaly patches on other body areas, such as the elbows, knees, and ankles. It may also appear on the hands, neck, and wrists.

Children with darker skin tones are more likely to develop eczema on their extremities than those with lighter skin tones. Some young children also have extra creases or folds underneath their lower eyelids, known asTrusted Source Dennie-Morgan lines.

Older children and teenagers

Small, itchy bumps may develop on the skin instead of a weepy rash. The bumps may be red or pink on light skin tones or gray, brown, or violet on darker skin tones.

The skin may become thick from long-term scratching and rubbing. Thickened skin generally remains extremely dry and itches most of the time, while the skin beneath the eyes may also begin to look darker.

Children with dry, cracked skin are more prone to infection. If a parent or caregiver notices yellow or golden crusts on their child’s skin, they need to contact a doctor for advice. These symptoms may indicate that a child has a bacterial infection.

Eczema has no cure, but most parents and caregivers can help manage their child’s facial eczema with the following strategies.

Bathing techniques

Bathing helps remove dirt and irritants from a child’s skin. When bathing a child with eczema, an individual could try:

  • using lukewarm water
  • using a mild, fragrance-free cleanser
  • avoiding rubbing their skin
  • limiting bathing to 5 to 10 minutes

Moisturize

Moisturizing a child’s skin at least twice per day may relieve dryness. A person can apply an eczema-friendly moisturizer within a few minutes of bathing to lock in moisture.

Corticosteroids

A doctor may prescribe corticosteroids as creams, lotions, ointments, or sprays to apply to the skin. These topical medications help reduce inflammation and other symptoms, such as itching.

They may also recommend applying the corticosteroid after a bath but before applying a moisturizer.

Identify triggers

Some factors may cause a child’s eczema to flare up. It is crucial to identify these triggers and try and find ways to limit or avoid them.

Common triggers that worsen eczema may include:

  • dry air
  • tobacco smoke
  • pet dander
  • pollen
  • certain fabrics
  • laundry detergent
  • fabric softeners
  • soaps
  • shampoos
  • wipes
  • baby powders
  • sweat
  • saliva

A parent or caregiver needs to speak with a healthcare professional if they notice their child has any of the following:

  • symptoms of eczema
  • sleep disruption from itching
  • significant disruption to their daily activities due to their skin rash
  • symptoms of a skin infection

Parents and caregivers need to seek immediate medical help if it looks like their child has an infection with their eczema rash and a fever.

Eczema often starts in early childhood and develops as a red, brown, purple, or gray rash, depending on the child’s skin color. It is common for infants with eczema to have it on their cheeks, forehead, or scalp.

Eczema may present slightly differently over time. It may begin on the face and scalp in infancy and then develop on the elbows, knees, and ankles throughout toddlerhood.

A healthcare professional can help parents and caregivers find the most suitable way to manage their child’s eczema.