Quick answer: No environment is eczema-free. Each one has its own triggers: cities bring traffic fumes, smoke and dust; the country brings more pollen, grasses and plants; and humid coastal areas have more dust mites than drier inland areas.¹ Wherever you live, a daily routine of a gentle bath, generous moisturising and a smoke-free, well-aired home helps your child's skin most.
Does where you live affect eczema?
Where you live doesn't cause eczema, but it can shape which triggers your child meets every day. Changes in climate are a common trigger for flares,² and there's usually no single trigger.³ Knowing what's typical of your environment helps you plan your child's routine.
Eczema triggers by environment at a glance
| Environment | Main challenges | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| City | Traffic fumes, smoke, dust, overheated indoor air | Air the home daily; a gentle daily bath; moisturise |
| Country and bush | Grass pollen, plants, farm animals and pets | Long sleeves on grass; rinse after outdoor play; dry clothes inside in pollen season |
| Coast | Humidity and dust mites; salt water | Focus on the bedroom to reduce dust mites; rinse and moisturise after swimming |
| Dry inland areas | Dry air, heat, dust | Moisturise more often; keep cool |
| Bushfire smoke (anywhere) | Smoke and fine particles | Stay indoors on smoky days; cover skin; keep moisturising |
City living: pollution, smoke and dust
The challenges: traffic fumes, dust and fine particles in the air can irritate sensitive skin. Cigarette smoke is a proven aggravating factor for eczema, whether through active or passive smoking.² Indoor air can also concentrate dust and heat, especially in apartments.
What helps:
- Air your home every day, opening windows when traffic is lighter.
- Keep your home and car smoke-free. For free support to quit, call Quitline on 13 7848.
- Don't overdo washing. A daily lukewarm bath of 10–15 minutes is enough,⁴ and extra washing can dry the skin out. Use a soap-free cleanser, such as Stelatopia Cleansing Oil, then moisturise.
Country and bush living: pollen, plants and animals
The good news: less traffic pollution and more fresh air.
The challenges: more grasses and plants, and more pollen in spring. In Australia, grass pollen counts are usually highest between late September and December, which can trigger flares in children sensitised to pollen.¹ Some plants can also irritate the skin on contact. Farm animals and pets are part of country life, but if testing confirms a pet allergy, ASCIA's advice is that avoiding the animal is most effective, and keeping pets out of your child's bedroom helps.⁵
What helps:
- Dress your child in long sleeves and pants for playing on grass or in the bush.
- Rinse your child's skin and hair after outdoor play, then moisturise.
- Dry clothes and bedding inside during pollen season.¹
Coastal and inland areas: humidity and dust mites
Dust mites thrive in homes with high humidity and constant warm temperatures, and they're more common in coastal cities than in drier inland areas.¹ If you live on the coast, focus on the bedroom: wash bedding weekly in hot water above 60 °C and use dust mite resistant covers.¹
Inland, the air tends to be drier and the heat harsher, so moisturise more often and keep your child cool. At the beach, rinse off salt water and sand straight away, then moisturise.
For more tips, read our guide to reducing eczema triggers at home.
Bushfire smoke and eczema
Bushfire smoke can affect the skin as well as the lungs. A study published in JAMA Dermatology found that during a major wildfire in California, clinic visits for eczema in children rose to about 1.5 times the usual rate, and visits for itch to about 1.8 times.⁶
On smoky days:
- Keep your child indoors where possible, with windows and doors closed.
- If you do go out, cover your child's skin with light, loose clothing.
- Keep up moisturising to support the skin barrier. The study's researchers also suggest emollients to protect the skin during smoke events.⁶
- Check your state's air quality updates before outdoor activities.
Daily habits that help, wherever you live
- Bathe once a day in lukewarm water, ideally in the evening, to rinse off the day's dust, pollen and sweat.⁴
- Moisturise straight after the bath, and whenever the skin feels dry, with Stelatopia+ Lipid-Replenishing Cream.
- Pack a moisturiser and a cool water spray for outings, especially on hot, polluted or high-pollen days.
- Air your home daily and keep it smoke-free.²
For a step-by-step routine, read our guide on how to bathe a baby with eczema.
Frequently asked questions about eczema and where you live
Is eczema more common in cities?
Eczema is more common in industrialised, urban countries, and researchers are still working out why. Where you live is only one of many factors, and children with eczema can thrive in any environment with a good daily routine.
Will moving to the country or the coast help my child's eczema?
Not necessarily. Each environment has its own triggers: the country has more pollen, and the coast has more dust mites. Focusing on your child's known triggers and daily skin care usually makes more difference than where you live.
References
- ASCIA. Allergen Minimisation – Frequently Asked Questions (2024).
- Mustela Australia. Study on Atopic Dermatitis in infants, children and adults.
- ASCIA. Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) – Fast Facts.
- Children's Health Queensland. Eczema – bathing your child.
- ASCIA. Pet Allergy – Frequently Asked Questions (2024).
- Fadadu RP et al. (2021). Association of wildfire air pollution and health care use for atopic dermatitis and itch. JAMA Dermatology. Summary: UCSF.
This article provides general information and does not replace medical advice. Always consult your GP, paediatrician or dermatologist about your child's skin.
