Quick answer: Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is the most common chronic skin condition in young children. ASCIA estimates it affects around 1 in 5 Australian children under two.¹ It is not contagious and not caused by poor hygiene. It often runs in families and usually improves by school age. Daily lukewarm baths followed straight away by an emollient are recommended.² Children with eczema are more likely to develop other allergic conditions such as asthma and hay fever, so it helps to know the warning signs.³
Eczema true or false: the verdicts at a glance
| Claim | Verdict | What the evidence says |
|---|---|---|
| Eczema is common in babies and children | ✅ True | Around 1 in 5 children under 2 in Australia |
| Eczema is contagious | ❌ False | It cannot be passed from person to person |
| Eczema is caused by poor hygiene | ❌ False | It stems from genetic, skin barrier and immune factors |
| Eczema is an allergy | ⚠️ Partly true | It is an atopic condition; allergens can trigger flares but rarely cause it on their own |
| Eczema is hereditary | ✅ Mostly true | The risk rises to 40–50% with one atopic parent and 50–80% with two |
| Eczema is for life | ❌ Usually false | Most childhood eczema improves by age 5 |
| Eczema has no link to other allergies | ❌ False | It is linked to food allergy, asthma and hay fever |
| Frequent bathing makes eczema worse | ❌ False | Daily lukewarm baths followed by an emollient are recommended |
| Daily skincare can lengthen the time between flares | ✅ True | All treatment guidelines recommend daily emollients |
What is eczema (atopic dermatitis)?
Eczema is a chronic, non-contagious inflammatory skin condition. It is also called atopic dermatitis or atopic eczema. It causes dry, red, itchy skin that flares and settles over time.
It develops when a weakened skin barrier and an over-reactive immune system combine. As ASCIA explains, the skin loses moisture easily, which lets irritants and allergens get in and trigger inflammation. Scratching then releases more itch-causing chemicals. This creates an "itch–scratch cycle" that can disrupt sleep and quality of life for the whole family.¹ In children, eczema affects quality of life more than almost any other skin condition.³
In babies, eczema typically appears on the cheeks, scalp and outer limbs. In older children it tends to move to the skin creases: inner elbows, behind the knees, ankles and neck.
Is eczema common in babies and children?
True. Eczema is the most common chronic skin condition of early childhood.
Worldwide, eczema affects up to 25% of children and 4–9% of adults. In Australia, population data show a prevalence of 20.3% at one year old and 16% at four years old.³ The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) estimates that infantile eczema affects around 1 in 5 Australian children under two.¹
If your baby has eczema, they are far from alone, and it is not a reflection of anything you have done.
Is eczema contagious?
False. Eczema cannot spread from one person to another, even during a severe flare with weeping or broken skin.
It is caused by a combination of genetic, skin barrier and immune factors, not by a virus or bacterium. Children with eczema can safely attend childcare, swim, and share baths and towels with siblings.
Is eczema caused by poor hygiene?
False. Eczema is not caused by dirt or a lack of washing.
It comes from an inherited tendency toward a leaky skin barrier and an over-reactive immune response. Harsh soaps, bubble baths and over-scrubbing can make it worse, so gentle cleansing matters more than how often you wash.
Is eczema an allergy?
Partly true. Eczema is an atopic condition, in the same family as food allergy, asthma and hay fever. But it is not simply an allergic reaction.⁵
A damaged skin barrier leaves the skin more exposed to allergens and irritants, which can trigger flares, but there is usually no single trigger.¹ For most children, removing one food or allergen will not clear their eczema.
Don't remove foods from your child's diet without advice from a GP, paediatrician or allergist.
Is eczema hereditary?
Mostly true. A family history of eczema, asthma or hay fever is the strongest known risk factor.
In the HealthNuts study, maternal eczema and asthma were among the strongest predictors of eczema in infants.⁴ The atopic tendency is genetically determined. If one parent is atopic, a child has a 40–50% risk of developing eczema. If both parents are atopic, the risk rises to 50–80%.³
Genetics also affect the skin barrier directly. About 10% of people carry at least one mutation in the filaggrin (FLG) gene, which makes a protein essential for a healthy skin barrier.⁶ Carrying one of these mutations roughly triples the risk of atopic dermatitis.⁷
Eczema can still appear in children with no family history, because many genes and environmental factors are involved.
Is eczema for life?
Usually false. Most childhood eczema improves significantly with age.
Eczema usually starts between 3 and 6 months of age, and 80% of children who develop it do so by age five.³ ASCIA notes that infantile eczema usually improves by around age five.¹ In the HealthNuts study, eczema rates fell from about 20% at age one to 15.3% at age six and 12.9% at age ten.⁸
Eczema does not always disappear completely. Around half of cases may persist after 10 years,³ and around 8.5% of Australian adults in their early 50s still have eczema.⁹ Consistent skincare and prompt treatment of flares help keep symptoms mild at any age.
Is eczema linked to other allergies?
True. Eczema, especially when it starts early or is severe, is linked to a higher risk of food allergy, asthma and hay fever.
This pattern is often called the "atopic march." Food allergy tends to appear early, asthma and wheezing at school age, and hay fever in adolescence and adulthood. The link grows with severity: asthma occurs in 20–30% of children with mild eczema and in around 70% of those with severe eczema.³ ASCIA also notes that infants with eczema and a family history of allergy are more likely to develop food allergy.¹
Eczema does not directly "cause" these conditions. They share the same underlying atopic tendency. If your baby has moderate-to-severe eczema that began in the first months of life, ask your GP about allergy assessment.
Does bathing too often make eczema worse?
False. Daily bathing is recommended for children with eczema, as long as it is done the right way.
Children's Health Queensland advises a daily lukewarm bath of 10–15 minutes as part of eczema care.² A review in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology concluded that a daily soak is fine when followed immediately by a moisturiser.¹⁰ This routine is often called "soak and smear."
What harms eczema-prone skin is how you bathe, not how often:
- Use lukewarm water. Hot water strips natural oils and can sting.
- Use a soap-free cleanser. A gentle option like Stelatopia Cleansing Oil works well. Avoid soap, bubble bath and fragranced gels.
- Wash hair gently. For eczema-prone scalps, use a mild formula such as Stelatopia Foam Shampoo.
- Keep baths short. Aim for 10–15 minutes.
- Pat skin dry. Don't rub.
- Apply an emollient within 3 minutes of drying. A cream such as Stelatopia+ Lipid-Replenishing Cream locks moisture in.
Can daily skincare help reduce eczema flares?
True. Daily emollient use is the foundation of eczema care. It supports the skin barrier and can help lengthen the time between flares.
All major eczema treatment guidelines recommend regular, daily emollient use, whatever the severity. Apply it all over the body, not only on the affected patches, and more often during a flare. Emollients can be used on their own or alongside treatments your doctor prescribes, such as topical corticosteroids. Applying more emollient is linked to less severe eczema.³
Simple habits at home also help:
- Dress your child in soft, breathable cotton.
- Keep bedrooms cool and well ventilated to limit sweating.
- Keep fingernails short to reduce damage from scratching.
- Wash new clothes before wearing them, and use a fragrance-free laundry detergent.
- Keep a diary of possible triggers, such as heat, dust mites, wool or seasonal changes, to discuss with your GP.
Mustela's Stelatopia routine for eczema-prone skin
The Stelatopia range is formulated for eczema-prone skin from birth and is suitable for the whole family:
- Stelatopia Cleansing Oil: a soap-free bath and shower oil that cleanses gently without drying the skin.
- Stelatopia Foam Shampoo: a gentle shampoo for dry, eczema-prone scalps.
- Stelatopia+ Lipid-Replenishing Cream: a certified-organic emollient that helps replenish the skin's lipids and relieve dryness and itching.
- Eczema-Prone Skin Complete Skincare Routine: the full cleanse-and-moisturise routine in one set, for all ages.
Stelatopia+ was developed with feedback from more than 200 families with eczema-prone skin. It was tested in three clinical studies, run under dermatological and paediatric supervision, in children, adults and pregnant women. Results included:¹¹
- 24-hour hydration after a single application
- in the adult group, a 14% increase in long-chain ceramides after one month, a key marker of skin barrier health
- in the children's study, perfect tolerance in 100% of participants³
Not sure what your child's skin type is? Take our Skin Type Diagnosis quiz.
When should I see a doctor about my child's eczema?
See your GP, paediatrician or dermatologist if:
- eczema is not improving after 1–2 weeks of regular emollient use,
- itch is disrupting your child's sleep or daily activities,
- skin is weeping, crusted with yellow scabs, painful or spreading quickly (possible infection),
- you suspect a food allergy, or your baby has moderate-to-severe eczema in the first months of life.
Frequently asked questions about eczema in babies and children
What does eczema look like on a baby?
In babies, eczema usually appears as dry, red, rough patches on the cheeks, forehead, scalp and the outside of the arms and legs. The skin may look scaly, and during a flare it can weep or crust. The nappy area is often spared because it stays moist.
What triggers eczema flares in babies?
Flares can be set off by irritants such as soaps and rough fabrics, allergens such as house dust mite, changes in climate, stress and infections. Cigarette smoke (including passive smoking), pollution and urban living are also known aggravating factors.³ Triggers differ from child to child, so keeping a diary can help you and your GP spot patterns.
Can eczema be cured?
Eczema is a chronic condition, so there is no quick fix, but it can usually be well controlled with daily emollients and prompt treatment of flares.³ ASCIA notes that most children see their eczema improve significantly by around age five.¹
Is Stelatopia+ suitable for newborns?
Yes. Stelatopia+ Lipid-Replenishing Cream is suitable from birth and for the whole family. It was tested in babies from 3 months, children, adults and pregnant women, and was applied twice a day in Mustela's clinical studies.³
Can I use Stelatopia+ during pregnancy?
Yes. Stelatopia+ is suitable for pregnant women with dry or eczema-prone skin. In a clinical study of pregnant women with a history of atopic dermatitis, 86.4% experienced reduced skin tightness.³
References
- ASCIA. Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) – Fast Facts.
- Children's Health Queensland. Eczema – bathing your child.
- Mustela Australia. Study on Atopic Dermatitis in infants, children and adults.
- Martin PE et al. (2013). The prevalence and socio-demographic risk factors of clinical eczema in infancy: the HealthNuts study. Clinical & Experimental Allergy.
- ASCIA. Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) – Frequently Asked Questions.
- Carson CG et al. (2012). Clinical presentation of atopic dermatitis by filaggrin gene mutation status during the first 7 years of life in a prospective cohort study. PLoS ONE.
- Weidinger S, O'Sullivan M, Illig T et al. (2008). Filaggrin mutations, atopic eczema, hay fever, and asthma in children. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 121: 1203–1209.
- Peters RL et al. (2024). The prevalence of IgE-mediated food allergy and other allergic diseases in the first 10 years: the HealthNuts study. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract.
- Zeleke BM et al. (2023). Epidemiology of eczema in South-Eastern Australia. Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 64: e41–e50.
- Cardona ID, Stillman L, Jain N (2016). Does bathing frequency matter in pediatric atopic dermatitis? Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 117(1): 9–13.
- Mustela Australia. Stelatopia+ Studies: Clinical Efficacy & Results.
- ASCIA. Guidelines – infant feeding and allergy prevention.
This article provides general information and does not replace medical advice. Always consult your GP, paediatrician or dermatologist about your child's skin.
