A Simple Parent’s Guide to Helping a Child with Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)

Written By paola gugliotta

If your child has eczema, you know how frustrating it can be. The itching, the redness, the sleepless nights, the endless search for products that promise relief.

The truth is that eczema is rarely improved by a single cream alone. In most cases, the biggest improvements come from protecting the skin barrier every single day and reducing unnecessary sources of irritation.

Here are the principles I have found most important when caring for eczema-prone skin



1. Less Soap, Healthier Skin

Many parents are surprised to learn that frequent washing can make eczema worse.

Traditional soaps and harsh cleansers remove the skin's natural protective lipids, leaving the skin drier and more vulnerable to irritation.

Instead:

Use gentle cleansing oils or lipid-rich cleansers.

  • Avoid washing the entire body with cleanser every day.

  • Focus on areas that genuinely need cleansing, such as hands, feet, underarms, and the intimate area.

For many children with eczema, less cleansing is often better.


2. Keep Baths and Showers Short

Water itself can contribute to dryness when the skin is exposed for too long.

Recommendations:

  • Use lukewarm water, never hot.

  • Keep baths and showers as short as possible.

  • Ideally under 5 minutes.

  • Pat the skin dry gently with a towel rather than rubbing.

The goal is to minimize disruption of the skin barrier.

3. Avoid Olive Oil on Eczema-Prone Skin

Olive oil is often perceived as a natural remedy, but natural does not always mean beneficial.

Olive oil contains high levels of oleic acid, which has been shown to disrupt the skin barrier and increase transepidermal water loss in susceptible skin.

Better alternatives include:

  • Oat oil

  • Squalane

  • Sunflower seed oil

  • Barrier-repair products specifically designed for eczema-prone skin

4. Moisturize Every Day — Even During Good Periods

One of the biggest mistakes parents make is only applying moisturizer during flare-ups.

Eczema management is preventive.

Apply moisturizer:

  • Every morning

  • Every evening

  • Immediately after bathing

Consistent hydration helps strengthen the skin barrier and may reduce the frequency and severity of future flare-ups.

5. Clothing Matters More Than Most People Think

The skin is in constant contact with clothing.

The wrong fabric can increase friction, sweating, irritation, and itching.

Best choices

✓ 100% cotton

✓ Soft natural fibers

✓ Light-colored clothing

✓ Cotton underwear

Try to avoid

✗ Polyester

✗ Nylon

✗ Acrylic fibers

✗ Tight synthetic fabrics

✗ Plastic-coated prints

✗ Glitter or metallic finishes

Many decorative textile finishes may contain substances such as:

  • Phthalates

  • Plasticizers

  • Acrylic resins

  • Formaldehyde residues

  • Disperse dyes

These materials can be problematic for highly sensitive skin.

6. Wash Clothes Simply

Laundry products often remain on fabrics after washing.

For sensitive skin:

  • Use minimal detergent or don’t use it at all.

  • Choose fragrance-free products whenever possible.

  • Avoid fabric softeners.

  • Add an extra rinse cycle if available.

7. Keep Fingernails Short

Scratching damages the skin barrier and increases the risk of infection.

Simple measures can help:

  • Keep nails short and clean.

  • Consider cotton gloves at night if scratching becomes severe.

  • Seek medical advice if itching significantly affects sleep.

8. Ingredients I Prefer to Avoid in Eczema Care Products

Not every child reacts to these ingredients, but many eczema-prone individuals tolerate simpler formulations better.

Harsh Surfactants

  • Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)

  • Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate

Isothiazolinone Preservatives

  • Methylisothiazolinone (MI)

  • Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI)

These are among the most common causes of cosmetic contact allergies.

Strong Fragrance Systems

  • Fragrance (Parfum)

  • Essential oil blends with multiple allergenic components

Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives

  • DMDM Hydantoin

  • Imidazolidinyl Urea

  • Diazolidinyl Urea

  • Quaternium-15

Ethoxylated Ingredients

  • PEGs

  • PPGs

  • Polysorbates

While widely used and considered safe by regulators, some parents prefer to minimize unnecessary exposure in highly reactive skin.

Synthetic Polymers

  • Acrylates Copolymer

  • Polyquaterniums

  • PMMA

  • Nylon powders

Heavy Silicone-Based Formulations

  • Dimethicone

  • Cyclopentasiloxane

  • Cyclohexasiloxane

These ingredients are generally not irritating, but they mainly provide occlusion rather than actively supporting skin barrier repair.

9. Ingredients I Actively Look For

When choosing products for eczema-prone skin, I often prioritize:

  • Glycerin

  • Ceramides

  • Squalane

  • Panthenol (Vitamin B5)

  • Colloidal oatmeal

  • Shea butter

  • Niacinamide

  • Hyaluronic acid

  • Cholesterol

  • Essential fatty acids

These ingredients help support hydration and reinforce the skin's natural protective barrier.

10. The Most Important Lesson

Parents often spend years searching for the perfect cream.

In reality, eczema improvement usually comes from a combination of simple daily habits:

  • Less soap

  • Shorter showers

  • Consistent moisturizing

  • Appropriate clothing

  • Fewer irritants

  • Fewer fragrances

Small changes, repeated consistently, can make a remarkable difference.

Healthy skin is not built in a day. It is built through daily protection of the skin barrier, one gentle habit at a time.

"Eczema care is not about finding a miracle cream. It's about protecting the skin barrier every day.

Girl running happily


Paola Gugliotta is a cosmetic formulator and skin coach with over 25 years of experience studying skin health, sensitive skin, and barrier-supportive skincare.

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