Best Eczema Cream for Babies in 2023

Eczema is a term pertaining to a group of skin conditions that cause the skin to become dry, itchy, and inflamed. For children, the most common types are contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis or cradle cap, dyshidrotic eczema, and atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis results from the overactive response of the immune system to different triggers either inside or outside the body. And according to the National Eczema Association (NEA), it affects 13% of all children under 18 years old in the United States.

Usually, eczema shows at around 6 months of age, which the child will then outgrow after 3 to 5 years. However, this will not be the same for every child. Some eczema conditions will go into remission with symptoms disappearing altogether in months, while some children can get flare-ups when they reach adolescence or early adulthood.

The same goes with treating the condition; what works to a particular child may not work for another. That is why we have reviewed 10 eczema creams so that you can find what works best to your baby. We are also glad to say that all of these products have received the NEA Seal of Acceptance to guarantee that they are safe for people with sensitive skin and eczema.

Lastly, it is important that you know what type of eczema your baby has, including its symptoms, causes, and triggers. But don’t worry, you don’t have to open hundreds of tabs in your browser for this. We have filled our buyer’s guide with different types of information about eczema in children, so feel free to jump ahead before reading our reviews.

Best Eczema Cream for Babies Comparison Table

* Potential irritants are at concentration levels thought to be insignificant for most eczema patients using extensive testing and sensitivity data

** Products with 5-star ratings have no ingredients that have sensitizing effects to eczema patients

Best Eczema Cream for Babies Reviews

Mustela Stelatopia Emollient Cream – Editor’s Choice

Most of the time, you have to buy products separately for the purpose of healing and hydrating your baby’s eczema. That is why we are thrilled when we found out that Mustela Stelatopia Emollient Cream can do both.

Heal and Hydrate

Mustela Stelatopia uses sunflower oil distillate and avocado perseose to ”replenish, soothe, and restore” your baby’s skin. But are these claims valid? How do these ingredients affect baby eczema?

Sunflower Oil Distillate

Sunflower oil distillate is actually a patented ingredient found exclusively in this cream. The Expanscience Laboratories developed it by enhancing sunflower oil with essential fatty acids for treating inflammatory skin disorders in infants and babies. The good news is, this ingredient is further proven to be effective in treating eczema by Dr. Lawrence F. Eichenfield in his medical article in Pediatric Dermatology.

Sunflower seed oil is naturally rich in essential fatty acids such as linoleic acid. This fatty acid is capable of enhancing the skin barrier; thus, you would think that the enhanced sunflower oil distillate will, in turn, have enhanced effects. If that is what you thought, then you are correct.

As found in this study, sunflower oil distillate reduces inflammation, increases epidermal lipid synthesis or metabolism (e.g., ceramide production), and also stimulates keratinocyte differentiation (abnormal in eczema). All of these effects improves the skin barrier function beneficial to eczema patients. The study also reveals the positive moisturizing effect of the distillate to people with atopic dermatitis.

As a moisturizing cream, having sunflower oil distillate can help replenish ceramides, which are correlated to having an improved skin barrier. Having a proper barrier function can help heal your baby’s skin faster because it keeps the bacteria at bay.

Speaking of bacteria, Mustela Stelatopia also mentioned that the cream reduces the adhesion of Staphylococcus aureus by preventing its biofilm formation. The product is true to its claim because we have found a study that confirms the antibacterial properties of sunflower oil.

Avocado Perseose

Another ingredient that is thought to be beneficial for babies with eczema is avocado perseose. Expanscience also developed this component from avocado molecules. What does it do?

Avocado perseose moisturizes the skin, and like the previous ingredient, it also helps in improving the skin barrier by assisting the skin in producing proteins and lipids. Avocado perseose can even protect the cutaneous cells to prevent further damage from the environment which atopic skins are prone to.

Fragrance-Free and Quick-Absorbing

These ingredients work well with a lot of users with their baby’s skin improving as short as overnight and conditions like cradle cap disappearing after only 2 uses. We also like how the cream has no smell since artificial fragrances sometimes cause allergic and irritating reactions to babies.

The texture of the cream itself feels light, and it gets easily absorbed by the skin. It leaves no sticky residues making it perfect for moisturizing. And because it gets readily absorbed, you can quickly apply wet wraps to your baby.

According to the company, you can safely use this cream daily for your child from birth onwards. We are also pleased that it has no harmful chemicals like parabens, phthalates, and phenoxyethanol. The cream is even steroid-free. However, note that there is no evidence to conclude that steroid worsens eczema. We can’t deny that parents are still cautious in using baby products with steroids, so being steroid-free can lessen their fear.

Lastly, Mustela is certified by the B Corporation who assess companies regarding their social and environmental performance. The company even boasts that they require their suppliers to do sustainable development practices. Besides the health benefits from this product, we appreciate that the environment benefits from it as well.

Triple Cream Eczema Care & Severe Dry Skin

Our next cream is also paraben and fragrance-free. But in contrast to the light and creamy texture of Mustela, the consistency of this cream is paste-like. But it still doesn’t feel greasy after application so your baby will not feel icky.

Triple Cream doesn’t rub off easily, which is beneficial for babies who are always moving around or turning in the crib. And what we like most about this cream is how soft and smooth it leaves the skin after application.

For the effects, it has a lot of good results ranging from clearing cradle cap, controlling itchiness, and relieving redness. We also think that for controlling flare-ups, Triple Cream Eczema Care is a product that your baby can benefit from even after just an overnight use. Because it works as an excellent emollient, it makes you think what its key ingredients are.

Oat Kernel Extract

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) gave oat kernel extract a score of 1, which means it is a relatively safe ingredient with low risk of health concerns. But as you can see in our comparison table, oat kernel extract can be related to food allergies and skin sensitization. That is why it is crucial that you are aware if your baby has an allergy to this ingredient.

Nonetheless, this is the exact ingredient in the cream that helps in relieving and soothing eczema. As concluded in this 2015 study, Avena sativa has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. It also found that oat also helps in improving skin conditions that are commonly experienced with eczema such as dryness, roughness, itchiness, and scaling.

Besides relieving these symptoms, oat kernel extract has avenanthramide making it an excellent emollient for soothing and moisturizing the skin. It also encourages healing to make the skin looks healthier, thanks to being high in silicic acid.

Beeswax

A common ingredient in most home-made lotion recipes, beeswax is also great for improving psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. It is rich in fatty acids useful for the maintenance of a healthy skin texture. Besides this benefit, this ingredient can also help reduce the symptoms of eczema noticeable in an itchy, inflamed, and dehydrated skin. And because of its waxy texture, it can create a protective barrier for the skin.

White Petrolatum

As you can see in this study, white petrolatum is an excellent moisturizer shown to decrease water loss in the skin. It also has antimicrobial responses as it repairs the skin barrier.

Bisabolol

Bisabolol is a plant extract from German chamomile that has anti-Inflammatory and soothing effects on the skin. This ingredient is useful to calm irritated skin, including those caused by eczema.

Babyganics Eczema Care Skin Protectant Cream

From the previous creams we reviewed, we have already introduced you to beneficial ingredients such as sunflower seed oil and oats. And in our next product, the Babyganics Eczema Care Skin Protectant Cream, it uses both of those ingredients. However, what’s unique with this cream is its NeoNourish Seed Oil Blend from tomato, sunflower, raspberry, and black cumin. This oil blend is a trend in their products, including in their plant-based diaper.

Babyganics has a smooth and thick consistency that gets easily absorbed in the baby’s skin. It is known to relieve eczema symptoms such as dryness, redness, and patches without worsening the skin’s irritation. A handful of parents noticed these effects, so we like to have a more in-depth look in the cream’s ingredients ourselves.

Shea Butter

Popularly seen in beauty products, shea butter can also benefit those who suffer from eczema. This butter is made out of the fat from African Shea tree nuts, and the reason why it works great as a moisturizer is because it’s easily absorbable in the skin. It is also a useful ingredient for retaining moisture in the skin because it acts as a protective barrier for water loss.

Shea butter is beneficial for eczema as shown in this study, leaving the patient’s skin smoother and almost clearing up from the condition. Some other effects an eczema patient can benefit from this ingredient are anti-inflammatory effects from having cinnamic acid and lupeol cinnamate and as we have mentioned earlier, getting a smoother skin texture because of its abundance in fatty acids.

Black Cumin Seed Oil

A popular skincare ingredient in the Middle East, black cumin seed oil has thymoquinone that has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. This effects can minimize redness and soothe irritation in eczema patients. And as shown in this study, this ingredient can reduce the severity of hand eczema. Black cumin seed oil also promotes wound healing to minimize the risk of infection.

Red Raspberry Seed Oil

This ingredient has antioxidative properties, and because it has a high amount of Omega-3, Omega-6, and Omega-9 fatty acids, it can alleviate the symptoms of eczema. Some effects that an eczema patient can benefit from are moisturizing, wound healing (oleic acid), anti-inflammatory (alpha-linolenic acid), moisture retaining (phytosterols), skin barrier repair (linoleic acid), and cell regeneration.

Tomato Seed Oil

The antioxidants, phytosterols, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and minerals in the tomato seed oil can heal an eczema prone skin by reducing inflammation as it retains the moisture inside.

Cocoa Seed Butter

Similar to the previous ingredients, cocoa seed butter is rich in fatty acids that form a barrier for retaining moisture inside the skin. There are also anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects (polyphenols) that can alleviate eczema symptoms.

Cranberry Seed Oil

This oil is rich in fatty acids, tocopherols, tocotrienols, and phytosterols to hydrate and soothe inflamed skin.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E can alleviate eczema symptoms such as itchiness, dryness, and flaking because of its anti-inflammatory effects (blocking leukotriene), and protecting the oils in the skin.

Besides these ingredients, Babyganics Care Skin Protectant Cream also has no worrisome inclusions such as parabens, sulfates, phthalates, artificial fragrances, and dyes. And similar to our first cream, it has no steroids nor cortisones.

But Be Aware Of…

Bioderma Atoderm Cream for Very Dry or Sensitive Skin

Our next cream is the Bioderma Atoderm for Very Dry or Sensitive Skin. It is paraben-free with a consistency that feels thicker and absorbs slower than the previous product we have reviewed. However, some people might prefer this thick consistency, especially with very dry baby skin.

A Small Amount Goes a Long Way

It is mild enough to use for babies, and a small amount goes a long way to clear eczema symptoms like redness, patches, and itchiness. So what are the ingredients in this cream that can be beneficial for eczema patients? Besides vitamin E (Tocopheryl acetate), Bioderma Atoderm has components that can alleviate dryness, inflammation, redness, and irritation.

Glycerin

Glycerin attracts water which can help build up the skin barrier and lock-in moisture. Manufacturers commonly use this ingredient in a lot of moisturizers because it helps dry and cracked skin. Glycerin also has wound-healing properties to relieve pain and irritation in eczema patients.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin b3 that offers a lot of benefits for eczema patients. For example, it helps the skin to retain moisture by growing a lipid barrier and reduce inflammation to relieve redness due to eczema.

Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract

Laminaria ochroleuca or kelp, can help hydrate dry skin by providing lipids, reduce inflammation and redness, as well as support the skin against oxidative stress caused by sunlight exposure.

As we have discussed earlier, the consistency the Bioderma Atoderm Cream is not as light as our previous products. It can feel sticky for a while before it gets fully absorbed in the skin. When we checked the ingredients, we found out that paraffinum liquidum is immediately after the first ingredient, which means that its amount is quite plenty.

Paraffinum liquidum or mineral oil creates a protective layer on the skin to retain its moisture. However, this can give the skin a greasy feeling. Some experts also argue that this ingredient does not moisturize nor soften the skin.

Babyganics Diaper Rash Cream

So far, we haven’t mentioned an eczema cream specifically for relieving diaper rashes. But don’t worry, our review is comprehensive, and we included a diaper rash cream. This product is from Babyganics, and similar to our previous cream from the same company, it is also formulated with their NeoNourish Seed Oil Blend. But what else is in this cream?

Reduce Inflammation, Itchiness and Microbial Invasion while Hydrating and Healing the Skin.

Zinc Oxide

Zinc oxide can reduce inflammation, itching of lichenified skin, and has antibacterial and antioxidant properties that are useful for eczema including atopic dermatitis.

Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract

Marigold has properties that are beneficial in wound healing to prevent further infection in eczema patients while also hydrating the skin. There is even a study that found out this extract is better at soothing diaper rash than aloe vera. It is also speculated that marigold flower extract is beneficial for those with contact dermatitis.

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

We all know the hydrating benefits of aloe vera, and because of the dryness that eczema causes, this ingredient will help relieve the irritation in eczema-prone skin. Other than hydration, aloe vera also has antibacterial and antifungal properties as well as having anti-inflammatory and wound healing benefits.

Besides vitamin E, Babyganic Diaper Rash Cream also has vitamin A and D. Vitamin A can benefit babies with eczema as it helps with dryness and wound healing, while vitamin D can improve the skin barrier function and reduce the risk of irritation and infection with its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.

We know that a diaper rash cream must have no irritating ingredients. Babyganics has no parabens, phthalates, petroleum, mineral oil, artificial fragrances, and dyes, so you don’t have to worry about using it in those sensitive areas. However, like with any other product, check every ingredient first just to make sure that your baby will not have any possible reaction or irritation.

La Roche-Posay Lipikar Soothing Relief Eczema Cream

Earlier, we have introduced you to oatmeal as a beneficial ingredient for eczema. And here in our next product from La Roche-Posay, colloidal oatmeal is the cream’s key ingredient. How does it feel upon application? The Lipikar Soothing Relief Eczema Cream has a thick formula but doesn’t leave the skin sticky.

According to the manufacturer, they have added their Prebiotic Thermal Water in this cream to make it more soothing and relieving for eczema. This thermal water works by driving the growth of the skin’s healthy bacteria beneficial for dry and irritated skin.

Now let us take a look at some of the other ingredients in the cream. As you can notice, most of these ingredients, if not all, are familiar components from the previous eczema creams that we have reviewed.

1% Colloidal Oatmeal

The cream uses colloidal oatmeal to relieve itching and irritation. And as proven in this study, this ingredient is safe and effective to its claims. Colloidal oatmeal has antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties that are useful for eczema patients. On the one hand, it can soothe irritation and relieve itchiness because of its cellulose and fiber.

Shea Butter and Glycerin

For moisturizing, you will see familiar ingredients such as the moisture-retaining shea butter and the water-attracting glycerin.

Niacinamide and Tocopherol

The cream also has vitamin B3, and as you have read in our review of Bioderma Atoderm cream, niacinamide has anti-inflammatory properties and is helpful in skin barrier formation. Tocopherol, on the other hand, is useful for relieving eczema symptoms because of its healing and anti-inflammatory properties as well.

Rapeseed Oil

Rich in omega-3, 6, and 9, eczema patients can benefit from the oil’s moisturizing, moisture-retaining, wound healing, and barrier repairing effects.

Lastly, La Roche-Posay Lipikar has no steroids and parabens. It is also allergy, dermatologist, and pediatrician-tested to make sure that it is safe for children. The cream is also fragrance-free, and the faint smell that you’ll get is due to its shea butter and beeswax content.

However, even if it is non-comedogenic, it does contain mineral oil (paraffinum liquidum.) Mineral oil is also non-comedogenic, meaning it doesn’t clog pores, but there are arguments that it has comedogenic potential which can be disliked by some people.

Some comments we have about the product is we wish it’s easier to take out all of the remaining contents in the tube. There are also some cases where some users have experienced exacerbated eczema symptoms.

Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream

We are on a trend here because the next cream in our review is also using colloidal oatmeal as one of its key ingredients. However, the difference with Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream is it uses triple oat complex.

Triple Oat Complex

Besides colloidal oatmeal, this cream also has oat kernel extract and oat kernel oil. Oat kernel extract, if you have remembered in our discussion in the review of Triple Cream, is useful for eczema patients because of avenanthramide, in particular. Avenanthramide is anti-inflammatory and can soothe and moisturize the skin, while another component in oat kernel extract, silicic acid, encourages healing.

How about oat kernel oil? Oat kernel oil has anti-inflammatory and skin barrier effects that are both beneficial in alleviating the symptoms of eczema. The reason for these effects besides avenanthramide (anti-inflammatory), is because of the linoleic acid in oat kernel oil. This oil can also activate receptors, which, in turn, will increase ceramide levels for epidermal lipid synthesis.

Besides the triple oat complex, Aveeno also has the following:

Dimethicone

To make the explanation simple, dimethicone works as a skin conditioner that also prevents moisture loss. Because it adds and protects moisture, it will, in turn, alleviate irritations and dryness caused by eczema. Dimethicone also makes this cream more easily spreadable so that the application feels smooth and non-greasy. However, do take note that some people can have reactions with dimethicone.

Glycerin

Another familiar ingredient in this cream’s list is glycerin. Glycerin is a humectant, meaning it attracts water to hydrate the skin and help it hold and redistribute the moisture.

Panthenol

Also known as vitamin b5, panthenol has a lot of benefits for eczema sufferers. It acts as a skin protectant with anti-inflammatory properties. Along with these functions, it can also improve the skin’s hydration, appearance, and healing.

Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream is effective for healing the skin and alleviating eczema symptoms such as redness, patches, and even cradle cap. It also has a nice texture that sinks fast to the skin.

For your baby, it is good to know that it has no dyes, fragrances, toxins, parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, PEG, steroids, and drying alcohols. Sometimes, it is good to check the list of ingredients for any alcohol because the last thing you want is to worsen the dryness of your baby’s skin.

MG217 Baby Eczema Moisturizing Cream

Colloidal oatmeal is used by a lot of products in this review, and the MG217 Baby Eczema Moisturizing Cream is no exception. MG217 also has no fragrance, parabens, and steroids, which we always appreciate in a baby cream.

For the texture, we find it super thick, which can take a while to get absorbed into the skin. However, this cream is effective against eczema symptoms such as dryness, itchiness, redness, and patches. It has a lot of positive feedback as well, but when we looked at the ingredients, there might be some substances that some babies can be sensitive to.

Cetyl Alcohol and Cetearyl Alcohol

We cannot blame you if when you see the world alcohol, you’ll immediately think that it’s going to be drying. Fortunately, fatty alcohols such as cetyl and cetearyl are not worrisome to a baby’s sensitive eczema-prone skin.

These fatty alcohols are responsible for the cream’s thick texture and in making the skin feel softer because they can trap water. As for their safety, of course, like with other ingredients, there is still a risk of an allergic reaction.

Phenoxyethanol

Another potential irritant that MG217 has is phenoxyethanol. As you have seen in the product we reviewed from Babyganics, phenoxyethanol is a preservative that some people can experience irritation from. Although the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) and the European Commission on Health and Food Safety rates this chemical safe as long as the product only uses it at 1% or lower concentration.

Sodium Benzoate

Sodium benzoate is also a preservative that is considered safe by the CIR and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, there will be instances where it can cause irritation to the skin of some people.

Some other familiar ingredients in MG217 are colloidal oatmeal, glycerin, and shea butter. These components are capable of effects that are helpful in alleviating in eczema symptoms such as dryness, itchiness, and irritation. But more than these three, we also found other beneficial ingredients for eczema patients.

Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil

Avocado oil has vitamin A, D, and E, as well as omega-3 fatty acids. These components can nourish and relieve inflammation essential for eczema recovery. The essential fatty acids in avocado oil can also promote collagen synthesis to accelerate wound healing, as seen in this study.

D-Panthenol

As we have tackled in our review of Aveeno Baby Eczema Treatment Moisturizing Cream, panthenol, or vitamin b5 can relieve the symptoms of eczema by moisturizing the skin as well as stabilizing its barrier. These effects reduce redness, inflammation, and itching of the skin.

Linoleic acid

Linoleic acid helps in hydration and at the same time, build ceramides that are useful for improving the skin barrier function. Skin barrier function is essential to keep all the microbes away from the healing skin and minimize the risk of infection.

Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax

Manufacturers sometimes use candelilla wax as a substitute for beeswax. It functions as a skin protectant, moisturizer, and conditioner. It also helps in improving the texture of the cream.

Glycyrrhizic Acid

Glycyrrhizic acid is isolated from licorice plants. It helps reduce flaking of the skin and restore its suppleness, which is beneficial for those with dry and itchy eczema-prone skin.

Weleda Sensitive Care Face Cream

Our review of best eczema cream for babies won’t be complete if it doesn’t include a face cream. The Weleda Sensitive Care FaceCream is a hydrating cream with a very mild scent from essential oils.

For the texture, the cream isn’t too thick and doesn’t leave a greasy residue on the face. Weleda also reduces dry skin and irritation from eczema on a baby’s sensitive skin. Looking at the ingredients, you’ll see familiar ingredients from the previous products we reviewed, such as sunflower seed oil, calendula flower extract, beeswax, and glycerin.

However, what stands out the most is the abundance of plant oils. As we will discuss below, there are benefits that you can get from these oils and extracts, especially for eczema. They are also safer than chemicals, but of course, there is still a risk for potential allergic reaction.

Chamomile Flower Extract

We all know how chamomile tea excellent for relaxation and sleep, but did you know that eczema-prone skin can benefit from its flower extract as well? The flavonoids in chamomile soothe the skin and restore its suppleness from being dry and flaky due to eczema. Chamomile extract also has anti-itching and anti-inflammatory properties that are always useful for alleviating the symptoms of eczema.

Sweet Almond Oil

Typically used as an emollient, almond oil can also help in relieving dry skin and its anti-inflammatory properties are also beneficial for eczema patients.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, which can help in developing the antimicrobial agent, monolaurin. For eczema, it is important that we minimize the risk of infections, so we have to keep any pathogens at bay. Other than acting as a skin protectant, coconut oil also has hydrating and even anti-inflammatory properties as seen in this study.

Sesame Seed Oil

Having essential fatty acids along with linoleic acid, and vitamins A, D, and E makes sesame oil an effective moisturizer with soothing properties for reducing swelling, redness, and itchiness,

Borago Officinalis (Borage) Oil

The reason why borage is useful for eczema is that it is rich in gamma linolenic acid. This fatty acid has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil

Safflower seed oil can make skin softer and smoother due to having linoleic acid. These effects are beneficial for dry and flaky skin due to eczema.

Althaea Officinalis (White Mallow) Root Extract

White mallow root is rich in flavonoids, polysaccharides, mucilage effective for softening and relieving irritation in the skin. As an emollient, it can also reduce the itching, chafing, and redness of eczema-prone skin.

Viola Tricolor (Pansy) Extract

Wild pansy has phytochemicals such as flavonoids have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

CeraVe Baby Cream

We are at our last product to review, and it is the CeraVe Baby Cream. This baby cream absorbs quickly into the skin and is useful in alleviating dryness and soothing baby eczema. It is free from parabens, phthalates, and sulfate as well.

However, the product has ingredients that are potentially irritating, such as phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin, and capric triglyceride. But don’t worry, CeraVe Baby Cream, like all the other products in this review, has the NEA seal of approval making it safe for those with eczema and sensitive skin.

With that information out of the way, we should take a look at some of its ingredients to know what makes it effective for babies and even adults suffering from eczema symptoms.

Besides the familiar ingredients that we’ve discussed in other products such as niacinamide and tocopheryl acetate, CeraVe baby cream has the following:

Lauric Acid

If you remember, we have told you about the lauric acid in coconut oil in Weleda Skin Care Face Cream. And what makes this ingredient useful for eczema? The reason is that it is related to preventing and controlling microbes in the skin.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid improves the skin moisture barrier to soothe chafing and dry skin. It is also a powerful humectant that even just a gram of it has the capacity of binding 6 liters of water.

Ceramides (1,3,6-II)

Ceramides are essential in hydrating the skin and maintaining its barrier. Right from the first product of this review, we have mentioned how essential ceramides are in the skin barrier. If this barrier is more effective, it can also retain water more effectively. Ceramides are useful for reducing flares from eczema because of their capacity to repair the skin barrier.

Best Eczema Cream for Babies Buyer’s Guide

Progression of Eczema in Children

Infants (Age 6 months)

Eczema (red and weepy-looking) typically appears on the infant’s face (cheeks, chin, forehead, and scalp.) However, it can also appear in other areas except for the diaper area because this is moisturized.

Babies (Ages 6 to 12 months)

You can notice the skin condition on your baby’s elbows and knees. The reason is that these areas get rubbed easily as they’re crawling. Babies are also capable of scratching their skin so eczema might form a yellow crust or pus bumps if the skin gets infected.

Toddlers (Ages 2 to 5 years)

At this age, the skin condition undergoes lichenification. This results in a dry, thick, and scaly-looking skin with deep lines. Eczema typically appears in the child’s joint (elbow and knees) creases, wrists, ankles, hands, or even around his/her mouth and eyelids.

Children (Ages 5 years and up)

You will typically see the skin condition appearing itchy and red behind the child’s ears, feet, scalp, or in the folds of his/her elbows and knees. It is also around this age where eczema will disappear.

Causes and Triggers of Eczema

Genetic and external factors both play a role in cause eczema in children. For example, children who came from families with a history of atopic dermatitis are more likely to develop the skin condition.

Some other causes and triggers of eczema are the following:

• Itchy and uncomfortable fabric (clothing, sheets, etc.)
• Harsh soap (bath and laundry)
• Extreme temperature (e.g., air is drier in the winter, sweating from heat)
• Saliva from drooling can irritate the skin further
• Dry skin
• Infections
• Allergens (animals, wool, pollen, dust, pet dander, specific food allergies)

Types of Eczema Treatments for Babies

To help you further understand eczema treatment for children, you can keep in mind the four main goals as suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP.)

1. Skin care maintenance: for repair and maintenance of healthy skin barrier to prevent flare-ups
2. Anti-inflammatory skin medications: for reducing inflammation during flare-ups (note that this isn’t always necessary especially for babies)
3. Control itching: to avoid worsening the skin condition (e.g., cut nails or use cotton mittens)
4. Manage triggers: to reduce flare-ups and severity of itching

Daily bathing and moisturizing are among the best ways of treating baby eczema. And according to the NEA, your child can benefit from the soak and seal method to soothe his/her dry skin and reduce flares.

The Soak and Seal Method

1. Bath your child with warm water and mild cleanser (no soap and bubble baths) for 5 to 10 minutes without scrubbing the affected areas.
2. Pat him/her lightly with a towel leaving the skin damp.
3. Apply topical medication on the affected areas.
4. After 3 minutes, apply moisturizer all over your child’s body liberally to lock in moisture and keep out irritants,
5. Wait for the skin to absorb the moisturizer and apply wet wraps.

Wet Wrap Therapy

Wet wrap therapy is an excellent way to rehydrate and soothe the skin during intense flares or severe itchiness and pain. Wet wraps can also increase the effectiveness of topical medications. The best time to do this therapy is during the evening after the soak and seal method. Note that just like with any treatment, consult your health care provider first.

For the wet layer, you can use a clean, white, cotton clothing or gauze and pajamas or sweat suit for the dry layer that you’ll put on top. If the affected areas are the feet or hands, cotton socks or gloves work well for the wet layer, while you can place food-grade plastic wraps on top as the dry layer.

1. Moisten the materials for the wet layer with warm water until slightly damp
2. Wrap the damp material around the affected area
3. Wrap the materials for the dry layer over the wet layer.
4. To keep the dressing in place, put your child in his/her night-time clothing.
5. Leave the wet wraps on overnight or for several hours just before they dry out.

Bleach Bath

Another way to treat eczema in children is by giving them a bleach bath. This method reduces the bacteria and inflammation on the skin by using a bath with the same bleach concentration as a chlorinated swimming pool. However, like with our previous method, consult your doctor first if this method is suitable and safe to your child.

Other Ways to Treat Eczema in Children

Oral Treatment

• Can be over-the-counter or with prescription
• Examples are antihistamine, antibiotics, etc.

Topical Treatment

• Can be over-the-counter or with prescription

• Examples are topical steroids like hydrocortisone, steroid-free itch relief, etc.

Mild Cleansers

• Body wash
• Face cleanser
• Shampoo

Creams and Ointments

• Includes diaper rash creams

How to Choose the Right Eczema Cream for your Baby

As we have continuously reminded you throughout this article, always consult your doctor before trying out various treatments for eczema on your baby. There are a lot of factors that play a role in triggering, worsening, and treating this skin condition.

And when it comes to choosing the right eczema cream for your baby, the product’s ingredients are crucial. Ask yourself if the ingredients are safe for your baby, i.e., is he/she allergic to this substance or plant, or is this ingredient non-sensitizing to eczema patients.

Call the Doctor When

• Condition persists or worsens
• Rashes turn purple or form pus-filled blisters
• Rashes have yellow or light brown crusts
• Fever develops along with the rashes
• If your baby has been around someone with cold sores or herpes

Conclusion

Eczema can make children very uncomfortable, and thankfully, most cases will be outgrown by them at around age 3 or 5. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything at the moment to ease the symptoms. There are remedies that you can do at home to help your little one cope and creams are a good start.

Like we have said earlier, all of the products in this review has the NEA Seal of Acceptance to make sure that these creams are safe for sensitive skin and eczema patients. However, every baby differs when it comes to potential irritants, allergies, and triggers. Therefore, we advise you to check EVERY ingredient of the product before purchasing.

Our top pick is the Mustela Stelatopia Emollient Cream. The National Eczema Association gave this product a 5-star rating, which means that it has no ingredient that is sensitizing to those with eczema. But frankly, all of the products in this review are effective and has a lot of positive feedback from different users. Although of course, an ingredient that might be non-irritating to a particular baby might still cause reactions to another baby.

At the end of the day, we advise you to work with your baby’s dermatologist to make sure that a specific cream will not cause any adverse effect.

What cream have you used for your baby’s eczema?