Will My Child Grow Out of Their Eczema?

As a parent of a little one with eczema, one of your concerns may be whether your child will eventually outgrow their condition or whether it will persist through to adulthood. The answer isn't straightforward, and research is still uncertain about which children will likely outgrow their eczema and which may experience it throughout their lives. In this blog, we'll discuss some factors that can influence the persistence of eczema and delve into some ways to manage your little one's symptoms to best care for their comfort and well-being. 

Is it likely my child will grow out of their eczema?

We are sometimes told that our children’s eczema will improve as they get older and that they will eventually grow out of it. And while this can happen, it isn't always the case.

Research suggests that eczema is more likely to persist until later in life if:

• The eczema symptoms were more severe at the onset of the condition (1)
• There is a family history of eczema or allergic disease (1)

Other genetic and environmental factors could also be at play, but more long-term research is needed to establish clear links. 

This article shares the findings from a meta-analysis study that examined the results of 45 different studies (including 110,651 atopic dermatitis (eczema) patients aged from 4 months to 17 years old) investigating the persistence of eczema as children age. While it was hard to directly compare all 45 different studies to one another, as they observed patients with different severity and onset of symptoms, it found that 20% had persistent symptoms by eight years old and 5% by 20 years old. The authors of the meta-analysis concluded that those with a later onset of eczema, already persistent eczema and/or more severe symptoms were more likely to have eczema that remained as they got older.

It's also important to note that if eczema symptoms do subside as your child grows up, they will still likely have sensitive or dry skin as an adult.

At what age will my child grow out of their eczema?

In managing eczema for your child, it's essential to understand that dry and/or sensitive skin may persist throughout their life. However, the location and severity of eczema may evolve as they age.

In young babies, eczema commonly affects the cheeks, forehead, and scalp. As they start crawling, it may shift to the elbows and knees around six to 12 months. By age two, eczema often appears in the creases behind the knees, elbows, wrists, hands, and ankles, potentially involving the skin around the mouth and eyelids. The hands become a common site for eczema in older children and teenagers. (2)

Knowing these typical patterns can help you adapt your care routine to best support your child's evolving needs. 

What can I do to manage my child's eczema as they grow?

There are no guarantees that children will grow out of eczema, so managing their symptoms as they arise and evolve is essential. Ways that you can do this can include: 

• Understanding what triggers eczema for your child and trying to avoid or manage them
• Creating a consistent daily bath time routine to help keep the skin clean from irritants as well as adding moisture and hydration back into the skin
• Moisturise at least twice daily to help strengthen the skin’s natural barrier
• Speaking with your doctor about treating any eczema patches as soon as they appear and developing an eczema management plan

This blog post was brought to you by the Itchy Baby Co. team xx

Disclaimer: Information provided is of a general nature only, and you should always consult your medical professional.

(1) https://nationaleczema.org/blog/atopic-dermatitis-persistence/

(2) https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/eczema/atopic-dermatitis-eczema