The majority of children will outgrow the condition over time but until they do their skin will require extra care daily and additional treatment when flare-ups occur. This will help to prevent flare-ups of the condition. Applying lotion after a bath is helpful. Pat the skin dry, then apply the lotion to the child's entire body sealing in water the skin absorbed during the bath. Bathing should be limited to once per day or every other day when the eczema has flared-up.
Many soaps irritate the skin of a child with eczema.
Use minimal amounts of soap to cleanse the skin and choose one that is super-fatted such as Dove. Also, scratching opens the skin which can make infection more likely to occur. Keep the child's fingernails cut short. It may be helpful to put cotton mits or socks on the hands of infants at bedtime to prevent scratching. Almost all children complain about itching more at nighttime, some children will have difficulty sleeping because of itching.