Eczema is an itchy, red skin condition that’s found in one out of every ten children. It can appear in infants shortly after birth and usually appears within the first few years of life. The good news is that approximately two-thirds of all cases of childhood eczema fade or completely clear up by adulthood.
It’s difficult to predict exactly when your child’s eczema will start to clear up. Each child will be different. All of the symptoms of your child’s eczema should progressively get better as they age. Typically by school age, around three or four years old, the condition disappears or becomes more manageable.
There’s a chance that the symptoms won’t clear up entirely. Your child may start to have less severe reactions or less frequent flare-ups. This will still be a great relief compared to the stronger symptoms that you’ve dealt with up to that point.
Even when eczema clears, your child’s skin can remain sensitive and can still frequently dry out. It’s not uncommon for children to continue to have sensitive skin into their teenage and adult years. A consistent moisturizing routine and continuing to avoid irritants and allergens is the best way to handle this.
In rare cases, severe eczema symptoms will continue into adulthood. The symptoms can impede daily life for these patients because the pain and itching can be extreme and lead to a loss of sleep. There are prescription options for particularly difficult cases of eczema as well as a number of lifestyle changes that you can try if your child’s eczema takes a while to clear up.
Current research indicates that both genetics and environment play a role in causing eczema. More research into these causes could help doctors understand why eczema clears up in many but not all cases. In the future, new research could also help doctors pinpoint exactly when it’ll clear up in your child.
Talk to your doctor or dermatologist to make changes to your treatment plan as your child ages and their eczema begins to clear. You shouldn’t stop all treatments just because the worst symptoms have gone away. For example, a good moisturizing routine will always help keep your child’s skin healthy.
