What Causes Eczema on a Newborn’s Face?

It is very common for infants to develop eczema before their first birthday, often triggered by excessively warm indoor temperatures or other factors. For new mothers, this can be a challenging issue—improper management may worsen the infant’s condition. So, what causes eczema on a newborn’s face?

What Causes Eczema on a Newborn’s Face?

Infantile eczema—also known as “milk eczema” or “milk rash”—is an acute or subacute form of eczema that commonly affects the head and face of infants. The exudative type typically occurs in chubby infants with an exudative (leaky) constitution. It initially presents as ill-defined erythematous patches on both cheeks; these patches may then develop dense papules, papulovesicles, vesicles, and serous exudate. Upon drying, the exudate forms yellow crusts of varying thickness. Intense scratching or friction often leads to scaling and desquamation. In contrast, the dry type is more common in underweight or frail infants and manifests as pale red or dusky red macular or patchy lesions with numerous small papules but no vesicles. The skin appears dry, with no obvious exudation, and may exhibit fine, grayish-white, bran-like scales. Commonly affected areas include the face, trunk, and extremities; chronic cases may show lichenification and thickening.

Therefore, proper skincare is essential for managing eczema on a newborn’s face—keeping the skin clean and dry is paramount. For breastfed infants, mothers are advised to avoid consuming pungent, greasy, or allergenic foods (e.g., seafood, lamb, spicy dishes). Treatment should be tailored to the specific characteristics of the skin lesions, using appropriate topical formulations. Avoid hot water washing or other external irritants, which may exacerbate the condition.

The above explains the causes and management of eczema on a newborn’s face. We hope this information is helpful to you.