Eczema: Symptom progression with age

Infants typically present with eczematous lesions with poorly defined redness and inflammation. Other symptoms can include fluid-filled sac and clear watery discharge.¹

Symptoms can be widely distributed:

• The face, cheeks and trunk are the most common areas affected¹
• The nappy area is generally spared; nappies are occlusive and infants cannot scratch the skin in this region.^1,11

• In children aged two years and older, eczema is more localised and chronic compared to infants. Skin around a joint (both inside and outside) are the most common areas affected^1,11
• Eczematous lesions tend to be less red and poorly defined, and skin tends to be dry.¹ Chronically affected areas may become thicker partly due to scratching.^1,11

• School-age children typically show lesions on the flexor surfaces (the skin on the side of joints)
• Common areas of eczematous symptom presentation include the elbows and knees, the neck, eyelids and earlobes.^1,7,11