Does baby eczema spread?

Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
Updated on December 17, 2024
00:00
00:00

Babies with eczema indicate that the child has skin damage. Eczema is a common skin disease in infants and is not contagious, so eczema does not spread as only infectious diseases are contagious. When a child has eczema, the first step is to ensure proper moisturizing. On this basis, under the guidance of a doctor, some mild corticosteroids can be used. Normally, if we come into contact with a child who has eczema, we will not contract it ourselves. Parents can be reassured about this, as this is an inherent immune response of the child and is not spread through contact or the respiratory or digestive tracts.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
52sec home-news-image

The difference between prickly heat and eczema

Prickly heat and eczema have significant differences and are completely different from each other. First, prickly heat is generally caused by high local temperatures, or hot and humid conditions, leading to the appearance of papules and rashes on the skin. Eczema, on the other hand, is often caused by multiple factors, such as climate, environment, diet, and contact with certain substances, and is a type of allergic inflammatory response. Secondly, the treatment for prickly heat generally involves the application of prickly heat powder or similar products, which can lead to improvement and cure. Eczema, however, is often treated with astringent or corticosteroid ointments. If the effect is average, treatment may also include the oral intake of antihistamines.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
1min 3sec home-news-image

Is breast eczema contagious?

Breast eczema is simply eczema that occurs on the breast area and is also a type of allergic reaction. This disease is not contagious; it will not spread between people or increase in spread on one's own body. Once this disease occurs, it must be treated properly. Treatments may include oral and some anti-allergic medications, as well as localized red light therapy. It is advisable to visit a dermatology department in a regular hospital to check for allergens, see what triggers the allergies, and possibly cooperate with desensitization treatment. If the breast eczema has persistently poor results, it is recommended to consult a regular hospital again to see if there is a fungal infection in the affected area. If there repeatedly occur lesions, ulcers, and exudative discharges, a local pathological examination should be conducted to check for other pathological changes. After recovery, standardize dietary and living habits, strengthen exercise, and enhance immunity.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
59sec home-news-image

How to distinguish eczema from prickly heat

Eczema and heat rash have clear differences, including different causes. Eczema is primarily caused by allergens, as well as excessive mental stress, anxiety, and hormonal imbalances. Heat rash, on the other hand, usually arises from overly humid and hot environments that affect normal sweating function, leading to blocked sweat ducts. Their clinical manifestations also differ. Eczema typically presents as polymorphic and symmetrically distributed lesions, usually manifesting as papules and vesicular papules, and in severe cases, erosion, exudation, and significant itching are observed. Heat rash clinically appears as tiny, pin-sized blisters that emerge in clusters and merge into patches, typically found at skin folds without symmetry. White heat rash generally has less noticeable itching, whereas red heat rash is itchy and can also feel burning.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
1min 7sec home-news-image

Is eczema contagious?

Infectious diseases are communicable diseases caused by the infection of pathogenic microorganisms or parasites, whereas eczema is an allergic reaction of the body itself and thus is not contagious. In daily life, whether it is through conversation, sharing utensils or bath items, or even direct contact with the rash of an affected individual, transmission does not occur, and family members of the patient do not need to take any protective measures. If you are around someone with eczema, there is no need for caution or discrimination, which is completely unnecessary. Some might worry whether scrotal eczema can be transmitted sexually. Sexually transmitted diseases are primarily transmitted through sexual contact or activities similar to sexual behaviors, while scrotal eczema is a common inflammatory reaction of the scrotal skin, triggered by a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction due to both internal and external factors, and it is not contagious. Therefore, scrotal eczema is not a sexually transmitted disease.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
49sec home-news-image

What is eczema?

Eczema is a type of skin inflammation caused by multiple internal and external factors, characterized by various forms of rashes that usually have a significant tendency to exude fluid, hence the name "eczema." It usually comes with significant itching and is prone to recurrence, causing distress in patients' lives. Infant eczema is a common type of skin disease in babies and is a specific type of eczema. Commonly known as "milk cradle cap" in folk terminology, it is not a fungal disease but, like eczema, is an allergic reaction type of skin disease. Unlike other forms of eczema, however, infant eczema typically diminishes and often disappears as the child ages, with only a small fraction continuing into adulthood.