What causes eczema in babies?

Eczema is not uncommon in babies and there is not always an explanation for why it occurs. It can be hereditary and if one or both parents suffer from eczema, their child is more likely to have it too. This condition can also be caused by environmental factors and allergies. When your child’s immune system reacts differently to allergens, it causes their skin to react. There is an endless list of possible irritants including food, chemicals, weather, dust, pets, and water. Eczema is not contagious.

What are the symptoms of eczema?

The most common areas for eczema to appear are the elbows, knees, face, chest, ankles, and wrists. Eczema is typically red, itchy, and dry. If your child scratches it can make the condition worse. While some babies will grow out of eczema flare-ups, other people will have to be conscious of it throughout their lifetime. If you notice baby eczema it is important to discuss it with your midwife or pediatrician. They will be able to assist you with the right course of action and recommend a tailored treatment plan.

How can I prevent eczema?

For babies who are prone to eczema, the occasional flare-up can be hard to prevent. To make them less likely to suffer from itchiness and dryness a daily moisturiser can be used. This should be targeted to the condition and be free from any known irritants such as fragrances and parabens. Have a stronger flare-up cream on hand just in case you need it. Always do a patch test before using any new products including lotions and baby wipes. Avoid adding any soap to bathtime and stick to a mild detergent for washing clothes. Be mindful of their diet and flag any foods that cause a rash. You can also keep your baby’s nails trimmed as itching will make the condition worse. Some parents use Sudocrem for eczema that occurs unexpectedly, as it is a common cream found in most households. Endolysin creams are also effective in treating eczema as they can reduce the amount of bacteria found on the skin. Eczema can be uncomfortable for little ones and stressful for parents, but being mindful of your baby’s condition can help you to manage it. As dryness is common, a dedicated eczema cream such as the ones included on our list can help to reduce the severity of the symptoms, and prevent future recurrence.

Baby Eczema Cream Australia: Moisturisers & Care

For baby eczema, start with a fragrance-free moisturiser that suits your baby’s skin and your GP’s care plan. QV Baby Moisturising Cream and Aveeno Baby Dermexa are cream options to compare; DermaVeen Baby Calmexa is a lotion option. No moisturiser is the best choice for every baby, and an inflamed flare may need prescribed treatment as well.

Updated October 2026. We may earn a commission from links on this page, at no extra cost to you. This researched guide compares four products with current Australian pharmacy listings. It uses Australian health guidance for care and safety. Ask your GP or MCHN to help choose products and treatment for your baby.

Table of Contents

First, have the rash checked

Healthdirect’s eczema guidance recommends seeing a doctor for itchy, dry skin. Eczema can come and go, and managing it involves regular moisturising, avoiding known triggers and treating flares. A shopping guide cannot tell you whether a new rash is eczema.

Talk to your GP or MCHN if this is your baby’s first rash, the skin is getting worse or the care plan is not helping. Seek prompt medical advice for crusting, blisters, increasing pain or fever, which can occur with infected eczema, as explained by Raising Children Network.

Baby eczema moisturisers at a glance

Product	Type and pack checked	Why compare it?	Main limitation
QV Baby Moisturising Cream	Cream, 250 g	Fragrance-free option for dry, sensitive and eczema-prone skin	Regular moisturiser, not a prescribed flare treatment
Aveeno Baby Dermexa	Cream, 206 g	Fragrance-free formula with oat ingredients	Check the full ingredient list for your baby
DermaVeen Baby Calmexa	Lotion, 250 mL	Fragrance-free baby lotion for eczema-prone skin	A lotion may not suit a care plan calling for a thicker product
Mustela Stelatopia Emollient Face Cream	Face cream, 40 mL	Small face-specific moisturiser	Not the older full-body cream or a large body-care pack

These are four different purchase options, not a clinical effectiveness ranking. Pharmacy stock can depend on your location. Check the name and ingredients on the pack you receive, because a brand may sell several eczema or baby products.

Moisturiser and eczema medicine do different jobs

A moisturiser helps with skin hydration and is part of regular care. A prescribed medicine may be needed to treat an inflamed flare. Choosing a moisturiser labelled “eczema prone” does not mean it can replace that medicine.

Healthdirect recommends regular emollient use, including when eczema is controlled, and says thick moisturisers or ointments are generally best. Follow your baby’s individual plan for frequency and application.

Topical corticosteroids can be used for flares under medical guidance. Ask your GP or pharmacist which product goes where, how much to apply and for how long. Do not stop a prescribed treatment or choose a stronger product based on an online roundup.

Four locally listed products to compare

QV Baby Moisturising Cream: a cream option for everyday care

QV Baby Moisturising Cream 250 g · Check price on Amazon AU has a current Chemist Warehouse purchase listing. The Australian brand page describes a rich cream for dry, sensitive baby skin, including eczema-prone skin.

The brand lists ingredients including glycerin, dimethicone and liquid paraffin, and describes the formula as fragrance free. Those are useful label details to compare, rather than evidence that it will outperform another moisturiser on your baby.

This is worth discussing with your pharmacist if you want a baby-labelled cream in a larger pack. Check whether its texture and packaging fit the way your family applies moisturiser.

The main limitation is the role of the product: it is a moisturiser, not a substitute for your baby’s prescribed flare treatment. “Suitable for eczema-prone skin” also does not guarantee that an individual baby will tolerate it. Keep the exact product name in your care notes so the GP knows which QV formula you use.

Aveeno Baby Dermexa: an oat-containing cream

Aveeno Baby Dermexa Fragrance Free Moisturising Cream 206 g · Check price on Amazon AU is currently listed for Australian pharmacy purchase. Its label description includes oat ingredients and identifies it as a fragrance-free moisturiser.

It is a useful comparison if you prefer a cream and are considering the Dermexa range specifically. Check the baby product name carefully; an adult cream, wash or balm from the same brand is a different item.

Read the full ingredient list with your pharmacist if your baby has a known allergy or has reacted to another skincare product. An oat-containing formula is not automatically suitable for every child, and a familiar ingredient does not remove the need to follow allergy advice.

We have not independently established the brand’s clinical marketing claims or compared it head-to-head with QV. The reason to shortlist it is the documented baby cream formulation and local availability, not a promise of instant relief or a cure.

DermaVeen Baby Calmexa: a lotion alternative

DermaVeen Baby Calmexa Moisturising Lotion 250 mL · Check price on Amazon AU has a current Australian pharmacy listing. The retailer describes it as fragrance free and suitable for delicate baby skin, including eczema-prone skin.

The important distinction is its format: this is a lotion rather than a cream or ointment. That may matter when you compare texture, ease of application and what your clinician has asked you to use.

Do not assume a baby lotion and a thick cream do the same job for every patch of dry skin. If your care plan specifies a richer moisturiser, ask whether this product is appropriate before swapping.

It is worth considering as a lotion option, with that qualification. We have not verified that it performs better than a cream or that it treats an active flare on its own. Check the complete pack directions and avoid confusing it with DermaVeen’s other eczema products.

Mustela Stelatopia Emollient Face Cream: a small face-specific option

Mustela Stelatopia Emollient Face Cream 40 mL · Check price on Amazon AU was listed in stock by Pharmacy Direct. The Australian retailer describes a fragrance-free formula for eczema-prone facial skin.

This is a narrower option than the larger body moisturisers above. It may be useful to ask about when your concern is facial moisturising, but a 40 mL pack is not a like-for-like alternative to a large body cream.

The verified product is the face cream. It should not be presented as the older Stelatopia full-body cream under a shortened name. Read its age and application directions, particularly around the eyes and mouth, and check with your GP about treatment for inflamed facial skin.

Choose it only if the face-specific format fits your baby’s plan. A higher cost per small pack, attractive packaging or a familiar skincare brand does not establish greater effectiveness.

How to choose without buying a cupboard full of creams

Take the care plan to the pharmacy

Ask for help matching the plan to an exact product, including its texture, ingredients and pack directions. If you already have a moisturiser your baby tolerates, explain what is and is not working before changing it.

A useful question is: “Does this fit the moisturiser part of the plan, or is it a different type of product?” That keeps everyday care separate from medicines and avoids comparing unlike things under the broad term eczema cream.

Read the label rather than “natural” claims

“Natural”, “gentle” and “dermatologically tested” are marketing descriptions, not guarantees for your baby. Fragrance-free is a useful detail to check, but it does not remove the need to look at the full ingredient list.

Healthdirect advises avoiding perfumes or additives that trigger your eczema. Work from known reactions and clinician advice instead of treating every preservative, mineral ingredient or long chemical name as harmful. Bring the actual pack, or a clear ingredient photo, to an appointment if you are unsure.

Compare pack value sensibly

Compare similar textures and intended uses, then look at the amount in the pack. Grams and millilitres are not automatically interchangeable. A small face cream and a large body lotion serve different shopping needs.

We have left prices out because offers change and the cheapest product is not necessarily the one your baby can use. If your clinician agrees, a smaller first purchase may be more practical than several large tubs of different formulas.

Make the routine easy to follow

Keep the prescribed plan somewhere both parents and other carers can read it. Record the exact moisturiser and medicine names, not only their brands. Ask for clarification if the instructions are difficult to fit into the day.

When several people care for your baby, consistent information is more useful than everyone trying a different product. Tell the GP what you have used and when, including anything that seemed to sting or worsen the skin.

What about formula and food allergies?

There is no single formula recommendation we can make from a rash. Eczema and food allergy can occur together, but eczema alone does not identify a food allergy or tell you which formula is appropriate.

Raising Children Network’s food allergy guidance recommends discussing formula choice with a child and family health nurse, GP or paediatrician if you are unsure. Do not change formula or remove foods from your baby’s or your own diet as an experiment based on this article.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best cream for baby eczema in Australia?

There is no universal winner. QV Baby Moisturising Cream and Aveeno Baby Dermexa are locally listed cream options; the right choice depends on your baby’s tolerance and care plan. Have the rash checked and ask your GP or pharmacist to help choose.

What is the best moisturiser for eczema: cream or lotion?

Healthdirect generally recommends thick moisturisers or ointments. A lotion is a different option and may not fit the plan for very dry skin. Follow your baby’s clinician’s recommendation instead of choosing by a “best” label.

Can moisturiser treat a baby eczema flare by itself?

A moisturiser is part of skin care, but an inflamed flare may also need prescribed medicine. Ask your GP what to use and follow the instructions. Do not keep switching products while a worsening rash goes unassessed.

What formula is best for babies with eczema?

Eczema alone cannot determine formula choice. Ask your GP, MCHN or paediatrician about allergy assessment and feeding advice if you are concerned. A special formula should be chosen for your baby’s needs, rather than an eczema product recommendation.

When should I get help for baby eczema?

Arrange a GP assessment for a new or persistent itchy rash. Seek prompt medical advice if there is crusting, blistering, increasing pain, fever or your baby seems unwell. Bring your current products and care plan to the appointment.

Baby Eczema Creams Australia: 4 Moisturisers and Care Advice