When & How To Use Steroid Creams For Children With Eczema

When & How To Use Steroid Creams For Children With Eczema

If your child's skin has active eczema and is red and itchy, topical steroids can help to soothe that and allow the skin to heal and become comfortable again. You use steroid creams alongside other important eczema treatments, particularly moisturisers and avoidance of soap.

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Video transcript

If your child's skin has active eczema and is red and itchy, topical steroids can help to soothe that and allow the skin to heal and become comfortable again. 

Remember:

  • steroid creams are safe and essential for eczema care
  • use steroids on any skin with red, itchy, active eczema
  • stop steroid creams when eczema has gone and start if eczema returns, but keep using moisturiser every day
  • if your child still has red, itchy, active eczema please see your doctor or nurse

See the rest of the eczema care videos

3 easy stepsmoisturisers and bathing ...

Video thumbnail image showing hands Video thumbnail image showing family ina  consultation with a doctorVideo thumbnail image showing 2 children in bath and mum pouring water over one child's head

Print out an eczema action plan

You can print out this Eczema care plan (PDF, 254 KB) and take it with you when you see your child's doctor. Ask the doctor to mark on the diagram where you should put moisturiser and topical steroids on your child's skin.

See the KidsHealth eczema action plan page for the English and Samoan versions.  

Thumbnail of eczema care plan

Find out how bleach baths can help

Antiseptic baths 2 times a week can help prevent infection and improve eczema. Find out how to use bleach baths.

See when and how to use bleach baths for your child with eczema

Live chat with a children's skin doctor

Watch a video of a live chat - answers to some common eczema and skin care questions from parents.

Watch a video about eczema and skin conditions - questions and answers with an expert

Check all eczema content

See all the content on eczema

Acknowledgements

Our grateful thanks to the family in consultation with Dr Diana Purvis, Dermatologist, Starship Hospital, and all the other families whose generosity was essential in the making of these videos. Thanks also to Kidzhealth (private paediatric care) and to Allergy NZ for providing facilities and support for filming. 

The information and video on this eczema page have been developed and approved by the Clinical Reference Group for the Paediatric Society NZ's Eczema Clinical Network, Te Rōpū Kiripai Hapori.

Tags
Eczema

This page last reviewed 13 June 2022.

Call Healthline on 0800 611 116 any time of the day or night for free health advice when you need it