Infantile eczema and adult eczema are fundamentally the same condition. However, their symptoms differ. Infantile eczema may develop from infantile dermatitis or emerge in early childhood if not present during infancy.
Traditional Chinese medicine terms infantile eczema as "milk eczema." It typically begins in the second or third month after birth.It commonly affects the face and skin folds but may spread to the entire body. Generally, symptoms gradually improve and resolve with age. However, in a minority of cases, the condition persists into childhood or even adulthood.
The disease course is prolonged, and the rash patterns are more complex than in infantile eczema. Beyond erythema, vesicles, erosion, and crusting, it may also present with papules, small nodules, wheals, and lichenification.
The rash is more itchy, with frequent crusting and scratch marks. Lesions are often dry and prone to secondary bacterial infection after scratching.
Preferred sites are typically not the face but the flexural areas and skin folds of the limbs, such as the armpits, elbow creases, and groin.