Ah, babies. They’re cute, they’re cuddly, and sometimes they make you want to put your head through a wall, just so you could knock yourself out cold for a few minutes and have some peace and quiet… but let’s focus on the former two attributes, shall we? Right then. There are times when the baby’s cute and cuddly skin is beset by eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis). For this precise reason, the Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream and its review are in existence.

Dermatologists say that eczema and atopic dermatitis are not exactly the same thing, but often they will be bundled together under a single banner, whether by physicians or laypeople. So, for the intents and purposes of this blog post, they are one and the same. Another thing worth mentioning is that eczema may express itself differently in a baby than an adult, which is why it is important to keep an eye out for it.

What Is Baby Eczema And What Causes it?

Baby with eczema.

The onset of baby eczema typically occurs in early infancy, when the baby is about three or four months old. The actual patches of “angry” inflamed skin often show themselves after some scratching has already been carried out. It starts with an itch and irritation but then progresses into a full-blown rash because of the scratching. It is a vicious – yet breakable – cycle.

In our Aveeno Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream review (the one for adults), we mentioned the genetic component involved in eczema. That same component applies here, too. A parent who suffers from eczema is more likely to produce progeny which is also sensitive to the condition. Very often, the disorder will affect the baby’s face, arms, and legs, although it can appear pretty much anywhere on the body.

Baby eczema is not cradle rash or diaper rash. Those are different conditions, which have their own separate catalysts but somewhat similar external symptoms. Those two are usually more common and less severe than baby eczema, and they can be cleared up with greater ease. Very often, those two types of rashes will go away on their own. By the time baby is about a year old, they will disappear and not make any kind of a comeback.

Baby eczema can be the result of several things:

• Sensitive skin genes make the skin more susceptible to inflammation
• Compromised (and hence somewhat ineffective) skin barrier doesn’t provide enough protection, because it is still in its developmental stages
• Dryness brought on by lower-than-usual production of fat cells called ceramides 

Eczema can flare up due to extreme temperatures or changes in humidity, strong detergents and/or harsh soaps, clothing fabrics which cause irritation, and even psychological stress.

The skin barrier forms fully in healthy full-term babies, but it may need some time to adjust to the outside world. This is what makes early infancy such a delicate time for a baby’s skin, especially when dealing with sometimes-unforgiving elements like the environment.

Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream Ingredients Breakdown

Active Ingredients

The breakdown of this baby cream could technically also work for the ordinary tube of Aveeno Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream since they have the same ingredients. Much like the adult version, it is a cream which is free of steroids and fragrances, and which clinically proves to help the condition we know as eczema.

The active ingredient is the same as the adult one – colloidal oatmeal 1%. The oats help the skin regain the balance it requires, and it boosts the skin’s natural defensive layers. Oats are an ingredient which locks moisture, and this is why it comes so highly recommended by skin doctors. It is also why you can find oats in many skincare products (for babies and adults alike). Also, why certain face masks contain oats.

Also, much like the regular version, Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream does not have approval or regulation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is an over the counter (OTC) product, meant for external use, and is not FDA-approved for the prevention or treatment of any disorder or disease. That aside, the active ingredient itself is approved by the FDA to treat eczema, rashes, and similar skin conditions.

Inactive Ingredients

The inactive ingredients in this cream are: fats (glycerin and ceramide NP), B5 pro-vitamin (panthenol), a Vaseline-like substance called petrolatum, distearyldimonium chloride (which promotes smoother skin), emulsifiers and thickening agents, and also benzalkonium chloride, a preservative which helps the drug to maintain its consistency and integrity over time.

If you see that this cream is not doing its job, or if you find that it makes the condition worse (that can happen and does happen) – stop using it immediately and see your baby’s pediatrician. Because baby’s skin is often significantly more sensitive and susceptible to inflammation and attacks, don’t wait too long before asking your doctor. The sooner the better, in order to rule out other conditions and/or infections.

It doesn’t have to be a countermeasure alone; this cream can also be a regular moisturizer to keep the situation under control.

Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream Review

Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream.

Thankfully, I never had to deal with a case of baby eczema head-on. I did, however, use this cream on what I thought was a budding case of eczema in my 5-month-old, at the time. I didn’t get a diagnosis then, because it came and went quickly after I began using the cream.

The cream goes on smooth and is easy to work with. I had no trouble getting it onto the right areas and spreading it properly. The tube’s design did make it a little difficult to get a more precise amount out of it, though. If you have some kind of a small pump bottle or container, consider moving it into one of those. It will spare you from wasting any product, and also save you time and money in the process.

Does it work? It most certainly did for me. And, from what I have seen and read, it also has worked in most cases where there was actual baby eczema involved, and not just suspected eczema which turned out to be a regular kind of rash… Creams like these mean to soothe the affected regions and treat the condition from becoming worse. In that regard, the cream does its job as advertised. Amazing, the things that oats can do when properly utilized!

Aveeno uses natural ingredients like kiwi, berries, oats, and soy. The words “let thy food be thy medicine” take on a whole new meaning when you consider you can use these foods externally, too! After a few days of using this cream, many parents report a reduction in symptoms.

What’s The Difference Between Aveeno Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream And Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream?

The short answer is: there is no difference. None. Both products make use of the very same active drug and inactive ingredients. Both products have similar indications and contraindications and offer the exact same results. 

There is a difference in price, though, because the marketing and packaging are not the same for both products. The Aveeno Baby series is marketed to parents with babies, while the ordinary version is marketed to the general population. This makes a difference when pricing the finished product.

Also, when the retailers, distributors, and shop-owners get Aveeno products, the final price is up to them. This is true in online stores as well as brick-and-mortar shops. The age-old dictum of “buyer beware” applies here as much as anywhere else. Don’t let shop-owners take advantage of your needs and jack up the price, just because the tube has the word ‘baby’ on it.

Conclusion

When our little ones are suffering from something, it can take a toll on everyone involved. And I don’t mean that in an egocentric and sleep-deprived kind of way. I mean it in a way that only a parent or caregiver can relate to. That kind of “I wish the tables were turned” kind of way that just wrenches your heart. It’s not easy to watch such a small and defenseless creature undergo the trials and tribulations of his or her still-developing and highly-susceptible immune system.

But that is the way nature works. Those harsh conditions and illnesses of infancy serve to strengthen our kids’ bodies and fortify them for the long term – this is something we need to keep in mind. We must accept it as a part of life, and do what we can to ease the symptoms while they last. For that purpose, the Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream comes as a real miracle-worker. Does it work on all babies and in all cases? No. But it’s probably one of the most helpful and useful OTC baby eczema treatments available. 

Aveeno has been looking out for our skin, hair, face, and overall beauty since 1945. For almost 75 years, this company has been providing us (and our babies!) with some of the finest products around. And hey, having Jennifer Aniston as your spokesperson is not too shabby, either!