I'm Dr. Chaudhry, a board-certified pediatrician and mom of two. I help parents with baby eczema and toddler eczema build a simple daily routine, pick the right eczema creams and products, and cut through the noise of the skin-care aisle.
Eczema starts with a weak skin barrier and an overactive immune response. But researchers have found a third player that keeps the cycle going: a common bacterium called Staphylococcus aureus, or staph.
Healthy skin is home to many different "good" bacteria that keep staph in check. Eczema skin loses that balance, and staph takes over. In a large review of studies, about 70% of people with eczema had staph on their flaring skin. Staph levels rise right before and during flares and drop as the skin heals.
Staph releases toxins that inflame the skin, trigger itch and break down the barrier even more. Then scratching opens the skin and lets more staph in. It's also why kids with eczema get skin infections so easily.
The takeaway: lowering staph on the skin, alongside daily moisturizing and any medicine your doctor prescribes, can help break the cycle. That's why my product list starts with staph-reducing products.
Research: Totté et al., British Journal of Dermatology, 2016 (meta-analysis of 95 studies); Kong et al., Genome Research, 2012 (skin microbiome during flares). Staph is one of several factors in eczema, and research is ongoing.
I've been the worried parent at 2 a.m., too.
Before I helped other families with eczema, I watched my own daughter struggle with it. Her eczema was severe, and for more than a year it kept coming back. Skin infections made it worse each time.
We had sleepless nights of itching and scratching, more doctor visits than I can count, and a cabinet full of creams that promised relief and didn't deliver. I knew the medicine, and it was still overwhelming as a mom.
That year taught me what actually makes a difference: a simple routine you do every single day, the right products for your child's skin, knowing your child's triggers, and spotting the early signs of infection so you can get to the doctor quickly.
You don't have to spend a year figuring it out alone. I can come up with a customized plan for you and your child.
Read the full routine I used → — DR. CHAUDHRY, PEDIATRICIAN & MOMMost eczema flares improve when bath time and moisturizing happen together, every day, even when the skin looks clear. Here's the order I teach families.
Warm, not hot. Plain water or a gentle fragrance-free cleanser only on dirty areas. Skip bubble bath.
Pat skin with a soft towel so it stays slightly damp.
Apply a thick, fragrance-free ointment or cream all over, plus any medicine your doctor prescribed on red patches first.
Moisturize at least twice a day. More often for hands and cheeks in winter.
Ointments (like petroleum jelly) protect best, creams come next. Lotions are mostly water and often sting.
"Unscented" can still contain masking fragrance. Look for "fragrance-free" on soaps, lotions and laundry detergent.
Wool and scratchy synthetics trigger itch. Wash new clothes before the first wear.
Short, smooth nails mean less skin damage from night-time scratching. Cotton mittens help babies.
Common ones: heat and sweat, dry winter air, saliva and drool, pet dander, and harsh soaps.
Steroid creams are safe and effective when used as your doctor directs. Stopping too early is the most common reason flares come back.
Clean, fragrance-free eczema products and creams for babies and toddlers, in the order to use them. These are the products I used to help heal my own daughter's eczema.
Staph bacteria on the skin are a major driver of eczema flares and skin infections. Start here.
Hypochlorous acid, the same germ-fighting compound your own immune system makes. Clinical studies show hypochlorous acid reduces staph colonization and itch on eczema skin.
How to use: spray 3–4 times a day on clean skin and let it air dry completely before Step 2.View on AmazonA fragrance-free, non-drying wash with dilute sodium hypochlorite, an easy alternative to bleach baths. In clinical studies of infants, children and teens with staph-colonized eczema, it reduced staph and improved eczema severity.
How to use: wash in the bath, rinse, pat dry, then go on to Steps 2 and 3.View on AmazonUse the medicated ointments your pediatrician prescribes on red, flaring spots.
Once the spray has dried, apply any prescription ointments your pediatrician recommends, such as triamcinolone (a steroid ointment) for inflamed patches and an anti-infective ointment for spots that look infected.
Don't be afraid of this step. The longer flared skin is left alone, the more sensitized it becomes, and the longer the eczema stays. Attack new spots as soon as they appear instead of waiting to see if they go away.
Apply over Steps 1 and 2 to lock in moisture and protect the skin barrier.
Pure petroleum jelly in small 1 oz tubes, the simplest and least irritating way to seal in moisture. Keep one in every room, the car and the diaper bag.
Best for: sealing over Steps 1 and 2, hands, bodyView on AmazonA plant-based balm for chapped cheeks and noses. It contains calendula, so try a small spot first if your child reacts to botanicals.
Best for: drooly cheeks, chapped nosesView on AmazonSmall changes around the house that cut down on irritants and scratching.
Soft, unscented, single-use cotton towels. A fresh one each time means no damp, germy washcloths on broken skin.
Best for: patting dry after bathView on AmazonTruly unscented hand soap for the whole household, so the hands that touch your child's skin aren't carrying fragrance.
Best for: kitchen and bathroom sinksView on AmazonFragrance-free, hypoallergenic detergent with no scent residue left in fabrics. Use it for the whole family's laundry.
Best for: sheets, towels, clothesView on AmazonSoft bamboo sleeves with built-in mittens that keep little hands from scratching, especially overnight.
Best for: toddlers who scratch at nightView on AmazonUltra-soft, breathable fitted crib sheet. Cooler sleep means less sweat, a common itch trigger.
Best for: hot sleepers, night-time itchView on AmazonAffiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change the price you pay, and I only list products I recommend to families.
A board-certified pediatrician shares how she healed her daughter's severe, infection-prone eczema: lowering staph, treating flares early, and sealing the skin every day.
Read article →A pediatrician explains which creams and ointments work best for baby and toddler eczema, how to apply them, and the fragrance-free products she recommends.
Read article →What 'clean' should really mean for eczema products, why fragrance-free beats unscented, why natural isn't always gentler, and the clean products a pediatrician uses.
Read article →A pediatrician's guide to toddler eczema: where it shows up, common triggers, the staph connection, a daily routine that works, and when to call the doctor.
Read article →In 30 minutes by video, we go through your child's current routine, products and triggers, and leave with a written plan you can start tonight.
This is an educational consult, not a medical visit. No diagnosis, prescriptions or treatment. Your child's own doctor stays in charge of medical care.
Most babies improve with a consistent daily routine: lower staph on the skin, treat red flares early with any ointment your pediatrician prescribes, and seal everything in with a thick, fragrance-free moisturizer at least twice a day. Avoid fragrance, harsh soaps and overheating. See your pediatrician if the rash oozes, crusts, or doesn't improve.
Thick ointments and creams protect best, and lotions often sting. Look for fragrance-free products with simple ingredients, and apply them within 3 minutes of the bath. My recommended eczema creams are listed in the products section above.
For eczema, "clean" should mean fragrance-free, dye-free and as few ingredients as possible. Plant-based doesn't always mean gentler: botanicals like calendula can irritate some sensitive skin, so patch test new products first.
No. The consult is educational coaching about skin care, routines and products. I don't examine, diagnose, prescribe or treat, and the consult doesn't create a doctor-patient relationship. Please keep your child's pediatrician involved for medical care.
Because it isn't a medical visit, insurance doesn't cover it. Some families use the summary at their next pediatrician visit.
Babies through teens. For babies, we'll focus on bath routines, moisturizers and drool and diaper areas.
The products you currently use (or photos of the labels), any creams your doctor prescribed, and a few notes on when flares happen.
Some links are Amazon affiliate links, which pay me a small commission at no extra cost to you. In consults, I'll recommend what fits your child, affiliate link or not.