Eczema on the Face – Causes, Symptoms, and How to Help Prevent Flare-Ups

Eczema often flares up on the face: this is commonly known as facial eczema and is marked by dryness, itchiness, and flakiness on the face¹. This can be uncomfortable anywhere on the body, but eczema on the face can be particularly bothersome due to sensitivity of facial skin.

This article explains how to recognize the symptoms of facial eczema and looks at the possible causes and triggers. It offers suggestions on how to care for eczema-prone skin on a daily basis, as well as advice on how to soothe and calm your skin during flare-ups.

Facial eczema is a chronic, non-contagious skin condition on the face marked by dryness, itchiness, and flakiness. In addition to being physically uncomfortable, eczema on the face can also contribute to feelings of low self-esteem, impacting the quality of life of those who suffer from it and their loved ones.  

Adult facial eczema can appear on the scalp, forehead, cheeks, around the mouth and eyes, on the eyelids, and even in and around the ears². 

Symptoms of facial eczema can vary from mild dryness, irritation and itchiness to flaking and intensely itchy skin3. You may experience eczema on the neck, forehead, ears, and other parts of the face. Eczema has stages where the condition is aggravated known as eczema flare-ups called the acute phase, and periods of time in between flare-ups called the non-acute phase where the skin is calmer⁴.  

The symptoms of facial eczema are similar to those of eczema in other areas, such as the hands: 

• Skin becomes dry, itchy and irritable 
• Blotchiness 
• Small, rough bumps 
• Flaky skin¹ 

If you notice dry patches on the face, you could be suffering from dry facial skin but not eczema.

Scratching the itch only makes symptoms worse, and the damaged skin can become more irritated and start to thicken. If you are experiencing any of the following more severe eczema symptoms on your face, be sure to contact a healthcare professional for guidance.

• Swelling 
• Red or brown plaques 
• Skin feeling hot or a burning sensation 
• Crusts or pus 
• Itchy blisters or cracks resulting in weeping or bleeding 

Eczema including Facial eczema is largely due to genetics and is linked to a compromised skin barrier function. Contact eczema is a type of eczema that is triggered when the skin comes into contact with an irritant or allergen. Triggers vary from person to person but can include climate and pollution, stress, or sensitivity to allergens like dust¹.

Other external aggressors that may trigger eczema flare ups include harsh facial cleansers, household products like soap, synthetic fibers, and certain makeup products¹. One person's eczema could be triggered by a fragranced product, but the same product may not cause a reaction for somebody else. This is why it’s important to speak to a doctor about your facial eczema.

The symptoms of eczema can also serve as triggers. When your face feels itchy, it is very tempting to scratch it, and once skin is dry and irritated, scratching makes symptoms worse. Worse eczema symptoms lead to increased itchiness, leading to more scratching, etc. This vicious cycle is known as the ‘itch-scratch-damage cycle’⁵. Helping to calm and soothe itchy eczema-prone skin with an appropriate eczema cream key to helping reduce the urge to scratch and stop the cycle.

There is no known cure for facial eczema, but there are steps that you can take to help reduce flare-ups, both in terms of their frequency and severity⁶. There are also ways in which you can prolong the periods between flare-ups and calm and soothe your skin during a flare-up.

Prior to finding an appropriate treatment, your health care practitioner must provide you with an accurate diagnosis of your symptoms to check that you or your child do actually have eczema rather than a different skin condition. By being aware of the type of eczema you have, you can apply the proper treatment for it.  

Consult your doctor for advice and recommendations on the most appropriate ways to treat the symptoms of eczema  for your skin.

When caring for eczema-prone facial skin on a daily basis, the primary aim is to prolong the non-acute phase, and regular moisturization is crucial.

Eucerin Eczema Relief Hydrogel offers an ultra-lightweight, fast-absorbing skin protectant formula that provides an instant cool sensation when applied and  helps relieve itchiness due to eczema. Steroid-free, fragrance-free, and appropriate for use on adults, children, and babies 3 months and up, this hydrogel delivers 48 hours of hydration and helps to maintain skin’s protective barrier with regular use*. 

*Please consult your child or baby’s pediatrician prior to introducing any new product to their skin. 

For daily maintenance of eczema-prone skin between flare-ups, use Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream. This hypoallergenic ,gentle skin  protectant cream for dry, itchy, eczema-prone skin is clinically proven to help reduce the incidence of eczema flare-ups. Suitable for face and body, Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream provides long-lasting hydration and helps relieve the itch and minor irritation of eczema-prone skin, and is appropriate for use on infants as young as 3 months*. In a clinical study with daily use of Eucerin Eczema Relief Body Cream, 4 out of 5 children remained flare-free for 6 months. 

*Please consult your child or baby’s pediatrician prior to introducing any new product to their skin. 

During eczema flare-ups, you can use an eczema flare-up cream to help bring relief to facial eczema symptoms like itching, irritation, and dryness.  

Eucerin Eczema Relief Flare-Up Treatment instantly soothes itchy, irritated skin on the face and body , and has mild, cool sensation when applied. Fragrance- and steroid-free,  with  Colloidal Oatmeal (skin protectant), and enriched with Ceramide-3, and Licochalcone A, this skin protectant eczema cream is appropriate for use on infants as young as 3 months* and  helps  relieve  eczema symptoms with regular use (twice daily for 2 weeks).  

* Please consult your child or baby’s pediatrician prior to introducing any new product to their skin. 

Facial eczema is particularly common in babies and children and normally appears when they are between two and six months old. Eczema on the forehead and cheeks often appears first, but eczema on the face can appear on other parts of the body as they get older.

Many children grow out of the condition⁷. However, it can persist into adulthood and some adults suffer from eczema on the face without having had it in their youth⁸

Symptoms differ from person to person, from season to season, and even from day to day. The disease has two distinct phases: the flare-up, or acute phase, when the skin is at its most itchy and irritable, and the calmer period between flare-ups, the non-acute phase.

Though a small region, the neck is exposed to a number of triggers that can cause irritation, such as tight-necked clothes, jewelry, moisture trapped in skin folds, and itchy  scarves. Wearing cotton or soft scarves and looser clothing can reduce chance of contact and friction. The neck is an easily accessible area, so eczema sufferers can sometimes scratch their neck without realizing.

Using products appropriate for eczema-prone skin can help manage eczema symptoms and prolong the time between flare-ups, but ultimately does not cure it. Identifying triggers early on is important as the best way to help manage facial eczema symptoms from flaring up is to try and avoid whatever is triggering them. Here are some ways to help manage eczema flare-ups on the face:

Environmental irritants like smoke, harsh chemicals, allergens like pollen or exposure to cold, dry air can exacerbate eczema symptoms¹. Minimize contact with chemical and environmental irritants whenever possible and use fragrance- and dye-free laundry detergents. If necklaces or other jewelry cause irritation, limit the amount of jewelry you wear, remove it at night and clean it regularly.

Harsh cleansers and soap can exacerbate eczema on the face, so choose a mild, soap-free facial cleanser for eczema-prone skin and be sure to regularly moisturize your skin. When rinsing your cleanser off , use lukewarm instead of hot water. Hot showers can cause further dryness and trigger facial eczema in some people, use warm water, not hot when showering or bathing.. Pat gently with a soft towel to dry the skin instead of rubbing³. 

Some people find that a little bit of sun helps with their symptoms while others find that it exacerbates them. Either way, make sure you give your skin the protection that it needs, with products that are proven to be suitable for sensitive facial skin. Eucerin’s sun protection products have been developed with dermatologists to provide broad-spectrum protection suitable for all skin types and tones.

Applying make-up over a facial eczema rash can sometimes make it worse, especially if using liquid foundation or mascara. Avoid applying makeup to affected areas, and if you find that makeup is provoking your eczema, try using a mineral makeup as mineral makeup has been shown to be generally less irritating for eczema-prone skin³.

Navigating life with face eczema can be a challenge, particularly during a flare-up, but with Eucerin’s eczema relief hydrogel, cream and flare-up treatment cream, you can find relief for eczema-related itch and mild irritation so you can focus on living your life and enjoying your daily activities.

View our full collection of Eczema Relief products.

The information provided herein is not intended to be medical advice. Nor is it intended to treat the underlying skin disease or condition. The information is provided solely to: 

1. Moisturize, soften and smooth dry skin 
2. Improve the appearance of the skin 
3. Achieve healthier-looking skin