Your child has been diagnosed with eczema, and now you're facing one of the hardest conversations as a parent: how do you explain what's happening to their skin without frightening them?

They’re asking questions. Why is my skin different? Why does it itch so much? Why do I need all these creams when my friends don’t? Will it ever go away?

You want to give them honest answers that help them understand, but you don’t want to use scary medical language or make them feel like something’s wrong with them. You want them to feel empowered, not limited. You want them to know they’re not alone.

If you’re struggling to find the right words, you’re not the only parent feeling this way. Explaining eczema to young children is one of the most challenging parts of managing this condition – which is exactly why we created a free eczema children’s storybook to help you.

Why Explaining Eczema to Children Is So Hard

Young children don’t understand why their skin behaves differently from their friends’. They see other children playing without stopping to scratch. They notice they need extra moisturiser, special pyjamas, and different skin-friendly products. Some worry they’ll have itchy skin forever. Others feel embarrassed or “not normal.”

As parents, we want to be honest without being scary. We hope them could understand without obsessing over it. We want to give them control without making eczema the centre of their world.

And sometimes, despite our best intentions, words just fail us.

That’s where stories can help. Children understand the world through stories – they see themselves in characters, they learn from experiences that aren’t their own, and they process difficult information more easily when it’s wrapped in narrative.

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eczema pyjamas for kids aids sleep and itching at night

Beyond What You Can See: The Telltale Behaviours

Sometimes it’s not just the patches that tell you it’s eczema. Watch for these patterns:

The endless itch-scratch cycle – Your child scratches, which damages the skin, which makes them itch more, which leads to more scratching. This relentless loop is one of eczema’s hallmarks.
Nighttime battles – Eczema itching intensifies at night. If your child tosses and turns, scratches in their sleep, or wakes frequently, eczema could be interrupting their rest (and yours).
The flare-up pattern – Eczema isn’t constant. You’ll notice calmer periods followed by sudden flare-ups triggered by things like certain fabrics, bath products, temperature changes, or even stress.
It runs in families – If you, your partner, or close relatives have eczema, asthma, or hay fever, your child is more likely to develop eczema too. These conditions often come as a package.
Dry skin everywhere – Even areas without visible patches feel rough

What Causes It? (And Why It’s Not Your Fault)

Let’s be clear: eczema isn’t caused by poor hygiene or anything you’ve done wrong. It’s a genetic skin condition where the protective skin barrier doesn’t work as well as it should.

Think of your child’s skin like a brick wall. In eczema, the mortar between the bricks is weaker, allowing moisture to escape and irritants to get in more easily. Their immune system also overreacts to these irritants, causing inflammation and that maddening itch.

Common triggers include: Harsh soaps and bubble baths, certain fabrics like wool, sweat and overheating, dust mites, cold dry weather, and sometimes stress or particular foods.

“ My daughter finally understood why we have to moisturise every night. She said, 'I'm like Max!' Suddenly our bedtime routine wasn't a battle anymore.”

– Sarah, mum of two –

“This book helped my son realise other children deal with itchy skin too. He's been so much more positive about his eczema management since reading it.”

– One of HappyMums –

“Such a gentle way to explain eczema to my 4-year-old. Max's journey really resonated with her, and now she's proud of taking care of her skin.”

– Mathew, Leeds –

Meet Max: The Story That Explains Eczema for You

Eczema looks different depending on your child’s age, and every child’s experience is unique – symptoms can vary quite a bit from one baby or child to another. What your child experiences might not be exactly the same as another child with eczema, and that’s completely normal. Here’s what to commonly watch for:

In babies (0-6 months): Red, dry, itchy patches often appear on the face, particularly the cheeks and scalp. The skin may weep or form crusts when scratched. Your baby might be especially fussy at night when the itching gets worse.
In toddlers and young children (6 months – 5 years): Dry, scaly patches typically show up in the creases of elbows and knees, behind the ears, and on wrists and ankles. The skin may become thickened from constant rubbing. You’ll notice your child can’t seem to leave these areas alone.
In older children (5+ years): Eczema concentrates in skin folds – elbows, knees, neck. The patches become very dry and may develop a leathery texture. Flare-ups often worsen with stress, weather changes, or specific triggers.

Remember, these are general patterns. Your child’s eczema might look or behave differently, and that doesn’t mean something’s wrong, eczema simply presents itself in different ways for different children.

That’s exactly why we created “Meet Max’s Eczema Story” – a free children’s storybook that does the explaining for you, in a way your child will actually understand.

What Your Child Will Learn from Max’s Story

Max is a little boy who’s had eczema since he was very young. Through his gentle, relatable journey, children discover:

They’re not alone – Max shows them that thousands of children manage eczema every day. It’s common, and it doesn’t make them weird or different.

What’s actually happening – Simple, child-friendly explanations that take away the mystery and fear. Understanding reduces anxiety.

Why their skin feels itchy – Max learns about his skin in a way that makes sense to young minds.

Practical ways to feel better – The story naturally introduces helpful habits: keeping an eczema diary to spot triggers, moisturising as part of daily routine, choosing suitable clothing, etc. These aren’t boring chores in Max’s story – they’re tools that help him feel better.

The power of support – Max’s parents, his doctor, and his friends (other children with eczema) all support him. Your child sees they have a whole team on their side too.

Hope and control – Most importantly, Max discovers that while eczema is part of his life, it doesn’t control his life. He can still play, laugh, and be a kid.

Click then fill in the form below and we’ll send “Meet Max’s Eczema Story” straight to you. Read it together tonight, or save it for when your child asks those difficult questions about their skin.

Yes, completely free. No payment required, no hidden costs. We created “Meet Max’s Eczema Story” to support families in the eczema community, and we believe every parent should have access to resources that help their child feel understood.

Max’s story works beautifully for children aged 2-10. The language is simple enough for toddlers to follow along with pictures, yet meaningful enough for older children to connect with Max’s experiences. Many parents have told us their older children (even up to age 12) found comfort in seeing their struggles reflected in Max’s journey.

Not at all. The story is a completely free resource with no strings attached. We may occasionally share information about our DreamSkin® clothing, but there’s absolutely no obligation to purchase anything. We’re here to support you first.

Max’s story is the perfect length for bedtime reading – around 10-15 minutes depending on how much your child wants to discuss along the way. It’s not too long to hold their attention, but detailed enough to cover the important aspects of understanding and managing eczema.

Absolutely. Many parents have shared Max’s story with teachers, teaching assistants, and school nurses to help them better understand what their child is experiencing. We encourage you to share it with anyone who supports your child.

You’ll receive a beautifully illustrated PDF that you can read on any device – tablet, phone, computer, or you can print it out to create a physical book. Many families print and bind it so their child can keep it on their bookshelf alongside their other favourite stories.

Yes. Some parents read Max’s story to siblings or classmates to help them understand what their brother, sister, or friend is going through. It builds empathy and helps other children understand why their friend might need to do things differently sometimes.