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From dry skin in the newborn to atopic eczema in the infant and child, health professionals in primary care play a crucial role in supporting families in the care of skin, and the treatment and management of skin conditions in children. The evidence base can be conflicting and guidance changes frequently. With so much information to share with new parents, baby skincare is often seen as a lower priority when imparting health promotion advice than other areas such as safe sleep or infant feeding. It has been argued that, with the rising prevalence of atopic eczema in the UK population, advice to parents about what to be concerned about and when to seek medical advice is imperative. This article explores the evidence on general skincare from the newborn period to the treatment and management of common skin conditions, including atopic eczema and seborrheic dermatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atopic eczema, also referred to as dermatitis, is an inflammatory chronic skin disease that commonly develops in childhood. This condition ranges from birth to 12 years old and affects both genders equally. Atopic eczema affects people of all ages but children in particular. The prevalence rate for atopic eczema is around 15-20% in children and 2-10% in adults (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network [SIGN], 2011), and accounts for 30% of all dermatological consultations in primary care (Shamssain, 2007). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]