Baby eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is very common in babies. There are some factors that can contribute to your baby getting eczema which includes, genetics, skin irritations and an environment reaction. A lot of times eczema in babies does resolve itself and go away with time. However, the time that the eczema stays around varies from baby to baby. Sometimes, children have eczema even into adulthood so figuring out what works for your child in the early years of eczema to get it under control is important. (1)
Symptoms of Eczema
The best ways to tell if your child has eczema is to take them to your pediatrician to have it diagnosed. Some common eczema signs include:
- Dry Skin
- Dry Patches
- Shows up in cheeks, creases and elbows
- Itchy and rough skin
Treating Eczema Naturally
When looking to treat or get your baby’s eczema under control naturally there are two main things to look at:
- How to keep the skin moisturized?
- What irritants are causing the flare up?
Moisturizing the Skin
When looking at moisturizers for your baby’s skin, this process might take the longest. Every skin reacts differently to moisturizers and this can be a trial and error process for you. The body creams to look at that are all natural are brands such as Weleda Baby which had calendula oil in their body lotion that is known to help with skin problems. There is also oils such as jojoba oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter or plain calendula oil. The main item to look for is “hypoallergenic” and no scent lotions since those can cause more irritation to already sensitive skin.
There are brands that have also created eczema skincare products for babies such as Aveeno and Eucerin. There is also a natural alternative to petroleum jelly you can buy such as Waxelene, at health food stores and some great DIY recipes for the petroleum jelly natural alternative you can make at home.
Baths
Babies with eczema do not need to be bathed everyday, since bathing strips the skin even more of the moisture that they need. When you do bathe your baby, it is important to avoid a bubble bath since this also strips the skin. The water temperature for the bath water is best to be lukewarm for eczema, because it hydrates and cools the skin. If your baby is exceptionally itchy, there is also an oatmeal bath you can try which involves oatmeal that you soak in a sack while your baby is in the bath.
Once the bath is done, the best way to keep the skin moist is to pat the baby dry and afterwards to apply the thick lotion or oil right away. Sometimes, if you choose to use oils such as coconut oil it can take a longer time to dry, therefore applying the thick lotion of choice or even the natural petroleum jelly can be a better choice.
Clothing
Wool clothing that does not let the skin breathe can cause more irritation to your baby. Detergent that you use can also cause the irritation in the skin if there is a strong scent to the detergent or it is not a hypoallergenic detergent. When it comes to clothes:
- No wool or synthetic material
- Cotton clothes are most breathable
- Double rinse sometimes if detergent is irritating
Feeding
If you are breastfeeding, then what you are putting into your body has a strong influence on your baby’s skin. Some mothers have found that changing their diets helps the baby eczema a lot. If your baby is already eating solids, looking at individual food that can cause the irritations and eliminating the food one at a time can help in determining which foods cause an eczema flare up. Some common food groups are dairy and gluten.
Some breastfeeding mothers have found that adding Omega 3s that can be found in Fish Oil or Cod Liver Oil supplements to do the trick, as well as adding more water to keep the skin hydrated.
Environmental Allergies
Different things that come up in seasons such as using the heater in the winter time or dust and pollen during spring has also been known to cause eczema flare ups. (2)
The main environmental triggers are known to be:
- Dust
- Pollen
- Pets
- Mold
Its always important to be aware of and know the allergens in order to keep the symptoms under control.
Itching Relief
Scratching can often make the eczema worse and lead to infection, but this is hard to do with babies since they are no aware of their actions. Your pediatrician might recommend over the counter medications such as hydrocortisone creams or anti-hystimines if the itchiness becomes excessive. Using hydrocortisone creams can also cause the skin to thin out, so looking at using them for a short period of time, only when needed is important. (3)
Also, looking at your baby’s fingernails and keeping them short will prevent them from causing more damage to their skin. If nighttime itching is a problem, then there are mittens that you can buy for your baby or simply putting baby socks over their hands can do the trick.
Your Turn
Share down below what helps your baby the most in dealing with eczema. What have you found to be the trigger in their eczema?
Much love,
Krystina RN, BSN, CBE
