Child & Infant Eczema: What helps?

Eczema is a very common skin condition. While it is very common in childhood, many people carry eczema through to their adult years. For parents of a baby or child with eczema it can be especially traumatic, with everyone offering different advice about how to treat the eczema. What works and what doesn't? It's no wonder parents become confused! Read these top 5 tips that de-bunk the myths of childhood eczema and put your child on the road to beautiful skin again...

Child & Infant Eczema - what works and what doesn't? 5 helpful tips!

Firstly, eczema is a type of skin condition in which the skin becomes repeatedly inflamed and itchy. The skin may also form blister-like ‘bumps’ and ‘weep’  fluid (so-called ‘wet eczema’) or become dry, inflamed,  itchy  and ‘scaly’. Eczema in childhood is also sometimes called 'atopic dermatitis' or infantile eczema. The word 'dermatitis' means that there is an inflammation of the skin, which 'atopic' refers to a predisposition (often inherited) to hypersensitivity to certain allergens in the environment - ranging from pollen or chemicals or even certain foods. There is no single test to diagnose eczema. It may be aggravated by allergies and certain skin ailments as well as stress, making it difficult to pinpoint the trigger or cause. There are many things that CAN help though, and here are 5 places to start! 

1. Do conventional lotions on the market really help improve childhood or infantile eczema?

First, do no harm! We've all been there - at some point, covering skin blemishes with creams and powders. This may temporarily cover up the patch of eczema on your child, but may also be further aggravating the skin. Furthermore, many creams and lotions claiming to help eczema contain potentially dangerous SLS and Parabens- chemicals that seep into the skin with long term health risks for your child or infant. Add to this the risk of bacteria on cloths and sponges, and you may just be making your child's eczema that much worse! So, the first tip would be to let your child's skin aerate and 'breathe'.If your child has eczema on his chest, let him go without a t-shirt if the weather is warm. Similarly, if your baby has eczema under a nappy, let him run around without one on to help the eczema aerate and dry out.   

2. What should I watch out for when starting a treatment for childhood or infantile eczema?
Many Homeopaths feel the process of suppressing the symptoms of infantile eczema (or childhood eczema) can actually cause the problem to go deeper and result in the development of asthma and other illnesses later on. For this reason, natural remedies are key for treatment- giving the child’s system the opportunity to resolve the underlying issues causing the eczema while not weakening their systems and exposing them to the risks of conventional prescription treatment for eczema, especially children with dry eczema. Skin Dr from Feelgood Health is a natural homeopathic remedy specially formulated to treat the symptoms and underlying causes of eczema and is safe for all ages, including during pregnancy & breastfeeding. 

Even mild creams like aqueous cream or lanolin can contain pesticides and other residues which can cause flare ups. For these reasons, many parents struggle to find a moisturising solution for their baby or child with eczema, especially children with dry eczema. BaoCare Eczema Skin Care provides relief for irritated and inflamed skin conditions, associated with dry psoriasis and eczema, without causing drying or flareups. It is safe for all ages, but particularly good for babies & small children! This natural oil for childhood eczema contains no SLS's, parabens or petrochemicals, which could potentially cause further flareups.

3. What products should I use on my child or baby's skin to help lessen the eczema?
Some moisturisers out there for kids actually draw moisture from the underlying layers of the skin to the surface of the skin. This is especially true of creams or lotions containing petrochemicals. So at first, your child's skin may appear moisturised for some time but is then actually depleted of moisture, causing it to become dry and cracked and dependent on the cream, setting up a horrible cycle. 

Products that contain natural tested ingredients and products that do not contain any parabens or Sodium Laureth Sulphate(SLS) should be used. Firstly, it's recommended that you use a natural cleansing wash to clean the surface of your child's skin first and micro debris from the skin surface. Wash your child's skin each morning and evening, patting dry gently (never rub abrasively). Keep all facecloth and towels washed regularly with natural detergents and dried in the sun to avoid bacteria being harboured in the towelling. After washing and drying your child's skin, apply a generous amount of BaoCare Eczema Skin Care to your child's eczema patches - it's formulated with natural ingredients and again, SLS and paraben free. Even Aqueous cream draws moisture away from the deeper layers of the skin, so BaoCare Eczema Skin Care is a far better bet as it reduces itching, soothes the skin, prevent infection and promotes healing without drying out the lower layers of the epidermis. 

4. Is there a way of clearing eczema from the inside out?
Absolutely! Firstly, you are what you eat - so make sure that your child is not suffering from food allergies that worsen the skin condition. Eczema can be triggered by intolerance of diary, wheat or other food groups. Try limiting certain things and keep a food diary for your child or baby - if his eczema improves, note down the conditions for that day, and what he ate or did not eat. Prepare organic foods and organic baby foods for your kids as far as possible and let them drink water to help flush out toxins. 

5. What other helpful tips can I try to soothe and treat my child's eczema?
A small amount of sun, for Vitamin D benefits, is also recommended (10min in early morning sunlight, 10am). You can also try a few cups of oatmeal in warm water, to form a paste. Apply this paste gently to your child's eczema, and leave on for 15min, washing off gently for a wonderfully soothing mask to stop the itching sensation.

Alternatively, pour oatmeal flakes into your child or baby bath at night to help settle the itching. Chamomile tea, applied to the eczema as a teabag (or in the bath) can also give rise to soothing benefits. Investigate foods for your kids that are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids (such as walnuts, sardines & salmon) or add a child-friendly Omega-3 supplement.

You'll also want to use non-perfume soaps and shower gels as far as possible. Pure Organic Coconut Oil has been hailed as a marvellous ingredient to apply to eczema patches too.