Truth be told, I didn’t really understand what eczema was until my middle son developed a rash all over his belly at three months old. It causes excessive skin dryness which leads to itchy red bumps and rashes. It can make things super uncomfortable!
Eczema affects 10 to 20 percent of children and can be triggered by environmental elements, allergies, and genetics. It can look different and be varying in severity. My middle has moderate eczema and there are a few tips that I have found to help keep us all comfortable!
Find the trigger! The first thing my pediatrician asked is if we used Dreft and recommended we cut out all products with synthetic fragrances. I went home and quickly realized all of the yummy smelling things that I associated with the smell of a baby were no longer going to work for us. I was surprised all of these products geared towards babies could be so rough on their sweet skin! This was the biggest irritant for my son and switching to a detergent and baby wash free of fragrances and dye helped reduce his flair ups. For many, it will not be this simple so keep trying until you can find the source.
Next, reevaluate bath time. I have heard different things working for different people when it comes to baths, so see what works for you. Some have found a quick daily bath with no soap or scrubbing to be effective at calming the skin. For us, it was a bath only once a week with a natural soap. Either way you do it, the most important thing is to heavily moisturize after the bath. It will help lock the moisture into their dry skin.
Lastly, the most important thing to remember is to moisturize constantly. We went through several different lotions and creams before we found one that we loved and actually worked. Try to apply the lotion at each diaper change and after baths. The more you can apply, the better! We were lucky to find something that worked without needing a steroid cream but in severe cases, it can be prescribed.
These simple tips helped us tremendously and I hope that they help you! Eczema can be frustrating and time-consuming to find what works best for your family. Remember that your doctor is always a great resource if you have questions about eczema.
My son has eczema too-what soap and cream did you find that worked for you?
The All Over Ointment from Tubby Todd was a game changer for us! We also use their line of soaps. https://glnk.io/jmy/katieblauser
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