Treating eczema in a 5mo?
Do any mamas have suggestions on how to treat a baby's eczema, especially as we head into the autumn and winter months of dry, cracked skin? Jacquelyn emails:
My son is five months old and has eczema. His back is so extremely dry and his legs and neck. His doctor told me to use eurcerin on him, but I don't feel comfortable with some of the ingredients. So, I am trying to find a natural lotion or cream that I could use. Does anyone have an idea that worked for them? Thanks so much!
We used shea butter (look for at new seasons or online, just look for 100% shea butter)....slather it on generously a couple of times a day, we felt like we were greasing up our daughter. We also found bathing only one time a week helped alot. The water drys the skin out even more. At that age they don't get dirty except on their bottoms and you clean that every time you change anyways. Good luck.
Posted by: Mary | November 06, 2007 at 07:42 AM
We use plain Vaseline Lotion with no fragrances or dyes. Its helped the best. You could also try the Burt Bees lotions, and baby oils. Also our dr recommended mixing some lotion and oil together to keep her skin soft. But the plain lotion has helped the best.
Posted by: Becky | November 06, 2007 at 08:23 AM
olive oil is great on dry skin.
Our Dr told us to use it after a bath for our sons dry spots.
Don't use baby oil no that stuff will not let your skin breath.
Plus you wanted more of a natural way.
Posted by: sara | November 06, 2007 at 08:28 AM
My son had eczema as well a baby/toddler, and now that he is 5 he still tends toward dry skin. We rub him all over with Vasoline ointment per our pediatrician's suggestion when he gets a little dry. I tried calendula cream and lotions and they didn't work. I remember trying Aveeno wash products as well, but I don't remember a dramatic improvement. I would imagine that any natural ointment or salve would help. Ask the Health & Beauty person at New Seasons for suggestions. I remember asking someone there and receiving a bunch of samples to try.
Posted by: kathleen | November 06, 2007 at 09:09 AM
I use Mama Mia's Eczema Relief soap, made by the Oregon Soap company. Since using it, my eczema has gone away! They have a booth at saturday market or I think you can buy it online http://www.oregonsoap.com
Posted by: Lindsey | November 06, 2007 at 09:21 AM
A kinda side note -- Amanda from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) mentioned on the activistas site the launch of the Parents Guide to Children's Personal Care Products: http://urbanmamas.typepad.com//activistas/2007/10/if-its-on-the-s.html
http://cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/parentsguide/
According to their rating, the Eucerin is a "low hazard", a 2 of 10.
My girls both have eczema and I also do. It is a struggle to get them to moisturize well. I want to try the olive oil suggestion. I have used a bit of olive oil on my hands in the winters, and it works nicely.
We also refrain from daily bathing and we try to moisturize immediately after getting out of the tub. On of my girls' bottom/back is so dry and bumpy from eczema, I am surprised that she doesn't complain. We are not too loyal to one moisturizer but we definitely steer clear of stuff with fragrances because those are particularly drying.
Posted by: olivia | November 06, 2007 at 09:46 AM
My daughter had eczema from 3 months until about age three. Our pediatrician and then our dermatologist recommended DAILY baths with a bit of baking soda in the water followed by vaseline all over her skin (within two minutes of coming out of the tub; patting dry with a towel instead of rubbing and patting the vaseline on instead of rubbing.) We never used any soap/cleanser products on her in the tub (soaking everyday was cleansing enough).
Sometime between two and three we started using Cetaphil cleanser in the tub (when needed) and Cetaphil moisture cream (not the lotion) instead of vaseline (because we were tired of getting vaseline spots on everything!) and that seemed to work great, too. When she had a particuluarly itchy patch, we would use OTC hydrocortisone ointment.
By 4 (she's 5 now) her skin no longer required the constant maintenance and baths every few days and cetaphil cleanser/cream are our standard skincare routine.
I know people tend to despise vaseline, but it really was the best, simplest product for our daughter. (And I'm now a huge fan of Cetaphil cleanser and cream.)
Good luck!
Posted by: Juliette | November 06, 2007 at 10:02 AM
I've had mild eczema for years. I don't bathe every day, when I do, I keep the water not too hot, and I slather on lotion as soon as I get out. I use Lubriderm, Eucerin, or straight Vaseline petroleum jelly. I can understand that you might want to avoid those--I'm beginning to have questions about some of the ingredients, too. The straight Vaseline works the best of anything I've tried, though. I put on a layer before bedtime, slip into some old, cotton clothes, and by morning the Vaseline is absorbed and the skin is so much better. I've tried olive oil, but it never seems to soak in (even less than the vaseline) and I walk around greasy all day. Am I doing it wrong?
I would encourage you to do some research on dietary links for eczema. You don't say if you're nursing or using formula, or if you've started solids. If you're nursing, it could be something in your diet that's affecting him; if not, it could be something in the formula or the solid food. And I'm not suggesting you start supplementing with vitamin E or anything without consulting your doctor. But I think you'd be interested in some of the research out there.
Also, eczema tends to show up in kids who also develop allergies and asthma. Breastfeeding protects against all three of those to some extent, but if you've got a baby with one of the three, keep your eyes open for the other two.
Oh, and two non-lotion hints: 1. most people with eczema find that tight cotton clothing feels best--not loose or baggy outfits; 2. try switching your detergent or adding an extra rinse to the end of the cycle to remove residue.
Good luck!!
Posted by: Janice | November 06, 2007 at 10:17 AM
Jojoba Oil!! Jojoba oil is the closest to your skins natural oils so it really absorbs and doesn't leave the skin greasy. You can put it in your childs bath and you can also add a few drops to lotion. My three year old really doesn't like to be smeared with anything so drops in the bath is the easiest for me and most tolerable for him. I use Sensaria's Jojoba which is very natural... They have a Shea Butter Body Butter too. Keeping it natural, keeps me from having to worry about him getting the water in his mouth or eyes. Feel free to email me directly! cdscott@comcast.net
Posted by: Cindy | November 06, 2007 at 10:40 AM
We used the Burt's Baby Apricot oil. It worked really well and has a nice, natural but not too strong scent.
After he was older, we used Florasone for some acute patches on his wrist he had for awhile. It's a homeopathic eczema cream we bought at New Seasons. It's not recommended for kids under two without a doctor's advice though.
Posted by: Kym | November 06, 2007 at 10:57 AM
AQUAPHOR was the best for us in this situation. I wasn't a believer (even though my husband suggested it:) ) until I saw the relief on my son's face after a day of using. You can find it at most common drugstores.
Posted by: Alice | November 06, 2007 at 11:57 AM
On a more natural note...Baby's don't need moisterisers, ezpecially ones with lots of chemicals that they can react to. If your kid has eczema, he/she is most likely reacting to something your eatting (if nursing) or they are eatting & is very sensitive in general, so watch what you put on their skin. Eczema is an inflammatory reaction that their little immature gastrointestinal systems have to something it can't digest well or can also be sommething that they are touching that they are allergic to such as polyester clothing, try all cotton all the time for awhile ot see if the problem goes away. More likely, you can try an ellimination diet, which is very hard if your breastfeeding but worth it if your kid's eczema is bad enough (try eliminating all of the suspected allergens for a week or until their eczema clears up, most common are wheat, dairy is huge, soy, tomatoes, peppers, chocolate, nuts. Then add in one of these foods every 2 days & as you add them in, watch your kid very closely for any signs of eczema returning or even their stomachs being upset) It's hard, but I did it with my little one & hus eczema cleared right up, as soon as I added tomatoes back in... pow... eczema again. SO no tomatoes for me. My naturopath told me one very important thing... make sure you eat good fats such as coconut smoothies or an avocado a day to make sure your milk supply doesn't dry up while doing this. Yumm. Good luck, it's really worth it.
Posted by: alichae | November 06, 2007 at 12:00 PM
Oh, we have so been here and still are here. Adding - no dryer sheets, a FREE detergent, probiotics in your diet (Kefir, yogurt or actual supplements), bathing often but not unless you are committed to lathering them up with whatever you choose IMMEDIATELY (still wet from the bath) - otherwise less baths, not hot water. I choose the Mustela products - spendy, but they work for us.
And get thee to an allergist / naturopath / whatever when it is reasonable for your child. We did a 3 MONTH elimination diet (yikes) when he was almost 3 and have determined eggs where his big trigger! And I LOVED eggs when I was breastfeeding (sigh). No wonder he was a lousy sleeper!
We have seen Dr. Osbourne and a head doctor up at OHSU. We'll be trying a naturopath next as I'm sure there are a few more things he is allergic too that I can't nail down yet.
Good luck - you can see you aren't alone!
Posted by: Betsy | November 06, 2007 at 02:18 PM
I have had extreme eczema all my life (the kind where the docs bring the interns in to see "the worst case" ever - seriously!) and both my kids have it. We swear by AQUAPHOR, and only use Cetaphil for my baby & preschooler's baths. We don't bathe them everyday too, as many have mentioned above. There are many reasons for eczema and they honestly vary depending on the person. Good luck!
Posted by: Marlynn | November 06, 2007 at 02:50 PM
When both my daughter and my husband eat dairy they break out in eczema, and get swollen sinuses, too. My husband didn't believe dairy was his problem until my daughter started reacting. He had always had dry, flakey patches on his eyelids, and thought it was just something he had to live with. He then cut most of it out and felt so much better. The dry skin on his eyes even went away.
If you choose to do an elimination diet, keep in mind it may take a long, long time to see the results. For my husband and daughter, the sinuses clear up pretty quickly, but the skin problems don't. Last winter I got brazen and started cooking fancy meals with cream sauces. They both immediately broke out with eczema that took months to clear up. I felt horrible.
Good luck with finding relief!
Posted by: thisKat | November 06, 2007 at 02:59 PM
My son had ezcema starting at around 4 months. We also wanted to try natural moisturizers, and unfortunately, none of them (olive oil, Burt's Bees, Weleda, etc) worked for us. We did find that external irritants (perfume, scented detergent, synthetic fabrics) seemed to trigger the condition for him.
After meeting with a pediatric dermatologist, what worked for us was using Aquaphor (it's not a moisturizer, it's a barrier cream) to protect his skin against irritants. We bathed him every day using Tom's of Maine bar soap, then used Aquaphor all over immediately after baths. We switched to all-cotton fabrics (wool was also irritating), used unscented, Seventh Generation laundry detergent, and made sure he wasn't overdressed (trapped sweat made the eczema worse). And when people held him (most people use scented detergent, dryer sheets, perfume, etc), we wiped him down with a washcloth and put more Aquaphor on him; he literally broke out in welts when someone with perfume held him! It also seemed to help when I cut citric foods (tomatoes, oranges, etc) and dairy from my diet (I was solely breastfeeding).
Now, at two years old, he's pretty much totally eczema-free (and he had a bad all-over body case), although when we skip the Aquaphor for even a day, we notice little patches appearing on his skin.
Good luck!
Posted by: Amy | November 06, 2007 at 03:47 PM
per our dermatologist: unfortunately many of the baby soaps including aveeno can be drying so try ivory or dove.
no dye laundry detergent. skip the dryer sheet but if you must at least use the unscented (still has chemicals)
aquaphor is key esp putting it on before going outside and right after baths or am/pm. (it is like vaseline but water based so does not stain clothing. Also lathering up with Eucerine CREAM again esp after baths and am/pm.
Just something I noted was that my son when he was out of diapers at about 18 months noted that he was getting eczema patches along the waist and leg bands. I switched to Hanna Andersson organic cotton underware and this stopped it almost immediately.
Posted by: Melissa | November 06, 2007 at 03:58 PM
When she started getting patches on her face last winter when it was very dry and windy my next door neighbor, mother of three, recommended the Aveeno lotion that she used on her girls. I did a little of that right after bath, plus some of their oatmeal bath powder in the bath. It went away after a few days.
Posted by: catmom | November 06, 2007 at 10:19 PM
I'm a naturopathic and Chinese medical student. I would definitely recommend seeing an ND about the eczema. You may find a lotion that helps, but you still won't be addressing the cause of the problem. An ND will help you explore possible foods and environmental sensitivities contributing to the evzema, and may find a homeopathic remedy to help treat the problem long term.
Chinese medicine can work very well for this too, using herbs and acupressure. You could try adding chrysanthemum flowers to your baby's bath - eczema is seen as excess heat in the body and chrysanthemum is very cooling and good for the liver.You can find it at New Seasons or Chinese Markets. But if you really want to get to the cause and avoid an ongoing struggle with this I would see an ND. There are lots in Portland!
Posted by: Dana Krete | November 07, 2007 at 09:42 AM
When my son had eczema, we tried aquaphor, eucerin, all of that to no avail UNTIL we began using oatmeal soap on him instead of Johnson's baby wash. We did this for about a year until it went away. He was also a HUGE milk drinker, and as his desire for milk subsided around age 2 1/2, the eczema seemed to lessen then too (although i think it was more the oatmeal soap).
We did a regimen of oatmeal soap, eucerin (lots of it) and that really, truly helped. I guess I never thought about the ingredients in Eucerin being a potential hazard...it does such a great job moisturizing that we just went with it. It didn't help us though until we switched soaps.
Posted by: Laura | November 08, 2007 at 10:15 AM
We use Weleda Baby Calendula. It comes in a tube and works great for my daughter's skin. We took her to a pediatric dermatologist when she was 9 months, and he said to only use bar type soaps on her. Since we switched(although not to the brands he suggested)she has been so much better. I just took his advise and put a eco/baby friendly twist on it!
Posted by: Chelsea D. | November 08, 2007 at 12:59 PM
My 4 yr old has had eczema since infancy. I agree with those who recommend seeing a good naturopathic physician, or someone who knows food/allergies. With children, eczema will often go away or recede by eliminating certain foods. My son's seems to get worse when he eats corn, but there is likely something else going on (perhaps something environmental). He's been doing an intensive food elimination diet since summer which seems to be helping and we started homeopathy with a specialist which has had some promising results. We apply Aveeno lotion when my son's skin is itching and right away (or with a second application), he will stop itching. Also, after bathing, if you can get your child lotioned up within 3 minutes of getting out of the tub, this seems to really seal in moisture. My heart goes out to you- eczema seems like it's an annoying problem to have, but it can really get pretty intensive as you try to help keep your little ones skin itch free. Best of luck.
Posted by: Sharon A. | November 11, 2007 at 08:50 AM
My daughter also reacts to corn. Nothing else bothers her (knock on wood). She had patches the day after eating some corn, which she loved, and so I eliminated it. The patches got better, so I let her try some a few weeks later to make sure I wasn't wrong in thinking the corn had caused it. Sure enough, she had dry, red patches on her face within a few hours.
Posted by: lauralye | November 11, 2007 at 09:35 AM
I recommend Vanicream - hands down the best creme for eczema every made. It's over the counter, but you have to ask the pharmacist to order it. We all use it here now.
Vaseline is occlusive, and can make it worse by causing heat rash on top of the eczema (happened to my daughter).
Watch out for lotions with food oils and ingredients. Cetaphil has Almond oil, some of the Burt's Bees products have nut oils, and Aveeno has oatmeal which can be great for eczema, unless your child is allergic to oats (like mine). There have been studies that show that children can get sensitized to food allergies through the lotions used on eczema. So, be careful. Also, Eucerin has lanolin, which is a wool product and can also be irritating to some kids with eczema. This is all info from our dermatologist and allergist.
I would get in to see Dr Osbourne. He is great, and often eczema flares in response to allergies (something you are ingesting and passing through milk, formula, or environment). Use "free" detergents, and no soap. Bathe daily, and slather with Vanicream while still wet.
Eczema stinks. Hope your babe gets some relief soon.
Posted by: AllergyMom | November 12, 2007 at 09:29 AM
Hi there - just wondering how the excema is going? i am a consultant for Daisy Blue Naturals and they make all natural body care products. we do have a 100% shea butter which is awesome stuff and a couple other things that would help - if you want samples just email me at daisybluenaturals@hotmail.com!
Joanna
Posted by: Joanna Bakken | March 14, 2008 at 04:09 PM
I started an organic cotton clothing/bedding company three years ago because my son was experiencing eczema. He sleeps on organic cotton sheets and wears organic cotton clothes. I have also spent a fortune on every cream in the world and also supplements to help his body fight this.
Check out my site www.joyorganic.com. Our baby products are there but we also have adult bedding and blankets which are not on the site but can be ordered direct. We make onesies for a company called greensender.com - you can order from them direct. We make organic cotton t-shirts and clothes for other companies so I suggest adults and kids should try these.
E-mail info@joyorganic.com. Thanks
Posted by: Victoria Lynne | December 03, 2008 at 01:47 PM
Mamas, we recently received an email from a mama who seeks more of your advice on treating eczema.
I would love it if y'all could post a question I have about eczema. I have a 4 year old who has such horrible eczema that neither he nor I have gotten much sleep since it appeared two years ago. We've tried a naturopath, allergist, pediatrician, and I'm about ready to give up on everything. NOthing has eased my poor guy's itching, especially at night. I would love to know whether or not any other mamas have any success stories with eczema treatment......
Posted by: urbanMamas | April 28, 2009 at 09:49 PM
Not a solution for everyone, but a nightly dose of 1/2 tsp of zyrtec has kept my daughter's eczema almost completely at bay for the last two years. I don't love the fact that she takes zyrtec EVERYDAY, or that it has been two years, but every time the allergist and I take her off of it to see if she can go without, the break-outs and major itching starts within 1-2 days. I've tried to make peace with it by thinking of it as a maintenance medication - much like my asthma meds. My quality of life is better when I take my medication, and so is hers.
Posted by: ahr | April 28, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Not a solution for everyone, but a nightly dose of 1/2 tsp of zyrtec has kept my daughter's eczema almost completely at bay for the last two years. I don't love the fact that she takes zyrtec EVERYDAY, or that it has been two years, but every time the allergist and I take her off of it to see if she can go without, the break-outs and major itching starts within 1-2 days. I've tried to make peace with it by thinking of it as a maintenance medication - much like my asthma meds. My quality of life is better when I take my medication, and so is hers.
Posted by: ahr | April 28, 2009 at 10:46 PM
calendula is a natural way to help eczema I would be more then happy to mail you something from Little Urbanites send me your address kim@littleurbanites.com
But working in daycare some kids just need the medicated creams.
Good luck and hope he feels better! It can really hurt :(
Posted by: Kim | March 24, 2010 at 01:46 PM
I suddenly had eczema like symptoms on my face and the face wash / cleanser I had been using for years started agitating it even more. I tried several other brands meant for sensitive, eczema prone skin, everything would worsen it. Finally I came to know of Made from Earth products. None of their products agitate my skin. Started using the Aloe & Jojoba Therapy and the Green Tea Cleanser. My face is completely clear and healthy now. I have seen a major improvements. It reduced redness, itchiness and breakouts.
Posted by: Mychele F | January 29, 2013 at 10:18 AM