How To Treat Baby Eczema & Natural Remedies
Youll find plenty of lotions designed to relieve the itching and redness of eczema, but unfortunately many conventional products designed to treat baby eczema are loaded with harmful ingredients like EDTA, PEG, and petroleum products.Yikes!Not exactly what you want to rub on babys sensitive skin!
Heres how to naturally provide relief for your baby.
Baby Eczema Treatments On The Nhs: A Parents Guide
The angry red rash of baby eczema typically occurs on the cheeks of babies. The overall severity diagnosis will depend on how itchy the child is and the extent of the rash on other parts of the body. This child would in all likelihood have a moderate or severe diagnosis and be treated with mild corticosteroids and emollients in the first instance.
Looking after a scratchy baby can be stressful enough, without feeling like you are fighting the healthcare system on your eczema babys behalf. While we have had a really good experience of baby eczema treatment with the NHS, much of this was down to the fact that our doctors little one also had baby eczema or atopic dermatitis, so he really understood the condition. But we know that not everyone is so fortunate in finding a GP who understands both the condition and the impact that it can have on the whole family. Understanding how the NHS intends to provide baby eczema treatments can really help in getting the right treatment for your babys eczema.
NHS baby eczema treatments are set out in the NICE guideline on Atopic Eczema in Children. This sets out the criteria for diagnosing baby eczema, the appropriate treatments and management techniques and when a child should be referred to an eczema specialist.
What Caused My Babys Eczema
There is no single cause of atopic eczema. Eczema is a complex condition it is genetic but also involves an overactive immune response to environmental factors, which cause eczema flares. Because the atopic gene is hereditary, it runs in families, and is responsible for three conditions: eczema, asthma and hay fever.
Fifty per cent of people with eczema have an additional genetic element a difference in a skin protein called filaggrin which leads to further problems in the skin barrier. All atopic conditions can be linked to allergies in some people, but there are also many universal irritants, such as soap and heat.
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Mustela Baby Skin Care Set
Why its great: This full package contains a cream-like lotion, a gel-like wash, and an airy foam like a light shampoo. All these products are hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and safe for newborns. The set promotes uses for all skin types from normal to extra sensitive. Mustela is accepted by the national eczema association and is made with naturally derived ingredients. This set gave our family a good general idea of which form of treatment is most enjoyed by the kids.
Keep in mind: Not all products are received equally. Our kiddo loves the foam and the gel wash. However, says the lotion feels sticky and prefers other creams that dry faster. Again, this is a personal preference and varies with different skin types and other determining factors.
Good for: A wide range of products to determine what each individual child is most receptive too.
Establish A Daily Skincare Routine
As soon as you see signs of a flare-up or suspect that your child might have eczema, the best thing you can do is start a daily skincare routine that includes emollients like Mustelas Stelatopia Emollient Cream or Stelatopia Emollient Balm. These products provide four essential benefits:
- They reinforce the protective moisture barrier on your childs skin.
- They add moisture to your childs skin.
- They prevent moisture from evaporating.
- They soothe the itchiness and discomfort caused by eczema flare-ups.
All of Mustelas eczema-prone skincare products are safe for children, newborns, and adults.
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Free Advice On Eczema
Are you tired of not getting the correct information you need for little ones eczema? Having tired endless amounts of creams, ointments and steriods that just dont work!
Here at HappySkin we dont want you to feel alone in your journey. Which is why we offer a free 1-1 telephone consulation with our resident skin expert.
We will go through your daily rountine to help evaluate your current regime for soothing eczema and share information on why and how our technology works compared to 50 years old tradition methods of using over the counter creams or prescribed steroids.
What Causes Eczema In Babies
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic and severe inflammatory condition. It occurs when the immune system overworks to get rid of an irritant within or on the surface of the body. Kids whose family has a history of eczema are more likely to suffer from it.
Ezcema is triggered by certain conditions in the environment, such as perfumes, detergents, and specific foods such as gluten. Atopic dermatitis may get better with age. Conversely, it can sometimes flare up and get worse in certain seasons.
Contact dermatitis occurs when the skin comes into contact with certain substances. Dyshidrotic eczema affects the feet and the hands while foot and hand scalp eczema, also known as cradle cap in infants, affects the babys scalp.
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How Is It Treated
Because there is not yet a cure for eczema, our treatment goals are to reduce itching and skin inflammation, and to prevent infection. The best treatment for eczema is a proactive one, using gentle skin care and moisturizers to re-establish the skin barrier.
Infants and older childrens skin should be kept well moisturized, and washed with fragrance-free non-soap cleansers. We also recommend a fragrance-free ointment-based moisturizer, with petrolatum as either the only or the first ingredient. In young children and infants, it is reasonable to use an over-the-counter topical hydrocortisone ointment, which is a mild topical steroid, for up to a week.
But if the rash either persists or you find that you need to use the hydrocortisone more than one week out of the month, you should discuss further use with your childs pediatrician. You can apply the ointment, as prescribed, then a coat of petrolatum-based moisturizer, to help keep in the moisture.
If your childs skin does not respond well to any of these measures or becomes infected, contact your pediatrician, who can diagnose the condition and then prescribe another topical cream or antihistamine.
Matys Baby Eczema Relief
Why its great: Customers can tell as soon as they open the container that this ointment was thoughtfully created by a concerned parent. It smells gentle, natural, and fresh. This brand may not be a household name yet, but it should be. All Matys products use the best natural ingredients, are hypoallergenic, and are great for sensitive skin of all ages. Children could eat this stuff and be fine. That is a joke, please do not purposefully ingest! However, theres nothing in it that could hurt us. The creator of Matys products believes in looking to mother nature for naturally soothing ingredients instead of pharmaceutical companies. We have had much better luck with organics over prescriptions, we definitely recommend.
Keep in mind: This product is made with multiple plants and oils that even though they are organic, it could not work for everyone. Be sure to look over the list of ingredients and double-check for current known allergies.
Good for: Parents who love a chemical free life and enjoy finding more natural remedies.
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The Effects Of Eczema On Children
The constant itching and scratching can be extremely irritating for young children, particularly those who are at an age when they have to rely on their parents to soothe the itching and ease their discomfort
But as children get older and start school, having eczema not only affects their skin but can also negatively affect their mental health and those youngsters living with atopic eczema are more likely to suffer with depression and anxiety, as well as:
- subject to bullying behaviour
- difficulty concentrating
- low energy and tiredness
Children living with eczema can also experience changes in their behaviour, with nearly 30% of children with atopic eczema experiencing sleeplessness for five or more nights a week.
Children living with eczema are also more likely to develop attention deficit hyperactivity disorder .
Add to this, there are many activities that some children with eczema cannot partake in, most notably swimming and they may not be able to have any childhood pets due to the reaction they could possibly have to animal fur / hair.
Their lifestyle can also be limited in terms of what they can wear, where they can go on holiday and staying outside of the family home, with friends, for example. And, of course, if a childs life is negatively affected by eczema, then it goes without saying that their parents lives will be too.
For Those Who Have Tried Everything Eczema Honey Was Made For You
Living with eczema is no picnic. Whether youre a parent of a child with eczema or someone who has had the condition for years, the struggle is real.
Voted one of The Best Eczema Products to Relieve Itch by Allure& Yahoo: Eczema Honey Original Skin-Soothing Cream offers a blend of high quality ingredients to support people living with eczema with a cooling, soothing cream that temporarily protects and helps relieve minor skin irritation and itching due to rashes and eczema. Our Original Skin-Soothing Cream is Dermatologist Tested and complies with the FDA’s Over-The-Counter drug monograph for skin protectant products.
Leaping Bunny Certified Cruelty Free.
Living with eczema is no picnic. Whether youre a parent of a child with eczema or someone who has had the condition for years, the struggle is real.
Voted one of The Best Eczema Products to Relieve Itch by Allure& Yahoo: Eczema Honey Original Skin-Soothing Cream offers a blend of high quality ingredients to support people living with eczema with a cooling, soothing cream that temporarily protects and helps relieve minor skin irritation and itching due to rashes and eczema. Our Original Skin-Soothing Cream is Dermatologist Tested and complies with the FDA’s Over-The-Counter drug monograph for skin protectant products.
Leaping Bunny Certified Cruelty Free.
How to use
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How Common Is Baby Eczema
The National Eczema Foundation estimates that about 13 percent of all children have atopic dermatitis. But because atopic dermatitis is only one type of eczema , the number of children with eczema may be as high as 20 percent when you factor in other types of eczema.
Eczema is on the rise in the United States, Canada, and the UK, as well. According to an article published in Global News, a Canadian news outlet, experts theorize this is because of:
- sterile environments that dont adequately prepare a babys immune system
- the overuse of antibiotics, which affects the immune system
- an increase in inflammatory food, including refined sugar, fried foods, and processed meats
- an increase in cleaning products that contain irritants and artificial perfumes
Get free updates on babys first year! Free Updates on First Year
What Parents Love About Aromababy:
Parents love that the Aromababy brand has been in the market for over 25 years, was developed by a mother for her own child and has a long history of safety. Their best sellers including Barrier Balm – it’s like a jar of liquid gold – their ‘miracle’ product. Also parents love that they offer unscented options – the beautiful Pure Baby Moisture Cream, Pure Baby Wash and Mother and Child Oil have no essential oils or fragrance – ideal for during the first important weeks or for anyone with super sensitive skin. We’ve also heard mums get emotional when they smell their Bath Gel or Pure Hair Cleanse because it reminds them of their first experiences bathing their baby or washing their baby’s hair.
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Cerave Baby Moisturizing Cream
The magic ingredient in this top-rated baby eczema cream? Ceramidesaka lipids that help form the skins barrier and boost the skins ability to retain moisture. Plus, its designed to deliver up to 24 hours of soothing relief, earning it a place among the best eczema creams for babies.
Buy it: $10,
How Is Eczema Treated
There is no cure for eczema. But treatments can help with symptoms. The doctor will recommend different treatments based on how severe the symptoms are, the child’s age, and where the rash is. Some are “topical” and applied to the skin. Others are taken by mouth.
Topical moisturizers. Skin should be moisturized often . The best time to apply moisturizer is after a bath or shower, with the skin patted dry gently. Ointments and creams are best because they contain a lot of oil. Lotions have too much water to be helpful.
Topical corticosteroids, also called cortisone or steroid creams or ointments. These ease skin inflammation. It’s important not to use a topical steroid prescribed for someone else. These creams and ointments vary in strength, and using the wrong strength in sensitive areas can damage the skin, especially in infants.
Other topical anti-inflammatory medicines. These include medicines that change the way the skin’s immune system reacts.
Medicine taken by mouth. These can include antihistamines to help itchy kids sleep better at night, antibiotics if a rash gets infected by bacteria, and corticosteroid pills or other medicines that suppress the immune system.
Other types of treatment can include:
- wet wraps: damp cloths placed on irritated areas of skin
- bleach baths: bathing in very diluted bleach solution
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Symptoms Of Eczema In Young Babies
If your baby is under six months old, eczema is likely to be most noticeable on their face, particularly their cheeks, forehead and chin. The skin looks red and weepy at this young age. As babies tend to dribble a lot, the area around their chin can become quite sore.
The rash can spread to other areas of your babys body, and seborrheic dermatitis can also appear on the scalp.
Cold Pressed Sunflower Oil
Another effective natural moisturiser, sunflower oil is rich in essential fatty acids which are readily absorbed through the skin. It is thought that a lack of essential fatty acids can contribute to some cases of baby eczema. There is evidence that sunflower oil helps to improve the barrier function of the skin and is anti-inflammatory great when you are looking for a natural moisturiser to help your eczema baby get some relief.If your baby suffers from colic as well as baby eczema, try massaging their tummy using coconut oil or sunflower oil . Moisturised skin and a more comfortable belly all in a go! Its common sense, but worth repeating using oil on your baby may relieve their itching but will turn them into slippery little bundles please take extra care when picking up your baby after applying any oil to their skin!
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Eczema In Babies: 6 Best Treatments
Is your babys skin looking red and sore, and does he seem to want to scratch all the time? He may be suffering from eczema. Before you panic-dial the pediatrician, relax and take a deep breath. Eczema in babies is a common condition that affects 10% of all children under the age of 5.
Eczema is a general name that refers to several inflammatory skin conditions. Atopic dermatitis is used interchangeably with eczema. It may affect different parts of the body, but its most common on the cheeks, arms, legs, and behind the ears.
Eczema is neither life-threatening nor contagious. However, it can cause incredible pain and discomfort to the baby, depending on its severity. Some babies only experience mild symptoms. Sometimes, the symptoms are so severe that the baby needs to be put on a strict diet and medication.
What Should Parents Know About Baby Eczema
Eczema in babies is common. Many babies grow out of it, or at least see their symptoms improve over time.
We are not always sure what causes eczema in babies, explains Stephanie Jacks, M.D., a pediatric dermatologist in Roseville, California. Genetic factors certainly play a role, and babies who have at least one parent with eczema are two to three times more likely to get eczema. However, some babies have eczema even with no family history of the condition.
In adults, eczema usually appears as skin that is rough and dry. But the skin condition can show a little differently in infants. Itchy cheeks are usually one of the first signs of infant eczema, Dr. Clark says.
In most infants, eczema is not due to an allergy to foods or other triggers but instead reflects an intrinsic tendency for skin that is more dry and easily irritated by temperature, clothing and other external triggers, says pediatric dermatologist Kara Shah, M.D., Ph.D., of Kenwood Dermatology in Cincinnati, Ohio. As such, the basis for treatment is good skin care.
To treat infant eczema, you might try keeping baby’s nails short to prevent scratching, giving baby a lukewarm bath and patting baby’s skin dry. Immediately after that, apply any topical medicine prescribed by your doctor and finish with a moisturizing cream.
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Looking For The Fastest Remedy For Baby Eczema
Eczema is an ongoing condition that needs patience and constant, consistent care.
However, its understandably frustrating when your child is suffering from severe eczema.
Theres no quick and simple cure for eczema, but the best treatment you can give your baby is to avoid environmental triggers and keep their skin moisturised at all times, whether thats with creams or HappySkin® technology.