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How to soothe eczema in children with a natural remedy that’s safe and non toxic for your favorite little humans!
Parenting is hard enough without having to watch your kid struggle with dry, itchy skin. You’d do anything to figure out how to soothe your child’s eczema, right?
What if there was a simple way to give your child relief? What if there were two simple products – just a soap and a lotion – that could help? Would you try them?
“Mommy, why did God give me eczema?”
That’s the question my friend’s daughter would often ask as she struggled with cracked, bleeding, and itchy skin for the first 3.5 years of her life.
My friend thought she had tried everything to soothe her little girl’s eczema: visits to allergists and dermatologists; changes in diet; and different lotions and creams. But none of it seemed to work.
Then she discovered some natural, handcrafted products that have transformed her daughter’s skin. By consistently using just two products – a soap and a lotion – she’s found relief for her daughter and cut way back on the use of steroids.
Just take a look at her daughter’s incredible before and after photos!
In this blog post, you’ll discover the two products that helped soothe this little girl’s eczema, plus:
- what eczema is, and the different types;
- its causes;
- if it can be cured;
- how to treat it; and
- recommended products for the body and face. (Plus how to save 20 percent on these products!)
Disclaimer: Content on this blog is for informational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.
What is eczema?
Eczema is a group of conditions that cause dry, itchy, irritated skin. It’s a common condition in the United States: about 1 in 10 Americans have some type of eczema; and nearly 20 percent of children have atopic dermatitis, the most common form. Although eczema can look like an infectious rash, it is not contagious.
Skin functions as a barrier to seal in moisture and keep out harmful things like germs and toxic substances. In children with eczema, the skin’s barrier decreases, allowing moisture to escape and outside irritants to come in.
Types of eczema
1. Atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis is the most common type, and probably what you picture when you think of eczema. It usually starts in childhood, and nearly 20 percent of children have atopic dermatitis. Symptoms of atopic dermatitis include dry and cracked skin, itching, and redness.
2. Contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis occurs when something that touches the skin causes a reaction. This type of eczema is caused by allergies, like to latex, or by irritants, such as a diaper rash.
3. Dyshidrotic eczema. People with dyshidrotic eczema have small, very itchy blisters on their hands and feet.
4. Hand eczema. Hand eczema looks like dry skin, and is similar to contact dermatitis because things that touch the hands can irritate them. Hand eczema appears on – you guessed it – the hands!
5. Neurodermatitis. People with neurodermatitis have extremely itchy patches of skin. Chronic itching and scratching can cause these areas of the skin to become scaly and thick.
6. Nummular eczema. The symptoms of nummular eczema can include round lesions, that itch, burn, and ooze liquid. The spots may crust over and have irritated skin surrounding them.
7. Stasis dermatitis. Stasis dermatitis occurs when there is poor circulation in the lower legs, leading to ankle swelling, spots of discoloration, itching, scaling, and dryness. Open sores can form if stasis dermatitis is not treated.
The rest of this post will focus on atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema in children. I will use the term eczema interchangeably with atopic dermatitis.
Causes of eczema
No one thing causes eczema, but there are a few things that likely contribute.
- Eczema runs in families. People are more likely to develop it if family members also have eczema, asthma, allergies, or hay fever. In addition, race is also a factor because Asians and blacks are more likely to develop eczema than whites.
- Where people live. Children tend to get eczema more often when they live in cold and damp locations, in cities, and in high-income countries. (Makes me wonder what we’re doing wrong in high-income countries…)
- Exposure to irritants, like ingredients in personal care products and cleaning products, pollution, and cigarette smoke.
- An over-reactive immune system.
But what about food? This is a bit of a controversial topic. If you’re concerned that certain foods may trigger eczema, you should talk with your child’s doctor to determine a treatment plan. The American Academy of Dermatology warns against removing foods from a child’s diet because kids need the nutrients from foods like milk and eggs to grow and develop normally.
However, there is a link between eczema and food allergies and sensitivities. Studies have shown that food allergies can make eczema worse, most likely in babies and children with moderate-to-severe eczema. Again, it’s important that you speak to your child’s doctor to determine a treatment plan.
Can eczema be cured?
Unfortunately, there is no cure for eczema. However, with the right treatment and lifestyle changes, it’s possible to control flare ups.
You may also wonder if your child’s eczema will go away as they get older. Dermatologists say that there’s no way to know if children will outgrow it, which is why finding an effective treatment is important.
how to treat eczema
To get rid of eczema, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends some home remedies and changes to your child’s personal care routine, including:
- Showering in warm water, not hot water, and taking shorter showers.
- Washing with a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser. (My recommended soap isn’t fragrance-free, but it uses gentle essential oils.)
- Applying moisturizer immediately after showering. (My recommended lotion is meant to be used on wet skin.)
- Using an oil-based cream rather than a water-based moisturizer. Moisturizers with water can actually dry out your skin even more. (My recommended lotion does not contain ANY water! It does have healing ingredients like olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax that seal in moisture.)
- Blotting your skin to dry. Don’t rub it with your towel!
Remember that these are consistent habits that should become part of your everyday routine to keep eczema flare-ups under control.
recommended products
Remember the little girl from earlier with the itchy, cracked skin from eczema? And the kids in the other photos with eczema on their bodies? Their moms use the same gentle, nontoxic soap and a beeswax lotion bar on their kids’ sensitive skin. This over-the-counter treatment is an alternative to prescription steroids, and is free of harsh chemicals that can worsen eczema.
Beeswax helps dry skin by pulling in moisture and creating a protective barrier. (Eczema reduces the skin’s barrier function.) Beeswax is also antimicrobial, which is helpful for children who get skin infections from eczema. In fact, a mixture of honey, beeswax, and olive oil has been shown to be an effective treatment for eczema, psoriasis, and diaper dermatitis.
1. Gentle Cleanser
MIG Living Ritual Cleansing Bar
This soap gently cleanses without stripping or drying out the skin. Lavender and colloidal oatmeal, which soothe and relieve dry, itchy skin, and make this the best soap for eczema. NOTE: There are different scents if you or your child doesn’t like lavender.
2. Body Lotion
The best cream for eczema is this body lotion bar! As soon as your child finishes bathing, massage the lotion onto warm, wet skin to lock in the moisture. It’s important that the skin is still wet while you apply the lotion bar. Pat with a towel to dry off. NOTE: There are different scents if you or your child doesn’t like lavender.
This lotion bar is also a safe alternative to petroleum-based products. While petroleum jelly, like Vaseline, is good for eczema, it’s a byproduct of petroleum refining. If the petrolatum is not properly refined, the finished product can be contaminated with toxic chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
3. Facial Lotion
If your child has atopic dermatitis on her face, she needs this moisturizer for the face. It’s still made with the star ingredient – beeswax! – but without coconut oil, which can clog pores. This lotion, plus the soap, is what helped the little girl with eczema around her mouth (from the above photos).
Please let me know if you have any questions on these products or how to order. And you can save 20 percent on your order by signing up for Subscribe N Save! My e-mail is karen@howellkaren.com, or you find me on Instagram or Facebook!
Final Thoughts on Eczema in Children
It’s important to continue treating eczema even once it gets better to avoid flare-ups. In addition, remember these important details about bathing:
- Shower or bathe in warm water, not hot water.
- Take shorter showers.
- Wash with a gentle, non toxic cleanser.
- Use a cream or balm rather than a water-based moisturizer.
- Blot the skin to dry.
Related Articles:
- Healthy Skin: Seven Habits To Start Today For Free
- Dry Skin Patches: Try This Ingredient for Relief
- Dry Brushing Benefits: Should You Dry Brush Your Skin?
We discussed how to soothe eczema in children with a natural remedy that’s safe and non toxic for your favorite little humans! What if it could work for your child?
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