Dealing With Baby Eczema

My Newborn at just 3 weeks

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Before

After

Baby eczema is something I met with 3 weeks after giving birth to my baby and I have since then been on a long journey and battle of highs and lows with it. I beat it and eventually I cured my baby's eczema and have kept it away permanently since then.

Having gone through sleepless nights, often waking up to blood stained sheets where my baby had scratched her eczema rashes till they bled and going through eczema flare ups ofen weekly, I know what you're going through and I sympathise.

After trying all of the emollients under the sun, from dermol 500 to oilatum to hydromol, to the dreaded steroid creams prescribed by her doctor, I gathered enough boldness, knowledge and experience, I said no more to steroids and chemical emollients from her GP and cured my baby's eczema with purely 100% natural ingredients and creams.

Thankfully my baby is now rash free, with clear, normal baby soft skin after learning as much as I can about baby eczema. I have come to understand my baby's skin and it's needs. I decided to share my experience with the hope that it will help you too.

I have grown a passion to help mothers through my experience and to see children comfortable and free to live normal lives and mothers less stressed and controlled by eczema...I know I was!

Babies with one form of eczema or the other is increasingly common, more and more children have it.

I have so many friends and family who's babies suffer from eczema; it is important to understand that you are not alone. Eczema is a skin disease caused by being overly sensitive to environmental factors. It makes them react to things that thry wouldn't normally react to.

When my baby turned 3 weeks old, I started doing what you are probably doing now; looking for answers to the many questions that I had about the red, itchy, fiery rash which turned out to be baby eczema. Hoping to understand what this red, angry looking, hot, itchy dry skin rash on my new born baby's cheeks, forehead, arms, elbows and elbow creases, knees and the creases behind the knees were.

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When Her Eczema started... How did I know it was eczema?

In my baby, eczema started off as a red rash on one side of her cheeks. It covered the entire left side of her face, it looked angry, fiery, bright red and she was scratching it all the time. When I first noticed it, I wasn't that worried about it but by the next day, my baby's whole face was covered. Her forehead, her cheeks, eye brows, chin, everywhere was covered.

I found myself crying in confusion; I was not exposed to eczema and so at this point, I did not know that this was a flare up of my baby's eczema. I did not know that this was eczema rash; I thought that I had done something wrong to cause my baby to be covered in spots.

I had only seen babies with clear, smooth, glowing skin. I can honestly admit that I was ashamed to see my baby's face like this; I completely blamed myself for ignorance.

I decided to take my newborn to the GP. After examining her, I was told that this red, itchy, angry looking rash was just dry skin. I was told to moisturise my baby more frequently. I did all I could, I moisturised my baby all the time but it was not until the baby eczema made her sore all over.

She had sore red elbow creases, raw looking neck creases, the back of her knees were sore and red, itchy hives looking raised red rash all over my baby's chest and stomach, all of her back and itchy scalp (cradle cap) that the GP finally diagnosed my baby with eczema. See some pictures here.

It is then that I started to research baby eczema thoroughly. For my baby eczema was red itchy inflamed skin, red rashes that turned into red patches on her back. Red itchy inflamed skin on her chest, stomach and arms. The rash on her chest and stomach were clumped together in circles.

The rash on her arms turned into very rough crusty skin that was black in colour. For my baby eczema caused her elbow creases to be red and inflamed, behind her knees were also red and raw looking.

During my early battle with eczema, my baby was getting flare ups every few days. And this was because I did not know that I was using things daily that were not good for skin because of her eczema. Flare ups are when the skin becomes inflamed, when there is fresh red rash/skin patches that seem to look angrier after a bath or when the area is wet.

Eczema Treatment - KEY THINGS I DISCOVERED ABOUT BABY ECZEMA - The first things you have to do.

Triggers

I read a book on baby eczema and it changed everything. I got more understanding and finally knew what to look out for.

I discovered that Baby eczema has triggers; although these triggers do not cause the eczema they however trigger a flare up (when the skin and the baby eczema symptoms get worse) or aggravate it. I began to make a note of when my baby's eczema was healing (looked better) and making progress and when fresh rashes appeared.

A pattern became clear to me: She was worse when she was hot, when I was use anything with perfume in it such as talcon powder, washing powder with perfume in it such as fairy non bio, when I ate bread, when I drank milk, when I ate eggs and when I was using GP prescribed emollients on her.

Heat - One of the biggest triggers that I discovered was that I was over bundling my newborn. She was born in winter and so was constantly in knitwear, coats, hats, gloves etc. In my attempt to keep her warm, I was making her too hot.

When she was very warm, she got fresh rashes, her skin would look blotchy, she would itch more and her skin would become inflamed, angry and hot. It slowly became obvious that heat had something to do with it.

The Importance of Room Temperature

I started keeping my house at 22 degrees. If I am honest, it took me a while to adjust to this because it initially felt like 21/22 degrees Celsius was cold but it wasn't, I was just used to having my home a little too warm. By the time I adjusted, I found that it was better and more refreshing to have my baby in a cool room; she seemed more settled and less itchy when the room was cooler.

Washing powder/Detergent - For my baby eczema was being triggered by the fairy non bio washing powder and fabric softener that I was using. This became clear because the worst skin areas for my newborn's baby eczema were the areas that followed the shape of a vest. To confirm this, I dressed my newborn in brand new vests that I had not washed for 2 weeks; during this time, there were no fresh eczema rash and some areas were healing.

A large number of babies were also reacting to fairy non bio and fabric softeners. This made me realise that I was not crazy nor was I mistaken, but I was unto something.

There's a thread on netmums with mother's who suspected that eczema triggers were linked to fairy non bio. Click here to view the thread.

For most mothers, treating baby eczema is not a one size fits all type of treatment. It is an individual thing for babies, it is different for all of them. You have to observe your baby and find out what his or her triggers are.

For my baby eczema, fairy non bio was causing flare ups so it seemed that she was reacting to it so I decided to change washing powder to a sensitive brand designed for dry skin and eczematous skin.

I researched sensitive washing powders and decided to try out the boots sensitive washing powder for a small wash and see how my newborn reacted to it.

What I did do though was to wash her clothes, and then do a double rinse and air dry her laundry as opposed to tumble drying. I know this seems like a long process but I wanted to make sure that none of the powder residue was left heavily on the clothes.

This seemed to help very well and the flare ups became less and less frequent. I have since moved on to Simply Pure Washing tabs and prefer it. Simply Pure washing tabs has also been especially made to cater for eczema prone skin.

Eczema and Clothing materials

100% cotton allows the skin to breathe while wools and polystyrene traps heat. The hotter my baby got, I noticed that the redder her skin became and the itchier she seemed, I noticed that it was during these times that her skin became inflamed.

I now know that this was because her winter coat for example was made out of polystyrene and not 100% cotton. This was designed to trap heat and keep her warm. I learned that if I wanted her to wear this coat, I must make sure that she is loosely dressed, so a short sleeved body suit and long sleeved top is enough with a coat like that.

The wrong thing to do would be; to wear a long sleeved body suit, to put a jumper on top of that and then the coat (e.g a snowsuit). For my baby, dressing her like this was responsible for many of the flare ups that occurred before I understood the condition.

I also started to make sure that I did not turn up the car heater too high because she was already appropriately dressed for cold conditions. I took her hat and gloves off as soon as the car was heated warmly enough. Then put it back on just before going back out into the cold weather.

I now use 100% cotton for everything that touches her skin, it is important to allow her skin to breathe. This includes her bedding, socks, mittens etc!

Dust mites - Mattress Protector

This made the biggest improvement for my newborn's baby eczema. Dust mites are one of the biggest contributors to allergies in people. I bought a cot bed mattress protector from mother care. I wash it regularly and it has kept my baby's back clear of rash since the week I began to use it.

The Itch - Scratch - Itch Cycle

Scratching the skin makes baby eczema worse; it becomes red. I found that when my baby scratched, the area will become red and then will be followed very quickly by a rash, which will then become crusty. You have to do everything you can to stop that itch scratch cycle, it worsens the condition.

I have found that California Baby Calendula Cream is highly recommended as Calendula is an anti inflammatory ingredient and a great skin healer. It soothes the skin and works to reduce the itching sensation.

Pure Coconut Oil, Organic Extra Virgin Cold Pressed is also strongly recommended and I have found it very effective in moisturizing and soothing for the skin.

I found that it was important to catch flare ups quickly. As soon as I saw that an area has become red, I moisture it very quickly and if we were home, I gave my baby a lukewarm bath with a cupful of dead sea salts. Dead sea salts are highly effective for the treatment of eczema as it soothes irritated skin, adds nutrients and vitamins to the skin and softens dry cracked skin. This has worked wonders for my newborn and her baby eczema.

The most important - Treatment for Eczema: NATURAL PRODUCTS

Baths & Bath additives

I became aware of the debate about daily baths and its benefit or non benefit in the treatment of eczema. For my baby and her baby eczema, daily lukewarm baths helped a great deal. This was because:

1) Having very dry skin; baths helped to soften her skin and allow her skin to soak in the moisturiser better and more easily.

2) Using Dead Sea Salts in my baby's bath worked wonders - I suspect that it is because of using bath salts that helped us to never have to deal with infections during flare ups.

The right bath additive - very important that it is all natural

Water in hard water areas is known to be very drying to the skin especially for newborn babies. So for babies with baby eczema, it is advised and I have seen the difference it makes to add dead sea salts or a natural emollient such as neem oil or pure coconut oil (to make the bath oily so it does not dry out the skin).

Dead Sea Bath Salts gave me the best results and worked as a great skin softener and soother for my baby. It always made her scratch less. You should always speak to your baby's doctor about which bath additive to try and commit to.

For my baby...

Emulsiderm cleared a flare up in just a few days but after about a month it stopped working and her eczema got much worse and her skin was bumpier and scalier than before. Prior to this, for my baby's eczema, she was prescribed Oilatum junior. But this was also causing allergic reactions; I noticed that after every bath, she had fresh baby eczema rashes. Her skin was redder, she would cry in pain during her bath as if her skin stung and she always seemed itchier.

I was also using the oilatum treatment shampoo for her cradle cap before I knew any better. The California baby Super sensitive Shampoo works wonders for eczema and cradle cap.

During her severe flare ups, I decided to eliminate this oilatum treatment shampoo for a week, surprisingly my baby's shoulders cleared up straightaway in a matter of days. I then reintroduced it and when I used it again, her shoulders flared up again. This confirmed what I had suspected.

I was also using the oilatum treatment shampoo for her cradle cap before I knew any better. During her severe flare ups, I decided to eliminate this oilatum treatment shampoo for a week.

Surprisingly my baby's shoulders cleared up straightaway in a matter of days. I then reintroduced it and when I used it again, her shoulders flared up again. This confirmed what I had suspected.

I immediately stopped using all oilatum products and now use dead sea salts for in her bath only. I wash her hair with a herbal soap called 'black soap'. This is made out of pure unrefined shea butter, cocoa pod ash, water and palm kennel oil. This removes all of her cradle cap while keeping her hair soft and tangle free. This soap is also non - drying because it is naturally rich in glycerine. No scents, preservatives, chemicals, color enhancers, dye, charcoal or fragrances are added during the production of the soap.

In the treatment of your baby with baby eczema, look out for what your baby is reacting to and what seems to to eliminate cosmetic triggers.

Soaps and Soap substitutes

It is also advised not to use soap on your newborn - they are too harsh for newborn skin and most cause the skin to dry out more because they strip the skin of its natural oils. Most importantly for baby eczema, most mild baby soaps also cause the skin to dry out; even the mildest of them. Therefore it is recommended to use a soap alternative..... For my baby eczema meant that she had very sensitive skin and she reacted to most mild baby soaps and alternatives. She even reacted to aqueous cream which was prescribed to treat her baby eczema.I discovered later that aqueous cream contains a detergent called SLS and detergents irritate sensitive skin.

I therefore stuck with all natural products for her baby eczema: trusted to be free of chemicals, nuts, oats, preservatives and all known irritants of eczema such as California baby super sensitive shampoo and body wash. It is completely free of perfumes/fragrances, preservatives, chemicals, color enhancers, dye, charcoal and fragrances. For my baby eczema meant I had to use only organic products.

Even a baby talc with perfume added such as Johnsons caused skin reactions for my newborn.

I also had success with the African black soap. The African black soap is pure and free from common irritants. It is soft and has a very high content of natural glycerin. Ingredients: (Raw Shea butter), Cocoa Pod ash, Aqua(Water) Elaeis guineensis (Palm Kernel Oil).

The skin of the cocoa pod is sun dried and roasted in a clay like oven. During drying, the heat is kept at a constant temperature in order to maintain a particular smell, colour and texture of the dried cocoa pod.

After the roasting process, the cocoa pod is mixed with pure, unrefined, natural Palm Kernel Oil. This process leads to the formation of the soap.

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Moisturizer - Crucial

Pure unrefined Shea Butter - A Natural treatment for Eczema I was told that the key to treating eczema is to moisturise the skin very frequently; I moisturised my baby every 2 hours.

For my baby, baby eczema meant that her skin dried out very quickly so I found that oily, buttery nature of the pure unrefined shea butter to be the best moisturiser for her as an ingredient.

But in terms of an actual skin care range - The California baby Calendula Cream, California baby super sensitve everyday lotion and the California baby Calendula every day lotion are amazing healers. The California Baby Calendula Cream is my miracle cream... This is the skin care products I can no longer live without.

They work very quickly and heal the skin back to normality.

Talking about moisturizer, I must warn you to stay away from the Abido cream for eczema, it contains very strong steroids and should not be used for young children.

California baby products together with a dairy free, wheat free and egg free diet cured my baby's eczema. One of the best creams for eczema is made by California Baby.

I use the California Baby Calendula cream and their super sensitive shampoo and body wash. These are the line of products that I actually believe are cures for eczema, they heal the skin very rapidly.

I get the same quick response from them as people do who are using steroid based creams. Find out more here.

Daily routine

Bath times - I add a handful of Dead Sea Bath Salts to her bath water, I bathe her with the California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo and body wash. Read my review here. You can also read other mother's experiences and testimonies here

After bathing, I quickly moisturise and rub in the California baby every day Calendula Lotion om her body and I use the California Baby Calendula Cream for her face.

I applied Pure Unrefined African Shea Butter for the night; before bed. I found this great for night times - simple ingredients and very greasy so lasts long on the skin. Although now the california baby Calendula cream/lotion is more than enough.

I applied the pure unrefined Shea Butter or Pure Coconut Oil depending on how cool or warm the weather was at least 5/6 times a day continuously, never allowing the skin to dry out. The Shea Butter is rubbed into your palm; the heat in your palm melts it and turns it into a cream.

If it is a hot day, I skip the shea butter all together - I use the california baby calendula cream on her face, then I apply the California baby calendula lotion on her body. I then add a thin layer of the vigin coconut oil all over.

For my baby eczema meant that she had very dry skin that drank moisturisers very quickly so I had to make her very greasy and use a lot of moisturiser. More than normal.

I Moisturized constantly (every 2 hours but no less than every 4 hrs)

- First thing in the morning
- Before bed
- Bath times

SUCCESS

Beginning at around 4 months of age, implementing all of these strategies has helped my newborn stay virtually clear of eczema rashes and patches, only with occasional normal looking rashes on her a cheek to perfumes and other things I cannot control from other people carrying her.

Pure Unrefined (Natural) Shea Butter and Pure Coconut oil and the ,the California Baby Calendula Cream and California Baby Super Sensitive Everyday Lotion has worked wonders as our only moisturizers.

But at 9 months, we got no more flare ups and all of her crusty areas began to smooth out. This is because I found a product ranger that were made up of only natural ingredients.

I am still shocked at how quickly California Baby Super Sensitive Everyday Lotion smoothed crusty areas and gave a glow and smoothness to her skin. I have to admit that when the more I used California baby, the better her skin got and together with our 'free from' diet her eczema has never come back.

It prevents flares and has completely normalised our lives. California baby calendula cream is the only line of products together with my shea butter and coconut oil are now the only things I will use and my baby's eczema has been gone since the first week I began to use it.

*It is important to work very closely with your GP/doctor in deciding which creams/lotions/ointments to try. Always inform your doctor of everything you are using. Especially with regards to your baby's eczema. Newborns have very sensitive skin and should never be experimented on as allergic reactions can be fatal.

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