It is common not to want to over-medicate your child, sometimes, letting their immune systems fight off conditions can be beneficial in the long-term; there are also occasions where conditions, like eczema, cannot be fought by the immune system alone. This is where natural remedies can be helpful, natural remedies for infant eczema can not only help your baby’s body build a resistance to it without dosing your child, but it can also help manage the condition. It is recommended you use eczema medication if the condition becomes too difficult to manage.
10 Easy and Effective Home Remedies for Baby Eczema
It can be a challenge to understand which home remedies for eczema in babies are myths and which can actually help, this is why we have compiled a list of accessible herbal remedies for baby eczema.
1. Luke-Warm Water Bath
One of the hardest symptoms of eczema to manage is the itching; a lukewarm bath cools the skin, this reduces itching, it also helps fight off dehydration of the skin. While giving your child a bath, use fragrant neutral soaps and avoid anti-bacterial soaps.
2. Oatmeal Bath
Oatmeal baths are considered a great way to relax the skin, Oatmeal reduces itching and is hugely beneficial for the skin. To give your child an oatmeal bath, blend 2/3 of a cup of oats in a blender till it becomes a fine powder, then in warm or lukewarm water, sprinkle the powder in and mix till it has a silky texture, soak your child in the water for between 20-30 minutes in the water and rinse them off with room temperature water.
3. Cold Pressed Coconut Oil
Cold pressed coconut oil is rich in anti-bacterial properties, this lowers the risk of infections due to eczema, additionally, cold pressed coconut oil has hydrating properties that help soothe the skin and cold pressed coconut oil is considered a natural moisturizer that manages eczema, just apply the oil on your baby’s skin and gently massage it in circles for a few seconds.
4. Cold Pressed Sunflower Oil
Cold pressed sunflower oil is rich in various healthy fatty acids, these fatty acids once absorbed through your skin can help combat eczema from underneath the skin’s surface, cold pressed sunflower oil is also an extremely potent natural moisturiser, apply this oil on your baby’s skin, massage it clockwise and counter-clockwise for a few moments.
5. Soaking in Sea Salt Baths
Sea salt has anti-bacterial properties that can help avoid infections; sea salt baths are also extremely good for the skin in general due to the minerals present in salt. Soak your baby in a sea salt bath for 20 minutes, and it should reduce the itchiness and soothe the skin. To prepare this bath simply add sea salt to warm water, mix until the salt dissolves and you’re ready to go.
6. Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea tree is extremely healthy for the skin, for a baby pure tea tree might be extremely harsh to their skin so dilute it with some lukewarm water. Tea tree essential oil has anti-bacterial properties that can help prevent infection due to eczema, and it also has skin hydrating and healing properties that soothe the skin and repair the damage of dry skin. Using a couple of drops mixed with any moisturizer can help combat eczema.
7. Chamomile Tea Bath
Chamomile tea is extremely good for the skin, it has soothing properties that can reduce itchiness and when absorbed through the skin can hydrate and heal damaged skin. To prepare this bath, simply soak 5 chamomile tea bags in warm water for 15 minutes, then mix and soak your baby for 20 minutes.
8. Sunlight
Taking your baby out for about 20 minutes in the sun can be hugely beneficial, the natural UV rays of the sun contain Vitamin D, this helps the skin absorb cholesterol through the skin and provides melanin, this also soothes your baby’s skin and heals the skin. Beware though, if the sun is too harsh it could have adverse effects instead. Ensure your baby doesn’t spend over 20 minutes in the sun with no sunscreen on.
9. Use Humidifiers
Humidity is good for the skin, it hydrates the body, reduces inflammation and helps alleviate itchiness. Use a humidifier in the room that your baby occupies regularly to help manage eczema, ensure you combine this with the use of moisturisers.
10. Loose Clothes
Ensure your baby is dressed in loose clothes and make sure they wear breathable material, tight clothing can cause sweating and spread the bacteria that causes eczema; it also reacts to the rashes on the skin causing itchiness, makes sure they are wearing comfortable clothes that don’t hug the skin too tightly.
Eczema can be caused due to food allergies, if you are breastfeeding your child, ensure you test your baby for food allergies and do not eat those foods. It is also recommended that you pat the eczema rashes on your baby’s body with a cool, wet gauze at least twice a day, this will help soothe their skin.
The best way to approach managing this condition is by combining treatment methods, by taking your child out for 15 minutes in the sun, giving them an eczema treatment bath like the ones mentioned above and using natural moisturizers like cold pressed coconut oil as well as using a humidifier and dressing them up with comfortable loose clothing on a regular basis, you can manage the condition much more efficiently. Additionally, ensure that the room your baby spends the time it is cool, the use of air conditioners and ceiling fans during the summer can help reduce skin irritation due to sweat.
Eczema can also be caused by external allergies like dust mites, ensure you keep your child in a clean environment and make sure they bathe regularly. Never use a towel to wipe your child if they have this condition, it is recommended that you pat them dry or let them air dry, wiping them with a towel could spread the bacteria and increase the likelihood of these rashes manifesting in other locations.
Remember, it is also important to understand that these techniques are only to help manage and heal minor forms of eczema, it is still recommended that you get medical advice for the condition and follow the instructions of your medical care specialist. These techniques can be added to their advice but should not be used without the instructions of your doctors.
