my one year old has BAD eczema! HELP!

Caitlin - posted on 09/26/2011

I use infrequent baths with my 2, mostly only if they need a full bath, we do hand washing and I wash dirty areas with a wet cloth if I can to avoid baths, because strangely enough, baths dry out skin. We have a hydrocortizone cream to use on the red itchy spots, and otherwise I use aquaphor on the dry skin which really helps (it's one of the only things that helps MY eczema - though it is petroleum based, i find it works MUCh better than vaseline).

One of the other key things I try to do it keep the nails SHORT and the nails clean as much as possible (with kids it's really hard) because the bacteria enters into the skin MUCH more easily on a kid with eczema and can cause more irritation and itching, which just becomes a viscious cycle. I find when my daughters have a flare up, it's usualyl because their nails are too long and they can scratch easily.

I've also heard that during a flare up it's useful to toss some epsom salts(not the scented kind - it's like lumpier sea salt essentially) into the bath, that it will help with the redness and irritation, and as long as you don't use much (follow the instructions) it doesn't dry out skin at all. When I was a kid, my eczema was at its best the summers I went to the ocean and swam every day, so it makes sense to me!

Sarah - posted on 09/26/2011

Avoid Vaseline/petroleum products they make the skin "feel" moist but you are really creating an airtight barrier between your baby's skin and the outside air.



Skin needs to breathe thru the pores and preventing it from doing so might make things worse.



It sounds like your baby is just having a "flare", my son develops a general rash now and then with symptoms like what you are describing.



If your DR. perscribed you a hydrocortizone cream for the rash (he should have if he diagnosed eczema-if he hasn't written you a hydrocortizone script call his office and ask if he will) use this cream on the "hot spots" of really read irritated skin then use lanolin cream over the patchy/ blotchy spots then cover the rest of the skin with cocoa butter. With all of these creams you want to get the most natural form you can afford (I found a 100% cocoa at the farmers market and lanolin can be found in the baby isle) you don't have to pay health food store prices just watch the labels and make sure you aren't just buying vaseline (petroleum) with a different label.



Limit bath times to a few minutes 3-4 times a week and temperatures to luke-warm do not use bubble baths, but if you want you can add some aveno oatmeal bath to the water that does help. After drying off apply lotions liberally and put your tot in cotton jammies. Make sure to apply lotions all over body 3-4 times a day during a flare and 1-2 when things are calmer.

Good luck

Eboni - posted on 09/26/2011

Aww i'm sorry to hear that Jennifer! Seems like he had a reaction to something, people with eczema needs frequent water baths in warm water every day, apply vaseline and aveeno lotion together. Wash his clothes in detergent for sensitive skin. That's what I use for my baby, Arm & Hammer for sensitive skin, with no scent in it. I heard the aveeno oatmeal bath helps as well. If he seems to itch apply hydrocortisone only on the area that's itching him. apply that 30 mins after you apply the vaseline & aveeno. hope this helps! =)