Post # 1
Member
83 posts
Worker bee
Mamas, what are your remedies for baby eczema? DD is almost 5 months old. She started getting eczema around 3-4 months old. Last week she had a bad flare up so I took her to see the doctor. Doctor prescribed steroid cream for her infected spot where fluid coming out and coconut oil all over. The infected spot is clear now but the dryness is spreading to her back and arms now which she didn’t have too much before.
The coconut oil helps to keep the redness down but I feel like it’s not thick enough to keep her skin moisturized.
Before the flare up, I bathed her every other day with the aveeno oatmeal bath. I also used aveeno eczema night balm. I tried to use the balm again tonight but she was screaming and crying. I guess the balm is too thick and me rubbing it on her was not comfortable. She’s ok with the coconut oil.
Also took her to see a naturopath recently, as DD is breastfed, I was asked to eliminate dairy from my diet. She also suggested baby probiotic and calendula cream for the dry spot.
It’s so heartbroken to see DD scratching everywhere and I know she’s uncomfortable. What’s your experience with baby eczema and what works? Please share. Thank you for all your comments in advance.
Post # 2
Member
1835 posts
Buzzing bee
Not sure if this will be helpful. My husband and I both have occasional bouts of eczema. Our daughter is probably doomed too. She is allergic to dairy but so far has not had too many bad eczema problems at 17 months. She had one small patch on her cheek which is now well-controlled with the aveeno night balm you mentioned, after regular aveena baby lotion and vaseline both failed to work. I noticed her skin seems to dry out if we bathe her too often so we only bathe her every few days unless we have to. But she has been lucky so far.
However, I had terrible terrible eczema problems after she was born. I think it was a combination of reacting to washing dishes for hours due to pumping/bottle feeding, her aveeno baby lotion, and the stupid Dreft baby detergent. I am pretty sure I must be the only person allergic to Dreft? Anyway, I switched dish soaps, went back to the tide free detergent I used to use, and switched to Cetaphil Eczema calming body lotion and the matching body wash. That fixed me within days, after months of suffering with it. So I would check things like your detergent and soaps. Maybe Cetaphil might work for your baby, I am not sure. Good luck! Eczema sucks.
Post # 3
Member
2865 posts
Sugar bee
I’ve heard such wonderful things about La Roche-Posay Lipikar for eczema and it’s delicate enough for babies too. A mommy group that I’m in on FB keeps recommending it to eczema sufferers.
Post # 4
Member
832 posts
Busy bee
mrsl3un9 : aquaphor worked for my son better than steroid creams! Dermatologist said to only bathe him once a week. I use Dr. bronner’s unscented castile soap to wash his hair and a tiny bit for his body. I also used coconut oil in the bath slathering it all over him. He was covered in horrible eczema but the aquaphor cleared it completely.
Post # 5
Member
634 posts
Busy bee
mrsl3un9 : Aveeno seems to exacerbate my older child’s eczema. We have rotated thru a variety of organic products and cetaphil to keep it well controlled. Switching laundry detergent, organic cotton sheets, and Mrs Meyers dish soap are little switches that seem to help as well. We also use environmentally friendly cleaning products to limit any chemical exposure.
Post # 6
Member
3561 posts
Sugar bee
I don’t have much advice, but as someone with sensitive skin and occasional eczema, I definitely wouldn’t use Aveeno. Way too many unnecessary ingredients. Oatmeal baths are incredibly easy to do with real oatmeal, and I often do this when my skin is flaring up. Maybe a real oatmeal bath every few days (not every other) would be more soothing for her?
I’m so sorry you’re going through this. It must break your heart to see her so uncomfortable.
Post # 7
Member
7189 posts
Busy Beekeeper
My son has had eczema since he was a baby and used to get terrible raw patches on his inner arms. Here’s what we’ve found that works the best (we still use this now and he’s almost 8).
For a long time I did a coconut oil rub down after every bath. I also didn’t use soap on him in the bath or only something very mild and only at the end so that his skin didn’t get too dry. That worked great for his body but he’d have breakouts on his face more regularly. Now, we do the following:
Baby Carrot Borage butter on his face morning and night:
https://www.wildcarrotherbals.com/products/baby-borage-eczema-cream
At night, after his shower or bath, we also put Eczacalm all over his face to seal in the moisture from the baby carrot:
https://www.moonvalleyorganics.com/products/eczacalm (I order directly from the site but it looks like they’ve got other places you can get it from, too).
Generally, these two products work really really well for him. As long as he is diligent about using them. We tried substituting one or the other and it always resulted in a flare up so now we just stick with these.
Post # 8
Member
1549 posts
Bumble bee
How long have you been dairy free? Eliminating dairy was the only thing that worked for us (actually, I quit dairy for other reasons and it was a happy coincidence the eczema cleared). It can take 6 weeks for dairy to be completely out of your system, so I wouldn’t give up just yet! Good luck.
Post # 9
Member
253 posts
Helper bee
My dd had eczema around her face. I used to wipe her face with a warm wet cloth and then use this a couple of times a day:
Shea Moisture Raw Shea Chamomile & Argan Oil Baby Therapy 6 oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005C2NBFW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_0FVAAbC1P15E9
I also used their gluten free body wash and baby lotion. What really worked though was dabbing the affected areas with her first pee diaper in the AM. I know exactly how it sounds but it worked better than anything I’ve ever bought for her. My grandma told me to do it and at first I wasn’t here for it but I got desperate. Putting mittens on her made me so sad so I tried it and within a few days it cleared up. 🤷♀️
Post # 10
Member
3484 posts
Sugar bee
My son is allergic to cows milk and had some eczema. He has a special formula along side breastmilk. For you, cutting out dairy could help (I am already dairy free)
also id just use water to wash her. I’ve not used any bath products for DS for months as even the most gentle cause a flare up.
E45 is the best cream I’ve found for him. Coco butter is also good.
Post # 11
Member
9231 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
mrsl3un9 : my daughter has mild eczema but what seems to help her dry patches is (1) weekly baths. Babies really dont nerd more than that and baths dry out their skin. (2) BREASTMILK! I squirt that shit on everything lol. (3) use aquaphor to seal in coconut oil on the really bad spots.
Post # 12
Member
664 posts
Busy bee
Another vote for trying breastmilk and aquaphor. DS has bad baby acne and super dry skin, the breastmilk has amazingly started clearing it up. We use coconut oil after baths and only use soap when it’s really needed to reduce dryness. We also don’t dry off DS after baths until we’ve slathered him in coconut oil which has helped maintain moisture really well. Similar to one of the PP, I have really sensitive skin and also have horrible reactions to using Aveeno. Oatmeal baths also irritate my skin and make dry patches more itchy.
Post # 13
Member
83 posts
Worker bee
Thank you for all your comments mamas! They’re very helpful. I’m going to incorporate some of your suggestions. I’m trying the breast milk, switching back to baby unscented detergents, less baths, and continue using coconut oil. I really hope her eczema will get better.
Post # 14
Member
828 posts
Busy bee
Oilatum is Good, cream and bath milk. The cream is very oily.