Parenting is hard. So damn hard. And it is even harder if your child is a little "unique".
This uniqueness means some different conditions, which require more attention. My son had infant torticollis and I spent the first 4 months with very little sleep (around 2 hours a day) to work his neck out. Some of my friends' children have skin condition, like eczema.
How common is eczema in babies? Around 10% of children have eczema, it is the most common skin condition of the first 10 years.
One of many ways to help soothing your baby is to use lotion. In this article, we will cover how to know if your baby has eczema, which can worsen the condition, and how to choose the best natural baby lotion for eczema.
Ready? Let's dive in.
What is eczema exactly?
Eczema is a skin problem that makes the skin red, irritated and itchy. It can impact your skin hydration and make your skin become dry and cracked. It's more common among children but it can occur at any age.
How to know if your baby has eczema?
The most common sign you can notice is that the skin becomes dry, scaly and cracked.
Your baby can experience severe itching, especially at night. Your baby cries non-stop at night? Maybe this is one of the reasons.
Carefully observe your baby's skin as itchy bumps called hives may pop up, or red to brownish-gray patches, mainly on the hands, elbows, feet, knees, ankles, wrists, neck, upper chest, eyelids,... The areas, where the rash appears, may become lighter or darker, or even get thicker.
Possible causes of eczema
Food allergies
Take a note about what your child eats in the last 3 days to determine the exact cause as there may have some kinds of food that your kid is allergic to.
Gene variation
If you or your husband used to or currently suffer from eczema, the same situation might happen to the baby.
Environmental effects
Too hot or too cold weather can cause some skin problems including eczema.
Low resistance & Immune system problems
If the baby was born with a weak immune system or he is having a cold, the health resistance won’t function well enough to fight off bacteria.
What can you do to control your child's eczema?
What to avoid if your baby has eczema?
Some types of food
Sounds weird? But there are certain foods that you usually use for your family’s daily meals such as sugar, refined carbohydrates, gluten, red meats, and dairy can worsen eczema.
However, it is very difficult to tell which food your baby cannot eat. Therefore, you must take note of all the food your child has eaten when you notice the eczema gets worse.
Cold air/ Hot weather
Too much cold and dry air can lessen your skin’s moisture and dryness often leads to itching, which then leads to scratching and inflammation.
Or, if the weather is too hot, it can lead to perspiration which causes itchy skin and eczema irritation.
Detergent
Many detergents contain chemicals and fragrances that irritate the skin, cause dryness, itchiness, and redness. This may be bad for sensitive skin.
Scented products
Some babies may have dermatitis, which is rashes that occur when they have contact with fragrance products and will trigger a flare.
Fabrics
Some materials like polyester or wool, which can trigger itchiness and redness, especially those with sensitive skin.
What to avoid when choosing the best natural baby lotion for eczema
Glucocorticoids, a type of Steroid
Glucocorticoids has been used to treat eczema as it is naturally found in the body and help it respond to stress and environmental changes in many years. But if you use it for a long time it will cause adverse reactions such as osteomalacia and physical retardation.
Preservatives Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI) and Methylisothiazolinone (MI)
This substance can help to preserve the product to be effective longer but it can cause redness, itchiness or flakiness to the applied and other body zones.
Fragrance
It helps your baby to have a good smell but it may cause allergy for babies with eczema.
Antibiotic Neomycin Sulfate
It can be good for fighting off bacteria infection when treating wounds or minor cuts but it is not for eczema. It can cause redness, itching and flaking.
Best natural baby lotion for eczema - our top picks
Here is THE LIST of some best natural baby lotions/creams for eczema as they are natural, effective and safe for children.
Baby Dove Soothing Cream
This product can basically relieve all the eczema symptoms as well as irritation, also, soothing and calming delicate baby eczema, strengthen and keep the skin remain moisturized for the next 24 hours.
Baby Dove Soothing cream is formulated with safe ingredients: Butter, Glycerin, Dimethicone,... so you have no concern when using it.
What we like
What we don't like
Eucerin Baby Eczema Relief Body Cream
This product can be quickly effective on eczema skin, and relieve all the related symptoms with nearly no allergic reaction, retaining hydration within the next 24 hours, safe for all skin types.
Eucerin eczema cream contains Oatmeal, Glycerin, Mineral Oil,... which are all tested to be safe for curing eczema.
What we like
What we don't like
Aveeno Eczema Therapy Daily Moisturizing Cream
Aveeno is a famous name on the market when it comesto baby care products.
This relieves eczema irritation and itchiness quickly and effectively, help the skin stay moisturized and calmed for 24 hours, help prevent the recurrence of extra dry skin from eczema.
Aveeno cream combines soothing natural colloidal oatmeal with vitamin B5 and Glycerin, so it’s ideal for eczema.
What we like
What we don't like
Cetaphil Eczema Soothing Moisturizer
Cetaphil will protect the skin against irritation, improve skin condition as well as moisture, relieve irritation and itchiness.
The product is formulated with Butter, Glycerine, Ceramine,... which are all clinically-proven dermatological substances for eczema-prone skin.
What we like
What we don't like
Solimo Eczema Soothing Moisturizing Cream
As it is filled with natural ingredientssuch as oatmeal, glycerin, demethicone, it can relieve eczema symptoms and sooth skin.
What we like
What we don't like
Gold Bond Eczema Relief
This is a lotion formulated for breaking the itch-scratch cycle of eczema, it can soothe eczema-prone skin and immediately relieve the symptoms.
The ingredients include 2% colloidal oatmeal, vitamins and aloe to help relieve the itch, dryness, scaling, roughness, & redness of eczema
What we like
What we don't like
Neosporin Eczema Essentials Daily Moisturizing Cream
Not only add in moisture, but it also works to keep it in so that your skin can be healed and calmed, restores visibly healthier skin in just 3 days.
It contains colloidal oatmeal, as well as a relipid formula, which contains a humectant, emollient and a botanical blend
What we like
What we don't like
Happy Cappy Eczema Trio Moisturizing Cream
Happy Cappy moisturizing cream protects and restores the delicate skin barrier. Soothes without stinging sensation. This is a great choice for those with sensitive skin, and it’s safe to use on babies who are three months old and up.
It’s formulated with natural substances and Licorice Root Extract (Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate) so it’s safe for both children and adults.
What we like
What we don't like
When to stop using the products and seek for doctor’s advice?
Not all people succeed in curing eczema on first try, unexpected problems may happen.
Stick with the same curing way in such situations will make everything worse as each baby has a different physical state, so you have to seek a doctor's intervention to determine exactly the level and type of eczema.
It’s time for a change when these signs appear:
Choosing the best natural baby lotion for eczema - final thought
There you have it. We have provided you with the guide on how to choose the best natural baby lotion for eczema your little one, along with top rated products on the market.
However, there is no one-size-fit-all solution for eczema. Remember to seek your doctor's advice in advance or whenever you are in doubt.