What "soap" do you use on your baby with eczema?

[mama to 2 girls]

DS is 6 mos. old and I am pretty sure he has eczema....What kind of baby "wash" or soap do you use on your little one? I was using burt's bee's baby bee wash but since he started his rash I haven't been using anything.

[KimPM]

Our sensitive DS has always been bathed with Clearly Natural glycerine soap, unscented of course. I've been using it for years. I've also used ShiKai borage lotion for children on him (and me) in the areas it gets really dry. And Eucerin Calming Creme works pretty well on my rashy areas. Well, they used to be rashy before I started taking vitamin D.

[aydensmama]

Dove unscented bar soap. When there are bad flare ups, I don't even let him sit in the shampoo. He has to rinse and get right out. After he started oozing from his scalp, we started using Nizoral two-three times per week- and using it all over. We only use this during flare up times. It really helped. Since he has a nightly regiment of eucerin, we don't get dry from the Nizoral.

Hand soap is a nightmare for him! He started school and is goes potty and they wash hands. I want to scream at the teacher for using soap. I know that is sanitary, but his hands a red and swollen by the time I get him. It takes us all weekend to calm them down.

I have also used Virgin Cocunut oil, but that does nothing for my little man during a flare up.

[changingseasons]

None.

If she's especially greasy, we'll use a little California Baby Sensitive soap.

[Dabble]

Originally Posted by changingseasons

None.

If she's especially greasy, we'll use a little California Baby Sensitive soap.

We also have used Aveeno oatmeal bath mixed in the water as it is a natural non-soap cleanser. Very hydrating. The CB Sensitive is great when you feel the need for soap - stinky or actually dirty. But most of an eczema baby's baths should be brief, lukewarm, and without soap.

I've found the most helpful thing to be getting him gently patted dry after his (frequent but brief) baths, and immediately covered in Cetaphil cream. If he has hotspots behind his ears, knees, etc, I cover those in Aquaphor ointment. His skin looks beautiful now.

[Nikki Christina]

none.

the only thing that gets greasy is her hair ocassionally.. i use aveno baby wash at the very end of her bath , quickly rinse it off & then get out the tub

[rhiasmum]

Generally none here too. If something's needed I use Dr. Bronner's for baby's. It's unscented.

[KimPM]

Originally Posted by aydensmama

Hand soap is a nightmare for him! He started school and is goes potty and they wash hands. I want to scream at the teacher for using soap. I know that is sanitary, but his hands a red and swollen by the time I get him. It takes us all weekend to calm them down.

For hand soap we use Kiss My Face Moisture Soap fragrance free (it comes in a pump bottle).

For the school....can you send a bar or bottle of something that works for him (?) and definitely let his teacher know!

[KimPM]

I would consider using nothing but water, except that soap breaks up the lipid membranes of cells (killing bacterial cells and/or viruses that reside in the loose cells on the hands/skin). Just like it breaks up grease and dirt that you can see. That's why a little soap is good for hygiene, and it doesn't have to be antibacterial soap or anything....because regular soap or detergent already is.

[fruitfulmomma]

California Baby Sensitive

[WuWei]

None.

Have you heard of the "Hygiene Hypothesis"?
http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/1031002421.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygiene_hypothesis
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/452170
http://foodallergies.about.com/b/200...do-with-it.htm
http://www.respiratoryreviews.com/ja...3_hygiene.html
http://www.sciencenews.org/pages/sn_...14_99/bob2.htm


Increased hygiene and a lack of exposure to various microorganisms may be affecting the immune systems of many populations - particularly in highly developed countries like the US - to the degree that individuals are losing their bodily ability to fight off certain diseases.

That's the essence of the "hygiene hypothesis," a fairly new school of thought that argues that rising incidence of asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis and perhaps several other diseases may be, at least in part, the result of lifestyle and environmental changes that have made us too "clean" for our own good.

Another thread on the topic: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...3&postcount=38


Pat

[mama to 2 girls]

Thanks! I have been putting Olive Oil on him a few times a day..usually at diaper changes and his skin doesn't seem dry. It just kind of feels like sandpaper...poor baby....it doesn't seem to bother him either (yet).

I am going to get some cetaphil also to try.

[capsgirl08]

Hi - just wanted to chime in. We don't use any soap on DS (9mo) anymore. If it gets really bad, I have a bar of Vanicream soap and California Baby unscented wash.

Also -- My DS has had awful eczema since he was 3 months old --- and it got worse using Eucerin, a supposedly "safe" soap, because of the lanolin in it. I think there was something in Cetaphil that made me avoid it, so just check and see. Your DC may not have lanolin sensitivities, but just wanted to point it out. We now use Vanicream thanks to moms' suggestions here. It works great! You can only find it in a place like CVS or Walgreens, though.

[capsgirl08]

Sorry, one more thing: If you or DC is not allergic, flax seed oil has helped us wonders. I take it as a supplement, and have rubbed it on DS's legs and arms.

[springmum]

None.

After the bath, I do put a homeopathic cream on his "hot spots" (even if there's no eczema) to help moisturize his skin.
I can give you the name if you want - just don't have it beside me at the moment...

[mama to 2 girls]

Originally Posted by springmum

None.

After the bath, I do put a homeopathic cream on his "hot spots" (even if there's no eczema) to help moisturize his skin.
I can give you the name if you want - just don't have it beside me at the moment...

Yes, that would be great!

[guestmama9911]

I really love Soft Baby Wash.

[springmum]

Originally Posted by mama to 2 girls

Yes, that would be great!

Recommended by my ND (it's not english though) - "Onguent 270" by "UNDA" Our local vitamin store that carries homeopathics carries it.

[KimPM]

Originally Posted by WuWei

None.

Have you heard of the "Hygiene Hypothesis"?

Yes, but I believe it's due to excessive and overuse of cleaning and antibacterial products.

Occasional mild soap is not a bad thing.

[Soul-O]

We've actually had good success with Cetaphil for my two younger ones with eczema. I also use the Aveeno Baby unscented moisturizing lotion after baths. My DH, who has battled eczema most of his life, told me that it didn't get better for him until he started using a very mild skin cleanser pretty much every day, rather than no soap at all, because the sweat and dirt were irritants that caused eczema flare ups.

HTH!