what to use for eczema

[sofysmommy]

DD 2 years old apparently has eczema, no money to take to the doctor. so can someone reccomend natural products like soaps lotions I could use on her.
TIA

[Spastica]

Baking soda and oatmeal baths; switch to dye-free, perfume-free products (try Arm and Hammer free detergent or ALL's free and clear). Or you can wash her clothes in baking soda only (1 cup for full load, 1 cup and 1/4 if you have hard water).

Use coconut oil all over her body as anti-itch lotion and treatment. You can get coconut oil at Whole Foods, natural stores, and Indian/Asian grocery stores.

[sofysmommy]

Originally Posted by Spastica

Baking soda and oatmeal baths; switch to dye-free, perfume-free products (try Arm and Hammer free detergent or ALL's free and clear). Or you can wash her clothes in baking soda only (1 cup for full load, 1 cup and 1/4 if you have hard water).

Use coconut oil all over her body as anti-itch lotion and treatment. You can get coconut oil at Whole Foods, natural stores, and Indian/Asian grocery stores.

i think i have coconut oil but does it expire? i have had it for about one yearbut in my bathroom's closet.

[Spastica]

Coconut oil takes a long time to go rancid and if it hasn't been near heat, it's usually okay. Do a sniff test. If it still smells coconutty and tropical, use it. If it smells rancid, or rubbery, toss it.

[velcromom]

Unrefined shea also is helpful to soothe itching and the redness and swelling that can happen with excema. agbangakarite.com has the best quality I've found. Keep a small jar out for use and the rest in the fridge and it will last a long time.

Also if you are crafty, a simple lotion containing a small amount of apple cider vinegar can be very soothing, I use it for ds when he gets excema on his feet and it works quite well. If you need a recipe and/or sources for ingredients let me know.

I have never found a soap that was compatible with my excema. If I have a breakout I just need to keep soap away from it til it heals.

[shannajoy]

velcromom, I'd love to know your recipe/sources for ACV lotion!

[velcromom]

I have been using this simple recipe for a couple of years now. I choose to put in a non-paraben preservative - I don't want to worry about spreading bacteria, mold or fungi on my little one's bodies. The ingredients you might not have on hand, ewax and preservative, can be ordered online - I like to order from brambleberry.com, snowdriftfarm.com and the-sage.com.

Here's a tutorial on how to make lotion, if you haven't done it before you will need these instructions:

http://www.snowdriftfarm.com/lotionmaking101.html

The tools you will need are mainly an accurate scale that can measure in fractions of grams, and a stick blender, as well as some containers to put the finished lotion in. I don't recommend reusing containers, they are virtually impossible to clean well enough and lotion stored in used containers always ends up growing something ugly. It's worth a few bucks to get the clean new containers.


ACV lotion:


23% Rice bran or other light oil

3% jojoba oil if you have it, otherwise add same amount of other oil

5% emulsifying wax

4% glycerin

4% apple cider vinegar

1% lavender or other essential oil (don't use citrus eo's, they cause photosensitivity) or,even better, leave it unscented for little ones and sensitive individuals. If doing unscented add that 1% in to an oil.

use correct % of preservative as recommended by manufacturer

60% distilled water (will actually be 60% minus the % of preservative, to keep the total at 100%)


prepare your mixing containers and measure all your ingredients. Follow the instructions in the tutorial for heating and mixing the lotion ingredients properly.

The finished lotion will have a slight acv scent to it.

[swimswamswum]

I would take her off of milk for a couple of weeks to see if that helps. I had terrible eczema as a child that was completely due to food allergies- namely dairy. It is likely an allergy to something she's allergic or to something environmental. I still have it, but it is much milder that when I was a kid.

Here are some suggestions for eczema treatment:

-crisco at night (my allergist told me this one and it works really well)
-bathe only every other day or every third day and pat dry with a towel (never rub the skin)
-baths should not be hot- just warm
-like others said, no scented soaps or lotions
-this isn't "crunchy", but my dermatologist suggests Curel lotion and Cetaphil soap. Both have been helpful. Always use lotion after a bath.
-also not "crunchy" but if it persists, hydrocortasone (sp?) creme is helpful

Be really careful about the vinegar- it helps but burns like the dickens if the rash is severe- water it down if she's sensitive to it. Also, noxema is helpful (again with the not crunchy).

I hope this helps and that she feels better soon.