Dealing with Eczema – Our Natural Remedies
Like our founder Ann, we understand how hard and distressing it is if your child suffers from eczema. Many topical steroid creams that may be prescribed for your children can have adverse effects. Therefore, we have laid out some of our favourite natural remedies to keep your child feeling comfortable. We also have a range of effective remedies from natural ingredients on our website.
Not sure if your child is suffering from eczema? Here are some signs to look out for:
- Uncontrollable itching
- Dry/sensitive skin
- Dark coloured patches of skin
- Areas of swelling
What about the causes of eczema? Genetic causes, allergic conditions or reactions to chemicals in detergents, bubble baths and shampoos.
Helping your child to deal with the symptoms of eczema can be tricky. Certain products in the market contain harmful ingredients that can cause long-term damage to your child’s skin such as steroid creams. They seem to work fine at first, but constant use every day can cause further irritation. We recommend you try natural remedies with natural ingredients- which are safer on your child’s sensitive skin.
Here are the most effective remedies for eczema we have tried:
(All of our remedies are child friendly and safe for your little bundles of joy)
1. Collodial oatmeal
Collodial oatmeal helps to calm and soften inflamed skin. This ingredient helps to moisturise the dry skin as well. It is available in cream or powder form. There are several ways you can use this ingredient:
Using oatmeal powder: Add the content to lukewarm bathwater and soak for 10 to 15 minutes. After the bath, rinse off with clean water, pat dry and apply a thick layer of hypoallergenic moisturiser.
Using oatmeal paste: You can add a cup of oatmeal with water to form a pasty consistency. Then add a small spoon of raw honey or coconut oil to the paste. We like to make our paste smell nicer by adding some drops of lavender essential oils. The scent brings a calming effect to soothe your irritated child as well. Then apply the paste into the eczema patches gently. Wait for 10 to 15 minutes before rinse off with water.
You can also try some cream products which contain oatmeal such as the GRAHAMS natural baby eczema cream which helps to relieve the itchiness on the skin (Buy it here)
2. Coconut oil
Coconut oil can moisturise the dry skin, keep it hydrated and prevent infections thanks to its fatty acids. Choose either virgin or cold-pressed coconut oil that’s processed without chemicals. Make sure the coconut oil is of the finest quality. You can buy this extra virgin coconut oil or the organic product here.
Using it as a pure moisturiser: Apply to affected areas like a cream and let it soak into the skin overnight. You can apply the oil twice a day- after an oatmeal bath or shower. It is critical that you test for any allergic reaction to coconut oil on the hand of your baby first. Avoid the eye area.
Using it in a bath: You can also add a cup of coconut oil to the bath or mix coconut oil with oatmeal and pour the mixture into the bathwater.
3. Sunflower seed oil
Sunflower seed oil helps to protect the skins outer layer, keeping your skin moisturised and preventing inflammation. This oil can also help to reduce the level of the itchiness as well.
Using it raw: We recommend applying sunflower oil undiluted and directly to the skin after a bath when the skin is still damp.
Mixing it with lavender oil: You can add about 12 drops of lavender oil and 1 ounce of sunflower seed oil to make a 2 % oil dilution. Apply this solution on the eczema patches. Remember to test for allergic reaction first.
4. Calendula flower
Calendula cream is a kind of herbal remedy that improves blood flow. It is also capable of moisturising skin and healing skin inflammation. It is a safe and gentle remedy, even on the most sensitive skin.
Using calendula cream: Here is a simple recipe for your home-made calendula cream. Mix 1 table of sesame oil with dried calendula flowers in a small pot. Heat the pot up a bit so that the oil is warm but not to overheat. Then turn the heat off. Let the mixture rest overnight. The next day, drain the mixture off the excessive oil and add around 4 oz of beeswax into the pot. Turn the heat on at the lowest setting. Stir the mixture well until the ingredients blend in together. Pour the warm mixture into a clean container. When the mixture cools down, it hardens up and ready to use. Apply the cream on affected areas as needed.
Here are a few recommended products from us with Calendula flower extract in their ingredients. You can try the Billie goat nature remedy intensive balm, Weleda rash relief cream and Hope relief skin cream.
5. Aloe Vera gel
The last remedy we want to tell you is the Aloe Vera gel, which is super effective in sooth these eczema patches.
Using Aloe Vera leaves: You can buy Aloe Vera gel in stores but possibly the safest way is to have an Aloe Vera plant at home and use the gel from the leaves as the remedy. First, apply a small amount of gel onto the hand to see if there is any reaction. Then apply the gel onto the eczema patches.
Shea butter, olive oil, jojoba oil or fish oils are also among our choices of ingredients to help cope with eczema. For ingredients involving these ingredients, you can check out our article here.
Sadly, there is no cure for eczema. But luckily for us, there are several ways you can try to help your child relieve the symptoms of eczema and help them to feel comfortable within their skin. We hope that these above ingredients can help. Let us know if these above remedies are effective. Share your favourite natural remedies with us in the comments section!
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