Watching your baby or child suffer with eczema is really hard on you both. The good news is that, while eczema is common, there are also lots of things you can do to help.
So we’ve gathered together wisdom from dermatologists at La Roche-Posay and Mumsnetters who’ve been there to help you calm the itch and calm everyone’s nerves too.
Already found a solution for your child’s eczema? Please do share it on the thread below.
Tips for managing eczema in babies and children
1. Limit baths
Baths can really dry out the skin, so try to cut down how many your child has per week, particularly if they currently have a bath every day.
Showers are less drying on the skin but, if you do give your child a bath, keep the water tepid rather than warm and don’t put anything in the bath that might irritate their skin.
“My toddler has it too and I’ve found that cutting down baths to every two or three days does help.” - Logic
2. Ditch the soap
Soap can also make the skin dry so replace it with a soap-free cream body wash, also known as syndet, to tackle dry, itchy and eczema-prone skin. This will help to retain moisture rather than dry the skin out.
All the handwashing children now have to do is no help for eczema sufferers either, but obviously it has to be done. You can buy handwash made from emollient rather than soap and look for hand sanitiser that foams - the clear alcohol stuff will sting and make the skin dry.
“You need to avoid soap and bubble bath. Just plain tepid water in the bath only.” - PancakeSunday
3. Keep their skin hydrated
So much of keeping eczema at bay is keeping your child’s skin well hydrated. That means getting lots of water into them as well as lots and lots of moisturising - three times a day (or more if you can).
If they’re at school, try giving them a moisturiser stick that they can use on their hands and on the inside of their elbows and knees, and really slather on the moisturiser both morning and night.
“Has she seen the GP? My baby DD’s cleared up with twice a day moisturising, no more than two baths a week and steroid ointment. It’s staying away with regular moisturising. [...] For eczema you need to moisturise, moisturise, moisturise.” - AnneLovesGilbert
Related: Eczema quiz: can you sort the myths from the facts?
4. Choose natural fibres
Aside from specific baby eczema ointments, keep things as natural as you can. This includes opting for cotton clothes, hypoallergenic bed sheets and minimal products in the bath (though a handful of oats in an old stocking can do wonders).
“I found that if I avoided contact with chemicals and manmade fibres that really helped [my son]. So we've always used organic bubble bath, [...] 100% cotton etc.” - MilaMae
5. Try to get scratching down to a minimum
The eczema itch is so irritating and it can be hard to get children not to scratch. Try asking them to ‘gently stroke’ with their fingers or palms of their hands rather than with nails if possible, or give them a little moisturiser to rub in whenever the itch gets too much.
The more difficult bit is at night. Tiny ones can wear mitts but, for older children, socks will do the same job well.
“I would make sure they aren't too hot as that can dry out skin. You can also put socks on hands to stop any itching.” - Cookiecake
6. Keep them cool
Eczema often flares in hot weather when kids get sweaty and their skin irritated. Keep them cool at night with fans and a cracked window if you can, and ensure that their clothes are breathable and that they don’t have too many layers on.
“Keep them cool as overheating means they'll scratch more, and try to use natural materials etc as much as possible.” - Whitelisbon
7. Reduce stress
A bit of rest and relaxation is a cure for so many ills, so don’t underestimate its effect on eczema.
Many adult eczema sufferers find it flares up when they’re stressed, so it stands to reason that children will find the same. Do all you can to smooth the path for them when eczema rears its ugly head. Lots of early nights and relaxing play will help too.
“We found that sea water on holiday cleared up eczema in DS. Stress tends to make auto-immune disorders (allergies and eczema included) much worse, so lifting stress could well have helped. Sounds like a good case for more holidays!” - neversaydie
Related: What is imaginative play and how can I encourage it?
8. Consider diet
Infant eczema often goes hand in hand with other allergies, so you should seek advice from your GP if you think there may be allergies at play as they will be able to refer your child for tests.
Dairy is a common issue, but things like highly coloured fruit and veg, wheat, fish, eggs and peanuts can also trigger eczema. Don’t cut anything out of your child’s diet without consulting a doctor or medical professional first.
“My DS has severe eczema and has done since he was born. Nothing and I mean nothing seems to work - even the dermatologist is baffled. Recently we’ve switched from cow’s milk to goat’s milk and, fingers crossed, his eczema seems to be improving. It's early days yet but it's worth trying.” - jimmyjamas
9. Talk to the experts
There’s a large product offering on the market and it can be very confusing to know which one to use for your baby or child, but eczema is not something you have to deal with alone. Even if the solution happens to be a moisturiser you can find in your local supermarket or pharmacy, your GP can often get it for you on prescription.
You should always seek advice from your GP or health visitor and then follow it up afterwards. If preventative measures don’t work, your child may need a short-term steroid cream or a referral to a dermatologist. The help is out there though, so make sure you get what your child is entitled to.
“First, take her to the GP for a diagnosis. Whatever the GP gives you, make sure [...] that when you apply it you use gentle downwards strokes with the grain of the skin (a tip from the National Eczema Society who are awesome and have lovely nurses who will chat to you).” - overripebanana
Related: How to encourage healthy eating in kids
10. Be prepared to roll with the punches
Eczema is a tricky thing. The solution that works for someone else’s child won’t necessarily work for yours, and you may find you work through several different options before you hit on the one that works.
But (yes, we’re afraid there is a but), occasionally something that has worked in the past suddenly stops working, so be prepared to go back to the drawing board once or twice along the way.
“Trial and error guys! I’ve been through several years of this and found our working [solution] now!” - GettingItOutThere
About La Roche-Posay
"At La Roche-Posay, our mission is to provide a better life for sensitive skin, for you and for your little ones, so that you can enjoy some peaceful time together.
This is why we have created LIPIKAR Baume AP+M, a hydrating, soothing balm for dry and itchy skin, suitable for the whole family, including newborn babies. It’s also suitable for use on eczema-prone skin.
The minimalist hypoallergenic formula has a triple action efficacy. It immediately soothes the skin and provides up to 48 hours of hydration so that itching sensations caused by dry skin are reduced for long-lasting comfort. It also restores the skin barrier function, reducing the frequency of dry skin flare-ups, and helps to rebalance the skin microbiome."
Thread sponsored by La Roche-Posay