How do you look after your children's skin? Share with HappySkin for a chance to win a £300 voucher

[LucyBMumsnet]

This sponsored discussion is now closed. Thank you to everyone who commented below.

If your child has sensitive, dry or eczema-prone skin you’ve likely tried your fair share of moisturisers, creams and even homemade remedies with little success. This is why HappySkin® has created a range of base layer clothing – designed to soothe and protect their delicate skin. Whether you apply gentle topical treatments or ensure you choose comfortable clothes for your child to wear throughout the day, HappySkin® would like to hear your top parenting hacks for keeping your child’s skin happy and healthy.

Here’s what HappySkin has to say: “At HappySkin® we know how important it is to see your child comfortable in their own skin and HappySkin® base layer clothing is designed to help them do just that. For maximum comfort, the garments include off-set, flat seams to ensure minimal irritation. This uniquely designed clothing heals irritated areas for little ones with dry, sensitive or even mild-to-moderate eczema-prone skin.”

What skin condition does your DC have? What treatments have you tried in the past to manage this condition? What’s the strangest home remedy you have tried, and did it work? Is there a certain fabric or style of clothing that your child feels most comfortable in? What would be your top tip to parents of children with the same condition who are struggling to find a solution?

All who share their stories and opinions on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one lucky MNer will win a £300 voucher for a store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

Insight T&Cs apply

Both DS have mild eczema, legs, arms and behind ears, we try to use buckwheat in pancakes for breakfast and in bread, we were told it has an anti-inflammatory effect, and it does seem to have lessened the symptoms.

They have barrier cream and a base layer on the legs when things do flare up, to heal and prevent scratching.

Strangest remedy -Apitherapy remedies

aveeno works great for my babys sensitive ezcema skin

always us sunscreen to protect your child's skin

tip is to moisturise hands and body after bath time and washing hands

My DS has eczema and it flares up worst with suncream. Try not to put cream on his inner arms and he is lucky he doesn't burn easily. When he covers himself in emollient cream it goes away.
Don't wash his clothes in biological powder as think that makes it worse.

Olive oil is great for my DDs dry skin otherwise I've used doublebase cream

Bath new borns in plain warm water. Bepanthem as needed on bum. If cold weather vaseline on cheeks to stop them getting chapped.

both DS have eczema which can be mild to severe, I use a barrier cream (sudacreme or E45) and use a cotton baselayer at night to let the skin breathe and prevent itching. I use cotton bedding, a non bio detergent, and dry their clothes in the tumble dryer - never on the washing line.

I think diet is important and use food which has anti-inflammatory properties (oat and honey and banana's).

I have heard of but not tried the oat bath remedy - I will certainly give it ago - thanks fellow mumsnetters.,

What skin condition does your DC have?
My dc has eczema in various places at various times, ranging from mild to medium severity.

What treatments have you tried in the past to manage this condition?
Fresh air, loose clothes, fragrance free moisturiser and steroid creams.

What’s the strangest home remedy you have tried, and did it work?
None

Is there a certain fabric or style of clothing that your child feels most comfortable in?
Loose leg shorts day and night

What would be your top tip to parents of children with the same condition who are struggling to find a solution?
My dc has lactose intolerance and this is definitely connected to the eczema.

Our daughter had terrible eczema on her face as a baby. I tried all kinds of creams, lotions etc and I ended up buying some clothes, bibs and scratch sleeves in a special fabric which really helped.

The biggest change came though when she started eating solids and was having less formula. I feel her eczema was linked to a lactose allergy which she has since grown out of.

My toddler has always had raised bumps of dried skin on the backs of his arms which causes him irritation, despite trying various products to soothe, day and night. This clothing range sounds perfect for supporting him.

My daughter has eczema, she is now 4 and she only has a bath a couple of times a week. If she needs washing more than that she has a shower. It has greatly improved her eczema.

Molluscum contagiosum and a tiny bit of eczema.
I try to use natural products for laundry and skin care and also natural fabrics that are breathable.

We get cradle cap/ dry skin on the scalp. Tried olive oil, all it did was make DCs head smell. Eventually cleared up but has come back again now and not really sure how to treat.

The only thing that sorts my 7yr old dd's eczema out is completely cutting out sugar. It's a pain, but so worth it. Have used cetraben before and that works well to soothe when it flares up.

Oops. Baby pressed post!
Would try anything to help, hate seeing him scratch hinself raw.

Agh now it's disappeared!
Protopic oitment, Hydromol, oukstum - all dr prescribed.

Dietician advice followed to avoid flare ups caused by food allergies. Piriton when it's really bad.
Reduce baths.

My oldest had eczema ended up with weeping sores. Just after his first birthday we ended up taking him to sick kids hospital on Christmas day. He was in so much discomfort and the wounds on his skin were getting infected. Took about 2 months after that before we seen a specialist. Anyway, the best thing for eczema and I am repeating our GP's advice: I cannot stress this enough, 50/50 lotion (50% liquid paraffin 50% solid paraffin). Wack it on thick you basically want your child to be covered in the stuff so he is so slippery that his pyjamas slide off him, and then some more. The more the better. When eczema is bad do this twice a day, but do it at least once a day even if you think his skin looks ok. It's important also after a bath (without soap) to get it on as soon as possible to get the barrier on before the environmental irritants get into their skin. This was prescribed by our GP before we seen the specialist and his skin improved so much. The specialist basically confirmed this prescription and also provided stronger prescription of steroid cream. We used the steroid creams but in a way I didn't like it, not funny in this way but I don't think rubbing steroids all over a 1 year old's body can be a good thing. I hate to admit it but his skin only got bad when we neglected the 50/50 regime.

tldr: Loads of 50/50 does the trick for eczema

Try using small amount of coconut oil on the cradle cap about half an hour before bath. Once in bath rub gently with a soft bristle brush. Worked really well for us. And if it doesn't work to reduce unsightly cradle cap at least coconut oil smells better :)

Found the best solution for my son’s eczema is Body Shops Hemp cream

My kids are really allergic to most suncreams so we are trying to introduce it slowly this year so a little bit at a time and obviously making sure not in the sun too long, this time of year it's easy to build up slowly.

Introduce it slowly so I can see which brand they are ok with I mean! Rather than coming out with a big rash all over

What skin condition does your DC have?
All my children have dry skin, and a tendency to eczema in patches, though one has it much worse. One also has a senstivity to quite a few brands of sunscreen.

What treatments have you tried in the past to manage this condition?
We have tried a few brands of emollient creams and lotions, and on occasion have used hydrocortisone cream to treat patches. We avoid use of any scented soaps and shower gels as well. In the current climate of needing to wash hands a lot, we are using moisturising hand wash followed up by emollient hand cream.

What’s the strangest home remedy you have tried, and did it work?
I can't think of any strange remedies at all that we've tried. I try and keep things really simple - non bio clothes wash, plain soap, emollient cream as I tend to think that is probably the best solution.

Is there a certain fabric or style of clothing that your child feels most comfortable in?
I think loose, cotton clothing is most comfortable, they also enjoy the thin rash vest type fabric - lightweight and easy to wear/quick to dry.

*What would be your top tip to parents of children with the same condition who are struggling to find a solution?
Skin is really complex, and I think it can take trial and error to find the best solution. As with most things in life, prevention is better than cure so try and work out whether certain things aggravate the situation - whether its diet, sun, toiletries or anything else. Sometimes though accept you may never know. Also, because somethinkg worked for one person, does not mean it is a cure-all for everyone.

My son has eczema and we have tried lots of creams. We now settle on childs farm body washes and use Lush dream cream for his skin. Also sometimes Neals Yard baby balm is good for itchy patches.

Home remedies - cut the foot out of an old pair of tights, fill with oats and put it in the bath. Oats are great for many kin conditions. We also switched from coes milk to oat milk and it has had a huge improvement for his skin.