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

[Summergarden]

My DC all have mild eczema.

We use QV cream after baths and some evenings before bed if they’ve not bathed. Keeping on top of this as a preventative measure helps.

It seems worse in the summer.

Using milder, unscented washing powder and fabric softener makes a huge difference.

[Caillou]

My dd has mild eczema, we tend to apply cream after her bath, so far we haven't found THE cream, but we try different ones.

[PickAChew]

My ds has mild eczema and it is very much aggravated by synthetic fabrics and also by getting overheated. He also gets bad drool rashes on his chin and neck and his hands are a mess, at the moment, from all the extra hand washing, compounded by using liquid Handwash as he has SN and just can't fathom out how to use bar soap.

His clothes, consequently are mostly cotton, or have a high cotton content.

Blathering him in flexitol dry skin lotion straight after a bath provides the most relief for him

[JanetANDJude]

My son is 20 months, he only had clear skin the first 8 weeks or so.. Normally he suffers with moderate eczema but after the recent covid 19 symptoms it flared severely, I almost cried, had to put on him hand socks to avoid him staining everything with his blood from scratching. It was all over his body, normally its quite selective. He normally has eczema flares up when he has stomache flu or normal colds and flu. I've used oilatum, steroid creams, aveeno, dermaxa , natural oats in bathe, mustard oil,childs farm and happy cow soaps.. Basically I just try anything that will work as we are still on a waiting list to see a dermatologist, after the allergen doctor confirmed he isn't allergic, it's just severe eczema. Currently the poor boy looks like a spotted cheetah😂 hopefully we will find something that works for him. I will definitely try happy skin for his clothing, as getting a dermatologist to prescribe skinnies is a long wait.

[goldenretriever1978]

Dry skin with one of mine. I try to avoid an overload of products. Definite use non bio clothes wash and we stick to cotton and try to keep him well hydrated.

[Cakeweek]

What skin condition does your DC have?

He has eczema, currently on his face, hands and arms. He's had to switch from washing with Epimax to using proper soap because of covid-19 and we are really struggling to get on top of it.

What treatments have you tried in the past to manage this condition?

All manner of creams and lotions - Aveeno tends to be our go-to. He uses epimax to wash his hands with.

What’s the strangest home remedy you have tried, and did it work?

Porridge baths and yes.

Is there a certain fabric or style of clothing that your child feels most comfortable in?

Organic cotton - like Frugi tends to be softest, but that's no good for school uniform.

What would be your top tip to parents of children with the same condition who are struggling to find a solution?

Consider food allergies. When we eliminated DS's allergens his skin cleared up no end

[RedLentilYellowLentil]

DS2 used to have such a sore face, poor thing. We tried a lot of products as well as prescription creams and found the Pure Potions range the best. We also took cow's milk out of his diet. He grew out of his eczema eventually, though is still asthmatic. I would really recommend the Pure Potions range. Different things work for different people, of course, but it helped DS when nothing else worked at all and was a godsend really.

[Coconutbug]

What skin condition does your DC have?
Both of my children have atopic eczema

What treatments have you tried in the past to manage this condition?

Mainly using emollients, we have tried alot but Epaderm seems to be the best for both of their skin. For my youngest who is currently covered on his tummy/chest and both arms I put the cream on every time I change his nappy and again if I see him itching. This seems to be controlling it. My daughter is mainly under control so we just do a preventative once daily to ensure her skin is kept hydrated.

What’s the strangest home remedy you have tried, and did it work?

I tried coconut oil and it did not work!

Is there a certain fabric or style of clothing that your child feels most comfortable in?

Soft, comfy clothing!

What would be your top tip to parents of children with the same condition who are struggling to find a solution?


Personally I have found that even our worst flare ups get cleared up by continual use of emollients, applying every hour or two to begin with. Then gradually reduce - don't go cold turkey just because it looks as though it's gone away. We have to apply to certain areas of my daughter everyday otherwise it starts to come back! You can never use too much emoillient it won't harm them!

[TheSheepofWallSt]

DS and I both suffer from allergic contact dermatitis and eczema, triggered usually by washing powders or bath and body products.

We use hypoallergenic washing powders like Surcare and Ecover 0%, and I double rinse all of our clothes.

Interestingly in lockdown when we haven’t been able to get either Surcare or Ecover- ive been using Fairy - when double rinsing and drying clothes in the sun it’s been okay (bit itchy but no flare). tumble dried and radiator dried fairy washed clothes HAVE irritated us though 🤷🏼‍♀️ And DS has complained for the first time about seams in his trousers (guess they catch the powder)

Generally we manage flare ups using aveeno, child’s farm moisturiser, and cooler baths/no bath product.

[YesIDoLoveCrisps]

My little boy has dry skin. We have to bath him every other day instead of everyday which we could like. We don’t use bubbles and keep shampoo just on his head and then get him out the bath as soon as it’s washed off.
I am reading and watching this thread with interest! Looking for tips.

[IWouldBeSuperb]

My daughter has sensitive skin and is prone to dry eczema when it's irritated.

We add Oilatum to her bathwater and moisturise with La Roche-Posay after bath time and that mostly keeps it under control.

Child's Farm shampoo and suncream have been ok so far too.

[Hoggleludo]

My daughter has bad skin. She seems to have a lot of allergies. We've seen all sorts of specialist. I'm gonna order these!

[DameSquashalot]

What skin condition does your DC have?
Sensitive skin

What treatments have you tried in the past to manage this condition?
We avoid most perfumed products. Stick to products with very few additives. Bria Organics balm is amazing if we ever need a moisturiser.

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?

She loves leggings and tee shirts


What would be your top tip to parents of children with the same condition who are struggling to find a solution?

Avoid products like fabric softener.
Avoid perfumed products if you can.
We found that petroleum based products caused flare-ups, so we avoid them.

[Marg2k8]

E45 bath or oilatum are both good. Also avoid biological detergent.

[NeverTwerkNaked]

My children had terrible eczema as babies, we were given special clothing on prescription but this stuff looks good.

Their eczema improved a lot once we worked out what the triggers were (food allergies) but they do still get little flares. And they are very particular about what fabrics they will wear. Lots of emollient really helps along with eliminating allergens where possible.

[SusanWalker]

My daughter has eczema. We have used diprobase, epaderm ointment and hydrocortisone.

I find the epaderm ointment the best to keep the skin in good condition.

I haven't really used any home remedies but she does use nutragena on her face which sometimes flares up and finds that helpful.

She usually wears shorts pyjamas to stop her skin getting hot and itchy and I am try to buy her mostly cotton clothes, although now she's a teen she buys most things for herself.

I think the main thing is to boost her self esteem as she can be quite self conscious with it.

[GardenParties]

My GP told us to try rubbing a potato on my son's eczema! I'm afraid to say I didn't try it.
What worked for us was getting a trial pack of emollients from a dermatology consultant at the hospital. We could test them all and see which one suited his skin.

[starray]

I cut off the labels on the backs of T-shirts as they irritate my child's skin. I also try to use hypoallergenic PH balanced washing products for his bath. I find that Aveeno cream very soothing for his skin.
Fragrance free laundry detergent is a must.

[Karorev]

My child is 12 months and some day I am finding it rlly difficult

She cries non stop, if shes not eithe roaming around free or eating ..
I’m a single mom, her dad only visits so it’s not even a beak and one hr a week and have no help.
So I have to do alll my errands and chores w her (Groceriee laundry clean dishes)

Whenever I put her in the playpen to get her food, clean, anything it’s non stop crying .
Getting her in her car seat non stop crying,
I take a shower non stop crying
I do legit anyrbjnt non stop crting..

Had to fight her to change her poop diaper and ended up changing it with her standing up and trying to run away from me and screaming and now my back hurts rly bad


Idk waht to do anymore. Does anyone have tips bc I can’t listen to the constant yelling
I’m tired . I get 0 breaks. My day is either doing chores for her like dishes while she screams or watching her while she crawls around so she doesn’t get hurt
I have nothing left to give Idk wat to do anymore

[Lifesbetterwithwine]

My son had eczema when younger. We used gentle non bio washing detergent, non perfumed soap products, oilatum in the bath, emollient creams and loose cotton clothing.

[absea]

I have a DC with very dry skin/mild eczema, the best top I have is smother them with cream once asleep!

[schy28]

What skin condition does your DC have?
Both of my husband and my skin is dry. My baby has got dry skin too so we need to keep his skin moisturised all the time.

What treatments have you tried in the past to manage this condition?
Since he is born we are using same product ranges from same organic brand.. All their products have suited him so far.

What’s the strangest home remedy you have tried, and did it work?
My son is only five months old so we do not try any home remedies. May be I will do some remedies for hair once he is older.

Is there a certain fabric or style of clothing that your child feels most comfortable in?
We buy him 100% cotton cloth only and use fabric softener.. He is comfortable in those cotton cloth.

What would be your top tip to parents of children with the same condition who are struggling to find a solution?
I would say try to be sure of child’s skin condition first and apply appropriate product. We use scent and alcohol free product since his birth. We read all the information of ingredients to make sure that does not contain anything nasty for baby’s sensitive skin. And for any suggestions Doctors advice is something I would go for!

[buckley1983]

My son gets dry, itchy skin in hot weather - mostly on his back. It really bothers him, particularly at night. What we've found helpful is using cotton bedsheets & pyjamas & a fan blowing over him. This seems to soothe it.
We've stopped using bath foams & go for natural/child-friendly shampoo/body wash which does make a difference.
Creams we have applied (emollients, water-based creams & others) haven't helped & he finds the sensation more irritating.
We'll certainly give the base layer a try, the idea of a more skin-friendly fabric sits more comfortable with him & with us than applying something topically.

[fool11]

My DD has eczema since she was a baby..tried Aveeno, E45 and many others lotions, prescriptions ones too, didn't work. Then started to use Mustela stelatopia brand - balm, creams, basically everything from shampoo to shower gel to creams and it's works great. would highly recommend. Her skin gets itchy all the time but a bit of cream calms it down.

[Suzanne97]

What is the best treatment for cradle cap