Health Advice for Women

Does your baby have scaly red patched? Odds are, your baby could have eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis. This condition regularly appears in children from two months old on up. Eczema, an itchy skin rash, can appear on their forehead, cheeks, and scalp. Eczema can also spread to baby’s arms, chest, legs or other body parts. Eczema varies in appearance depending on the type of eczema.

Most common symptoms include dry, scaly skin or it might be tiny red bumps that blister, ooze or appear infected if they are scratched. Babies are prone to scratching due to eczema’s extremely itchy nature so great care must be taken to prevent this. “Cradle cap” is another form of eczema or dermatitis that appears as white flaky skin on the scalp and possibly the ears of a baby.

Eczema is often inherited from parents. Parents who have had eczema, asthma or hay fever should monitor children closely for any signs of an eczema outbreak as there is an 80% chance their offspring will have eczema.

Eczema is not an allergic reaction but allergens can cause a flare-up. If a mother is breastfeeding, she must also monitor her own food consumption so as not to pass on allergens to a child suffering from eczema. Wool, soaps, shampoos, lotions and heat can also cause flare-ups of eczema in children.

The best eczema treatments I found for my daughter were the following:

1. Limit the number of baths each week. Yes, even water has chemicals that can aggravate her skin.
2. Throw out your old soaps, Dial and even Dove are made with petrochemicals that aggravate eczema. Instead use soaps that are unscented and made with natural ingredients. It’s easier to find these soaps online. I like Jason’s Natural Body Wash it’s fragrance free and keeps your skin most. I find the prices are really good at MotherNature.com for thousands of all-natural Health & Wellness products.
   
3. New clothes are loaded with chemicals, so make sure you wash your child’s clothes a few times before she wears them. Now here’s an important tip, most major brand laundry detergents like Tide and Cheer are made with petrochemicals. You want a natural unscented detergent that is easier on the skin like Bi-O-Kleen Laundry Liquid - Free & Clear.
   
4. Lastly, the best practice for eczema is to avoid putting things on their skin unless it’s a natural cream to stop the itching. But it’s hard to avoid using sunscreen at times. I really like the Alba Botanica brand, they make a great sunscreen that’s unscented and kind to the skin. It’s hard to find in local stores, but here’s a link to buy it online Alba Botanica Sunscreen SPF 18 - Fragrance Free, 4 oz