The first line of defense for eczema is to keep skin moisturized. When skin is damaged (as it is with eczema), there are gaps in the skin lipids in your skin's barrier. In layman's terms, there are gaps in your fence. It can't hold your skin's moisture in properly, nor fend off irritants well. Skin also lose the skin nutrients it needs to be healthy. Here are solutions I've tried to prevent or soothe eczema flares.
Bebebalm. It's the special forces of skin rescue. It restores the skin lipids in skin's barrier, giving long lasting protection. It quickly absorbs and goes deep down to naturally nourish skin with much-needed skin nutrients and antioxidants. Then it locks in moisture and throw away the key. Skin gets healthy again in no time. And healthy skin heals itself better.
Bebebugs. It slays itch like a gladiator. If eczema is particularly itchy, this is a great ally. If eczema is both extremely dry and itchy, try layering Bebebugs then Bebebalm. Do remember that these are awesome moisturizers, they don't contain medicine nor replace medical treatment. If eczema is severe, see a doctor.
Avoid Scratching. This is a sacred rule. Scratching only makes it more itchy; worse, it may cause infections and complicate things. Try telling that to a baby though, you'd have better luck in winning a Nobel Peace Prize. My baby's developed a bad habit of scratching his face even when there's no more eczema. His cheeks will go angry red again, not giving his face a chance to heal. This made me resort to....
Cut and file fingernails. If only I can tie my baby to his crib (kidding!) His talons are so sharp and they grow so fast. When he claws me, even my skin gets itchy. So imagine how much more damage it does to his sensitive onion skin. I'd cut his fingernails every other day and file them to make sure there are no sharp edges. The best time to do this is when the baby's asleep or breastfeeding, so he's more behaved. Motherhood has taught me patience.
Mittens and Socks. Covering his hands is one of the best solutions. Get mittens with string because these fall off less. Still, my baby quickly learned how to pull them off (darn smart babies). Enter frame.... Socks! They are snug and stretchy, and stays on longer especially during night time. So you don't need to keep getting up to replace tossed mittens. Mom 1, Eczema 0.
Food Allergies. Eczema is usually triggered by cow's milk, eggs, nuts, wheat, crustaceans & shellfish, heaty foods such as mango, strawberries, & pineapple, too much fried food. If you're breastfeeding and your baby's got the big bad E, then it's best to avoid these too.
Switch to Hypoallergenic Infant Formula. If you're using powdered hypoallergenic infant formula and baby still gets rashes, try liquid infant formula. The manufacturing process of liquid is much more sterile, meaning it doesn't come in contact with trace elements or metals in the air or in the factory, that some babies may be sensitive.
Sunlight. Have some healthy sun between 8-10 am and 2-4pm. It helps your body produce the right amounts of Vitamin D, and promotes skin healing.
Clothing. wear natural fibers such as cotton. Avoid synthetic fibers. Babies with eczema love to rub their itchy faces on yoru shirt. So make sure you wear soft, non-itch aggravating fabrics too. My baby kept rubbing his face on my lace top and the skin on the tip of his nose peeled off. Lesson learned.
Plaster. My doctor husband insisted that our baby's rash is caused more by his nasty habit of scratching, rather than by eczema. Scratching never gave skin a chance to heal. At one point, we woke up to a bed full of dried, caked up blood. Our baby greeted us with a wide grin and cheeks covered in blood. It's straight out of a horror movie, cute version. In my desperation, I agreed to my husband's radical suggestion to put medical plaster on the affected area. To protect the skin from his Wolverine scratchy fingers. We used Leukoplast plaster, that's the only one that sticks. The verdict.... his cheeks did heal by nightfall!
This is radical, but it worked! To peel off the plaster painlessly, we gently put Bebebalm on a cotton bud and gently rubbed it little by little on the edges of the medical plaster. This solution worked for a few weeks. Until our baby learned how to peel off the plaster.
Zyrtec. If all else fails, Zyrtec is our BFF. This is medicine and not a natural remedy. When my baby has too much rash all over his body, my doctor husband prefers to give antihistamine drops. Instead of exposing the baby to steroids on a large area of his skin.
This blog is not meant to replace medical advice. It's best to consult with your doctor.
sources Dr. Jesusa Barcelona-Tan & http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/14417.php
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