BABY ECZEMA
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
One of the hardest things in the world is to watch your baby suffer. What is even worse is when you feel helpless and are unable to do anything about it.
Eczema in babies is not life threatening but it is painful and to certain extent, life altering for parents. However, there is good news. Baby eczema is not only manageable, it is treatable and even reversible. In order to overcome it, you need to understand the condition, eliminate its causes, and take a wholesome approach towards treating it.
In this article, I will try to equip you with all you will need to provide relief to your baby and heal his eczema. Follow this wholesome approach and say good-bye to eczema forever.
WHAT IS ECZEMA?
Eczema is an increasingly common condition among children, especially in the developed world. It is also known as atopic eczema or atopic dermatitis. It results in dry, itchy, red, bumpy, scaly, and cracked skin, which can sometimes ooze fluid and bleed. In infants, it usually first appears on the face, chest and outside of the arms, and as they grow, it moves to the flex or surfaces of the body such as inside of the arms and behind the knees.
Eczema means that the skin’s barrier is not working as well as it should and that makes it drier. This kind of skin is more susceptible to infections and allergic reactions.
WHAT CAUSES ECZEMA?
If you wonder ‘why my child’? There is no clear-cut answer to this. Sometimes one child might have eczema while the rest of his siblings do not. The evidence suggests that people are genetically predisposed to have this condition. However, this doesn’t mean that they must and will develop it. There are lots of factors which trigger this genetically predisposed person, and in this case a child, to develop eczema.
Some of these causes include:
- Genes
As I mentioned earlier, a person is genetically predisposed to developing eczema. These people are also predisposed to developing conditions like asthma and hay-fever. If you or your baby has one of these conditions, it is a red-flag for early intervention or you may develop the entire combo.
Mutated genes affect the production to filaggrin, a protein that protects the corneal skin layer. However, as I said before, just because a person is genetically predisposed doesn’t mean they WILL develop it. Neither does it mean that it can’t be cured and healed.
- Low Sebum Production
Having eczema means that the skin’s barrier doesn’t work as well as it should, which makes it drier. His skin will be more prone to infections and allergens can enter the skin more easily, which can make the condition worse.
The skin dries quickly due to insufficient production of natural oils. Genetic factors, poor immunity, environment, and excessive use of moisturizers can all affect the production of natural oils of the body.
- Weak Immune System
Low immune system can’t fight or ward off yeast, bacteria, toxins and other environmental and biological invaders. Babie’s immune systems can get affected by the following:
- Vaccines (specifically the preservatives used in the vaccines)
- Nutrient deficiencies (sometimes in the mother if they are breastfeeding or have not had healthy, well-balanced diet during pregnancy)
- Medications, especially antibiotics
- Untreated infections
- Autoimmune disorders
- Weak intestinal function
- Allergies and Food Intolerance
Allergies trigger the release of antibodies and affect the immune response. Some foods, chemical exposure, harsh toxins, perfumes, cleaning agents, carpets, pets, pollen, dust, fabrics, soaps and shampoos can cause allergies.
It is best to use hypo-allergenic products around children with eczema as well as use all natural products.
- Toxicity
Smoking, pollution, and chemical cleaning agents leave traces of toxins in the environment which the body absorbs. Overtime this toxin overload manifests as different dis-eases including eczema. Excessive use of antibiotics can also cause toxicity in the body, as well as have devastating effect on the immune system.
- Climate
Climate is in part responsible for eczema, especially dry, cold areas.
- Unhealthy Diet
Unhealthy diet consisting of fast food or processed food can also cause eczema. You are probably wondering how a baby can have unhealthy diet, when it is still only on milk. You have to think where the baby received its initial diet from! If the mother was on unhealthy diet, then the baby has already been affected by it, though it hasn’t started eating yet.
- Formula
Breast milk is the most perfect milk for the baby. It protects the baby from allergies. Formula-fed babies are more prone to developing eczema. Now, how about mothers who can’t produce enough milk, or simply can’t breast feed their child? You should try changing the formula until you find something that is most suitable for your child. I would highly recommend giving goat-milk a fair chance. Goat’s milk is the closest to human milk in its components and also the easiest on the human digestive system. Make sure to consult your pediatrician before making any changes.
- Vaccines
Even though I mentioned vaccines before, the topic deserves some detailed explanation. The number of eczema sufferers has multiplied after the number of vaccines given to young children increased. However, there is no scientific research backing this observation. Scientists are working on specific research to find a possible direct correlation.
Many parents have noticed that their babies developed eczema after they were given vaccines, especially when they were given successive vaccines in a short duration of time. We will not go into vaccine vs. anti-vex debate here. What I recommend is you study each vaccine well, find a natural alternative such as a homeopathic vaccine when possible, and space out the vaccinations so your baby’s system is not overloaded.
It is worth mentioning that more than vaccines, it is the chemical preservatives used in the vaccines which are to be blamed for the devastating effects on the little bodies.
HOW TO TREAT YOUR BABY’S ECZEMA
Just like any other condition, I recommend a wholesome approach. The problem lies deep in the core and the treatment should also start from the core. Otherwise, it will never work. If you cure the symptoms without curing the cause, you will suppress the symptoms for a while and they will return again. You need to acknowledge your baby as a wholesome individual and have to treat it as such.
Many parents are reluctant to give their children topical steroids which are often prescribed in such cases. This is a legitimate concern since you don’t want to load their little bodies with more chemicals.
There is good news. You don’t have to use them. There are some wonderful natural methods available which can heal as well as reverse the problem. And this is my ultimate goal with all my clients. How to reset the body so it never has to deal with the condition again.
Below I will provide some simple methods. Do not worry! If you follow them consistently, you absolutely will notice a significant difference. You must give it at least a month before you start seeing a significant change because before the body can heal itself, it has to remove the harmful toxins that have burdened it.
These are some of the things you can do to provide immediate relief to the baby suffering from inflamed skin:
- Cold Compression
For immediate relief from itching, inflamed and irritated skin, take a soft wash cloth and dip it into ice-cold water. Squeeze out all the excess water and place the cloth on the eczema rashes. This will sooth the skin and provide immediate relief.
- Herbal Treatments
- Sandalwood & Camphor
Take one teaspoon each of sandalwood paste and camphor powder and mix it well. Then apply it on the scaly patches in thick layers. Leave on for 30 minutes before gently washing it with warm water. - Margosa Leaves (Neem) & Turmeric
Neem or Margosa leaves are amazing in fighting skin ailments including eczema and psoriasis. Crush a handful of fresh (or dried) neem leaves and add 1 tablespoon of turmeric powder. Mix them well and apply on the affected area for 30 minutes. Wash gently with warm water. - Aloe Vera Gel
Take fresh aloe Vera gel and gently apply on the affected area. Leave it for 30 minutes and then wash gently with warm water.
- Sandalwood & Camphor
- Oatmeal Baths
There are colloidal oatmeal baths available. They are extremely soothing and nourishing for children with eczema. The good news is you don’t have to buy those expensive packs from the pharmacy. You can make yours at home. Take a cup of oatmeal and grind it in a food processor until it is a fine powder. Add a few tablespoons of that oatmeal powder in a bath of lukewarm water and let the baby soak in it for 10 to 15 minutes daily. Make sure you remove the baby from the bath before the water cools.
Remember to always pat dry the skin and never to rub it with the towel.
- Baking Soda Baths
Soak a quarter cup of baking soda to luke warm water in baby tub, and let the baby soak for 5 to 10 minutes. This will help reduce flare ups. Make sure to moisturize the baby well as soon as you remove them from the baking soda bath as it tends to dry the skin.
- Castor Oil & Flaxseed Oil
Apply castor oil or flaxseed oil to the blisters, lesions and inflamed skin. These oils are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids and help soothe the irritated skin.
- Do Not Add, Subtract
It is very much ingrained in Western Medical psyche to prescribe a medicine for any condition. Western doctors always add, when the right thing to do is to subtract. Eczema is triggered by allergens and inflammatory agents both in the diet and environment. If you remove those agents, you remove the trigger, and thus the cause of the eczema!
You must find those triggers!
If your baby is not eating yet but is on breastmilk, then you should try eliminating some of the foods from your diet as it might be affecting your baby.
These are some of the common dietary and environmental triggers. You need to eliminate these foods for at least a month in order to notice a substantial difference.
- Grains—wheat, corn, rice, quinoa are all grains. These can inflame our gut and upset the immune system. Removing them from people’s diet has shown marked improvement in the condition of their eczema.
- Dairy—all dairy except ghee and butter should be avoided. They can cause inflammation in the body. If you are concerned about calcium and magnesium deficiency in your or your child’s diet, you can increase non-dairy calcium-rich foods and also try nut milks.
- Eggs—even though it is not so common but eggs have also aggravated eczema, especially egg whites. You may want to eliminate egg whites or whole eggs from your diet to see if this helps.
- Nightshade plants can also trigger eczema, or inflammation in general, in the body. These include tomatoes, white potatoes, peppers, tomatillos, and eggplant. Even though they are nutritious, they tend to cause inflammation in the body and should be avoided by eczema sufferers.
It is important to note that this is by no means an exhaustive list containing ALL the triggers. These are the most common ones. You may want to do a proper elimination diet under the guidance of a Naturopath or a Dietician, or get an allergy test done for your child to get a more detailed list of all possible triggers. Especially if eliminating these triggers didn’t help the condition.
- Replace Chemicals with Naturals
The most harmful things to the body are those you cannot see. Our environment is over-saturated with chemicals and toxins. This includes smoke, pollution, fabrics, furnishings, cleaning agents, detergent, and even soaps and shampoos. While most of us can handle these toxins in our surrounding, babies with eczema cannot. They need special consideration. And hey, why not remove these toxins from the environment for the benefit of the entire family!
It’s really not that difficult. You just need to be aware until it becomes a part of your lifestyle DNA. When you buy clothes, choose all natural fibers such as cotton, wool, and silk as opposed to synthetic fibers. Use hypoallergenic, chemical free cleaners (or make your own as I do); use gentle detergents to wash clothes; choose to have a wood or marble floor as opposed to linoleum; choose a hypoallergenic natural fiber carpet or rug; make sure your sofas and curtains are also made of safe material. These small adjustments, though difficult in the beginning, become second nature after just a few months.
- Cleanliness
I can’t stress this point enough. You must bathe the baby daily and change the outfits as many times as needed. If the baby sweats, try to wash her, or at the least wipe her with a wet wash cloth and change the clothes as soon as possible. This will prevent the sweat from staying on the skin and causing irritation. Some parents get nervous that the baby might catch cold and avoid daily baths during the Winter. It is more harmful than beneficial, especially for babies with eczema.
Along with their bodies, you need to be very vigilant about keeping their surroundings clean. This includes their bedsheets, pillow case, play pen, rug or sheet they play on etc.
Make sure to use all natural or herbal soaps. There is a growing market for natural products all over the world and all natural soaps and shampoos are very easy to find. You just need to look in the right place.
- Moisturize
Human body needs to be well moisturized, not with water, but with healthy oils. Some of the best oils to use for eczema are cold-pressed coconut oil, and castor oil. You can moisturize the entire body with coconut oil and apply castor oil only on lesions and affected areas.
Another great oil to use is flaxseed oil. It is rich in omega 3 fatty acids which help health the skin and remove inflammation and redness.
- Supplementation
What seems to help many babies and adults suffering from eczema is Vitamin D3 supplementation. Depending on the need, a dosage between 2,000 and 10,000 IU daily makes a significant difference. Vitamin D3 is available over the counter, however, it should be given to young children under consultation of their pediatricians.
- Water
Increase water intake for yourself and your baby. A well-hydrated body results in well-hydrated skin, which is what eczema sufferers need.
- Strengthen the Immune System
A baby can either be born with an immune disorder, or can be affected by the mother who has immune disorder herself, or lacks a wholesome diet. You have to get to the root of the problem and try to reverse it.
You can do that by adding foods to your diet which increase and boost the immune system such as fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, protein, supplements etc.
Meanwhile, you have to be watchful of every new food you introduce to your body while nursing your child. Introduce only one new food item each week and watch for any reaction. If it triggers inflammation or flare ups in your baby, immediately stop consuming that food item. Some of the most common triggers are chocolate, strawberry, mango, peanut butter, dairy, some nuts, and most processed foods.
Below are things you can do to help heal and reverse your baby’s eczema, and prevent it from recurring:
Most often, people incorporate one or two elements and miss the rest, whereas the trick to success lies in a wholesome approach. That is why it is always best to work with a professional like a pediatrician or a Naturopath to make sure you remain well-grounded and don’t overlook anything unless you have it all under control.
Allah SWT has blessed each region with abundant blessings. There are different kinds of foods, fruits, vegetables and herbs in every region that can heal diseases. If I provide a method or ingredients that are not available in your region, know that there are alternatives and substitutes available which will give you the same result. All you have to do is do some basic research to find out, and consult a professional Natural Health Care Provider.
Now you have all you need to take care of your baby’s eczema. There is absolutely no need to panic! It is a 100% guaranteed, fool-proof approach. And it is 100% natural. If you look carefully, these steps might seem a lot, but they are easy to follow. The key is to study your child and his eczema triggers, and then remain consistent on what works. Overtime, you can not only heal your baby, you can actually reverse his condition. Remember, you have got this!