Hello,
My 18 month old son has got rough skin on his upper arms, extending into his lower arms somewhat, on both sides. I am suspecting that this is eczema. Of course I'm going to the doctor if nothing clears it up, but I think the usual treatment for eczema is steroid creams and that is not something I want to expose my toddler son to if it can be avoided!
Do you know of natural remedies for toddler eczema, safe for young skin, that really do work? I'd love to hear from anyone who has had similar experiences. It is really quite bad in that it itches, he scratches it, and sometimes it even starts bleeding.
Thank you
Concerned mom
Coconut oil helps a lot of people with eczema, and also has some sun protective benefits to boot! Salt and magnesium spray is another popular remedy for the kind of eczema where the skin has burst open and is bleeding or oozing plasma. Then, bathing with baking soda is very helpful to some.
Finally, you want to work on the problem from the inside out as well, with nutrient rich foods, cod liver oil, kefir, vitamin C in citrus juices, all that kind of thing. See the eczema as a system wide problem rather than something that is only on the skin.
Good luck!
Rosie
I know you are worried about steroids, and you have some reason to be, but you still need to check in with your child's pediatrician to get that skin rash that is most probably eczema diagnosed properly. You can't provide the right care unless you know what you are dealing with beyond a shadow of a doubt, can you?
You may want to know that doctors do prescribe steroid-free topical creams and ointments for eczema including pediatric eczema. This is something you can discuss with your pediatrician. Really, eczema is a serious matter and you want to have your pediatrician on your team in dealing with it.
Calendula oil will be great to work on your baby's skin by moisturizing and soothing it. Chamomile tea is another time tested remedy for any sort of inflamed skin.
I admire you for looking into this yourself rather than just getting a prescription that may not get to the bottom of this. Hopefully you will find something that works for your child.
It's interesting that when you look at the website of the National Eczema Association, they do acknowledge the potential benefits in certain alternative treatments - including coconut oil, which they say has proven antibacterial properties. Probiotics are also mentioned by them. So neither of these are just things that "hippies" are saying for no reason.
They also mention the potential in hypnotherapy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and acupuncture along with changing your diet. Vitamin D supplements are particularly mentioned and the OP may find that worth exploring.
Overall, no one treatment will work for every person but they all deserve to be investigated.
Rosie
OP here. I would like to say a big thank you for taking the time to respond to the post I made. There are lots of tips there.
Of course I try to keep my baby's skin hydrated as best as possible without having it MOIST as such. I just today read that bathing babies with eczema on a daily basis is fine as long as it is dried and then moisturized, so I will be doing that. I had honestly been avoiding bathing him.
Right now, I suspect because weather is warmer, the skin is cracking and sometimes bleeding and my poor boy just keeps on scratching, during his sleep and during the day. He knows I will try to stop him so he tries to hide it from me. He has scabs all over.
I will implement some of your suggestions immediately and if nothing gets better, you are right, it is time for the doctor.
Thanks again
OP, are you still reading? If you are, how's it going? Did the eczema get any better and if it did, did you manage by yourself or did you go to the doctor's?
I was just reading that 20 per cent of all infants and toddlers end up with eczema. That's an astonishing number, isn't it? I'm pretty sure that not all of them need steroids. In fact the most common suggested treatment for suspected eczema is bathing the skin regularly and then applying an emollient ointment while the skin is still wet. The last bit's important, because the moisture gets locked in the skin and the eczema rehydrates or something.
What is sea spray? Is that like salty water or something? If so I've heard this, that salt can dry the eczema out. That's an interesting idea but I suppose moisturizing it very well become super important after that.
Pickle