Oh the soothing, relieving feel of a scratch. Scratching calms the nerves firing on our skin but can lead to infections. This is especially true for babies with developing immune systems who suffer from eczema. In this case do you go the traditional route and use prescription drugs or do you use natural solutions?

As a mother of a child with eczema, I grappled with this question which resulted in me using both methods but found that the prescription medications temporarily relieved the problem. Another one of my concerns was the amount of chemicals being absorbed once applied. I became extremely mindful about what to use.

I read labels and researched ingredients which led me to become concerned about long-term side effects of which included thinning of the skin. My search was for solutions that would heal his skin instead of covering up the condition as many prescription medications do. I chose to go the natural route.

So, I began to wean him off of prescribed ointments and creams and started trying all-natural eczema treatment. Here are some treatments that were tested:

Homemade Shea Butter Lotion

Shea butter works terrific as a skin moisturizer when combined with aloe vera gel; it deeply conditions and heals the skin. If you are not too keen to the smell of shea butter (which has a strong nutty aroma) then use a few drops of essential oil like lavender. Lavender helps to mask the smell of the shea butter and has antiseptic properties.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is also a great moisturizer that can be applied nearly wet to damp skin immediately after bath time. It not only seals in the moisture but also has anti-fungal properties which helps prevent skin infections.

Epsom Salt

I have to say that Epsom salt is just awesome. It has become our staple bath time product and is also great for removing toxins while bathing. Epsom salt softens the bath water and the skin. When Epsom salt was not used, the scratching started again.

Aloe Vera Water

When my baby’s eczema was at its worse, I bathed him in aloe vera water. I took a hit to my wallet but it was a miracle skin soother. We all were able to get a restful night sleep after using this water and his inflamed patches healed after 3 days.

I hope that you have found these eczema solutions helpful. Make sure you test any new products/recipes by applying it to a small area on your child’s skin before applying it full on to his or her body. Remember to stay moisturized and enjoy the journey!