When my second daughter was three months old, she developed constipation and eczema.Up until she was 3 years old I tried various creams in an attempt to resolve her red itchy skin, but nothing worked. I then decided to train in nutrition, when I could not find the answers to my daughters skin problem, as I was suspicious that maybe her diet was the problem. It turned out that it was, but there were also other things that made it worse.She is now 24.
Since then for the past 21 years I have been helping adults and children to heal their eczema and live normal lives.So I want to share with you some of my top eczema tips to help you manage your childs eczema
Watch chemicals
My top tip to help ease the itching with your child’s eczema is to limit the use of bath products and creams which may contain harsh chemicals such as Sodium Lauryl Sulphate(SLS). So check shampoos, body washes and creams for their chemical content. There is a really useful app called’Think Dirty'( strange I know), which will show you a rating from 1-8 depending on the chemical content. For example most of the baby Johnson’s products rate at a 8.
I recommend a couple of different products that clients love. Tropic body washes are gentle on the skin and score a zero on the chemical chart on the app! I also use Balmonds (formerly Pure Potions).
I also recommend that you limit baths and instead encourage your child to have showers as the chlorine from soaking in baths can make matters worse. This is why swimming is not a good idea while eczema is flared up. Alternatively you can buy shower head filters which filter chlorine out of the water.
Some materials can also irritate eczema-prone skin. Wool can feel itchy, whereas synthetic fabrics can trap heat. Cotton clothing and bedding is soft and breathable and is much better for sensitive babies. This is particularly important for night time when children can get hot and sweaty under the covers. Look for organic cotton for fewer chemicals.
Food
Food sensitivities are most often the cause of eczema in the first place. As eczema is a condition where toxins are in the blood, food allergies are the main culprits. This is why creams often make eczema worse as they are sometimes just adding to the toxic overload in the blood. Skin is a very absorbable organ and anything we apply to the skin is directly absorbed into the skin.
Everyone I have met with eczema have had different food sensitivities , however there are common food allergies which can make eczema flare up. Dairy is one of them. I also tell clients to be careful with some fruits like oranges and pineapple and limit or avoid tomatoes. Sugar also affects eczema as do food additives and colourings.
When eliminating foods from your child’s diet you need to be careful as some children will experience withdrawal symptoms and the eczema can get worse to start with. The same goes for changing creams. The body sometimes does not react well to changes. Plenty of vegetables and less fruit can make a difference to skin. You are advised to consult with a professional when making drastic changes to your childs diet if they have severe eczema.
Suncreams
Summer can be a difficult time for children with eczema. The heat, sweating and swimming can all make eczema worse. Most sunscreens make eczema worse as they contain chemicals. So if you do need a high SPF, try to use a mineral sunscreen. I love Tropic sunscreeens as again they are low in chemicals and gentle on the skin. But keeping cool with a water spray and not allowing the skin to be too exposed are probably wise in the directsunlight. However. sea water and fresh air are one of the best cures for eczema.
EFT/Tapping
One of my clients told me how she used to tap her skin instead of rubbing or scratching it and I have seen videos on how tapping helps relieve itching. It involves tapping on acupressure points on the skin. here is the video so have a look. Anything to help calm the itching is worth a try as it is the itching that makes eczema look and feel worse. No More Itching With EFT!
I have been helping clients to recover from eczema using some of these tips and through allergy testing. Here is Louise’story which shows you that there is an end to your childs or your suffering and that one day you can enjoy soft skin again. Remember eczema is not for life.
Several months later after her new diet and treatment
Louise age 24 with chronic lifelong eczema
Since I can remember I have always been an eczema sufferer. Weekly trips to the GP as a child, countless visits to dermatologists and ‘specialists’ as a youth.
Frustration, emotional distress and excruciating pain would be a daily occurrence. I would be prescribed medications to calm and sooth the irritation which would help for a few weeks or so and then I became so immune to the topical/oral medication (including STEROIDS!) it would no longer work. It came to a point where my GP had stated “you have been prescribed all of the available medications available”. I felt he had lost hope and it suddenly became real that I would have this for the rest of my life.
Then an idea that I hadn’t even considered was brought to my attention from a colleague. Nutritional changes would help my condition within. She had visited Bromsgrove Allergy and Nutrition Centre and recommended it. I gave it a shot, what did I have to lose. After Kinesiology testing I was found to hold many intolerances of which I had no idea about, ie. dairy, eggs, etc. After a full detox and following my new strict regime for a few months… WOW, the improvement was drastic. I cannot express how much my confidence was raised. I received so many compliments from my improvement. It has been over three years now without a trace of eczema. I consider myself CURED.
