Eczema Update & Homemade Baby Wash

The weather here has been very cold and extremely dry.

It's been almost a year since my original post about our battle with Calvin's eczema and with the weather wreaking havoc on everyone's skin, I figured it's the perfect time for an update.

For the most part, we've gotten his skin under control, but we can't just ignore it. Eczema is always waiting in the wings trying to come back.

The last two days we've been outside in the snow, playing and sledding so his cheeks are definitely a bit more red than usual, but are not too bad considering.

I took this picture this morning, no filter and untouched.

Please remember, I am not a doctor and these are not medical recommendations. This is just what works for us in our home.

Currently we're only bathing Calvin every other night in luke warm water (93°- 95°F).

If he's really flared, I will put a Tbls. or two of baking soda in his bath water.

I've been making his baby wash using this recipe:

1/3 C Dr. Bronner's Unscented Baby Mild Liquid Castile Soap

1/3 C Coconut Oil - Melted

1/3 C Filtered or Distilled Water

*A few drops of Lavender Essential Oil (optional)

Mix all ingredients and pour into an empty foaming soap dispenser.

Shake a little before each use as it tends to seperate.

 *If eczema is really flaring I recommend omitting the lavender.

To wash his hair I switch between using the homemade baby wash and the Exederm baby shampoo which we still have! It's lasted almost a year and we've had great results with it.

After bath time I lotion his body up with Curel Itch Defense Lotion.

I'm kind of a hippie at heart and would really like to find a more natural or homemade lotion to use for him, but I've tried EVERYTHING and nothing works as well as the Curel. 

When his face looks good I just slather him in coconut oil or Exederm Intensive Baby Moisturizer, Coconut oil is great but during this winter weather it's just not enough. When his face looks bad, I will use a prescription hydrocortisone balm. 

I try not to use this to often because it is a steroid, but it works wonders when we need it.

Before we had the prescription balm, we had success using Neosporin Eczema Essentials Hydrocortisone Anti-itch Cream, but honestly, the Rx is cheaper and will probably last until the kiddo is 20.

My last recommendation,  if you have a young baby, is to put mittens on them as much as possible.

They're cheap and they'll keep those razor sharp little baby nails from ripping up their skin and aggravating the rash and making it worse.

I hope this has been helpful.

If you have any questions or need me to clarify anything, please feel free to comment here or email me personally. I would be more than happy to hear from you. 

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