Ever since my daughter was a baby she had stubborn eczema, especially on her face and hands. Her pediatrician told us it was common in babies that also had food allergies or intolerances. (She had a dairy and soy protein intolerance).
We later learned that seasonal allergies, food allergies, and eczema in children are all related conditions. Check out this article from WebMD that explains the science on this far better than I ever could! https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/eczema/treatment-16/eczema-allergies-link
Thankfully, by almost age 2 my daughter outgrew her dairy and soy intolerance. But the eczema… not so much.
For years she experienced crazy flare-ups, especially when she was sick or during allergy season. We tried everything her pediatrician suggested including oral allergy medicine and prescription creams. Not to mention all the weird lotions, soaps, and bath treatments.
At age 4 her stubborn eczema was still not well controlled. She even contracted a skin infection on her face because her skin was so dry and cracked. It was very painful for her and looked terrible. It required antibiotics and steroids to treat.
I couldn’t stand to see her suffer any longer. I was determined to try anything and everything until we found something that worked.
After 5 long weeks of waiting for an appointment, I was able to get her in to see a dermatologist.
She prescribed a new topical oil I had never heard of and suggested my daughter may have a zinc deficiency. She also recommended bleach baths.
We followed the doctor’s orders and added some other remedies I will describe later in this post.
But first…
What is Eczema and Why Do Kids Get It?
According to The National Eczema Association, eczema is a group of conditions that cause the skin to become dry, red, itchy and inflamed. https://nationaleczema.org/eczema/children/
If your child has stubborn eczema then you know all about those itchy red patches and the soreness and discomfort that come with them!
But you’re in good company. 13% of children under 18 in the U.S. have a common form of eczema known as atopic dermatitis.
The cause of this form of eczema in children is thought to be a combination of genetics and environmental triggers. These triggers over-stimulate the body’s immune system, causing the skin to flare up.
Common eczema triggers include pollen, dust, certain foods, mold, and animal dander.
Eczema is not contagious, and although there is no cure, it can be effectively treated and even prevented up to a point.
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Eczema Remedies That Worked For Us.
DermaSmoothe
DermaSmoothe is the topical oil my daughter’s dermatologist prescribed. I applied it to her skin with a cotton ball as directed.
I’m not sure why it took years for a doctor to prescribe this for my daughter. Possibly because it is most widely prescribed for scalp psoriasis. Though it’s active ingredients work on any type of skin inflammation.
It contains a corticosteroid, in addition to some pretty strong chemicals, so we used it sparingly from the get-go.
Despite only using as little as possible, we still observed a BIG improvement in her eczema. I wish it were all natural, but it sure beats constant flare-ups and skin infections!
Zinc
I was pretty surprised when the dermatologist told me she thought my daughter may have a zinc deficiency. She takes a high-quality multivitamin every day.
When we got home I checked the zinc content in my daughter’s vitamin and sure enough, it only had 20% of her daily value. She has always been a picky eater, and I admittedly rely on supplements and vitamins to meet any nutrient gaps. The multivitamin alone wasn’t getting the job done.
Had I known the symptoms of zinc deficiency, I may have tried a supplement sooner. Symptoms include skin issues (slow healing, lesions), loss of appetite, and a weakened immune system. Suddenly my daughter’s skin infection was making more sense.
I found these zinc lozenges on Amazon that seem to help all of these symptoms.
Local Honey
I had always been told that eating local honey could help ease allergies over time, but I was skeptical. The theory is that local honey will expose you to tiny amounts of the pollens you are allergic to, and over time your body becomes less sensitive to them. (This is the same principal as allergy shots.)
Honey can be hit or miss because unless you have a hive in your backyard, you may or may not be getting honey with the pollens that are causing you the most issues. (And weed, grass, and tree pollens are not likely to be present.)
Luckily, I found a great source of honey where we live in Charlotte, NC. And they deliver!
I can’t say with certainty that this has directly caused the improvement we’ve seen in our daughter’s skin, but I have noticed less sneezing and itching in general. This leads me to believe that it is working and her system is getting more used to the pollen in our area.
I’ve been adding a teaspoon of local honey to my daughter’s chocolate milk (usually 2 cups a day) for a few months now. She also likes to use honey for dipping with her chicken nuggets.
SkinSmart Antimicrobial Eczema Therapy
That day at the dermatologist’s office was not the first time I’d heard of bleach baths. But something about putting my child into water with bleach, no matter how diluted, just scared me.
This Antimicrobial spray is essentially a premixed bleach bath in a bottle. It removes microbes that cause flare-ups, which is what a bleach bath is supposed to accomplish.
I like the fact that I only have to apply this to affected areas and that it has a 5/5 star rating from the National Eczema Association.
During my daughter’s last flare up, I sprayed this onto a cotton ball and applied to her cheeks and other irritated areas. Once it air-dried completely, I applied the DermaSmoothe and moisturizer.
Neosporin Eczema Essentials Daily Moisturizing Cream
I thought we had tried every eczema lotion on the market until someone at my church recommended this. I couldn’t find it in stores, so I ordered it on Amazon.
The only active ingredient in this lotion is colloidal oatmeal, which we had already tried before, so I was skeptical. I was so surprised to see the difference in my daughter’s skin. I think the difference between this and other eczema lotions is that the Neosporin formula contains a lipid, humectant, emollient and botanical blend in addition to the colloidal oatmeal.
We were already treating her really irritated areas with what I’ve already mentioned, but I knew she needed a moisturizer to improve the rest of her skin and keep it as protected as possible.
We used this lotion head to toe and worked great. It’s creamy, not greasy, and keeps her skin hydrated and smooth all day. It is still part of her daily skin maintenance.
Other Things to Try for Stubborn Eczema:
Avoid known allergens including pollen, dust and pet dander.
Unless you want your kid to live in a bubble, this will be hard to do all the time. Invest in a good vacuum cleaner, especially if you have pets, and vacuum frequently. Upgrade the HVAC air filters in your home to ones that will catch microscopic allergens and other potential triggers. You may even want to consider an air purifier.
Change Your Child’s Diet
Some foods may be triggers for your child’s eczema. Common dietary triggers include dairy, soy, nuts, processed foods and more. You can try eliminating one thing at a time for 2-4 weeks and keep notes on how your child’s skin reacts.
I’ve found that a more realistic approach for us was to avoid her trigger foods as much as possible, but not eliminate them completely. Our daughter is already a picky eater, so we try to make sure she has a balanced diet with simply more of the food that is good for her and her skin and less of what isn’t.
Click the link below for more information about how to adjust your child’s diet in order to prevent stubborn eczema flare-ups.
https://blog.puriya.com/eczema-friendly-diet/
Use hypo-allergenic laundry detergent and natural household cleaners
Most laundry detergents contain sulfates, phosphates, dyes, and even formaldehyde. Which, it should come as no surprise, can irritate the skin. More and more brands are coming out with hypoallergenic and dye-free lines of detergents, so this is an easy swap to make.
Honestly, I got completely overwhelmed researching all the awful toxins in common household cleaners. It was pretty scary and anxiety-inducing. I since resolved to clean as much as possible using white vinegar.
Keep skin cool and sweat-free
Kids play hard. They are going to get hot and sweaty. Unfortunately, heat and sweat can irritate the skin. Hot, sweaty skin can be a breeding ground for bacteria, too.
You can still help prevent flare-ups by dressing your child in breathable clothing and keeping the thermostat at home on the low side during play time. If your child plays sports, insist on a shower ASAP after every practice or game.
Keep your child cool and sweat-free at night time by choosing breathable sheets and bedding and cotton pajamas.
Keep Working Toward Fewer Flare-Ups
Stubborn Eczema is no fun, for you or your child. And although I’m not a doctor, I hope this post has provided you with some options to discuss with your pediatrician.
With persistence and some trial and error, you can get your child’s skin healthy and prevent future flare-ups.
What works on your child’s stubborn eczema? Leave a comment below!
