Eczema advice for the Winter; get your happy baby back!

1. Consider a humidifier during the winter months to stop the air in your home becoming too dry when you turn the heating up. Try placing a saucer of water near your radiators. Maybe even add a lovely natural oil to it, known to hydrate – like Rosehip or Lavender. 

2. Just because it is winter try not to use too hot water – this can actually dry out your babies’ skin more. Furthermore, perhaps wash them a bit less! After a bath make sure to dab their skin dry don’t rub. Always moisturise straight after! Salcura Bioskin Junior Daily Nourishing Spray is great for getting into the creases of their skin and getting dry patches when your baby is on the move!  

3. Keep your baby hydrated with water. Water will hydrate from the inside out and help with dry skin/eczema. 

4. Ensure your baby is getting the right nutrients by giving them a balanced diet. Foods that contain omega oils have lots of hydrating capabilities and a wide range of vitamins and minerals to nourish the skin. Think of Avocado, Cucumber, Spinach and Banana. 

Give your baby a sense of control 

5. If your baby can communicate, find out if their refusal to apply cream is because it stings or is too hot or cold.  Try a gentler product, such as Salcura Bioskin Junior Daily Nourishing Spray, and warm the cream in your hands or cool it in the fridge. 

6. Instead of telling your baby “Put your clothes on now” or “It’s time to put your cream on”, say “Do you want to put your socks or vest on first?” or “Would you like cream on your arm or leg first?”.  This leaves no question that the cream is going on but gives your child some control.

7. Decant the cream into smaller, sterilised containers that your child has decorated with stickers.  Allow them to choose which pot to use. Or name the cream after your child’s favourite cartoon or television character.

8. Remember, communication is a two-way street and only 7% is verbal – think about the tone of your voice and body language too.  If you’re tense, your baby will pick up on it.

Make your home eczema-safe

It’s likely that you have already made these changes, however here’s a quick check list:

9. Remove as much allergy and eczema aggravating dust in your home by damp dusting, using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter and washing soft toys weekly.

10. Use anti-allergy bedding & cotton sheets.

11. A cool mist humidifier in your child’s bedroom can counteract heat and dryness.

12. Use non-biological washing powder or liquid and rinse clothes well.

Everyday chemicals in the home may be triggering your baby’s flare ups – use eco-friendly cleaning products or make your own.

Out and about

You have some control over minimising triggers inside the home, but what about when your child is out in the big wide world?  Here are some common concerns and what to consider:

Dressing your baby during the winter months  

Dressing your child in natural, organic fabrics such as cotton, hemp and bamboo will keep them cool and dry.  Bamboo is also a natural antibacterial; an excellent choice if your little one’s skin is prone to infection. If it’s cold then try to add a wool jumper over the top of a cotton shirt. 

Eczema can flare up in the winter months so you need to nourish and moisturise their skin more. Do try and get outside though, studies show that children living in low sunlight areas are more likely to suffer with eczema and allergies, so get them outside to soak up some vitamin D just remember to wrap them up nice and warm. 

Car journeys

Sitting in a car seat for a long period of time can make your little one hot and sweaty, especially if they have their winter coat on! This is the perfect recipe for an eczema flare up.  Try dressing your child for the car journey and remove their coat and take regular breaks to cool down and re-hydrate.

Swimming

Chlorine in swimming pools can either trigger eczema, or in some cases make it better by removing bacteria from the skin. Try searching for an ozone filtered or salt water pool in your area to see if chlorine free pools work better for your child.

Top Tip 

Use a barrier system to protect against chlorine.  Cover your baby with a thick layer of cream and invest in an all-in-one suit.

After swimming, wash off the chlorine in the shower & moisturise well.  Keep your little one’s hands busy by rewarding them with their favourite snack and re-hydrate to replace fluids lost from heat and exertion.

Heal skin from inside out

Add the following foods to your baby’s diet to repair skin and calm the immune system.  If you’re breastfeeding, including these foods in your diet will help your baby too!

Brightly coloured fruit & vegetables – packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that work to repair damaged skin cells and build stronger, healthier cells.

Wholegrains – try alternating grains; quinoa porridge or buckwheat pancakes for breakfast, corn/millet pasta for lunch and brown rice for supper.  These gluten-free grains are excellent sources of skin-building B vitamins.

Oily fish – such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and trout are rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats that moisturise skin from the inside and can help combat itch.

Organic yoghurt – full of probiotics or ‘friendly bacteria’ that support digestive function and regulate the immune system.

Quercetin rich foods – this plant compound combats itching with its natural anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine effects.  Good sources include apples, red onions, red grapes, raspberries, cranberries & blueberries.

Water – if you struggle to get your kids to drink enough water, remember that water rich foods count too; include plenty of iceberg lettuce, cucumber, watermelon and tomatoes.

Eczema is a condition that can seriously affect your child’s quality of life and that of the rest of the family too.  Feelings of guilt, anger and frustration for parents are normal. It’s important to remember that you’re not alone! Make sure you have support from people who take your baby’s condition seriously.  Online forums can be a useful source of support for some parents. 

The good news is that by making these small changes, you can improve the health and happiness of the whole family.