How Can I Treat Eczema Naturally?

'How Can I Treat Eczema Naturally?' is one of the most common questions I get asked here at TSC. Often it's an exasperated parent that has exhausted the knowledge of the NHS and their child is no better than when they started. Now, I would never advise anyone to go against a Doctor or prescription, so these anecdotal tips are all things that work perfectly well alongside conventional medicine.

First- eliminate unnecessary chemicals from your child's skincare and bathing routine. This may sound obvious to some, but does your 3 year old really need chemically packed commercial shampoo's, conditioners and bubble baths? The level of SLS in some products is on a par with washing up liquid, and will do nothing positive for anyone's skin. If you really must use a bath additive, seek out something with far gentler ingredients. Avoid SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate), SLES (Sodum Laureth Sulphate) and both Cocamide DEA and Cocamide MEA all of which are surfactants (SURFace ACTiveAgeNTS- clever ;) ). Also Monopropylene Glycols and Parabens used as preservatives are harsh on the skin. Good and gentle alternatives are Cocamidoproyl Betaine, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate (sounds the same as SLS huh? This is actually derived from coconuts and is incredibly gentle), Disodium Lauryl Sulfoccinate. There are many gentle alternatives to regular soaps, look for an SLS-Free alternative!

Second- find an excellent moisturiser that doesn't contain Mineral Oils. Mineral oils-AKA Paraffin oil- is a by-product of the petroleum industry, it is made from Crude Oil and it incredibly cheap to buy. Cheaper than disposing of it even. This is, of course, a finite resource: when it's gone, it's gone. Many people have reported to me and others in the cosmetics industry that Mineral Oil is marvellous in the short term for moisturising, but after a while it simply stops working. I have never heard this about natural oils and butters such as Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Coconut oil, Sweet Almond Oil and Vitamin E oil, to name a few. From my own personal experience I can report much better results from using Shea Butter on my childrens skin than mineral oil-based creams and emollients. Try it- smooth on some regular Olive Oil after a bath and see how much nicer your skin feels in the morning. Best of all, natural plant-based oils wash out of fabrics easily. Mineral oil takes a lot of work and a LOT of chemicals to remove!

Third- Keep an eye on foods and flare-ups. Sometimes a food will cause a flare up. Now, this isn't always the case but it really can be as simple as that, especially if you are mystified by the cause. Eczema can be part of the body's response to a sensitivity. I'm not talking food allergies, these are something else entirely and you will KNOW when your child is allergic; it's an immuno-response and while Eczema can also be a result of a food allergy, you'll see the allergy before you see the eczema!

We at The Soapy Cauldron specialise in sensitive skin care with the emphasis on bringing fun back to boring bath times. Why not give us a call on 01273 416479 or visit our website at www.thesoapycauldron.co.uk for more information, advice, or a good old nosey.

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