Eczema is a highly common skin condition that affects people of all ages and background, though it’s definitely a lot more common in infants than it is in adults. It manifests through dryness, redness, swellings, itchiness, flakiness, and other symptoms. For the sensitive skin of a baby, it’s pretty much a disastrous condition since it’s very easy for the ‘dry stage’ of the condition to develop into something much more unpleasant. That being aid, the very same sensitivity means that you need to be careful what kind of treatments you’re opting for when trying to treat it. Sometimes, the wrong kind of treatments can end up doing even worse. Luckily, you can treat early stages of it with home remedies for baby eczema such as the ones you will see below.
1. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is an abrasive ingredient with excellent nourishing and exfoliating properties. It will help you get rid of the affected layers of skin while simultaneously nourishing the new skin that will be left behind, ensuring to keep it soft and beautiful looking. This makes oatmeal one of the most reliable home remedies for baby eczema, as well as one of the most easily accessible.
Instructions:
- Fill your tub or any other baby-sized container with warm water.
- Next, grind 1/3 cup of oats until you get a fine powder.
- Add this powder to the warm water and thoroughly mix in until the water becomes a bit foggy in texture.
- Bathe your little one in this combination for 20 minutes, gently washing a little bit of the water over their skin.
- Repeat 1-2 times a day until you get the results that you’re looking for.
2. Coconut Oil
Coconut is truly a powerhouse for treating eczema in people of all ages. It’s a deeply antifungal, antiseptic, and antibacterial product that can help kill the bacteria causing these rashes on your skin. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory nature stemming from the presence of compounds such as lauric acid and vitamins E and K is going to help relieve itchiness and redness of the skin.
Instructions:
- Lightly warm up 1 teaspoon of coconut oil.
- Then, rub it between your hands and gently massage it into the skin of your baby, applying to the areas affected by the red and swollen patches of skin.
- Let the skin absorb as much of the oil as possible and then rinse off using lukewarm water.
- Repeat this process 2-3 times a day for the next few days until the symptoms have disappeared.
3. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is one of the most efficient home remedies for baby eczema due to its deep anti-inflammatory and cooling properties. Applying a bit of aloe vera gel to the sensitive patches of skin is going to help you with the discomfort of itchiness and mild pain. Moreover, it’s excellent for children and infants as well since it has a mild and relaxing nature that will go easy on the sensitive skin of the baby.
Instructions:
- Take 1 aloe vera leaf and then cut it in the middle, splitting it apart.
- Scoop out the gel in the middle of the leaf and then, using your clean fingers, gently rub it directly over the affected areas.
- Let the skin absorb the gel, which should take about 5-10 minutes.
- Then, remove any excess gel that the skin might not have absorbed using a clean paper towel or some water.
4. Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is an excellent alternative for those people that have tried the coconut oil method and haven’t seen exactly the most productive of results. Since jojoba and coconut are different in nature, it might just be that your infant’s skin responds better to the effects of jojoba, which contains fatty alcohols. Don’t worry, even though the word ‘alcohol’ is present, jojoba oil is actually not irritant at well and it’s perfectly safe for children usage.
Instructions:
- Add a few drops of jojoba oil to your clean hands or soak a cotton pad in the oil.
- Use whatever method you’ve chosen to spread the oil over the sensitive patches of skin.
- Allow for the skin to absorb the oil, which should last about 5-10 minutes.
- Lastly, remove any excess oil that might have remained on the skin using a paper towel or a cotton cloth.
- Repeat this as you see it – recommended frequency is 3 times a day until the problem dissipates.
5. Epsom Salt
Epsom salt is a powerful natural purifier with a high concentration of magnesium, a compound that you really need in order to deal with the symptoms of eczema. It’s also anti-inflammatory and antiseptic ingredient that can help with the irritation and itchiness associated with this condition and with the bacteria that’s causing this ruckus to begin with.
Instructions:
- Fill a tub with warm water and then mix in approximately 1-2 cups of Epsom salt.
- Stir thoroughly in order to get the salt to dissolve entirely in the mass of the water.
- Let your little one soak in this solution for 15-20 minutes in order for the healing properties to heal in and help with the eczema.
- Lastly, moisture the skin of your baby, seeing how Epsom salt doesn’t exactly help with the issue of the dryness and might only end up drying the skin worse otherwise.
- Repeat on a daily basis to get the results you’re looking for.
6. Indian Lilac
You may know it by the name of neem. Indian lilac is one of the greatest herbal home remedies for baby eczema and it’s surely something you should consider if you’re looking for efficient ways for treating this condition naturally. It’s an effective treatment thanks to the fact that neem is a natural antiseptic and antibiotic that will kill the pesky bacteria behind this issue and will provide relief to pain and itchiness.
Instructions:
- Fill a tub with warm water and then add about 5-6 drops of neem oil to the water.
- Let your little one soak in this solution for 15-20 minutes in order to feel the beneficial effects of the herb.
- Repeat this treatment daily until you’ve noticed satisfying improvements in your baby’s condition.
7. Chamomile
Chamomile is a gentle antiseptic agent that’s fantastic for using on the sensitive skin of an infant. It has cooling and soothing properties that will bring relief against itchiness, redness, swellings, and other symptoms of eczema. Moreover, it’s also a mild antibacterial agent that can destroy the eczema-causing bacteria in a gentle way.
Instructions:
- Add 1 teaspoon of dried chamomile leaves or flowers to 1 cup of boiling water.
- Let it all simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and then steep for another 5 minutes.
- Let this solution cool down completely and then soak a piece of cotton cloth in it.
- Apply directly to the sensitive patches of skin and keep on for 20 minutes.
- Repeat 2-3 times a day.
8. Sandalwood
Sandalwood is one of the most reliable home remedies for baby eczema and eczema in general. It’s a mild natural agent that will help your baby avoid any further skin irritations caused by the action of the treatments.
Instructions:
- Mix 1 teaspoon of sandalwood powder with just enough rosewater to form a thick paste.
- Apply this paste directly to your baby’s skin and let it sit for 15 minutes.
- Remove afterwards with generous amounts of water.
- Repeat 2-3 times a day.
9. Nutmeg
Nutmeg is more than just a spice that can make your cooking more interesting. It’s an effective treatment against eczema thanks to its ability to kill the bacteria causing this infection and provide relief against swellings and itchiness associated with the condition.
Instructions:
- Create a blend of 1 tablespoon of nutmeg with 1 teaspoon of olive oil, mixing until you get a paste.
- Apply this paste directly to the affected skin areas and let it sit for 10 minutes.
- Afterwards, remove with water and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Repeat daily for however long as you need.
10. Honey
Honey is a gentle antiseptic agent that’s going to help deal with the issue of eczema starting from the very cause of this condition. In order to provide some certain and gentle relief to your baby’s skin, consider using honey as a natural treatment that will help you get rid of the condition in a few days.
Instructions:
- Simply spread a thin layer of raw, organic honey on the skin of your baby.
- Let it sit for 10-15 minutes in order for the beneficial effects to kick in.
- Lastly, remove with lots of water.
- Do this 2-3 times a day until the problem fades away.
11. Cornstarch
Cornstarch can make one of the best home remedies for baby eczema when you mix it with an essential oil such as grapeseed oil. This is because cornstarch is going to provide the antiseptic prowess needed to destroy bacteria while the oil will offer the moisture that you need to avoid dryness of the skin.
Instructions:
- Gradually add some grapeseed oil to a bit of cornstarch until you get a paste that’s not too thick or too watery.
- Spread on your baby’s skin and keep it on for 15 minutes.
- Lastly, wash off with water.
- Repeat 2-3 times a day for about a week.
12. Cucumbers
Cucumbers have cooling properties that make them excellent home remedies for baby eczema, especially during the early stages of the condition.
Instructions:
- Cut a few slices of cucumber and then add them to a small bowl filled with water.
- Wait about 1-2 hours and then take out the cucumber slices.
- Soak a piece of cotton cloth in the cucumber water left behind and then apply it to the baby’s skin.
- Allow it to dry out naturally.
- Repeat several times throughout the day to get the best of results.
Conclusion
Needless to say, you need to be extra careful when you’re treating eczema in infants. Given the sensitive nature of their skin, it would be very easy for things to worsen. Luckily, home remedies for baby eczema we’ve recommended are reliable and gentle. If you don’t notice any improvements after a few days of the treatment, you’d do well to consult a doctor to make sure that there’s not a more serious underlying issue at play.
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