Natural Treatment of Baby Eczema – the Answer? Part ii

Continued from the previous post…

A healthier way to care for infant skin Babies’ skin doesn’t get very dirty for the first few weeks of life, so generally the less it’s interfered with, the healthier it will be. Adding a half-teaspoon of lemon juice–to reduce the water’s pH and add skin-friendly ascorbic acid–and a teaspoon of sunflower or safflower oil to the bathwater will keep baby clean without harming skin. If a moisturizer is needed, use a fragrance free baby oil containing sunflower or safflower oil, which are excellent moisturizers and have the added benefit of helping to prevent bacterial skin infections.

If your baby’s skin does become irritated, bathing with Epsom salts or Dead Sea salts is a safe and clinically proven way to soothe irritated skin. (Epsom salts are not salt at all, but magnesium sulfate, a natural mineral effective for soothing inflamed skin. Dead Sea salts are evaporated mineral salts from the Dead Sea in Israel.)

Some magnesium in an Epsom salts bath is absorbed through the skin and is a safe way to supplement this important mineral, while Dead Sea salts provide a whole range of vitamins and minerals essential for healthy skin, including magnesium, zinc, potassium, copper, and B vitamins. A teaspoon of bath salts is plenty for an infant bath.

For older kids and for gentle cleansing when soap is required, try a natural bar soap or highly diluted castile soap, like Dr. Bronner’s.

Nutrition and healthy infant skin

Nutritional factors affect how a baby’s skin develops, too. Deficiencies of zinc or magnesium are fairly common and cause symptoms which are indistinguishable from other types of eczema. A deficiency of vitamin B6 may result in seborrheic dermatitis, or cradle cap.

Baby eczema may be a sign of zinc or magnesium deficiency

When a breast-fed baby develops eczema, the mother’s diet is often suspected as the cause. However, the eczema may have nothing to do with food allergy. Breast milk is often low in zinc, and a sign of zinc deficiency is dry, irritated skin. Recent studies suggest that zinc deficiency may be much more common than previously suspected. Low levels of magnesium may also cause eczema-like symptoms by raising the level of histamine in the blood and making the body more sensitive to allergens.

A simple blood test can identify a zinc or magnesium deficiency, and supplementing with the missing mineral may solve the problem. A special kind of zinc can also be applied as a topical cream for absorption through the skin. Caregivers should talk to their pediatrician about correct dosing before giving a baby a vitamin supplement.

Formula-fed babies may also be deficient in vitamins or in essential fatty acids (EFAs)-fats which are essential to healthy development of the brain, nervous system and skin. Some babies may not be able to utilize the vitamins and fats in baby formula, or the formula itself may not provide enough of them. A doctor or knowledgeable nutritionist can help caregivers choose a more appropriate formula or supplement with the necessary vitamins and essential fatty acids-especially zinc, magnesium, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a type of EFA.

Food allergies and eczema

About 30% of infants and children with eczema test do positive for food allergies. A baby or child has a much greater chance of developing food allergies if either of the parents have allergies themselves. The most common allergens include cow’s milk, soy, egg, wheat, peanuts and shellfish. In breastfed babies, allergens from foods may pass directly to the child through breast milk. Avoiding these foods while breastfeeding may keep the child from developing eczema or other allergic reactions. The La Leche League website has an excellent page on allergies and breastfeeding.

In formula-fed babies, changing the formula may eliminate the problem. Special, easy-to-digest hydrolyzed formulas (formulas where the proteins are partially broken down) are often recommended for formula-fed babies with food allergies. Adding probiotics or prebiotics–beneficial bacteria that live in the gut and help digest food–to infant diets helps to reduce or prevent both food allergies and other illnesses and has been shown to help relieve eczema, too.

Breastfeeding longer, introducing solid foods late (after 6 months), introducing new foods one at a time, and waiting to introduce allergenic foods until after the baby is about a year old help reduce the risk of allergic reactions. Most babies outgrow early allergies to milk and eggs, although peanut allergy is more likely to persist to adulthood. However, children with food allergies are more likely to develop asthma or other atopic diseases when they grow older. Caregivers should talk to their pediatrician if they suspect a food allergy. A food elimination diet should only be utilized under a doctor’s supervision, to limit the risk of nutrient deficiency.

Steroid creams and ointments commonly prescribed for eczema can cause adrenal damage in infants and children

Steroid creams and ointments are the most commonly prescribed treatment for eczema, but can have dangerous side effects, especially for infants. Steroids are easily absorbed through the skin, and children can absorb a high percentage of the drugs because their skin is thin and they have more skin in relation to their body size. Even short courses of treatment with steroids can cause damage to the adrenal glands, which regulate the body’s hormones.

Steroids work by interfering with the chemicals the body uses to signal inflammation. They turn off the inflammation response and cause tiny blood vessels called capillaries to constrict, reducing redness and swelling. Topical steroids also suppress the body’s immune system and can lead to an increased susceptibility to fungal or bacterial infections of the skin.

Before using a steroid medicine, caregivers should work with a pediatrician to see if the baby’s skin condition is caused by a nutritional deficiency, a food allergy, or irritation from soaps or moisturizers. Treating the root cause, rather than the symptom, of eczema will start a baby on the road to a lifetime of healthy skin.

Baby Body Butter – The Body Shop ‘Buriti Baby’ Makes Big Splash at Bathtime

The Body Shop is taking skin care to new heights with the launch of a new Baby care range. Featuring oil from the Amazonian Buriti (pronounced “boo-ree-chee”) tree, the Buriti Baby Care Collection is perfect for new moms, moms to be, and even adults with sensitive skin.

The Pediatrician approved formula is recommended for infants age 3 months and older, and features no added preservatives, making it perfect for customers with sensitive skin. When used as recommended, the skin smoothing body butter will provide hours of moisturization thanks to the community trade shea butter and aloe.

With more moms getting picky about what they apply to baby’s skin, you’ll be pleased to know there are no parabens of any kind in the Buriti Collection. The range is exclusively available from consultants with The Body Shop at Home through Holiday, 2008. Five products comprise the body care collection with four additional accessories to augment the value of the regime.

Chocked full of essential fatty acids (EFA’s), the Buriti Baby body wash, shampoo and body lotion provide lasting and gentle protection for baby’s tender skin. For extra moisturization, the Buriti Baby body butter is a skin smoothing treat. If mom wants to spend some quality bonding time with baby, the no-mess, near-dripless massage gel is perfect for applying while holding your bundle of joy in a close “back rub” position. You can even pour it one-handed!

With The Body Shop touting “Nature’s Way to Beautiful” as their new mantra for a greener way of living, you’d expect the company to be screaming from the rooftops about this new powerhouse product collection. Instead, they’ve opted to test market the products exclusively through their “At Home” sales channel in an effort to generate grass roots momentum for the holiday season. But whatever their approach, products like The new Buriti Baby collection are a powerful entry into the more conscious baby care market. Featuring “natural ingredients, bursting with effectiveness” sourced with a commitment to social and ecological responsibility. It’s no wonder The Body Shop has been the number one “green” cosmetics brand for decades.

Mom’s Skincare Baby Body Lotion Made with Love

Baby Body Lotion by Mom’s Skincare

Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Diaper Ointment

How it Works

This soothing diaper ointment is rich with vitamins A and E to help nourish baby’s skin, while chamomile moisturizes and soothes. Sweet almond oil and beeswax, natural barriers, seal moisture into your baby’s most sensitive skin. Phthalate- and paraben-free.

How to Use It: Cleanse your baby’s skin and pat dry before applying ointment to diapered area.

Ingredients: Prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, zinc oxide, beeswax, lavandula hybrida (lavandin) oil, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, tocopherol, lavendula angustifolia (lavender) oil, anthemis nobilis (chamomile) flower extract, calendula officinalis flower extract, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, canola oil, glycine soja (soybean) oil

Dr. Bronner’s Aloe Vera-Baby Mild Castile Liquid Soap

Coolibar, Girl’s Swim Romper

Shopping for infant swimwear? Smart move. The youngest members of your family have the most sensitive skin—and are the most difficult to keep protected from damaging UV rays. The Coolibar Swim Romper offers a host of sun-safe and parent-friendly features:

Full-length coverage, wrists to ankles from these baby rash guards
Generous lap shoulder neckline for easy on and off
Snap-close bottom for on-the-go diaper access
Extra-soft aqua SUNTECT® fabric
Easy care: machine wash, line dry
Imported
Rated UPF 50+

Sunscreens and Hats

Here is a list of some of the safer sunscreens we have found:

TruKid’s SunnyDays sunscreen – Safe and affordable.

California Baby SPF 30 + Sunblock Stick – No Fragrance – Our top pick for kids! This is a non chemical sunscreen. It uses non-penetrating titanium dioxide (no nano particles) to protect against the sun. It is also made with organic & sustainably grown ingredients.

California Baby SPF 30 – This is specially for children to be safe and it a favorite among many natural parents. We have used this on my own kids and I really like it. I usually opt for the fragrance free versions.

California Baby SPF 30 + Bug Repellent – This is a good sunblock/bug repellent combo that is DEET free.

Badger Face & Body Sunblock SPF 30 – There was huge run on this sunscreen not long ago and you could hardly get it. It is known to be one of the safest sunscreens out there.

Miessence Organics Reflect Outdoor Balm SPF 15 – We have some if this and I like it…very clean smelling and not sticky. It is also made by a great company with organic ingredients. It has added antioxidants and beta carotene to help nourish skin and protect it.

Lavera Baby and Children Sun Screen Lotion, SPF 30 – Contains organic peach seed, apricot seed oil and calendula and protects against UV A, B and C rays with waterproof protection.

Jason Natural – Sunbrellas Chemical Free Sun Block SPF30+ – Chemical, Fragrance and Paraben Free Complete UVA & UVB Protection Ideal for Sensitive Skin.

Dermalogica Ultra Sensitive Faceblock SPF 25 – Another chemical free sunblock using non-penetrating titanium dioxide. This has a hint of color…most likely to hide the streaky whiteness of the natural titanium dioxide.

Sunscreen SPF 30 by Soleo Organics – Made with Zinc Oxide, it provides 3 hours of water resistant protection without the use of chemical UV-absorbers or synthetic preservatives. This sunscreen is made with nano particles.

Also don’t forget your protective gear…so you won’t need sunscreen as much:

Legionnaire Hats – These hats for kids have flaps on either side that protect the face, head, and neck areas from getting burned. They are also made with UV protective fabric.

Sunday Afternoon’s Kid’s Play Hat UPF 45 – Made of lightweight water-resistant supplex fabric, blocks UVA and UVB rays, rated 45 UPF. Full veil covers back of neck, mesh panels for ventilation, down-sloped flexible brim shades face.

Baby Banz Sunglasses – 100% UV/UVA & UVB ray protection. You can also get a sunglasses/hat combo.

Also Frubi Shades. I have used both of these brands with my own kids and I like them.