How to relieve baby's eczema.

An initial diagnosis of eczema on a baby can feel overwhelming at first, I know I felt frustration, denial, and also a little relief to have a reason for why her skin had been so bothered. First, I had to take in all the new information and come up with a plan, how can I control this and reduce her flare-ups. A flare-up is when an irritation to the skin is caused resulting in a breakout or rash. My goal was to minimize this, and I will share with you how I did.

Change your Products.

Use laundry detergent like free & clear that is made for babies with sensitive skin and free of harsh chemicals. If your laundry has a scent after it is washed, that means it may still have something inside it that may irritate the skin.

 Change the bath products. All of the body wash, shampoo, soaps...should all be eczema approved (I talk about the SOA below) Baths should be every other day, 15 minutes only, start by not using any bubble bath or soaps, and the water should be  gently warm, not too hot. When bath time is over, do not rub the skin, blot it dry and apply a skin friendly moisturizer while the skin is still freshly hydrated from the bath. When it comes to moisturizer and other products, there will not be one fit for all, each baby's skin will react differently to products and there will be a trial and error phase. My daughter's eczema was mainly in the creases of her arms and legs and along her back and neck. What worked for us was trying a few different products and changing it every few days until we found what was right. Our favorites were CeraVe Soothing Eczema Creamy Oil for the all over moisture and Aquaphor Healing Ointment on areas where there were abrasions in the skin (minor scratches). 

 Why Bamboo Baby Pajamas?

I had almost nothing that would work on my daughter's new skin condition. Not one pajama, not one outfit. Her doctor had pointed out that one side of her stomach was much redder than the other side and showed me it was right where the tag was. I went straight home and started cutting all the tags out and washing all the clothing with the new detergent. I don't think anyone realizes how many tags there are in baby clothing and how bulky and uncomfortable they can be until they have to spend hours cutting them out. I honestly don't understand why they would put those inside baby clothing. The doctor had also pointed out the embellishments on clothing, anything with sparkles, even some stitches are just rough and irritating to the skin. I did the obvious and bought organic cotton. It did not work for us. You also have to be careful about reading the labels.

Organic Cotton, does not mean that it did not get dyed or printed or infused with softeners that add non-organic substances back into the outfit. Organic doesn't mean less irritating, it meant the cotton was grown without the use of pesticides. I then found bamboo. A significant benefit of using bamboo as the organic base for textile fibers is that there is no need for pesticides or fertilizers when growing bamboo. Bamboo contains an antimicrobial agent that gives the plant a natural resistance to pest and fungi infestation. Bamboo is extremely breathable, unlike many other fabrics. "The cross-section of the bamboo fiber is covered with micro-gaps giving the fabric better moisture absorption and ventilation. As a result, it is able to keep the wearer almost two degrees cooler in the heat and noticeably warmer in the cold." The fabric is similar to the softness of silk. The fibers are naturally smooth and round without sharp spurs that irritate the skin, causing bamboo fabric to be hypoallergenic and great for sensitive skin. It is also known for its anti-bacterial and antifungal properties in addition to being moisture-wicking ( I should write a separate blog on bamboo). Oh, and it is way better for the planet!

What labels should I be looking for?

Our Products have been Awarded the Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association. If your child is suffering from Eczema, I highly recommend visiting their site to view products that have the SOA (the Seal of Acceptance Stamp). These products have been reviewed by a board of doctors that are looking for products that would be good for a child with eczema. You will find our Pajamas there as well with more details about the SOA and what it means.

Our fabric is Oeko-Tex 100 certified. This means that the finished fiber has been tested for any chemicals that may be harmful to a person’s health, especially a newborn baby, and has been found to contain no trace chemicals that pose any health threat whatsoever. I highly recommend you look further into this and search for products with this label. It is different from the "organic" label because rather than looking at how the fiber was grown, they look into every stage of the process and test the final product to make sure it is indeed safe for a newborn to wear on their skin. Your skin is the biggest organ on your body, think about what you put on your baby and what they are absorbing into their skin!