A parent's no-BS guide to managing your kid's eczema.

At 25 weeks pregnant I went a little crazy buying baby things. 

Singlets. Onesies. Stupid little socks for their stupidly cute little feet. And skincare products. Yes, I purchased an entire drawer of designer bath oils, bubble baths, hair wash (because my baby was going to have a full set of hair, ha) and soap. It all smelt delicious and I couldn’t wait to lather my little one in it all. 

And then my baby was born, and while the singlets and the onesies fit (for a little while), the skincare products sure did not. Because after a few days we realised that our daughter had very sensitive skin. And after a few months we realised she had eczema. 

According to the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, one in three Australian babies suffer from eczema. It appears mainly in the skin folds that can get damp from sweat, or drool, or spew (IYKYK). And, if you’ve ever had itchy skin, you can only imagine what it feels like for a baby. 

After a lot of trial and error on my behalf, here are the things that have worked for us. 

Keep it simple.

You know how your grandma keeps telling you to rub olive oil on your baby? Yeah, look... probably don’t do that.

Find a trusted product that takes this stuff seriously. You’re going to want to look for something dermatologist-tested that targets the balance of the skin microbiome. Cetaphil Pro has a handy Eczema Prone range of specialist eczema products including the Skin Restoring Moisturiser ($32), and their Skin Restoring Body Wash ($24) — and they offer eczema sufferers gentle, non-irritating cleansing and moisturising options to help with eczema symptom flare-up relief. When used as the same time as a topical corticosteroid cream, it can help improve eczema symptoms in the first three weeks.

The more moisture the skin holds, the easier the eczema can be to maintain. The Cetaphil Pro Moisturiser holds moisture for around 48 hours, which is exactly what you need, especially in the cooler months. Its new formulation features a combination of their patented Ad-Resyl™ (to help support a healthy microbiome), Filaggrin Technology (helps hydrate and restores the skin barrier) and moisture-locking ceramides — clinically proven to improve the skin's moisture levels in as little as 2 hours.

Image: Supplied.

The Skin Restoring Body Wash is also a hypoallergenic, creamy lotion consistency you can use on babies and kids, and contains a nourishing oil that replenishes their dry skin, leaving it soft and smooth after rinsing. It's soap free and fragrance free, too.

Honestly, the less skincare products you use on your babies, the better off you’ll be; you just need a trusted few that you know will be gentle and effective on their soft and sensitive skin.

Avoid hot water.

Ahhh, a nice warm bath will soothe her skin and get rid of that gunk under her folds, right? Yeah, wrong. And I learnt this the hard way.

Hot water can help inflame eczema even more, which is why warm water and a soft wash cloth is the ideal way to go. Add in your gentle body wash that provides non-drying cleansing to help relieve itchy, dry and eczema skin and that will help clean the skin but also keep everything settled and moisture in.

Cut those nails (and cut them again).

As a new mother, I must say I didn’t anticipate nail cutting to be one of the most tricky (and dangerous) things I do with my baby. And the options you have to cut them! A nail snail, an eclectic file, an emery board. But, once you’ve found your tool of choice you’ll want to get comfortable with it, because if they can scratch their skin with their nails, they can cut themselves and then the skin can get infected. So cut those teeny, scratchy nails.

Keep an eye on those skin folds.

If you’re a parent, you know the places. Neck creases, knee creases, arm creases. Anywhere where they get those little croissant arms and legs is also most likely going to be the most common places they get flare-ups. Keep an eye on them and when in doubt, bathe, moisturise and moisturise some more using your eczema-specific products.

Consult the experts and stay consistent. 

Consult your doctor or pharmacist, as always, as they will have some great tips for your daily routine. The main thing to do though is stay consistent. And moisturise. A lot. 

Having a little one with eczema can be tricky, especially when you notice them in pain, but keeping a good skin routine and using quality products will help you a lot in the long run.

Find Cetaphil Pro Eczema Prone Skin Restoring Body Wash and Skin Restoring Moisturiser online or in-store at Chemist Warehouse and your local pharmacy. 

Always read the label and follow the directions for use.

When products used as the same time as a topical corticosteroid cream, eczema symptoms improve in the first 3 weeks according to Simpson E et al. J Drugs Dermatol. 2011; 10(7):744-9.

Feature Image: Supplied.