5 Ways I Keep My Child's Eczema At Bay

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My two kiddos have been blessed with sensitive skin, which they got from me and whom I got from my dad. We all experience eczema and other allergies, especially during high allergen seasons and when the climate is very dry. We live in Arizona so the climate is dry most of the time.

This is my poor little Isaac when his eczema was at it's worst:

And this is him less than two weeks later once I got everything under control finally:

Over the last several years, I have come to find that there are some sure fire ways to keep eczema away from not only my sons but myself as well. We rarely have eczema but when we do, I know it's because I broke one of my own 5 golden rules for keeping eczema away.

Golden Rule #1: Only take lukewarm baths

Hot water will dry the skin out very fast, so in order to keep skin as moist as possible, do not bathe your child in really warm water. I myself love the shower to be as hot as possible and I constantly have eczema on parts of my legs because of it. When I run my boys' bath, I always make sure that the water is comfortably warm but not overly warm.

Gold Rule #2: Use mild products

I use only mild products on my boys skin and hair. It usually needs to be fragrance free or as mildly fragranced as possible, and have mostly natural ingredients.

I also don't let them sit in bubble baths because that can dry out their skin.

Golden Rule #3: Keep Skin Moisturized

Once my boys are out of the shower, I moisturize their skin right away with lotion that is also unscented.

Make sure to get eczema prone areas, like where the arm bends and behind the knees. I even put the lotion on their faces. When both boys had such horrible eczema, the trick that worked for me finally was putting it on their faces and skin hourly.

Another important way to keep skin moisturized is from drinking lots of water, so make sure your child is getting enough water intake every day as this will keep their skin naturally moisturized and healthy.

Golden Rule #4: Wear loose fitting, cotton clothing

One night my son kept scratching under his arm and I realized that his pajama shirt was too tight and rubbing his underarm skin, causing friction and dryness and thus eczema.

I'm now very vigilant about his clothing and I make sure it's loose fitting and that it's mostly made of cotton rather than other types of fabric. Certain types of pajamas and t-shirts can be made from material that isn't cotton and will irritate the skin because it's not breathable.

Be wary of clothing gifts from others, especially pajamas and socks. I don't know why but grandmas love to buy pajamas that are not cotton and are that weird, sweaty-inducing material. No bueno for kids who are prone to eczema.

Golden Rule #5: Wash clothes in detergent that doesn't irritate sensitive skin

This is the most important one because your child's clothes are up against their skin all day long, not to mention the bed linens and pillows that they're sleeping on every night. One thing I wish someone would've told me when I was pregnant with my first child was to pay more attention to the ingredients in laundry detergents.

I've been using all® free clear products for the last 3 years since having my kids and learning about their sensitive, eczema-prone skin.

One thing I did not know until partnering with all® free clear was that they have fabric softener and dryer sheets. When my son's eczema outbreak was so bad and I switched to all® free clear detergent, I thought fabric softener and dryer sheets were off my list of things I was able to use, so I was so excited to see this! all® free clear fabric softener was awarded the Seal of Acceptance by the National Eczema Association, so if you are looking for a fabric softener that won't break your child's skin out, definitely try this one.

Another reassuring fact is that all® free clear detergent was also awarded the Seal of Acceptance by the National Eczema Association for having no dyes, perfumes, certain chemicals, and irritating residues. It's also the #1 recommended detergent by dermatologists, allergists, and pediatricians for sensitive skin. I'm not surprised the least bit since it's been the only brand that doesn't irritate my son's eczema-prone skin.

I buy mine at my local Wal-Mart, it's super easy to find in the laundry and detergent aisle:

While it isn't intended to treat or prevent allergies, washing with all® free clear removes 99% of everyday and seasonal allergens, including cat and dog dander, dust mite matter, ragweed, grass, and tree pollen. I just follow the directions on the packaging exactly to make sure I get all of the benefits.

Our clothes, bed linens and towels always feel extremely clean and fresh which makes me feel confident when I'm dressing my boys or putting them to bed. My worries are put to rest because I know their skin will not be irritated by their clothes or bed sheets.

I invite you to join the all® free clear community, connect with other parents like us and enjoy exclusive opportunities from all® free clear.

I hope you found this post helpful; if you have any tips for what's worked for your child's eczema, I'd love to hear them below in the comments!