Eczema :(

[mich.el.le]

My poor son is having the worst eczema flair up that he's ever had and Idk what to do. :( I need some natural treatments/things I can do to at least make him more comfortable.  He's going in for an allergy/sensitivity test on Monday, but the results won't come back for 6-8 weeks.  I have tried cutting out dairy in the past without seeing any difference.  I usually do coconut oil with tea tree oil in it but that's just not cutting it this time.  He bathes with african black soap or w/e it's called, and only 2-3 times a week (it's worse if he bathes daily).

Eta: I won't do a steroid treatment, shot, cream or otherwise.

[mich.el.le]

BUMP!

[CorpCityGrl]

Most of my family has battled eczema and psoriasis and both can be painful and embarrassing at times.  Some things you can do are:

Milk soaks.  Soak a cloth in cold milk and apply to the area for about 5-10 minutes or until it's no longer cold.  Repeat.  This helps a lot with inflammation and itching as a way to neutralize it. 

Calendula cream can be applied throughout the day to the itchy areas.

Aloe vera absorbs quickly and is healing.

Oatmeal baths are soothing and moisturizing.  A good soak in a bath followed immediately by an application of a rich cream or moisturizer can help.

Stick to cotton fabrics.

Watch your detergent.  Opt for milder detergents or one specifically for sensitive skin.

[BlessedMammaof2]

Epsom salt baths

[Emilytrademark]

We use aquaphor for our flare ups, it works OK to soothe. 

[mich.el.le]

Quoting CorpCityGrl:

Most of my family has battled eczema and psoriasis and both can be painful and embarrassing at times.  Some things you can do are:

Milk soaks.  Soak a cloth in cold milk and apply to the area for about 5-10 minutes or until it's no longer cold.  Repeat.  This helps a lot with inflammation and itching as a way to neutralize it. 

Calendula cream can be applied throughout the day to the itchy areas.

Aloe vera absorbs quickly and is healing.

Oatmeal baths are soothing and moisturizing.  A good soak in a bath followed immediately by an application of a rich cream or moisturizer can help.

Stick to cotton fabrics.

Watch your detergent.  Opt for milder detergents or one specifically for sensitive skin.

Since I'm afraid part of his problem *might* be a dairy intolerance, I don't think a milk soak would be a good idea?

I forgot to add in my op, we use the gentlest detergent I've found and no fabric softener. I'm going to try an oatmeal bath. :(

[momma-flynn]

Poor kid.

[mich.el.le]

Quoting BlessedMammaof2:

Epsom salt baths

Wouldn't that dry out his skin even more?

[Anonymous]

I would suggest the steriod shot... that's what i had to get one year when i got it very badly. Or at the least get a prescription strength cream... rub it on twice a day every day up to 10 days after the eczema disappears! A dermatoloigist is the best dr to see too. 

[mich.el.le]

Quoting Anonymous:

I would suggest the steriod shot... that's what i had to get one year when i got it very badly. Or at the least get a prescription strength cream... rub it on twice a day every day up to 10 days after the eczema disappears! A dermatoloigist is the best dr to see too. 

We don't do steroid treatments.

[Sj218]

Have you tried vari cream products?  It's what my derm recomended for me and I've had pretty good luck.  It doesn't make it go away, but I find the lite lotion to be soothing and it doesn't cause any irritation.  I also use the sunblock and bar soap.  I get it at Walgreens so it's pretty easy to find and not super expensive.