What is Baby Eczema?

It’s Winter, so it’s time to talk about Eczema. Plenty of us battle with it over the colder months on our tiny munchkins, so let’s dive deep into what the hell childhood eczema is really about.

What is baby eczema?

You may have seen it on your baby’s cheeks, in the folds of their skin, or spread out across their body. Dry or red patches that can cause the skin to crack and make it super itchy for your baby. In a nutshell, thåçis is brought on by their little immune system overreacting to everyday environmental triggers, causing inflammation.

Why do so many babies get it? Well, a baby’s skin is up to 30% thinner than an adults, making it easier for both moisture to escape, and external irritants to penetrate through. There’s also a strong genetic factor. If there’s a history of eczema, asthma or hay fever in the family, then your bubba will be more susceptible. Sorry.

Things like synthetic fabrics, harsh laundry detergents, fragrances, soap, drool, heat, or sudden temperature changes can all contribute to an eczema flare up.

 

 

Does it mean they will have eczema as an adult?

Not necessarily. The vast majority of babies with eczema will see their symptoms improve or disappear by the time their skin barrier matures and thickens, around 2-5 years. Some will still continue to have sensitive skin and have occasional flare ups, but most will ‘outgrow’ it.  

 

When is baby eczema at its worst?

The Winter Months: a combination of cold outdoor air and indoor heating, quickly strips the natural oils from sensitive skin, causing those severe dry patches and cracking.

Summer Heat: sweat trapped in skin folds (neck, elbows and knee creases) are a major trigger and lead to intense itching and irritation. Also make sure to dry your baby thoroughly after a bath!

When They Start Solids: Any food sensitivities and allergies can very easily trigger an eczema outbreak. Things like dairy, eggs and soy, which tend to be introduced around the 6 month mark, can cause a flare up if your baby is sensitive to them. Also, direct contact of acidic foods, like citrus, tomatoes or strawberries, can cause localised flare ups around the mouth.

During Teething: All that saliva dribbling down their chin can cause eczema flare ups around the mouth and onto the neck and chest. The drool breaks down the skin barrier, causing irritation.

 

 What is the usual treatment for eczema?

Prevention is always best, so firstly start with staying away from harsh laundry detergents, synthetic clothes and sheets, soaps, and skincare with synthetic fragrances. Make sure you’re drying your baby properly after a bath, and moisturise afterwards. Keep an eye out for any food sensitivities too, it can be the first sign of an allergy.

Once you’re in the middle of a full blown eczema flare up, however, that’s usually when the pharmacist or GP will recommend an over-the-counter Corticosteroid cream. These creams quickly suppress your baby’s immune response to that area.

Here’s the problem with steroid creams, however. Absolutely they have a place for eczema treatment, and you should always listen to the advice of your doctor, but prolonged use of these creams will cause your baby’s already thin skin barrier to thin even further. Symptoms can often bounce right back again too, once you stop using them, and a lot of parents have issues with feeling heavily reliant on synthetic hormonal treatments for daily flare up management.

Sooo, what can Bub Balm do then?

Well geez, we’re glad you asked. Here’s why we think our Bub Balm is a great alternative for eczema flare ups or management.

Powered by Manuka Oil: Manuka Oil contains potent botanical compounds, called triketones, which are traditionally known for their concentrated antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, helping to settle the appearance of redness and soothe itchy skin.  

Prevents Secondary Irritations: When bubba scratches at the skin, it can introduce bacteria, such as Staph, which can exacerbate the flare ups. Manuka Oil’s natural antibacterial elements help maintain a clean skin barrier.

Highly Barrier-Restorative: Bub Balm is super rich in plant-based botanicals, such as Marshmallow Root, Rosehip and Tamanu Oil, which create a protective barrier on your baby’s delicate skin, locking in hydration without the use of synthetics or lanolin, and keeping out those external triggers we spoke of.

Steroid Free for Daily Maintenance: No harsh chemicals, no synthetic fillers, only natural ingredients, which means it can be used as often as your baby needs to keep maintain skin comfort and soothe dry patches. It will not strip your baby’s skin barrier even further, but nurture it.

 

 

Don’t believe us? Here’s a few reviews that give us the goose bumps… but in a good way.

 

"My son broke out with newly diagnosed eczema and nothing was working. I really wanted to try something more natural before going down the prescription cream path. This is the difference after just 2 days of consistent use. It's fantastic." - Claire

 

 

"Absolute Magic! My Bub was suffering from allergy related flare ups along with heat and drool rash on top of that. This balm calmed it all and his cheeks are as smooth as the day he was born. It’s part of our evening routine and he loves it. He’s just starting teething and I swear it also soothes his teething pain too! I can’t speak more highly of this product. Thank you!” – Josee

 

“I absolutely love this product . It settles my baby’s skin down basically immediately. I love that its all natural ingredients no steroids. The first time I ordered i was sceptical... when I saw how well it worked I purchased the 3 pack ... I highly recommend for parents trying to find relief for baby .. 10/10” – Pauline

 

So there you have it. You now know more than most about eczema, what causes it, and what to do to manage it. Of course, make sure you seek medical help if your baby’s skin is causing great discomfort and concern. But in the meantime, do what you can to take care of their skin barrier!

Check out our Bub Balm here! https://bubsandboobsco.com/products/bub-balm