By Benita
Dry, scaly skin. An itch that never seems to go away. Incessant scratching. These are just some symptoms you may notice if your baby has eczema. The condition, which involves chronic inflammation of the outer layers of skin can start rearing its ugly head as early as two months into your newborn’s life.
It is difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of eczema. But if you’re a breastfeeding mom, the good news is you’re on the right track. Several studies have shown that breastfeeding can protect children from developing eczema later in life. But if yours is already struggling with it while being on liquid gold, here are a few tips to help navigate this frustrating journey:
1. Play detective
Dairy products, such as milk, cheese, yogurt, and cream are common ingredients associated with eczema. By undergoing an elimination diet, you can try to figure out if there’s a particular food or foods your baby is sensitive to, and avoid them to help his/her condition. Cut out all foods you suspect may be the culprit, then slowly introduce them one by one, noting symptoms or changes in your baby’s skin condition as each ingredient is re-introduced.
2. Load up on the goodies
So you’ve gotten the pesty suspects out of the way. It’s now time to increase your intake of foods which may be beneficial for tackling your baby’s eczema through fortifying your breastmilk. Fatty fish, such as salmon, contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids which have anti-inflammatory properties. If you dislike eating salmon, then try including an omega-3 supplement in your diet.
Another ally in your fight against the little one’s eczema is quercetin, a plant-based flavonoid. Found in vegetables, fruit, tea and wine, quercetin is a powerful antioxidant and antihistamine. Foods rich in this special pigment include spinach, kale, broccoli, apples, and blueberries. All pretty yummy, if you ask us!
Finally, add probiotics to your daily diet if you haven’t already. They can be found in yoghurt, kimchi, sourdough bread, miso soup and kefir. These foods help strengthen the immune system, and may help to reduce flare-ups and allergic reactions.
3. Get colloidal oat into the bath
Oatmeal baths have long been prescribed as an excellent remedy for a range of skin conditions. Some say the oldest skin use of oatmeal dates back to the time of the Romans. But the kind of oat to put into your baby’s bath is not the same as what you have for breakfast. Colloidal oat is oat that has been ground into a fine powder. It contains lipids, beta glucans, and antioxidants which help calm eczema. We recommend adding one or two spoonfuls of our advanced patented colloidal oat into your baby’s bathwater and letting him/her soak for around 10 to 15 minutes. There isn’t a need to rinse after that, simply pat your baby dry. If you are looking for natural solutions for baby eczema without steroids, shop for A For Apothecary Colloidal Oat Bathsoak here.
If you’ve tried the tips above, we’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below and let us know which is your favourite!
About Benita
Benita worked as a journalist with a local newspaper before switching careers to work with flowers full-time. These days, you can find her pottering around the local flower nurseries; hunting down the perfect ingredients to make her clients smile.
You can find her beautiful flora arrangements at http://www.floralsbybenita.com/