“Soft as a baby’s behind…” or so goes the saying. Unfortunately, our family doesn’t know much about that. But we do know a lot about eczema, psoriasis, allergic dermatitis, severe dry skin, and even ringworm. You would not believe the things kids can bring home from school to share with their infant siblings.
I also know from multiple friends and family that we are not alone in our experiences with children and inflamed skin conditions. So here are some of our favorite resources and some that have been recommended by other parents who believe in natural and home remedies whenever possible. Please remember that I am not prescribing anything and you really should check with a doctor for a correct diagnosis of any rash that your infant is experiencing.
This one has been the easiest for us to treat. I know some of my friends have not been so lucky. Diaper rash thrives in wet conditions. So change diapers often if your baby is experiencing diaper rash. Avoid scrubbing at any sticky or dried on messes as this can irritate baby’s fragile skin. A good option if you are at home is to stick baby’s bottom under a stream of warm, running water in the tub to get it good and clean. Then pat dry with a clean towel and let baby air dry for a few minutes if possible. The more time they can spend without a diaper on, the better it will be for treating the diaper rash, although reasonable precautions should be taken to protect the house from any accidents. If you want to powder your baby’s bottom before putting a fresh diaper on her, use cornstarch instead of talc.
Oatmeal baths can be very soothing to irritated skin. Grind up a cup of uncooked oatmeal (not the instant kind) in a food processor or blender until it is powdery. Add the powder to baby’s bath. Also I have heard of putting milk of magnesia on affected areas of diaper rash, although we haven’t personally tried this one.
Avoid commercial products with mineral oil or petroleum-based ingredients. Most of us who are into “natural” remedies and a non-toxic lifestyle agree that these are pretty unnatural and toxic options for the skin.
Finally, if the diaper rash is severe it could be a bad case of thrush. Tea tree oil can be tried, along with reducing baby’s intake of any sugary foods. Some websites advocate applying the tea tree oil undiluted, but I prefer to dilute it just a little with some olive oil. I use equal drops of the tea tree and olive oil and then apply with a cotton ball to the affected area. Then air dry as much as possible. Don’t let a bad case of thrush go too long without seeing a doctor. It can get ugly really fast. (By the way, the tea tree can be purchased almost anywhere, including Wal-Mart and other major retailers.)
Eczema
For eczema we have had good results with eliminating food allergies and all irritating chemicals from our home. Seventh Generation makes really great household cleaners and detergents that reduced our ezcema problems by more than half. We especially have problems with dryer sheets and liquid fabric softeners, so getting those out of our house was a good move.
Also add a good source of omega-3 fatty acids to your babies diet, in ways recommended or approved by your pediatrician. We started giving our youngest CorOmega packets as early as possible. They come in good flavors and have benefits for more than just the skin.
Finally, when we do have flare-ups, they can be managed by applications of olive oil massaged lightly into the skin (sometimes with a little tea trea oil mixed in), or by pastes of nutmeg, honey and water. Despite what I said earlier about not liking petroleum products, we have one child whose worst bouts of ezcema only respond to liberal applications of Aquaphor. I refuse to apply it to anyone else, but sometimes you do what you must. Another friend of mine has recommended Noxema and I’ve read good reports of this on the internet.
Allergic Skin Rash
When one of our kids (or adults even) gets into pet dander, mold, or any of our other major allergens, the resulting rash is horrifying to see. Wash immediately with running water! Then soak in an oatmeal bath for awhile if tolerated. After that, we love the Benadryl spray they recently introduced (follow prescribed guidelines for application, especially in babies and very young children). Unfortunately, the Benadryl spray seems to sting when applied to the skin, so we use the Dermoplast skin relieving spray first and it seems to anesthetize the allergic reaction enough to allow for fairly pain-free usage of the Benadryl. Once the first reaction is past, you can use olive oil, aloe vera, vitamin e, or other natural oils to soothe and moisturize the area until it heals. Absolutely avoid any perfumes or dyes on a child who is already having an allergic skin reaction.
Psoriasis
I have found only two products for psoriasis that seem to do any good for us: dead sea salt scrubs, and the oil from a very unique soy candle made in South Carolina. The dead sea salt scrubs can be found in health food and body shops fairly easily, but the candle has to be purchased online or direct from the supplying store in Pawley’s Island, SC. Their website is www.soycandlecreationsinc.com. I also hear that they are making an actual body lotion from the same soy processing they use in their wax. I am addicted to the candles, though.
Ringworm
Yes, my step-son has actually brought this one home and given it to the baby. And fortunately for us, the basic over-the-counter anti-fungal creams worked like a charm for eliminating the ringworm. For others, though, it isn’t so easy. Try tea tree oil (again straight or diluted depending on your own research), or raw apple cider vinegar. Both can be applied with a cotton ball several times daily until the infection clears up. I’ve also read about applying liquid bandage over your topical treatment and leaving on for a week before peeling off. Apparently the fungus dies off from lack of oxygen.
There are great books available, and supporting websites, for those interested in a toxin-free, natural lifestyle. I also recommend finding a good mentor such as a naturopathic or alternative medical practitioner. The results may take a little longer than some of the pharmacological treatments for infant skin rashes, but the long-term benefits to their health are well worth the extra effort.www.soycandlecreationsinc.com. I tried the soy oil for free while shopping on a vacation to Myrtle Beach and I have been a loyal customer ever since. Their candle wax burns at a very low temperature and the melted oil can be dipped into or poured directly onto your skin. The result is some of the softest, itch-free skin I or my son have ever experienced. I cannot recommend them highly enough for psoriasis sufferers or even those with severely dry skin. They make fragrance-free versions as well as the lovely scented candles. Do not confuse their soy candles with any others on the market, as theirs is the only one safe for topical application.
