Eczema affects 1 in 5 newborns, babies and children under five in the UK.
Eczema - also known as atopic eczema or contact dermatitis - is an inflammatory skin condition and presents itself as very dry, cracked, itchy and irritated skin which can be very painful, especially for babies and children. The exact cause of eczema is still largely unknown, but it is generally believed that a combination both of genetic pre-disposition and environmental factors play a large part.
And as a brand that cares for your children’s skin, we want to do the best for the planet they will inherit too, so every Childs Farm product is packaged in recycled materials and is 100% recyclable.
Managing eczema
You can help to alleviate your child’s discomfort and even improve their condition by implementing a rigorous skin cleansing and moisturising regime.
If you can imagine skin is made of ‘bricks’ (skin cells) and ‘mortar’ (lipid).
You want the bricks to be tightly packed, and the mortar complete and strong.
Eczema means there is limited mortar between skin cells, so what is there needs to be kept clean to prevent it harbouring dirt or other irritants.
By using a gentle cleansing wash daily - and after mucky accidents or play- you can remove impurities within the skin’s mortar to wash out irritants.
Then, in order to ensure those bricks stay nicely packed and close together, you can fill in the mortar using a good natural moisturiser. This will boost the mortar and plump up the skin cells, locking them closer together.
Childs Farm’s Consultant Paediatric Dermatologist Dr Jennifer Crawley goes further, saying there are three things that will help eczema prone skin the most, and these are to: ‘Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise!’ So, getting a good, natural moisturiser that is designed for little one’s skin has to be top of the shopping list to look after eczema prone skin.
And creating a soothing skincare routine is not only important to calm your child’s skin, but also to help their emotional wellbeing by reducing any upset and stress that eczema can cause young ones, and you as their parents.
Babies with eczema
Three-month-old Kelisha was plagued with severe eczema that left her skin bleeding and sore. After four weeks of using our renowned baby moisturiser her skin was calmer and no longer itchy. Mum, Joanne, found that our baby moisturiser was so quickly absorbed it made it easy for her to apply – without Kelisha feeling like a greasy seal! It also formed part of a bonding time between the two of them as Kelisha associated the application with being soothed and calmed.
Children with eczema
Whilst foams and bubbles can cause flare ups, at Childs Farm we have worked hard to use only those ingredients that moisturise and not dry skin in the bath: in an independent user trial 96% of parents of children with medically diagnosed eczema said that Childs Farm bubble baths didn’t irritate their children’s skin.
Two-year-old eczema suffer Fergus was therefore in seventh heaven when he could finally enjoy a bubble bath with his siblings using Childs Farm tangerine bubble bath.
Tips to help eczema-prone skin
Look for a range that uses natural and naturally derived ingredients that are specifically designed for babies and children’s skin
- Moisturise skin and specific eczema patches throughout the day to help protect skin and alleviate irritation.
- Keep skin clean using a non-irritating wash every day.
- Keep baths warm not hot, gently pat skin dry then moisturise all over.
- Children can wear gloves at night to avoid damage from itching while they sleep.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing in natural, breathable materials, such as cotton.
- Look for skin care products that are designed to moisturise children’s sensitive and eczema prone skin. Focus on preventative products to help rather than emollients that ‘seal’ skin.
- Choose hair care products that also care for sensitive skin as the scalp is often subject to irritation.
- Ensure the brand you choose is not only thinking about your children’s skin but about the planet they will inherit too.
