Oatmeal and Eczema

Baby Eczema and Oatmeal

(Pictures and recipe are at the bottom of the page)

  This is my 100% experience and advice. Im not trying to give any medical advice, Im just trying to show you how some foods in our pantry can actually be good for our skin.

As many of you may know, I have a precious baby girl. And although she is very strong and healthy, she was diagnosed with "Baby Eczema". From my understanding Baby Ezcema is a non-contagious skin condition, a type of skin rash that developes very early in a childs life, usually anywhere between 2 weeks old - 5 years of age. My baby was only 3 weeks old when she was diagnosed, and she is 16 months now   =)

Although the pediatrician said its not cureable, she mentioned it should get better with time. In the meantime she said Eczema can be controlled and treated. In some cases, children who get it in their infant stage, by the time they are 5 years old, they barely have rashes, and those who get it between 2-5 years of age, are not done with it until they are teenagers. Instead of the kids having breakouts every other week, they will just break out in seasons. (Winter - cause skin is dry, Summer - skin is too hot, so they get "heat rash")

Look at her cheeks (4 months)

Look at her arm at the time (3 months)


When you have eczema, your skin in red, patchy, itchy, and most of all raw. You can find these patches on their cheeks, arms, back of knees, and even behind their little ears at times. You have to use a lot of drugstore  and prescribed creams and special body washes, to relieve the itchiness. But one thing I found that makes wonders, is OATMEAL! She still breaks out, but her skin is doing much better.

As we all know, Oatmeal is very tasty. And usualy while growing up ( at least in my household), my grandmother or mother will make some in the morning, and pour my sister and I a small bowl of it, and make us eat it before going to school. (Ahh memories). But as I grew older, I also found out, it had other uses. Like helping babies with eczema relieve some of the itch and redness. So here is how I use oatmeal during my daughters bath time. I do this about 3-4 times a week.

This is also good if you or your child if you have poison ivy, mosquito bites, diaper rash, or just dry skin.


Tools Needed

Infant bathtub or regualr bathtub filled less than 1/2 way with warm water

Strainer - (make sure the holes arent too big, cause the oatmeal will fall through, something like this will be perfect)

1-2 Cups of Plain Oatmeal (either old fashioned or instant, any brand, no added flavor) (Example dont use Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal) (I use Food Lion brand or Quaker if its on sale)


Preparation

After you fill your bathtub with water, take your stariner, and put 1 one cup of oatmeal in it.

Now with oatmeal in strainer, place strainer in water, where it will cover oatmeal, and shake. Do not throw oatmeal in water, cause it will make a big mess, and can even clog your drain.

Keep shaking and stiring with your hand until water is cloudy, if you want, add the other cup of oatmeal. Sueeze or press on oatmeal to release all the water it has absorbed.

Set oatmeal and strainer aside.

Bathe yourself or your child as you normaly would. I bath my daughter with "Gentle Naturals Eczema Wash, Aveeno Baby Cleansing Therapy Moisturizing Wash, or Johnsons Vanilla Oatmeal Baby Wash) you can buy all these at Walmart.


I know Im missing a wash, sorry!

After you have lathered and washed your child, rinse her/him with the oatmeal water (you can rinse their hair too) Then take a second, grab your wet oatmeal, and just rub some on skin that is red and patchy, rub it for a few seconds, and rinse.

Now that you baby is nice and clean you can take her out, and pat dry!

And there it is. Right after her bath, I usually lather her up with some moisturizer speciffically for Eczema or dry skin I use:

Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream  (Walmart)
Gentle Naturals Baby Eczema Cream    (Walmart)
Keri Shea Butter Conditioning Therapy  (Walmart)
Absorbase (Pediatricians prescription)
Vanicream - Moisturizing Skin Cream (Pediatricians prescription)

What the white/green tube? It treat Eczema, the actual affected areas or rashes, the doctor gave me a prescription for "Triamcinolone Aceptonide Cream"  its a steroid, and you apply it on the affected area 2-3 times a day for no more than 7 days at a time. Usually you see improvement with this cream within days. After you apply, let it dry, and go ahead and moisturize their whole body with a good cream.

I hope this blog was helpful, and Im hope you guys use the Oatmeal Bath recipe! It has worked wonders on my daughters skin.











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