3 “Less is More” Strategies for Healing Eczema

Eczema has become so common that it’s almost thought of as normal in babies and toddlers. Our babies don’t need to be lathered in lotions and creams just to get some comfort and smooth skin, smooth skin should be a given for all the little ones so new to this world.

Something I find myself saying over and over again is clear skin starts from the inside. If you or your baby has eczema, the first place to look is your diet. The next place to look are the external factors that could be aggravating the condition. Instead of adding in lotions, creams, and even prescription ointments, here are three things you can do less of to help heal eczema.

1. Less lotions, creams, and personal care products. Lessening the toxic load on the body will help it deal with inflammation from other sources (like diet).For baths, no need to use soap every time, just use water and a gentle wash cloth. If you do want to use soap, I urge you to run it through the ewg.org/skindeep database. Avoid harsh ingredients like sodium laureth sulfate, phenoxyethanol, and fragrance.

   For moisturizing, something as simple as coconut oil or shea butter are great.

   Here are my favorite, gentle bath products:
   Baby Mantra 3-in-1 wash
   Weleda Baby Lotion
   EcoSprout Coconut Stick
   

2. Less cleaning! By this I mean two things: less chemical-filled, harsh, and toxic cleaning products around the house and less antibacterial products.Same as personal care products, we want to lessen the body’s toxic load so it can deal with inflammation that causes and aggravates eczema. Switch to simple, natural cleaning products like Dr. Bronner’s Castille Soap, vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide. You can find tons of DIY cleaning products online! When you do buy a store-bough cleaning product, run it through the Chemical Maze app, and beware of “greenwashing”.

   It’s also important to back away from antibacterial products like hand sanitizer, soaps, and Clorox wipes. Not only can these be harsh on sensitive skin, but they wreck your gut microbiome as well. Remember, healthy skin starts from the inside – keeping a balanced gut does wonders for your skin and your health in general. Antibacterial products kill bacteria, including the bacteria in your gut. We need a healthy variety of bacteria in our gut to thrive! Regular hand washing with soap and water is just fine. If water isn’t available, then sure, antibacterial hand sanitizer might be your best option, but avoid it for every day use.

3. Lastly, less sugars and simple carbs. It all goes back to gut health (doesn’t everything?). The “bad” bacteria in our gut thrive off of these simple sugars and can quickly cause overgrowth, leading to symptoms like eczema and more! This overgrowth will also cause you to crave more sugars (those little bug get hungry!) further deteriorating your overall health and wellness.It’s not Earth-shattering health advice, but it’s SO important: feed your gut with a variety of vegetables, as much as you can (7-9 servings of veggies per day is ideal). Try your best to stick with SLOW (Seasonal, Local, Organic, and Whole) food to get the best benefit for your gut and overall health.

Sure, there are tons of things you can do to help heal your eczema, but these three things to STOP doing are some great first steps!

Do you or your baby have eczema? Let me know what you are doing from the inside to help heal it!

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