Things You'll Need:
- Gentle cleansers
- Ice
- Milk
- Fragrance-free laundry detergent
- Powdered oatmeal
- Powdered licorice root
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Step 1
Use only gentle cleansers to wash your 3-year-old's hands and body, not regular soap. Average soaps contain fragrances that cause skin allergies, so it's best to steer clear of them. Gentle soaps, such as Moisturel, Dove and Neutrogena, work just as well and are far less irritating to sensitive skin.
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Step 2
Ice it. When your child has a flare-up, put ice cubes in a small plastic bag, wrap it in a towel, and place it directly over the itchy areas. This is an easy and inexpensive way to reduce skin inflammation and soothe your child.
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Step 3
Milk it. If your child's skin begins to ooze, use a cold milk compress to ease the itch. Simply pour cold milk onto a cotton ball and apply it to the affected skin for approximately three minutes. Then re-soak the cotton ball again and reapply it five more times, or as many times as your child will allow. Repeat this process several times per day. Always remember to wash the skin in cool water when finished so the milk residue does not make your child's skin smell.
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Step 4
Use only fragrance-free, dye-free laundry detergents and do not use dryer sheets. The chemicals used in many detergents and dryer sheets often remain on clean clothes and can cause eczema flare-ups in children. Interestingly, however, most fabric softeners do not cause problems, so feel free to continue using them.
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Step 5
Reduce the frequency and length of your child's bath time. Water makes skin dry that leads to eczema outbreaks. Bathe your child only when necessary, do so as fast as possible, and keep the water as cool as you can because hot water also leads to dry skin.
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Step 6
Don't use baby lotions. Although it's tempting to use baby lotions on your 3-year-old's skin, most baby lotions contain ingredients that actually cause skin irritation. Try Eucerin Cream or Aquaphor instead.
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Step 7
Give your child an oatmeal bath. Powdered oatmeal, such as the kind made by Aveeno, can provide eczema relief. Again, be sure to keep the bath short and use lukewarm water.
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Step 8
Try the licorice cure. Natural licorice contains a chemical called glycyrrhetinic acid that has anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, sprinkling powdered licorice root on clean skin can be used to treat the skin inflammation caused by eczema.
