How to Treat Infant Eczema Naturally

There are natural ways to treat infant eczema. Symptoms of this condition typically first appear during infancy or the early childhood years. Eczema, which is also called atopic dermatitis, causes the skin to become itchy and inflamed. It often affects the arms and areas behind the knees. According to Mayo Clinic, there is no known cause for eczema, but it may have something to do with a break down of the immune system. It's important to get an official diagnosis from a doctor before treating eczema at home.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Bathe your baby in warm water. Add a little baking soda or raw oatmeal in the bath water. This will help relieve the inflammation and irritation associated with infant eczema.

2. Moisturize your baby's skin with evening primrose oil. Evening primrose is a North American wildflower. Its seeds contain the essential fat known as gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which relieves inflammation, making it a good treatment for eczema. Open up a capsule containing 500 mg of evening primrose oil. Massage it onto the areas of your baby's skin that has eczema symptoms.

3. Dress your baby in loose clothing. Babies with infant eczema should not be dressed in clothing that fits tightly, is rough, or made out of wool. This type of clothing can irritate the skin and aggravate eczema symptoms. Instead, dress your baby in clothing that is made out of cotton and is smooth in texture.

4. Control eczema symptoms using neem bark. This tall evergreen tree is commonly used for healing purposes in India. It has properties that help relieve pain and inflammation. To use it as a treatment for eczema, boil the neem bark in water. Allow it to cool a little. Then use a clean cloth to apply it to the affected areas.

5. Keep the air in your baby's room moist. This is a very important part of treating eczema since dry air can increase the itching and flaking of skin. Use a humidifier to keep the air moist. Keep the humidifier clean at all times to prevent the spread of bacteria.

[godfather25]

on 11/13/2009 Great article on treating infant eczema naturally.