Childhood Eczema: One Mom's Natural Remedy
Hey there, my name is mom. No, wait…I also go by the name Valerie. Typically I’m surrounded by three wild and crazy boys. Koa just turned 2, Julian is 4 and my husband is 38. I use the word “typically” because Landon is a musician and he tours the country for weeks at a time. He’s been doing it since he was 18 so I guess you can say that I knew what I was getting into when I married him. As for me? Well, I’m a four year old kindergarten teacher. I know what you’re thinking and I’m not sure how I do it either.
Actually, what I really struggle with is something that I didn’t know much (or anything) about before having children. something that came into our lives with a vengeance and has been so difficult to keep calm. I’m talking about childhood eczema. My husband and I have never had it, but somehow we have two children who suffer from it daily. Their skin flares up unexpectedly, they suffer (which means we all suffer) and we are left wondering what how to help them get some relief. I know I’m not the only parent that struggles to keep their kids itchy skin at bay and the frustrating part is that finding what works for one child doesn’t always work for the next.
I swear we tried everything. Lotions, creams, steroids, bathing once a week, bathing nightly, wet wrapping, eliminating foods, logging food intake, taking probiotics and vitamins, using a humidifier, avoiding scratching, using a cold compress, etc. The list just keeps going on from there and nothing was working consistently.
After joining many online support groups and constant researching, one of the best pieces of advice that I have ever received was to switch our laundry detergent to something that was gentle and fragrance free. I’ve discovered that many people are allergic or sensitive to the ingredients found in natural or conventional detergents. These ingredients really wreak havoc by triggering eczema or causing further irritation to already inflamed skin.
I wish I had realized sooner the importance of choosing clothing and materials that are organic, free from toxic washes, bleach, dyes and scents. Ever since making the switch to fragrant free detergent and generally organic clothing brands, both of my boys skin has made a remarkable improvement. I’m just a mom who had two minutes to sit down, preaching from the couch how incredibly relieved I am that we found an easy change that makes a dramatic improvement in all of our daily lives.
About the Author:
My name is Valerie and I am 34 years old. I have two little boys, Koa(2) and Julian(4). My adventurous little family and I reside in a small town in Wisconsin. I am a four year old kindergarten teacher and love inspiring little minds. In what little free time I have, I enjoy photographing my children in comfortable, stylish and bold colors.
