If your baby has eczema, you know that keeping their face clean and outbreak free is not easy. You might, for instance, have had the uncomfortable experience of asking someone not to stroke your little one’s face or hold her too close to that wool sweater that you know will irritate their skin.
You’ve had to arm yourself with eczema-friendly face wipes and special towels that you know won’t lead to an outbreak. And try as you might, you may have struggled to find the right routine that will keep the skin on your baby's face both clean and eczema-free.
At TruKid, we know that babies with eczema need special care to ensure that they stay clean while also minimizing symptoms. So, we’ve put together some tips on the best ways to clean a baby’s face with eczema.
In The Morning
For most babies, eczema is usually least symptomatic in the morning, when cortisol levels are highest and your little one’s skin has been left alone for the hours they were asleep. This is a crucial window in which you can lay the foundation for a great day without too much irritation.
You can start by cleaning your baby’s face gently with water and applying a thin layer of eczema-friendly moisturizer. Although there are many options on the market, the TruBaby Sweet Baby Eczema Cream is unique because of it’s use of all-natural, soothing ingredients without any harsh chemicals or fragrances. It’s also one of the only eczema moisturizers available that has been tested by pediatricians and dermatologists.
Applying a gentle moisturizer after cleaning your baby’s face in the morning is important to prevent drying out and irritation during the day.
After Meals
Mealtime can be a wonderful and fun experience with your baby, but when eczema is involved, there are some additional challenges as well. With all that messiness, you might find yourself wondering if you should take it easy with the wiping or if the food itself is going to bring on an outbreak.
Over time, you’ll learn the exact food ingredients that irritate your baby’s face, but in general, the best thing you can do is to clean off food smears with a damp towel that you know won’t produce a rash. Once your baby is all done, then you can wash your little one’s face with water and pat them dry with a clean, non-irritating towel.
Bath Time
Bath time is all about finding the right cleanser that will soothe the symptoms of eczema and prevent further dryness and irritation. It’s important to look at the ingredients of all cleansers to make sure that they have no fragrances or other chemicals. Instead, try to find a product that uses natural ingredients that have been proven to calm eczema itchiness like coconut, lavender, or colloidal oatmeal.
For small babies, we suggest trying the TruBaby Eczema Soothing Hair and Body Wash, or for the slightly older kiddos, the TruKid Ezcema Care Bubble Podz. Both feature only the best ingredients to make bath time a pleasure for you and your little one.
A few other bath time routines that will save your baby from post-wash eczema is to remember to pat them dry with a towel that hasn’t been washed with harsh detergents. Bath time is also a good time to make sure that your baby’s nails are trimmed to prevent scratching. And, as always, a moisturizer is the perfect end to your bath time fun.
Before Bed
While morning may be the time that your baby’s cortisol levels are highest, they are unfortunately low at night. This means that your little one may suffer from more itchy symptoms around bedtime, and you may see them starting to scratch and become fussy as you lay them down.
We recommend that you clean the skin on your baby’s face before bedtime with water and pat them dry with a clean, non-irritating towel. Then, after applying moisturizer for the last time and fitting your little one with whatever anti-scratching method works best (mittens, swaddle, etc), it’s time for a calming sleep routine.
Some parents chose to play soothing music. Others find that having fresh lavender in the room can calm your baby - just make sure it’s not too strong of a scent. The more relaxing you can make the environment the better, because the sooner your little one gets to sleep, the less they will try to move around and further irritate their skin.
Finally, it’s important to make sure that your baby’s sheets are always clean so that their face isn’t coming into contact with a dirty, oily surface.
And there you have it: a cleansing routine for your baby with eczema.
We know, keeping your baby’s face clean while dealing with eczema can be a daunting task. But when you find the right products, you’ll notice that keeping them happy and healthy can be easy. Remember, we are always here to help you create a plan for your Little One skin. Mommy and Daddy, we have your back!