Tips for Keeping Skin That Is Prone to Eczema Nourished and Moisturised

As parents, it’s so easy to get swept up in our busy days and suddenly realise that we’ve fallen behind on our little one’s moisturising routine. It happens to the best of us! But when our little ones are prone to eczema, keeping a consistent, moisturising skincare routine is one of the most important things we can do to help prevent uncomfortable flare-ups.

Today, we wanted to share some of our best tips for moisturising your little one’s skin. We know that keeping eczema-prone skin hydrated can feel like a never-ending battle, so these practical tips are all about maximising moisture. We hope they help you get the most out of your little one’s moisturising skincare routine to create longer-lasting hydration!

Bathing and showering

When your little one has eczema-prone skin, a regular bath or shower is essential because it helps to wash away irritants that can cause skin flare-ups. Bath time is also an excellent opportunity to boost hydration with the right products.

There are four important details to remember with your little one when in the bath:

• Make sure the water is only lukewarm - warmer water can irritate and dry out skin prone to eczema
• Don’t spend too long in the bath - 10 minutes is ideal - extra time in the bath can start to dehydrate little skin
• Be mindful of using products that are gentle and won’t dry out or irritate sensitive skin
• Consider using a product in the bath that can add moisture to your little one’s skin, like Itchy Baby Co.’s Natural Oatmeal Bath Soak.

After the bath

There is so much to think about when you’re getting your baby out of the bath, but when they have dry skin, getting moisturiser on quickly should be front of mind. Pat your little one dry (don’t rub because this can be harsh on their skin), and then ideally, you have about three minutes to cover them generously in moisturiser while their skin is still damp.

Ointments, creams and lotions

The goal of moisturising your baby’s skin with ointments, creams and lotions is to create a barrier between moistened skin and the environment.

• Ointments leave a layer on the skin and often feel a bit greasy—this is because they are very effective at trapping moisture. Itchy Baby Co. Eczema Moisturiser is an oil-rich ointment designed to coat and deeply nourish dry and sensitive skin.
• Creams are lighter than ointments, so the barrier they leave on the skin isn’t as thick.
• Lotions are the mildest form of moisturising for skin prone to eczema. Since they’re mostly water, lotions can evaporate quite quickly and don’t tend to leave a barrier on the skin to keep it moisturised.

How and when to moisturise

The most important time to moisturise your little one is straight after the bath, when their skin has been pat dry but is still damp, as this is when you have the opportunity to lock in the most moisture. The best way to put moisturiser on dry skin is to stroke it downwards (it might take a few minutes for the moisturiser to absorb completely). If your doctor has prescribed steroid creams or ointments, you should apply these first, followed by a moisturiser.

However, moisturising only after bath time is usually not enough for babies with skin that can be prone to eczema. It’s important to reapply moisturiser throughout the day—usually before dressing your baby in the morning and before their midday nap or somewhere in the middle of the day.

This blog post was brought to you and your baby with love by the Itchy Baby Co. team. X

Disclaimer: Information provided is of a general nature only, and you should always consult your medical professional.