What Common Household Products Can Cause an Eczema Flare-Up?

As parents, navigating the world of eczema triggers can feel pretty overwhelming, especially in the beginning. One helpful place to start identifying and eliminating those itchy skin triggers is in our homes – where we spend most of our time making memories with our little ones!

While it’s not well understood exactly what causes eczema, we do know that genetics and environmental factors can play a significant role. And while there’s no cure for eczema, it can be managed by avoiding triggers and maintaining a consistent moisturising skincare routine.

Today, we’re exploring common household products that can cause eczema flare-ups. We hope that by being more aware of these products, you’ll feel more empowered to identify possible triggers for your little one to manage eczema flare-ups.

What household products commonly contain irritants that can cause an eczema flare-up?

In the bathroom: shampoo, bubble bath and body wash

Substances in everyday skin and hair care products such as shampoo, bubble bath, and body wash can cause itchiness, redness, and dryness in your child’s skin. They can also further dry the skin out by stripping the skin’s barrier, allowing hydration to escape easily. Some common irritants to avoid include fragrances, dyes, sulphates, and parabens.

If you’re looking for a gentle alternative to these products for your little one, our Natural Shampoo & Body Wash offers a 4-in-1 solution that can be used as a shampoo, body wash, bubble bath and skin nourishment. The fragrance-free, tear-free formula is made especially for sensitive skin, with no harsh ingredients to minimise the chance of irritation.

In the laundry: laundry detergents and fabric softeners

After we wash our clothes, some laundry product residue can remain in the clothes fibres, which, depending on the sensitivity of your child’s skin, can cause irritation. Choosing a laundry detergent for your child’s clothes that doesn’t irritate their skin can be challenging, but some alternatives are available. Avoiding laundry products with optical brighteners and fragrances is a good place to start. Adding an extra spin cycle at the end of a wash can also help remove the residue and lessen the chance of your laundry detergent irritating the skin and causing an eczema flare-up. Instead of using fabric softeners, putting clothing in the clothes dryer (where appropriate) can help to soften fabrics.

Around the house: cleaning products

The products we use to clean our homes can also contain substances that, when they come into contact with our children’s skin or become airborne, can cause irritation and sometimes contribute to an eczema flare-up. It can be a good idea to avoid or reduce the use of products with harsh chemicals and fragrances.

Surfaces such as dining tables, kitchen benches, windows, and floors are common places for children to come into contact with cleaning products. Going over surfaces with warm water after using these products can help, or choosing more natural, less irritating cleaning alternatives can also help.

What are some other common environmental causes of eczema flare-ups?

Some other common environmental triggers to be aware of are:

• Pet dander
• Dust
• Mold
• Cigarette smoke
• Fragrances and perfumes
• Certain fabrics, such as wool and polyester from the clothes worn by your child

Remember to always stick to your skincare routine

In addition to doing our best to avoid these triggers, the most important part of managing your child’s eczema is sticking to their eczema-friendly skincare routine to ensure the skin is nourished and hydrated. Daily bathing to wash away triggers and following with a good cream or ointment can help to provide as much moisture as possible to manage dry skin.

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.