What common household products can cause an eczema flare up?

There are many different triggers that can affect our children’s eczema and result in an eczema flare up. It is not very well understood what exactly causes eczema but we do know that genetics, as well as the environment play a role. Eczema can be managed using a daily skincare routine with oatmeal bath soaks and eczema moisturiser. 

The skin barrier in children who have eczema does not work as well as those who do not have eczema which means that triggers and irritants in the household products we use can more easily penetrate the skin’s surface and cause an eczema flare up. Knowing what these products are for your child can lessen the likelihood of an eczema flare up.

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

• shampoo, bubble bath, body wash

Substances which are in everyday skin and hair care products such as shampoo, bubble bath and body wash can cause itchiness, redness and dryness of your child’s skin. This happens because they can more easily get into the layers of skin as the skin barrier isn’t working properly to be able to keep them out. These substances can also further dry the skin out by stripping what there is of the skin’s barrier, causing hydration to easily escape.

• laundry detergent

After we wash our clothes, some laundry detergent 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 which doesn’t irritate their skin can be challenging but there are some alternatives available. 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.

• cleaning products

The products we use to keep our houses clean can also contain substances which when they come into contact with our children’s skin can cause irritation, inflammation and sometimes an eczema flare up. Common places for children to come into contact with cleaning products are surfaces such as, dining tables, kitchen benches, windows, and floors. Going over surfaces with warm water after using these products can help, and also looking into using more natural cleaning alternatives.

What are other common environmental causes of an eczema flare up?

• Cigarette smoke
• Fragrances
• Certain fabrics such as wool and polyester from the clothes worn by your child
• Perfumes

Remember to always stick to your skincare routine

As well as doing our best to avoid these triggers, the most important part of managing your child’s eczema is sticking to their eczema skin care routine to ensure the skin is nourished and hydrated. There are a range of ointments and creams which can be used to give as much moisture as possible against triggers to manage dry skin.

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

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