Eczema

Eczema

Article by Angela Haldane

Q. Where should I start with my baby's eczema? He has just started to develop it mostly on his torso and the odd patch on his limbs. I have a history of eczema through to adulthood but seemed to be controlled with the use of evening primrose and fish oil tablets. He is fully breastfed at this stage.

A. Atopic eczema commonly occurs during childhood and is sometimes associated with a hereditary history of allergies. Atopic eczema affects 3-10% of infants (but can also occur in adults). Affected children exhibit dry, itchy skin with eruptions. Atopic eczema has an immunological basis.

For many skin complaints we recommend that you do the allergy test to identify food and environmental intolerances. This test requires a consultation with Natural Ange Ltd.

Natural Ange's 'Skin Salve' – containing chickweed which soothes dry chapped skin, burdock which supports skin health, and licorice for its soothing properties.
Quite often for young children and babies, I find the vitamin E cream works very well – rather than the Skin Salve.

Keep up with the fish oil – the omega 3 is important for its anti-inflammatory effects and will pass onto him through the breastmilk. And the evening primrose oil has studies to show that it has beneficial effects on eczema.