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If you or a loved one has ever struggled with eczema, it is likely that at some point you were prescribed or have used a topical steroid cream.
But, if you are like me, and have an awareness of the fact that what goes on your body ultimately ends up in your body through your bloodstream, then you probably don’t want to use a steroid cream, or steroids at all for that matter.
That was my situation in 2015. I’ve never personally struggled with eczema, but my husband had it pretty badly when he was a baby/toddler, which of course is likely what led to my son having eczema. The last thing I wanted to do was put steroids on my baby’s body as an eczema treatment!
Thankfully, there are several ways to fight eczema, without having to use steroids, whether it be for you or for your children. But being that steroids are the norm as a treatment for this, it can sometimes be difficult to find other solutions! And if you’re like me, the last thing you want to do is experiment with treatment on your baby or child’s skin!
That’s why I’ve put together a list of 4 easy ways to fight eczema without using steroids!
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#1 – Be Mindful of Your Laundry Detergent
Most laundry detergents are full of chemicals that can irritate the skin. If you’ve just had a new baby or if you remember back to your child’s newborn days, you were likely told to use something like Dreft.
Though Dreft touts being more mild for baby’s skin, this is not necessarily the case. Please be weary of any marketing messages that claim to be gentle/safe……checking the label is a must!
Thankfully, there are lots of other choices out there that are much better priced, work better, and are safer. You really need a mild detergent that is free of fragrance, dyes, and parfums to really be effective as an eczema treatment.
As a best practice in health and safety, a mild detergent should be used for the entire household, regardless of whether or not each family member has eczema!
Not only is this safer for you, but it’s also safer for anyone who comes into contact with your clothing. Chemicals do get trapped in the fibers of our clothing and can transfer to someone else’s skin.
For a list of detergents deemed to be safest, click here to check out the ewg.org website. They have tested and compiled a list, and they continue to test new products regularly so this stays relevant.
The good news is, that once you select a detergent that you like, it can be used for the entire family, so if you do have a newborn or young baby there is no need to have a separate detergent for him/her!
#2 – Use a Body Wash that is Free of Fragrance. A Charcoal Bar is Also Great as an Eczema Treatment
Fragrance is a term that can must thousands of chemicals. When a company uses an ingredient called “fragrance,” the company does not have to disclose what is included in this mix as it is considered a trademark/proprietary blend.
Also, due to a lack of regulation in the personal care and beauty industry, the FDA does not have the power to test or regulate what goes into our personal care products. Therefore, companies have the power to use tons of chemicals that can irritate the skin, among other things.
There are some products out there that have natural fragrance but you need to be careful when selecting those as well. Some could be safe, but some not so much.
A charcoal bar is a great tool to help the skin detox. Activated charcoal can hold 100 times its weight in impurities. But be careful when using charcoal on baby’s skin. It is likely ok, but I do not believe that it has been tested previously so better to err on the side of caution.
If you are interested in hearing my favorite body wash and charcoal bar to help with eczema treatment, please contact me here!
#3 – Opt for Dryer Balls or Nothing At All Instead of Dryer Sheets
This goes back to the issue with fragrance. Most dryer sheets have loads of fragrance which can irritate the skin. And most likely ALL are full of chemicals that you don’t want getting into your skin or bloodstream.
Dryer sheets are never recommended for baby clothes in general because they can leave chemicals on baby’s clothes, and adults’ too, that can make them more attractive to a flame, causing the clothes to burn very easily, eeewww.
Before I discovered dryer balls that I liked, I used to dry my clothes without using anything. This is also what we do for our baby and toddler’s clothes because I’d much rather be safe than sorry.
Some dryer balls are better than others. I personally like wool dryer balls so that I am not drying plastic balls in with my and my family’s clothing.
#4 – Use a Non-Petroleum Based Balm or an Oil that is Mineral Oil Free
Products like vaseline are petroleum based…..meaning they are a mixture of mineral oils and waxes. But mineral oil can trigger allergies.
Mineral oil can also cause organ system toxicity because it is a liquid mixture of hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum.
So when you are finished with your shower, or bath for the little ones, reach for an oil that is mineral oil free and a balm that is petroleum free. Apply both to get the best result, especially when you are in the initial skin detoxing phase.
For tough eczema, continue to apply both oil and balm daily, but for mild to moderate eczema, you are likely able to just use the balm or maybe even the oil daily.
It is important to note that daily usage of either product is ideal for the best and most consistent results.
If you would like information on my favorite balm and oil, please contact me here and don’t forget to pick up my free guide by clicking the button below!
Download My 5 MUST-HAVE Smartphone Apps Guide Here
I hope that you have found some value in this list, and are able to put it to good use as a steroid free eczema treatment!
If you have found value, please share by clicking on the icons below this article! I’d love to help your friends to have a better solution for eczema treatment as well!
Until next time……..
Here’s to achieving true wellness!
*Legal Disclaimer – All information provided above is for educational purposes only. Information should not be construed as medical or legal advice in any capacity and is not intended to prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure disease.