Aerin was only 4 months old when I first wrote about her eczema. We had been hoping that she would grow out of the condition by 6 months old, or even 1 year old, but that has not been the case. š
However, weĀ have tried new products and changed her skin routine somewhat, so I wanted to write an update for reference purposes and in hopes that it may benefit others suffering from the same condition.
I want to stay clear of prescription medication as much as possible, so we’ve gone from 2.5%Ā hydrocortisone cream to 1%, which can be found on the shelves of drugstores. We still use this to make the half-hydrocortisone-half-vaseline mix which we apply on her flare-ups, but only when it looks especially red and/or itchy.
We also gradually stopped using theĀ EpiCeramĀ®Ā because once again, I didn’t want Aerin to become too dependent on prescription meds.
A couple of months ago, I read about Mustela’sĀ Stelatopia line, which is formulated for eczema-prone skin. I read up on the products and saw that it was getting awesome reviews, so I decided to splurge on the Stelatopia Moisturizing Cream and the Stelatopia Cream Cleanser.
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As much I had hoped the Stelatopia cream and cleanser would be the answer to Aerin’s dry skin, they unfortunately were not for us. Don’t get me wrong ā they did not irritate or exacerbate her eczema. And others have had great success with these products, so maybe they’ll work for you.
However, I personallyĀ found them to be no better than the cheaper Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Moisture Cream or the Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Cream Wash, both of which were mentioned in my last eczema post.
So for now, we’re sticking with the Aveeno cleanser. (We haven’t been using the oatmeal bath since we transitioned Aerin from her baby tub, but it’s another product I wholeheartedly recommend!)
As for a moisturizer, I’ve found a new product that has been THE best over-the-counter baby eczema cream…at least for us. Enter the BabyGanics Bye Bye Dry Eczema Care Cream.
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I’ve been a huge fan of the BabyGanics Stain Remover ever since we brought Claire home from the hospital, so I wasn’t afraid to try this cortisone and steroid-free lotion. AvailableĀ in 3oz and 8oz sizes, this moisturizer has earned rave reviews. Unlike other creams which eventually evaporates and/or sinks into the skin, this cream seems to leave a soft barrier on the skin which keeps it from drying out.
In fact, I would recommend this cream toĀ anyone suffering suffering from dry skin, not just babies with eczema. I know that it’s done wonders for my hands in this cold weather!
Lastly, I’d like to share with you our favorite diaper cream. We had been using Desitin on both Claire and Aerin since day one, but it didn’t work all the time on Aerin’s sensitive skin. So when I heard aboutĀ the Earth Mama Angel Baby Angel Baby Bottom Balm, I knew I had to give it a try.
This isn’t as much of a cream as it is a salve. Natural, organic, and vegan-free, I’ve heard that the Bottom Balm works especially well with cloth diapers, and it’s also working just fine with this Pampers family. Whenever Aerin’s bottom looked in the least bit red, I rubbed this over the area and the rash was almost always gone by the next diaper change. After a while, I started to use it forĀ all diaper changes as a safeguardĀ from diaper rashes.
So there it is ā our new, updated list of eczema treatments for our 1-year-old daughter. I really hope that Aerin’s skin will improve as she grows older…I now have great sympathy for anyone with eczema ā kids and adults alike ā I can’t imagine going through life with such dry, itchy skin!
