How to Treat Baby Eczema

My baby has eczema! 

Eczema or atopic dermatitis is thought to affect 1 in 5 babies in the UK. If your little one suffers with baby eczema you are not alone – thousands of other parents across the country share your concerns and want to know: how do you treat eczema in babies? Unfortunately the answer is not straightforward, as there are many different triggers and what works for one child may not help another. Let's dig a little deeper... 

What causes eczema?

Researchers have found that different factors can cause eczema to develop in different people. It may be due to genetic predisposition, environmental factors or allergens. Triggers can include household irritants, harsh toiletries, weather and temperature changes, diet, swimming, stress or hormonal changes. That's why it's recommended to keep a diary to discover how external factors, like diet, can impact symptoms. 

How to care for your baby’s skin

Your baby’s skin can be highly sensitive to the chemicals found in many mainstream baby skin care products. It is still developing and 30% thinner during the first year of life than it is at 12 months.

Their delicate skin is more prone to water loss which leads to dryness, making it a less effective barrier against chemical toxins. The early introduction of harsh toiletries onto delicate skin may be a factor in the rising rates of eczema and allergies in children. 

What to put on a baby with eczema

It’s important to avoid toiletries that contain harsh foaming agents, sensitising preservatives and synthetic perfumes, as these are known to irritate eczema-prone skin.

But remember that by choosing ‘natural products’ it doesn’t always guarantee they will be free from nasties. In fact, a product only needs to contain 1% natural ingredients to be classed as natural.

Look to trusted organic products like Kokoso Baby® Coconut Oil, part of our eczema-friendly range, which is 100% pure and natural, certified organic and free from parabens, artificial colours, synthetic fragrances, lanolin and petrochemicals.

For newborns, midwives recommend bathing baby with water alone for as long as possible (our Natural Baby Sponge is perfect for using with plain warm water), and choosing a fragrance-free baby wash when it comes to baby’s first bath wash.

Baby eczema treatment 

It's important to note that our products are not a medicine or eczema treatment. However, you can be confident that every product in the Kokoso Baby range undergoes clinical safety testing. Our full range is paediatrician approved and dermatologically tested for sensitive skin, dermatitis and eczema-prone skin, and proven to be mild for skin and kind to skin. 

Is coconut oil good for eczema? 

Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, a healthful fatty acid that is also in breast milk. Lauric acid is an ingredient in natural remedies for all kinds of health issues, including eczema. While coconut oil cannot cure eczema, it can be helpful in managing symptoms by soothing the skin, keeping skin hydrated and reducing irritation and itchiness. 

Here at Kokoso we pack as much raw virgin organic coconut oil into our gentle formulas as possible. We aim to ensure your little one benefits from the wonderful skincare properties of this nutrient-rich natural oil – whether they’re enjoying a bath with our paediatrician-approved Gentle Hair & Body Wash, having a massage before bed with our nourishing Coconut Oil Baby Lotion, or exploring the great outdoors with our protective Baby-Soft Balm Stick.

Choose fragrance-free products for eczema-prone skin

Committed to developing the mildest formulations for babies and all the family, we offer both unfragranced and fragranced products. Our fragrance-free range is ideal for newborns, very sensitive skin and parents who are worried about using fragrances on their baby’s skin.

If and when you’re ready to introduce a scrummy scent to baby’s skincare routine, our Natural Coconut range is lightly scented with a 100% natural allergen-free fragrance. An ‘allergen-free’ fragrance means it does not contain any of the 26 identified allergens listed by EU regulations.

What is the 3 minute rule for eczema?

The three minute rule for eczema is the recommendation to apply a moisturiser within three minutes after bathing or showering. We recommend moisturising your little one with a mild natural emollient such as Kokoso Baby Coconut Oil or our fragrance-free Coconut Oil Baby Lotion. 

Natural ingredients you can trust

As well as using the very best premium organic coconut oil in all of our formulations, our products also harness the many celebrated skincare benefits of high quality natural and organic ingredients such as soothing aloe vera, nourishing shea butter, softening sweet almond oil, protective beeswax and moisturising olive oil.

Natural actives for baby’s dry skin and scalp

In some Kokoso Baby products we use carefully selected active ingredients, such as plant sugars to support the skin’s moisture barrier and improve hydration with our Coconut Oil Baby Lotion, and celery seed extract to re-balance the scalp’s microflora and reduce sebum production with our Happy Scalp Cream™.

Find out more about the gentle natural ingredients in our baby skincare.

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