We were delighted recently to know our Baby Lotion has helped yet another little body to gain relief from the itching and irritation of eczema. Fresh from holidays in Greece, the little guy’s mum took to Facebook to explain how a beeswax based cream she had found in the local pharmacy had done wonders for his skin.
“He gets a little patch of irritation and although it does settle down once an emollient cream is applied his skin still can look a bit red and feel very dry in that area,” she said.
“(In Greece) I was recommended beeswax cream to keep the area moisturised. It is completely natural and to be honest I was a bit skeptical about trying a cream I had neither heard about nor used before. All I can say is ‘WOW’ it is fantastic and my little boy’s elbows have never looked better! There is no redness or dryness and his skin looks perfect. I will be sourcing suppliers closer to home and will keep you updated.”
Soon afterwards, she discovered the Bee Loved skincare range and was delighted to find our all-natural, beeswax based Baby Lotion has the same amazing effect on eczema symptoms.
While the benefits of beeswax abound, it is ideal for treating eczema symptoms because it creates a natural barrier for the skin to protecting it from external irritants while allowing it the skin breathe. Beeswax has proven anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral properties to help treat even the angriest of skin conditions. Beeswax is also rich in Vitamin A for softening and rehydrating skin, and acts as an emollient and humectant, sealing moisture in the skin.
Standard topical treatments for eczema, unfortunately, can cause further irritation to the skin, with popular aqueous creams, petroleum jellies and paraffin oils being among the key culprits.
If your child has eczema, be sure to avoid:
Aqueous creams: made from a combination of emulsifiers (which contain paraffin oils) and water, with phenoxyethanol as an antimicrobial preservative. Paraffin is a by-product of petroleum and is known to cause irritation to the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. If paraffin oil is left on the skin for long periods, dermatitis may result.
Petroleum jelly: another by-product of the oil industry and used frequently for dry skin conditions and nappy barriers. However, while it may initially seem to hydrate the skin, it can block pores, trap dirt and inhibit the skin’s ability to breathe. Babies with eczema should particularly avoid petroleum jelly for its dehydrating effect on the skin.
Parabens: be sure to seek out skincare products for your baby that explicitly state “No Parabens”. They are known to have potentially toxic effects such as reproductive toxicity, hormone disruption, and skin irritation – which is the last thing a baby with eczema needs to deal with. Parabens have also been linked to breast cancer and are known to be secreted in breast milk so it is equally important that mum chooses paraben free products also.
Parfum: also listed on the label as fragrance, it is a catch-all heading for all sorts of parabens included in the product in amounts under the EU threshold.  Avoid any product with this listed as an ingredient to minimise the chances of skin irritation.
Want to know more? Read our blog post on The skincare ingredients you should never use on baby’s skin.
This blog post appeared first on the Bee Loved Natural Skincare blog.