Eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis) is a common skin disorder in infants. It affects up to 25% of children, and 60 percent of persons who get eczema do so during their first year of life. While there is no cure, the majority of cases can be managed with a specific skin care regimen that includes moisturizers, prescription drugs, and tactics to avoid triggers. While dry skin and rashes are usually common in babies and kids under 3 years, there are few things that are characteristic of eczema. For instance, red and inflamed skin, itching, crusting, and dark and scaly patches of skin are other things that you should watch out for when you think your kid has eczema.
Did you know that the synthetic clothes you use on babies skin are one of the important factors triggering eczema in babies. Yes! The synthetic fabrics like rayon, nylon, polyester, and spandex are too rough for babies’ delicate skin and are loaded with harsh metals, chemical dyes, and prickly embellishments and are a big no to choose for baby’s super soft skin.
Babies and kids with eczema face severe irritation on the skin and this irritation gives them an urge to scratch. Keeping your baby’s skin well moisturized is the basic step to soothe an eczema-prone baby skin. You use a gentle moisturizing lotion and massage the baby’s skin after bath and before bedtime. Another simple approach to avoid eczema flare-ups caused by clothing is to outfit your infant only in natural textiles like organic cotton, linen, silk, and hemp.
There are two main reasons why man-made synthetic fabrics are extremely irritating for sensitive skin.
- Synthetic fabrics do not absorb sweat.
Kids and babies also sweat just like adults. Synthetic fabrics have very poor or zero absorbent properties and do not absorb the sweat produced by the body. This means that the urea, salt, sugar, and other toxins that are released by the body in the form of sweat stays on the skin for a longer time; thereby, causing the symptoms of eczema like rashes and itching.
- Synthetic fabrics are not airy
Synthetic fabrics are not breathable as the natural fabrics and neither do they let the baby’s skin breathe. This means that there is no proper air circulation in the areas covered by synthetic dresses for the sweat to dry. The allergens, toxins, and chemicals used in the fabric find their way through the hydrolipidic layer of the skin and cause redness, dry flakes, and itchiness of the skin.
Natural Fabrics that are ideal to be used on babies and kids with eczema
Silk:
In addition to feeling soft and looking gorgeous, silk is highly good for children with eczema. Silk is antimicrobial by nature and hence effectively reduces the risk of infection in eczema-prone skin. Another benefit of using silk is that it is a very good body temperature regulator. The same fabric keeps you cool in summers and warm in winters. A study on the clinical effectiveness of a silk fabric in the treatment of atopic dermatitis shows that the children who wore silk and used moisturizer saw a considerable improvement in their eczema while in children who used synthetic clothing and used no moisturizer, eczema had only worsened. However, the only demerit of using silk in children is that it is difficult to maintain. Silk is not easy to wash and needs care to last long.
Organic Cotton:
Cotton is soft and is perfect to cover babies’ gentle skin. This natural fabric keeps your baby cool and allows the skin to ‘breathe.’ Cotton itself is a breathable fabric that lets air easily pass in and out. This ensures that your baby gets enough air circulation over his skin which in turn, soothes his itchy skin. Cotton is also one of the easiest fabrics to maintain. They are machine-washable and dry out pretty fast. It is also a sustainable option and is safe on Mother Earth as well. But when we say, we mean organic cotton that is ethically sourced and manufactured without using harmful additives like synthetic dyes, sharp seams, and poor quality embellishments.
However, cotton is a very effective absorbent and it can absorb sweat very easily. Sweat damped cotton clothing can irritate the baby skin and worsen eczema. So, if your kid sweats a lot and has eczema, use cotton dresses with certain precautionary measures. For instance, you can change his dress every four to six hours with a fresh set of cotton clothes to control eczema.
Final Words
Babies are too small and cannot explain the reason why they cry. So, when you see signs of rashes and flakiness, take medical help immediately and keep them well moisturized. Also, switch to organic cotton baby sets to preserve their delicate skin.
Author Bio:
I am Enola Andreas, a post-graduate in humanities and communications, and an inquisitive person who loves writing. My forte is digital marketing and everything that has to do with phones and screens. I’m working for Tiny Twig . I am someone who believes that one person can make a change and that’s precisely why I took up writing which is the best tool to communicate these days. I have a decade of experience in writing and marketing.
