Over the years, I have received lots of emails from people with suggestions, stories, questions and friendly advice about kids and eczema. If you’re one of them, thanks!

I thought I’d write out the whole story in one post, so it all reads in chronological order.

But I must state – that overall – Sean’s eczema is not all THAT BAD. The little guy is happy and healthy, so I ain’t complaining!

…

Ever since Sean was a little baby, he always had rashes on his face, back, body, neck and legs.

They started off as dry patches of flaky skin, but when he got stressed or too hot, they would itch. He would scratch them into red scabs, bubbly with swelling and blood. And usually they were concentrated in the folds of his skin, behind knees, and behind ears.

First we tried regular moisturising. And quickly realised NOT to use stuff with perfumes, colour or harsh chemicals.

We also stopped using baby soaps and baby bubble baths, which were too harsh for his skin.

I read that I should avoid using anything with SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) a harsh detergent that usually leads to skin irritation. My goodness, SLS was in EVERYTHING at the supermarket.

I did some research, read lots of arguments for and against – and decided I may as well stick with organic products. So I tried a number of different organic baby herbal soaps and lotions.

I took Sean to my GP, who gave us some steroid cream, to use sparingly. Apparently it thins the skin after a while. Then we tried another prescription cream. And another.

I started to look for a more long term solution. I was still breast feeding at this stage and thought he might be allergic to something I was eating?

So when Sean was 6 months old, I took him to see an allergy specialist in Perth.

It turned out that he was allergic to our cat!

So after all that, his rashes calmed down a fair bit.

But his eczema flares up :

• In winter – when we rug him up to sleep, or put too many layers on him after a hot bath.
• When he is sick – his body heats up and his skin gets really dry and sensitive.
• And when he’s having a bad day!

At the moment, I use Ego QV Skin Lotion. It smells a bit bleh, but it’s affordable and it seems to keep him happy. And Papaw Ointment.

We’ve learnt to dress him in lighter clothes, put cream on him 4 times a day, and manage his temperature. And I have a feeling that he’ll be managing eczema his whole life!