Many babies develop eczema during their first year. For some it begins soon after birth, others develop skin eruptions when formula milk or new foods are introduced. It develops in the form of patches of red, itchy skin which may be dry or discharging, and are sometimes raised and scaly in appearance. Typical areas affected are the face and neck, behind their ears, and also in the bends of knees and elbows.
Parents are naturally concerned to heal their child’s skin and relieve their discomfort. But it is worth pausing to consider why your baby has developed eczema, and how to genuinely heal it.
Eczema is an atopic condition, meaning that it is associated with hypersensitivity and allergies, and related to asthma, hay fever, and in some cases migraines. As such it speaks to an inherited susceptibility, of which eczema is typically the earliest manifestation. Factors involved in the appearance of the eruptions at a specific time can include parental stress, vaccination, and weaning, among other things. While the conventional approach, focusing on topical moisturisers and corticosteroids, will often clear up the skin nicely, it is an ‘outside in’ approach which does not resolve the underlying cause, and in most cases needs to be kept up religiously to keep the symptoms under control.
Homeopathy takes an ‘inside out’ approach: healing is a centrifugal process, and therefore the best way to approach eczema is one which addresses the bigger picture, including the inherited susceptibility. A remedy is individually selected for your child, which matches the family pattern as well as the way your child’s skin problem manifests. Healing from the inside reduces the likelihood of recurrence, and builds strength and resilience.
Here are some of the most commonly prescribed remedies for eczema in babies, depending on the whole symptom picture:
Calc carb is a major remedy for infant health problems, including eczema. Cases that respond well to Calc carb typically have skin eruptions which are itchy first thing in the morning, and after bathing or perspiring. These children often have eczema in the bends of knees and elbows, and on the scalp and face. They also typically have cradle cap which can be persistent beyond the first few months. The eczema is noticeably worse in cold weather.
Graphites is needed in cases where the eczema is a moist, discharging eruption, with a sticky yellowish discharge. Like Calc carb, this type of eczema is typically worse in winter, and in Graphites there are sometimes cracks in the skin, which may bleed. The itching tends to be worse at night (from the warmth of the bed), and the child will often scratch until the skin is raw.
Sulphur is another major remedy of childhood. It is known to be a very important skin remedy, but by no means every case of baby eczema will benefit from it, as the picture is quite distinct. In a Sulphur case, the itching is much worse for water – washing, bathing or swimming. The skin is also aggravated by warmth, including the warmth of the bed at night. The itch may be so intense that the child will scratch until they bleed or until the skin is raw. The itch is also worse when they are undressed, and very much aggravated by contact with woollen clothes or blankets.
Thuja is one of the main remedies which is used to treat eczema which appears after vaccination (Sulphur is also a key remedy here). The skin eruption appears most characteristically on areas which are covered, and also on areas which perspire. Itching tends to be worse in the evening and at night, and the eruption appears in patches.
Tuberculinum is another remedy which I prescribe frequently in cases of baby eczema. It is one of the remedies that corresponds to eczema which is triggered by dairy products (eg weaning onto formula milk after breastfeeding). There is typically a family history of tuberculosis or other chronic respiratory conditions. Baby’s skin may be rough and dry, and the eczema typically appears in circular patches. Itching will tend to be worse for undressing or for cold air.
Want to consider homeopathic treatment for your little one? Contact me here to discuss working with me.
Hello, I’m Karen.
I am a homeopath based in Tavistock, Devon, UK and I also consult locally and worldwide via Skype. I am a lecturer and clinical supervisor at the School of Homeopathy in Stroud, and offer supervision for qualified homeopaths and for students.
I love ur article…same happened to my each kid. And we were tired to take antibiotics and allergy vaccinations. Kindly help me..my 2 yr daughter have patches scratch until bleed. Come watery…when dry scalp become..she is too disturb. When we take allergy medicine it transform into small tiny seeds and spread sudden all over body..
Hi Nosheen, it sounds as though homeopathy would be helpful for your 2 year old. I would be happy to work with you – I will send you an email separately. Best wishes, Karen
Hi Karen , my baby girl has developed ezcema since she was 4 months old all of sudden may be when I introduced FM not sure though but since then she has flare up and imflammed specially in the bens of knees elbows and on cheeks her bends are very itchy dry n red
Could you please help if this can cure forever thanks
Hi Lari, homeopathy can be very helpful with this. If you would like to discuss treatment options you are welcome to book a free 15 minute call with me: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=19077393 Best wishes, Karen
My 2 year old has eczema on her face. She has tried multiple creams and antibiotics but nothing is helping, sometimes the creams make it worse. Can you help?
Hi Toria, yes homeopathy is a good referral for children’s eczema. It aims to heal the problem from the inside out, addressing the root cause. Best wishes, Karen
Keep up the wonderful work… Best Wishes.
Thank you!
My son suddenly developed eczema around 4 months even though I am exclusively breastfeeding and watch my diet. Ped thinks he may have a cow’s milk protein allergy since his bowels would react since he was born. But lately I’ve tried having milk ingredients and I don’t see the same reaction as before so maybe he has grown out of it. His eczema is on his back, stomach, upper arms. What category would this fall under!
Hi Djurdjica, thanks for your comment and glad to hear your son’s skin seems to be improving. In homeopathy we don’t need to categorise or diagnose a condition – what we look at is the particular way each individual experiences their symptoms, what affects them, and with infants, what part the family health history may play. The remedy prescribed is tailored to the individual, and thus aims to heal the problem from the inside. I hope all progresses well for you and your little one. Best wishes, Karen
Hi my 5 months baby have atopic dermatitis. There is much itching whole day. My son became very much irritated due to iching. We r having family history of atopic dermatitis…. Pls suggest needful
Hi, thanks for your comment. From a homeopathic perspective, it is important to treat skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis from the inside, using individualised homeopathic treatment. This will address the root cause of the problem (which relates to the family history), and heal it from the inside rather than suppressing the symptoms. Best wishes, Karen
I have heard and experienced homeopathic treatments worsen the condition before improving. During my time it was unbearable and had to stop the treatment. Any advice on this matter?
Hi Aisha, thanks for your comment and question. The ‘worsening’ in question is what is known as a homeopathic ‘aggravation’. This can occur (though not always) after taking a homeopathic remedy, and usually takes the form of a temporary worsening or amplification of the current symptoms. This will often be accompanied by a deeper sense that a healing process is underway, sometimes with a feeling that in themselves, the person is beginning to feel better, even though the presenting physical symptoms may be temporarily worse. In my experience, any aggravation produced by a remedy is brief (no more than a day or two) in almost all cases. The ideal of homeopathic healing is that it is ‘rapid, gentle and permanent’. There are a number of reasons why the symptoms may get worse and stay worse for a longer period of time. You would need to speak to your homeopath to discuss this. For example, if you need to ‘stop the treatment’ because the condition has become unbearable, this does suggest you may be taking the remedy on an ongoing basis, and in this case you may have taken too much of it. ‘Minimum dose’ is an important homeopathic principle, and taking a remedy routinely beyond the minimum dose needed can be problematic. I hope this is helpful. Best wishes, Karen
Hello my baby boy is having eczema since 2 months old.. he had patches almost all over his body except his face.. i applied cetaphil cream and that helped a lot.. now his skin is really soft.. but still he is having itching in some areas (neck and hand).. im thinking of giving homeo medicine.. can i get permanent cure..does it cause aggrevation.. i fear whether the condition will become worse before curing..bcoz he is only 7 months old now..
Hi Ahlaam, thanks for your question. Homeopathy is a good option for infant eczema – it is important to heal it from the inside, and the earlier the better. Homeopathic medicines do sometimes produce a temporary ‘aggravation’ of the symptoms at the beginning, in my experience if this occurs it is only for a few days at most. This does not mean that the condition is ‘becoming worse’, but rather that the medicine has stimulated the healing process. I suggest you get in touch with a homeopath to discuss further. My booking link is here, and you can book an appointment with me, or a free 15 minute call to discuss the treatment process: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=19077393 Best wishes, Karen
Thank you so much for ur valuable reply.. i started for my baby homeo treatment since 1 month now.. doctor gave medicines for 3 months.. from yesterday he is having red allergic reaction in his face , neck and hand folds.. he is feeling itchy sometimes.. hope it will cure completely soon..
Hello Karen.
I am a 38 year old mum and I have has problems with my skin all my life. As a kid i was given every exzema cream by the Dr but never solved the problem. I mostly suffer from flare ups. One day my skin can be clear and lovely and then it seems I can wake up with a rash, usually on my face, in the form of rough red blotches which become flaky (but not thick or weepy). Then My skin feels tight like it is going to crack, feeling like sunburn. It is very sensitive and literally eveything irritates it or makes it sting, even the “mildest” creams and water. 100% pure shea butter is the only thing that doesnt burn my face. It seems once the rash has flaked and cleared my skin goes back to being clear for another month or so before it flares up again. I am not sure if this is due to stress/food/chemicals. I also sometimes have small circular patches on the tops of my arms and shins. I also have Keratosis Pilaris on tops of arms. I am very sensitive to heat, washing products, and even labels in clothes and certain stitching. I also have sensitive eyes, watering very easily and I have terrible terrible hayfever which is like flu each year!
My 4 year old son also gets circular patchs or shaped like a map on his lower back, lower belly, arms and dry patches on his face. It has got better as he has got older. He was prescribed the same old creams. I have a newborn and I am worried incase she also gets this condition. She is breast fed at the moment.
What course of action would you suggest for us?
Thankyou
Hi Marie, thanks for your question. The homeopathic view is that skin conditions are mainly caused by internal, inherited factors, and they need to be treated from the ‘inside out’. Creams and ointments such as topical steroid preparations can quite successively remove the skin eruption, but because the root cause hasn’t been dealt with, the problem will typically pop up somewhere else, or manifest later as a different health problem. Working with a homeopath, you receive an individualised prescription based on your own specific symptom picture, which addresses the root cause. If you would like to book a free intro call to have a chat and ask me any further questions, here is my booking link: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=19077393 Best wishes, Karen