Infant Eczema Treatment: Begin with Correct Clothing!

A key factor that keeps your little one with eczema awake at night is wrong sleepwear and bedding products, causing itchiness and discomfort. A simple medication-free approach to infant eczema treatment is to optimize the sleeping conditions for your loved one.

Tight clothing causes sweat to accumulate on your baby. To keep your child cozy, dress him in layers of soft, loose-fitting, breathable clothes. 

This blog will explain bedtime clothing and skincare routine for babies with sensitive skin so that you and your little ones get better sleep. 

Infant Eczema Treatment: Fabrics for Eczema Babies

Choose natural, non-irritating materials for your baby’s sleepwear or sheets to prevent rashes. Instead of synthetic fabrics, use unbleached clothes made of cotton, silk, microfiber, or bamboo.

The following is a list of eczema-friendly fabrics to explore when dressing a baby: [1]

1. Silk

Natural anti-microbial properties of silk lower the incidence of rashes in eczema patients. This property is important because most eczema patients have skin that is prone to infection.

According to a study, eczema symptoms started improving in kids who applied moisturizer and wore only silky clothes. [2]

2. Cotton

Cotton allows the skin to breathe easily without irritation, and also absorbs a certain amount of sweat which helps maintain a comfortable state for the baby.

3. Microfiber

Microfiber clothing is hypoallergenic and more absorbent than cotton. The only disadvantage is their high cost.

4. Bamboo

It is a soft, airy material with antibacterial characteristics. It is particularly efficient at controlling temperature (keeping you warm in the winter and cool in the summer).[3]

Infant Eczema Treatment: Removing Irritating Fabrics for Eczema Babies

Avoid the following synthetic fabrics which tend to be warmer and aggravate eczema. 

• Nylon
• Acrylic
• Polyester
• Spandex
• Rayon

As for wool and fleece, there is no consensus because they cause irritation in some people and improve symptoms in others.[4]

Anti-itch Gloves and Garments for Eczema Babies

If you don’t want to change the whole wardrobe immediately, you may wish to consider something more targeted - try some eczema-friendly sleepwear for a few weeks to see if it makes a difference.

• Eczema clothing for babies
• Eczema gloves for babies

The scratching will not magically disappear but these sleepwear will reduce wound damage and minimize the surface area of wounds.

Anti-Dust Mite Bed Sheets for Eczema Babies

One of the most frequent indoor allergens is dust mites - the microscopic mites that feed on dust particles. In addition to causing allergic rhinitis, dust mites aggravate asthma and eczema.

Here are a few tips to avoid dust mites:

• Avoid drying clothes indoors, particularly in the bedroom.
• Place books, decorations, and clothing in closed cabinets.
• Wipe down surfaces with a wet cloth.
• Do mattress vacuuming regularly.
• Regularly empty the vacuum’s dust bag and air filter.
• Choose bedding and soft carpets that can be machine-washed at 60 degrees or higher Celsius to kill dust mites. (Anything lower will not kill most dust mites).
• Consider investing in wipeable allergy-proof bed covers. 

You can buy anti-dust mite bed sheets from the following online stores:

• Anti-dust mite complete range (pillows, covers, sheets)
• Anti-dust mite bed sheets

Infant Eczema Treatment: Bedtime Routine for Healthy Skin

• Give your little one a warm bath, apply a good moisturizer and use eczema-friendly nightwear. 
• Reduce your kid's exposure to bright light two hours before bed.
• Only use a soft indirect nightlight when necessary.
• If your baby's temperature rises rapidly, choose many layers of bed linens that you can remove quickly.
• Keep the cot away from your bed to prevent your body from acting as a heat radiator.
• Aim to keep your bedroom between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius colder than the rest of your home. [5] [6]

Takeaway 

Nighttime clothing is a crucial step in your infant’s eczema treatment. For a healthy sleep and to prevent your little star from sudden rashes, use skin-friendly clothes made of cotton, silk, bamboo, and microfibers. Avoid synthetic clothes such as nylon, polyester, and rayon. Make a night routine for your kiddo and maintain room temperature for healthy sleep.

References 

1. Mustela USA. The Best (And Worst) Clothes For Babies With Eczema, Plus Care Tips [Internet]. Mustela USA. Mustela USA; 2022 [cited 2022 Jul 30]. Available from: https://www.mustelausa.com/blogs/mustela-mag/the-best-and-worst-clothes-for-babies-with-eczema-plus-care-tips
2. Ricci G, Patrizi A, Bendandi B, Menna G, Varotti E, Masi M. Clinical effectiveness of a silk fabric in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. British Journal of Dermatology [Internet]. 2004 Jan [cited 2022 Jul 30];150(1):127–31. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2004.05705.x 
3. blue_admin. Clothing and eczema - National Eczema Society [Internet]. National Eczema Society. ; 2020 [cited 2022 Jul 30]. Available from: https://eczema.org/information-and-advice/triggers-for-eczema/clothing-and-eczema/ 
4. Clothing an Eczema Baby: Which fabrics are best? [Internet]. ScratchSleeves. 2021 [cited 2022 Jul 30]. Available from: https://www.scratchsleeves.co.uk/blog/daily-life-living-with-eczema/clothing-eczema-baby-fabric/ 
5. Advice From a Pediatrician to Help Your Child With Eczema Get Good Sleep [Internet]. National Eczema Association. 2017 [cited 2022 Jul 30]. Available from: https://nationaleczema.org/blog/helping-your-child-with-eczema-sleep/ 
6. Lambert A. Sleep and eczema - National Eczema Society [Internet]. National Eczema Society. ; 2021 [cited 2022 Jul 30]. Available from: https://eczema.org/information-and-advice/living-with-eczema/sleep-and-eczema/ 

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