Eczema is one of the most common, and debilitating, conditions infants can develop within weeks after birth. It’s heartbreaking, as a parent, to watch your child suffer from itchy, inflamed skin and just as frustrating not to know what to do about it. Today, there are few conventional treatment options available outside of topical steroid use for eczema. While steroids do help reduce the itch and scratching, they do not allow the body to heal, nor do they address the cause of eczema symptoms. This is where naturopathic therapies, such as homeopathy, can be very useful to explore for your child’s eczema.
Before diving into homeopathic remedies for eczema, it’s important to address the whole body by considering some common causes with your naturopathic doctor first, as you begin your little one’s healing journey.
Consider investigating:
-
Breastfeeding—caregiver’s diet, if fed human milk
- Contents of infant formula, if fed formula
- Child’s diet, if fed solid foods
- Possible exposures to mould, metals, toxins, and chemicals
- Possible causes of gut microbiome imbalance or inflammation
- Any emotional stressors or environmental changes
- Any concurrent medical condition(s)
You may notice there are no topical considerations mentioned. This is because, in homeopathy, eczema is not a product of what is happening exclusively on the skin, but is rather viewed as an expression of the body trying to expel something through the skin from the inside to reestablish balance, so is treated internally.
Homeopathic medicine is a safe and effective therapy for all ages that has been around for hundreds of years and is easy to access as well as very affordable; it also does not interfere with prescription or herbal medicines. Homeopathy is not a suppressive therapy, and by treating the whole person (not just the symptoms), there’s greater success in long-term healing. There are numerous homeopathic remedies available, so finding the right one can sometimes be a journey and may require an experienced naturopathic doctor. Here, we will discuss some of the top eczema remedies currently used.
Natural Home Remedies for Eczema
Similar to colds, people experience symptoms differently; the same goes for eczema. Not everyone’s eczema looks, feels, or progresses in the same way, so it’s important to examine these symptoms carefully. This is why there are often different remedies for the same condition in homeopathy.
When finding the right homeopathic remedy, you need to closely match both the eczema symptoms and your child’s disposition. Let’s take a closer look:
Sulphur
If the eczema symptoms manifest as a severe burning itch, appears dry and red, with scratching until raw/bleeding then will appear moist and oozing and/or if it feels worse at night or when hot, feels worse with bath, feels better with cold applications, or is common on face or scalp and easy to get infected, then sulphur might be a remedy to try.
To assess if sulphur is the best remedy for your child's ezema, take a look at their disposition. Are they not bothered by wet/soiled diapers and do they not care for diaper change? Does your infant have copious milk spit up and dislike being swaddled or wrapped up? Perhaps your child is messy or disorganized and not bothered by it. Digestively, do they commonly have loose stools or diarrhea in the mornings, then switches to constipation? Do they have a robust diet and are they hungry and thirsty often? They may also not care for baths, takes a longer time to recover from common illnesses, have red ears, eyelids, or redness around lips. If the symptoms and disposition match, try sulphur as the natural remedy for eczema in these circumstances.
Hepar Sulph
If the child's eczema cracks and oozes easily or is painful more than itchy, then Hepar sulph could be a natural remedy to try, especially if the eczema will ulcerate easily, if the child feels worse from cold or drafts or if the eczema has an offensive smell. Pairing these symptoms with a child who is seemingly irritable, and very sensitive to environment, may be very sensitive to change and pain, has anxiety or gets sick easily with swollen glands and sensitive ears, means Hepar sulph could be a good solution for eczema in this child.
Graphites
If the eczema appears hard/thick/dry with deep cracks in skin after prolonged healing, has a thick oozing honey-yellow discharge and crusting; or if the itch feels worse at night and being heated and is typically located behind ears, scalp and hands, graphites could be a natural remedy for relief. This is especially true with symptoms such as being slow to respond to stimuli; irregular nail formation; constant restlessness especially at night and cranky in the morning; easy to cry; sensitive to bright lights; common to develop ear infections; tend towards constipation; and an aversion to meat.
Psorinum
If your child with eczema is scratching from the itch until bleeding; says it feels worse at night, in the cold, or in open air, but feels better with warmth; and is typically located on folds of legs and arms, then psorinum could be an natural eczema solution. If, along with the eczema, the child is prone to illness, has heightened stranger danger, and needs more layers than most outside, psorinum could help maintain healthy skin over time.
Coffea cruda
Coffea cruda can help eczema that generally only acts up at night, leading to low sleep and a racing mind. If the child is very sensitive to stimuli, is restless or has an overactive mind and imagination, then this homeopathic remedy for eczema might do the trick.
Arsenicum album
If the eczema feels better with lots of heat and warm baths and appears parchment-like and feels dry/hard to touch, Arsenicum album could help with some relief. This is especially recommended if the child is also anxious and does not want to be put down, has middle-of-the-night wakings and is easy to vomit.
It’s important to be mindful of the use of a topical or oral steroid to manage your child’s eczema, as doing so may interfere with monitoring the progress of the remedy. When choosing a potency, after deciding on a remedy, it’s best to use a daily dose of lower potency (such as 6C or 12C) when treating eczema. If after giving your child a remedy and the eczema gets slightly worse, it does not mean it’s the wrong remedy. Give it at least 7–14 days before considering switching remedies. When eczema heals, it heals in the reverse order from which it appeared (i.e., most recent patches heal first). You may also find other lesser symptoms, such as digestive or sleep issues, may heal before the eczema starts to resolve; this is a good sign you are on the right path.
Before trying any of these remedies, consult a pediatric naturopathic doctor to make sure the remedy is the right fit for your little one.
