Make sure all of your skin care products are free of fragrance. Scent additives can aggravate the skin and make the problem worse.

We suggest using an unscented soap, with a pH between 5 and 10, (as long as the ingredients do not contain harsh detergents that many companies add in order to lower the pH). We love goat milk soap for eczema sufferers because goat milk contains caprylic acid which helps bring the pH close to human skin, which is 4.5 – 7. Not only does goat milk soap replace the high alkaline-based detergents that other soaps contain, raw goat milk is also rich in butterfat, which nourishes the skin, rather than stripping it of its natural oils. Eczema sufferers need their skin care products to work harder FOR them, not against them and good quality goat milk soap is a really naturally superpowered way to cleanse and nourish the skin. 

The scent in laundry detergent can trigger eczema and irritate already inflamed skin. Many people have found that soap nuts work the best for cleaning clothes without irritating the skin. Laundry balls are also a good option.  If you must have scent, try adding some tea tree oil.

Make sure whatever you use topically to try to give the skin relief, has as few ingredients as possible. This is a principal of everything we make ourselves here at MadeOn Skincare and is the best way to minimize the skin's risk to additional potential skin irritants.

Dermatologists will tell you to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. However, not all moisturizing is equal. In fact, eczema sufferers actually need longer-lasting relief than a water-based lotion can provide. We recommend shea butter, coconut oil, and  cocoa butter.   

Topically that is. The secret here is that without water as an ingredient, your skin care won’t need water, and therefore, no preservatives are needed either.  Preservatives such as Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI) and Methylisothiazolinone (MIT/MI) irritate the skin, as can parabens and surfactants. E.g. Our Beesilk hard lotion bars have only 3 natural ingredients: coconut oil, beeswax and shea butter, with no water, so we have no need to use any preservatives.

In the past, I would have brushed this off as taking too strong a stand, however after a few days in a hospital setting where I used the antibacterial soap, I can attest to the aggressive behavior of the ingredients in the soap. They completely stripped my skin of its natural oils, and left my hands feeling raw and dry to the point of pain.  Household cleaners that touch the skin have the same effect (just look at the warnings on the containers!)

That sounds like a lot, and it may not all be necessary. But many people have been able to treat their eczema by making food changes... even adopting a GAPS or Paleo diet helped immensely. You may find immediate results by eliminating some of these food triggers. 

A tip for the child with eczema: 

You may know Melissa Hartwig of Whole30.   Melissa explained that her son breaks out in eczema due to certain food triggers. He primarily needs to eat a gluten-free diet.  She has explained to him that certain foods make his skin itchy, and in his little 6-year-old mind, cake=itchy skin, bread=itchy skin, and therefore, he'll ask his mom, "Will this make me itchy?" whenever he's offered something by a well-meaning adult. What a great way to handle food triggers with children! Teach them to come back and ask you what's okay and not okay to eat.

We understand.

It’s unsettling to have a 20-minute consultation with a doctor to then be handed a prescription for a topical steroid cream. Will this fix the problem permanently? Does this mean I won’t suffer from side effects? Does this tell me why I have eczema in the first place?

No, No and No.

And yet, your skin hurts, itches, and bleeds. Feeling hopeless, most people would take that prescription slip and reluctantly run to the pharmacy, even though it's not really what you want to do for yourself or your family members.

One customer told us “I have eczema on my legs. Occasionally it gets to the point that I'm scratching it in my sleep causing bleeding, scabs and hard patches that I cannot imagine healing.” 

If you’ve ever felt like the skin condition you’re dealing with (or worse yet, your child or baby is dealing with) is like this customer’s situation, to the point of losing hope, hang in there and try the tips provided above. We are sure you and your family will find relief.

Help is on the way.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions at all. We understand this distressing condition.  It's the reason we started this family business after all and we do want to help as much as we can.