It’s no secret that eczema is a serious skin condition that a lot of individuals are living with. Studies have shown that eczema occurs in 10-20% of infants throughout the US. It usually occurs during the first few months after birth. It’s a very common condition and the best thing is that it’s treatable (kinda). In fact, most infants will eventually outgrow the condition. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you want to leave the condition unchecked. When you spot eczema on your baby, you will want to make sure that you’re treating it with the right products because it can be extremely irritating. So, let’s find out, Is Aquaphor good for baby eczema and can it be a product you use for years to come?
How To Tell If Your Baby Has Eczema
Before you can begin treating your baby’s eczema, you need to know for a fact that you are dealing with eczema. The skin condition will usually show up as patches of red or dry skin. If you run your hand over the skin, it will almost always give off a rough texture. Unfortunately, eczema can show up just about anywhere on the skin so there will be no way to narrow it down to a single location. That being said, some of the most common places that you will find the skin condition is on the cheeks or joints of your baby’s arms and legs. It’s extremely common for many new parents to confuse eczema with cradle cap and this is because they are somewhat similar.
However, there are some key differences that you will need to be aware of to help you differentiate between the two. Cradle cap is a condition that will be much less red and scaly. It will not have the dry or flaky skin that is oftentimes common with eczema. Cradle cap is a condition that will generally clear up in eight months or less. Another major distinction is that cradle cap will commonly appear on the scalp, sides of the nose, eyelids, eyebrows, or behind the ears.
About Aquaphor: The Healing Ointment
If your baby is currently dealing with eczema, you have probably already scoured the Internet for a number of products to help battle the condition. There’s a good chance that you have come across Aquaphor. In fact, you have probably read many reviews about the product, but you are still wondering if Aquaphor is good for baby eczema. Well, Aquaphor Healing Ointment is a product that has been around since 1925, and it was created by Eucerin. It’s simply a gentle moisturizing treatment gel that was originally formulated to aid the delivery method of skin medications. Doctors alike would purchase five-pound tubs and mix them with their own traditional skin treatments and then apply them to the patient’s skin. However, after World War 2, the ointment was repackaged and sold directly to retailers and consumers. This is the very same manner that the ointment is sold today.
Aquaphor Is Not Vaseline
Most new users of Aquaphor oftentimes mistake it as Vaseline. They both do feel somewhat slick and have a gel consistency, but the two products couldn’t be more different. They’re, however, both petroleum-based, but it’s Vaseline that’s 100 percent petroleum. This means that when Vaseline is applied to the skin it works by both blocking moistures in and out of the skin. You can find out more about how vaseline treats eczema in an article I wrote here.
Aquaphor, on the other hand, works in a completely different manner. It’s only 41 percent petroleum-based and this allows it to create a semi-occlusive barrier when applied to the skin. What this means is that the moisture in the air can still reach passed the ointments and be drawn into the skin. Due to the fact that it doesn’t contain as much petroleum, it also gives water and oxygen the ability to circulate into the skin. This pretty much means that when Aquaphor is applied to the skin it actually helps heal the wound by providing a protective, moist healing barrier.
The Other Ingredients In Aquaphor
So, if you are still wondering, is Aquaphor good for baby eczema? You
can already foresee that it has more than just a petroleum property that makes
it more beneficial than Vaseline. Aquaphor might only contain minimal
ingredients, but these ingredients are formidable when it comes to protecting
dry, cracked, and irritated skin.
- Petrol Atum – This is the active ingredient in the substance and it basically is nothing more than an over the counter skin protectant that forms a barrier when applied to the skin. Also, due to the low petroleum content, it allows the barrier to retain moisture.
- Lanolin Alcohol – Lanolin is a wax that is made from wool wax. However, it should be noted that this ointment only contains a subfraction of lanolin which is also mixed with hydrocarbons as well as cholesterol and fatty acids. All of these properties together can provide the skin with a number of benefits while smoothing it at the same time.
- Glycerin – Glycerin is an essential ingredient as it is a natural moisturizer and humectant with unique properties. Such properties allow it to bind moisture to the outer layer of the skin so that the area stays fresh and hydrated for extended periods of time.
- Panthenol – Panthenol is sometimes referred to as pro-vitamin B5 and it also acts as a humectant. However, since it’s more of a humectant than a moisturizer it helps condition the skin even more.
- Bisabolol – Bisabolol is an ingredient that comes from the chamomile plant. This very ingredient provides the anti-inflammatory properties that you will need to heal your baby’s damaged skin.
You can see that the ointment contains minimal ingredients, but one of the best things about these minimal amounts of ingredients is that they are completely free of fragrances, preservatives, and dyes. These are ingredients that wouldn’t harm an adult’s skin as badly but they could be extremely irritating for a small baby.
I don’t recommend using any products with fragrances, preservatives, or dyes whether you’re an adult or child!
What Can Aquaphor Healing Ointment Be Used For
Another thing that really makes Aquaphor so popular is its
versatility. Not only can it safely be used on the face, but it can even be applied
to your baby’s lips without causing irritation or discomfort. In addition to
this, it’s extremely helpful when applied to the hands and feet. Below, you
will learn about a few examples in which you can use this ointment on your
baby.
- If your baby is out in the cold and suffers from windburn, chafing, or blistering, you can use Aquaphor to protect his or her skin.
- If for some reason your baby suffers cracked hands or feet, along with minor cuts, scrapes, or burns, Aquaphor will protect the skin and give it time to properly heal.
- suffering from diaper rashes or chaffing of any kind from constant friction, Aquaphor can provide the relief that your baby needs.
- Red, irritated noses and cheeks are not uncommon conditions in babies. And, this is another area where Aquaphor excels. It can provide the relief and protection that your baby needs.
Why Does Your Baby Get Eczema
If your baby is currently dealing with eczema, you are probably wondering just why he or she has come down with this condition. Well, you learned at the beginning of this article that this is an extremely common condition, which is true. However, it should also be noted that eczema can run in the family as well. This means that if the mother or the father suffers or suffered from the condition at one time there is a good chance that it will be passed down to the baby. It’s also possible that there might be issues with your baby’s skin barrier.
When the barrier of the skin cannot offer the protection that it should, it allows moisture out and germs to enter. There’s also another reason and this is when the body produces very few fatty cells. These fatty cells are referred to as ceramides, and when your body doesn’t produce enough of them it causes the skin to lose water and become extremely arid.
Can Eczema Be Made Worse
It’s important to note that every baby in the world is different. Some babies might not even develop eczema in the first place while others will. Some babies might even develop it on a more severe level. That being said, it’s important to note that there are some common eczema triggers that parents should look to not avoid.
Dry skin can make the baby itchier and sometimes this can be caused by low humidity. This will be extremely common during the winter months, as the dry air will suck out the moisture from the air. Along with this, thick, wooly clothes can trigger symptoms. Polyester, perfumes, laundry soaps, as well as body soap, are all triggers for worsening one’s eczema symptoms. It would be non-beneficial if you were to create a routine treatment around using Aquaphor, but then not be aware of several triggers that can offset its benefits.
Be extremely careful what you are using on your baby’s skin and be weary of the materials that their blankets and clothes are made of also. You can never be too safe when it comes to dealing with eczema, especially for your child.
Conclusion
All in all, Aquaphor is wonderful for your baby’s eczema. The key is to have a treatment plan, to stick to that plan, and use any product in moderation. You should always consult your doctor before using any product just to be on the safe side.
Please comment down below if you’ve used Aquaphor. What did you think about it? I’d love to hear everyone’s feedback.