TikTok Has Come Up With A Natural Way To Treat Kids’ Eczema At Home

With an estimated 1 in 5 babies and children being diagnosed with eczema, if you've had to contend with sleepless nights with itchy and irritated little ones, you aren't alone. If you've already tried steroid creams, ointments, and swapping out bedding and clothing for breathable, natural fibres to no avail, there may be an easier, more gentle way to alleviate symptoms and discomfort.

How Do I Know If My Child Has Eczema?

Eczema doesn't always look the same on every baby. For babies with lighter skin it can show up as inflamed, red rashes, while darker skinned babies may show browner or grayish patches, but all experience dry, flaky, and rough skin.

While eczema can appear anywhere on their body, in babies and children it's common to find it on cheeks, or the joints of arms and legs where skin is thin and delicate. Infant eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, can often be confused with cradle cap, this is much less severe and tends be found around the scalp and face, and usually clears up around 8 months.

Is There A Natural Way To Treat Eczema?

Traditional Chinese medicine and herbal therapy is often suggested for infant eczema as a way to calm the immune system and ease flare ups, but according to TikTok user Grace Booth, there is an even simpler way to treat the irritated skin, and all it requires is a sock and some oats.

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"The oat bath sock" is a DIY way to fill their bath with the moisturising and calming properties of oats, common in bath products for sensitive skin because they contain naturally soothing Avena Sativa. This emollient that naturally softens rough skin and is packed with vitamins and minerals to gently nourish the damaged surface. Simply take a clean sock, fill it with unprocessed rolled oats, and tie in a knot.

"It works so well to moisturise the skin as the oats go all milky and creamy," says Grace, "Leave it to soak up all the water and give it a squeeze to release the creamy oat mixture! And you'll have a lovely bath, trust me. I use it all the time." And with the video racking up over 130k views and nearly 16,000 comments in 3 days, it might be one worth testing.

And of course, as big bags of oats are affordable, this hack is also friendly on the pockets. It'll also work just as well with a stocking, pair of tights or fabric scraps, so you can fashion with bespoke bath bomb with anything you have to hand.

Mums in the comment suggestion have even suggested adding fresh lavender for a scented, bedtime soak or using for chickenpox or sunburn to help with soothing raw, tender skin. So that's one top tip we'll be bookmarking for summer.

Looking for products to help soothe sensitive skin at bathtime? Try these oat based buys that you can shop now.

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