Nothing is in closer contact with skin than the clothes your baby wears so getting clothing and laundry right could be the single most important thing you can do for a child suffering from eczema.
When we wash our clothes with normal synthetic detergents (bio & non bio) a residue is left behind in the fibres. This contamination increases with every wash. Studies have measured this with the increase in weight that an item gains after it's been laundered and dried. After 10 washes the fabric holds the equivalent of '1 measure' of detergent!
SOFTENER
People are surprised to find the reason their laundry feels stiff is actually because of the build up of detergent in the fabric. To combat this 'stiff' feeling we are sold yet more chemicals to add to our clothing in the form of fabric softener.
All these chemicals that carry the little warning of 'irritant' on the bottle are building up in the fabric with every wash, waiting to be transferred to the skin of the person wearing the clothing.
Research which demonstrates how quickly these residues transfer from the clothing and onto the skin - in 1hr up to 11% of the residue is now on the skin of the person wearing the garment.
Baby's skin is naturally very thin and sensitive, they are especially vulnerable to itching and irritation and dryness these chemicals can cause. Whilst moisturising and hydrating the skin of these poor itchy children is often helpful frequently the most dramatic change can be had from altering the clothing that is in contact with their skin all day.
Natural alternatives to detergents offer a safer way of cleaning the clothing of all babies. Eco-ball type products, soap-nuts, soap flakes or soap based powders are all solutions that not only help the skin but also the planet. Cleaning clothes with these greener alternatives also eliminates the need for a softener, another common cause of skin irritation and environmental pollution.
Clothing wise Organic clothing is always the best choice for these children, as organic certification limits chemicals used in the processing and manufacture of the garment. The organic fibres are also fatter and smoother making the clothing softer and more breathable next to the skin.
Avoiding cleaning children's clothing with these detergent chemicals will often help improve baby eczema, but greater benefits can be had from using a safer solution for the whole family as the lint and fluff from your clothing and skin all contribute to the dust in your home and in especially sensitive children even the traces of these chemicals in dust can be enough to trigger flare ups.
Laundry Clothing and Baby Eczema SOFTENER
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