What’s Keeping Your Kid in a Flared State (That You’re Totally Overlooking)
You write in all the time about eczema triggers. And I get it—you’re exhausted, frustrated, and one more night of scratching might send you off the deep end. You’re doing everything “right”: you’ve cut out the trigger foods, switched out the jammies, cleaned up the snacks, and STILL—the eczema is not budging.
Been there. Pulled out my hair there. And yes, you start questioning your instincts.
So let’s clear the air. Food matters, yes, but if you’re missing a massive category of hidden environmental triggers—especially in your child’s skincare and home products—then you’re going to stay stuck in flare-up mode. And spoiler: many of these eczema triggers in skincare are hiding behind labels that say “eczema-friendly.”
Let’s change that.
This post kicks off a mini-series on how to identify and remove these stealthy skin saboteurs so your kid can finally start healing—for real. We’re walking through the everyday products, routines, and toys that could be keeping your child’s eczema flaring, and more importantly, what to use instead.
Listen Below For The Entire Episode on The Eczema Kids Podcast
The Not-So-Helpful “Sensitive” Skincare Products
Let’s start with the obvious—skincare—or at least what we’re told is good for sensitive skin. Spoiler alert: most of these products aren’t helping. In fact, many are actively making things worse.
So many of these formulas—marketed for “eczema” or “sensitive skin”—are full of ingredients that destroy the very thing we’re trying to heal: the skin barrier and the microbiome.
🚫 Petroleum-Based Creams
Yes, they’re occlusive. Yes, they trap moisture. But they also trap bacteria, toxins, and heat. Long-term, they clog pores, ramp up inflammation, and stop the skin from detoxing properly.
And let’s be honest—petroleum does nothing to nourish the skin. It’s a Band-Aid on a bullet wound.
🚫 Colloidal Oatmeal
Sounds soothing, right? And technically, it is—until you factor in that oats are histamine bombs. For kids already dealing with histamine overload and compromised guts, this can make redness and itching even worse.
And don’t get me started on oats in the diet (but if you must: glucose spike city = more inflammation).
🚫 Steroid Creams (Yes, Even the OTC Ones)
I get the temptation. I’ve stood at the pharmacy, bleary-eyed, ready to try anything. But steroids only suppress inflammation—they don’t heal the root cause.
Long-term use leads to thinner skin, a disrupted microbiome, dependency, and brutal withdrawal symptoms. Some kids become so sensitive that even water becomes a trigger. That’s how wrecked their skin barrier becomes.
🚫 Fragrance and Preservatives
This one’s more obvious, but it’s worth repeating. “Fragrance” can be a mix of hundreds of undisclosed chemicals. Preservatives often double as endocrine disruptors and skin irritants. They’re basically a chemistry set in a bottle.
🚫 Plastic Packaging
This one’s sneaky. Skincare in soft plastic leaches hormone-disrupting chemicals like phthalates and BPA into the products—and then into your child’s bloodstream. There are a few wildly popular eczema creams that come with a side of microplastic contamination. Hard pass.
“Your child’s skin is a reflection of their internal load—every product you remove is one less battle their body has to fight.” -Andra McHugh
Skincare That Actually Helps
Now let’s talk about what works. When it comes to healing, your child’s skin needs nourishment—not just symptom suppression.
✅ Tallow-Based Creams
These mimic the skin’s natural sebum and are packed with fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K—essential for skin repair and immune health. Bonus: they’re deeply moisturizing without clogging pores or disrupting the microbiome.
✅ Herbal Oils
Look for ingredients like manjistha, amalaki and other anti-inflammatory herbs that calm the skin, support lymph flow, and reduce bacterial overgrowth. The Eczema Kids Herbal Healing Oil is a great example—minimal ingredients, maximum impact.
✅ Glass or Stainless Steel Packaging
Because the vessel matters. No more microplastic contamination. Just clean, stable storage that respects your healing efforts.
Your child’s skin is their largest detox organ. Everything you apply to it is either supporting their healing… or adding to the toxic load they have to detox.
The Laundry Room Is a Landmine for Eczema Triggers
Skincare is the obvious piece—but it’s far from the only one. Let’s head to the laundry room.
🚫 Fragrance-Filled Laundry Detergents
These contain synthetic fragrances and surfactants like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) that break down the skin barrier and leave a residue that clings to clothes and your child’s skin.
🚫 Dryer Sheets
These chemical softeners contain hormone-disrupting ingredients and coat your child’s clothes in a film that constantly irritates their skin and immune system.
What to Use Instead
Wool dryer balls: Skip the chemicals, keep the fluff.
Homemade laundry detergent: Fragrance-free, formulated for sensitive skin.
- 1 ½ cups baking soda (balances pH and deodorizes)
- 1 ½ cups washing soda (natural cleaning booster)
- ½ cup unscented Epsom salt (softens water and soothes skin)
- A few drops of eczema-safe essential oil like frankincense (optional)
White vinegar: For mirrors, glass, floors
The Kitchen Is Another Hidden Eczema Trigger Zone
After your child’s bath, pat their skin dry with a 100% cotton towel. The next steps are vital for ensuring Your child’s eczema is not just skin-deep. The gut-liver-skin connection is real. That means what you store, cook, and freeze food in can impact flare-ups.
🚫 Plastics in Food Storage
Plastic containers (especially soft plastic) leach hormone disruptors like BPA and phthalates into your child’s food. This is especially problematic when freezing or reheating.
✅ Safer Alternatives
- Tempered Glass: For freezing, storing, and reheating food.
- Stainless Steel: For lunches and leftovers.
- Silicone: For freezer-safe, flexible storage.
- Beeswax wraps: For sandwiches and produce.
Make the swap. It’s a low-lift, high-impact change.
Cleaners and Soaps: Another Major Offender
You’re wiping down surfaces with that “lemon fresh” cleaner, but what’s in it? Probably bleach, fragrance, or worse. These things affect the gut and respiratory tract just as much as the skin.
🚫 Bleach-Based Cleaners
Bleach is a toxin bomb—irritating to lungs, harmful to the microbiome, and yes, it’s a skin irritant too.
🚫 Antibacterial Soaps
They wipe out all bacteria—including the good kind. Triclosan (a common ingredient) has been linked to thyroid disruption and increased allergy risks. And eczema-prone kids already have a heightened allergy profile.
✅ Better Cleaning Alternatives
Baking Soda: Great for scrubbing without harsh chemicals.
Castile Soap: Gentle, effective, microbiome-safe.
White Vinegar + Water: Add tea tree oil for antibacterial power.
Toys in the Bath? Let’s Rethink That.
This one might surprise you. Those cute rubber duckies and plastic dinos? They’re not innocent.
Warm water + plastic = chemical leaching.
That means your child is soaking in hormone-disrupting compounds that will go straight into their bloodstream. Not ideal for a kid who’s already in immune overdrive.
✅ Safer Play Options
- Stainless steel cups
- Wooden toys (outside the tub!)
- Baths without toys: Honestly, not the end of the world.
And if you’re curious about how deep this problem goes, there’s a book called Slow Death by Rubber Duck that dives into the chemical dangers in everyday products. (No, I haven’t read it. I like to sleep at night.)
Your Next Steps: Less Guessing, More Healing
f you’re side-eyeing your laundry soap, bath toys, or pantry right now—good. It means you’re ready to make changes that matter.
I made a complete list of eczema-safe product swaps throughout your home—laundry, kitchen, bath, bedroom—and it’s all in the Free Safe Product Guide at eczemakids.com. You’ll find it in the Eczema Care Toolkit.
No more 2AM Google rabbit holes on “best laundry detergent for eczema.”
And if you’re ready to go all-in on clean, healing skincare? I’ve got you:
Now in beautiful blue glass bottles. No plastic. No compromises. You can find them all in the Eczema Kids Shop.
If you’re looking for more ways to avoid eczema triggers, check out Why Won’t My Child’s Eczema Go Away?, Eczema Not Healing? Here’s What You’re Missing and Are Your Child’s Favorite Toys Full Of Hidden Dangers?
FAQ
I’ve already switched to “sensitive” products. Why is my child still flaring?
“Sensitive” doesn’t mean non-toxic. Many conventional products labeled “gentle” still contain fragrance, preservatives, and petrochemicals that irritate the skin and confuse the immune system. It’s not about the marketing—it’s about the ingredients.
Is it really worth replacing all my home products?
You don’t have to do it all at once. But every swap reduces your child’s toxic burden and frees up their body’s ability to heal, detox, and regulate inflammation. Small changes add up to big results over time. If you’re looking for holistic guidance, the Eczema Elimination Method is the place for you!
