Can Dead Sea salt and coriander water be used for baby eczema?

Jun 15, 2022

As infants and young children experience eczema, numerous mothers seek alternatives to pharmacological treatments, aiming to mitigate symptoms through 'natural' approaches while steering clear of steroids. The risks associated with steroid dependence and medication overuse are well-known; however, the question arises: are these purported 'natural' remedies for eczema genuinely safe and efficacious?

Can I apply a thick layer of Vaseline to moisturize my baby's eczema?

Want to know if Vaseline is ineffective for eczema? You can refer to previous articles: Vaseline Moisturizes? Common Misconceptions About Eczema Treatment

Can Dead Sea salt be used for baby eczema?

Eczema is incredibly itchy, and many netizens have shared on online forums that Dead Sea salt, containing abundant minerals and high salinity, can treat eczema through bathing. Many parents, seeing these posts, try it out, hoping that this "natural" Dead Sea salt can help their babies. But what is the mechanism of action of Dead Sea salt in treating eczema? Is it suitable for babies and children?

The Dead Sea contains abundant minerals such as magnesium, sodium, calcium, potassium, and chlorine. Soaking in Dead Sea salt may reduce skin inflammation and provide soothing and improvement. However, Dead Sea salt cannot cure eczema; it can only relieve skin discomfort, and the actual effect varies from person to person. Dead Sea salt is not suitable for use in the following situations:

Patients with eczema wounds should not soak in Dead Sea salt, as this may over-irritate the wounds and cause infection.
Babies and young children have delicate skin, and it is not recommended to use Dead Sea salt (high concentration of minerals and salt) to irritate their skin or cause redness and dryness.
It is not recommended for people with eczema (whether children or adults) to soak in Dead Sea salt for extended periods, as this can lead to dry skin and faster removal of skin oils. Since the sebum layer of eczema patients is already thinner than healthy skin, this may exacerbate eczema flare-ups.

Dead Sea salt may help disinfect and stop rashes, but it cannot actually cure eczema. Dead Sea salt can be contaminated with heavy metals, microorganisms, or radioactive substances during the extraction process, making the extraction and subsequent processing crucial. Soaking in heavy metals can be harmful to health. Many Dead Sea salt products on the market also contain added essential oils, making them unsuitable for children. Parents should choose carefully.

Can coriander water and honeysuckle water be used to treat eczema?

Soaking babies in coriander water or honeysuckle water is not scientifically sound, and some eczema patients have even worsened their condition by doing so. It is recommended that you do not try it, so as not to do more harm than good.

Dr. Han Jinlun, Vice President of the Hong Kong Pediatric Respiratory and Allergy Society, stated that coriander is a warming plant, while eczema is often of the damp-heat type, creating a conflict between the two. Many people followed suit at the time, causing their children's eczema to flare up, and some parents later sought medical help, expressing great concern.

For patients with chronic eczema, dry skin, severe skin damage, or a constitution prone to heat, soaking in coriander water will worsen the dryness and redness of the skin, exacerbating the condition. Some parents, after conducting allergen testing, avoiding food and environmental allergens, and choosing suitable moisturizing creams, have seen significant improvement in their eczema. However, some parents, eager for their baby's eczema to clear up quickly, tried folk remedies such as soaking in coriander or honeysuckle water, resulting in a severe eczema flare-up, with the skin becoming red, swollen, and oozing.

The properties of plants used in folk remedies are often unclear, and they are not suitable for everyone, especially babies and children. Even with "natural" plants, there is no guarantee that commercially available ones are free of pesticides; otherwise, soaking them in these remedies can further irritate the skin and worsen eczema.

How can I find truly natural products to treat eczema?

Many businesses misuse the term "natural," claiming to be a natural skincare brand even if only one ingredient is natural while the rest are chemically synthesized. Finding truly natural products in the skincare market is not easy. We must carefully read each product label and choose those with natural or organic certifications.

In the next article, we'll break down the differences between natural, organic, vegan, and clean beauty skincare, and how to identify and choose from the dazzling array of products on the market.

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