Emollients for Eczema
Why Are They a No No?

Many of us had the misconception of using emollients for eczema to cure or ease the problem. My question to you is, how well did they work? No need to answer, I know is an emphatic "didn't do anything" or "they worked for a while only to be useless after sometime."

I did the same as you. Read about moisturizers and eczema and ran to the store to buy the most recommended one. I diligently applied it on my son's skin and got partially good results for a while, only to be back to square one...

The eczema continued, at one point the emollients were not enough and in some cases the eczema got worse.

Was it solely because of the emollients? That is what I thought at that time. But as years passed and no strong positive results happened I realized the problem couldn't be external only.

When I focused on the external part, through literally years of research and trial and error, I realized what worked for hydriting the skin in a healthy way. The best is to use natural oils for eczema.

I can share with you, it wasn't the store bought products recommended by the big manufacturing companies, pediatricians or dermatologists.

Store bought creams for eczema didn't work well in spite of the advertisement on the package saying "All made with natural ingredients and no chemicals."

During the searching period I started reading about what exactly were emollients. I learnt they are a mix of chemicals specifically designed to make our precious epidermis pliable and soft by avoiding the evaporation of water in our skin.

Chemicals...I thought, maybe that is the culprit. Back then, I was starting to learn about more holistic ways to live our lives. That icluded learning about what we use daily like moisturizers, toothpaste, mouth wash, deodorant and all those handy dandy fresh smelly things we use regularly to keep us clean, smooth, fresh or odor free.

Then I started to see more and more articles cautioning about eczema creams and eczema prescribed lotions like Aqueous Cream BP. What are the concerns? Rapid thinning of the skin, particularly with this last cream.

Do you know that Aqueous Cream BP is one of the most prescribed eczema creams on the market? It used to be a wash product!

Must Know About Emollients for Eczema

To mix oils into water based moisturizer creams companies use SLS to achieve the creamy texture. SLS is a detergent that makes the skin more permeable but at the expense of thinning the protective barrier of your skin making it more vulnerable to irritation.

In ScienceDaily in Nov. 13, 2010, an article titled: "Creams Used to Treat Eczema Could Make It Worse, Study Suggests," researchers about the harsh consequences of SLS.

The article was based on a study conducted at the University of Bath, which is one of the UK's leading universities with an excellent reputation for quality research.

What did the research find? Simply that emollients for eczema, moisturizers, shower gels, etc., containing SLS thin the protective barrier of lipids in our skin that helps us keep moisture in and stops chemicals from getting in our bodies. It is like killing the ozone layer...dangerous.

The Best Emollients for Eczema

So what is the alternative? My choices are oils that are natural and you can consume orally. Yes, you read correctly, orally. Which ones? You may ask, simple, raw unrefined coconut oil, olive oil for eczema, and peanut oil are my top choices.

Make sure you keep them in dark places, don't buy huge quantities becuase they perish. They are the real deal after all, no chemicals or shelf stable ingredients added. That is your best choice, and those are some of the best moisturizers on earth!