My son has had eczema since he was 18 months old; he is now 14 years old. I am not a doctor. Every human being is different with different allergies, triggers, chemical makeup, etc. I will not launch into a dissertation on how to diagnose, treat or eliminate eczema. First of all, I'll say it again: I'm not a doctor. Second, eliminating eczema is impossible. Sorry to burst your bubble. Well, maybe I should just say eliminating eczema is impossible FOR NORMAL PEOPLE.
I work outside the home. My son likes food...LOTS of food. We had him tested, so we know what he is allergic to. His only reaction is exacerbated eczema so his life is not at risk by exposure to his triggers. He is old enough now where he decides for himself if eating something or participating in an activity will trigger his eczema and whether it's worth it. Sometimes it is. He might eat the occasional unlabeled or homemade chocolate chip cookie someone brought because he is 14 and likes to eat. I've thought about going gluten-free or milk-free just to see if that would cure his eczema, but he has told me he would be miserable without those foods in his life, and I would be miserable trying to cook those foods when I can't even cook a box of Hamburger Helper without screwing it up. So my son has learned to live with it...flare ups, triggers, warts and all.
Don't judge me, and I promise I won't judge you. Sorry to have to get all Bossy McBosserton with you, but I don't need the judgment of all the super mommies in the world. And besides, that's not really why I created this blog, mmmkay?
So back to the eczema: if you or your kid have it then you know that moisturization is key. Twice a day my son lubes himself up head to toe with Aquaphor (actually, it's Wal-Mart's Equate version...way, way better!) He personally uses Cortisone-10 Intensive Healing Lotion for Eczema on his flare-ups. It's cheaper than prescription meds and works better for him.
As a result, his clothes and sheets are covered in greasy lotion. We can't use scented or heavy duty laundry detergents or fabric softeners. All Free & Clear might as well be water when it comes to cleaning. His clothes were dingy, hard and scratchy. I looked high and low on the internet for laundry soaps that actually clean his fabrics without setting off his eczema, and eventually I stumbled across a blog by one of those super mommies who makes their own everything to save money and be organic and whatnot.
Through years of trial and error we finally found a bar soap that works best for him (Complexion Beauty Bar by Cal-Ben. We order online in bulk.) This recipe is perfect because it uses the soap he's already used to, so it's one less thing his skin can get mad about.
BEHOLD, I HAVE FOUND IT....THE HOLY GRAIL OF LAUNDRY DETERGENT RECIPES. I shall now bestow upon you this gift. You are welcome.
SENSITIVE SKIN LAUNDRY DETERGENT THAT REALLY WORKS
1/3 box of Borax (4 lb. box)
1/3 box of Super Washing Soda (4 lb. box)
1/3 box of Pure Baking Soda (4 lb. box)
1 bar of the bath soap you already use
Shred the bar of soap. Mix with the rest of the ingredients and keep in a large tupperware dish. Put two scoops in the drum of the washer with the clothes. Voila. Clean clothes!
