Choosing Clothes for Children with Eczema

Clothing is an unavoidable part of everyday life. There’s nothing that comes into closer contact with your child than their clothes, so if they suffer from eczema it’s crucial to choose clothing that won’t irritate their sensitive skin.

Material

Wool – Avoid wool completely. The short, coarse fibres will irritate skin. It also contains lanolin, an oil produced by sheep, which can inflame skin conditions.

Cashmere – Made from goat hair, cashmere can cause serious flare-ups in eczema sufferers. As a relatively heavy material, it traps heat which is a nightmare for your child’s itchy skin.

Synthetic Fabrics – Best avoided if you have a skin condition. They prevent the skin from breathing naturally and worsen the symptoms. 

Cotton – One of the most suitable fabrics for eczema sufferers, especially organic cotton. It’s soft, smooth and breathable, and organic cotton is free from any nasty chemicals that can irritate skin further. 

Silk – Silk is an incredibly soft fabric, and modern silk is free from sericin which can irritate sensitive skin. It’s ideal to support creams and lotions used on itchy, irritable skin.

Laundry

It’s always a good idea to wash new clothes before their first wear if your child is an eczema sufferer. Certain fabric finishes, used to make clothes look great in a shop, contain chemicals that can irritate the skin.

Avoid regular detergents as they contain chemicals that are skin irritants, and opt for natural detergents made for sensitive skin. It’s worth running an extra rinse cycle to make sure the soap has been thoroughly rinsed away.

Sizing

Make sure that clothes and sleepwear are the right fit. They should be close, without being too tight. Buying clothes a size too big to allow for growth is bad for eczema sufferers too – if the item is loose, it will move over the skin and catch any rough areas of eczema, causing discomfort.

 

Fashion should not be a deciding factor when choosing clothing for children with eczema. Instead consider the fabric and sizing, and ensure you look after the clothing carefully.

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