Bubble Baths And Children’s Eczema
Children adore bubble baths. In fact, many parents find it is the only time their children are willing to take a bath. However, if your child is suffering from eczema then bubble baths are a strict “no-no”.
The first thing you should know about bubble baths is that they are full of harsh chemicals. As you know, if you want to treat eczema then you must avoid the chemicals that cause eczema. They are typically colored with dyes that appeal to young children and often a fragrance that is also appealing.
These fragrances and dyes irritate your child’s skin. Your child may have an allergic reaction to these chemicals. Even if there is no allergic reaction, these chemicals can aggravate and dry out the skin. The skin cells will begin to deteriorate and eventually there will be a flare up of eczema.
While the fragrances and dyes are bad for the skin, they are not the worst chemicals in bubble bath formulas. The extra suds required to make a full bath tub of bubbles are produced by strong detergents. Bubble bath manufacturers use very strong detergents and other sudsing agents to get the desired effect. As you may imagine, these kinds of chemicals are known eczema causes.
Another major problem with bubble baths is that they defeat the purpose of bathing your child. When your child suffers from eczema, it is very important that you thoroughly cleanse the skin. This will wash away the dirt, germs, allergens, and irritants that cause eczema. However, the suds in a bubble bath will suspend these eczema triggers and prevent them from rinsing away. Furthermore, residual soap will remain on the skin and irritate it.
Your child may thoroughly enjoy a bubble bath. However, they probably do not enjoy the pain, itching, and overall discomfort of eczema. If your child is eczema prone, it is time to say no to bubble baths and find other ways to make bathing fun.