Our Journey Healing Eczema Naturally: What Finally Worked

Eczema can be one of the most challenging things to deal with — both for our kids and for ourselves. As a mom, it’s heartbreaking watching your little one scratch constantly, struggle with flare-ups, and feel uncomfortable in their own skin. And if you’ve ever dealt with eczema yourself, you know how frustrating it is to find solutions that actually work.

Part of what makes eczema so tough is that there isn’t one single cause or cure. It’s often a combination of factors — genetics, environmental triggers, allergens, and even gut health. That means what works for one family might not work for another, which can make the trial-and-error process feel endless. But over time, we’ve learned that small, intentional lifestyle changes can make a big difference in managing eczema and supporting healthier skin for the whole family.

I remember when my daughter started to have her eczema flare-ups, we tried so many things. I had already made a lot of non-toxic swaps for our household, her diet was "healthy", I felt like I was asking the right questions, but nothing seemed to work. When we FINALLY found the things that worked, it changed everything. As I mentioned, everyone is different, so what works for me might not work for you. However, I believe these tips will get you started in the right direction! (Hopefully they're a game changer for you as well!)

First Things First: What to Cut Out

Before you start adding in new routines and products, it’s important to know what to remove from your environment and skincare routine if you or your kids are struggling with eczema.

• Synthetic Fragrances – Found in lotions, soaps, candles, detergents, and cleaning products, synthetic scents can irritate sensitive skin and worsen flare-ups.

• Harsh Cleaning Products – Many mainstream cleaners are full of chemicals and allergens that can stay in the air and on surfaces, triggering skin inflammation.

• Conventional Laundry Detergent – Residue left on clothing, bedding, and towels can worsen eczema, especially in kids with sensitive skin.

• Long, Hot Baths – While baths can be soothing, hot water can dry out skin and damage its protective barrier.

  
  

There's a lot more to this, of course, depending on what toxins your family is exposed to the most, but eliminating these hidden irritants is one of the first steps in helping calm skin and reducing flare-ups.

Prioritize Water Quality

One of the biggest game-changers for us was switching to filtered water. Most city water contains chlorine and other chemicals that strip away the skin’s natural oils, leaving it more prone to dryness and irritation.

For the kids, we installed a bath filter that removes chlorine and other contaminants, making bath time gentler on their skin. For ourselves, we also added a shower filter and noticed an immediate improvement in how hydrated our skin felt afterward.

When you’re dealing with eczema, even little things like water quality can make a significant difference in reducing irritation and protecting the skin barrier.

Switch to Gentle, Non-Toxic Skincare

When we first started our eczema journey, I thought switching to “natural” lotions would solve everything. But here’s what I didn’t realize: not all natural products are created equal.

We tried so many natural lotions and balms, but most of them actually made my daughter’s eczema worse.

The biggest culprit for us was coconut oil, which is found in many natural skincare products. For some people, coconut oil is wonderful — but for us, it clogs pores and causes flare-ups.

Then we discovered Earthley’s Soothing Skin Balm, and everything changed. This balm is free of coconut oil, made with simple, nourishing ingredients, and designed to support the skin barrier naturally. We’ve been using it for over three years now, and it’s become a daily staple for our entire family. We apply it after baths, before bed, and anytime someone has dry patches — and it works like magic every single time.

Swap Out Harsh Cleaning Products

It wasn’t until we dug deeper into eczema triggers that I realized what we clean with has just as much impact as what we put on our skin. So many conventional cleaning products contain harsh chemicals, synthetic fragrances, and preservatives that can irritate sensitive skin and worsen eczema.

Two of my favorite non-toxic swaps are:

• Force of Nature – This cleaner uses electrolyzed water technology to kill 99.9% of germs without toxic chemicals, making it safe for homes with kids and pets.

• Truly Free – Their laundry detergent and home cleaning products have been game-changers for us. Traditional detergents leave behind residues that can sit on your skin all day through your clothes, bedding, and towels, but Truly Free is gentle, fragrance-free, and designed with sensitive skin in mind.

  
  

By switching to safer cleaning and laundry products, we reduced environmental irritants and saw noticeable improvements in our daughter’s skin.

Partnering with a Like-Minded Pediatrician

Finding a pediatrician who understands eczema from a holistic perspective has been one of the most important pieces of our journey. While topical products and environmental changes are helpful, eczema often has internal triggers — from food sensitivities to immune responses.

A like-minded pediatrician can guide you through allergy testing, recommend safe treatment options, and help you identify hidden triggers contributing to flare-ups. The right provider will listen, collaborate, and support you in exploring natural approaches alongside traditional care.

Why We Also Work with a Naturopath

For our family, adding a naturopath to our care team was a turning point. Eczema isn’t just a surface-level issue — it’s often tied to gut health, inflammation, and immune balance. A naturopath can help dig deeper into these root causes, recommending tests and natural approaches tailored to your child’s needs.

Ours helped us uncover underlying sensitivities and gave us tools to heal from the inside out, rather than only managing symptoms on the surface. Having both a pediatrician and a naturopath working together gave us the most well-rounded approach, and I highly recommend considering both.

Final Thoughts

Eczema can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Start small:

• Filter your bath and shower water

• Switch to gentle products like Earthley’s Soothing Skin Balm

• Choose safer cleaning and laundry options like Force of Nature and Truly Free

• And most importantly, partner with professionals — both your pediatrician and a naturopath — to identify root causes and create a plan that works for your family.

  
  

Three years later, we’re still using these exact steps, and our whole family’s skin is healthier and happier because of it. Best of luck on your health journey!

Xo,

Jess