Eczema flare-ups can be extremely uncomfortable for your baby and may result in fussiness, loss of appetite, and disrupted sleep. As you can see, moderate to severe eczema can significantly alter the quality of life for your little one. Fortunately, there are ways you can help soothe your child’s skin during these episodes, such as wet wrapping therapy.
In this article, the baby experts at Mustela specifically address what wet wrapping therapy is and answer your deep-rooted question of whether or not it will help treat your little one’s eczema flare-ups.
About Eczema
It’s natural to be concerned about your little one’s skin irritation and to wonder what’s causing it. When identifying eczema, some signs to look for include red, crusty patches and itchy, rough skin. Symptoms of eczema also include inflamed skin that is prone to cracking or oozing. Your little one’s skin may also become intensely itchy, so much so that it keeps your baby up for most of the night.
Genetics may play a role in the underlying cause of eczema. So if you or your spouse has eczema, most likely your little one will be prone to it as well. Another cause could be a problem in the skin’s barrier where it allows moisture in. If your little one’s skin isn’t receiving the adequate amount of moisture, it may allow for the perfect eczema environment.
Sometimes it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what is triggering your little one’s eczema. Food allergies and climate changes, for example, can often result in flare-ups. It’s good to brush up on this information to be aware so that you can monitor your child's environment to reduce the severity of their eczema.
A few other triggers for eczema include dry skin, especially during winter months, and any type of irritants — such as wool clothes, perfumes, body soaps, or laundry detergents. Stress, heat, and outdoor allergens are also included in the list of things that may trigger your little one’s eczema.
By now, you may be wondering if your baby’s eczema will ever improve. We have good news: most infants outgrow their symptoms naturally. In the meantime, all you can do is find ways to soothe your little one’s skin and reduce their symptoms. Mustela’s Eczema-Prone Skin Essentials can help, as well as other treatment methods, like wet wrapping therapy.
What Is Wet Wrapping Therapy?
Treatment for eczema typically includes a topical ointment or cream applied to the affected area. But that doesn’t have to be your only answer. Wet wrapping therapy has been proven to yield real results and can increase the relief your little one receives from topical products.
Wet wrapping therapy is a natural, chemical-free technique used in the treatment of eczema. This technique includes placing a wet dressing over the affected area to soothe skin and reduce the symptoms of moderate to severe eczema.
An example of a wet dressing would be a gauze soaked in water and placed on your baby’s skin. You could also use a piece of cotton clothing as the wet dressing. Just make sure the piece is clean and preferably white. Typically, the wet dressing will be placed over any topical product that has already been applied to the area.
For the best results with wet wrapping therapy, try applying Mustela’s Stelatopia Emollient Balm underneath the dressing to help soothe irritated skin and reinforce the skin’s moisture barrier.
How Does Wet Wrapping Therapy Work?
There are a few different ways to implement wet wrapping therapy. We’ll give you examples of how wet wrapping therapy works and how to do it.
- Bathe your little one with Mustela’s Stelatopia Cleansing Cream and let them soak in the bath for 15-20 minutes.
- Towel dry your little one’s skin and seal the affected area with Mustela’s Stelatopia Emollient Cream or Stelatopia Emollient Face Cream
- Dampen a wet wrap dressing and place it over the affected area.
- Cover the wet wrap dressing in a dry layer, preferably Mustela’s Stelatopia Skin Soothing Pajamas.
- Leave the wet wrap dressing on for at least two hours, or overnight, and then remove.
- Moisturize your little one’s skin once again with Mustela’s Stelatopia Emollient Cream or Stelatopia Emollient Face Cream.
If you’re solely using Mustela’s Skin Soothing Pajamas, follow these steps:
- After giving your little one a bath, apply Mustela’s Stelatopia Emollient Cream to their body and Stelatopia Emollient Face Cream to their face.
- Dress your little one in Mustela’s Stelatopia Skin Soothing Pajamas.
Let your little one drift off to sleep in these 100 percent cotton pajamas. The pajamas will soothe their skin and give them the nighttime relief they’ve been longing for.
If you want to address one specific area of skin, follow these steps after bath time:
- Dampen a dressing in warm water.
- Wrap the dampened dressing around the affected area.
- Wrap a dry dressing over the wet dressing.
- Carefully dress your little one in Mustela’s Stelatopia Skin Soothing Pajamas.
- Leave the dressings on the affected area for several hours or overnight.
Skin soothing pajamas work best after you’ve bathed your little one, moisturized their skin, and applied a cream. The pajamas should be left in place for 12 hours. Wet wrapping is most effective if administered once per day for one week and repeated once per week as needed after that.
When bathing, use Mustela’s Eczema-Prone Skin Bathtime Set, which consists of three products. You’ll be stocked with bath oil, cleansing cream, and emollient cream — all proven to provide soothing eczema relief for your little one.
A Note About The Importance Of What Your Baby Wears To Bed
The clothing your child wears, especially while sleeping, is of utmost importance. After all, you wouldn’t want to clothe your little one in something that’s going to irritate their eczema-prone skin even more. Because if your child constantly scratches throughout the night, their skin won’t be able to fully heal.
Additionally, it’s important to protect your baby’s skin from irritants. If your baby is suffering from eczema due to allergies, you’ll want to choose pajamas that are hypoallergenic, like Mustela’s Stelatopia Skin Soothing Pajamas.
Mustela’s Stelatopia Skin Soothing Pajamas are specifically designed for babies and toddlers with eczema. They are available in sizes 6-12 months and 12-24 months. You can clean the pajamas in the washing machine in cold water (just remember to use hypoallergenic and chemical-free detergent!), and they are effective for up to 20 washes.
Benefits Of Wet Wrapping Therapy
We know nighttime routines can be difficult, and we know what you’re thinking: trying to a get a wiggly, active toddler wrapped up in wet dressings after applying emollient cream seems close to impossible.
We’re not saying it’s always going to be an easy task, but we are saying it’s completely worth it. Wet wrapping therapy research shows promising results. Here are some benefits of wet wrapping therapy:
- Reduces redness and inflammation
- Provides a moist, physical barrier against scratching
- Eliminates further skin irritation
- Reduces itchiness, therefore promoting restful sleep
- Cools your little one’s skin
- Increases moisture to your little one’s skin
- Softens your little one’s skin (allowing the creams to better absorb into the skin)
- Produces an anti-itch effect
During particularly intense eczema flare-ups that involve severe itching or pain for your little one, wet wrapping therapy can work wonders. It will rehydrate and calm their skin. Wet wrapping enhances the effects of eczema creams and ointments by adding moisture to your little one’s skin.
Relief usually occurs within the first week of using wet wrapping therapy. Skin is better able to absorb moisture, which results in better absorption of a topical cream.
Wet Wrapping Therapy: Summing It Up
Your little one’s eczema is anything but comfortable. But as you can now see, wet wrapping therapy has several benefits for your baby and can help bring them comfort during even the worst eczema flare-up. No need to worry and lose sleep over eczema any longer. Wet wrapping therapy might be the answer.
By following the steps above and incorporating Mustela’s line of eczema-reducing skin care into your wet wrapping routine, you can help your little one finally find relief.