Using baking soda baths for diaper rash in babies and infants is considered an effective remedy. The question is does it really work?
Here, our skin expert examines this claim in detail. We will also by extension assess if it works on chickenpox in children.
Can I Use Baking Soda Bath for Babies?
True, you can use a baking soda bath to treat the baby’s diaper rash.
If your baby’s skin is fresh from a diaper rash, you simply need to immerse the affected area for approximately 10 minutes three times a day in a bathtub filled with water mixed with baking soda.
The use of this organic therapeutic powder will help promote faster healing and also soothe irritated and inflamed skin.
However, before putting a clean, new diaper on the affected area, ensure that you pat it completely dry to prevent further infections.
For young children and babies, you need to mix 2 tablespoonfuls of this product with about one liter of clean water.
Failure to follow these measurements may end in using excess baking soda, which through a process known as alkalosis, can be absorbed into the infant’s body via the skin.
Baking Soda Bath for Diaper Rash
As mentioned above, diaper rash also referred to as diaper dermatitis can be treated using a bathe made from a combination of simple, low-cost organic baking soda and water.
However, you may be interested in knowing the real cause of diaper rash. Well, here is the precise explanation.
Diaper rash is simply a skin irritation and inflammation triggered by loose stools and urine, particularly in babies who have started consuming solid diets.
In most cases, a majority of the affected population range between the ages of six months and 2 years.
Diaper dermatitis contributes to itchy skin burning and redness in the affected areas, especially in parts that rub against and come into contact with a diaper.
This kind of baby rash assumes different forms, including psoriasis, dermatitis, and other shapes like rashes triggered by certain conditions such as bullous impetigo, HIV, and syphilis.
Ordinarily, most diaper rashes come from babies frequently soiling diapers without being changed on time. The fact that human waste is acidic in nature, allows yeast and bacteria to thrive leading to skin irritation.
Occasionally, the children and babies’ caregivers, guardians, or parents make the diapers too tight that they constantly touch the skin thereby causing irritation and swelling of the skin area affected.
Baking Soda Bath for Chicken Pox
The itching caused by chickenpox rashes can effectively be dealt with using a baking soda bath.
If you make a thick paste of water and baking soda and apply it to the affected skin area to stop the burning, it can worsen the itching and probably increase the fever.
Instead, you need a baking soda bath made from a mixture of one teacup of baking soda for every one inch deep of warm bathwater.
Ordinarily, the itchy rash from chickenpox can be very painful and sometimes make most children cry a lot from the irritation.
To calm such skin burning, try using a baking soda bath and let the child play in the mixture for about 15 to 20 minutes. You can repeat this process 2 to 3 times day-to-day.
But, during the treatment, you must be the child all through to prevent accidents associated with drowning in the tub.
To improve the blend, you can add other products such as Aveeno®’s Bath Treatment. Remember the product’s soothing formula is perfectly designed for irritating, itchy skin.
If your child is very young, keep playing with him to take his mind off the burning.
For children old enough to learn how they can relieve the condition, teach them how to use their fingers to put pressure on the itchy areas for relief as opposed to letting them scratch the affected part.
Baking Soda Bath for Eczema
Eczema in babies can be medically cured using an organically prepared baking soda bath. Here is more information on how you can handle the condition using this product in different forms.
Baking Soda for Eczema Baby
Eczema in infants is treated using the following recipe of baking soda:
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup of baking soda
- Lukewarm water
- Tub
- Oatmeal
- Epsom salt
Directions:
- Put ¼ cup of baking soda in a tub filled with the lukewarm bathwater
- Blend the baking soda well until it is completely mixed
- Place or soak your baby’s affected area in the tub for about 10 minutes or more.
- Add oatmeal and Epsom salt for better results.
However, if your child has skin issues, avoid using baking powder because it can be harmful. It has sodium bicarbonate, a mineral known to exhibit characteristics of salt.
Overall, baking soda bath has immense benefits for children with eczema condition including the following:
- Balances pH
- Has a cleansing skin effect
- Reduces inflammation
- Is organically antiseptic
- Can reduce bacteria
- Has a detoxifying skin effect
Drinking Baking Soda for Eczema
Baking soda is the common sodium bicarbonate used as an ingredient in many drinking liquids and is known to treat several beauty, skin, and health ailments including eczema.
Moreover, you should know that there is a big difference between baking soda and baking powder.
You should, therefore, treat eczema and associated symptoms using baking soda as opposed to baking powder.
These are some of the methods and properties that make oral consumption of baking soda good at easing eczema:
- It helps to eliminate eczema skin flare-ups because it contains natural skin cleansing and antiseptic properties that clear and rinse out germs, including bacteria on your skin, and thus helps to reduce eczema and the related warning sign.
- It gently foams thereby helping to get deeper into your skin to cleanse Dyshidrotic eczema or sensitive eczema spot.
- It gently exfoliates your skin, thereby helping to get rid of dead cells on the surface of the skin to decrease the affected areas’ eczema-triggered irritation.
- Prevents further skin flare-ups by balancing the pH levels of your skin with body alkalization
- If regularly ingested in small amounts, this product is safe for treating eczema including in small children.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda for Eczema
You can effectively remedy eczema conditions using apple cider vinegar because of its antibacterial and antifungal compounds.
It is rich in medicinal properties to the extent that even Hippocrates used it to treat numerous hair, skin, and health problems effectively.
When combined with baking soda, apple cider vinegar makes a good concoction for controlling eczema with its remarkable organic properties.
However, you only need to use it in its natural form when unfiltered and raw to retain the Mother known to treat eczema.
The method for preparing baking soda and apple cider vinegar for eczema is as follows:
- Mix 2 tablespoons of organic ACV with 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda.
- In half cup of water, mix them well and after the stoppage of the fizz, add some honey to the mixture.
- Blend and orally consume this solution once daily to relieve your irritating and itchy eczema skin.
- Repeat this process regularly to realize a quick reprieve.
Baking Soda Bath & Paste for Eczema in Babies
Using baking soda for eczema pain relief demands that one understand everything needed first. Both eczema and psoriasis are characterized by itchy skin. Any substance that can help relieve the itch without having adverse side effects on the users is worth reviewing.
Eczema popularly refers to a family of inflammatory skin conditions, the most common being Atopic Dermatitis. This condition is characterized by a reduction in the barrier function of the skin caused by a defect in the epidermal layer.
When you have eczema, there’s inflammation of this protective barrier that everyone needs on their skin.
And when somebody gets eczema they develop itchy or dry, red patches on their body usually on their arms and their back and sometimes on the front of their legs up to just over halfway up their thighs.
In this article, we examine how baking soda baths or paste work when used for eczema, including the benefits and side effects of using on baby eczema. So whether you drink or just apply it externally, this is an invaluable resource.
Is Baking Soda Good For Skin Infections?
Yes, Baking soda is a great product for most of the skin conditions people suffer from including infections and itchy rashes.
It does have anti-bacterial properties, so it kills bacteria and fungus on your skin and leaves a clean surface for hydration ingredients to work their magic.
Where skin exfoliation is needed baking soda acts as a helper ingredient. It can’t do the job by contact alone because it’s not exfoliating.
You may be seeking to know is if baking soda or any other alkaline chemical could be used as an alternative to traditional forms of exfoliation, such as microdermabrasion or acids like glycolic acid.
While baking soda doesn’t provide much in the way of deep-down cleansing, it can break up your skin buildup without drying out your skin, which makes it a great option as a very gentle contact exfoliator.
Baking Soda for Eczema Scars
Indeed, the application of baking soda to treat eczema scars is one of the effective ways to improve their appearance.
Sodium bicarbonate is one of the most commonly used household ingredients that has been under use for several years to treat various skin, health, and beauty conditions including eczema.
Skincare and other healthcare professionals have indicated that adding baking soda to your bathing water before use can be helpful in eliminating eczema scars.
Therefore, you should not doubt its effectiveness, if indeed you are suffering from eczema scars make use of baking soda.
Baking Soda Paste for Eczema
How to make Baking Soda Paste for Eczema
The process of making a baking soda paste for eczema is quite simple and fast. All you should do is ensure that you have a bowl or glass, water, and baking soda.
To make the paste, first, add two to three spoonfuls of baking soda into the bowl. Secondly, add the same amount of water into the bowl and mix until you have a thick paste.
At this point, the paste is ready and can be applied to the part of the body with eczema.
How to apply Baking Soda Paste for Eczema
Once you have prepared the baking soda bath or paste, the next step is to make use of them.
Using the paste,
- You need to apply it directly onto the park of the skin with eczema,
- Leave it for at least 15 minutes before you rinse it off,
- Repeat this process at least two times a day for a month to have the eczema completely treated.
Baking Soda Bath for Eczema
How to Prepare Baking Soda Bath for Eczema
The eczema scars can make one feel ashamed of their looks. Therefore, you need to apply the baking soda as frequently as possible to ensure that you eliminate the scars.
To prepare a baking soda bath for eczema scars follow these steps:
- Into the tub of warm or lukewarm water, add half or one cup of baking soda.
- Mix well, and your baking soda bath shall be ready once you are done
How to use Baking Soda Bath for Eczema
Using the baking soda bath, you should follow these steps:
- Into the already prepared baking soda bath soak yourself for about 20 minutes to allow your skin to absorb the water.
- Once that is done, rinse your body using normal water
- Dry your skin thoroughly using a clean towel
- Do this at least two times a day until the eczema scars are all gone.
Side Effects of Using Baking Soda on Eczema
Well, as you know the excessive usage of anything can be dangerous to your health, the same is the case with the use of baking soda.
However, note that some of the side effects are a result of the different reactions of our skin types to baking soda.
Some of the commonly witnessed side effects of using baking soda are:
- Raising blood pressure
- Results in skin swelling
- May result in overload circulation and heart failure
- Can cause diarrhea, increase thirst, stomach cramps, and nausea. This happens when the soda has disrupted the body’s acid-base balance.
- Pregnant women and individuals with kidney disease, high blood pressure, and liver disease are advised to avoid using baking soda.
Therefore, individuals are advised to visit the nearest physician when they notice any of these side effects. Remember, ignoring such recommendations by physicians could only worsen your health situation.
Baking Soda for Baby Eczema
As a parent or guardian when you notice eczema on your child, you should swiftly act by using either the baking soda bath method or the baking soda paste technique.
For the baking soda bath, add half a cup of baking soda into the bathing water of your child. Place the child in the water and leave him or her for 10 minutes and then wash him with normal water.
Once you are done, dry their skin and apply the appropriate baby skincare oil.
For the baking soda paste, you should apply the paste directly onto the part of the body with eczema. Leave it for 30 minutes before you rinse it off using lukewarm water.
The process should be repeated at least twice a day until the child is completely healed.
For detailed information on this consider reading our article on baking soda baths for baby rashes.
While the process of using sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) for eczema may seem simple, here below are important points you should remember.
FAQs on Using Baking Soda for Toddlers
These are some of the frequently asked questions on the use of baking soda for toddlers or infants. We will try to capture as many as we can.
However, if you find any hasn’t been addressed, please post it in the comments section below.
Is baking soda safe for baby skin?
Yes, baking soda is generally safe for toddlers’ skin. However, in rare cases, children with sensitive skin may experience allergies or irritation.
If such occurs, you should stop using it immediately and visit the nearest hospital. Caution; It must be baking soda and NOT baking powder.
Can I use baking soda for the baby’s gas?
Yes, it is sometimes recommended to use baking soda to get rid of or treat stomach gas in children
Is baking soda good for diaper rash?
Yes, as described earlier in this article, a baking soda bath is a good remedy for diaper rash in children or toddlers.
Baking soda for eczema itch
Eczema itches can be very irritating and can lower your concentration. To eliminate the itching, it is recommended that you prepare a baking soda paste and apply it directly on the part of the body with eczema.
Given the anti-inflammatory characteristics of the baking soda, you will be relieved from the itching after a few minutes of applying it.
Drinking baking soda for eczema
It is not recommended that you drink baking soda for eczema because of its numerous side effects such as causing kidney stones, heart palpitations, joint pains, and weight gain. You should do pastes or baths for the relief of itching caused by eczema.
How long do eczema scars take to fade after using baking soda?
Typically, after a consistent application of baking soda, the eczema scars should be eliminated after four weeks.
However, it has been found that depending on the skin type; some individuals might have the scars eliminated after the sixth week of their usage of the baking soda.
