Eczema type skin - what shower oil?

[Miss H]

I have mild eczema which especially flares in the colder months. For the past 20 years I have been using baby oil after I have showered and find it leaves me more comfortable without that pulling feeling. I cannot go without it or it feels like my skin is pulling apart. I learnt yesterday that mineral oil is very bad to put on your skin and can cause all sorts of things. So I am trying to eliminate this and bought a cocoa butter oil today. It smells awful and I cannot stand the smell on me. What else can I use which does not have mineral oil or liquid parafin in?

[Swoop]

How about using olive oil as a carrier and adding a splash or two of lavender essential oil to it?

[BellyBelly]

Yes baby oil is petrochemical and the same as sorbolene. Have you seen the ingredients on cocabutter as well? Even Lucas Paw Paw is. General rule of thumb - if the ingredients on a pack are hard to read or you need a science degree to know what they are - they are probably not good for your skin.

Tracey Habron has written a great article on the main site here: What Are You Feeding Your Family's Skin?

I have eczema and I only use on the odd occasion Sunflower Body Wash. Other than that, just water - and people always ask me what I put on my skin to make it look so nice. I react badly to handsoaps, lots of shampoos (I currently have eczema on my hand due to it ) etc. But I have found the best thing is just water - its a matter of getting it around your mind that you're clean without it .

[Cherished]

Hi, I used to use aveeno or dermadrate creams all over my body and than found renew by melaleuca. If you are after an oil macadamia or coconut oil are lovely. Real coconut oil should not really smell like coconuts

[~clover~]

MIL used to swear by olive oil for BIL's eczema, I use QV bath oil with the kids. DD2 gets eczema & DS is very sensitive to soaps also.
I've also just starting to use an oatmeal shampoo & conditioner for DD2. Have only used it once so far, so can't comment yet
If I don't have QV, its nothing.

[Peg]

my dd3 has mild exema and i notice that it flares up in hot water when she has a bath or shower. Maybe thats why its worse for you in winter. Do you have hotter showers when its cold?

Also, i was told by a fiji lady that coconut oil is used by them for all sorts of skin ailments. It has some really good healing properties in it which keep the skin in good condition...much like olive oils.
If you want to try something natural without chemicals, then go for olive or coconut oils that you buy from the supermarket in the cooking oil section.

[Miss H]

I use QV bath oil with the kids. DD2 gets eczema & DS is very sensitive to soaps also.
I've also just starting to use an oatmeal shampoo & conditioner for DD2. Have only used it once so far, so can't comment yet

As far as I know QV bath oil is liquid parafin so I don't use it. I found DD's eczema is better since I stopped using it. I used to use the oatmeal shampoo but I feel the MooGoo shampoo is better. I wish they made a bath oil. I will definately try the coconut oil. I can't get used to putting something on my skin that I cook with i.e. olive oil.

[littlelara]

I wash ds with organic conditioner (yes, hair conditioner), usually baby conditioner or natural organics.
It doesn't strip the oils from his skin and leaves him a lot softer
HTH