The opinions in this non-toxic Dream Cream post are all mine.

If you have been reading this blog or following me for any amount of time, you already know that ⅗ of our family have had a hard time with eczema.  The Captain used to scratch his thighs in his sleep and cause himself to bleed.  We had no idea what to do or how to fix it.  We tried many different treatments, necklaces, wet wrapping, and more.  Some worked, some didn't, and some worked for awhile and then stopped working.  I learned through my own eczema that moisturization is key, but it seemed that most moisturizers and even "safe" baby soaps would irritate his skin.  After many tears and frustrated days, we figured out that he can only have 1-2 baths a week and he needs lots of lotion made with pure and natural ingredients.  

We somehow avoided eczema with D, but When Baby Brother started developing an eczema rash on his face, I felt better prepared.  His was tougher to combat though, because it was on his face.  I had a rash on my face through much of my babyhood, but I felt confident that we could get rid of it.  Well, we exhausted all of our natural remedies and lotions and treatments, and ended up at the pediatric dermatologist.  She prescribed two VERY expensive creams that were definitely NOT natural and pure, but they worked.  His eczema cleared up after a few months and thankfully has yet to return.  He does have very dry skin and scratches like crazy if we bathe him too often or if his skin isn't hydrated well. 

I was really tired of buying expensive cream to treat his dry skin and eczema and was definitely not comfortable slathering his precious baby skin in chemicals that were made in a lab somewhere.  That's when my friend Becky, whom I met many years ago when she was pregnant with her oldest when I was pregnant with the Captain, posted on Facebook about a company she had discovered and really believed in because their products were toxin free and made of good, truly all natural ingredients, Ava Anderson.  She mentioned that she used the diaper cream on a spot of eczema that she had, and it cleared up.  So, I bought a tube and used it on Baby Brother's dry skin.  I know, you wouldn't really think that diaper cream should be used all over a baby's body, but it totally makes sense!  Diaper cream clears up diaper rashes by creating a protective barrier and locking the moisture in.  I really wish I had known about this when he had his face eczema.  Who knows, we could've avoided an expensive trip to the dermatologist and all of that expensive prescription lotion.  

Now, any time his skin is dry and itchy, I know it's time for more Ava cream.  I even ordered a grown up version....Ava Dream Cream...which is the same thing as the diaper cream, but with a different scent (scented with essential oils) for grown-ups.  I use it on my extremely dry face and it keeps it hydrated and feeling soft.  I love it!

**Since writing this post, Ava Anderson has become Purehaven Essentials and is actually much better for our skin and the Dream Cream is still awesome!  Check them out!**