If you are struggling to heal your babies diaper rash, why not turn to the oldest of all diaper creams – breastmilk!
Milk is important for a baby to grow. Especially breast milk, which contains high nutrition and many antibodies that can boost the immune system of babies.
But did you know, in addition to its function as food, mother’s milk also has other benefits such as treating diaper rash?
Is breast milk good for skin?
Yes, breast milk is great for skin. It has anti-inflammatory and healing properties that make it perfect for treating diaper rash and other skin irritations.
If your baby is always getting diaper rashes, it could be the miracle cure you are looking for!
How do you use breast milk for rashes?
Breast milk is safe to apply directly to the skin with your fingers, or in a spray bottle. You can also make all-natural nursing salve that will last longer than regular breastmilk. We go through lots of natural remedies for diaper rash in our guide, and one of the best methods is to make a homemade breastmilk lotion.
What does breast milk do for baby skin?
Breastmilk has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that soothe the skin, promote healing, reduce inflammation and help your baby’s immune system fight off infection when applied directly to the skin.
Can You Use Breast Milk as a Lotion?
Yes, you can! Breast milk is an all-natural moisturizer that contains high levels of Vitamin E.
It’s also a great way to soothe dry patches on your baby’s skin by applying with cotton balls or spraying directly into the air (the droplets will settle onto your little one).
Can I use breast milk for eczema?
Some parents have found that using breast milk to treat eczema is helpful. Breast milk contains anti-inflammatory and healing properties that can help soothe the skin and promote healing.
Homemade Breast Milk Lotion Recipes
If you are looking to make a breast milk lotion you can make one specifically for diaper rashes or a more general one for skin irritation. The diaper rash lotion is safe to use if you are cloth diapering. Check out out guide to safe creams to use with cloth diapers if you are unsure what creams you can use with cloth diapers.
Human Breast Milk Lotion Recipe For Diaper Rash
Ingredients:
· 20 ml of shea butter, melted in the microwave for 30 seconds.
· 50 ml of olive oil or coconut oil
· 100-150 millilitres breast milk (depending on how much you want to make)
Instructions: Mix oil mixture rapidly together until they form a smooth lotion, then add in breast milk and a few drops of essential oil of your choice. Slowly pour into an airtight container. Store in an airtight container at room temperature and use as needed, or refrigerate for up to two weeks.
You can add in some essential oil like grape seed oil in this breastmilk lotion recipe. Grapeseed oil contains Vitamin E oil which is good for skin. These are all totally natural ingredients and when you add essential oils you get the benefits of them as well as the nice scents. However, some babies have sensitive skin and may have an adverse reaction.
Before you apply to your baby’s skin you should always test plain breast milk on their sensitive skin each time you make a batch. Breastmilk changes continually with everything you eat so its always wise just to test before you use it as a diaper cream. Even though human milk is miracle liquid gold, its always better to test before use just in case of a dairy allergy, dairy sensitivity or food allergy.
Breast Milk Lotion Recipe For Dry Skin & Eczema
If your baby has baby acne, or baby’s eczema is flaring up then rubbing breastmilk lotion should really help.
Ingredients:
· 50 ml of shea butter, melted in the microwave it for 30 seconds
· 100 millilitres breast milk
· .05 grams of lavender oil (optional)
Instructions: Mix all ingredients together until they form a smooth lotion. Store in a sealed container at room temperature and use as needed, or refrigerate for up to two weeks.
Whilst a dark cool place is best to store lotion, room temperature optional, just keep away from a heat source that can ruin the lotion. Most moms find this lotion is great for both a new baby and a toddler as the milk continually adjusts as your baby grows.
Why Use Lotion Made from Breastmilk?
There are a few reasons that you might want to consider using lotion made from breastmilk. First of all, it is incredibly moisturizing, which can be helpful for babies with dry skin. It is also full of antioxidants and vitamins, which can help to keep your skin healthy. Another reason to use lotion made from breastmilk is that it’s been shown in studies to have many health benefits as well! For example, it contains lauric acid (a fatty acid) which helps fight against bacteria and viruses.
What is in breast milk That Makes it Good At Healing Skin?
Breast milk is well known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
These elements can aid to accelerate the healing process for skin damage.
Furthermore, the high vitamin A concentration of breast milk helps to keep the skin healthy and looking nice. Breast milk also includes helpful bacteria that can aid in the fight against infection and the healing of wounds.
Lactoglobulin is a protein that aids in the metabolic rate of fat cells in the skin. This increases cell turnover, resulting in smoother, healthier-looking skin with fewer wrinkles.
Vitamin A aids wound healing by promoting collagen formation and preventing collagen breakdown.
Lactoferrin is an immune system protein that aids in the fight against infections.
The high vitamin D concentration of breast milk can aid in the prevention of rickets, a condition caused by a shortage of vitamin D. Breastfeeding moms have more vitamin D than other women, which might explain why their newborns are less likely to get rickets. Vitamin A aids wound healing by promoting collagen formation and preventing collagen breakdown.
Fatty acids are good for skin health because they keep the skin hydrated.
Bacteria in breast milk can help to fight off infection and promote wound healing.
Proteins in breast milk can help to speed up the metabolism of fat cells in the skin. This causes an increase in cell turnover, which leads to smoother and healthier-looking skin with fewer wrinkles.
Carbohydrates in breast milk can help to keep the skin hydrated and prevent dryness.
Breast Milk Baths
Another option is to pour a milk bath for your child to keep their skin extra hydrated. Just like any of our soothing baths series, a breast milk bath is a totally natural option to treat their diaper rash or any other skin issue. You can use pure breast milk to just make a simple lotion mixing milk and coconut oil or oil and beeswax.
Combined with an oatmeal bath to really help improve baby eczema.
How Long will Breast Milk Lotion Last?
Once you’ve made this breast milk lotion, you should use it within two weeks. However, if you refrigerate the mixture it will last longer (up to a month). The shea butter and olive oil make up most of the cream, but there aren’t any preservatives so keep that in mind when you’re making it and make enough just to last you the not too distant future.
Breast Milk and Ear Infections
One more great use for this lotion is to help clear up and treat ear infections. The antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties of breast milk can be helpful in treating this common infection. Just put a few drops of breast milk into the affected ear, three times per day. You should see results within a few days.
Take Away
There are many reasons to consider using lotion made from breastmilk. It is incredibly moisturizing, full of antioxidants and vitamins, and has been shown to have many health benefits.
The benefit of this lotion over regular lotion is that it does not contain any harsh chemicals or preservatives. As your baby grows your breast milk miracle properties adapt and change to the need of the growing baby. So forgot shop-bought mass-produced stuff, give your baby some of the good stuff to heal their ailments!
This article was written by: Gian MIller – Full-Time Writer, Baby Whisperer & Dad of 3.
Gian spends a lot of his time writing. A self-proclaimed baby whisperer, Gian has been through it all with his own children and is passionate about sharing his hard-won wisdom with other parents. When he’s not writing or changing diapers, you can find him playing the guitar or watching baseball (or preferably both at the same time).
