ONE YEAR OF ECZEMA: A MOM’S REFLECTIOn (PART 2)
One year of eczema.
You’re probably thinking, she did it, Khanh finally figured it out.
And honestly, when I debated whether I should write a part two, I hoped that by now I would be able to say exactly that. That I cracked the code. That we made it to the other side.
But let me start this by saying… I haven’t.
We still haven’t found all the answers.
What we have found is resilience, patience, and a baby boy who has fought through every flare with the sweetest little spirit. And in honor of this year and his journey, I wanted to share a real update. Not a highlight reel, not a miracle cure, just the truth from a mom trying her best.
Over the past twelve months, I’ve received so many messages asking about Phoenix’s skin. People wanted to know what we tried, what worked, what didn’t. The truth is that we tried everything. We spent so much money buying every product on the market that even hinted at helping eczema and sadly, many of them had oatmeal or coconut, which we eventually learned we had to avoid. And after a while, documenting every experiment and every setback started costing me my peace. So halfway through the year, I stopped sharing publicly and continued privately, praying that time, intention, and consistency would guide us somewhere better.
Before I continue, here is my gentle disclaimer.
This is not medical advice. It is simply the journey of a mom who has lived and breathed her baby’s skin for over a year.
I break what we have done into four pillars:
Keeping staph infections under control
Combating the dryness
Reducing the itch
Supporting his body internally
1. KEEPING STAPH INFECTIONS UNDER CONTROL
Staph was a challenging part of our journey because it changes the entire nature of eczema. It makes every flare angrier, redder, itchier, and so much harder to treat. What many people don’t realize is that eczema-prone skin already struggles with its moisture barrier, making it more vulnerable to bacteria living on the surface. That’s where staph comes in.
Staph is a very common bacteria that lives on the skin. Most people have it and never know. But for babies with eczema, even a small imbalance can trigger:
• increased redness
• intense itching
• yellow crusting
• oozing or wet-looking patches
• rapidly spreading rashes
That “ooziness” you see during flares is often a sign that the skin barrier has broken down and is struggling to heal. It can look scary, shiny, sticky, weepy patches that soak through clothes or bandages but it’s actually the skin’s way of signaling that bacteria has taken over and needs help.
Once staph is present, moisturizers alone can’t fix the flare. The infection must be addressed or the eczema will keep cycling.
Our experience
We saw a renowned Pediatric Infectious Disease physician (a USC alum) who ran cultures on Phoenix’s skin and created a structured plan for us. He explained that the staph wasn’t our fault, it wasn’t because we weren’t clean enough, and it wasn’t because of anything we did wrong. It happens frequently in babies with severe eczema because their skin barrier allows bacteria in more easily.
What mattered was breaking the cycle.
His recommendations
Daily Hibiclens cleanse at night - I actually started this protocol for Phoenix a few weeks before we even saw the ID physician. Goes to show that sometimes, when you’re deep in research mode and following your instincts as a mom, you really do just figure things out on your own. Goal: To reduce surface bacteria gently and safely.
Bleach baths (during severe flares)
I know the word bleach doesn’t sound pleasant. I felt the same way at first, but it’s actually just a very tiny, diluted amount added to the bath. It is the most studied and evidence-based method for reducing staph on the skin.
For Phoenix, here is exactly what we use and how we do it:
• 1 teaspoon of regular, unscented household bleach per gallon of water
or
• ¼ cup of regular bleach in a standard half-full bathtub
That’s it. It ends up being similar in strength to a chlorinated swimming pool.
Always use plain, unscented bleach. We use the regular unscented Clorox. Never use splashless, scented, gel, or color-safe formulas.
When used correctly, it is gentle, safe, and incredibly effective during severe flares. It helped Phoenix tremendously in his hardest moments.
We also did one full round of the protocol as a family. Hibiclens showers for all of us, swapping mupirocin up our nostrils, and deep cleaning everything Phoenix touched. After that round, we kept everything he touched extremely clean aka clothes, bedding, toys, surfaces, our own hands and shirts.
Since then, he has not had a single staph infection.
WHAT I ADDED AFTER MY OWN RESEARCH
Hypochlorous Acid Spray (We use this so much we had to get the bigger bottles!
A gentle, non-stinging way to keep bacteria levels low without irritating his skin first thing in the morning. HOCl mimics what our own immune cells naturally produce, so it supports healing, reduces redness, calms inflammation, and keeps the skin clean in the gentlest way possible. It’s one of the only “antimicrobial” options that doesn’t strip or dry the skin.
I also use it anytime he scratches until he bleeds. The moment I see a fresh scratch or broken skin, I spray this ASAP to help clean the area gently and prevent bacteria from settling in. It has become one of my most important tools.
Dead Sea Salt Baths
Mineral-rich and incredibly soothing. Dead Sea salt is known for reducing inflammation, softening dry patches, calming redness, and helping the skin retain moisture. For Phoenix, it also seemed to help slough off flakes gently and leave his skin calmer after baths. On days where bleach felt too harsh, Dead Sea salt was our go-to.
Apple Cider Vinegar Baths
ACV helps balance the skin’s pH, which is often higher (more alkaline) in babies with eczema. A more balanced pH helps reduce harmful bacteria, strengthen the skin barrier, and soothe itchiness. ACV baths became one of our safest, most reliable options on days where his skin looked irritated but not infected.
Honey Tallow Balm
Gifted by one of Jonathan’s clients and now one of our staples. Tallow is naturally rich in nutrients that mimic the skin’s own oils, making it incredibly nourishing for dry, compromised skin. Combined with honey, it becomes calming, anti-inflammatory, and deeply restorative. We use it on stubborn dry patches, raw areas, or anywhere that needs extra love, and it absorbs beautifully.
2. COMBATING THE DRYNESS
Dryness made everything worse. he cracks, the bleeding, the itching, the emotional weight.
What helped us
Layering moisturizers
• For his body: A hydrating lotion (La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+ Triple Repair Moisturizing Cream)
•For his face: This Cerave Baby Healing Ointment is the only thing that keeps his dryness at bay. It locks in hydration and protects the delicate skin around his cheeks and chin, especially on days when the flakes or irritation try to come back.
• Honey tallow balm for rough patches
Fragrance-free, pH-balanced products
Yes — Vaseline is one of them. It’s simple, plain petrolatum with no fragrance, no irritants, and no extra ingredients.
It doesn’t hydrate on its own, but when layered on top of a moisturizer, it creates a protective barrier that helps keep everything underneath from evaporating. With that said, I am still trying to find something to replace petrolatum. As much as it works, I’m always looking for gentler, cleaner, or more natural alternatives that can give us the same level of protection without relying on petroleum. It’s a work in progress, but please send recommendations my way if you have them!
Moisturizing multiple times a day It truly becomes a part-time job.
Short, daily, lukewarm bath. Followed immediately by moisturizer while skin is still damp.
3. REDUCING THE ITCH
The itch is the part that broke me the most.
It is the part people do not see. The part where your baby cannot sleep, cannot settle, and cannot get comfortable in his own skin. The part where you hold his hands through the night so he doesn’t scratch until he bleeds.
Jonathan trims his nails every 3 days or so. It makes such a difference in how much damage he can do when he rubs or scratches.
We also keep him in mittens during naps and at night, and even at over a year old, he’s still wearing them. It’s the only way to keep his little hands from hurting his skin while he sleeps, especially on the nights when the itch feels stronger.
Why eczema gets worse at night
Body temperature rises.
Stress hormones fall. Itching skyrockets.
For every parent who dreams of sleeping in, here is my truth. Up until very recently, I was waking up 1–2 times every hour to check on him, soothe him, reposition him, or stop him from scratching.
But because he has always had a solid routine, once he goes down around 7:30–8:30, he sleeps until 8–9 am. His stretches are long and peaceful. It’s the itching that wakes me, not him.
What helps us at night
A cool sleep environment
Ideal temp for SoCal: 68–70°F
Affiliate link: Fan, blackout curtains, sleep sack
Nail trims + Mittens + Monitoring
A combination of small things that make a big difference.
4. SUPPORTING HIS BODY INTERNALLY
Formula changes
We eventually found one that supported his skin and weight gain.
Gut health
Probiotics and mindful digestion.
Baby probiotics →
Breastfeeding
One of the hardest chapters for me.
Before becoming a mom, I always said I probably wouldn’t breastfeed because I was too busy. But when Phoenix arrived, breastfeeding became our little world. I loved it more deeply than I ever expected.
Shoutout to all the moms who cut things out of their diet and saw their baby’s skin transform. I have so much respect for you, because that level of discipline and sacrifice is not easy. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for us. It makes me wonder if food is even a major trigger for Phoenix, because I cut everything. I went completely gluten, dairy, and soy free for him. I scrutinized every ingredient, every meal, every label.
Even though I produced plenty of milk, the restrictions slowly took away my joy. Every bite became a question mark and every meal became stressful. And during this time, Phoenix naturally began to wean himself. His body was ready before my heart was.
It worked out for both of us, but I still miss it so much. It was a chapter I hold so tenderly.
WHERE WE ARE TODAY
Phoenix’s skin looks the best it has ever looked.
We’ve phased out bleach baths and only use them for severe flares.
ACV baths and Dead Sea salt baths carry us most days.
His routine is simple now:
• Hydrating lotion
• Sealing moisturizer
• Honey tallow balm
• Cotton and bamboo clothing only
• Polyester avoided when possible
We introduce solids slowly, mindful of BOTH allergy-test flags and real-life reactions.
He receives a monthly Dupixent shot.
Not our forever plan — but something that brings him relief right now.
And every day, I pray he grows out of this.
MY HYPERFOCUS AS A MOM
Anyone who knows me knows how intensely I focus when I care about something.
And I’ve channeled that same energy into learning Phoenix’s eczema triggers.
Not out of fear.
Out of love.
His skin healed beautifully in the Bay Area.
It didn’t respond the same in Canada.
And Cabo heat?
Absolutely not. Fans were on him constantly.
His triggers live in nuance.
And because he cannot use words yet, I’ve learned to listen with my eyes, instincts, and heart.
THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT
I get the sweetest messages saying how great his skin looks.
And he truly has come such a long way.
But there is a quieter side to eczema.
He still itches.
He sometimes still scratches until he bleeds.
There are still nights where I know his skin is uncomfortable even though he sleeps through it.
And then there is the mom guilt.
Trying to give him everything.
Trying to be enough.
Trying to remind myself that I have never worked harder at anything —
and that this job has brought me the most joy of my entire life.
True to his name, Phoenix is the happiest, sweetest, most resilient little boy. His skin has come so far. His spirit has never dimmed. And that gives me hope every single day.
⭐ WARM, COMPLIANT AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE
Disclosure:
This post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission if you purchase through my links, at no additional cost to you. I only share products we genuinely use and love for Phoenix.
A warm note from me:
Any commission earned through these links goes straight back into trying new products, tools, and resources that could help with Phoenix’s comfort and skin journey. Thank you for being here and supporting our little family in such a meaningful way.
