Human breast milk is by far the best source of energy and food for infants. Many studies have demonstrated its rich nutritional values and protective properties for infants. Recently, there was a study that demonstrated human breast milk also offer protection against atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema.
How common is eczema:
Eczema is a very common skin condition affecting children. The disease is characterized by recurrent red and itchy rash on the skin. It is estimated that in developed countries like the United States, approximately 15 to 20% of infants are affected by eczema. About 50% of them have eczema in the first year of their lives. Many of these kids suffer from uncontrollable itch, difficulty sleeping, bleeding, and infection.
Common treatments for eczema include moisturizing creams and ointments, in addition to anti-inflammatory medication such as steroids and antibiotic creams. Now there is a new potential treatment that comes in the form of human breastmilk.
A clinical study using breast milk to treat eczema:
The study was conducted by a group of dermatologists in Iran who showed that human breast milk is as effective as 1% hydrocortisone ointment to treat infants with eczema.
A total of 104 infants with a diagnosis of eczema were enrolled in the clinical trial, and the infants were randomly assigned to two groups. Group A with 50 infants received 1% hydrocortisone (weak steroid) ointment, and Group B with 54 infants received human breast milk. Mothers in group B were instructed to rub hindmilk (breast milk at the end of breastfeeding) twice a day on the affected area of their infants with eczema.
All infants were evaluated at day 1, 7, 14 and 21 days of the treatment. Nearly 82% of the infants receiving human breastmilk, and 76% using 1% hydrocortisone reported healing of their eczema conditions. Based on the results, the investigators in the study suggested human breast milk is as good as 1% hydrocortisone ointment in healing eczema in infants.
Why does breast milk treat eczema?
Human breast milk is known to provide nutrition for infants and offer protection against infections. It has significant amounts of complement components that contain natural antimicrobial agents.
Some of these antimicrobial agents in the breast milk include antibodies, lysozymes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes. IgA is an immunoglobulin that particularly protects infants from a variety of skin infections. Lysozymes kill bacteria such as Enterobacteriaceae and gram-negative bacteria, while leukocytes have anti-inflammatory effects. Other studies have also shown that human breast milk has wound healing properties.
Final Thoughts
So after reading this study summary, do you believe breast milk offer any protection against eczema? Please leave us your comments and thoughts.
Reference:
Kasrae H, Farahani LA, Yousefi P. Efficacy of topical application of human break milk on atopic eczema healing among infants: a randomized clinical trial. International Journal of dermatology. 2015, 54: 966-971.
Please sign up for our newsletters for other interesting and new studies related to eczema and other natural treatments for the disease.
I will definitely try this. I feel the back and forths of going to the doctor for more chemicals for something that is incurable may end up causing more harm than good. Many thanks for this info
After noticing dry spots & subtle skin discoloration on the creases of my baby’s feet, I decided to put some breastmilk on it. It was hind milk because she had not too long finished feeding. I’m anxious to see the results.
After reading the article we began treatment with breast milk this morning. Basting the area with pumped breast milk on a clean cotton bud. Wishing 40 mins we noticed drastic improvement with the area less red and inflamed within this time. I note the trial was over 21 days and so look forward to continued healing and improvements.
Its a helpfull content and Thanks for sharing this kind of information.
Instead, they continue to pummel their skin with chemical treatments prescribed by their doctor,
only to end up repeating the same cycle again and again each day.
More information: natural treatment eczema
My baby girl is 6 months old now. She developed eczema when she was 2 months. My doctor believes that she has milk protein allergy, but no tests where done to prove it. Anyway, I used some soothing eczema creams like Eucerin, Aveeno… There was not much improvement though. Once my mother in law told me to try breast milk, she said that in the days she had kids it was quite common method to treat any rashes on baby’s skin. At first I was sceptical, but decided to give a try – nothing to loose. I can tell you, after first time using breast milk on my baby’s face (it was so bright red and swollen and wet) I saw big improvement right away. It started to heal immediately… it became less inflamed, less red, more soft.. Now I regullarly use breast milk often especially when I see eczema worsens.