Does breastmilk help baby eczema?

If you’re desperately searching for anything that might help your baby’s eczema, you’ve probably come across the advice to try breastmilk. It’s natural, it’s free, and it’s always available. But does it actually work?

The short answer is: it depends. For some babies with mild eczema, breastmilk can provide genuine relief. For others with more severe symptoms, it barely makes a dent. Let’s look at what the science says, so you can make an informed decision.

What the Research Actually Says About Breastmilk and Eczema

The most-cited study on this topic was published in 2015 in the International Journal of Dermatology. Researchers compared breastmilk to 1% hydrocortisone cream in treating infant eczema.

Key findings:

• Breastmilk was as effective as hydrocortisone for mild atopic dermatitis
• Both treatments showed improvement after 21 days
• Breastmilk had no side effects (unlike steroid creams)
• The study was small (104 infants) and only looked at mild cases

A separate 2019 study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that babies exclusively breastfed for 3+ months had a lower risk of developing eczema by age 6. This suggests breastfeeding may have preventive benefits too.

Important: These studies looked at mild eczema. If your baby has moderate to severe eczema with cracked, weeping, or infected skin, breastmilk alone is unlikely to be sufficient. Please consult your GP or dermatologist.

How to Apply Breastmilk for Baby Eczema

If you want to try breastmilk for your baby’s mild eczema, here’s the proper method:

1. Express fresh breastmilk into a clean container
2. Clean the affected area gently with lukewarm water
3. Apply breastmilk using a clean cotton ball or your clean fingers
4. Let it air dry for a few minutes before dressing your baby
5. Repeat 2-3 times daily for at least 2-3 weeks to see results

Tip: Fresh breastmilk works better than frozen, as freezing may reduce some of the beneficial antibodies.

When Breastmilk Isn’t Enough: Signs You Need More Help

Many parents try breastmilk hoping for a miracle cure, only to feel disappointed when their baby’s eczema persists. Here’s the reality: breastmilk is a gentle, supportive treatment, not a cure-all.

You likely need additional treatment if your baby has:

• Cracked or bleeding skin
• Yellow crusting (possible infection)
• Eczema covering large areas of the body
• Disrupted sleep due to itching
• Visible distress or constant scratching
• No improvement after 2-3 weeks of breastmilk application

In these cases, breastmilk can be part of your approach, but you’ll need additional solutions.

Not Breastfeeding? Here’s What Works Instead

If you’re formula feeding, or your baby has moved past breastfeeding, don’t worry. There are equally effective (and in many cases, more effective) options available.

Eczema-Specific Clothing

One solution that’s helped over 32,000 UK families is therapeutic eczema clothing. Unlike regular cotton, specialised fabrics like those with DreamSkin® technology actively help the skin regulate moisture and temperature, which is exactly what eczema-damaged skin struggles to do.

Learn how DreamSkin® technology work