This breastmilk lotion recipe is great for eczema, and easy to make!
The idea of rubbing breastmilk on your skin may seem a little unconventional, and I’ll be honest – I found it a little off-putting when I first heard about it. However, that was before I was a breastfeeding Mama who couldn’t bear the thought of dumping out milk. It was also before I knew how amazing breastmilk is. I mean seriously, they don’t call it liquid gold for nothing!
Maybe you have an oversupply, or you drank a couple glasses of wine and don’t feel comfortable feeding your baby, but you still had to pump. Or maybe you’re looking for a homemade remedy to keep eczema at bay. If you have some extra milk around, I highly recommend using it to make lotion.
I was convinced that breastmilk is magical after it healed Marshall’s clogged tear duct when he was 5 days old. His eye was swollen shut and I could barely stand to look at his sweet little face. It filled me with so many emotions that I had never experienced before and I was a complete wreck over it, as silly as it sounds. My sister-in-law is a mother of 3, and when she suggested that I put a tiny amount of breastmilk in the corner of his eye, I listened. I kid you not, the next day, it was almost completely healed. I did it once more, and the swelling and “goopy-ness” was gone the following day.
Ever since then, I’ve been obsessed with finding and experimenting with things you can do with breastmilk, from milk baths to popsicles to diaper ointment. You name it, I’ve tried it. I’ve even applied it to pimples and tiny cuts, and nine times out of ten, it helped! It’s my understanding that the “magic” ingredient is the Lauric acid, which is a component of breastmilk, that has antibacterial qualities. There is a ton of much information out there about the healing qualities of breastmilk, but I’ll leave that for you to research so we can get on to the lotion recipe. Just know that there are so many things you can do with breastmilk, all of which I will probably share at some point.
My son developed eczema when he was about 6-months-old. It seemed to pop up out of nowhere, taking over his entire chest and stomach, and eventually moving to his back. We took him to the doctor of course, where he was prescribed hydrocortisone cream. Between the hydrocortisone and this breastmilk lotion, his eczema has been so much better.
I want to make this very clear:I am not suggesting you use this lotion instead of the medicine your doctor or pediatrician has prescribed to you. This lotion is meant to be used in between the medicine or cream applications, and to prevent the eczema from coming back. If it starts to come back, follow your doctor’s instructions.
When my son’s eczema was still pretty mild and we hadn’t even seen the pediatrician yet, I actually tried applying this lotion to the dry spots to see if it would clear them up. IT DID NOT. I was extremely disappointed, and we took him to be seen the very next day. I had the misconception that applying this breastmilk lotion would be enough to completely heal his rash. What’s important to note here is that lotion typically won’t fix these problems. But they certainly do help.
What I love about this recipe is, although it might not heal eczema, it can keep you from having to apply medicine as often. Marshall takes enough as it is, so any time we can cut down on applying hydrocortisone, it’s a good day!
Check out my recipe for The Ultimate Homemade Diaper Cream
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I experimented with coconut oil and grapeseed oil, making two different batches to see if there would be a difference in consistency or effectiveness. The coconut oil one seems to be slightly more beneficial, but it also comes out harder. It really didn’t feel like a lotion at all. I had to dig a little chunk out and let it melt on his skin as I rubbed it in, while the grapeseed oil batch looked and felt pretty much like your typical lotion.
I liked it both ways, and I will be making some more soon with my freezer stash! Vitamin E is great for your skin, and essential oils have so many different benefits, so you can change it up according to what you’d like to focus on! I chose lavender essential oil, for it’s calming effect and lovely smell, but you can use whatever you like. Just don’t overdo it, especially if you plan on using this lotion on your baby. You can store the breastmilk lotion in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3 months! Crazy, right?
Like most moms, I’m almost always busy, so I ordered the materials on Amazon, which I’ve linked below for your convenience. All of these are available on Amazon Prime (as of 8/21/17), so you should receive them in a couple of days.
Organic White Beeswax Pellets
4 oz Mason Jars (Set of 12)
Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
Grapeseed Oil
100% Pure Vitamin E Oil
There you have it! My recipe for breastmilk lotion. I played with the ratios a couple of times, and this is definitely the best version the recipe. I use it on myself occasionally, and my husband tried some on a small rash on his leg as well, and it eased the itching sensation. I’m hooked! I hope you found this helpful, and if you’re using it on your baby, I hope it helps their rash!
A friend of mine wrote an awesome article with 10 breastfeeding hacks for new moms. I really wish I would have found it back when I was breastfeeding. I’m glad I have it saved for baby #2!
CLICK HERE to read 10 Breastfeeding Hacks For New Moms
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