Mum Jacqui tells her story...

"Isabel was born one week overdue and from the minute she arrived in my arms she had very dry skin that felt like sandpaper. I put it down to her being overdue and moisturised her several times a day with a well-known baby oil.

Before	After

"However, she continued to have really dry skin and then after a few weeks dry patches started to appear on her face and knees.

"I started to use a natural moisturiser that promised to relieve the dry patches but it didn't work. The cream seemed to have no effect whatsoever: she felt dry and papery within minutes of application.

"I was concerned but both my health visitor and GP said it was just dry skin and recommended I use aqueous cream and apply it every hour. I didn't like this product but did as they suggested but there was no change. The doctor then recommended emulsifying cream that again didn't work. At around eight weeks old Isabel started to get more dry patches that looked angry and sore. They came up on her face, arms, chest, tummy and legs. Her skin was becoming very scaly too. Back I went to the doctor who prescribed a petroleum based bath oil and then steroids. I hated the idea of putting such products and drugs onto Isabel's skin but was desperate to help her. The steroid cream alleviated the problem for a while but as soon as I stopped using it, the eczema returned more than ever. I felt like I'd made it worse, not better.

"After three months I was at my wits' end. Isabel was scaly all over, her patches looked sore and I feared they would soon break open thus leaving her prone to infection.

"As a last resort I went onto the Internet and came across a chat room where eczema was being discussed. A few people had used a cream called SOS rescue me Face & Body Cream from Barefoot Botanicals. The next day I went out to my local health food shop in search of this. They stocked it and I bought a tube and ran home. I used a whole tube that first week and the improvement was beyond belief. The patches calmed down and the papery feeling of her skin was gone within a couple of days. Over a week's period all but a couple of patches had disappeared. Isabel's skin was soft and smooth and she smelt delicious – the SOS cream has lots of botanical ingredients and essential oils that smell divine. Compared to the smell of the chemical, petroleum-based products – which are frankly awful – this was wonderful.

"Three months on and Isabel is still free of her eczema with the exception of her knees that turn dry and flaky after we've been swimming. I just smooth extra cream into them and the skin responds quickly and stays moisturised.

"Isabel is now seven months old. She is rolling and soon she'll be crawling. Before finding SOS I was dreading this for her and was worried that her knees would open up. But with SOS I am sure that she will be able to crawl happily.

"My only regret is that I spent so long using synthetic products and didn't question the advice I was given. As soon as I found Barefoot Botanicals things got better. I would advise any mum to try this natural treatment before putting all these other products on your baby's skin."

SOS rescue me Face & Body Cream (£9.95, 50g / £17.95, 100g / Buy 5 tubes and get a 6th free!)