Eczema woes...

[1Prince2Princesses]

My poor DD (2) has eczema so bad. We've tried so many different prescriptions and lotions and oatmeal baths and soaps...

Does anybody have any experience with this? We've tried without success to find the allergy trigger. I just want some relief for my baby.

 

[Jockaroo]

Have you tried using Cetaphil? It comes in a liquid wash and in a bar. It is a soap-free cleanser that is very gentle and can be used on children. It shouldn't cause her any skin flare-ups, but won't be a cure. I have some skin issues and this doesn't irritate me. Good luck finding her trigger(s).

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

I haven't tried Cetaphil, but I'm getting desperate at this point. Honestly, I don't think she's had any time without flare-ups. Ever. I just can't get her skin to clear up. It's heartbreaking.

 

[SillyMe]

The only thing that helped my dd was Aveeno Moisturizing lotion. It had a numbing effect on her. I put that on her when she was really itchy. I used Eucerin on her every day.

Also, it helped ALOT when I started giving her showers instead of baths.

 

[Sinderelli]

I feel your pain with the eczema! DS7 fought it for years..the good news is they do outgrow it (usually). He has no problems with it now.

His dermatologist told us DO NOT use oatmeal based products as they dry the skin. Also, do not let him sit for long periods of time in the bath as that also dries the skin. The Cetaphil products are definitely the way to go. We also used topical prescription meds when it got too bad.

My DS also had a really bad patch on his head. We switched back to Johnson's baby shampoo, which helped. He still uses that today, along with Dove soap.

I would definitely ask your dr. about the oatmeal products.

 

[belle&beast]

My DD had it really bad as a baby, but around 3 it started clearing up. We used a prescription called Elidel and it would work initially, but then it just kept returning. We found that the best thing we tried was a combination of otc hydrocortizone cream and Eucerin cream. We mixed them in a 1:1 ratio and put it on the affected areas and it worked well. We also applied Eucerin all over her body after bath and used Dove unscented soap. I have also learned that baby shampoos are really harsh, so we ended up using a kid friendly shampoo from a salon. Good luck. I hope you can find something to help.

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

I learned really quickly that oatmeal was NOT the way to go. It made her worse almost immediately!

 

[Serena]

Have you seen a doctor yet? And where is the rash located?

I'm not sure what they can do for someone so young, but one of the things the doctors tell me is to soak the area in vinegar water.
Use mild soaps, like cetaphil, mild everything. Make sure you are rinsing out the laundry really well. Don't use water that is too hot, or too cold. Make sure she is wearing comfortable clothing.
Try using olive oil as a moisturizer.

Good luck, I know it's difficult.

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

The rash is everywhere. On her ankles, elbows, wrists, knees... and yes, we've been to the Dr. repeatedly. She had a new oil that she got when she turned 2, and it was helping for a while, but now it's getting worse again with the change in weather. I think it's made worse by the fact that she's a picker and scratcher by nature.

 

[summerrluvv]

My nephew has it bad. I used to work for a vitamin manuf. who distributed Tea Tree oil products (Thursday Plantation brand). I gave some to my sister and she said it really helps a lot. You might want to try that. They sell it at Health Food stores or online.

 

[Tinijocaro]

My poor DD (2) has eczema so bad. We've tried so many different prescriptions and lotions and oatmeal baths and soaps...

Does anybody have any experience with this? We've tried without success to find the allergy trigger. I just want some relief for my baby.

My youngest also had bad eczema at your dd's age. Behind knees, elbows, chest and back- she scratched constantly. It was heartbreaking. I tried everything available- baths, creams, lotions, they eased it a bit, but never got rid of it. I was searching online one day and came across information that said that some forms of eczema are due to Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency. read some more and decided to try it. I bought Carlson's Cod Liver oil- Lemon flavored, and gave her a teaspoon in the AM and in the PM. Everything I read said that it takes 8 weeks to work. By 6 weeks I started seeing improvement- by 8 weeks it was gone, and it never came back again, even though I stopped having her take the cod liver oil a month after. She's 5 now with no signs of eczema.

In recent months, I have developed a scalp condition, maybe eczema, maybe psoriasis. This week I decided to try Cod Liver Oil for myself since none of the shampoos have worked. Already, the skin on my hands has softened, the cracks on my hands are healing.

If you think about it, all the creams and baths are just to treat symptoms, not get at the root of the problem. I believe the Omega-3 deficiency was the CAUSE of dd's eczema, and taking cod liver oil was the solution. Also, our bodies need Omega 3's, no harm in taking it- only benefits, unlike some of the creams that are prescribed.

Do a search- you won't find this info on any mainstream medical site, though. Dermatologists typically try to treat skin disorders topically, by easing symptoms rather than getting at the cause.

I'll let you kno wif it helps my scalp condition.

bst of luck to your little one- it's so sad to see them itch so much.

 

[Tinijocaro]

My nephew has it bad. I used to work for a vitamin manuf. who distributed Tea Tree oil products (Thursday Plantation brand). I gave some to my sister and she said it really helps a lot. You might want to try that. They sell it at Health Food stores or online.

Just be careful to not use straight tea trree oil- it will really, really hurt. I even had a cream that had tea tree oil in it, a low amount and it really stung her. It does have wonderful healing properties though.

 

[PixiePop]

My DS 7 has this...not so bad any more, but it does flare up when he's sick, or swims alot. We use the Cetaphil bath and the thick cream immediately following his bath. We have an Rx for an ointment to use when it flares up....

Also, at one point it got so bad the Pediatrician admitted he didn't know how to help and sent him to a Pediatric Dermatoligist...This doc worked wonders...got it under control so that we could just keep maintenance up on it.

I would suggest a Pediatric Dermatoligist to get it under control. We were also told to only give DS a bath every other day when he was younger so that his skin didn't get dried out.

Good luck to you!

 

[summerrluvv]

Just be careful to not use straight tea trree oil- it will really, really hurt. I even had a cream that had tea tree oil in it, a low amount and it really stung her. It does have wonderful healing properties though.

I should have clarified that this was the lotion he used. It did not sting him. I have used it and it doesn't sting me either. Guess it depends on your sensitivity level.

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

Just be careful to not use straight tea trree oil- it will really, really hurt. I even had a cream that had tea tree oil in it, a low amount and it really stung her. It does have wonderful healing properties though.

I worried about this, it's why I haven't tried tea tree oil yet. I can't even use baby lotion on her without her crying that it burns!

 

[Pixiedust34]

When I have a flare up, I use Elidel.

http://www.elidel.com/index.jsp

It works great!

 

[daisyduck123]

My DS had it so bad when he was 6 months old, that he had some oozing sores.
He had one of the worst cases ever. The pediatrician sent us to a dermatologist.

Here's some encouragement though....his cleared up, almost overnight around the time he turned 2. Then it was over. He's 8 now, but still goes to the dermatologist once a year for a check-up. The eczema has never come back!!

 

[mommytomy3]

2 of my DS's have it.. on wrists, inside elbows, behind knees, and one of them gets it in random spots all over. We ose Acclovate Cream (rx), moisturize with Aquaphor, use Cetaphil, Tide Free on laundry, and for sunscreen, Dr. says Nuetragena for sensitive skin

 

[sap1227]

I can not recommend enough Arbonne's Baby Care Line for excema (I do NOT sell it!!) It is really amazing! We used the wash during his shower and then the lotion and or the oil

It is the only thing that finally cured my DS's excema (the whole back of his knee was open and bloody for almost a year, nothing seemed to really help! Then we started using this and the change was amazing!

It is a little pricey, but compared on the total of other stuff I have bought to try to make the excema go away it is a drop in the bucket!

Good luck to all of you and your little ones, it is so hard!!

 

[Blondy876]

I second the Omega-3 deficiency. I read about that online because I have eczema on my left hand. It's incredibly painful and none of the prescriptions I have had made it go away completely. I started taking Omega-3 supplements and it has helped so much. Good luck, I cannot imagine how painful it must be to have it all over.