Eczema

[reelmom]

For my son it's milk that causes him to break out.

The thing with eczema is that it is really hard to find out what causes it. Sometimes it's food, sometimes it's weather, and sometimes it soaps.

We got lucky when we figured out the cause of DSs.

Cow's Milk causes my son to have flare-ups also. Cheese and yogurt does not bother him just milk. We figured it out when we went to Disney several years ago. He used to drink milk all the time and the week we were at Disney, he didn't have much. His skin cleared up. We figured it was due to the warmer weather. Well, back at home he started breaking out again. We stopped the milk and he was better. We did this several times and it was always better without the milk. His ped. never did allergy testing but due to the fact that it is better without it, the ped. said that milk is the culprit. Cold weather seems to make it worse, too.

 

[mom2kando]

soy and dairy. even in my breastmilk. California Baby Calendula cream worked WONDERS!

 

[d1sneyf4n]

Cow's Milk causes my son to have flare-ups also. Cheese and yogurt does not bother him just milk. We figured it out when we went to Disney several years ago. He used to drink milk all the time and the week we were at Disney, he didn't have much. His skin cleared up. We figured it was due to the warmer weather. Well, back at home he started breaking out again. We stopped the milk and he was better. We did this several times and it was always better without the milk. His ped. never did allergy testing but due to the fact that it is better without it, the ped. said that milk is the culprit. Cold weather seems to make it worse, too.

Good thing you took that trip to Disney!!

 

[toesmom]

Boy, reading the first two pages brings back awful memories about my ds, now 7. He would scratch the top of his feet until they almost bled.

No one understood how awful it really was. Thank God that I was home with him, I can only imagine what would have happened if he was in day care.

Basically he had benadryl for almost a year at bedtime, still struggle with that decision, but nothing helped him.

We were prescribed very heavy medications (ie steroids) which in the end only sometimes we used.

I did not ever change his diet, ecsema was worse in the heat (definitely worse in the heat), and he has basically outgrown it now. He was also breast-fed.

He only has few spots here and there occasionally. No diet change involved.

So I post this for other parents to know that kids do outgrow it, but those early years were very difficult.

He was waking up few times at night itching and scratching. And no one understood.

So what we did use that helped a little, warm bath with sea salt (lots of it), and then moisturize with Renew Intensive Cream (Melaleuca brand). I found this helped some.

But for the itching, really the only thing was Benadryl.

Glad those days are behind me. I wish you luck.

 

[Sheepdog23]

you have gotten some great advice. for me it has to do with stress, lack of sleep, pregnancy, not rinsing all detergent out of my clothes, using the wrong soap or just too much, and some food. I also know the weather has to do with it so check the humidity in your house. If you have AC on, it may be too dry and then getting a humidifier, especially in the bedroom, would really help. I know someone who gets it from milk and gluten so it is not entirely wrong to try to see if you can find some connection to food. When I was younger my mother bought something called comfrey salve (i think it is called that. It was green and smelled nasty because of herbs.) It really worked! I also just recently bought something from icelandic plants and that helps too. If you go to a natural store, they should be able to help you find one of those. I know that dyes, chemicals, and even just itchy fabric makes it bad. Remember even dyes and preservatives in food trigger it in some people. Good luck. It is not fun having eczema.

 

[Sheepdog23]

oh and i forgot to mention that it is my toothpaste. I am severely allergic to anything with triclosan in it (tongue swells, rash) and if i manage to get many other brands on my skin, I get eczema all over the area with a huge radius which does not go away without really strong steroids.

 

[ready123go]

Had it all over my legs (worse in winter). Since I cut out wheat/gluten, dairy and peanuts it has disappeared (I had to go further and cut out all other starch, too-but that's not necessary for most people). The last spot to disappear was on the front of my left leg, just above the ankle. If I indulge in too much peanut butter, that spot starts to itch again.

 

[toesmom]

Be warned there is a black box warining against long term use of Elidil, and if the child is under 2 they do not recommend using it all, due to the increase risk of cancer (lymphoma)

My ds2 was prescribed elidel, I read the label, did not use it. Would rather have ecsema than possibility of cancer.

 

[Momloveshockey]

Anyone have luck w/ sunscreen and a child with eczema?? Lately my DS has only ever had breakouts on his face when I use sunscreen. I have tried a bunch of kinds all w/ similar results. Funny thing is that the same stuff will not bther his arms or legs...just his face! We are going to WDW for New Years....not sure what we will do with him!

 

[disfan07]

Anyone have luck w/ sunscreen and a child with eczema?? Lately my DS has only ever had breakouts on his face when I use sunscreen. I have tried a bunch of kinds all w/ similar results. Funny thing is that the same stuff will not bther his arms or legs...just his face! We are going to WDW for New Years....not sure what we will do with him!

Vanicream sunscreen. It is the only sunscreen I can use. My derm. recommended it when we discovered my paraben and lanolin allergy.

It's not cheap (we pay about $17/4 oz tube) and I go through probably about 10 tubes a year (I live in Socal and am pale as can be) but its amazing.

Oh, and breakouts on his face. Does it go away after a little while? I started having that problem with parts of my face with some things that contained nothing I was allergic to and I talked to my dermatologist about it. She said that as long as it goes away after a few minutes it's not an issue. She said that usually the face is one of teh most sensitive areas with eczema so she said that putting anything on my face will make it breakout at first. If it resolves, she said it's not an issue. If it doesn't go away or gets worse, then its a problem.

I haven't had an issue with it anywhere else either....only on my face.

 

[Momloveshockey]

Thanks for the hint: I wonder if they have the stuff here North of the Border. It does go away as long as I don't put anymore on him AND I put the cream the doctor gave me. The rash looks awful...at its worse it looked like he was badly sunburned. I am thinking he must be sensative to a common ingredient in all sunscreens.

 

[toesmom]

Thanks for the hint: I wonder if they have the stuff here North of the Border. It does go away as long as I don't put anymore on him AND I put the cream the doctor gave me. The rash looks awful...at its worse it looked like he was badly sunburned. I am thinking he must be sensative to a common ingredient in all sunscreens.

Learned this from disney first aid, use Penaten as sunscreen. Completely waterproof, excellent protection for babies up to any age.

It is diaper rash cream, so anything with zinc in it will work.

I swear by Penaten, have used it faithfully for years, no sun tans or burns ever.

My ds7 who suffered from eczema never had problem with Penaten, and you can buy it anywhere.

 

[mousescrapper]

WOW

I am glad now that I clicked on this thread and actually feel more at ease and have learned a few things so thanks for all the stories...

OP:

my youngest has chronic eczema as well. She is now almost 5 yrs old and the worst times were btwn 15months to age 3. It is mostly under control but has taken us alot of trial and error, patience and willingness to do things different for her.

My first thought is to talk w/ your ped and then yes a trip to see the derm and even an allergist may be very helpful.

Our DD has had food intloerances since birth and this also coincided w/ skin issues from that time as well. I wanted to nurse her, so I cut diary and egg from my diet. Evantually through time she is now on a complete elimated diet from gluten, dairy and most egg products. She has minor flare up nows. But I need to stay on top of it.

Like you describe at one point her chin to upper chest, around her eyes and ears, both inner arms, wrists, back of legs and top of feet were covered...it was horrible to see and she was extremely uncomfortable.

We used oral steriods for a course, plus topical steroid cream when it was at the worst point. That in conjuction w/ a food elimation which took over a year, and the addition of an allergy medication (which she still takes) over time it calmed down as has become managable.

Our doctors have referred to the Allergy Triad as well...which makes sense since I have asthma and so do 2 of her 3 siblings.

Our daily routine of care consists of:

non daily showers (no baths)
I use Aveno baby products for lotion and "bath"
Before swimming (chlorine triggers it too) I apply aquaphor to the main areas of skin that usually break out
I use FREE detergents and usually no bleach for her clothing

in treatment of flare ups:

I have mostly prescriptions...
we have used desonide ointment
generally now it's a combination of non and steriod creams: Eletone Cream (non) and triamcinolone acetonide cream

She goes to Pre K and they keep aquaphor on hand for when she needs it.

I wish you the best of luck...you have recieved a ton of info here...I honestly never thought it could get better and she'd be scarred...but w/ love, patience and knowledge...we too have overcome the worst of it.

 

[YO's Mom]

I haven't read the other replies so forgive me if I repeat:

Make sure everything you use is dye-free/fragrant free (laundry products, bath products, etc.)

Warm, not hot baths and not every day

Get him to drink lots and lots of water (hydrate from the inside)

CeraVe lotion - about $15, but very worth it. Use twice a day, every day. Walgreens and CVS carry it around here

Fish oil (Amazon has strawberry flavored caplets for kids)

Use a humidifier in the winter

See a dermatologist - we have a Rx cream that is not a steroid (can't think of the name) that is magic (PM me if you want the name - will check when I get home)

Benadryl at bedtime to avoid “sleep scratching”

Pray your kid outgrows it!


Edited to add: The Rx cream is EpiCeram. When it gets to the point where the CeraVe isn't working, a couple of days of EpiCeram and her skin is clear. It is mega expensive (which is why I don't use it twice a day, every day - but I will in the winter if she needs it!)

 

[disfan07]

Thanks for the hint: I wonder if they have the stuff here North of the Border. It does go away as long as I don't put anymore on him AND I put the cream the doctor gave me. The rash looks awful...at its worse it looked like he was badly sunburned. I am thinking he must be sensative to a common ingredient in all sunscreens.

Yeah that's what it looks like with me. My derm. said to do exactly what you do. I put it on and then put on the least potent cream that she prescribed and it goes away. I'm not sure if parabens are as common up there as they are here but I would try to preplace what you currently use with paraben free products. Parabens are not good for people with sensitive skin (well...they are not good for anyone, but definitely not good for those with sensitive skin)

Also, if he is sensitive to wool, try to eliminate lanolin as well (lanolin is a wool substance).

My derm. and allergist said that there are a lot of people who are sensitive to lanolin but just don't realize it but a wool sensitivity is very comomn in people with eczema which means they are sensitive to lanolin as well.

 

[ready123go]

Thanks for the hint: I wonder if they have the stuff here North of the Border. It does go away as long as I don't put anymore on him AND I put the cream the doctor gave me. The rash looks awful...at its worse it looked like he was badly sunburned. I am thinking he must be sensative to a common ingredient in all sunscreens.

drugstore.com canada vanicream

 

[tms295psu]

just a heads up... if its triggered by a food allergy/sensitivity (ie milk) there is a blood test that can be done. My daughter was just tested for food, outdoor, animal, etc allergies because she always has mild congestion. She is 3... they started with the blood test because she is young and didn't want to "poke" her with typical skin allergy testing.

 

[reelmom]

We use Baby Aveeno sunscreen.