Hi Deanna!
I shop with a company that makes all natural products. They offer Renew Lotion for eczema and Renew Bath Oil which can be added to his bath to soften his dry skin. Let me know if you would like more information.
Thanks,
When my 16 month old developed eczema all over her body, my 'holistic-minded' doctor told me to put cream on her. I suffer from it myself so I knew this was terrible advice. We consulted a homeopath - find yourself a good and reputable one - and within 2 weeks it was gone completely. We redosed a few months later and then a year after that and now she is 4 and it is gone for good. Read up on homeopathy - it is non-invasive, safe and helpful for other symptoms related to the eczema. Best of luck. Najma
Hi Deanna,
I absolutely recommend allergy food testing. My son's eczema made a huge improvement when we found out he was allergic to eggs. Also the bathtime routine was changed by the specialist and what a difference as well. 1/2 tub of warm water & 1/2 cup non-iodized salt to get moisture back into skin . Then we apply Eucerin cream from a tub-like container, this is a very thick cream. She also said not to use Aveeno products due to the Extracts it is made with so I bathe him with Gentle Naturals baby wash. Good Luck.
Joy M
My son has it really bad on his hands. Is this the problem for you? We have found that if he's consistant at applying Nutragena hand care to moist hands several times a day, and keeping his hands warm (gloves or mittens even to go from house to car) really helps. Hope you find a solution.
Bethany (mom of 4)
My daughter is almost 6 and has had eczema since she was 2 months old. Her md put had us try a lot of creams and then I finally insisted that she be seen by a dermaotologist when she was about 1. He suggested that we only use laundry soap that was free of all dyes and scents. At the time I was using Tide free already and continue to do so. He also said that we needed to limit her time in the bath. He suggested a bath every 2 to 3 days and also not to let her sit and play. Really hard to do since she was only 1. He also suggested using Cetaphil soap. That really worked out well. We were also told to stay away from lotions with lanolin in them. A friend of mine who has a 20 yr. old with eczema suggested Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion. I have been using this on my daughter this winter and it really seems to help. Kaitlyn has also been tested for allergies and she is allergic to peanut/tree nuts, but that didn't have anything to do with her eczema. I hope that this helps and that you are able to get help for your little guy.
My son has had eczema since he was an infant (he's 7 now). He had it really bad on his face. His cheecks were like leather. Pediatrician kept telling me to use aquaphor or eucerin cream. Its turns out that made it worse- I think the lanolin in the creams. I have a lanolin allergy, so now I assume he does also. Besides hydrocortisone cream, the only thing that really helped was Neutragena hand cream. Its thick and not greasy. It cleared up his face and I use it all the time. His skin usually clears up in the summer until late fall. He gets it in different spots every year, but mainly inside his elbows, back of knees, and around his underwear line.
I always use baby oil gel or vaseline right after his bath. He doesn't alway let me put any creams on otherwise, but if he gets a really itchy spot, I'll but a little hydrocortisone cream or just the nuetragena. Winter is the worst.
He hasn't been tested for allergies,but he has seen a dermatoligist who didn't recommend prescription creams, but basically said to find what works for him. Moisture is most important. I hope this helps. Good luck!!
I would like to echo some of the other responses about getting your son tested for food allergies.
But also keep in mind that skin conditions like eczema almost always get worse during the winter!
Both of my kids have eczema on their faces and the only thing I have found that works in keeping it under control is Burt's Bees Res-Q Ointment:http://www.burtsbees.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?categoryId=10013&subCategoryId=-159&productId=-112&catalogId=10051&storeId=10001&langId=-1
(They sell it at Wegmans in the Nature's Marketplace section.)
Hi Deanna,
Yes, my daughter had eczema too, and most doctors said she'll grow out of it. I refused to accept that it was to be so. Eczema is indeed a reaction to food allergies. I finally found a great holistic doctor who listed all the possible food triggers -- corn, soy, wheat, legumes, eggs, berries. Well, it turns out that these and more cause the problem, especially strawberries and even cream cheese. Start with what your son is eating. Check out the book, Eat Right for Your Blood Type.
Andrea M
Hello. My five month old daughter has had moderate-severe eczema since she was about two months old. I've researched a ton, probably to the point of obsession and I've consulted several doctors about this. After reading many of the responses, I just want to add a spin on things. Although many of you have discovered that your child's eczema is related to a food allergy, most cases of eczema are not. I am glad that many of you were able to find a culprit and avoid it and therefore relieve the symptoms of eczema. However, most cases of eczema are still not food related and are simply an allergy to environmental factors such as dust, fragrances, certain fabrics, pets, etc. Many cases (including my daughter's) just mean that they have very sensitive skin and when it comes in contact with these triggers (not food related), it flares up. I wish that I could have found a food that she was allergic to but I was told to change my diet immediately (was breastfeeding) and supplement her with nutramigen (hypoallergenic formula). Neither of these made a difference (we even tried Neocate, an amino acid based formula containing no traces of dairy or soy proteins) and resulted in my daughter not being able to latch on anymore and consequently I was unable to continue breastfeeding.
We are still on the nutramigen, since we do not want to risk it with her allergies and because babies' systems are so sensitive to switching formulas. I am supplementing her with probiotics and omega 3 fatty acids. If nothing else, these are good for her and help boost her immune system since I am no longer able to breastfeed her.
Also, by the way, for those of you with young babies, the newest studies suggest that there is rarely a correlation between changing your diet and eczema. In fact, it suggests that you not change your diet because trace amounts of a possible allergen can actually be helpful in building your child's resistance to it. If you do not expose them at all, it could cause very strong allergies later on. The new studies say that breastfeeding (and not changing your diet) for at least the first four months is the best way to prevent allergies and asthma in children. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_59767.html
On another note, everyone has a different experience with eczema, there are many different types and severities of eczema. Everyone is going to have their own ideas of what has worked well for them and although most things are worth trying, you really just have to find what works best for you. In doing research you will find that some people suggest bathing daily, for short amounts of time and applying ointments or creams while still wet are helpful, others suggest bathing only a couple of times a week. Same with the lotions and ointments. Someone somewhere is going to have a contradiction to an idea. Just keep in mind that this will drive you insane. I once tried apple cider vinegar (diluted) on my daughter's eczema patches because I read everywhere that this is a cure-all. Instead it burned and irritated her skin more. Same with dead sea salt. Her skin was left very burnt (but able to heal) from this.
Try to find what works best for you. Most things are worth a try and it is usually just a process of elimination. But best of all, don't beat yourself up about it. If you don't suspect an obvious food allergy, then don't freak yourself out trying to find the culprit. Usually it is several things at once. Just do your best to protect your child's skin and to help him be comfortable. Most cases do get better.
On a final note (sorry this is so long): So many people are afraid of using steroids to control the eczema. I have several doctor friends who all tell me the same thing. The side effects including a suppressed immune system and thinning of the skin only happen over SEVERAL months and years of use. Long term use of these medications is never good. However, it is OK to use these medications to control moderate-severe cases. For many, this is the only thing that really works to bring yourself or your child relief. The saddest thing in the world is to watch your child suffer. My daughter has suffered greatly with her eczema. She is so tiny and yet she has to deal with this. I would rather not use any steroid creams or oral steroids but let's face it: why let our children suffer? If you can find a natural remedy that brings your child instant relief and comfort, then wonderful. Otherwise, please do not criticize those who need to use these medications. The natural stuff so far has not worked for us. Some cases require the use of steroids to get it back to manageability. Or just to see our children smiling again for a few days/weeks is the best thing in the world.
Think about it, when we have a headache, most of us take a pill and make it better. How could we be so selfish as to make our child suffer just because we don't want to give them a "pill?"
Do what you have to do to help your child. I know this is difficult and a very tough thing to deal with. Much sleep is lost over eczema. Find comfort in knowing that there are things that can help alleviate the symptoms until it gets better or for some, goes away completely.
Best of luck,
Lila
Hello Deanna, I'm Rebecca and I don't know if you got any feed back yet about this issue but I might have something that could help. I am actually an Independent Consultant with Arbonne International (we sell personal care products) that are pure, safe, and beneficial. We actually carry an amazing baby skin care line that has helped several other women with the same problem you are facing currently. It was a saving grace for their little ones. I'm new to this digest and I am not sure that you haven't already heard from any of our other consultants, but please feel free to message me if you would like to hear more.
Hi Deanna--I just back from taking my 5 month old who has eczema to the allergist. She tested negative to the major food culprits mentioned in many other responses. He suggested that I stop avoiding foods and instead focus on environmental factors, namely dust and our dog. This in addition to cutting back on baths and using a cream to mosturize three times a day.
Why not get your son tested? It is a simple and painless process and will eliminate some of your concerns.
hi deanna,
my son is almost 2 1/2 now, and started with SEVERE eczema at 6 weeks old. i have tried just about everything out of desperation, including putting bleach into the bathtub (to prevent infection--don't do it, it hurts so much!). it is so horrible to see them suffer. my son bled horribly from his sores, would slam his head along the bars of the crib looking for relief, and was just miserable (we started sleeping him to hold his hands down). he is allergic to: milk, soy, egg, all nuts, beef, dustmites, all animals, all trees and grasses...fun times. DEFINITLEY take him to the allergist and have them test for foods, animals and environmental. one thing that is unusual that most doctors don't test for (or know about) is for a zinc deficiency. in addition, a zinc deficiency can lead to false allergy test results. my son tested negative to everything at 6 months, but after 3 months of zinc supplement, he tested positive to, well, almost everything. from what i'm told, your body uses zinc to generate skin cells, and kids with eczema go through the zinc so quickly that their levels drop and can't catch up. they can prescribe a zinc sulfate supplement. i would also try bed encasings from http://www.natlallergy.com and clear out all things that can collect dust. another thing i found that has helped immensly is to put gloves on my son for when he sleeps. when he's covered neck-down, including his hands, he doesn't scratch nearly as much, giving his body a chance to heal and break the cycle (plus some relief!). try all fragrance-free products (purex free & clear, vanicream soaps, free & clear shampoo & conditioner--ask the allergist for samples, if they have some). finally, moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. like someone else said, people used to ask me if my son was a burn victim, a true albino (blond hair, light blue eyes, fair skin, etc.) and allergic to the sun, and so on (i've heard it all). it sucks for them so try to help them any way you can. good luck!
Foderma serum has help tremendously with my 2 year old grandson’s eczema! After using it for a week, my daughter ordered some more, and has been using it for the past three months with a lot of success. He gets lathered up after his nightly bath before bedtime, and again in the morning before school. We will have him for a week soon, so I ordered some for our house to apply in the same manner. He’s a happy kid, and we want to keep him that way!