5-Year Old with Eczema?

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.
B. (mom of 4)

My friends son was covered with eczema since he was 1 month old.. had it so bad he would bleed.. She went everywhere and finally a Dr. put him on singulair... allergy med... and within 2 weeks he changed drastically. He has been on singulair for 2 years and is doing wonderful.. Ask you dr. about that?? good luck...

Hi D.-
Have you tried?
-changing his diet at all.
-Controlled room temp/ humidity levels...
-Oatmeal baths might help or "mediacated" lotions.
-Plenty of water daily. (1 gal. day.

Hopefully he'll outgrow it. Good Luck
J.

Hi D.,
Two of my kids suffered with eczema, and I was able to totally stop it by changing their diets. I added lots of good fats, like avocados, walnuts, and olive oil, added foods with probiotics but no added sugar (plain whole milk yogurt and kefir smoothies made with fresh fruit and even some flax seed oil for more good omega 3s), and totally eliminated processed foods, expecially white flour and sugar. It was tough going at first, but we all got used to it and the eczema STOPPED. Now we keep to the same sort of diet, just because it's healthy. However, in the winter, we all take cod liver oil (I take capsules and the kids take lemon-flavored), and in the summer, once we're getting more vitamin D from the sun, we change that to fish oil. No more eczema, not even any dry skin in the winter. Well worth the changes!

I have a 7 year old that has eczema really bad as well and also an 11 year old that has eczema on the inside bend of his arm that we can't seem to get to go away! No allergy testing was recommended for us. We were advised to use unscented Dove bar soap, Keri, Lubriderm or Cetaphil lotion on him. We also use the oatmeal bath when he really has flare ups. Good luck!

Hi D.,
My name is K. and I was looking online for ways to help your son. Try this link and tell them what you need. The photos were incredible!Their web site is www.freederm.com

I hope this helps you. K.

Reduce the amount of baths, the water dries out the skin which lessens its ability to protect itself. Spread Vaseline all over him at night time, it might not help with the eczema directly, but it will prevent more from coming, and clear up anything that it can.

My doctor explained that eczema is a form of an allergy, its similar to hay fever just manifested differently.

My two year old has it, and it used to get so bad it would break into open soars, we have it under control, but have to be very diligent about keeping his skin healthy.

My son also has eczema at age 2yrs, he is now 5 and his skin is good. At around 2 we had allergy testing done(blood work) and he was allergic to nuts, dogs and cats and some other things. The dogs and cats were with him from birth and continue to be in our household. He has asthma, which they thought he would develop because of his family history of allegies and asthma. At age 2, the doctors thought his eczema could be a precursor to the other allergies. I still use Eucerin Calming-Creme moisturizer on him every night. We also used to only bath him with 100% colloidal oatmeal in the water, and would even make it into a paste and rub it on the effected areas and let it sit during his bath. (That colloidal oatmeal is great for all kinds of skin problems like poison ivy, bee stings, etc..) When he was younger we also used Ellidel cream on the lesions but that has been taken off the market. He did have steriods periodically, but we found that if we were diligent with the oatmeal baths and moisturizers, we could maintain it well. As far as what is causing it, have the allergy testing done so perhaps you can find the sourse of the problem. (We did see an allergy specialist, they often have a diiferent perspective than our regular pediatrician group.) Good luck!
M. D

My son, now 11 years old, battled eczema until he was about 6. I had someone at the pool ask me how he got such poison ivy! Luckily it never ended up on his face. It was all over his body but worse on his hands, feet, and legs. We finally got our answers from an allergist. We continued to treat the symptoms with cortizone ointment and lots of aquafore. this seemed to relieve him. The allergist assured us that he would grow out of it, but it would probably end up as upper respiratory symptoms. Guess what? It did! He's now 11 and his skin is well under control - although he gets itchy and dry often. He has slight athsma and is very healthy otherwise. I think going to an allergist is a good idea. Eczema can be caused by so many things. My Doc told us that some people just get it for no known reason. As long as you can keep your son comfortable with ointments (these are WAY better than creams) I think he'll be ok. Good luck!

Hi D.,

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:) A.

Hi, I found this problem with our youngest son and now my youngest Granddaughter has it. Both times it was an allergy to milk. Not all milk products will have the same effect. With my son we limited milk and used cortisone cream (dermatologist recommendation), once he was out of diapers his cleared (mostly in diaper area). With my Granddaughter we have changed her milk from all whole to half organic whole milk and half organic soy. We use only organic soaps, shampoos (Rainbow Herbal Organics for kids) and also a lotion (Baby Avalon Organics) that she gets rubbed everywhere after her bath time. Now the only area that get slightly red and dry are her cheeks (exposed to cold air during winter) but even they are not nearly as bad.
I suggest food allergy as possible problem, check the milk products as they seem to be the worst at causing this. Blessings & Good luck!

Hey there, My little 7 1/2 month old girl has eczema too, but the doctor said that a probiotic would help, so we tried this stuff by BioGaia. It's baby probiotic drops and that has been helping a lot! You can find it at your local healthfood store or google it and you can find it online:)

Hope this helps! Oh yeah and my doctor said that it is probably a milk allergy, so since I'm breast feeding and cut the milk out and do the probiotic drops, her skin is smooth and not irrated anymore:)

Hi D.,

I am a skin care specialist and own a small Medi Spa in Rome NY. My nephew is a sufferer also. What we have found is that you should use a laudry soap that is gentle. Dreft is the best. It is average in price and very gentle. Also, too many soap baths can affect the break outs. Eczema is a skin condition where the oil glands produce at a rapid pace. We tend to see a scaling on the skin and think it is dry whe in fact it is very oily. The surface of the skin cannot naturally be slothed off and a build up of dead skin cells grows. I use corn meal and lotion to exfoliate my children. Burts Bees has a great line for children that is perfume free and gentle. Since eczema is considered a form of Atopic Dermatitis, there may be an allergy helping it to flourish. If you child seems to be very itchy, then try an oatmeal paste on the areas. I have found a wealth of knowledge at www.keepkidshealthy.com on this subject. Please feel free to contact me with any questions that you have.
J. H.
Rome Medi Spa
300 N George St
Rome, NY 13440
###-###-####

My son was diagnosed with eczema at 5 months old. He's been a patient of Dr. Gary Zuckerman in Kendal Park since then. He was tested as a baby. He has outgrown most of his food allergies (he's over 3 now). We still only wash with Cetaphil or Aveeno Baby fragrance free. We use lots of Aquafor and sometimes RX hydrocortizone.

M. B

My six year old has eczema too, so I sponge bath her every morning and massage her entire body with natural massage oil with coconut. Her skin has seriously improved. She takes a quick shower on the weekend to wash her hair and just to get her wet, but that is it. The more she is exposed to water for more than a few mintues her skin begins to dry out and become itchy. I stopped usining the perscription creams because they were said to be bad for children and as a massage therapy I know that steroid weaken connective tissue and that can be very scary with a small child who like to run around and play.

Hi D.,
I have a daycare client who's 7 year old daughter has suffered with eczema most of her little life. She does have allergies, some to food and also some severe seasonal allergies. It probably wouldn't hurt to go to a specialist and have him tested. Some children with eczema also have asthma, so if he is a great sufferer I would want a complete check up done. In the meantime Avon makes a cream called moisture therapy (hand cream) that my client swears by. My daughter also has eczema, but not too terribly and she has recently started using it and she claims it works very well.
Hope this helps.
Sue G

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

You could ask your doctor about allergies to certain foods but what I did was put my son on soy milk and rice milk. This did wonders. I saw results in about a month. A lady at my sons daycare told me about it and I was desperate to try anything. My baby has had eczema since about 5 months old. It was really severe. People would ask if he was burned. That made me feel awful. I also do the unscented detergent and use cetaphil cream and wash on his skin. He's alot better now and I am hoping he has outgrown it. He's two years old now and gets a liitle in the winter time but not much. Hope this helps.

Switch everything that touches his skin. Tour laundry detergent, soaps, lotions and shampoos can aggravate the problem. My friends and use Renew cream from Melaleuca and have had amazing results. No more flaking, cracking and bleeding!
A.
____@____.com

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.

D.
There is a shea butter you can get in just about any health food store. Put in on the scalp before bed and let it work overnight. Cleared up my 5 years olds problem in a short time. I also use: www.xoomamiracle.com in the kids water, juice and anything liquid. The minerals have helped big time with the dry skin. It's a water enhancement that is all natural and very good for any age. My entire family drinks nothing but this water now and our health improvements have been incredible.
Best of luck with your child
D. K

Hi D.!

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,

Jo Ann
www.livetotalwellness.com/betterlife

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/Produc...

(They sell it at Wegmans in the Nature's Marketplace section.)

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!!

Hi D.,
I have a now 10 year old son that also suffered with terrible eczema as a infant; it covered over 90% of his body. Our peditrician told me it was a baby rash that would go away; common dermatitis. Well, long story short, when he was 2 I gave him a cracker with peanut butter on it (not knowing anything about allergies) and he blew up like a balloon and went into anaphlaytic shock. From there I found out about all of his allergies (Dairy, Egg, Peanut, and enviromental to name a few). When he was little he was on formual that was dairy based. They switched him to soy base and eventually I put him on rice milk which he still drinks and is thriving on.
My son still gets an occansional flare up of eczema and it usually has to do with something he has eaten.

My suggestion to you is to ask your Doc about allergy testing. It cant hurt and it may give some clearity on what's going on.

With my son's eczema I used Aquaphor after he bathed and when ever he gets a patch . I recently got a script for Elidel, which we have only used once and it seemed to work great.

Good luck to you.....I know how helpless you can feel when you see your child going through such an ordeal.

Hi D.,
I am a nurse in NJ w/ a nutritional degree from Cornell U. Eczema can be exacerbated or confused with an underlying candida (fugal) infection. Also processed foods and any foods high in refined sugars esp high fructose corn syrup enhances eczema breakouts. Intestinal/GI cleansing and restoring balance along with good nutrition is essential. There ia a company Intensive Nutrition, phone # 800-333-7414 that sells two products Viracin and Tannalbit, both plant based and excellent ways to help the GI and rid the body of fungus. Since he is 5 years old, one capsule of each 2-3 times a day for 30 days would be helpful. If you haven't seen a dermatologist, please get to one and make sure it is truly only eczema, they can do a simple light test to see if it also is fungal or scrap a little skin from a patch and test for fungal growth. Limit sugar from his diet to the best of your ability or at least eliminate high fructose corn syrup(HFCS). Read ingredients. Catsup is loaded w/ HFCS - Heinz makes an organic catsup that does NOT use HFCS. Most docs know very little about nutrition and holistic healing. There is also a homeopathic physician in Skillman, NJ named Dr Paul Bahder that may be a good resource for your son - homeopathy works with an individual's consitution. C. Novak

HI D.,
Eczema can be so hard to treat. I just happen to have run into something natural that I think has helped lots of kids in your child's position. It is called Xango juice made from the mangosteen fruit from Viet Nam and that part of Asia. I have recently been using it and have heard of the great benefits it has for skin issues, even excema. The gal who I heard about it from is an RN and worked at Buffalo children's hospital for 20 years. She used it on her nephew after he had exhausted all the medicinal treatments you speak of.
I too am a pediatric nurse and I agree that this stuff works for many health issues. I liked it so much I am now selling as well. So I would say that you should go to the web site, Xango .net and read about it. It could make a difference and it tastes good as well.
M.

My husband has the same issue, and someone recommended Renew lotion from Melaleuca, It worked for him..this is the first winter without a breakout. I found someone who sells it, because it I didn't want to become a monthly member.

My son's eczema improved a great deal when he stopped eating yogurt, and even more when we took him off of dairy alltogether. He is in the process of being tested for allergy, but the doc said that a lot of kids with eczema have a sensitivity to dairy. You might want to try a couple of weeks without to see what happens.

Eczema is becoming increasingly common in children, and that's probably because nutritional habits have gone downhill. The most common causes for eczema are:
1. Food intolerance/allergy
2. Essential fatty acid deficiency (which makes the skin sensitive to fabrics, cold, etc)
3. Nutrient deficiency, most likely zinc and very possibly freidnly flora in your little man's digestive system

I would suggest finding a good CRA practitioner of someone who practices Applies Kinesiology and get your child tested that way. I do not recommend doing the scratch test, especially on many different things - I personally find it a barbaric practice. Someone proficient at muscle testing can not only test for allergies but also for deficiencies.

If allergies come up, please consider NAET to take care of them in a non-invasive way - just google NAET allergy elimination technique to get more info and a list of practitioners.

Since zinc and essential fatty acids are vital to good health, I would recommend supplementing with a Children DHA (Nordic Naturals and Colson's are the best) and a Children Multi (avoid the ones from the drugstore, which usually have colorants, sugars and synthetic vitamins added). Until you find something better, try the Emergen-C Children Multi from Alacer, which at least contains immune boosters and is better than most children multi on the market. For good bacterial flora, I'd recommend FloraKey from UniKey Health, but it's usually only available on the web. If you have a Whole Foods or Wild Oats near you, go there and choose among the numerous products on the shelves. Again, I would recommend drugstore products because they contain additives and whn it comes to how effective they really are (not very much), they are not that cheap!

I would also avoid all skin products with synthetic ingredients - I will mention Arbonne because it has been mentioned here: it is promoted as totally natural but that's not true, it does have chemical additives that can be irritating to the skin. I got some samples and after reading the ingredient list I threw them away. Since those products are not exactly cheap, either, you are really much better off getting something that's free from synthatic additives like California baby or even Avalon Organics. California Baby has a line that's specifically for children who are prone to eczema or have very sensitive skin, you can see the line here: http://www.californiababy.com/eczema-care.html

I hope this helps. Good luck!

P.S. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about my reply.

Hi D.-

My five year old began getting eczema at a few weeks old, and was at a dermatologist by 4 months old because it was so severe. He gave me some great maintenance advice that I use to this day. (Keep in mind that it is probably going to contradict what your pediatrician says)

Bathe everyday, but do not totally dry off. While skin is still moist, slather with Cetaphil CREME (Not lotion). While it is a bit pricey, I use the CVS brand - it's identical and half the price. This should keep it under control, particularly after using a steroid or other prescription to get rid of a severe outbreak. Now, at the first sign of a dry patch, I go back to this regiment, and haven't had a problem since his infancy.

Your right about the allergies, though. Eczema is usually linked to an allergy, and you might want to eventually have him tested. It was a milk allergy with my boy.

Good Luck!

Best wishes,
D. T.

Hello D.,
I also found out that my son had eczema at four months old. We actually found a great doctor at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Allergy Department. The doctor's name is Dr. Polowski. There are many things that my son is allegeric to. My son cannot have milk, peas, and tree nuts. At the time we had a dog and to soon found out he was allergic to dog dander and also to dust mites. Unlike Dermatalogist, the allergist tries to find the triggers to the allergies which aggrivate the eczema. We became frustrated with most Doctor's approaches which involved strong cortizone creams and oral steroids. After removing our carpets, sadly getting rid of our dog, and monitoring our son's diet, the eczema is 99% gone. We do moisturize his skin regularly especiall during the winter months. Good luck.

Hi - I don't know if you have ever tried California Baby's Calming botanical moisturizing creme. My son had a few eczema patches on his back and he doesn't have them since I have been using it. I also recommended it to my neighbor who's son also has eczema and she had success with it too. Try using it every night. I don't know how severe your case is...but, it is worth a try.
Good Luck!

I have a 5 year old daughter with the same problem. As an infant we went through every cream you could imagine, both prescription and over the counter. My pediatrician kept telling me she would row out of it, but I was not happy with that answer, especially once it started appearing on her face (I was worried about scars). I took her to a Dermatologist, who told me it is usually caused by allergies. I then took her to an allergist who tested her and found that she was allergic to eggs and milk. Also, my son who is now 7 had eczma had an infant on his. We didnot find out until he was 4 that he was actually alleric to the soy-based formula he was on. When we looked back at his pictures I noticed that the eczma cleared itself up around the same time as he went on regular milk. I have a month old who has alresdy started with eczema patches on her face and neck, we are managing it with Cortaid 10 ointment for now, but when she goes for her 9 month check-up I am going to ask that she e tested for allergies.
I would definately have him tested for allergies. If he does have an allergy clearing up the eczema might be as easy as cutting out or limiting something in his det.

My 19 year old daughter was a mess with eczema as an infant and we battled with the typical medical route to no avail. It wasn't until we switched all our cleaning products, especially the laundry products, to Shaklee. In fact the only thing I could finally give her a bath in, was the Basic H that Oprah loves. I's be happy to share more.

From: We did everything right and still it was wrong.......till we changed to Shaklee. I share Shaklee with other moms who want to see a difference! Mare

My son periodically suffers with eczema. I find that it flares up with particular foods. I think it is wise to have him alergy tested.

Hi D.,
I had terrible eczema growing up and no one ever mentioned food allergies as a possible cause, but I finally figured it out. Unfortunately it was not until I was 22 and had already been given lots of topical and occasionally oral steroids. Anyway, I stopped eating gluten and my eczema went away. Maybe you should try to cut out the major allergens one at a time so you know which it is (keep a food log). I found that tomatoes also give me eczema. The major allergens are peanuts, chocolate, dairy, soy, wheat, shellfish, tomatoes, and eggs...I may be forgetting some since I have a 3 month old and am so sleep deprived, but you can ask a nutritionist or an allergist who specializes in food sensitivities. I've also found that Chinese medicine is helpful as well. 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!

Tkae your kid to the beach! Ok, I know it's winter and cold, but I've had eczema my entire life, and the only thing that's ever helped me is beach water. Summer time is great because a visit to the beach every other week will clear my skin. Winter time I grab a bucket of salt water to take home and soak (my hands and arms) in about once a month. Try it.

Hi D.,
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.
J. M

This has been a problem in our family for years. Get the allergy tests! My brother is allergic to artificial flavorings!

Hello,

My sone had eczema really bad also when he was a baby. Now he is 7 and without eczema. I tried everything the doctor prescribed but nothing worked. My aunt told me about this lotion and soap called Cetaphil. Let him use the soap and use the lotion on skin while still wet. You can get it in Coscos or BJ's in bulk. No carpet, pet's stuffed animals any one of those things can triger it. No fur.

LaToya

My children don't have eczema, however a friend of mine did and using an allergist worked wonders.
good luck.

If you haven't done so already, you might try switching laundry detergents. I am sure you have probably tried the 'free and clear' detergents. However, a friend of mine's son had really bad skin and she ended up using a real soap detergent, I think it was Ivory Snow? While Free and Clear detergents may be ok for 95% of people with really sensitive skin, the other detergent has much less additives and just might help.

Good Luck!
D.

Hello,

My daughter has a mild eczema. I've tried all sorts of prescribed creams with steroids, and tons of moisturizers. Finally I found a cure. The miracle cure only costs a few bucks it's an Indian soap called *** Neem ***. It's an antibacterial/moisturizer. It was like magic. Improved my daughter's condition 80%. I also use aveeno eczema moisturizer and bath treatment. I am very happy but we still haven't completely tackled the eczema.

I also read on prevention.com that Culturelle is a probiotic that's good for eczema. I am trying that at the moment haven't noticed a difference yet.

I haven't done allergy testing yet. But that's on my list.

Good luck,
A.

Hello D., I'm R. 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.

My son is 4. I have been using renew lotion by Melaluca. It is the best product ever. Totally safe and all natural for any age. When my son's excema even slightly bothers him he begs me to put in on for him and within minutes he feels so much better. And he never gets the redness any more.
I have been prescribed stuff from the doctor, liquid for itching and greasy, messy creams. None of it worked and I hated to see my poor little guy suffer. I also tried over-the-counter stuff like Eucerin and Aquaphor only to find that the greasiness in Aquaphor (like vaseline) only intensified the problem. I definitely recommend tryin Melaluca's Renew lotion. I will gladly send you a sample if you like. Please contact me if you have any questions and do hope your little one finds relief soon!

Have you thought about the ingredients that are in your products?? We went through something similar although it started within a few weeks of my son being born.We tried numerous things with advice from a ped and nothing to seemed to work.I did some research on ingredients in what we were using and was alarmed to say the least.We have since switched to shopping at an online wellness company and within a few weeks of us doing that,his ezcema was cleared up.Please feel free to contact me via email or private message for more information.I don't want to be seen as a walking advertisement.
I hope this helps several of you with family members with this problem.Quite often,the everyday products we are using in our homes is the cause of eczema.
S.

Hi D.,

Has your son been on anti-biotics from when he was 2 years old? I have a daughter who is now 24 and when she was a baby had upper respiratory infections for which she was placed on a constant flow of anti-biotics. She had allergies to baby formulas - then put on Prosoybe. She had allergies to the baby vitamins as well. When she was 14, she came down with Mono and her immune system was shot. Now at 24 she developed severe Ezcema and digestive problems. I have taken her to allergist, dermatologist and a Gastro-Enterologist. The end result is that her immune system has depleted all the natural vitamins resulting from too many anti-biotics when she was a child and has affected her immune system which has caused internal and external (skin) problems.
If your son has been taking anti-biotics then you really need to get him to a nutrionist and get him on a vitamins that will help him from the inside out. There might be other situations that are going on. I.e. - allergies to foods, allergies to soaps, milk allergies, allergies to breads, etc. Check with a nutrionist, allergist and/or perhaps a dermatologist - ALL of these healthcare professionals should be geared to Pediatricians in these fields.
Please let me know if he takes the anti-biotics.

J. O'

HI. My daughter is only 19 months, but what doctors thought was eczema turned out to be allergies. I would definitely have him tested for allergies. good luck.

Hi D.,

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.

A. M

D.

My son had eczema also. I used a lotion from Melalucha. The lotion is called renew intensive skin therapy. you can google it online. It worked for him. He ever once in a while will break out and I put the lotion on and it clears it up. We tried aveno, and even perscriptions from the doctor and nothing worked but this did. Hope it helps

Hi D.--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.

My friend is a dermatologist at Baylor Univ. and I just asked her what to do with my son's eczema (he's 14)and my 3 y.o. daughter's. She said to minimize bathing- short showers with warm, not hot water since water dries out the skin. Immediately after washing use Vaseline or generic store petrolatum. She said lotions are the worst as they often have fragrance, other chemicals are are actually drying as they evaporate. Creams are not much better. She said some kids are allergic to the ingredient in Eucerin and even in Aquaphor that is almost like wool.
For bright red, angry, swollen eczema, an over the counter steroid ointment or cream like triamcinolone .25% just a very little bit will calm the scratching. She said just to use it once or twice until the redness and scratching calms down. If steroids are used too much , the skin gets thin, weak, and actually more prone to sensitivity.
HP (if it's not getting better, see a dermatologistin case it's not eczema and needs different treatment or allergy testing)

D.,
My ten yr old grandson suffered for a couple of years with the same condition, but on one of his legs. The doctor finally gave his an antibiotic along with cream and it is all gone. Keep being persistant with the medical community. Has he been to a dermotologist or even an allergist? What seems like eczema may not be. There may be an underlying cause such as a food allergy.
Best of luck.
M. L

I have a 5 yo DD who's been battling eczema since she was 1.5 months old, and I now have a 2 mo. old DD who's showing signs of eczema, also. We've been the oral & topical steroid route with the older DD, and they made her act strangely (ever read the side effects? DD1 had all of them!). I refuse to do that to her again, and I'm not going to subject DD2 to the steroids either. My current Dr. is no help (he's younger than I am & just became a 1st time dad in December '07), as he does everything "by the book."

By searching the internet and getting advice from other mom's groups, I've come to believe that my DDs have food allergies. I've begun keeping a food journal of our meals (I'm breastfeeding, so what I eat affects DD2) and then before we eat again, I jot down notes as to how the girls skin looks. B/c of this, I've discovered that DD1 reacts to strawberries & dairy, and DD2 reacts to corn & chocolate. You may also want to try giving your DS probiotics and make sure he eats fish a couple times a week for the fish oil, which helps eczema tremendously. I'd recommend the food journal and probiotics before you subject you DS to the allergy test, as those can be painful.

Also, lanolin has worked wonders on my DDs' skin. Make sure you get Lansinoh brand, as it's guaranteed hypoallergenic and pure. It's pretty thick stuff, and kind of sticky, so your DS may not like the feel of it being put on him, but I've been amazed at how quickly the lanonlin clears up my baby's eczema...I apply to eczema in the morning and by noon it's gone. I've had to apply daily on my girls, whether they show signs or not, just to keep it at bay, but lanolin is a whole lot safer (and cheaper!) than steroids.

Best wishes; eczema is a horrible beast to fight!

The cold weather triggers the eczema in my son...Eucerin has worked lovely!

D., Definitely test him for allergies. I went through this with my son only started while I was still nursing so that was tough. He was allergic to everything. He is six now so I need to have him retested. Just know that unless it has a severe number with eczema it's hit and miss one time Jared had a banana NOT on his list and he broke out in hives, I called the allergist and he said oh that is the way it is one time it will affect him and one time not OH MY GOODNESS. I was at that time trying to take everything away DAIRY, SOY, CORN, WHEAT. I even tried to make my own rice bread after that I stopped and just tried everything in MODERATION. He still has dry skin but it is not to the point of bleeding anymore. I'd start with Dairy, (rice milk is not bad)

With him being 5 you will probably not run into so many false positives on the allergies so hopefully will be easier to manage. they gave jared Zyrtec too! Elidil works too if there are no open cuts, it hurts. Good luck! Have a great day!H.

My neice has battled eczema for as long as we can remember (now 8). After trying almost everything, the last resort they wanted was to go to an allergist. But it paid off! All the testing, showed exactly the problem. Allergies to weather outside! Mold, mildew, spring flowers, etc (the list seemed to go on). And after putting her on allergy meds, she is doing fine. The eczema is still there but under control now. Her hands were the worst. She now wears gloves when touching things like leaves. And one more thing that helps...after taking a shower/bath/or even washing hands...put lotion imediately! With-in 2 mintues of her hands getting wet. This helps out the most! so please don't hesitate on taking him to the allergist. I'm not saying this is a cure, but it might get to the bottom of what's really going on. And I hope you find the right solution for your son.

hi D.,

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!

My husband is a pediatrician and he always says really bad eczema may have an underlying allergy. Usually allergies and eczema go hand in hand. I have 3 girls. @ have food allergies and bad eczema. Once we dicovered the allergies the eczema got better

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,

L.

It's a slimey way to help it, BUT IT WORKS!
Bathe your son in warm water - not hot. Don't dry him off and slather him with vaseline. Dress him right into his night clothes. Repeat daily. It seems gross, but I tell you IT WORKS! My son is going to be 3 and he suffers from terrible eczema in the winter. In between baths.. Aveno lotion seems to help too. Also, keep his finger nails short so he doesn't scratch as badly. Remind him to rub and not scratch. I'd love to know what you find out about allergies and eczema. At present my son doesn't have any known allegies.

Good luck!

Hi D.,
My son was born with eczema!
I found that Renew Intensive Skin Therapy works best. It is clinically proven to eliminate the redness, itching, flaking and scaling that eczema sufferers have. Check out my website or call me and I will be glad to send you a sample.
L. Spratling
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www.LiveTotalWellness.com/L.