Eczema - Lynden,WA

Things you probably won't hear from others...

I had eczema as a kid. We had to be super careful about the soaps I used, (very mild and no fragrances)and the soaps my clothes were washed in. I'm 48 and mostly have it under control but still can't use Palmolive dish soap without losing a layer or two of skin. I also was sentative to foods with high acid content, even spaghetti sauce could be a trigger. I did find that just a little sunshine helps in the healing. I haven't used any prescribed medications in years, but I did accidentally discover that an actual horse cream called "Hoofmaker" which is used to strengthen horse hooves, seems to help my eczema too... along with giving me stronger nails as well. Good luck!

My daughter had such bad eczema when she was three months old, she would scratch herself bloody and the pediatrician told me I had to get on top of it or she'd lose sleep and her development would suffer! Nine months later and her pediatrician is congratulating me on how great my daughter's skin looks. I bathe her every other day, using Mustela Stelatopia (milky bath oil), then smear on the cetaphil cream afterwards. I use cortisone if she has a breakout. I also put the cetaphil on whenever I'm changing her clothes. The trick is definitely to stay on top of it!

Good Morning C.
I have not experienced this with my family but I have talked to several who have. These people had tried everything prescription, non- prescribtion. And the only thing that worked is a product called Renue. This can't be bought in stores. If you are interested I can show you how to get this product.

C. V

Our daughter has eczema, and it's become part of our routine to bathe her and lather her in lotion immediately after every day. That way you don't forget.

Our dermatologist recommended Vanicream. A big tub at Walgreen's (though you can ask any pharmacy to order it) is $10 and WELL worth every cent.

I think the trick to eczema is staying on top of it. At least that's been our situation, and even then, she still has minor break throughs.

our family all has some degree of exzema. we have tried many different things. With my daughter I used Aveeno products. The oatmeal bath was the best. Now with my son we have had better luck with Burts Bees. I lather him up with the loation and then put Aquafor over top when it gets bad. Other wise Burts Bees does pretty good alone. Dr told me one time short warm baths and lots of loation. Oh we also used Eucerin loation not the thick cream and that helped when used after bath. Good Luck

Our son had eczema at that age also. On the advice of a dermatologist we bathed him once a week or less, used over the counter hydrocortisone cream (1%) daily and for a week after the rash was gone, and used Aquaphor daily on an ongoing basis. Make sure the hydrocortisone cream has only 2 ingredients (hydrocortisone and white petrolatum). We had a prescription for a stronger steroid but rarely had to use it. By the summer it was much better. It seems to be worse in the winter, and also to be slowly getting better. This year he is 2 and I haven't used hydrocortisone at all, just aquaphor which I put on any rough patches after he has fallen asleep at night. Good luck

C.,
Change your laundry detergent to something mild like Dreft and switch brands everytime you buy a new container. Also use a lot less than recommended. Stop using dryer sheets and put a humiderfier in her room. If those don't help, you can buy a soap specially formulated for people with eczema from www.thesoaplady.com. Baths dry out skin making it worse. I only bathed my kids 1 or 2 times a week. Wash her face and neck as needed with warm water only. I never use soap on my face and I have a great complexion.
This is enough to help my husband, however severe cases often need ointments like cortaid but prescription strength. My sister-in-law uses one and it takes it away 100%.
Hope this helps,
B.

Mine didn't show up until 7th grade but I have it too. It is not from any one thing. I am allergic to and have become over time allergic too many things where my skin is concerned. I've had a coconut allergy (but no allergy to other tree nuts) most of my life. As I've gotten older my reaction to it has gotten worse though. I also found that it dried out my skin more anyway when I used it in lotions and things (hard to find a lotion without some form of it anymore). I use the Vaseline products too. I had a reaction to a lip balm the other day. Turns out there was cocanut oil in that too. High Glycerin content makes mine flare up. Most dish soaps are really bad but have had some luck with Dawn..just the regular blue stuff. I use citrus based cleaners where I work and they don't bother me as badly as the other cleaners. I'm very sensitive to the smell of ammonia, and I get itchy pretty quick around it. Sounds like what you are doing is working for the most part. You might want to look into some of the Bert's Bees products. We had some luck with those with our youngest. I totally recommend the hand salve. It stings a little because it is supposed to be cooling, but if you keep it away from the eyes and stuff it does help the itch. I'd start paying really close attention to how much dairy she is getting..if her skin is drier when she is eating less or more dairy. Dairy affects me badly in the winter. If I eat too much my skin gets really bad. In the summer, not so much. Anyway, keep it as natural as possible in the fibers department. No acrylics, nylon. Find "clear" shampoos and things. I had psoriasis on my head for many years, and I dyed my hair at one point and it cleared right up. My hands and any other flare ups also go away if I go swimming in Chlorinated water. (Of course make sure you rinse..but don't use soap after doing that, to get the salt off). Then do the normal moisture routine..) My mom did that for me when my rashes got really bad and it was measurably better by the next day.

Cetaphil, the cream, not the lotion, is the only thing that worked for us. We also bathe our son less often which seems to help. I "spot clean" him in between baths.

Have had eczema my whole life. It used to be all over my body but mostly it has effected my hands and my eyes. Oral Vitamin D is a big help. If my skin cracks open I pour my own urine over it wait for one minute and wash with mild natural soap without chemicals no lye etc.

I never put cream on it unless it is specifically for eczema which means a prescription drug. Zinc is missing in someone with eczema. Do not suppress eczema as to do so means it will re-emerge as asthma.

Find out what she is allergic to. If you have no allergies listen to those who do nurses and doctors have over the years told me the dumbest things that have exacerbated rather than alleviated eczema. A clueless parent can inflict a great deal of damage innocently.
My mother tried everything but she couldn't understand that I could not use the soaps and lotions and shampoos other family members were fine with. Once I was ten years old I took over my own care totally.

My eczema never went away for long periods of time except in summer. If I ate nothing I was allergic to it would not break out. Milk is a high allergen yet we feed our children milk and milk products.

Watch what you feed your child to notice whether she is worse or better. If you are breast feeding she might get it from your milk when you eat something she is allergic to.

Your child definately needs a smoke free environment. Her clothes, blankets and towels must be washed with Ecover or Planet and everything must be scent free. No bleach. Clorox and other bleaches cause eczema. No Bounce or anything else in the dryer as that is a cause for skin problems. Febreeze is out and all chemical scents.

Cats are high on the list of allergens for eczema. If you have one leave it outside for a few days vacuum and clean the house thoroughly and see if your daughter's eczema recedes.

Keep breathing and relax it's a long process.

As compensation not all your children will have eczema. None of mine do, nor do my siblings.

My daughter developed eczema when she was 6 mo old and still struggles with it periodically; she is 14. It's well controlled when she takes care of it, otherwise she continues to breakout. Make-up is more of a priority for her right now.
My daughter takes Arbonne's fatty acid supplement, which contains flaxseed. The supplement comes in a vegetable-based capsule that can be punctured to release its contents and be sprinkled on food or mixed in a beverage. In the shower she uses either a sugar scrub or sea salt scrub to exfoliate. These both contain essential oils that are absorbed through the skin. When she gets out of the shower, she uses Arbonne's skin conditioning oil and tops it off with Shea Butter. When she does this daily, she has no breakouts. If her eczema becomes uncontrolled, she does use Eladil but I prefer not to have her on that for long periods of time as it is an immune suppressant.

Stay away from Vaseline as it is a petroleum-based product, which is a by-product of gasoline and oil production. It sits on the top of the skin and acts as a barrier but is not absorbed into the skin to hydrate. It also prevents the skin from breathing and releasing toxins. Mineral oil, which is also a pertroleum-based product, is in 80-90% of the lotions on the market.
For more information on Arbonne's botanically-based products, you can go to my website at www.nursekerry.myarbonne.com. We also have an entire line of baby care products, including an essential-oil based baby oil, that might help with your little one.
Good Luck!

It sure if frustating!
My son who is now 2 has had exzema since about 3 months old, has a pretty severe case.
We have had allergy testing, Seen Dermatoligist and of course the Ped.
What works for us is bathing no moe than once a week, unless he really needs one. Using perfume free soaps, Laundry Detergent. And using a mixtue of lotions, aveeno, cetaphil, and vaseline on top of lotions to keep in moisture.

We use several different presciption lotions depending on the breakout.
We use triamcinalone for severe. Desinoide fo moderate and hydrocortisone 2% for his face.

Also use any of the creams for a week or so afte the breakout clears out.

My daughter (now 2) had it as a baby and it drove us both NUTS! I got a book called Super Immunity for Kids and learned alot about essential fatty acids and all the things (eczema being one of them) that are a result of a lack of these efa's in our diets. Sooo...I took the advice of the doctor who wrote the book and started giving my baby flax seed oil in her bottle twice a day and rubbing evening primrose oil on her once a day and (viola!) it disappeared and has never come back. I still give her flax and rub her down with the primrose oil, partially because I want to make sure it stays gone but also because these things are so good for so many things, immunity for one. She has never had an ear ache, EVER, never been sick other than a tiny cough that may last a day or two and a slightly runny nose once. That's it. Get the book and run to GNC, it will greatly benefit your child and you!

My son has had Eczema since birth. He has a very serious case of it...usually on the backs of his legs and on his chest. I never used Vaseline because it just sits on the top of the skin and eventually dries it out, which can sometimes make it worse. What worked for us, (and hopefully can work for you :D), is oatmeal. We stopped using any bath stuff that contained excessive dyes or perfumes and stuck with Johnson & Johnson Vanilla Oatmeal bath and lotion. You cold even try Aveeno. Anything with oatmeal. Another thing that might help is Lansinoh Lanolin...same stuff used for breastfeeding. It's all natural and works way better than Vaseline. When baby gets older you could use oatmeal packets in the bath. They work great for breakouts. :D As for whether it will go away or not, usually doesn't, but sometimes minimizes. I had it at a youth, but now only have dermatitis. Which is a lesser version. Anywho, hoped this help. :D

natural day light and humid air both help a lot :)

soaps actually make it worse, so try a soap free cleanser like cetaphil. If she's having it so bad that her skin is cracking or bleeding, you can use hydrocortizone cream, but talk to your ped about how much and how often since it can thin skin if it's used too often or for two long

Hi C.,
I know how you feel. My youngest son was around 4 months when he first developed eczema. He is now 20 months and will have an occassional breakout. When he was around 6 months old, I took him to a dermatologist. He was a HUGE help. He confirmed everything that the pediatrician had been telling us. My son's breakouts were so bad that we were given several prescriptions. He was given a hydrocortisone cream for his face particularly for his cheek, to be used on especially bad days. He was also given a stronger cream to be used on his body. His breakouts are on the tops of his feet and toes, crease of his elbows and wrists, his cheek and patches on his back.

The dermatologist also said that he could have an Aveeno oatmeal bath at that young age, and to make sure he soaked for at least 15 minutes, but no longer than 20. He also recommended to blot him dry not rub, as that could aggravate the eczema. Another hint that he gave us was to wash him with a "clean" non irritating, fragrance free soap. We still use the Cetaphil bar soap and wipe him gently with a washcloth. Also used the plain Johnsons and Johnsons baby shampoo, so the residue wouldn't stay on his skin.

I never used the Vaseline, we were told to use Hydrophor. The Dermatologist said that it takes 3 minutes for the moisture to start evaporating from the skin after the bath saok. He also recommended only bathing him every few days, as bathing to frequently could also irritate the eczema and make it worse. Also expect more breakouts in the winter.

Recently, Curel developed a lotion that is wonderful!! It's called Itch Defense and is approved by the National Eczema Association, also says can be used on babies. I bought it in a 25oz pump bottle at Walmart, for around $9.00. I saw the ad in a Good Housekeeping magazine and decided to try it. I put in on my son every night before bed. It isn't greasy and absorbs right into his skin. I can see during the day when he starts to get a breakout on his face and by the next morning, you can't even tell there was a breakout starting.

I know this was a long response. Good Luck!

Hi C.,
Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be extremely helpful in easing eczema symptoms, and in some cases, may get rid of it altogether. Results sometimes take a little while, seeing as this tends to be a deep, complex condition, but you don't have to wait and hope that your child will "grow out of it" (and in many cases, they'll go on to adulthood with it :( ).

If you have any questions, feel free to email me! I'd love to answer them and help you get to the bottom of this UNCOMFORTABLE disease.

We have eczema running in our family. My mother has it, I have it, one of my nieces and last summer my daughter started getting it. No food allergies either. There has been a lot of trial and error, but here are some things that have been working for us:
- Fragrance free laundry detergent and lotions seem to trigger less breakouts. Especially laundry detergent is a culprit for both myself and my daughter.
- Our eczema is also triggered by cold and extreme heat. During the winter months I use triple cream eczema care on my daughters face before we leave the house. It has helped tremendously. Burt's bees miracle salve is lighter and works good if her skin is still intact.
- Instead of stripping the skin with soap and then re-moisturizing with a lotion, I use oil in the shower or tub. I prefer vegetable oil such as almond or jojoba. It cleans very well and locks the water into your skin, without any additional chemicals. If you don't want the mess in the shower, apply some oil on your baby's wet skin after a bath
- Bathing/shower only every other day, less for young babies, unless they are dirty.
No one in my family ever truly outgrew it, but breakouts get fewer with age. From our anecdotal experience it is usually pretty bad in infancy and toddlerhood and starts clearing up by school age.
Make sure you keep a close eye on his skin, as secondary fungal or bacterial infections are very common in young children and they can get quite nasty. Whenever there is a spot that you are suspicious of (not healing as usual or looking different) insist that your pediatrician runs a culture on it!
Good luck!

my daughter had the same thing at 6 months. all over her whole body. it was like sandpaper sometimes. and her poor little face just looked like it hurt. we ended up seeing many doctors until finally they sent us to a pediatric dermatologist. i don't remember the clinical term, but it isn't eczema. question...is there any dry/rough skin in the diaper area? my daughter ended up with a prescription for u-lactin lotion. it actually has an ingredient that is in urine. gross, i know, but it's working. she gets a bath most nights and hydrocortizone ointment (not cream) on the bad spots then the u-lactine lotion all over. she will be 1 in a couple weeks and is doing much better. she has occasional red spots on her face from drool or whatever, but overall is doing great.

as a side note, but dermatologist told us that cleopatra used to bathe in urine to keep her skin clear. totally grosses me out....i hope it was her own urine!

~m

I recommend that you see a naturopath who can diagnose food allergies more accurately than a conventional doctor. Our highly recommended conventional doctor has consistently failed to identify the source of my daughter's allergies, and once we saw a naturopath and had a specific diagnosis and treatment plan, her blisters and rash cleared up completely.

Hi C.,
I am a manufacturer's rep for a wellness company that is green and we have a product that has double blind independent trials on it and it has a scientific patent, it is not a prescription drug. It is awesome lotion for eczema. I would be negligent if I did not give you the opportunity to check it out for your baby. I would love to talk with you. Please contact me and we can schedule a time and I can help you.
N. B

Both my twins are 16 months and my ds has had eczema outbreaks since he was 3 months old. I put Aquafor all over him when he has an outbreak until it goes away. I try to get it on him when he's still kinda damp after a bath which seems to help quite a bit. Also sometimes if I start noticing even a little bit I lather him up which seems to nip the outbreak pretty quick. I would say try Aquafor instead of Vaseline. I know it's expensive, but it works really well.

My oldest is 12 and has had it since birth. Turns out certain things trigger it other that forgetting lotions etc, hot weather, hot water, certain detergents and laundry softeners, bubble baths.

Repetition with what you know works, Eucerin or heavy creams not lotions. It went in phases, when she was small it was worse on the legs, now its the arms. Good Luck!

Hi C.,

My twins will be 3 this month and both of them had eczema when they were younger. My son still tends to get it in certain areas like his cheeks in the winter and on his upper back also in the winter. It was much worse when he was a baby. We switched from Johnson's baby lotion to Aveeno lotion and we also used Aquaphor on the specific areas of eczema. Those lotions helped a great deal with his eczema. My daughter's eczema wasn't as bad but she did get one big outbreak all over her back that required prescription medicine. Again that was when she was around 9 months old if I remember correctly.

I'm sure every case is different.

Good luck!

My son has had boughts since he was about 1, and we found the best thing is bag balm! we covered him head to toe evernight for 2 months, and since then we only need to spot treat during the winter when the wind and weather pick up. it is the best thing ever!

I know how difficult eczema can be (and how frustrating). Our youngest daughter was covered in eczema by 2 months of age. We have had tremendous success in treating it by having her wear a hazelwood necklace. I know how weird it sounds but the wood has the natural property of absorbing acidity in the body and in many cases, eczema stems from too much acidity. All I know is that within 2 weeks of her wearing her necklace her eczema was virtually gone and it has stayed away since then (almost 2 years now) as long as we remember to change her necklace to a new one when her last one gets saturated (hers last about 3-4 months). If we don't her eczema reappears full force! Then it will usually go away again within a couple days after we put a new one on her again. They are available at www.hazelaid.com

I hope you find something that helps you!

Its great to hear how other moms are keeping their children's eczema under control!!! It is a nonstop battle and if you forget or slack on the routine, eczema will surely creep back in. If your little one is scratching like crazy like mine does, scratchmenots work wonders! My daughter can finally sleep through the whole night without waking up to scratching (ok I can sleep through the night also and not worry about new scars popping up the next day). This is so encouraging to hear what other parents do, i'm taking notes!!

Food sensitivities (NOT allergies...food allergies would reveal themselves systemically in the form of hives, anaphylaxis, etc) can cause Eczema as well as laundry detergents, fabric softeners, dryer sheets, soaps, lotion, etc, etc. I would highly recommend avoiding hydrocortisone creams, lotions, ointments at all costs at this point. Hydrocortisone is a steroid that thins the skin and can eventually cause stretch marks and extreme hypersensitivity. Never ever use hydrocortisone on parts of the body where the skin is already very thin including the face, underarms, genitals, and so on. Hydrocortisone is absorbed into the skin and into the blood stream and, like all steroids, can cause systemic as well as behavioral and psychological problems. That being said, your child has eczema and it will be a constant battle to keep her skin hydrated. Sorry, that's just the way it is, especially in the winter when the air is dry. You can use a humidifier to help moisten the air at home but that will only help so much. My dermatologist recommends using CeraVe lotion it's by a company called Coria and is sold in a good-sized pump for about 12$ at Walgreens. It absorbs well and is not greasy but will need to be applied at least morning, evening and any time your childs skin gets wet. It seems a hassle but it will greatly improve your childs skin. Try switching to unscented Dove (or Ivory) beauty bar instead of soap in the bath (of course be very careful not to get it in her eyes) and make sure the bath is warm but not hot. Bath time should be short also, no more than 10 minutes. The longer the bath the more drying it is on the skin. You can also put a little coloidal oatmeal in the bath. Also, at least during the dry winter months it might be a good idea to not bathe her every day. Try dropping down to 3 baths a week or as few as you can to ward of the stinkys.

Your dr can give you an ointment for that as well.