Help with Eczema

My daughter too has Eczema, I have found a great lotion recommended by a dermotologist. It is call Vanicream, and is made my the Mayo Clinic for people with very sensitive skin. It is easy to find at Target, just go to the pharmacy and they will have it behind the counter. I 1 lbs jar is only $16.xx. Hope this helps.

You may have already tried this...but it worked for my son. Put the hydrocortisone on first THEN apply vaseline on top. The vaseline works as a barrier from other elements and locks the hydrocortisone in.

My daughter had just a mild outbreak and still gets them occasionally. but we just use Aveeno "soothing relief" wash and lotion, if its real bad then we use the prescribed topical ointment as well, but we LOVE the Aveeno

I have been told that my son's Eczema is related to his food allergies--he is allergic to peanuts (his eczema also flares up with greenbeans, peas and soybeans, which are all related to peanuts). If the case is the same with your son, you may want to be cautious with his food. That being said, we lather my son up with the thick original Eucerin cream every night before bed. (Sidenote: the generic brands work just as well for about half the price.) This way, his pajamas keep it on his skin and it doesn't rub off like it would during the day. He also has it on both cheeks--the same routine works--just lather on the Eucerin. It gets his pillowcases a little messy, but if you're consistent with it, it really works. Also be careful about using the cortisone cream too often, especially on the face. It can cause thinning of the skin, which cannot be corrected. It's best to use the cortisone only about twice a week. We also use Aveeno baby oatmeal baths, which seem to help. Maybe you could try soaking a washcloth in the oatmeal bath and holding it on his face? (If he'll stay still long enough!) It also helps not to bathe everyday, as the oils in the skin will help with the dryness. I hope this helps! Good luck and be sure to let the rest of us know if you get any other advice that works!

I have eczema and my twins also had it when they were babies and it was the milk based formula that made it worse and after I switched to soy it releived it quite a bit. My nephew was also like this and once switched to soy his dissapeared. Don't worry they usually outgrow it and can go to regular milk by 2.
Don't use anything with fragrance. Even if it says hypoallergenic but has fragrance don't use it if at all possible. I use All Free and Downey Free for laundry and the best lotion is Eucerine, I like the calming one. It's hard to find shampoo and body wash with no fragrance but if you change all the other stuff a little won't hurt.
Hope this helps!

Hi M.,
My 1 year old also hase eczema really bad but his is mainly on his back and little on his arms!
I took him to the doctor and he was really helpful and said that I should use Hydrocortizone cream for the itch and inflamation and it helps!!
I used to bath my kids every night and the doctor told me to do it every other nite to 2 days and to keep them in the bath for a very short time without bubbles or sented soap.
Then after they get out of the bath to be Eucerin Cream all over their bodies! He said to lather them with this cream.

I've been trying this for almsot 3 weeks and belive me it helps!!!!!
You can get both of these creams at any store!!

Hi M.:

From my experience, eczema is commonly linked to food sensitivities or allergies. It would be a great idea to get your son tested. Now here is one recommendation that might seem a bit odd, but a chiropractor is able to do a food test without even poking your child (kinesology). I have done this with my own child and as much as I found it hard to believe, it really worked. My child sat on my lap so that her energy could be sensed through me. I held bottles of common allergies (like soy, wheat, dairy etc.) and based on my muscle response, the chiropractor was able to determine which ones were triggors for my daughter. As I said, it sounds odd, but it worked for us and many other families I know that have kids with eczema. Hope this helps.

Eczema is sometimes exacerbated by allergens. Have you had your son tested for allergies (dust mites, cats/dogs, certain perfumes/detergents, milk sentitivity, ect.) Also if your child's eczema will not resolve with hydrocordisone, seeing a dermatologist or getting a prescription for something stronger (prescription topical cream)might not be a bad idea. Humidifiers can also help as well as hypoallergenic baby soaps and eucerin. I have used lansinoh lanolin on my daughter and it seems to decrease the dryness and redness the fastest. Good Luck

A.

When my son was little he had eczema bad. I use White Dove soap on him and every morning and night I would put Eucerin lotion.( very expensive but might be worth a try). I would also put the lotion when he is itching.You can also try oatmael bath by Aveeno.I hope this work out. Have a wonderful week.

D.

M.,
I have found that eczema can be caused by anything. I suffer "winter eczema" which I believe is brought on by lack of vitamin D. I find that when I get a small amount of sunlight (either natural 15+ or artificial, ie:tanning beds for 3-5 minutes/day for 1 month) it can help rid my arms of this seasonal dermatitis; be careful not to burn his already wounded skin and protect his eyes if you choose to try this method. Also, eczema is often caused by food allergens, nuts, eggs and dairy in particular. Laundry detergents and body soaps can also be a culprit, try switching to hypoallergenic soaps; those that don't contain perfumes or colorants.

I would first of all pray for guidance, then contact a naturopathic doctor as they will be less likely to administer drugs to alleviate the symptoms, but rather find the root of the problem to treat it. Then I would recommend eliminating his environment and diet of possible culprits (you can find more complete lists online) and see if it clears up; then reintroducing them 1 by 1, 1 week at a time to see if you can find out what exacltly is causing it (it may be more than one thing).

You may try bathing him in a bath of Activated/Medical Charcoal powder (found at healthfood stores or online at www.buyactivatedcharcoal.com-this site has MUCH more information if you wish to read it) and warm water (avoid overly warm water, it causes the skin to dry out more). The charcoal may temporarily stain his skin, but it will not harm him and may remove any pathogens from his skin that may be contributing to the problem. Then be sure to keep his skin moist; try lotions and soaps like Aveeno or Burt's Bees brands.
If all else fails, visit Mayo Clinic. I hope you find relief for him soon. God bless!
H. R.
(Disclaimer: This advice is not intended to replace professional medical advice. It is always wise to consult your doctor before embarking on any new course of treatment.)

M.,

I'm so sorry for your poor baby! My son also was diagnosed with eczema when he was still VERY young - 4-6 months old. There's a new cream on the market called Vanicream which seems to really help my son. We've struggled with this problem constantly throughout his 7 years, and it doesn't seem to be caused by just one thing, or by the same things each time. Do a google or yahoo search on eczema - it will give you a list of possible causes for outbreaks. I know things included are: your baby getting too hot (causing irritation to the skin - leading to a breakout), dyes in laundry detergent, stress, and I want to say even a reaction to some foods that have been eaten. It's been a while since I looked for anything new on the topic, so I don't remember everything that was on the list. We've started buying the dye and fragrance-free detergants, we use Aveeno body wash instead of soap, occassional Aveeno oatmeal baths, and that Vanicream (which can be found at the pharmacy - not on the store shelves). It has helped quite a bit, however, if stress is a factor, it's hard to eliminate that completely. Also, when he was little I would only give him a bath maybe two times a week to prevent drying of his skin...wash his face, neck, hands, etc that are dirty daily, but it may be beneficial to avoid nightly baths for a while - at least until you can see if it makes any difference.

I hope you're able to find something that will bring relief to your baby boy! Good luck!

I experienced the same problem with my son but his eczema was on the back of his thighs and buttocks. He has small patches on his face. Does your son have problems anywhere else besides his face? We tried everything!!! Even took him to the derm and an allergist. Steroids were prescribed but it never truly went away. What the pediatrician explained to me is that this condition is a total body condition although it may only appear in patches. She highly suggested using a gentle moisturizer all over the body daily to maintain overall hydration of the skin. What finally worked for me is a couple of products from Arbonne.

I am a mother of 7yr old twins with eczema. I no longer have to use steroid creams because of wonderful products from Arbonne. I use their ABC line, hair and body wash, baby oil, and baby lotion on my boys ecslusively for about 2yrs and my boys rarely have breakouts any more.The products are pediatrician recommened. If you would like a free sample I have them available at my salon.C. Image Salon at 2428 Easton Blv. Des Moines ###-###-####

I know several people who have eczema as well as sensitive skin and introduced me to Melaleuca products when I was pregnant. They have cleaning products that are safe to use around our kids! Their laundry detergent works wonderful for anyone who has issues with the residue that other detergents leave in things. Best of all is their Renew lotion. It is proven to work better than the leading recommeded lotion for Eczema, Euceren.

The bummer is they are only available on-line, and you have to become a member to buy things. If you'd like to try the lotion, I could order you a travel size to see what you think. Let me know. ____@____.com

For my daughter it was food allergies that caused her eczema. She would scratch until she bled and never slept for more than 3 hrs straight before waking up to scratch.

Things we found that helped:

Daily baths in plain water, soak for 15 min (skin soaks up water like a sponge) and then slather on Vaseline petroleum jelly to seal in the moisture. Lots of bath toys help keep them in there. If you are using cortisone, apply sparingly to red patches before using the vaseline.

Beware of moisturizers, read the labels! We used Aveeno for a while then we found out that she was allergic to the oat in it. Cetaphil has macadamia nut oil, others contain milk or soy. Unscented.

Use a mild soap for "dirty" areas (in between folds, diaper area...) only. Dove Sensitive is a good one. Use soap at the end of the bath.

An antihistimine like Zyrtec can help relieve the itch if scratching is disrupting sleep.

Get thee to a pediatric allergist, it doesn't hurt to explore this route, I've seen many cases of rashy skin=food allergies. We went thru 5 pediatricians who all said that it wasn't likely. Luckily it was a total stranger mom who suggested allergies and gave me the name of her kid's pediatric allergist after seeing my daughter fuss at the grocery store.

Good Luck, I hope your little does better soon :)

Hi M.!
Sorry to hear about the itchies!
Our son had horrible eczema. We used EVERYTHING. Went to the dermatologist too many times... then went to the nutritionist.
Elimination diet! WHEAT and DAIRY allergy!
Anytime he had wheat in particular it set him off! Now it's anything with gluten (including wheat, rye, barley, oats, and a host of other "cousin" grains). Sounds difficult, but there are many alternatives. He feels much better. We continued the elimination diet.
Hope this helps!
G. H.

My son had the same problem when he was small. One thing that helped was changing laundry soap and dryer sheets to dye free scent free. It didn't clear it up, but his break outs were lessened quite a bit.

My doctor also had us use olive oil on cotton balls to keep it moist. You cant leave it on for long periods of time, but I used to put it on while he was sleeping. Then clean it off once he woke up. That way he wasn't rubbing it in his eyes. It helped a lot. He had Eczema and cradle cap mix.

Hello M.,

I have a daughter (3) who was told she had eczema, a year ago I did the prescribed soaps, lotions, and antibiotic. And nothing worked. Since then I have sought out more natural ways to limit her breakouts. It comes down to yeast - when you have excess yeast in your system your skin reacts. When I limit white flour and sugar from my daughter's diet, her breakouts go away. Also we use Standard Processing Supplements, and the Zymex is essential in clearing up her skin when diet hasn't been monitored. *If you are nursing, limit these things from your diet. Hope this helps - MJ

Hi M.,
Eszema is no fun. I've had it for years. I don't any more. I switched to a different product line 11 years ago and it pretty much to care of it. I switched cleaning products, lotions and body washes. It's safe to use for little ones and I have helped many families get off hydrocortisone creams. If you are open to options contact me. If not try products with tea tree oil, don't use bleach and use the most natural cleaners you can find.
Best of luck,
S.
http://www.YesToSuccess.net/S.

The most fabulous product I know of is made by Arbonne Intl.
I used to sell it but got too busy with my two little ones and some life changes and had to stop selling BUT I wouldn't use any other products. Everything they have is botanical based and their baby line (ABC line) is amazing. They have a pure and safe baby wash, lotion, oil, diaper rash cream, and sunscreen. I have seen people have results after results using this on their child's eczema. I use it in the order: wash, then oil the problem areas, then lotion.
You can check it out at www.arbonne.com - I'm pretty sure you can find a consultant in your area just by putting in a zip code.

Hope that helped!

my nephew has this also from what i remember (7 years ago) they said its just really dry skin. i know they told her to try to keep a humidifier going so it stays moist in the house. they use to give him oatmeal baths. they said that would help with the itch and they used vaseline all over or a lotion that had no dyes or fragrance in it due to that would make it worse. they also washed his clothes in dreft to keep the dyes and fragrances down. i hope this helps some and he starts to feel better soon.

Hi M., I have two children ages 6 and 5. My oldest
was born with eczema. And, my youngest, she suffers mildly from it. But, when my son was a baby...he had it the worst! We did treat my son with hydrocortisone or similar prescribed lotion from our pediatrician very conservatively and only when the condition was really bad - usually on a few occasions in the dead of winter. The most important things I know are:
1.Do not give child a hot bath. Hot water dries out the skin faster.
2.Bathe less often...certainly not everyday because water dries out the skin. In fact,my son actually showers less often, and for a shorter lenghth of time, during the winter. Prevention is the key with eczema.
3. Bathe quickly. The longer child is in water...the more skin moisture is lost.
4. Apply FRAGRANCE FREE mosturizing CREAM often and regularly to dry skin.(especially after being in bath) Our pediatrician recommended Cetaphil. You can find this in a jar/container at Walgreens. It has worked great and we still use it today. I've also read that Eucerin is good too.
5. Use mild fragrance free soaps...and use as little as possible.
5. When skin is dry and rash is present...it just takes the above steps and time for the skin to heal itself. Unless, of course, you help the skin, conservatively and timely, with the prescribed medicated lotion prescribed by pediatrician.
6. Let's see what else...of course, scratching is B-A-D...BAD!! If possible cover skin as much as possible and keep nails really short so baby can't scratch.
I H. that helps. There's not much more you can do to comfort him, that I know of, other than just love him through it. Hold him, kiss him, sing to him. There's not much else until the skin repairs itself.

hi M. my name is T. and my youngest daughter has eczema and there were two things that i did that helped out a little first i gave her a oatmeal bath they have this in most stores for kids in the medician area then they have a baby locian that is just for eczema i justed it and it really helps they also have a bath soap for eczema just for babys go and try these things the drs wont tell you about over the coner ideas hope this helps

Definitely change your laundry detergent and household cleaners. My husband suffered from it for MANY years, always relying on steroid cream. Once we changed where we shopped for our household items we saw an immediate difference - and he hs not touched his steroid cream since!

please take him to a dermeatologist. over the counter meds arent going to cut it.

Hi M.,

I know you have received a lot of responses, but the more ideas you get, the more likely you'll find your cure! My daughter was diagnosed with eczema at about 4 months. She had one spot on her cheek and the rest was on her arms, legs and chest. It wasn't severe, but it seemed to be all over. We did a blood test to see what she was allergic to and found nothing! We were relieved, but frustrated at the same time. One of our pediatricians has a daughter with eczema as well and she gave us great advice....

* First of all she told us to give her short baths everyday with cetaphil soap. This washes away all the dirt and grime of the day, allowing her skin to be clean when we put lotion on. During our MN winters, we bathe her every other day.

* During outbreaks we would bathe her and then put Aquafor on her body where she has red patches. If it is bad enough we used small amounts of hydrocortisone cream (but never on her face).

* During the lucky times of no outbreaks, we bathe her and then put Cetaphil cream or lotion on her entire body to maintain hydration.

* Our doctor told us to stay away from "natural products" and stick to synthetic products. She said if we put the natural products on her (like I was), it would be like taking someone with allergies and rolling them around in a field of flowers they are allergic to! This was really surprising to me, but it made sense.

Since that 4 month old diagnosis, she has had only a couple of mild outbreaks (she is 15 months now). In case you didn't know, eczema outbreaks can come on when your baby has a cold or is sick! Something interesting we learned!

This routine works for us, maybe parts of it or all of it can work for you!

J.

Hi M.
I was just wondering if you startes your son on solid food. there have been studys done about eczema and food allergies. So you may want to take him to a allergist. Good Luck :) T.

I myself have Eczema and I feel for your poor little boy! There are medicated creams that help get rid of the rash, but it is my understanding from my dermitologist that these creams and ointments aren't good for you and I was told to try not to use them when I was pregnant so I'm guessing that they are hesitant to give them to a child so young. Oatmeal is a natural anti itch ingredient, and you can find oatmeal bath products including a bath ingredient that you could use before bed to hopefully sooth him enough to go to sleep. Also the Aveno line has a couple of great products with oatmeal that may be helpful (I think they make the bath water aditive as well). Rubbing an icecube on affected areas has been known to work, but I'm not sure how well a six month old will tolerate that :)

And it is hard to know what causes the eczema in the first place. My doc thinks mine is some kind of allergic reaction but each time I see him he always asks if there is something that I feel is triggering it so I don't think he really knows.
I do know that stress makes mine worse. Other than that, it just kind of pops up here and there.

I hope that this information is helpful, and good luck with your little ones!!

I don't know if your son just started showing signs of eczema or not but that could give you some idea of where to start looking. My son has always had it. I always used the free and clear detergents or dreft and that didn't make a difference. It was actually because I was using cloth diapers that I started researching laundry detergents. Because of the cloth diapers and having an HE washer I decided to try Mountain Green Sensitive Skin and white vinegar instead of fabric softener. Well the was the best thing I could have done! My sons eczema cleared right up! Even though there are detergents out there that claim to be free of dyes and perfumes etc. they still contain enzymes and brighteners. Also, sometimes when something is labeled as "unscented" it still is "scented" to cover the chemical smells. Also look at any baby soap or lotion you might be using.

I now make my own soap and lotion for my son as well as laundry soap. His anymore his breakouts are very few and far between. Plus with all the recent research on baby lotions and soaps I feel so much better using homemade products on my son because I know exactly what is in them! I would say to look into this sort of option. There are lots of people who sell these types of products. If nothing else I know I've even seen organic products at my local grocery store that would work well. (Just FYI if you do try something like a handmade soap Castile soap is great for babies. It's very mild and moisturizing.)

I hope that you find something that helps your son! There are lots of different things that can cause it. We lucked out and found that we were able to make some simple changes. Eczema is no fun to deal with especially when you don't know what it causing it.

Good Morning M.,

The Aveno oatmeal bath wash is wonderful and I found that the best remedy for the bad outbreaks is vasoline. I would and still rub a good amount of vasoline all over my son and then he wears long under to bed and wakes in the morning almost cured....I have been battling this for 9 years and it is always worse in the winter and has improved over the years. I can tell you if it gets really bad call a dermatologist, they are wonderful! I would get know where with my sons pediatrician and then it would get so bad from his scratching it was infected.

Best wishes!

Bring him to a chiropractor and get him adjusted. If you are in the Minneapolis area, bring him to Team Health Care clinic in Champlin.

My son had Eczema and we switched his formula around, I was breast feeding and had to stop. He was put first on soy and then another (I can't think of the name) and then back to soy and this helped.

My son and niece both have eczema. Two things have helped. Baths only once a week (yes, it sounds gross but that probably helped more than anything, I do wash hands and face everyday, and feet in the summer but without soap.). We have also used Cetaphil lotion/cream. Not everywhere sells it. I usually pick it up at Sams Club. There is also cetaphil soap which I've never used. Someone alse recommended, if you're still nursing, to take omega 3 in a tablet. Hope that helps.

We found that through a simple blood test that our son was allergic to mold found in old houses. We live in a house built in 1917! So we got an air purifier and it solved his eczema. Check out www.ecoquest.com which is where we got ours from. Previously he was on 6 different medicines, some oral, some topical, steroids - nothing worked for more than one day. Every now and again he's exposed to mold - sleepover at an aquarium or wearing a wetsuit, and he'll have a massive breakout. Then we just get him home around the air purifier and it all clears up, never to be seen again. It was expensive to buy the machine, but well worth the cost as he no longer is suffering - he couldn't sleep either, itched all night - it was terrible. Dermatologist was able to prescribe medicine, but not a proponent of air purifiers, so don't look to medical profession to tell you about them.

Also, I sell Discovery Toys and we sell a rock salt ionizer lamp that you may be interested in. Does the same thing for much cheaper. Very safe for children, does not heat up, but cleans air within 6 feet - same as an electronic one. Check it out today - sale ends today on them. www.discoverytoyslink.com/ValerieSowa
If I can answer any questions for you, please contact me through email ____@____.com

Have you tried Arbonne baby care? My daughter had horrible eczema and Arbonne's baby line did the trick.

Hi M.!

You have to give Arbonne's products a try! There are two suggestions I have; first, start with the baby line. Use the baby wash, then the lotion and/or oil. I used this on both of my sons, and it was a blessing. I had been using prescriptions and didn't want to continue with that.

You can also try Arbonne's rejuvenating cream and skin conditioning oil. They work fantastically, too.

I can get you more info on the products if you need it.

Hope this helps!

Be blessed!
L. G

Hello M...... let me say as the child that dealt with this 43 yrs ago, I feel your babies pain and itching....I went to every specialist available back in the early 60's and no one really helped. I was born with it all over my body and it was a huge undertaking for my mother. I also had allergies to dairy so I couldn't do formula and was forced to do goats milk. As silly as this sounds , if you put cream on the dry sore spots, and hydrocortisone heals but thins the skin....and put socks on his hands it will help with the scratching. I found that Eucerin , and Curel , Keri Lotion all did a pretty good job of hydrating. NO really hot baths , very luke warm water, and you have to constantly put lotion on ...its tiresome but really no way around it. I am 43 yrs old now , and I find that I still have really dry skin , and since I moved back to the midwest (from TX) I still battle with it , and I'm constantly putting lotion on , I put Keri oil in my bath water to help hydrate my skin...but unfortunately its a never ending battle. When I lived in Houston , I tanned alot , and was always putting oil and lotion on my skin, and for a time it got better...and as I got older it got somewhat better...but living in the midwest where its so cold doesn't help the whole condition. Sorry to not give you more news thats encouraging...just being real. It does improve with age, but in my case it never really went away.. Best of Luck C.

Hi::: Coldan from Australia here, try some bi-carb, baking powder, mixed with a little water to make a paste and gentle dab it on, Tea tree oil, diluted is also good, and try a different forumla (if he is bottle fed).
Good luck.

Both of my children have eczema. Any lotion that is unscented is what should be used. Also one of our doctors recommended using extra virgin olive oil after a bath when the skin is still moist. Right now we have a prescription of some amazing gel called Des Owens and like I said its amazing. I dont think your child, with being so young, could use this as it has a steriod in it. There are things out there that work wonderful and what works for one does not work for another. THe unscented lotions that are recommended alot are either Cetaphil or Eucerine. My daughter likes the unscented Curel with is considerable cheaper. We have also tried the unscented lubriderm and that seemed to work ok. The key factor is UNSCENTED. Good luck with your little guy. Its never fun.

Hi M.!

Growing up with excema my whole life, including having food allergies and seasonal allergies, when my son was born, I was MORE than concerned about these issues coming up for him as well.

And it turns out, the best thing I "was" doing was nursing him instead of giving him formula. HOWEVER- I can say, that the upmost best thing we did was to get him tested for allergies, whether they be food or seasonal. Turns out my son was allergic to all MILK and EGG. SOO, in turn I had to eliminate cows milk from my diet and egg so I could keep nursing him, however we also had to regulate his diet from that day forward. Now is he 2 1/2, and very healthy and happy. However, he still has his allergies, therefore he is drinking soy milk which is fortified, and also we have to pay extra special attention to anything he eats. It did take time and patience, and still does at times. however, much worth the work that goes into it.

I would highly suggest getting in touch with a different pediatrician- mainly one who specializes in childhood allergies. We go to Southdale Pediatric Associates- they have offices in Burnsville and also Edina. I would recommend getting him allergy testing ASAP- they will do a blood test first and run that, however, be aware that this is not always as accurate. Because, if there are allergens that a really strong (such as my sons milk and egg) it can cause "other" things to flair in the test. That would be a start.

Otherwise, start using Eucerin CREAM on his body at least twice a day, and where needed, (except his face) use cortizone 10 cream to cut down on the redness, and itching. You may find that the Eucerin may seem gross to you, because it is VERY thick- but I am telling you, it is the best thing to buy over the counter-and there is no perfumes, dyes or nothing in it. That is the other thing too, start washing clothes in NON-scented detergents and fabric softeners.

Ok, that is ENOUGH from me for now! Feel free to message me with any questions or suggestions you may want, I know this can be tough...but you will make it through it, just be informed as much as possible!

~M.

My son had severe eczema all over his body when he was a baby, and the worst was on his cheeks. It looked like we had dragged him across the carpet! We used a combination of things, cortizone once in a while to control the worst (but it should be used very rarely on the face) and we also had a prescription steroid cream for the really bad spots on his legs and arms. And we used Aquaphor and Cetaphyl cream (which is what we still use, it comes in a tub and its pricey, but its the best stuff out there!)

A lot of people think that cutting down on baths is the answer, but that is outdated information! Baths don't dry out the skin, they actually make the skin moister (which is what you want with eczema). But you have to give him the right kind of bath. My doctor told us to soak him in just plain water for 15-30 minutes every day. Then, at the end of his bath, wash the parts that need washing (we only do his crotch, butt, and hands) with a plain, white Dove bar. The soap doesn't need to be done every day, but the bath should be. Then when you pull him out, pat him dry with a towel and immediately slather him with lotion. The word the doctor used was "marinate." He should marinate in the lotion. Pile it on! If he's wearing footie pajamas, that's great because the lotion won't rub off on anything else. My son is 3 1/2 now, and we've cut down to baths every other day. His eczema is all but gone. I think its a miracle!

And, just to add to what a lot of other people are saying, a lot of eczema is caused by food allergies. If you're nursing, it could be something you're eating, or he could have developed an allergy to his formula or new solids. My son was allergic to so many things, it didn't matter what I ate, he was miserable!

I would definately try a baby oil by Arbonne International! They have a whole line for babies which includes baby body oil, body lotion, diaper rash cream, sunscreen, and shampoo. All of these products are absolutely amazing and made with pure ingredients which will nurish the skin and bring it back to a health state. Let me know if you would be interested in product samples.

It may not even be eczema. Have you changed anything with him relating to food, bath products, etc? He may have an allergy to something. A lot of children have food allergies, pets, etc. These types of allergies can make their little bodies purge the negative through their skin. This is also a common situation with adults. There is a wonderful doctor who specializes in children who you may want to set up an appointment with. He is a chiropractor who would be able to do some basic tests to see if he is allergic to anything. He can be tested on milk products, cereal, bath products, etc. When you're dealing with food items it usually means that there is a issue going on in their stomach. There are also children who are allergic to gluten. Gluten is an item which is found in just about every food. The doctors name is
Dr. Paul Degelman. He is located in Eden Prairie. The phone number is ###-###-####. He's a great guy. Very kind and caring. He's wonderful with children of all ages and adults. Feel free to give him a call to discuss your concerns before you would make an appointment. I know he would be more than willing to talk to you over the phone first. I used to work for him. Good luck.

My oldest daughter has eczema and the Aveeno Eczema Lotion has worked really well. During the breakouts, you just need to apply it several times a day to get it under control. It's nice because it's not to greasy like some out there. When they are really itchy, it also helps to put them in a bath with baking soda. This was recommended by her pediatrician. It can be very soothing.

My son Quincy has eczema also, he has had it since about 6 mos too (he is now 6). What I find that really helps with the breakouts for him is Aquaphor...it is a little bit more expensive but it helps. Usually Quincy has a real bad bout during the peak of the winter and summer months. I use the hydrocortisone very sparingly because it does make his skin more sensitive to sun exposure. I also keep him more

My son suffered from serious eczema around the same age as your son. The worse it got, the more he scratched. We used baby socks as mittens for months and months to prevent him from doing more damage. We tried the hydrocortisone and it made very little difference. We tried colloidal oatmeal baths, one bath/week, one bath/day, and various lotions and ointments. Nothing really worked. The Aveeno powdered oatmeal bath seemed to soothe the eczema a bit, but did nothing to remove it. We ended up taking him to a dermatologist who prescribed a liquid steroid. I was extremely hesitant to put a steroid on my baby's skin, but we used it sparingly and it did wonders. Once the eczema was somewhat cleared up, we would switch back to hydrocortisone to take care of minor breakouts. My son is now 2 and still suffers from eczema, but it is nothing compared to what he once had. You have my symphathies. Good luck!

This is around the age that my son was diagnosed (I think he was 8 months old). After a while, his eczema became so bad that it was part of his nightly ritual to scratch himself to sleep. It was agonizing to watch, and I'm sure worse for him. When he was around 18 months, we submitted him to an allergy test- the skin scratch (or whatever it's called) as opposed to the blood test. I don't know if a 6 month old would put up with it- your little one would have to lie still for around 15 minutes. Anyway, that changed our world! We found out what his allergens were and after eliminating them from his and my diets as I was breastfeeding him (and waiting around 1-2 weeks for those allergens to clear out of his system), he was eczema free! What a relief that was.

Ok, so if you're able to get him allergy tested, that would be the best thing, IMO.

Other than that, the only "help" my son's doctors gave him was steroid cream and elidel. I wanted to avoid pharmaceuticals (especially corticosteriods and "black box" pharmaceuticals!) so I looked for my own products to help.

There's an herbal product called "Black" by nature's way. It was very helpful to clear up his rashes if they were wet and weepy (they would clear in a matter of hours with this product). This stuff smells bad and stains, but it was very useful. I hadn't quite found a product to clear it if the rash was dry, but I think the idea is to keep the skin well-hydrated so it doesn't become a rash (try to find a lotion with no fragrance, or parabens- California Baby's Aloe Cream worked very well for us). Also, make sure to wash his skin with something gentle, or nothing at all, and as soon as he's out of the bath, smooth on some lotion (or better yet, just plain olive oil) to prevent more rashes.

Dust mites play a big role in eczema. If you don't already, wash his bedding in hot water at least once weekly, as well as anything else he comes into contact with.

Also, there is research coming out that allergies could be prevented if the child had enough essential fatty acids and probiotics in utero. If he's bottle feeding, consider adding some high quality fish oil (carlson's and nordic naturals both test their products for contamination with PCBs and mercury) and probiotics into his bottle (though keep in mind the fish oil could be a potential allergen). And if he's breastfeeding, you should take it yourself. There is a world more I could say on this topic, so if you want better explanations or more info PM me. I hope you find the answers you need, I understand how frustrating this can be!

Hi M.-
I have a friend who is going through the same thing with her little girl. They couldn't figure out what was wrong either and she ended up switching all thier products to seventh generation and now the rash is almost gone and her baby is much more comfortable. I know she said the costs weren't that much different from others if you go to www.diapers.com I hope this helps

First, I'd like to commend you on asking the docs - what is causing it- many times people just look for a quick fix (there is no such thing..it just will cover up the problem). So here is my advice...find a naturopath, chiropractor, or other natural doctor who can help you do an elimination diet that can help to lessen the breakouts. Then what needs to happen is you need to rebuild his 'gut'. A HUGE portion of our immune system lies in the gut and it gets depleted through the use of antibiotics and creams, lotions and potions... so we need to but probiotics back in to build it back up. Once you build it back up, which may take some time, you will be able to reintroduce those foods eliminated and the problems will be gone completely...

Let me know if you need more info.
HTH
C.

Hello M.. I have not had a first-hand experience with Eczema, but know of some people that have dealt with it. I have heard rave reviews about Melaleuca products, all natural based product line. I would give it a shot, try out the laundry detergant and the renew lotion - you can order it online at www.melaleuca.com. Good luck to you.

Go get an aloe vera plant and pop it open and rub the jelly inside on the baby. It is very natural and will help with the itching. It feels gross putting it on. I have eczema all my life and it really helps. The doctors also have elidel this helps also. Hope this helps.

Hi M. - I see you have had a lot of response on this but I just wanted to tell you that my 7 1/2 month had the same exact issue. The doctor didn't really give us any good advice either so I finally requested a dermatology referral. Our little guy's face was raw as well and look so painful! We switch his formula to lactose free - which seemed to help. Also, the dermatologist gave us a perscription to Derma-Smoothe for his face - which cleared it all up in less than 2 wks!! I was a little concerned because it says it's for psoriasis, which he doesn't have, but it did wonders. Also, she gave his Hydroxzine - which is an oral medication that helps with the itching. Good Luck! I know how frustrating and helpless you feel when they are so itchy and everything you try doesn't help!

I found a pretty amazing product from a wellness company called Melaleuca. It is called Renew Intensive Skin Therapy lotion. It is very mild and no greasy. It really helped our son. It works wonders on diaper rash too! Melaleuca is a company that you can become a member of. We joined because they have enviromentally safe products that work great! But the lotion has been a lifesaver for us. They do have a web sight you can check out. www.melaleuca.com . L. R

Hi, I too am blessed with two boys...2 1/2 and 6mo. Yes, we too deal with eczema. The most helpful thing i was ever told was that it is most likely caused by a food allergy. We found that it was a few strange things that result in major breakouts... any choclate or choclate flavored food, ritz crackers, gold fish crackers, pears, and a few other fruits. We scaled back to just veggies for a while til it cleared (veggies seem to be safe)then we tried one thing and waited for a reaction. The second best advice we got was bath time advice... Only use a white Dove bar soap on their body and Only johnsons tear free shampoo on their hair. This REALLY helps. If you do this during a break out it seems to help alot. My oldest is 2 1/2 and we still have to stick to this or we get major breakouts. As for the face... if it's raw get some bordouxes butt paste and put it on like a salve. I found it heals chapped and raw skin faster than ANything else we have tried.
I hope something helps... I feel for you...we been there!
~T.

I had eczema when I was little as well. (So bad that people thought I had an infectious rash). My mom didn't like the idea of using the hydrocortisone cream do to it containing steriods, so she found a natural alternative that cleared things up significantly. Find a vitamin store or go online (Puritan's Pride is just one example) and buy "Eve of Primrose" capsules. Take a pin and prick a hole in one end and squeeze the oil onto the skin. It works great and is chemical free.

Hang in there, it will get better.

Hi M..
I would stay away from lotions containing lanolin. It irritates it. When I worked as a pastry chef I also had it from washing my hands so much. Try a lotion with oatmeal in it. It helps with the itching. I sell
Avon right now and we have a product with oatmeal in it for dry itchy skin. It might help.

B. A.

I had a similiar thing happen to my dtg when I lived in Hawaii.
We used papaya smashed & added to the hydrocortisone. the enzyme in the papaya helps. Sounds weird but it worked.
I learned this from an old nurse I worked with at the hospital.
Also, I added zinc to my dtg's formula.....zinc deficiency sometimes is the reason little ones have problems with their skin...adults too.
good luck!!!

W. C

My daughter has a reoccuring rash, and I didn't know what it was so when I took her to the Dr. he didn't diagnose it. I asked my SIL, who has eczema, and she recognised it imediately. She advised me to use a 1% hydrocortizone (Brand name: Cortaid) cream and it works GREAT!

At first, her rash started with itcy dry white skin, then turns red hot and flared (if I don't catch it soon enough)
When I saw her scratching the area, I'd apply the cream until it was rubbed in good. Then, I keep my eye on the area applying twice a day (morning/night) until gone.

My daughter (4) has had it since she was 1 and now has come to tell me when she itches so that I can apply that nice cream. (wash your hands instantly and to not apply it to areas that would get into the mouth) Once I apply the cream (at first sign) it's usually gone 24 hours later. I also apply heavy creams to the area on a regular basis. (like Nivea)

I think Dr.s are hesitant to diagnose eczema unless it's a SURE case of it, which most cases are never forsure, especially when people get it at such young ages. Ask someone who has it to look at it and they can tell you how they treat theirs.

Both my girls have had eczema since birth and still do have flare ups from time to time (5 and 8 Years old) For us the preventative was the best medicine. Keep them very moisturized. I find that Eucerin works well, Renewal (from Meleuluca.com) and Gold Bond has worked too. When they would have the bad flare ups and I needed them to sleep I would give them a slight bit of benydryl (sp?) just to take the edge off of the itch but I never liked giving them medicine so I would make sure to put lotion on them morning and night to keep their skin moist. The winter is bad because of the dry air and the summer can be bad with all the swimming. Now they know they have to put lotion on, especially after the bath or they know they will itch. I've tried keeping them off Milk, Ice Cream, Wheat but it works best when I keep putting lotion on them. Good Luck

My son, too, has eczema. It worked well for him to use Eucerine cream (not lotion) 3 times daily (I know, it's a lot) followed by prescription cream Triamcinolone (? spelling). Keeping the skin hydrated is key. Once the rashy areas clear up, it's not necessary to continue with the prescription cream until the next flare up. Other than that, I've kept bathing to a minimum. He gets washed up with a washcloth every morning and then I keep his hands, face, and bottom cleaned up as needed through the day. Full bath only happens once a week. I use Dove unscented soap on him.
The doctor could not give me a specific reason for the eczema either. I have still yet to come to my own conclusions. Hope this helps.

My daughter's pediatrician prescribed hydrocortisone cream which takes some of the itching away. Also there are a number of lotions you can buy made specifically for eczema. I've found one sold at Target and Walmart under the brand name "Gentle Naturals" in the baby aisle that seems to work as well. Hope this helps.

We are going through the same thing with my 5 month old daughter. Our doctor told us to cut baths down to once a week in the winter, use Cetaphil and no shampoo. Then, we can use the Cetaphil cream every morning and Aquphor on the really dry areas at night. He also said to cut out all other lotions. Good luck!

Hi M.-
We had the same issue with our twin Jenna. She breaks out with an unknown dermatitis at will and they just want to give her topical steroids. I'm a wellness coach so I don't go for that long term. I'm also a medical professional and I don't believe in drugs unless absolutely necessary. Eczema can be caused by lactose intolerance I do know that. Your body can't process milk proteins efficiently. You might want to switch formulas if you aren't breast feeding. I have some clients who put our aloe in water and it helps calm inside. Some of my friends use juice plus at this age for phytonutrients which boost immune systems- then switch over to our tabs garden 7 when kids can injest food. And then add in our aminogen- an enzyme to digest proteins to get back on dairy products. I'm using the G7 and aminogen with Jenna now that she's older- and we haven't applied steroids in almost 6 mo- so we're hoping it works. They say it could be dermatitis, eczema, or infant psoriasis?- since Dad has it. They don't know. But we're hoping to treat with nutrition let the body fight it and only use topical steroids if we've exhausted other possibilities. Try the lactose thing and go from there.
B. Jarmoluk
____@____.com
http://www.mydietshop.org

I would love to send you some samples of an all-natural product I represent, Daisy Blue Naturals. We have had some awesome results with helping little ones with eczema with our Calendula-n-Honey Baby products. Our products have no parabens, propylene glycol, petrochemicals, or sulfates. Just send me your address and I'll send samples right out!!

If anyone else out there is having skin problems, I'd love to help out! Even better, Daisy Blue Naturals is a Minnesota-based, woman-owned company! Check it out at www.3040.daisybluenaturals.com

Hi ! My Daughter also has Eczema, It used to be very severe. Her skin felt like sandpaper and was always red and bumpy. We were using prescription Lubriderm, which helped with the redness, but it did not clear it up. We recently switched to Baby Avalon Organic lotion. It is awesome, her skin has cleared up significantly. and she loves the way it feels. The best part is you can buy this at walmart with no prescription.

Hey there M.,

My son is 3 months and also has eczema. We have been doing the following things and it seems to help. Just remember it is going to be worse this time of year and should get better once it warms up...if it ever does!

1. Lotion morning and night daily with Aveeno Soothing Relief moisture cream and I also use Eucerin Aquaphor on some of the patches if need be. They are a thicker lotion and seem to work well.
2. We bathe him twice a week with Aveeno creamy bath soap (many of the baby soaps actually dry the skin out more-especially if they have sensitive skin already) and PAT to dry (do not rub as this irritates the skin) and then lotion up immediately to hold the moisture in. I have also read studies that say you should bathe more often with eczema, but we have not done this.
3. We use Dreft for laundering (something unscented and mild)
4. Can use a humidifier if your house is dry
5. Some foods can trigger outbreaks too so watch your diet if you are breastfeeding or watch closely if you are introducing solids.

Just a few tips...hope this helps.

K.

We have found considerable relief in our family with the use of laundry detergent free of dyes and perfumes. For our little one, our pediatrician actually has us use Calmoseptine (spelling?) and that works wonders, especially on the face. It is thick and white, so best to use when child is down for a nap or at night...other than that, to my knowledge there is no known cure to eczema. Best of luck to you!

My son had trouble with that early on, and when we took him to the dermatologist, he was given a prescription that cleared it up in 2 days. He also recommended to wash with Cetaphil cleanser and use Cetaphil lotion as well. Hope that helps!

Auqaphore(sp) has worked for us my son gets eczema every winter and has since he was born. I put that on several times a day along with the hydrocortisone, which they just gave us a stronger Rx for and that seems to work as long as I remember to do it! Also Oat meal bathes and don't bath him everyday he needs the natural skin oils and put the aquaphore on right after the bath to lock in the moisture.
Good luck!!

Hi M.~
My name is A. and I was just wondering if you were able to figure out something that helped your son out with his eczema? I have a few suggestions in case they might help. You can email me at: ____@____.com

Take care~
A.

Hi, well it's been quite a while since mine were little, but my son who is now 35 had a similiar problem and I had to diagnose it myself, basically by eliminating certain foods and I discovered that it was the citric acid in the Tang that he was drinking and also in some of the baby food fruits. Maybe that could be your problem.

S.

My girl has this too. First thing I did was get rid of laundry soap that I had (TIDE). Get ALL (perfume free, dye free) or use Arm and Hammer. Both really helped get the rash down and I also use oatmeal soap and Bert's Bees shampoo as other baby shampoo and soaps were just too hard for her skin. I use Aveeno 1% Hydrocortisone. This brand is the best I have used on her--it does not sting and has no smell too.

Another thing I have notice is that since I have started buying organic/natural foods (no chemicals such as HFCS (high fructose corn syrup). I cannot afford to but everything organic, but I always check the labels to make sure they don't have HFCS and other bad stuff. I know its expensive, but worth it since she has gotten better and the rash is under control.

I hope my advice helps!! Good luck~

Hi M., I work as an Arbonne consultant and we have an incredible baby skin care line that works well on rashes. We also have a skin conditioning oil that will clear your babys eczema. If you would like, I can email you more information on Arbonne's Swiss skin care. My email is E.(underscore, the symbol, sorry my keyboard is ____@____.com Thanks M.! E.

Try using Eucrin (spelling?) on the rash it is an awsome lotion. I would try using Dreft or All free for laundry soap, try getting natural soaps ( I use burt's bee's) for him or try Ivory, look for stuff with as few additives as possiable, no sents, or dyes. Good luck

My daughter has minor eczema this winter and I have been using Eucerin moisturising cream. She is 17 months.

As long as I keep her skin well moisturized then she doesn't scratch. They also have a calming cream that might help the itch. I would check with the doc though to make sure that it is safe to use.

Good luck.

My neice had eczema with similar lack of info from the doctors other than to use the hydrocortisone. Her parents were concerned about side effects, and eventually went to a pediatric chiropractor. They were told of the most common food causes (allergy to wheat or dairy) and once they eliminated those from the mother's diet (breastfed baby) the eczema cleared up a lot. It's worth a try to look at food allergies (something the "regular" doctor probably isn't well informed on). No side effects... If your baby is on formula, there is a good non-allergenic formula called Nutramagen (my spelling may be wrong).

Good luck - it's hard to see your child in discomfort...
If it's any consolation, most cases of infantile eczema clear up on their own at about 2 years of age.

Have you tried Arbonne? Go to www.arbonne.com and look for a consultant. They have a whole baby product line. Their products are pure and safe and not animal tested.

L. :)

Have you tried Aquaphor? That stuff is kind of a miracle worker on really dry skin, especially if you put it on at bedtime. good luck!

My daughter also has some mild eczema. Hers comes and goes, but it is hereditary in our family. It comes from my dad, and he has it really bad. My doctor recommended using Cetaphil for soap. I use the target brand which is a lot cheaper. Also the Eucerine. She has not had an outbreak for awhile, but I know what you are going through. It is rough, hopefully he gets better with time.

My daugter has mild eczema - doesn't sound quite as irritating as your sons. However, we have had good luck with Arbonne Baby Care lotion. It is an all natural lotion for kiddos so it doesn't have all the fragrance and such the other lotions. You have to get that through Arbonne Interntional. Also, we have had great luck with the Aveno Eczema Care lotion. It is in the first aid section at CVS pharmacy. i am sure other places sell it but that is where i first noticed it. i love both items. they are both more expensive than other lotions but are worth the extra investment. I also heard once that Emu oil will work too. Someone gave us some but my daughter hasn't had a bad break out since we've had it. hope this helps.

Hi, I worked with a Mom who tried everything to help her son with his eczema. It was not until she worked with an environmental doctor that her son found relief. It was all caused by food allergies, in this case wheat and dairy. The mom was nursing and adjusted her diet and the rash cleared up.

Hi, My daughter was diagnosed with eczema at the age of 6 months as well. She had a rash all over her face, neck, back, hands, arms and legs. It broke my heart to see her in such discomfort. Her pediatrician offered little help. I took her back to him and requested a referral to a pediactric dermatologist. The dermatologist prescribed a topical ointment along with "dermasmoothe", an eczema oil. My husband and I applied twice a day and within 3 days I saw a major improvement. The dermatologist suggested we apply Eucerin cream as much as 3 times a day to keep the skin moisturized. I hope this helps.

We've tried everything for our 5 yr. old and Vanicream seems to be the best. We got it at Walgreens. It's very frustrating, I know, and nothing seems to actually cure it! Sometimes we give him a bath with the Aveeno colloidal oatmeal packet mixed in. We also do all of our laundry with dye/perfume free detergent. Hope you find something that helps!

Watch for allergies later in life. I had eczema when I was a small child and then developed some serious hay fever, both of which have mainly resolved themselves. I was always supposed to use Eucerine cream for the rash. I still use the facial moisturizer on my face because it is so soft on my skin. Sunlight and chlorine also help a great deal, so maybe find a local pool that has a couple of big windows to hang out in for a few hours a week? Good luck

My little boy has eczema on his elbows/back/knees. We give him a bath in baking soda every other night, and use Aveeno baby wash/lotion. It ususally goes away when there's a little moisture in the air.
Also, use "free" laundry detergent/dryer sheets. The fragrance doesn't help.

Hi M.,

My daughter too had severe eczema on her hands and feet. We found a company called Melaleuca that has a product called Renew. It is an amazing lotion and has helped everyone I know who has tried it. My daughter's eczema was gone within 4 days of using it, after trying all the prescription and over-the-counter products that were recommended. What a blessing to have found Renew lotion! Melaleuca has lots of other more natural products like cleaning supplies, vitamins, weight loss and healthy eating, body care, dental products, candles, etc. You can check them out at www.melaleuca.com. You have to become a member like at a Sam's Club, and if you are interested I can help fill out your enrollment. You can cancel membership at any time, so it is risk-free to try it out. You can email me directly at ____@____.com it helps! L.

Hey M.,

Our son had eczema and molescum and we found that by switching over all of our household products to organic, natural products that it cleared up in about 3 weeks. Actually a lot of times their skin is reacting to chemicals and preservatives in the products that we are using. When we switched over our products we saw a huge health difference in our house for everyone. Let me know if you would like more information. And yes this is a business I promote but I know you are not interested in that side of it. I just feel very strongly about this company and these products and would love to be able to share it with you. There are a lot of other organic products out there as well but I have found some of these products still have harsh chemicals in them and are often times very expensive. This company promotes wellness and also promotes helping families save money as well. You can email me at ____@____.com if you would like more information.

Good Luck in your search and hope your child is better very, very soon!!!!!

Last week, my barely 3 yr old was also diagnosed with atopic dermatitis/eczema. I understand your feeling of helplessness!

Here's what the dermatologist told us. Keep baths short in time and it's ok to put something like Johnson's baby oil in the water and use a mild soap like Dove only on genitals as water is fine for the rest of the body at this point. This will help keep the moisture in the skin after bathtime. We ended up with a mild steroid cream mixed with petroleum jelly (steriod helps the itching and irritation and the other helps with keeping moisture in). Within 2 treatments, my daughter was feeling much better!

So just try the petro jelly right now to help retain the moisture. My hubby also heard something on the radio that was very interesting. Some baby lotions actually attribute to eczema and other irritations. Therefore, it's best to find something more natural to use on your baby's skin. Even though I LOVE the smell of baby lotions, I just threw mine in the garbage today. By using the petro jelly, yes your little one will be a bit greasy, but SO worth it in the end!!!

Melaleuca (a wellness company) also sells a GREAT lotion called Renew that I use on my own patches and also cover my daughter with it. I am a new distributor that's not looking to earn money from selling, just to make the public aware of a great product!

Hi M. - My grandson (15 months now ) has eczema and it seems to flare for him with weather changes. Mostly would appear on his face & also become raw. After trying multiple creams and ointments, we started using a product called "California Babies" for ultra sensistive skin. (Recommended by his PED) It's is gentle enough for his face and strong enough for his tucas. We saw started seeing it clear up within a day... We also started running the hummidifier more frequently during the winter months and give him plenty of water. This seems to have worked for us. Target sells it. It's kind of spendy ($9.99) I thought but we had great results so it was worth it to us.

Great product for young children with Eczema:

Gentle Naturals Baby Eczema Cream

Moisturizes Dry Skin & Soothes Itching Associated with Eczema
With Aloe Vera, Calendula, Jojoba & Vitamins A, D & E
Nurtures Dry Skin to Help it Heal
Effective care for your baby with Nature's help.

A super rich, soothing moisturizer for babies with eczema. Gentle Naturals Eczema Cream is specially formulated to form a protective emollient layer to lock in your baby's natural moisture. Natural calendula and jojoba oil soften and add extra moisture. Aloe and vitamins A, D and E help nurture skin and help irritated skin to heal. Gentle Naturals also contains lavender and chamomile to help calm and relax your baby and is dermatologist tested.

My daughter was diagnosed with eczema when she was about 7 months old. She is over 2 years old now and doing much better. She is however allergic to milk, dairy products, eggs and peanuts, so she was on soy formula and now on soy milk...but I don't think that makes a difference with the eczema. A couple things my pediatrician and allergist suggested were to use Lubriderm about 2-3 times a day on their skin to help keep it moist, especially right after baths when their skin is still damp. Also, limit baths to 2-3 times a week, use Dove or another gentle soap or even no soap if they're not extremely dirty, and never bubble baths or prolonged baths, use tepid (slightly cool) water and pat the skin dry. In addition to that, use free and clear (perfume and dye free) laundry detergent (roundy's actually makes a brand which is much cheaper than name brands)and don't use fabric softner sheets; they tend to irritate the skin more. And finally, when they do have little breakout patches, use hydrocortisone ointment and it clears up within a day, I have found, and there are generic brands of that which work just fine at Walgreens and Target. Hope that helps!

My oldest had/has that. It's a condition that may or may not disappear as the child grows older. Our Dr. recommended Aveeno products that say for those with Eczema. Creams are much better than lotions. For our child we use Aveeno Moisturizing Cream all over his body, except diaper area, once in morning, sometimes at mid-day, and then again esp. before bed. Aveeno diaper cream is used for each diaper change in diaper area. Keep baths to a minimum and try not to use soap based products. Using bubble bath is not a good idea. We also use an Aveno wash for while in the tub. When using shampoo, try not to get it rinsed onto any areas of skin by tipping head over pouring water with body out of water. Do not use any fragrant diapers, or baby wipes, or clothing with special frangrances. Our son is now 3 years old and doing great. We no longer have to be so fussy about his skin. He outgrew it some. However, in winter, we apply more Aveeno as needed and always moisturize his body esp. the face at night. We are also still careful of fragranced items. We usually by the Aveeno products at Target, Walgreens, Wal-Mart, and is available other places. Hope this helps.

I used Eucerin cream on their skin, soothing oatmeal baths, and switched from a regular formula to a soy one (I think there is now one that might even be soy free, that might work too). Another thing to try is to stay way from things with Gluten in them for him (if you are nursing, you should do this for him). It is true that they don't know what causes it, in some ways it is the body's way of expressing an allergy (you could also try changing your baby wash and detergent to something hypoallergenic).

Good luck! It is a lot of trial and error, and you will need to introduce foods very slowly to him - one a week before another. He should out grow it, both of mine did. If he doesn't, you will know some of his triggers and help him to avoid them and future outbreaks. Keep a food journal/skin diary, and it will help you remember what flared it and what didn't.

Here is a website I found helpful:
http://www.eczemacontrol.com.au/understanding/whatIsEczem...

SAHM of two kids, 2 & 5.

My son had/has eczema and our doctor told us it is an allergic reaction to something. So we had him tested to see what he was allergic to and stopped with those things. He continues to see an pediatric allergist every few months just for check ups. He outgrew it by the time he turned 1 and he is pretty clear now, he is almost 2. I hope this helps. Good luck!

Hi M.,

My daughter also had terrible rashes with eczema - and our doctor suggested aquafor - it is wonderful. It really helped her. We put it on her "trouble" spots all the time now even when there aren't any breakouts. You can get it at Walmart in the medicine area where thy have cortizone creams or in the medicine area with baby items.

Hope this helps!
L.

My oldest (now 6 1/2 years old) was diagnosed with Eczema when she was a baby. It varies on what causes the breakout. Some say it is dry heat while others say humidity, or cold weather. Once we were able to get my daughters under control, we stuck with the dye free detergents and stayed away from any lotions that smelled or had "strange" things in them such as Bath & Body Works (that was actually studied and shows to dry you out more so you keep re-applying). My daughters dermatologist suggested Eucerin Cream (no baby lotions or anything) and to wash her in the shower we use the Baby Aveno Oatmeal. Then apply Eucerin Cream (over the counter) after the bath/shower. She has been under control ever since then. Good luck to you and just give it time. Once you find out the cause (if you do) it will go smoothly. It is just going to take some time to find out how to cope with it and how to prevent it from happening.

If you are breast feeding, try going DAIRY-FREE!! Out of five of my friends with babies/toddlers, four of us have children with dairy sensitivity which is crazy! My daughter as an infant had eczema and I was frustrated that our ped at the time only wanted to mask the condition by prescribing a topical steriod (Cortaid). However, I wanted to know what the SOURCE of the problem was. After talking to other mothers, I decided to try a dairy-free diet and her skin cleared up. Colic and frequent spit-up can also be signs of dairy allergies. Good luck!

My daughter struggled for awhile too. I started putting Aquaphor on her face before EVERY nap and each night. I put it all over her face, liberally. It's amazing stuff. It has cleared up she hasn't had it since. Good luck!

My son is almost 3&1/2 years and had eczema at 2 months old. We had the same diagnosis from the pediatrician who said the same thing... yes, it is usually an allergic reaction, but it is so difficult to figure out what that is, we simply treat the symptoms. But that if I found someone who could help me find the allergens, it would probably help the eczema. His face was a raw bloody mess that shocked everyone who first saw him. I spent weeks sleeping with him bundled as tight as I could safely bundle him, and then had my arm over him so could wake up whenever he'd get his hands free to keep him from rubbing his face raw.

I went to a Naturopathic Doctor and a Chiropractor who uses Aplied Kinesiology. They found that his digestive system was not as mature as it should be and was resulting in a sensitivity to all gluten, dairy and processed sugar. So, I took all of that out of my diet (I was breast feeding) and his outbreaks got a whole lot better. He also had a low tolerance for any vegetable that grew underground (I know, I thought it sounded absolutely insane, but when I took those vegetables out of my diet, he had less outbreaks). A really good Naturopath or Chiropractor can help you figure out what your baby boy is reacting to.

My son didn't eat any gluten, dairy or sugar until after he was 2 years old, and then we started one new thing for about 2 weeks to see if he would have a reaction. His outbreaks now only happen in the winter, and he is able to eat small amounts of the foods he's sensitive to... it takes 7 years for children's digestive systems to fully mature. Since we knew most of his was related to food and his digestive system not having matured as quickly as it should have, we also did not try any high-allergic foods until after he was 3 years old - strawberries, peanuts, etc.

For his outbreaks, he only gets Epsom Salts baths (1-2 cups in the bathtub) and when he's really itchy we add 1/2-1 cup of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda to his baths. We put Baby Avalon Organics Weightless Nourishing Baby Lotion on him every morning, every evening, and after every bath (check with your physician about lotions as some say that baby's skin shouldn't have lotions put on it in the first 6 months - we didn't use this lotion until after he was 9 months old). Before 9 months old we used two substitutes for the steroid creams (saving the steroid creams for extreme breakouts since it thins baby's already thin skin) and it helps my husbands eczema as well, Florasone Cream for itching, eczema, inflammation, rashes. For raw outbreaks (not on his face) we combine equal parts 99% Aloe Vera Gel and Tea Tree Therapy Tea Tree Anticeptic Ointment and rub it into the raw areas. My son asks for this now because it makes his skin feel so much better. We still take all gluten, dairy and sugar out of his diet when he gets outbreaks which helps clear them up faster.

As far as soothing, we rocked in "his" rocking chair (still do) together, used cool washcloths sometimes, or simply gently holding the outbreak area beneath the palm of my hand sometimes was soothing to him, but mostly did lots of snuggling. We run a humidifier on high 24 hours a day during the winter in his room as well as the living room where we spend most of our playtime during the day. We taught him to rub the areas that itched, because once you itch them they sting and are quite painful (my husband & also one of my good friends both deal with eczema outbreaks & have both said this to me). I also kept his fingernails beyond short so that when he did scratch, he wouldn't be in as much pain. Once he was eating foods, after age 1, our Naturopath also put him on pro-biotic acidophilus to help his digestive system too. Our Naturopath is Dr. Su Wahl in Hudson, WI.

I'm sorry this is so long. Unfortunately, eczema is a slow process, but it's worth it in the end to stick with it, once you find out what the "its" are... less outbreaks. And now 3/4 of the year he doesn't have any now. The onlyoutbreaks are during the dryness of the winter, we try to get him someplace warm and sunny - the sun, with sunscreen, actually helps his eczema outbreaks, and humidity. I know this is all over the place, but I remember that unbelievable helpless feeling of not being able to ease your baby's suffering, and I wanted all the information I could get my hands on. I hope you find some of this useful. It has been invaluable to us in helping my son.

Good luck and well wishes for your baby boy.
T.

Hello M.! My daughter has horrible eczema on her hands, it is very painful. The thing that I found best for her is a cream that you have to ask for behind the counter at the pharmacy but is not perscription, it is called Vanicreme, it really does the trick. You can get a big tub of it for like 12.00. The only problem is that is stings for a while (not right away) after you put it on them. What I usually do it take the blow dryer and put in on cold and just blow it on the area that you put the cream on. It really does help but it's not the easiest thing to do because it is kind of uncomfortable for them. Hope this helps : )

Hi! I noticed that someone else already mentioned Renew from Melaleuca. Just wanted to reiterate!! I have eczema, and a couple of little patches of psoriasis. Renew actually works better than the prescription creams from the dermatologist. And I feel better using something a lot more natural. I hope it works for your little one!

A friend of mine has a son who had the same problem. The peditrician she saw (in New York) misdiagnosed him for the first two years of his life. He had breakouts all the time, rash, scabbing, then bleeding from scratching so much. He or she could not sleep until he had finally exhausted himself around midnight or so. Anywyays, she finally went to see a specialist and he told her it was not eczema at all, that it was allergies to something he was eating. She had to basically cut out all "normal" allergy causing foods i.e. dairy, wheat, eggs, peanuts, etc. Gradually you can add one back in at a time to see if they have a reaction to it. This was definately the cause of the "eczema". I know that she does have to use a presciption cream of some sort for when he has an occasional outbreak. It's hard to stop kids from eating what their not supposed eat when she is not around. They finally had relief after two years. I would recommend getting second, third and fourth opinions before settling on an "eczema" diagnosis. Good luck to you and your family.

T.

Sorry your son is suffering. My son, who is almost 4, was diagnosed with eczema at 3 months old. The first thing we had to do was find out the reason why he was breaking out. I was referred to an allergist by our regular doctor. The most common cause of eczema is food allergies, which is the reason why my son has eczema. So your best bet is to get in with an allergist. He was able to prescribed medicine to keep it under control. My son still has to use a steroid and non-steroidal cream everyday to keep things under control. Also, after his bath everyday I heavily apply Aquaphor ointment (made by Eucerin), which you can by over the counter. It works wonders and is the only over-the- counter ointment that should be used on eczema. Also he takes an oral prescription (it's a prescription strength antihistimine) at night to keep the discomfort and itching at bay. We also started using a humidifier in his bedroom at night, which was recommended to do by our allergist too. Good Luck!!

Hey I had it most of my life and my son had it as a child and every once in a while it comes back. My aunt is a dermatologist and she told me to use cetaphil for bath soap and lotion. She said do not use Johnson & Johnson. She also had me use Aquaphor over the cetaphil on the areas it is really bad. She did have me use hydrocortisone when it was really bad just to help stop the itch for them. I hope this helps. I also changed my laundry soap for everyone in the house to All free.

Godd Luck!

Eczema can be from parents having allergies. Take out all fragrances in laundry detergents and bath products. We use Shaklee laundry detergent and used to use All Free and Clear. For bath's I found dove soap to work best. Then there is a baby excema cream by Gentle Naturals (I get it at Walgreens) that I put on after bath when the skin is moist. Limit baths - no more than every other day. For my daughter she flares up when she is too hot. Good luck!

I have 2 daughters. My oldest will be 5 in June. We have dealt with Eczema since she was a baby. It gets so bad it looks like psoriasis. During flare ups she would tell me she wants new legs or arms...whatever part really hurt. As a mom that's hard to hear. The "Dr." gave us prescriptions to treat, but, you could only use them certain days and have a specific application. Only afterwards did we find out 2 of these are being studied for cancer causing effects. Needless to say we through them out. Gross as it may seem, the girls get a bath 2 times a week, with wipe downs daily.

The ONLY thing we have found that actually works is Aquaphilic Ointment. It's not a RX, but you have to get it at the Pharmacy. It's about $10 for a one pound container. This winter we have gone through one in about 2 months. We use it almost every night. It's greasy, but I apply it before bed and put jammies on right after.

We will always have issues. But, if you make sure the skin is hydrated it should never get too bad. Everyone has given great advice, but, honestly you will have to try alot of things before you find one that works for you and baby.

Make sure you do not give your baby a bath everyday, that just drys out the skin faster. All my kids have very dry, sensitive skin, both my daughters have eczema, my son was fortunite, he only has dry skin so far. My 6 1/2 month old only gets a bath about once every three days, and I don't keep her in it very long. It has help a bunch. The only time she really breaks out now is if it gets to be 10 degrees or below outside. Good luck to you.

I am an independent consultant for Arbonne International and we have amazing botanically based products that have shown amazing results for infant eczema. Infact, I use them on my own 2 1/2 month old. I would be happy to send you a sample to try and I can send you a before and after picture of how much the products have helped a child.
There is no obligation but it wouldn't hurt to try these products - I can get a sample out to you right away if you are interested.

HI Marrissa Check with the Len and Joe show ask the pharmacists they are natureopathic Dr.s and are very good go to www.lenandjoe.com they have a number you can call them or they are on satelite radio every night at 6 170 xm or check out healthy wealthy and wise at 3 pm same channel.You need natural solutions. like Homeopathics or Homeopathc gels plus maybe a good Acidolphlus they are called Probiotics you can get them in liquid at your health food store.
P.

Hi M.,
I am so sorry to hear your baby has that AWFUL rash. I am 59yrs.young and had that stuff all my life. My mom told me I broke out since I was 3 years old and I carried it thru life. I didn't break out all the time but when I broke out it was not nice. I spent a lot of money on 4 different dermatologist and each one had a different diagnosis. What I finally learned that mine is not an allergy but something I have to live with. I can tell you what I learned and you will have to determine if this knowledge is any help to you.
Dial soap is bad for the skin.
Mine is hereditary meaning other members in my family
also have the rash or hayfever. My sister has eczema
and my brother has hayfever.
The only thing a doctor can do is prescribe an ointment to relieve the itch and clear the skin.
Sometimes too much of the same food such as chocolate,peanuts,eggs in a short period of time can cause a breakout.
This is not something I will grow out of (needless to say)
as some doctors said.
When you see him uncomfortable itching take a warm wet washrag and sponge him down and pat him dry. Then rub him with a good lotion. That helps relieve the itch and if you can relieve the itch that's half the battle. Any time you see the skin drying out put lotion on him. Some cortizone creams work but when it gets real bad a prescription works faster.
Also get him in the sunlight as much as you can. I hope this helps you. This is what my experience with the stuff has been. I lke to say I have it under control but I do have problems in the winter time but it doesn't get as ugly as it can. Good Luck.
Nan

HI
My daughter(4 months) has bad eczema; it was so horrible that I took her to the emergency room thinking that it was something else. This is what I did, and her skin is beautiful. Since she has reflux I was told to give her cereal...the cereal has something that made it worst...so no cereal at all. She takes probiotics every night, and EUCERIN is a MUST a few time a day and at night I put the really heavy one. Baths are limited for 2x a week only with organic bath solution (did not believe on any of these before, I have 2 other kids...LOL)and I wash her clothes with oxiclean and do the rinsing twice. Use only natural dryer sheets. She is eating regular food and have not seen anything on her skin since I did all the changes. The lotion was the first thing and I applied that thing over and over....it really works...Do not give up..it takes a few days but you will notice that they are not irritable any longer and can sleep better.
I hope it helps!

I have eczema and the dermatologist told me to use Aveeno body wash and robathol (it is made by vanicream). Aveeno has ingredients that calm skin and the robathol helps keep skin from getting dry. The robathol is safe for infants and just a few drops are needed per bath. Vanicream lotion is then used after for extra protection. My eczema is gone now after a few days and my 7mth old has never had softer, healthier skin.

I use a lotion called Renew it is made by Melaleuca on myself and my daughter. We both have mild cases but it is the olny thing that works for us.

my son has excema and a pediatrician told me why he has it is because one of the parents(mom or dad) has allergies.. my suggestion would be maybe to try the zims crack creme when he get out of the bath.. a little of that goes along way too..also the other thing would be to give him a bath without the smelly soap because it contains alcohol which can be drying to the skin..hope this gives u help.. C. W

I'd get him allergy tested as that can be a huge contributor. If that doesn't seem to help find the source, I'd go to a homeopath or other alternative Dr. as I find they are way more helpful about that kind of chronic stuff than any Western Docs.
S.

My oldest has severe eczema. Think broken, bleeding, crusty open sores that take weeks to heal. His is due to a dairy protein allergy, which came from his first exposure to formula in the hospital nursery (I breastfeed, they gave him formula... trust me those nurses got an earful and I made one cry)

Because of that, he's suffered the last 6yrs. Too much dairy and he breaks open, bleeds, they turn into boils that crust over and ooze. Its gross, and painful.

If he is breastfeeding, cutting your dairy intake down or out and see how that helps, it could take up to two weeks to see a difference. Also, keep a food journal and see if you can pinpoint anything causing his reaction.

It is doubtful its lactose, if he were truly lactose intolerant, he'd have been sick from birth and you'd have known it right away in the hosptial. Lactose Intolerance is very rare in babies/children, but dairy protein is common.

If he's formula fed... not much you can do other than bear with it. DO NOT USE HYDROCORTIZONE! It will weaken the ski nand make it more susceptable to breaking out, and it is linked ot cataracts in teh eyes. dont' use it.

www.realsimplesoap.com is where we purchase all our soaps. SHe makes them with minimal ingredients, and they are the best for skin. Commercial soaps are made with chemicals, detergents, and literally eat away at already damaged skin. Homemade soap will ADD moisture to his skin, making it soft and moisturized. Bathe him ever night in a warm bath, then pat dry, apply lotion. We use Equate Dry SKin Cream from WalMart, itsi na white tub with a twist off lid. Its the only thing that has worked for us, after numerous prescrips, oral prescrips, and countless dermatologist visits.

Also check your laundyr soap. Dreft is full of chemicals and perfumes, and very harsh on skin. Skip it all together. We use Gain from the store, or www.charliesoap.com because cheap laundry soaps contain fewer ingredients, and are usually very gentle. We've had great luck with Gain, and also wit hthe Charlies soap, which we originally purchased to wash our cloth diapers in, but soon foudn the benefit of it. ANything that says 'whiter whites, brighter colors' should be avoided too because they contain optical brighteners, which are harsh detergents that eat away at sensitive skin. Plain, original old laundry soaps like Gain, the Charlies Soap, plain store brands, etc are your best bet.

Doctors will say eczema for every little red rash, so if you are concerned, find a pediatric dermatologist. Nothing bugs me more than to see every other person say 'oh yeah, rub a little Aquaphor on it, that'll take care of it, my kids have eczema'. I want to rip my sons clothes off and show them his skin, say 'THIS is eczema!' LOL!

Good luck. Its a struggle if he truly does have it. Every ngiht I put lotion on my sons after bath. My oldests skin is rough, bumpy, like sandpaper, and of course 1/2 the time broken out and crusty. My youngest skin is like velvet, and its sad to me because I long for that velvety skin for my oldest.

My son also had eczema. He got it when he was 3, so the doctors weren't sure if he would out grow it...the younger they develop it, the more likely they are to grow out of it. Try Eucerin - in the lotion section. The trick is to no let the affected areas dry out. Eucerin has a greasy feel - it's kinda yucky, but it works after it is under control. My son did you a steriod cream prescribed by a doctor for awhile to get it under control. Once it is not winter anymore, things should improve. Also try using DOVE soap. Hope this helps your little man.

My son had really bad eczema also it still comes and goes my son doctor gave us a good medicine called triamcinalone its a eczema cream and my son also had allergies to that would cause his flare ups. You might want to see if your son has any allergies my son was allergic to eggs, wheat and some other things so i had to give up breast feeding and go to formala. I hope all goes well and I hope I helped alittle.

M.
I think I can help! Have you heard of Arbonne?? They have products that have done AMAZING things for eczema--and they are botanical and natural products so they don't have any crazy meds or chemicals in them. I can send you some great before and after pictures if you want to check it out. I personally know several people that have used this with great results. You can e-mail me at ____@____.com if you're interested. Watching littles ones suffer with that can be so difficult. I feel for your little guy!

I am here to commisersate, though not much help on soothing.
My first son had severe eczema from head to toe, and now my 7 month old has had it since 3 months. It started as seborrhea on the forehead and spread south.
I have tried all kinds of conventional and herbal remedies, but not much helps. Doctors will say that there is no cure, but honestly, the only thing you can do is try really, really hard to figure out your son's triggers. In babies, it is usually food. My baby was diagnosed with an IgE mediated egg allergy (skin prick). He is soley breastfed, and also reacts to dairy, gluten, tree nuts, peanuts, tomato, chocolate, and I think seeds. He was negative to about 15 other foods, but it doesn't mean he's not reacting. I give him a quality daily enzyme and probiotic to help with food digestion, which I'm believing to be the cause for the eczema. I also give him a high quality fish oil (1/4 tsp), because eczamatous people are deficient in GLA. You can also apply evening primrose oil to the inflamed areas (just use a sterlized needle to open the capsule), but don't give it him orally. I would also try pure, organic aloe vera to the inflamed areas to soothe.
Where is the eczema? If you think it's the laundry detergent, you could try soap flakes instead, which is MUCH LESS harsh than any detergent. Also, add vinegar to the final rinse and use the extra rinse feature on the washer.
My baby looks like a monster with a red and inflamed face. I spend most of my day soothing him and running a cool washcloth over his itchy scalp and cheeks. Motherhood would be so much more joyous and freeing without the eczema. It is depressing. He doesn't self-soothe or fall asleep on his own or sleep more than 2 hours at night, because he itches.
We have just started giving him Dye-free children's Benadryl at nap and bedtimes.

My son has dishydrotic eczema and my sister had it from head to toe. I use a Eucerine cream. (Walmart has a generic that is cheeper than the brand) It is the original and unscented. The doctor probably told you, but stay away from anything scented. I like the aveeno creamy baby wash and you can actually get aveeno soaks to put right into the bath water. Try to only bathe your baby as little as you can. Hot water dries out the skin so try to keep it warm. My mother in law (bless her soul) was helping out and gave my son a bath with scented soap and he broke out in a horrible rash on his feet. Benadryl helped with the itching. Get the correct dosing from you physician.

Often it is related to an allergy of some sort. Maybe you should recommend some testing to you physician to rule out foods or other allergens that can be potentially threatening to your childs health. They do scratch testing which maybe not be fun at the time, but could help.

Also, if your baby is scratching at night, my mom used to put socks on my sisters hands while she was sleeping because she would scratch actual holes in her skin in her sleep. The socks prevented her from creating these skin ulcers. She is 20 now and has grown out of it. It seemed to get better the older she got. Most of her food allergies and asthma went away also.

I hope that this helps a little.

C.

M., My son has had eczema all his life, he's 5 now. Our ped sugested that we cut out milk from his diet, so he was on soy formula. Also I got a tip from our ped that the red bumps is a staph infection, and he was put on Ceftin or Cefzil (antibiotics) also he got Triamcinalone ointment prescribed to him. Here is the one that works the best, we put 1/4 cup bleach into a FULL bath tub of water. I know that sounds scarry, I just about flipped out when our ped told us, but he said it's less than in a swimming pool, and it kills the bacteria on his skin, after I take him out of the tub, I slather him with lotion, any kind really, while he's still wet, it's amazing how well that works. If you have any other questions feel free to contact me.
J. B

My 8 month old has responded beautifully to California Baby aloe vera creme in a tub- I got it at Whole Foods. I feel much better than using hydrocortisone. It was a good excuse to give him a little infant massage, too. Good luck!

Have you considered zyrtec which is approved for those 6 months and older? Is your baby on solids yet? If so, keep a journal of all the solids introduced and a day by day detail of the rash. The doctors are right...it could be anything...food, environmental allergens, household products, etc. Many children at this age develop eczema and rarely do you identify the provocative factors. The hydrocortisone is the treatment of choice but Elidel (a non-steroidal topical) has also shown great success. Good luck!

Yikes! I feel so bad for you! A couple of things you can try... Evening Primrose Oil by Burt's Bees (my mom came across that one by accident and it's amazing) and Renew lotion by Melaluca. I think someone else mentioned allergies? It is worth looking into! I hope this is resolved quickly for you!
-Anne

hi, i know every child is different but i thought i'd share my son's story related to yours in case it helps. from about 5mos to 11mos he had similar eczema on his cheeks and it was painful to see his face 'raw', even worse when weather was extremely dry or extremely humid. i tried several topical creams from doctors, but i prefer lighter and more natural treatments. burt's bees 'baby bee buttermilk lotion' worked the best on his face; burt's bees 'baby bee apricot oil' after baths; and aquaphor that his pediatrician recommended also helped. the severe rashes and chafing have ceased since about 18mos. hope these help.

Thanks for asking the question. I have a friend who's little one has the same issue. Lots of ideas. they all seem to involve treating the acute outbreak w/ prescription strength and then after it's "under control" hydrate, grease up w/ product of choice, and figure out the root cause with allergies being the most likely suspect.

Hi M.,

First I have to apologize for the length of this, but my daughter has been dealing with this for over 17 years.

I have a daughter who since 2 years of age has had excema covering her entire body. It was worse in summer and winter. We did the lotions, the creams, the steroids, the oil baths, and then oil and lotion after coming out of the baths.

She has been on medications, the works.

Guess what worked... We switched our household cleaning products, haircare, bath lotions, soaps over to safer alternatives. I can't tell you what a blessing it was! My Gosh! Our daughter's excema was completely gone withing 3 months time. And our son's asthma was gone too!!!

She recently got some bath stuff from her boyfriend for Christmas and guess what she broke out again. She feels bad that she can't use what he gave her, but is thankful that she has products that she can use.

I did an experiment with Tide-Free, safe for sentative skin, no dyes and no perfumes. I put 1 cup powdered Tide detergent in a mason jar and filled the rest up with water, shook it and have been letting it sit for 2 years. If you leave it sit on your counter you will notice a seperation in the product. It seperated into 3 parts and has stayed seperated for over 2 years! One is water, one is the soap itself, what do you think the other part is?

My hubby used to drive hazmat for a chemical company. He delivered to a very popular company that sells a lot of the household brands that we use in our homes. Please check out our website: http://yourchoice.healthyhometour.com and click on the toxin checklist. You will be as astounded and PO'd as I was to learn that our government is allowing these products with all these chemicals on the shelves and just letting our kids be guineau pigs!!! My hubby said that the chemicals that they were delivering were not safe. I have safety data sheets for a few of the products, it's scarey to learn what is in those products on the shelves.

I could go on forever. I have been researching this stuff for over 8 years , ever since I learned that there were alternatives out there.

May God Bless you! I know how it feels when your children are suffering and somethingand it feels like there aren't any other options and you feel so helpless. Just know there ARE options out there.

If you would like to learn more I have 8 years of research and documentation that I can send to you. It will blow your mind. Education is key!

J.

I have a one year old that has some eczema. She was severly broke out but enough to notice. I found out when she was little her bath soap(lavender soothing bath soap) was causing her to break out more. We stoped using is and it got a bit better. My daughter also breaks out worse if her allergies are worse. I have lately been using Eucerin Cream on her eczema on her legs. That seems to help keep them a bit softer. Does your baby have any allergies?? I would also try changing your laundry soap.

My sons are older but have problems in the winter especially. My dermatologist suggests using a non-soap cleanser, such as Basic or Cetaphil and not too hot water for bathing.

For a topical lotion, we use a combination of Eucerin and Aquaphor. One adds moisture into the skin and the other seals it in. Neither has perfumes, etc. A cheaper product is Vaseline, but it won't add moisturizer.

Also, use non-perfume baby soap on clothes/wash, such as dreft. I'd also recommend a humidifier for his room to keep the air moist.

My heart goes out to you--it's especially tough when the babe is so small.

Best Wishes,

J. L

Have you tried Aquaphor? My son also gets a nasty rash (we haven't yet discovered why...possibly food allergies?) on his face and also likes his snugglies. We put a good layer of Aquaphor on before bedtime and in the morning it is much better. You can get Aquaphor over the counter at any pharmacy. Hope you find something that works!

My husband has had eczema since he was a little boy. When we got married the only thin his mom said was to make sure he stays away from bleach as that will cause a break out. I have also found that perfume and dyes can cause him to react.

We use laundry detergent that is perfume and dye free; we use no bleach in laundry and when I use a bleach product on my bathtub or anything that he will come into contact with I really wash down with hot water to rinse it away so he does not have a problem. He also can not use regular soaps, zest, etc -- as they all have some kind of perfume or smell to them. He uses boring ole' ivory and never antibacterial soap to disinfect his hands. Hopes this helps -- it has helped my husband out tremendously.

From what research I have done, people who have eczeme basically have an allergy to their skin. Kinda like pollen is for the sinus'. Eczema is just an allergic reaction to the skin instead. Doctors have never been helpful to my husband either.

My 10 yo has had excema since about 6 months. A couple of things:

1) Baths with a colloidal oatmeal product (like Aveeno) regularly but not frequently. Like every other day and lots of lotion, especially on damp skin.
2)For severe breakouts, like when it looks like the skin has been burned, use the prescription creams right away and diligently to get rid of it before it gets worse.
3) Anytime the skin is open, it can become infected. Stay on top of this too because the worse it gets, the longer it stays bad. In other words, prevention is the best medicine, see point # 1.
4) You may not find "THE CAUSE,' of excema, but your child has what is referred to as an allergic profile, meaning he is at risk to show or develop allergies and potentially excema. Learn all you can about food allergy. Try to give a varied diet that doesn't rely too much on any one food. Introduce new foods one at a time so you can guage reactions. A good resource is the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxix Network. Google them for their website.
5) We still are very conscience of my daughter's known allergy and possible allergies. But her skin did improve over time. It's still very dry and requires care but it doesn't look burned any more and rarely cracks open. She really learned to care for it herself.

Don't panic, your child just needs some specific care and you need to get some education for that.

Good luck!

My son has had severe eczema since he was a baby. Here is what our dermatologist told us:

1. Use safflower oil in his baths. But be careful, it makes the tub slippery.

2. Use Dreft for washing any laundry he comes in contact with. It is more expensive and in smaller bottles, but well worth it. And double rinse everything you wash of his (we do this for all of our laundry and I can tell the difference myself). If you don't use Dreft, make sure your laundry soap is everything-free. Also, try to avoid using fabric softener in the dryer.

3. Check with your doctor about fish oil. You son might be too young and my son would never take the pills, but they are supposed to work wonders for your skin

Your problem now, though, is dealing with the raw skin. Keep his nails short and watch for infection. Use the hydrocortisone. I also like Lubriderm Advanced Therapy lotion because it's scent-free and not oily. Since he rubs his face in his blanket, make sure it's clean and it has been washed in Dreft or everything-free detergent with no fabric softener (so it doesn't re-irritate his skin).

Also, my dermatologist said eczema is often an allergic reaction. Keep his room clean, watch your pets (and wash hands after touching pets). Good luck. It's hard but I've found some great resources online.

Sorry for the long answer. Hope it helps.

I highly recommend Arbonne's baby care line. The products are pure, safe and beneficial. My girlfriend's daughter suffered from horrible excema (she was even bleeding at times). After treating her with the Arbonne botanical baby products her excema was much more managable. I have many other testimonials that I could share with you. The products can be viewed at www.arbonne.com. Please let me know if you would like some samples. I am so sorry to hear your little one is so miserable.

We had the same problem with our twin daughters. They always got it on their face. Our doctor said that on their face to just stop everything (no lotions, no wipes (the alochol in them causes breakouts), no nothing) because it clogs up their pores. At the time I thought my doctor was crazy but we took all of the wet wipes away and got our girls a pack of wash rags that were just theirs to wash their face with. Their rashes went away right away. Now when they start to breakout we pull the wet wipes away and their rash goes away. I also do daycare and I have children with the same problem. I just stop using wet wipes on them and it takes care of the problem.

My sister's LO had eczema SO bad at 4 months, that strangers asked how he got poison ivy! She got it under control through a combination of hydrocortisone, Aquaphor, and eliminating dairy from his diet. I have another friend whose kids had it REALLY bad as babies, and now it is like touch and go spot checking.

From what i hear, the first thing to do is to get it under control. Ususally this requires the hydrocortisone. THEN ~ you can start investigating causes, which are usually some type of allergy - food or environmental. I know it is a royal pain and I feel so bad for people, and the babies, dealing with eczema.

Where do you live? In the warmer climates, could be something seasonal. In the colder, could be a flare up if he recently had a virus, combined with dry air. Or could be a food allergy - Dairy, Wheat, or Soy can commonly result in Eczema. I feel as though I am an expert in the food allergy arena, so if you suspect that might be the cause, please visit my website at www.EightDegreesofIngredients.com.

Hope that helps, and remember, you WILL get through this...next week may seem like an eternity away, but it will get better. LOL!

My 3 year old grandson has had eczema since he was very little too. The doctors have told us basically the same thing, it could be anything causing it. His breakouts are usually worse in the summer when it is hot. One of the things the doctor has told us is to cut down on tub baths to once or twice a week, use very mild soap or no soap at all. We use the hydrocortisone too. Some other lotions/cremes that are good are the Eucerin cream or Vanicream. They both come in lotions too, but you would want the creams. They are thick, non-greasy and fragrance free. Good luck. Hopefully eczema is something that they grow out of.

My 3 yr old granddaughter has eczema as well. Hers showed up at 3 wks of age! We only use Purpose bar soap, this can be found at just about any retailers. Our newest find are the locally made soaps from Soouppouri, www.souppouri.com. These soaps have a soothing effect on any outbreaks she may experience. We find since we switched her skin stays clear! After her bath we pat dry, and ASAP put hydrocortizone ONLY on hotspots. Then we grease her up good with plain old Vasoline! Lather it on. Throw on pjs that can keep the skin covered. Everytime you change a diaper, use hydrocortizone only on hotspots, and grease him up again with vasoline!
My granddaughter went from having almost no clear skin; and today we have almost zero outbreaks. We find the if she gets a flu - this will cause a 100% body outbreak. So if possible keep your son isolated from anyone who is ill.
Good luck!

My youngest child, 16 mos., has eczema too. He also has asthma, and the pediatrician says both are related to a hypersensitive immune system. We use 2% hydrocortizone (prescription) and he wears cloth diapers, since prolonged use of disposables gives him a horrible, raw and bloody rash. Someone on Mamasource recommended a product from Arbonne, but I haven't checked it out yet. She says it works wonders. We also use baby oil in the bath, conditioner (not shampoo) on his scalp when batheing, and regular "greasings" of Cetaphil lotion.

SAHM of seven

Hi M.

My daughter get it on her face when it is really cold out and what I have found that works really good is baby eczema cream made by Disney. And you dont need much of it, it goes a long ways!

L.

One of the ladies at my sons daycare uses a cream called Calmaseptine. It's normally used for bed sores, but it also works AWESOME on diaper rashes. But she uses it on her one son who has eczema. You can purchase it at Target, Bakers, WalMart(?), and WalGreens. Target ran me about $7.29 for a large tube, I've heard WalGreens is about $6 something but they may have to order it in, and then I heard Bakers sells it for about $5 something a tube. You can only get it at the pharmacy but it's over the counter so no script is needed.

My skin is extra sensitive too, only I break out in hives and rashes. I'd try a mild detergent and no liquid softner. If it's store bought you might also run the clothing and linens through an extra wash/rinse cycle once or twice without detergent to insure all chemicals are gone. I use a brand from Melaleuca, a green wellness company that makes products safe for the environment and you so I don't need the extra rinses. I believe alot of the allergies and cancers are from those chemicals that not only do we take internally but also externally. They carry a whole line of cleaning products. They also carry a whole line of personal hygiene products including one for baby! You can email me if your interested. ____@____.com

Good luck and God Bless

I'm in the same boat as you! The doctors are NO help at all. What I have found that helps is bathing her only two or three times a week in an Aveeno Oatmeal bath. Then I wash her with a mild soap (Burts Bees Wax) at the very end of the bath. After the bath, and also about four times a day, I coat her in Eucerin cream. The Eucerin helps so much! I have also switched over to using all Seventh Generation products... wipes, diapers, and laundry detergent. By doing these things, I have been able to control the rash, at least until I find a doctor who takes me seriously. Good luck!

M.,

The only thing that I have found to really help with eczema is a product call Aquaphilic. They use it in the pharmacy for dermotology prescriptions. You do not need a prescription to get it. If you do not see it on the shelf by the pharmacy then ask the pharmacy for it. It comes in a White plastic tub/jar. It is a white cream and you only need a little. It is about 8 or 9 dolllars. Hope this helps

S. Mom of three

Check out potential allergens. Milk/dairy products are often implicated in eczema. Does your baby drink milk-based formula? Look for an allergist or a practitioner of NAET to begin eliminating triggers now while young.

1. Bathing aggravates this (Soap and a long time in too-warm water--and for a kid with excema, too warm is lower than a kid without the problem).

You can reasonably bathe your child in a warm room with him sitting beside the water tub. Wash with wet, soapy washcloth and rinse with separate washcloth.

Other things that come to mind:
~Sensitive soap, perhaps organic baby-friendly?
~Before you bathe him, combine a cup of Grapeseed oil with maybe 20 drops of tea tree oil. Wipe him down with that (on a washcloth) and let it sit awhile. BE CAREFUL on his face though--tea tree oil should not go into the eyes nose or mouth.

Winter aggravates this, too--IF you can get him to put up with it, you might think about a fleece scarf or something.

I'm sure someone's already suggested this, but make sure you're washing his clothing and linens in a good laundry soap (I'm not sure what's around you, but something scent-free, geared toward infants, and maybe free of pthalates)

I wish you the best--Keep us updated!

you might want to try johnsons baby wash with aloe and chamomile. also ask the doctor for hydrocortizone 2% it is by rx it is a little stronger. my son battled it from the time he was 2 months and finally this last fall a year and a half later it is all cleared up. hang in there i know it is tough and it is so hard to watch your child in pain. also try and stay away from the lotions is what my dr. said. hope this helps

Hello, I have also had the same issues with my daughter with eczema. This worked for my child. Try Arbonne's baby line. I used the baby oil in combination with the baby lotion. Some people have tried only the lotion and it does not work as well. I tried everything also, and once I used the baby oil with the baby lotion, her eczema patches went away. I hope this works for you and your boy. Arbonne is not in the stores. You will need to find a consultant local to you. It is a direct sale, however very helpful. Look up Arbonne International. Again, I hope this helps

Have you tried coconut oil on the breakout? If you go to Whole Foods or Mercola.com you can find a high quality coconut oil and put it right on the break outs, it should clear it up. Another suggestion would be to feed your six month old raw milk, they used to treat eczema with this with much success. You can find raw milk at Whole Foods, it is also wonderful for allergies. You can read more about it the Westonaprice.org website.

Hope you find this helpful.

Hello,

Just couldn't help but repeat what I see some others have said, the Renew lotion from Melaleuca is the answer you are looking for. I think using the lotion along with bath and laundry products would make all the difference. I have been using these products for almost 10 years on all 3 of my children ages 9, 5, 2. There is no need to buy all the special baby products when these are effective and safe enough to use on the whole family. If you want more information please contact me at ____@____.com luck, K.

My daughter who is now 20 months has suffered with this from birth. Her regular doc was no help. I finally took her to a dermatologist who said that it wasn't caused by anything I used like soaps or creams. That it usually runs in a family. It is a cousin of asthma. My daughter was perscribed a topical oitnment. Also 2 times a year takes a liquid steriod to help when she has it bad. I strongly suggest a dermatologist you will not regret it. Because before I tried that I tired every over the counter item out there. Godd Luck

I'm sure you've already had someone respond regarding
Arbonne; However, if you want exceptional products that will take care of the eczema contact me.
I use (and am a consultant)Arbonne products on my 2 1/2 yr. old son who also has eczema issues and it works fantastically. Plus the products are botanically based so there are NO harsh chemicals to harm him. and PLEASE don't use anything that contains Mineral Oil- this will seem to work at first, but eventually ends up being more drying than good.
good luck and contact- I'd love to help!
-G.
____@____.com
see the web site: www.arbonne.com
I'd love to help anyone else with eczema, psorasis (sp?) and other skin conditions as well.

If you formula feed, try switching to soy formula. Only bath once or twice a week. Don't use any baby bath soap - if you use some use very little and unscented. Use Vanicream or Aveeno lotion(unscented). I was told (by doctor) not to use hydrocorisone cream on the face.