I Have a 4 Month Old Baby with Eczema

i used a product called California Baby on my son and his skin cleared up. Aquaphor, Eucerin and the other lotions that were suggested to me by my pediatrician did nothing. California baby can be found at whole foods.

merry christmas!

A friend of mine has a 4 month old with really bad eczema. She finally determined that her daughter also is allergic to Petroleum, which a lot of the lotions and creams have in them. Now she is using hydrocortizone as needed. Also, if he ends up being allergic to the petroleum, I also heard about a cream that Whole Foods carries called something like No Petroleum.

My daughter has eczema and we always used oatmeal baths and aquafor and that was able to keep it at bay. For the real bad flare ups the doctor has her on Aclovate.

Hi S.,

I recommend Renew Intensive Skin Therapy, as well as Koala Pals Body Wash and a caustic free laundry detergent, (not Dreft). All these items can be purchased from the co-op shopping club I belong to, Melaleuca. In Fact, I purchase ALL my household and personal care products from Melaleuca. They make and manufacture over 400 different products that work better and are safer for our families and the environment. I would be happy to give you all the details, please feel free to call me at ###-###-#### or email me directly at ____@____.com. I am also including some experiences from members who have found relief from Eczema with these products:

When we were introduced to Melaleuca 5 years ago our daughter was 6 months old. She had severe eczema and we really didn’t know what else to do about it. We had tried all of the over the counter recommendations like Eucerin and aquaphor but nothing worked. We reluctantly made the decision to go to topical steroids even though I had heard horror stories about them. I knew logically it wasn’t right to have a newborn on steroids even if they were topical. When I had heard about Melaleuca I initially was interested in the household products. We got started with a value pack and we switched our laundry products to Melaleuca's to get the chemicals out of her bedding and clothing. In addition to that we used the Renew lotion after every bath. Taylor’s eczema completely cleared up within days. She is now almost 5 years old and since Melaleuca she hasn’t had a spot of eczema on her skin.

Stacey Huff

My daughter had eczema on her back and arms when she was 7 months. I used the Renew lotion every morning and evening and it went away quick! In conjunction with that I was bathing her in the Koala Pals bubble bath. It also helps to wash with the gold bar and then cover in Renew.

Hope to hear from you!

J. Penfield
www.livetotalwellness.com/J.
____@____.com
###-###-####

You've gotten some other good advice here, but I wanted to add that it does generally get better over time, and it does flare and fade. My son has a bad breakout on his face now, and his pediatrician says that winter is the worst time.

We use only Cetaphil cleanser (not sure about that for babies). Don't bathe the baby very often. Stop using Dreft, which has added fragrance, and experiment with other "free" laundry detergents. I avoid using any fabric softeners, but when I really need to (a load of fleece, for example) I just use a half sheet of the "free" kind. Try to avoid using any other laundry products (spot removers, oxyclean) or do an extra rinse or two if you do.

We also use Aquaphor quite a bit - I carry it everywhere and use it for everything!

Check with your pediatrician about prescription ointments, too, if other things don't help - I'm not sure what age they are safe to use.

My son also had and eczema problem and would scratch until he bled. We finally got it under control by using a medication that was vanicreme (a hypoallergenic lotion) with hydrocortizone creme mixed in that we put all over his body. For awhile we had to give him an antihistamine at night so he could stop scratching and sleep and also to allow his skin to heal. Now we just use the cream at each bath and his skin is great.

The medicine has to be compounded (mixed) so you may have the pharmacy usually has to order the components. After 2 years of working on it this is the only thing that got it under control. Good luck.

My son also had eczema and he was miserable. I found Aquaphor by Eucerin really helped with the itching.

Have you tried treating it with Aveeno....my ex's son (that I pretty much raised until we split) had eeczema so bad when I got him that his skin was cracked and bleeding. I just started daily baths in the Aveeno baby wash and also coating him with the Aveeno lotion several times a day. With time it cleared up as well as it could, but if he went to his mom for a couple days it would be right back the way it was before. The doctor could probably get you a prescription depending on the severity.

My son came out scratching!!! In fact we don't have any baby, baby pictures of him without scratch marks on his face and head. I did not breast feed and tried all the laundry, and soap things...finally I got a demanded a referral to a dermentologist. She gave me two different types of prescription creams; one for body and one for face. Within two application the eczema was cleared up!! His is three years old now and we usally have to use the creams a few times a year when things flare up; usually it is in conjuction with the change of seasons!

Good luck!

S.,

My son also suffered from severe eczema as an infant. After tremendous research I can tell you that cortisone (steroids) drive the symptoms deeper into the body resulting in asthma and allergies. I tried everything from natural cremes to homeopathy to infant acupuncture, all to no avail. Then we went to Dr. Lau in China town and he gave us a natural creme. (Dr. Lau passed a few years ago but his daughter has taken on his practice.) My son's eczema was gone in days, never to return (and he is asthma/allergy free)!

Blessings,
Cynthia

Our little guy has eczema too. The thing I find really helps is Lanolin which is in the breastfeeding cream. It is very thick and we put it on before he goes to bed in old pj's because it is very oily and ruins clothes. He is also on Elidel and in the elidel study which you can get into through your pediatrician. I prefer a more natural remedy but this cream does work. Elidel is frightfully expensive (you get $25 for each questionnaire you complete in the study). So we put Elidel or Lanolin on his eczema spots and then use the Aveno baby soothing relief cream on his whole body as a preventative measure. His baths are very short and just warm. Hope this info helps.

I had the same problem with my son. I had to take him to a allergist and he proscribed Elidel cream. Maybe your sons doctor can help set you up with one.
hope i helped
D. H.

Hi S.,
I have a business partner who had the same issue with her 5 month old. None of the things the doctor suggested helped. She found out through a friend about The Gold Bar & Renew Intenstive Therapy Lotion from Melaleuca. Her baby's eczema cleared up in 1 week. She's now 3 years old w/o eczema.

If you'd like to try the products let me know. I can show you how to get them for free. Don't worry, you don't have to host any parties. The company gives away $20 in free products to all new customers every month for the first 5 months of being a preferred customer. [PC just means you can shop at a discount from their catalog.] Also, the products are come with a money back guarantee. So if you won't see any results with your baby, you'll get your money back, no questions asked. I've been shopping with Melaleuca for over 3 years. They really do have life changing products.

Regards,
M.
Cell: ###-###-####
Sizzle: 866-673-8937

Hi S.. Eczema can be an awful problem for some babies but with the right treatment it shouldn't be. A few things to check:
1. What you are using to hydrate the skin. Any sorbolene cream for moisturising is fine, it doesn't have to be a baby specific one. You should be moisturising AT LEAST 2-3 times a day and be generous with the amount. I usually suggest doing it with every diaper change. This is the key to keeping eczema under control.

2. What you are using in the bath. Make sure it is soap free because soap dries the skin out. Aveeno has a soap free bath wash.

3. Get rid of the fabric softener!

4. Look for triggers of eczema. The most obvious one at the moment is the weather. Heating really dries the skin out. Use cotton clothing and make sure the baby is not kept too warm because that can make the eczema flare. having said that, there often is no specific cause of flare ups so don't worry too much about what's causing it.

5. See your pediatrician because he made need some treatment for the flare to get it under control. An antihistamine also helps with itching but won't solve the skin problem. It can be used together with a steroid preparation for the skin.

Hopefully that helps.

D. MD

Have you been able to consult a pediatrician about your son's condition? Since you are doing so much and it doesn't seem to be working, perhaps your son needs prescription ointment for his problem? Good Luck.

My Daughter has eczema as well. I know how frustrating it can be. I have finally found the products that work for us.

- Seventh Generation baby laundry soap (babies r us, whole foods)

- long baths

- Grahams Natural soap, shampoo and conditioner (google the name...it's from Australia and it is SO worth the extra expense)

- During a breakout 1% hydrocortisone ointment (not the cream, it irritates their skin)

- Seal it all in with Aquaphor.

I have tried everything and have spent so much money on different products. Every baby is different so you may have to try a few things. Good luck to you!

S. - i'm have a different opinion than the other posters. 50% of eczema is food allergy related. So, I think it may be related to his food allergies. Are you nursing at all? If so, it could be any dairy you're ingesting (even trace). Some kids are allergic to neocate. Or it could be an additional food allergy.

You can search my posts for more food allergy info. Also, www.kidswithfoodallergies.com may help (even if the eczema isn't food related). Lots of neocate parents on there.

If nursing - you can do a food diary and symptom diary and compare notes.

good luck!!!

Hi S.,

I grew up with eczema and my daughter has eczema. I have tried everything imaginable. My eczema has been under control for a long time-- it is true that you do out grow it. I still can get flare ups- mostly when the seasons change, but all in all it is gone. My daughters is doing pretty well. She had it so bad as a baby. The dermatologist wanted her to be on perscribtion cream, but i had a problem using perscibtion medicine long term, it worked to get a flare up under control but i wanted something that would keep her from getting flare ups and something that would keep her skin healthy. She was allergic to milk products also.

I found some products at Whole Foods that work really good. I used the Burts Bee products in her bath ( apricot oil ) Burts Bees is an all natural product. I found Berts Bees cream worked really well. I would put it on really heavy after her bath and then put her PJ's on and let the cream soak in over night. I would also cream up her hands and put socks on her hands over night so she would not scratch herself. It sounds silly , but it really worked. There are a few natural creams that i have used to get the flare ups under control. One was called Healing Salve made by native americans ( also available at whole foods). Be careful with some of the perscription creams out there. I just saw a video about some very popular creams that are being perscribed called protopic ( tacrolimus) and Elider ( Pimecrolimus) which have been linked to cancer. I hope this helps. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at ____@____.com

I didnt ready all the responses so someone may have already told you about this but my dd got eczema at about 4 months old. We tried Eucerin, Aveeno, etc. Nothing worked. My mom uses Arbonne products and told me that she keeps hearing stories about there baby line and how its supposed to clear it up quickly. We bought it and sure enough it worked. We use the soap in the bath and the lotion everyday. When the eczema was really bad we used the diaper rash cream on it twice daily until it was calmed down. Its a routine that we cant steer away from but it works and no more eczema. Good luck.

My daughter suffers from some eczema and other types of severe dry skin caused by her allergies (especially in winter) and our pediatrician recommended Eucerin (the original formula). It's awesome; saw the improvement almost immediately. I would talk to your doc first since it's a baby and my daughter is now 14, but she has suffered for a long time until we met Dr. B.

Best wishes.

I use Gentle Naturals cream on my son's eczema, I get it from Kmart for a couple dollars & it works great on him.

S. -

I know this may sound strange but coconut oil could really work. My brother -in-law has had problems with eczema and other skin rashes for years. I heard about coconut oil from Karyn's (a health store on Halsted in Chicago). I got him some and he used it daily as a lotion on his scalp near the hair line. He said it really helped. YOu can probably get some at Whole Foods. I would try it in a small area to see if it helps and then use it more broadly. Good luck.

I would start by going with a Free & Clear detergent, try Aquaphor or Gentle Naturals Baby Eczema Cream and its very important to keep his nails cut short to prevent bleeding if he scratches. Keep an eye on the eczema, make sure it doesnt start oozing a clear liquid and then crusting over, it is then Impetigo. Impetigo is highly contagious and will need a prescription cream to clear up the infection. I would also call your doctor for suggestions. My son developed eczema when he was 4 months and it does get better. Now he's 2 and his eczema is so much better!

If you need other suggestions, feel free to message me!

Hi S.,
My son was 6 weeks early and had a horrible time with Eczema. My pediatrician recommended trying hydrocortizone 1% cream and it worked so well. Anytime my son had a flare up, i applied a little on the area and it was gone in hours. It's safe and you can use it whenever needed, and it's over the counter!

My 6-month old also has eczema - - I have tried a ton of things and this is what worked for me: mustela's steletopia bath milk oil - - awesome. calendula ointment and homeopathic cortisone cream (both sold at merz) used together (cream first, ointment second), A & D ointment applied at each diaper change (to remember to do it) vaseline softens. and most of all - - I exclusively breastfeed and cut dairy and soy out of my diet for a few weeks and saw a night and day difference. We also switched detergents, but the diet change has done the most good. Also, my pediatician mentioned that lotions are not potent enough to help - - ointments like aquaphor, vaseline, a&d, etc.

Hi S.,

You may want to try MonaVie, as I know it's helped others with the same condition. Are you breastfeeding at all? If so, your son will benefit from you drinking the juice. A couple of moms shared that their babies slept better when they started drinking the juice, and another mom shared that her toddler's eczema cleared up when he starting drinking the juice. If you aren't breastfeeding, you could always give him just a little bit of the juice.

MonaVie has been helping with different health conditions. It's pretty amazing! You can check it out on my website; www.BerryGoodAcai.com . (I also have some business reviews.) If you have more questions, you may call or email me; ____@____.com .

I hope you find something that helps!

C.

P.S. I also had another thought. When my daughter was an infant, she was allergic to milk and so we used goat's milk. She did great with that! As she got older, we weaned her off of the goat's milk, and she is now fine with regular milk.

hi S. did you try johnson baby oil? I am using it for myself it helps also olive oil, not extra virgin. Also when you wash the clothes after it finish washed just with water to take out the extra detergant. Every morning you have to let the fresh air come to your house, open the windows for 15 minutes. it helps because in winter time we mostly do not let air come to our house.

My son is 21 months old and had excema for the last two years in the fall and winter. I would massage echinacea and another natural gel into his skin and this helped a lot to where it wasn't sore or itchy but he would still have flare-ups. I am a strong believer in God's healing so I continued to believe that he would be completely healed. In Nov. of this year I became a dist. of MonaVie (a juice that deals with inflamation in your body) and after only about a week and a half his skin was cleared up! No more dry patches!

Hi

I had the same situation with my daughter...she is now 12 years old. I had her tested for allergies when she was six months old and I was still breastfeeding her. She was highly allergic to all of the the things that they test for, wheat, corn, milk, eggs...nuts...I used soaps that were free of dyes and allergens on her skin and the same type of detergents....you just have read lots of labels and give her a new food for four days to see if she develops allergies. Let me know if you need addition help.

My daughter is now 14 months old and we have struggled with eczema for about 8-9 months. After multiple trips to specialists and pediatric specialists, here are the tricks that have worked for us. Each Dr has given us tons of different ideas. But, the key is finding out what works for your son. #1 Dreft is no fragrance/dye free. Use Tide/All/Purex Free and Clear. #2 Baths each and every day are essential. After all of the lotions we've tried, turns out water is the best hydration method! We bathe my daughter for 20 minutes every day. The key to bathtime is lotion immediately after. Dont dry him. If anything pat him with a towel DO NOT WIPE DRY!!! Research has shown after bath the lotion must be applied within 3 minutes! That will lock in the moisture of the bath. #3 Baths are WATER ONLY! While soaps may be fragrance/dye free, they contain alcohol which can dry skin. My daughter has had maybe 5 baths with soap in the last 8 months. Those were after extremely messy meal or a day eating dirt!!! #4 We use Vanicream lotion on her. It's expensive,but worth it. Also, the pediatric dermatologist prescribed a 1:1 compound of vanicream and 2.5% Hydracortisone cream. We used that once per day for one week and the difference was UNBELIEVABLE! Now that the eczema is under control, we use just vanicream 1-2 times per day. WE save the Rx for damage control spots. I hope this is helpful. Good luck. I'd love to share more tips if you need them. I'd hate for any baby to suffer the way my daughter did.

Dear S.

I am an arbonne independent consultant. You are welcome to look at the website. www.arbonne.org.

We sell all natural skin care, and have a baby 'line' that has a product for little ones with eczema. Very affordable with proven results. Give me a call if you would like to order. The best to you and your family,

L. K.

My niece also has a bad case. She cannot touch animals, or it flares up. She also cannot wear anything polyesther. 100% cotton ONLY. Maybe one of those things is his problem?? My SIL has to keep my niece covered all the time. I feel so bad for the little girl, because when it is 80 degrees out, she has to wear long sleeves and pants if she is playing outside (I guess the grass/elements also bother her skin) She never seems to mind all the clothing though. Good luck..I know it is a pain in the ......

My friend helped his neighbors 6 month old. It was a matter of changing the Laundry stuff, the stuff you wash him with and a lotion that helped dramatically. It needs to be pure,natural and organic. it needs to be purchased from a place other than any store you walk into.

Kurt is a medical practitioner and has helped many. He brother is a Doctor. you can email him and ask him his suggestions.

____@____.com

Dear S.,

I know what you mean. My 3 month old son has cradle cap and eczema. I have been bathing him with Aveeno products every other night to decrease skin dryness. I also use Aquaphor after I bathe him. YOu can get it at any drug store. It helps but it has not cured it. Hope that this helps. I will interested in hearing what others have tried.

You may have gotten this advice already. My son had something that sounds very similar to what you have described, at around the same age. I used plain, non scented mineral oil and a baby brush. It's a little messy, but it works. Lay him on towels on a counter with just the top of his scalp over the edge of a sink. Of course, stand right close to him so he won't fall (tummy to the counter). Gently pour a liberal amount of oil all over his hair and massage in with your fingers. Take the baby brush (soft bristles) and massage all over the areas with dry skin in a circular motion. It may take a few minutes to start to see the flakes coming loose. Soon you will see almost all of that eczema caught in the hair and oil. Rinse with luke warm water and gently brush, or very gently "scratch", the left over patches off. Now you simply wash bis hair with his regular baby shampoo and rinse well. The hair may still be a bit oily(as if you used a rich conditioner), but nothing bad. You may need to do this all agin at the next flair up. I also found that my son seemed to itch his scalp even without eczema present until I switched to a shampoo/conditioner in one baby product; this seemed to maintain a better balance of moisture for his hair and scalp.

Usually this stage passes and doesn't come back for a while if at all. My son did have it again at around eleven months... no idea why. Eczema does run in the family on his Dad's side, as well as asthma. He get's the occasional eczema patch on his body if I miss lotioning him enough. His pediatrician gave us a higher concentration of hydrocortisone to use on those flair ups. To maintain his face and body skin I use non scented Baby Aveeno cream lotion after every bath, all over. If his face will be in cold weather conditions I put a small dab of vaseline on each cheek, rubbing in well, and on his lips.
I hope this helps with your little guy!

My son started having exzema at 14 months & it got so bad! My BIL lives out of state, but he is a dermatologist. When he came to visit, he told us to simply use Cetaphil cleanser for baths and cetaphil cream twice a day (morning & nighttime). Let me tell you...it is amazing! We were having to use steroid creams recommended by our pediatrician & we were beginning to use it more than I was comfortable with...The Cetaphil is fabulous! And-it lasts a long time!