eczema

Mihaela - posted on 03/02/2010

Hi, my baby has atopic skin since 3 months old. The dermatologist gave me the advices Jessica Taylor gave above. More, I have to use a lotion made with zinc oxide (try diaper lotion) that dries the eczema and after Avene Trixera, specially made for atopic skin. Try not to use cortisone on babies skin

Kate - posted on 03/01/2010

Our daughter has had this from about age 3 months on so I feel your pain! She has food allergies which was the trigger for her. I'm sure you've probably tried some of these things but here is what has worked for us:
Baths with NO soap - just luke warm water nightly. I know intuitively you don't want to bathe every day b/c it dries the skin but application of ointments directly after a bath will absorb into the skin so much better and last longer.
Apply hydrocortisone (Rx) for really red itchy spots and then liberally apply Aquaphor ointment all over. We also use Mustela dermo pediatrics cream for eczema prone skin which works great.
Launder with dye free, perfume free detergent. We like 7th Generation products.
Dress in cotton clothes.
Run a humidifier every night in their room.
Cover crib mattress with a dust mite protector.
More extreme measures:
Sadly, we had to give our dog to my inlaws as dog hair and saliva was a also a trigger for the eczema.
Ripped up wall to wall carpet and replaced with hardwood to reduce allergens.
Think about allergy testing which may shed some light on possible triggers.

Hope some of this helps. Our daughter was the worst her pediatrician had ever seen and now we only have minor flare ups here and there so it WILL get better! Good Luck!

Lien - posted on 02/28/2010

I only bath my son with eczema 2 times a week in Eucerin oil.
Hydrocortison cream works wonders when it's out of control. But do not keep using it if the eczema doesn't get better within ten days. After 10 days of hydrocortison the eczema should (almost) be gone.
After the hydrocortison you can use a ureum based cream to keep sensitive spots hydrated. And ureum doesn't have all the side effects that hydrocortison has.
And of course: keep your eyes open for indications on what triggers the eczema. Could really be anything (food, medication, washing powder, ...)

Heather - posted on 02/27/2010

my daughter has it really really really bad she was born with it unfortuntaly. I had to end up taking her to a dermatologist. Certain foods will make it worse anything acidy. like spagetti, tomato sauce, ranch things like that. I use Aveno baby eczema wash it can be hard to find and its kinda exspensive but it works really good. It has no scent or fragrence to it. ther is a lotion a body wash and diaper rash cream.

Tracey - posted on 02/27/2010

Went thru the same thing...my 16 month old was diagnosed with eczema at 6 months. I also have the Rx (steroid cream) to use on the bad spots. Tried both Eucerin and Aquaphor 2 times a day to keep it at bay, they did nothing for him. A friend recommended the Aveeno products and I struck gold with a combo of the Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Creamy Wash and Soothing Relief Moisture Cream. The cream is like a paste and I glob it on him every night. Its amazing what a difference it has made. He rarely has a breakout now and if he does I just double up on the cream (am & pm) and it clears up in a day or so. His doctor even commented on how great his skin felt! I also keep baths short and make sure the water isn't too hot, both dry the skin out even more. Hopefully this combo works for your little one. Good luck!

Nicole - posted on 02/27/2010

my daughter has it bad too....we only bath her every 3 or 4 days...plus limit ur soap use to probly his hair and bum...she does alot better...my older brother had it really bad when he was young and he said he only uses soap for those areas now....i have the spot treatment stuff as well but i use vaseline intensive care non sented, only when she has a bath..our doctor said to leave her in til her skin get wrinkly, then when u go to lather her up it will soak in better...the summer time is much easier to deal with eczema,

Jessica - posted on 02/26/2010

I've taken my 5 year old to the allergy test for weat and grass out door stuff.I would like to get him tested for food allergy.Where i take him in columbus ohio i argue with the doctors.so i get nervous about taking my 16month to the doctor.my 5 year old his at peditrican says she thinks something else along with eczema.but i argue with one,cry at another,you think they have the degree they know what they're doing.I still question the words they tell me.my 16month started haveing spots of skin fade he is white (pale) and on his arms patches of skin are fadeing.any one child do this?

Holly - posted on 02/25/2010

Hi, I have a 16 month old who has excema as well and we also have a prescribed cream too. In addition to that we use aveeno unscented lotion and the combination of both has worked great. Also, we were advised to give baths every other day instead of every night and his dry skin has really improved. Hope this helps!

Tara - posted on 02/25/2010

My oldest son had eczema really bad when he was born until he was 2 yrs. Then my next 2 children didn't have it so it's just the luck of the draw. I have eczema too so I know personally that it sucks. Eczema is associated with at least one of the three, heriditary, allergy and/or asthma. So please get your child tested. We eventually found out Anthony had a peanut allergy (also cat and house dust). His eczema cleared up when we got rid of the allergent. Prevention is always easier than treatment. Webmd is great for info on this skin disease.

Jessica - posted on 02/25/2010

you know i use the cream ucerin and it seems to work but if i forget for one day after i give him a bath the bumps come again.thanks i will look for that lotion also.why do baby have to go through this?there should be no such thing.

Marcela - posted on 02/25/2010

my son has the same problem and they nothing really work until i started to use the aveeno for infants for dry skin or eczema... the moisterizing lotion..
u can take him a bath everyday just cover him and massage him with that lotion it really worked for my son..

good luck!:)

Jessica - posted on 02/24/2010

thanks i will go look for the book.just a wonder about how this all started for your son.mine started sep 1 ,08 . it looked like he had hives so i thought heat rash.waited a couple days took to er they said viral rash because of fever,runny nose.then it went to a texter feeling(goosebumps)to his toenails,hair even ears (inside also)took too doctor she had no idea so she had two other doctors come in they had no idea.it started to peel on his toes hands.a dermtologist told me it was flea bites.noway i thought.did a weat test come back negative.so i like whats going on.went back she said it was eczema.this isnt patches of skin its a bump here big red ones.he gets them still.wouldn't his doctor say it was eczema shes not stupid.she thinks its something else.does his skin sound like that because i still worry its better but it happens still.my little 16month son has eczema and it dosn't look the same.

Evelyn - posted on 02/24/2010

My daughter has eczema also and I just happened to buy her the Shea butter and cocoa butter lotion that Johnson and Johnson just came out with and it seems to help it some. I hope this helps.

Jenny - posted on 02/24/2010

My eldest son, now 4 1/2 used to bleed his eczema was so bad. He gets it all over his body but when he was a baby his face and neck were very bad. I also get it on my hands. I went to see a naturopath and she was wonderful. Being a chemical phobe myself I hate using hydrocortisone as it can lead to skin problems and a dependency on hydrocortisone and moisturisers down the track. Moisturisng the skin is a completely unnatural thing and is generally unnecessary, except when it comes to eczema. I bath both of my kids in olive oil with a couple of drops of lavender oil (only about 10ml in the bath does the trick. These are a little greasy but the skin stays moisturised. If a moisturiser is needed I use pawpaw ointment or paw paw ointment with coconut oil, lichorish root, calendula and a few other things. I also had my son on an elimination diet (no dairy, wheat, gluten, nuts, sugar or yeast for 6 weeks) and then I gradually introduced things back in. My son's trigger is heat and citrus. Apparently strawberries and kiwi fruit can also be triggers.

One other thing you may be interested in is that many of the chemicals we use (including baby and so called eczema washes) contain many harmful ingredients (many of which are carcinogenic ie cancer causing) and can also irritate sensitive skin. I have researched this over many years and now either make my own washing powders, detergents etc or buy certified organic harmful chemical free ones from a health food store or food co-op. Most of the stuff sold at supermarkets is green wash rubbish and may only actually contain one organic ingredient and the rest is harmful chemcials (READ THE LABELS). Go and buy yourself the book called the Chemical Maze by Bill Statham and have a look for yourself. This book contains all food additivies and cosmetic ingredients. You will be shocked by just looking at the things in your home.

By the way my sons eczema is now pretty good, except if he eats citrus or overheats. I live near the coast so I also get my son in the surf, sea water does wonders too. I also was very careful with what I ate when I was pregnant with my 2nd (as apparently when you have allergies the foetus is more susceptible to being allergic to something if you eat things that are potential allergens eg peanuts....) My 2nd has no signs of eczema at all and he is 16 months. I have also never used a chemical baby wash or detergent on him. Hope this helps and sorry for the long winded reply.

Jessica - posted on 02/24/2010

I beleave i wrote befor abolut my son tyler who is 5.almost two years now been dealing with skin problems.they say its eczema so i did the fragrance free detergent , soap,lotion and you know what it still happens.at first i would cry because he would cry hisself to sleep because it itched so bad. i had to give benydral every night and nothing made it better so they gave me speacial cream and it still pops up.i as a mom know this is different because it a dot here dot there untill they are swollen.be interested to see what your child skin looks like,if my son has the same skin isue. t

Casie - posted on 02/24/2010

Aveeno makes a lotion and body wash for babies that is designed specifically for eczema. I know exactly how you feel because my lil girl has the same thing. Anytime the weather turns extremely hot or cold, she gets the dry patches on her elbows, back of knees, tummy, and cheeks. It works well!!

Lauren - posted on 02/24/2010

My son has the same problem and has the Rx for spot treatments as well. I have found a phisoderm baby bath wash that I put in his bath water at night to help moisturize his skin and use the Aveeno Baby lotion. I have started that this week since his eczema has been really bad with the cold weather and I can already see a difference. Do NOT use J&J baby wash on his body but just on his hair and use either the Aveeno baby wash or phisoderm baby wash on his body or in his water. I make it into a bubble bath for him.

Sandra - posted on 02/24/2010

I would only bathe him twice a week using a product such as Oilatum in the bath, and use a strong moisturiser such as Diprobase twice or three times daily. When the flare ups are really bad, then use a cortisone cream sparingly. The eczema will eventually disappear of its own accord. All of my 3 children have had it and are now rid of it. Hope this helps.

Shea - posted on 02/24/2010

My daughter has horrible allergies, and eczema. We use Cetephil cream (the tub one) with a small amount of hydrocortisone (just the over the counter stuff). It helps quite a bit. Read up on eczema at the mayo clinic website. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/eczema/...
Go through each of the pages, and you'll find a wealth of information. :)
Good Luck!

Elia - posted on 02/24/2010

I don't know if this will help you, my son had really dry skin in his legs, they felt like sand paper, I went to the doctor and he recommended Eucerin 10% you don't need a prescription for it, not sure where you're based but it's about €20 a bottle over here! For the baths he recommended us to use Silcox base instead of soap, all this combined has made a huge difference!! his legs feel normal now, although if I stop using the cream the roughens appears again... I hope this helps!!

Seb - posted on 02/24/2010

Laws Lodge Miracle creme (in case you want to look it up on internet)1 cup of olive oil1 tablespoon of honey2 tablespoons of grated beeswax Simply mix the olive oil and wax over heat. Being careful not to over heat or boil. Beeswax must melt though.Mix in the honey.Pour into suitable, washed and sterilized containers.cool. At first it looks as though the oil and the honey won't mix and it's very runny when you take it off the heat. Let it cool and once it has cooled mix, it thickens into an ointment. I keep it in a shaker, so that I can shake it up before use. Also I keep it in the fridge after using, and pull it out of the fridge about 15 minutes before use (as it thickens more and it feels nicer in the skin if its cool). Chris is having oat meal baths every couple of nights as well, and in case you still feel itchy, a mixture of apple cider with water, in a little spray bottle can help. Just spray a little on the area that is itchy, and it's supposed to relieve the itch. this hasn't been a huge help for Chris yet, but given how bad his is, I should probably give it more time, but I hope it works for you.

Jessica - posted on 02/23/2010

Sarna

Sheena - posted on 02/23/2010

Both my boys 5 1/2 and ~17 months both have eczema. cetaphil or eucerin cream (comes in a tub, not lotion) 2-3 times of day along with hydrocortisone cream (OTC) on affected areas and prescription for especially bad areas. Also a lot of kids with eczema also develop food allergies, so those can also cause eczema problems. Worth checking into or paying attention to if skin is worse after eating or being around certain things. Both my sons have egg, nut and milk allergies. sometimes there is no apparent rhyme or reason though! Also baths with no soap, just to soak are great and put the lotion on right after.

Stephanie - posted on 02/23/2010

Try Aquaphor advanced healing from Eucern. This was recomended by the Pediatrician. I've used it on my son since he was born and it's the only topical ointment that works for him. However I have to apply this every other day to keep the irritation down. It's a little expensive when you add it all up, but sometimes we have to do these things for our children.

Amy - posted on 02/23/2010

My son is that same, Glaxal Base cream is what my doc told me to use

Jennifer - posted on 02/23/2010

I have a 3yr old son who has had eczema since he was 8mo. old. We did get him allergy tested which helped. Oatmeal baths and vasaline work the best for us. He uses an allergy medicine when he is going to be around irritants. We have tried everything most lotions hurt him when he has open wounds from scratching so much. Vasaline really helps put it on right after the bath. Good luck.

Amy - posted on 02/23/2010

Olive oil after a bath and Aveeno every night before bed really helped my daughter's eczema. Also I stopped giving her dairy. Good luck!

Abigail - posted on 02/23/2010

Hi Aimee! Hydrocortizone cream definitely worked for my son, but it wouldn't keep it away for long. Our doc recommended Cetaphil products to us and it works wonders! They are more expensive, but well worth it. I lather my son up every night with the moisturizing cream (not the lotion) and bathe him in the gentle skin cleanser. Every other baby wash I've used made his skin more dry and irritated (I think because they contain alcohol), but the cetaphil gentle skin cleanser does really well with my son. I only have to use hydrocortizone cream maybe once every couple weeks and only in certain areas, whereas before my son broke out severely all over his body almost daily. Cetaphil products can be used on all ages, so you won't find it with the baby washes. Hope this helps! I understand your pain... it's so hard to watch your little one suffer with eczema!

Dawn - posted on 02/23/2010

We bath only twice a week using Burt's Bees baby body wash. Otherwise, I just wipe him down with plain water. I wash his little hands a few times per day with soap and water. At night, I lube his entire body up with plain vaseline before dressing him for bed. If he has an active breakout, I dot the steroid cream on the rash first, wait about 30 minutes to let it soak in, then cover his body in vaseline.

In regards to laundry, I only use half the detergent I'd normally use (unscented) and avoid fabric softener and dryer sheets.

I haven't changed his diet or tried diet elimination. I'm a registered dietitian, and I don't see the need. However, he does not eat strawberries, citrus, or peanut and nut products due to potential development allergic reactions. He's never eaten these foods, and I probably won't introduce them until he's about 3-4 years old.

This has worked very well for us!

Tanya - posted on 02/23/2010

Hi Aimee... My son has had excema since he was 2 weeks old. As a licenced cosmetologist... STAY AWAY from anything that has any kind of alcohol in it due to the fact that alcohol will dry the skin out even more. Johnson & Johnsons believe it or not has 2-3 different types of alcohol in it. Even Aveeno has alcohol in it. I use Cortizone ointment

Nicole - posted on 02/23/2010

All three of my kids have eczema and their dad i use a bath oil called Grahams natural bath oil you can get it from the health food shop it is great! Or im using a new herbal cream its chik weed works great and on nappy rash aswell! What kind of fabric is his clothing that can afect it aswell,
Hope it helps
Nicole

Segale - posted on 02/22/2010

Both me and my daughter have eczema. Have you tried the cetaphil cream and cleanser? Do not feed him on milk products, it causes more breakouts. If he still takes formula, use soy instead of milk ones. Try not to give him any dairy stuff unless it made with soy. Wash his clothes in the mildest soap that yo0u can find, liquid soaps are usually milder than powder. Do not use bleach on his clothes either.

Jessica - posted on 02/22/2010

Hi, Aimee
My name is Jessica and I have a daughter your sons age. I however, have eczema I've had it since I was a sophmore in college. Sometimes I have flare ups and sometimes i'm fine by the way I am 22. I have went to the doctor and also got prescriptions but, they also gave me a print-out of what to do so I will list those for you and hope this helps.
-When giving baths do not use hot water just use luke warm water because the hot water causes the eczema to flare up.
-When bathing only use non scented soap Cetaphil is a great brand found at walmart
-When immediately getting out pat dry the body do not rub.
-After getting out apply a non-scented lotion or moisturizing cream to all over the body one type is Cetaphil its a white bottle with blue top you can find this at wal-mart.
-Also keep the childs fingernails short so they wont be able to scratch.
-Always make sure your child stays pretty cool cause again the hot and warm weather and sweating can cause your child to scratch more.
At last I would follow directions and ask your doctor on what medicine to take to prevent the urge to scratch because its not only the physical aspect of him scratching he also cannot control it if it isn't subsided by some type of anithistamine.
Hope this helps

Anna - posted on 02/22/2010

Sometimes Eczema is actually an allergic reaction. Some children who are allergic to milk get eczema, or other food allergies. Something to look into.

Penney - posted on 02/22/2010

We use Aveeno for babies. I put it on my daughter's face several times a day and it seems to work. Her face gets even worse when she is sick and during the winter months. Wish you luck on this matter. :)

Diane - posted on 02/21/2010

Try Milking Cream... You can get it from most pharmacies. It is the best stuff I have ever used. Also only use something like Pears soap. The purer the soap bar the better. It has worked for me big time.

Brittny - posted on 02/21/2010

My son has had terrible eczema his entire life. It's a constant up and down battle around my house. We have found that washing him with Cetaphil skin cleanser, or the generic works just as good, does best for his skin. And then we use Aveeno lotion. I can't recall the exact name of the lotion, and it's in my sleeping prince's room, but it's something like sensitive, hypoallergenic, fragrance free etc. Treatments vary from child to child, but maybe this will help you too! I wish you the best of luck on controlling your son's eczema.

Melissa - posted on 02/21/2010

Eucerin lotion twice a day and 1% hydrocortizone cream once a day (spread it out) is what my pediatrician recommended for my child. Went away overnight!

April - posted on 02/21/2010

Our son is the same way. Our doctor actually told us to give him more baths at night before bed then lotion him up with Vasaline and put his PJs on him. Make sure he soaks in the tub without it being soapy. We also made sure to use a washcloth on him to exfoliate his skin so when we put the vaseline on it held the most moisture in. You want to make sure you lotion him up again in the morning also with the RX or Eurcurine (I don't think I spelled that oneright) Do this untill it's gone then you can just lotion him with the eurcurine after his reg baths. Hope this helps it helped out our little guy!

Melissa - posted on 02/21/2010

Aveeno Soothing Relief Creamy Lotion and Body Wash have worked great for us. Also found out he is allergic to tomatoes and possibly lactose intolerant, which can cause eczema.

Katie - posted on 02/21/2010

My son also has eczema and it was awful at first until we found the right routine for him. We used the Rx cream all over about twice a day until it started to clear up, and then used just vaseline to grease him up at every diaper change. He was a little grease ball for awhile! And then I bathe him even less than every other day as well, maybe about 3 times a week. That helped a lot and our doctor thinks his skin looks very good now even though he still gets dry patches which we will spot treat with his Rx cream. So basically Rx for the bad patches and to help clear it up, then vaseline several times a day to help to prevent it from getting bad again. Hope that helps. Oh, and also we had to go to a stronger Rx because I forgot that the orignal Rx was not helping too much and there are other options. Ask your pediatrician about that...

Stacey - posted on 02/21/2010

Hi Aimee, I have my Son on a gfcf (gluten-free, casein-free) diet because he has Autism and I heard this diet helps. I didnt realise at the time that the rash that he had on his cheeks and sometimes arms and legs was eczema until recently. After having my Son on the diet for a couple weeks I noticed the 'rash' had improved greatly. After being told it was eczema I also started using sorbolene cream on it daily to stop it from being dry and now it is mostly kept under control. If you do a bit of research, maybe just google some key words, you can read for yourself how diet and eczema can be related, this may be a method of treatment you have not thought of and may help.

Cecelia - posted on 02/21/2010

Hi Aimee,
I am a mother of four and two of my children suffer from eczema. My eldest boy had it from birth and is now 5 years and grown out of it - only having an occasional case of it. I am now treating my 15 month old. Keeping the skin moist is the key. I use a combo of dermeeze, goats milk soap in the bath (all natural) and the occasional hydrocortisone cream. I assure you there is no easy way out but if you continue to use these regularly things will improve

Aveley - posted on 02/20/2010

Calendula cream works like magic and is really commonly used here in Australia.
Have you tested for any allergies? My son suffered from eczema right up until he was diagnosed with a dairy & egg allergy, once we cut those out of his diet the eczema disappeared immediately and completely.

Camilla - posted on 02/20/2010

Hello,
have you tried to take him to a Homeopath or Naturopath they are fantastic, anything I ever have problems with skin, food, allergies in general. They can not only help the problem but also give a solution so that your little one does not have to live with this sore issue for the rest of his life. There is always a solution to any problem sometimes you just need a little bit of help form the right people.
Thankyou
Camilla :)

Emily - posted on 02/20/2010

my son had a mix of eczema and cradle cap when he was younger and i used cortisone cream...i applied whenever i noticed him trying to itch. it worked well.

Isabel - posted on 02/20/2010

My son has eczema too. I use eucerin cream on him, it's realy thick and seems to work! I also bath him with baby aveno body wash. I had thought to bath him as less as possible, but i confirmed with 2 different doctors that the more you bath them the better, the bath actually helps keep their skin hydrated.Hope my tips are helpful!

Lauri - posted on 02/20/2010

My son has what looked like the worst cause ever! I wasnt able to take very many pics because it covered his whole body! He still has it, I had to take him to a dermatologist. He has 4 prescriptions, takes bathes every other day and can only use Aquaphor body wash, and T Gel for his scalp. He is supposed to soak in a luke warm bath for 15 minutes every other day before we wash him down. After his bath we dont really towel dry him, we pat him dry and let him air dry. Then we slather him with his prescription creams.

Sarah - posted on 02/20/2010

It definitely depends on the child. My oldest son who is now 2 1/2 had it when he was born. He eventually outgrew it for the most part. During winter and summer, he will still have an occassional break out though. When my youngest was born (he is now 16 months old) he got eczema very bad. He got this patch on his leg that just wouldn't get better, in fact, it got worse. I tried so many different things from steroid creams to hydrocortisone creams, different lotion, changing laundry detergents..EVERYTHING! He recently got a couple spots on the crown of his head that are really bad! I actually use Lubriderm on both my children now and use a glycerin soap in the shower. Their eczema has cleared up for the most part, except for the spots on his scalp. I was also informed that the more children you have, each one of them will have it worse. Good luck :)

Ellen - posted on 02/20/2010

I used the Eucerin Cream for my son and it worked amazingly! It was the only lotion/cream that worked for him. I still have the original container because you don't have to use much of it at a time. Hope that helps!