eczema - wits end now

Jennifer - posted on 02/14/2010

My sister who has suffered with severe exzema always breaks out if she has too much dairy. Many people react differently strawberries,tomatoes, dried apricots affect my friends son very badly and sugars, shampoos and most soaps affect my children.
All the previous posts suggest great ideas and the process of elimination can be frustrating and a little tedious but definitely worthwhile. Sweet almond oil is great in the bath and adding a few drops chamomile essential oil is very soothing for the itching. Lavender essential oil is also very soothing. Fesh peppermint leaves made up in a pot of tea, cooled then added to bathwater is also very soothing and cooling for the pain and itching.

Iridescent - posted on 02/14/2010

Shelia had some very good suggestions. Some more we got for my daughter's severe eczema were -
Wash clothing for the entire household in a "free" detergent (Tide Free, Purex Free, etc). The residue in the washer stays if you use another kind for even one person.
Bathe in lukewarm water daily 10-15 minutes, use glycerin soap (Free & Clear) or Cetaphil soap, pat dry partially, coat eczema patches in the Hydrocortisone Cream, then cover his entire body in VaniCream or Cetaphil Cream. Coat with all ointments one more time at ~12 hours later (so if bath is in the morning, do just creams at night, and vice versa).
Robathol oil or Olive oil can be used in the bath and will help.
No smoking around the kids, period. If smoke residue is on clothing, keep it outside (ex: jackets).
Get the allergy testing done as you stated.
Switch to a different type of milk (and know that milk is not a necessary part of the diet and does tend to cause many problems in all age groups). You can even switch to an enriched Rice or Almond milk.
Do you use water softener? I am extremely allergic to it, and until we found out, my life was horrible. I had problems ALL OVER. It took until the entire system was flushed out for my skin to improve. It's a more rare problem, but severe.

Jennifer - posted on 02/14/2010

Dear Mandy,
I hope you get answers with the allergy testing. There is a fabulous product called billygoat soap that a mother developed for her child with severe skin allergy, she had tried everything from coirtisone creams, dietry changes etc....but nothing worked.
I used this on my son and daughter who have very sensitive skin and have problems with itching an mild exzema......after using creams, visit's to the doctor and chinese herbalist this is the olnly thing that worked.
I am in Australia and this is an Australian product.. following is the address http://www.billygoatsoap.com.au/the-bill... It's worth reading.
Good Luck.

Mandy - posted on 02/14/2010

Thanks Shelia, I don't use dryer sheets anyway and only use non-bio on all the families clothes. Will look out for the milk thanks. I have tried the dream cream but unfortunately it didn't work, the weird thing is that I'm actually allergic to the Lush bath bombs.

Sheila - posted on 02/14/2010

Hi- I had a similar experience with my little girl. I have a few things that helped us:

1. Never use dryer sheets on your baby's clothing. They are very irritating to their sensitive skin.

2. Try lactose-free whole milk- Its called Lactaid- It should help him alot.

3. There is an all natural company called LUSH that makes irritant free lotions. We use Dream Cream and the bath balls in her tub. It makes a huge difference- our dr. has started recommended the company after seeing the improvements in Ava.

4. Have him allergy tested to make sure nothing sle is going on

Mandy - posted on 02/14/2010

We've been prescribed the Oilatum before but it doesn't do anything.
I haven't heard of the other 2, so will ask the Dr when we speak to him on Monday, but it's so frustrating, all they seem to say is "he'll grow out of it". He's a very smiley little boy and he only seems to scratch at his legs, and I'm worried about him getting an infection. Fingers crossed they'll find something to help. Thanks for the advice x

Sara - posted on 02/14/2010

My doctor told me about Oilatum. Its available at the chemist to buy over the counter, bath him in that and nothing else. My doctor aslo orescribed my son a cream callled Fucibet. It worked wonders for him as he had it very bad at one stage that it got infected, and he does still get flare ups but nothing very bad anymore.

Kim - posted on 02/14/2010

Have you tried Eucerin lotion and Eucerin cleanser to bathe him. My son is 16 and has had it since he was a baby also. These are the only things that seemed to help. He had several allergies and it DOES help to find out what these are and avoid them. What seemed to help him the most was once he could start allergy shots. Your son is probably too young to start them though. My son wasnt allowed to start til he was 6yrs. old and we had to fight it like you are until then and the thing that helped the most was the Eucerin. The cleanser is hard to find but CVS would order it for us. My son doesnt have to use it any longer. Not sure if that can be credited to the allergy shots or due to him just out growing it.