My 6yr old just developed eczema this year...her hands get soo red and sore. I can't seem to find anything that works well enough to clear it up. ( i have been told that usage of cortizone should be restricted to once in a while..) I need something that works well that i can use EVERYDAY! I also live in Canada,and am not able to get a hold of some of the American stuff due to cross bordering etc. Help!?!

Carol - posted on 02/18/2009

use vit E you can break open caplets and rub the oil on the dry patches it works plus you can get that at your local pharmacy or store in the vit. section

Amber - posted on 02/18/2009

I found that the besst solution to work with eczema was antibacterial soap.  I use it on myself and the kids, and then just lotion.  Either Vasoline or St-Ives intensive care.  We haven't had a problem since.

Kelly - posted on 02/18/2009

My son also suffers from eczema.  We tried taking dairy and processed foods out of his diet as this seems to be a problem in many cases.  He still gets very dry skin.  We discovered pure shea butter last year.  We bought a jar and tried it out.  As long as we remember to use the shea at least twice a day he does not suffer.  On occasion we use eucerin and have found that the generic from Walgreen's works well also. 

Mostly, it is remembering to apply it more than once a day.  We also have a cool mist humidifier running throughout the night in his bedroom.

Amy - posted on 02/18/2009

Linda! Maybe you can check on elidel, it's a great product that you don't have to use all the time and everyday. To suggest a few things make sure she is constantly applying lotion. We like Gold bond. Also, luke warm showers, have her try and air dry after. I wash bedding about every 3 weeks or more often. Good luck! Amy G. xoxox

Amy - posted on 02/18/2009

Linda! Maybe you can check on elidel, it's a great product that you don't have to use all the time and everyday. To suggest a few things make sure she is constantly applying lotion. We like Gold bond. Also, luke warm showers, have her try and air dry after. I wash bedding about every 3 weeks or more often. Good luck! Amy G. xoxox

Caroline - posted on 02/18/2009

Ask your doctor about a cream with Kenalog in it. My daughter also has eczema, and this cream is amazing. Her skin will clear up in about 2 applications! When she is not having a flare-up I use Aveeno with the dark blue lid. That is great, too. The other kinds of Aveeno don't work as well as the blue. Also, the doctor said when it is bad to bathe her every few hours and instead of drying her off put on lots of the Aveeno to hold in the moisture.

Missy - posted on 02/18/2009

The best thing that works for my daughter, beleive it or not, is Vaseline! The cotisone and steriodal creams burn her. I've used them too, and they burn, and honestly, don't work well on us. But Vaseline seems to take care of it really well! and Cheap for a big tub!

Missy - posted on 02/18/2009

The best thing that works for my daughter, beleive it or not, is Vaseline! The cotisone and steriodal creams burn her. I've used them too, and they burn, and honestly, don't work well on us. But Vaseline seems to take care of it really well! and Cheap for a big tub!

Barbara - posted on 02/18/2009

if you can get  it try  Eucerin . its a real heavy creme and it works really good.

Kelli - posted on 02/18/2009

You should be able to get some dermatop ointment if its really bad also you may want to look at your child's diet allergy, eczema and immunology all go together--maybe try lower the cow's milk intake or other foods that are likely to be causing this reaction.

Kelli - posted on 02/18/2009

You should be able to get some dermatop ointment if its really bad also you may want to look at your child's diet allergy, eczema and immunology all go together--maybe try lower the cow's milk intake or other foods that are likely to be causing this reaction.

Danielle - posted on 02/18/2009

this wont fix the flare ups but it will prevent new ones if used often everyday... Neutrogena makes a hand cream that is very thick it is hard to spread over large surfaces but used every day it works great. they also make a lotion that is better than most but the cream works best.

Melannie - posted on 02/18/2009

I had the same problem with my daughter! She also had "hot" spots in the bends of her arms and legs as well as areas on her face and hands. My dermatologist gave her a prescription for a mixture: Elocon and Eucerine creams. Had to be mixed by the pharmacist (50/50) but it worked great! If you try this, let me know how it works for you!

Natasha - posted on 02/18/2009

Quoting Linda:

My 6yr old just developed eczema this year...her hands get soo red and sore. I can't seem to find anything that works well enough to clear it up. ( i have been told that usage of cortizone should be restricted to once in a while..) I need something that works well that i can use EVERYDAY! I also live in Canada,and am not able to get a hold of some of the American stuff due to cross bordering etc. Help!?!

hi all 3 of my children suffer from eczema, its in  my family. Eperderm is really god greasy but good the docotor should be able to prescribe it. But i found that the more dairy products they have the worse it becomes, try cutting out dairy products, i use goats milk, cheese and butter for my kids and they do not flare up, also you may know that non bio soap powder should be used to wash clothes. remember that nothing will get rid of eczema you just have to be ontop of keeping the skin moist not letting it dry and vaselin is good also, i hope i have helped a little.

Shana - posted on 02/18/2009

My daughter has it on her hands as well ... they get really inflamed and all lotions sting them.  We use her perscription hydrocortizone cream until they clear up and then we use emu lotion on her daily.  It will work for a while until another flare up then its back to the perscription cream.

Judy - posted on 02/18/2009

We discovered my daughter had eczema at 1 year old. Since then we have tried everything under the sun. She would just continually scratch until she would bleed and we were helpless because we didn't know what to do to stop it. What finally worked for us was a trip to the allergist. He put her on a combination of both Zyrtec and Singular and overnight we saw a difference in her scratching. Once we were able to control that, it was easier to clear up her skin. Raw shea butter worked great to help heal scratches and once she got smooth we transitioned to using Aveeno several times a day. She still breaks out in patches at times, but it is not nearly as bad as it was. I'm hoping she's actually starting to grow out of it!

Rennee - posted on 02/18/2009

Linda,

My family has a history of eczema and my son has had it since he was a baby (he is 14 now) but I have made up my own remedie of Lubriderm lotion (one of them with no perfume, I like the one with oats) and first aid ointment like neosporin, zinc ointment and hydrocortizone.  I mix these all together and keep in a container just for him to use on his eczema.  When he is having a bad break out he puts it on 3-4 times a day.  It was worked well for him, its just hard to get ahead of the eczema before it gets really bad.  It may help your daughter to wear a pair of gloves to bed to keep moisture on her hands.  Dont have her use antibacterial soap or hand sanitizer they are too harsh on the skin. 

Good Luck

Rennee

Lauren - posted on 02/18/2009

The FDA issued a warning about Elidel recently in regard to link to cancers...I had severe problems after a burn and this was prescribed by one MD but another encouraged me to discontinue use due to possible side effects as indicated my FDA...buyer beware

Peta - posted on 02/18/2009

When my now  9 month old daughter was born she developed a horrible rash all over her face and the health professionals continued to tell me it was a hormone rash, until my G.P. finally diagnosed it as eczema. I was told not to use soap or even Q.V. wash(recommended for eczema and dermatitis sufferers). I did a little research and found an extremely old remedy absolutely fabulous. Get a knee high stocking, put about a cup of rolled oats ( the same ones you would use to make porridge) in the stocking, tie a knot in it and place the stocking in the bath with your daughter. Let her play with the stocking rolling it around in her hands ( I used to rub it all over my newborn's face) every bath for about a week or longer if needed. My little girls face cleared up in just over a week, no kidding. This is a totally natural remedy and very cheap, no expensive cortisone creams that can be damaging in the long run.

Another remedy i have personally tried ( i get eczema on my feet) is to wrap body part (in my case my feet) in cling wrap, put cotton socks, or mittens over them before going to bed and leave it all night ( a little hot and unpleasant in summer). This also really works, my feet cleared up in about 5 days. I know it sounds nutty, but honestly try it, it might just work too for your daughter. Good Luck....

Karen - posted on 02/18/2009

Eucerin cream, cheap, over the counter, apply to moist skin after a bath and only use Basis soap. Daughter has had since 2 weeks old. good luck

Karen - posted on 02/18/2009

Eucerin cream, cheap, over the counter, apply to moist skin after a bath and only use Basis soap. Daughter has had since 2 weeks old. good luck

Zoila - posted on 02/18/2009

arbonne brand baby cream its just for this type of thing! its comes in both an oil & lotion it clears it up right away in a few days! hte bottle is green with a purple lid & has a baby on the front of it. good luck :P

Shirley - posted on 02/18/2009

Hi. My cousin had to use cortizone on his face, now he cant get a clean shave as his skin has remained really sensiitive, so keep that in mind. 

My nephew uses a product by the brand name of 'Halo 'n Horn' they make soap, shampoos and other essentials that are free from LSL and other "ordinary" chemicals that lead to dry skin or  eczema... have a look online if your health shops don't stock it. All the foaming agents and some preservitives are often the only cause of eczema, all the best

Joan - posted on 02/17/2009

Maybe it would help more if you put the prescription on first then the lotion? maybe you have tried but I would think that the lotion might prevent absorbtion of the medication. My son has eczema too and we only use the prescription for bad spots and lotion the rest of the time. The precription we have is mometasone feroate cream usp 0.1%, it only takes one or two uses to clear up the spots. 

Teresa - posted on 02/17/2009

The best thing I have found and is the cheapest is a product called Bag Balm. It is on the pet isle at walmart. Me and my whole family use it and it works great. We usually have to use it in the winter when the air is dry. It is really great and I would try it before anything else.

Joan - posted on 02/17/2009

There is a bath soap made especially for kids with eczema also euceric lotion (or generic), Aquaphor. Between breakouts I use creamy baby oil on my son everyday right after the bath before drying him off. Paying close attention to laundry and bathsoaps that tend to cause more irritation for the child is also helpful. Sometimes it is best to switch to the unscented dye free soaps and softeners. Not letting them get too hot at night, some foods can also be triggers. Good luck.

Jennifer - posted on 02/17/2009

hydrogen peroxide 3x a day!

Jacy - posted on 02/17/2009

cortizone is a steriod and thats why it should have limited use. what works really well is aquafor. my daughter is 23 months old and has eczema bad and what i do is lotion her with eucerine after every bath. than at night i put on cortizone and the aquafor. i also cover her really bad spots with tape and gauze so she doesnt scratch all night. also what helps is benadryl (childrens allergy meds) it will limit the itching. also this could be an allergy to something and if it continues maybe get an allergy test done. good luck!

Jacy - posted on 02/17/2009

cortizone is a steriod and thats why it should have limited use. what works really well is aquafor. my daughter is 23 months old and has eczema bad and what i do is lotion her with eucerine after every bath. than at night i put on cortizone and the aquafor. i also cover her really bad spots with tape and gauze so she doesnt scratch all night. also what helps is benadryl (childrens allergy meds) it will limit the itching. also this could be an allergy to something and if it continues maybe get an allergy test done. good luck!

Jacy - posted on 02/17/2009

cortizone is a steriod and thats why it should have limited use. what works really well is aquafor. my daughter is 23 months old and has eczema bad and what i do is lotion her with eucerine after every bath. than at night i put on cortizone and the aquafor. i also cover her really bad spots with tape and gauze so she doesnt scratch all night. also what helps is benadryl (childrens allergy meds) it will limit the itching. also this could be an allergy to something and if it continues maybe get an allergy test done. good luck!

Sue - posted on 02/17/2009

I know of a company that sells wonderful products. All of the products are botanically based and all natural ingredients. I know a number of people that have struggled with eczema for a very long time that are now finding relief through products from this company. I would love to give you more information, feel free to email me if you are interested. My name is Sue Heaney, you can reach me at sueheaney@yahoo.com

Ericka - posted on 02/17/2009

Have you ever tried Arbonne products? Their products are all pure, safe and beneficial....free of chemical dyes and fragrances, free of mineral oil...contain no animal products or by-products. They have NEVER been tested on animals....they are safe enough to test directly in humans! This means a lot to me when I use a product on my own children. These products are totally amazing!!! They just came out with a GREAT new and improved skin conditioning oil that works wonders on dry skin. Their hand creme is great too! I'd love to help you get some products if you are interested!!! We are open in Canada as well. We can even get you a discount! Let me know. I suffered from eczema as a young child and know how miserable it can be. Let's get this girl some relief!

Sandra - posted on 02/17/2009

Hi there. I have suffered from eczema all my life, and now my kids get it. Make sure your child doesn't use any soap at all, find a soap alternative such as sorbolene wash. That includes dish washing liquid or washing powder for the washing machine. I also find sorbolene with glycerine cream wonderful and it works for both of my kids as well. And you really do need to take note of triggers such as too much sugar, dairy, heat, etc. I also found Graham's calendulis plus cream fantastic as a natural remedy - check out the info here: http://www.eczema.com.au/skincare-produc... It is well worth a try. Good-luck! I completely understand what your daughter is going through and it is really a terrible condition to put up with.

Emily - posted on 02/17/2009

EUCERIN!!!!!! I have eczema still and the only things that help are the eucerin calming cream and there is also a eucerin anti itch spray too. Also exposure to sun light really helps. My brother has it on his feet and he has a little tanning lamp that he will use to help, I know here you can actually get tanning lamp prescribed by your dr. good luck, hope she finds relief!

Dana - posted on 02/17/2009

Also, it don't cost an arm in the leg to ship to Canada. I ship stuff to Canada all the time for my business. Sometimes companies over charge shipping to customers in Canada, but it really isn't that much more than shipping something here in the US. All of you mothers who have a child that suffers from eczema, you should really try the unrefined shea butter before you try prescription medication.... it really works! Natural is better for you! :O)

Dana at www.earthglominerals.com

Dana - posted on 02/17/2009

Hello, I would recommend a natural alternative that is harmless and can be used as often as you wish. Unrefined shea butter works excellent for eczema. You will want the unrefined shea butter because it still has all of it's medicinal properties. It has a long shelf life of 12 to 24 months if stored properly in a container in a cool place. Shea butter has been used for centuries in Africa. It is used to moisturize and protect the skin from sun, wind, heat and salt water. It is known as the most effective skin moisturizer and conditioner because of its high content of non-saponifiable fats including vitamin F. It is an excellent skin moistener and is used for aging skin, eczema and all forms of massage. It is also used to relax the muscles and to treat sprains wounds and colds. The unique formula of Shea butter also helps prevent and protect dry skin providing temporal relief from irritation, dryness and wind burned skin. You can find this for about 10.00-15.00 a pound. A small amount really goes a long way so it will really last. If you can't find any let me know and I can send you some. I use it in a lot of my formulations. You can contact me at sales@earthglominerals.com if you need some to try or want to purchase some from me. I believe that natural is the best way to go instead of steroids. Hope this helps you! Take care, Dana at www.earthglominerals.com

Laura - posted on 02/17/2009

Hi Linda, try and limit the number of actual baths your daughter has and try to keep the bath water luke warm. Heat can make the rash worse. Apply body lotion without perfumes, just after bath. Another good remedy is olive oil. Also try putting a humidifier in her room to keep the air moist and prevent drying of the skin

Debbie - posted on 02/17/2009

My daughter is 19 and has developed severe eczema on her hands - she has gone twice to a dermatologist and they give her a cortizone cream. It works but we have found nothing that cures it. It does get worse when she is stressed - she only develped this in the past couple of years. I have found nothing that works instantaniously. I wish I had an answer and if someone does have some home remedy that works - I would love to know. Thanks, Debbie

Caryn - posted on 02/17/2009

LInda...my daughter also had eczema badly (all over her hands/arms/stomach/more).  The only over the counter cream that helped was cetaphil cream (in the tub...not a pump).  Now anytime she starts to break out we use it and it disappears immediately.  It's excellent.

Melinda - posted on 02/17/2009

My son had eczema when he was four and now he is eight and he hasn't had any more break outs. The first thing we had to do was change the soap he was bathing with which made the eczema worse, he only uses Dove bathing soap and shampoo(hypoallergenic). The only cream that actually made a difference is a prescribed cream called ELIDEL 60g (pimecrolimus) 1%, the best thing about this cream is that it isn't a steroid! checkout this website it gives you a lot of information about the medication: http://emc.medicines.org.uk/document.asp...

Donna - posted on 02/17/2009

My 1 year old was diagonised to have bad heat rash but border line eczema. They told me to use moistrizer but I found this was making it worse.  So I used baby powder and put it all over her body from top to bottom even in her hair.  It's working and it's going away.  This may not help but anything other then greasy creams may help.  Good luck.

Kristi - posted on 02/17/2009

You should try Arbonne intelligence rejuvenating creme. A friend of mine had eczema really bad and this has helped clear it up way more than any doctor's recommendations.

Samantha - posted on 02/17/2009

Linda,



Perhaps you might want to try some lotion made by a Canadian company by the name of Arbonne. I have heard that it works for those that suffer from eczema and if you have tried other things this may be what you are looking for. Good luck

Lisa - posted on 02/17/2009

My daughter had it and our dermatologist recommended Dove soap, no baths and definitely no baby oil (which I thought would work, but ends up making it worse). Also, we had to get only 100% cotton "pajamas" which, in the U.S. can't be sold as pajamas, they're sold as long underwear. That by itself helped immensely. The polyester in American pajamas for kids made it much worse. Hope this helps!

Brettne - posted on 02/17/2009

Skin issues are almost always a sign of something not being right on the inside of the body.  My niece (5yrs.) has suffered from eczema her whole life.  When I began to get it about a year ago I did a lot of research and kept coming back to the issue of diet.  People who have skin issues often also have digestive issues or issues within their intestines.  These problems can be caused by allergies, specifically wheat and/or dairy.  I am allergic to both and my niece was just diagnosed with an allergy to dairy.  When I cleaned up my diet, the eczema cleared up as well.  It's too soon to tell for my niece but I have high hopes!

You can delete dairy from your diet for 2 weeks and see if you notice any difference.  Or you could just have your child tested.  However, sometimes, you can have an intolerance or delayed reaction allergy that is different than a full blown allergy, but it will effect the intestines nonetheless.  If dairy is the culprit, it's an easy fix.  Might be difficult in the beginning if your child eats a lot of dairy, but I would think that getting rid of the eczema would outweigh the desire for dairy.   : )   Hope this helps.  

Olivia - posted on 02/17/2009

like the others have suggested, try checking for allergies.  extreme cold often brings it on.  my nutritionist has me use pure coconut oil on my son and a warm air humidifier.  make sure you keep her skin well hydrated.  be careful, though, children with eczema tend to have allergies, even topically.  don't use detergents with harsh chemicals (both laundry and for bathing)  i use doc bronners baby mild hemp oil soap to bathe my children.  a lot of over the counter baby shampoos (including johnson and johnson) have harsh chemicals in them...the stuff that makes lather and bubbles) so stay away from typical baby bubble bath (my son is allergic to all of it).  California baby makes a good bubble bath with out the harsh allergen causing ingredients.  I feel that these children are allergic to these things for a reason, because the are not good for anyone.Also my 1st aid teacher advised us to use natural things of sm children's hands since they are often in and around their mouths.  she was saying how dangerous something as simple as the non wash of soap because of the high alcohol content and toxins in it.  hope this is helpful

Pearl - posted on 02/17/2009

Quoting Linda:

My 6yr old just developed eczema this year...her hands get soo red and sore. I can't seem to find anything that works well enough to clear it up. ( i have been told that usage of cortizone should be restricted to once in a while..) I need something that works well that i can use EVERYDAY! I also live in Canada,and am not able to get a hold of some of the American stuff due to cross bordering etc. Help!?!

Hi Linda,

My four children each had eczema when they were babies.  My doctor suggested hydrocortizone cream 2 to 3 times a day.  This cream comes in different percentages.  I was told to use the .5% and if I could not find it I should purchase the 1% and dilute it with some fragrance free lotion.   

I am currently watching a little girl who has severe eczema to the point where she makes herself bleed.  I suggested the hydrocortizone cream based on my own experience with it.  The parents instead tried other options.  Those options did not work & I had to tell them they needed to take her to the doctor if they wanted me to continue watching her.  The doctors ended up telling them to use the hydrocortizone cream on her face 2 to 3 times a day and she was given a prescription for a stronger steroid to use on the rest of her body.  I did notice an improvement in her skin, but unfortunately the parents do not keep up on it.      

I hope this is helpful. 

Averil - posted on 02/17/2009

i used 2 suffer with really bad eczema as a child. it was mainly behind my knees & inside elbow. the heat made it worse. my mum couldn't find anything to get rid of it until she stopped using scented bath wash etc. try using unscented bath stuff & maybe baby shampoo & conditioner as its milder (if your not already using it that is) & the same with the bath wash. do they have johnson's baby stuff in canada? also you could try zinc & caster oil nappy cream. i have a 5 month old daughter & i use it all the time if her skin looks dry & it seems to clear up the next day.

Olivia - posted on 02/17/2009

oh, and unlike the others, i do not recomend steroids and harsh chemically treatments, especially on small childrens hands.  their hands are always in their mouths andmy cpr/1st aid teacher was even stressing how dangerous the non wash off soap is for finger sucking children (it has a high alchol content and some kind of toxic substance)

Deannie - posted on 02/17/2009

my daughter and I both get eczema patches.... she mostly gets it on her shins and I get on the outside of my upper arm. i use 'Aveeno active Naturals- Eczema Skincare' (daily relief for itchy, red, extra dry skin, steroid-free & fragrancefree)

i got it from walmart, in medicinal cream section



good luck