20 Month Old with Eczema

My daughter had a really bad eczema flare when she was 2 months old. It was head to toe. I used everything the doctor gave me but what I found really helped was cutting dairy out my diet. She was exclusively breast-fed. That and Eucerin and or Aquaphor helped so much. She still gets break outs every now and then on her cheeks and the area around her ankles, but never to the extent that it was.

We also switched detergents for the whole family. I found that she would have breakouts whenever she was pressed next to me, especially on her cheeks. After I switched to All Free and Clear for everyone, I noticed a huge difference in her break out cycle. Because even baby detergents have some fragrance to them. We also dont use fabric softner anymore. I just use vinegar in the rinse cycle. It doesnt leave a smell to your clothes at all and softens really nicely.

Also what my friends have found that have helped their kids is a daily Omega-3 suppliment. Basically kids fish oil. I cant remember the brand, but I know they sell it at health food stores and GNC. If you ask for it, I'm sure they know what you are talking about. They are strawberry flavored. I cant get my kids to take them, but if I could they would be taking them daily. Its basically a chewable capsule with strawberry flavored fish oil in it.

Also, something else I have heard that works but again we havent tried yet is the NAET treatments. I have heard that sessions run between $40-$60 depending on the doctor but I have heard great things about people actually eliminating their allerigies and one of my friends reported her daughter having little to no eczema breakouts after being treated. It can take a couple of treatments depending on the severity of the allergy but I think its worth it to get lasting results.

Here is some information I pulled for you off my moms group website.

Here is some information about NAET:

www.naet.com

HOW THE NAMBUDRIPAD ALLERGY ELIMINATION TECHNIQUE (NAET) WORKS

HOW DO ALLERGIES ARISE?

NAET is based upon the principles of oriental medicine which state that good health is dependent upon the free flow of life energy, chi, through channels in the body called meridians. Anything will naturally generate its own field of energy. Some of these energetic fields will be incompatible with your chi and, if close enough to you, will disrupt the free flow of your own energy through your energy pathways.

When this energy flow is blocked, health problems develop. The severity and nature of the problems depend upon the extent of the restriction of the energy flow, location of the blockage, and its duration.

If you were in a perfect state of balance and good health, nothing would have an energy field incompatible with your own. Until this state is reached, inevitably you encounter something incompatible with your energy field.

NAET resolves this issue of incompatibility.

HOW ALLERGIES ARE ELIMINATED

While you are in the presence of something blocking the energy flow in your body (this would be an allergen in NAET terms--a much broader definition of an allergy than the classical one), through the application of acupressure on specific points along the spine, the blocked energy pathways are opened and chi is allowed to flow. The body then realizes the flow of energy is possible even in the presence of the energy blocking substance.

The next time the body is in the presence of this substance, it remembers what happened during the acupressure session and allows the energy to flow through the formerly blocked channels. The NAET treatment has re-trained the body to always allow the flow of chi in the presence of this allergen, in effect resetting the "computer" in the central nervous system which regulates the flow of energy.

After twenty-four hours, the time it takes for energy to completely circulate through all energy pathways, the "computer" is permanently reset and the substance which was formerly obstructing the free flow of chi no longer blocks it. If the treatment is passed completely--I.e. If the treatment clears all the energy pathways in the twenty-four hour period--you should never react to this substance again.

These are the principles upon which NAET is based

I know lots of information right. HTH

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You asked for holistic and I'm from that arena. Finding the cause of eczema can take a while. One of the purposes of the skin is to help eliminate toxins from the body. It does this as the last organ in this elimination cycle. So, if the skin is showing up with overloaded symptoms then most likely one of the primary organs of elimination is having trouble eliminating or eliminating something in particular. These other organs are liver/gallbladder, kidneys, bladder, etc. You also have to consider the lymphatic system too.
Like I said, trying to find the cause can take a while but helping the body doesn't have to be. We know we are dealing with a cleansing back up in the body. So, start at the start. What is being put into the body. Foods, vaccinations, medications, drinks, etc. What's the body doing. Daily bowel movements. Optimum is once upon rising and after every meal, every day. If you are close to potty training, taking the child to the bathroom for a sit after every meal. This sends a very good elimination message to the body that will hopefully stick with them for a lifetime to begin a good habit of elimination. Lots of fruits and vegetables, mostly the later, will help keep the elimination movements going. Fruits are cleansing and veggies are building. You want more building than cleansing. A good ratio is 2 fruits to 5 veggies every day.
Other things that can help in the meantime... Raw honey masking and using instead of soaps. Honey is naturally anti-bacterial and does not dry or strip the skin of any of the good stuff it needs. A milk and honey mix is wonderful too. I put a little raw goat milk in my honey to mask my face. It does wonders for dry skin and lines on the face. Speaking of soaps, make sure there is no sodium laurel sulphate in them and in shampoos. You'll find most of them do. Health food stores have good ones but you still have to look at the labels to make sure. I like the Jason brand for these but not their toothpaste. The Herb Shop at 160 S State in Orem has homeopathics that can help. There is one for the skin simply called "Skin" and another for eczema called "sulphur". The sulphur one will also have an potency number on it 6x or 30x. 30x is for chronic conditions, for continued use. 6x is for something that's just shown up like a cold or toothache and you'll only be taking it for a short period of time. Homeopathics have no side effects thus overdosing can not occur. As a matter of fact, once the body has taken what it needs from the homeopathic it stops accepting it and just flushes it out. You'll know when to stop using it when you see the symptoms clear up.
The Herb Shop can also put you in touch with a couple of great iridologists that can teach you more on a sound holistic diet for your family and put together a homeopathic program tailored just for your child. I did this with my child many years ago and it is very effective. If you think you are dealing with allergies, this same iridology program clears these up as well. I remember looking at the whole foods diet thinking I couldn't do it because I was "allergic" to most of what was on there. The first month, I followed everything and ate what I could. The second month, I started trying out the foods I had not eaten in over 15 years and I could eat them - every single one of them. I believe the homeopathics are the key in seeing quick results. The diet is very closely intertwined. My son had amazing things happen for him even if I couldn't get him to eat anything green. There is also an allergy therapy called NAET (www.naet.com) that you could try too. I've heard the best in this field here in Utah is Thomas Anderson ###-###-#### or you can check out www.alternativetreat.com . He's in SLC.

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Hi S. - my 2 yr old suffers from flareups mainly from dry skin and baths.. We switched to Aveeno baby wash and followed up with Aveeno cream while she is still sort of wet after the bath. The Cetaphil cream didn't work so well for us but may for you. Stay away from soaps at bath time. Stick to Dove, Cetaphil wash, Aveeno wash, etc as these do not contain soap. Always follow up with creme, not lotion (we found that out the hard way). If this regimen doesn't help within a week switch laundry detergent. Wash your child's clothes separately with hot water to rule out the detergent aggravating the eczema. Good luck to you! p.s., I like the Aquaphor to help clear up flare ups also!

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Eczema is typically caused by food allergies. I would have her tested and find out what foods to remove to reduce the flare ups. That way you can do it without medication however help her to keep it from continuing.

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I have daycare child that had good results with Aquaphor. We would rub it on the affected areas three times a day and all over after a bath. It's also good on extra dry skin. You don't need vey much just enough to coat.

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Shea Butter.....have you tried it?

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My 2 year old has had pretty bad eczema since about 4 months - we have tried everything! During the last flare up that sent us to the dr, the dr suggested using cetephil (sp) cream, not lotion. She said that sometimes for kids that have eczema or really dry skin that lotion actually dries the skin out! I have used the cream myself and I notice a big difference! We also have a humidifer in her room and run it at night and that seems to help. Also, after your child's bath, don't completely dry the skin off, leave it a little moist and then put your lotion or cream on. By doing this and using the perscription creams when the flare ups get really bad, we have been able to manage it pretty well. Good luck! I know it is so hard when they are itchy!

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