Allergies - Charlotte,NC

Hi K.. Please get in touch with me. I know a lot about eczema and would love to share the info with you. I am somewhat of a natural treatment researcher and I love finding ways to deal with common problems. I have two friends I worked with and we were able to clear up both of their children's skin with a few simple changes. You can reach me through ____@____.com or call ###-###-####. I have too much info to try to type but would be happy to talk to you and forward you some info via e-mail. In the mean time, the lotions you mentioned probably won't help him because he is being reirritated by something. Give me a call and I can explain.
C. B

1 mom found this helpful

There could be a bit of heat rash going on, too, if his skin gets red and bumpy when you're nursing -- the body-to-body contact and heat can produce some rash. You can use corn starch (it's the same stuff as baby powder, but w/o all the extra scents and other potential allergens) to keep his skin cool and dry.

Since elimination diets are so difficult to make work (so many hidden ingredients), what might tell you a bit faster is, instead of eliminating a food, eat a lot of it, and see if his problem gets worse. I've heard that it can take up to 2 weeks for something to be completely eliminated from your body, so that's a long time to completely eliminate those things to see if dairy, eggs, wheat, soy, etc., are causing him to break out.

I would suggest allergy testing to be certain what foods he's allergic too. I would suggest removing wheat/gluten or dyes and preservatives from yours/his diet as well. I'm sorry you're lo is going through this but hopefully you have answers soon enough.

Hugs,
J.

K., Start with a FOOD JOURNAL, meaning you write down EVERYTHING that you eat... and then you also write down what his reactions are within an 1/2 -hour of you feeding him.

Don't STOP BF'ing, it is better in so many ways, and they usually have less allergies because you nursed... just think if you gave him formula... you might be opening pandora's box with the allergies..

Milk might be an issue too, You could call the La Leche League these mom's have seen and heard it all. They are a source of GREAT information.

They may be able to suggest some things that are right under your nose.

Good Luck!

And Remember to always do what is best for you and your family.

V.~

Check with your pediatrician to find out if there are any allergy tests for infants and if he is allergic what you can do about it at this age. I used to babysit a baby who had really bad eczema until he was about 3 years old. His parents would rub Bag Balm all over his body. They finally found out he was allergic to citric acid, which is in so many different things! But after they found out what the problem was, his skin cleared up! I hope you don't give up breastfeeding!

My son had eczema from day one but unfortunately I didn't find out til recently that he has food allergies. He's now 2 1/2. You are already doing great eliminating some things that can be allergy-causing like the peanuts, milk and eggs. I would suggest trying to keep a journal of what you eat along with what reaction your son has when he reacts. You might be able to get a better idea as to what is causing the reaction. It could be lots of other things such as soy, wheat, oats, onions just to name a few my son is allergic to. It's really a trial and error to figure it out. But keep it up! Sounds like you are doing great trying to figure it out. I wish someone had told me about the possibility of food allergies with my son when he was a baby. His eczema is just now clearing up good now that we know what we are dealing with.

The best thing I have ever seen for allergies is called Natural Cellular Defense It is a natural mineral in liquid form. My husband and son suffered terribly until taking this liquid mineral suppliment. The website is www.mywaiora.com/740801. It has done miracles for eczema sufferers two of my neighbors have given to their daughters one 5 months old one 18 months old and one three. There are no side effects and it is not a drug. They said they had tried everything else and nothing worked better. It detoxes toxins from the blood stream also allergens. You have nothing to lose to give it a try except allergies, eczema and a weak immune system. One of the benefits also is that every age can take this product from the womb to the tomb so you can also take it and if there is something in your bloodstream or breast milk that she is having a reaction to it will detox you and your breast milk so she is drinking pure breast milk toxin free, it is good for both of you and it boosts the immune system. My whole family is on it (5 of us) and we have not been to the doctor in two years after starting on this product it was a real breakthrough for us it seemed one of us was always there for something, my prayers go out to you, be led by peace. If you would like more info please call me, I would love to tell you more about it, it really is a awesome find. ###-###-#### Sheri M.

My kids sort of had that same problem. They didn't break out, but they would be very fussy any time I had too much dairy. I had to limit my dairy intake. As far as the rash, I use a special lotion called Renew. It really does work wonders and it has all naturally based ingrediants. If you want more info on the lotion and any other of the over 350 safer naturally based products e-mail me and I can get ya the info. ____@____.com Keep up the good work with the breast feeding.

K.,
there is an ARBONNE product that is made with pure safe and beneficail all nature product. No animals or minerals. I use it for my sons body hair and lotion, including diaper rash cream it has changed his skin. He is allergic to mostly outdoor things. I wouls try it and you can send it back empty if it doesn't work plus get a full refund within 45 days. I can help if interested email me at ____@____.com

K.-Not sure about allergies however I do know of a GREAT product for skin issues. It is an aloe product. I have used it for years and recommened it to people who tell me nothing is clearing up what ever they have. I could tell you pretty neat stories of what this stuff can do. I have a 2nd-3rd. degree burn on my arm from touching it to a hot pipe when I was wet. I put this on an there is no sign of a scar. It's safe for babies and can go anywhere on the body. It is awesome for aging skin. This company started very small in Saratoga NY where I am from and since has grown by leaps and bounds. Great people w/ safe, clean products that work. I used the gel but have seen great things happen w/ the juice like chemo patients not loose hair! I sound like a commercial but I have seen this work wonders w/ so many things.
Best of luck with your tiny one!

http://www.herbalanswers.com/

Sorry to hear about your child already breaking out so young. But yes my son did the same thing. When he was a couple of weeks old he started with having eczema really bad. The Dr. he was going to told me he would grow out of it. I was doing everything for him that I could he was in so much discomfortment. I felt so bad for him. It got so bad because the Dr would not do nothing for him (did not tell me to get him tested for food allergies) that it got in his blood stream and white head bumps got all over him. He just cried when you would touch him. I took him to the Allergy Doctor myself and had him tested. And yes his allergies were peanuts, eggs, wheat, milk and soy. The Allergy Dr. helped me get him under control. My son is 6 years old now and he has grown out of wheat, milk and soy. But he still has eczema some seasons are worse then others. But he has outgrown his eczema a lot. But yes when I took him off the foods that he could not have it helped him so much. He carrys a epi-pen with him.
Sorry but it does sound like it could be food allergies, sounds so much like my son when he was smaller.
Hope I could help, May God bless you and your family.

Hi K.,
I'm sorry he is having such a hard time. My daughter has a peanut allergy and we found out around her 1st birthday by confirming it at the allergist. I'm not sure if they can test that early or not; I would ask the pediatrician. For the eczema, we used baby eczema cream by Baby Naturals ( I think)...it has baby tigger and pooh on the box and is found in the baby isle at Wal Mart or Kroger. This worked better than anything. As for switching over to formula, he may have a hard time if he is this sensitive. My daughter was allergic to regular formula so we used Nutramagen and mixed it with breast milk for supplementation. I'm sorry, I know how you feel. Food allergies are the worst and so scary! Good luck, let me know what you found out.
-A.

Have you tried eliminating wheat? i know its hard but with my little girl I had to give up wheat, eggs and dairy. It was hard but worth it. Her eczema cleared up and she was a much happier baby. After a few months I gradually was able to introduce everything again with no problems.

Hi K.,
It does sound like it could be food related allergies. My oldest daughter (8 now) has been an eczema sufferer her whole life. We see an awesome pediatric derm. at Duke (Dr. Neil Prose). My daughter is most affected by heat & drastic changes in temp. outside... so we keep it very cool year round at our house. We had used Aquaphor for a long time but now use CeraVe cream (over the counter) with her other prescription meds. and it helps tremendously. We also had to cut soy out of her diet. Our allergist is great too ... Dr. LaForce at Carolina Asthma and Allergy (not sure how young they test them?)
Best Wishes!
Cris
www.laurensphoto.com

Our 2 yr. old son has had eczema since he was born. i I breastfed for a week. we tried all of the same different ointments. i think that they tested him at 6 months old. he is allergic to milk, eggs, and apple. i would definitely find out about testing your child. some times the doctors are so so about it. i have learned to insist. our 3 year old daughter is allergic to eggs. bathe them everyday, use aveeno bath wash and lotion.

My son had eczema from about 8 weeks on... when he was about six months, at suggestion of a La Leche League friend, I did an elimination diet and found removing any dairy helped. At nine months we saw an allergist who did a small battery of testing and found he was allergic to dairy, soy, and green peas. This told us enough to avoid other common allergens until he was older for more testing. (At which point (he's 3) we've now discovered at least seven food allergies.
SO, if your ped won't test find one or an allergist who will - even if it isn't for everything. If he shows positive for any allergies keep on nursing (we did for 18 months!and our doc swears he's be worse if we hadn't) and just change your diet - consider it training for feeding a food allergic child to have your own diet restricted for a bit.
My other suggestion... check ingredients on everything! We even had to change baby wash and lotion b/c they had milk proteins in them. Read up on what all a food can be listed as (ie. whey is also milk, modified food starch can mean soy though not necessarily). Good luck!

K.,
I had the same problem with my son and it was so frustrating because nothing I tried worked. Some of the things I found helpful were; a humidifier for his room at night, an aggressive prescription hydrocortizone cream to target the flare ups (one for face and one for body), bathing him every other day. When he first got the eczema I was formula feeding him and I switched him to a soy formula, which seemed to help. He is now a year and the eczema is under control, he still has a couple of flare ups now and then but I think he has grown out of it. A doctor had recommended Curel lotion (fragrence free) which is nice and thick and not as expensive as the aquafor. Good luck getting it under control, it is so tough to see their skin so irritated.

I had that problem when I was born. I was afraid my daughter would too but she only gets it on her ankles and it is very mild. your baby may be allergic to artificial ingredients. that was my problem and still is!! My mother never thought of it, so I suffered with skin problems until I was 5 when I went to the ER with all swollen from exposure to artificial banana. The then sent me to an allergist where they discovered the many allergies I had all were artificial ingredients. from red dye to artificial vanilla. my mom used to use oatmeal when the break outs were really bad you might want to try that.

Have you eliminated gluten? This one is much harder to deal with as it is a protein found in wheat, rye, oats & barley(malt). It's called celiac disease & you can find out about it online. Some great sites are:
http://www.csaceliacs.org/
http://www.celiac.com
http://www.celiac.org

There is a skin condition of celiac called dermatitis herpetiformis. It looks somewhat like this:
http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/dermatitis...

It may be what you're washing his clothes in, or perfume you may be wearing, or soap you bathe him in. There are a multitude of things it could be. I hope you find a solution soon.

I can help. Please don't give up breastfeeding. It's more likely to be an enviormental issue. Babies skin have not fully developed the protective PH barrier we have as adults and could be reacting to the petroleum based products you have been advised to use. I have seen many babies respond to an all natural, botanicaly based baby care line called Arbonne. My niece used it on her little girl and the eczema cleared up in three days. I am an Arbonne consultant and would be glad to order the product for you. We have a 45 day guarantee so there is no risk. The company has been in business for 27 years and has the best products on the market. We take pride in the fact our products are extensively tested and are pure, safe and beneficial. I have several mothers who would be glad to give you a recomendation. You can go to www.arbonne.com and check it out. It only takes a about three working days to get the order. Please let me know if you would like me to help you by contacting me at ____@____.com. I can have it sent directly to your home. Also, I have some sample packs if you would like to try it first.

Hi K.

My son is three now and still has eczema. He got it about 10 wks of age and had it really bad until he was about 2. Now it flares up and his skin is dry but not like it was. I too breastfed and was at the dr all the time for it. We tried all the creams and finally went to the dermatoligist and he suggested a lotion called cetaphil and it worked pretty well. And he said that we could put the hydrocortisone on when it flared up. We didn't do the allergy test because they said that the blood test would not be that acurate because he was so young. My son is allergic to dairy, but I never took that out of my diet because I didn't want to give formula. I feel for you and you baby, its not easy to see your baby uncomfortable. Oh and just a little something I read in parents magazine, they said that if the mom laughs a lot it releases something in the milk and babies with eczema are helped by it if they are breastfeeding. Hope this helps a little.

Hi K.,
It may be helpful to keep a dairy of what you are eating/drinking so when you see flair ups occurring you have a record of what you've eaten in the last 24 hrs.

There is a company from Australia called ONE Group, their products are awesome, Certified Organic to food grade standards. They have a Bodywash that I've read helps with eczema and they also have a superfood Probiotic which may be helpful too. Here's the link if you want more info:
www.blueridge.mionegroup.com.

I hope your baby's issues resolve quickly!!

E.

Perhaps your Ped could give you a referral to an allergy specialist, since some allergies are very dangerous you may not want to just try to figure this out on your own and to have a script for an epi-pen in case he comes in contact with some of the more severe allergens. A child in my son's Kindergarten class had a horrible reaction to another child who'd had nuts at home before coming to school.

Good luck!

My daughter is 6 months now; she developed full body eczema around 2 months. I also elminated dairy (meaning butter, milk, anything with whey, etc), eggs, peanuts, and I even started eating only organic foods. Nothing really worked so the doctor put her on Nutramigen by Enfamil ( for babies allergic to milk) and she is taking that currently. She looks better, but the doctor has her on a cortisone cream as well so it could only because of that. She still gets flare ups so I know it's not dairy, but I also read that even if she is not allergic to dairy, it could make eczema symptoms worse.

I read that it takes 7 weeks to get all the dairy out of your system, sometimes faster from the La Leche League but you should double check that as my memory could be faulty at this point. I read so many things. So if you did eliminate dairy, you would have to wait longer from the day you stopped. I don't know if this is always true, I just read it.

Also one of my nurses brought her son to a pediatric allergist because of his bad eczema. It turned out he was allergic to the CHLORINE in the water he was drinking and bathing in so chlorine filters did the trick.

Right now im working on contacting a pediatric allergist just to see if they even see babies under a yr old. my daughter has had bad itchy nights. I wash her clothes in hypoallergenic detergent ( ALL clear or Dreft) and I wash frequently to prevent infection.

hope this helps even a little.
-H.

This is probably going to sound completely crazy to you, but it's what worked on my son with the eczema. I don't have much to say about the food allergies. My neighbor and I had our sons about 2 months apart -- she was first. She would bath her son about 3 or 4 times a day. I bathed my son once a day. We both used aveno. Her son had horrible eczema, my son's was so so. When he developed it though my mom said quit bathing him everyday. He's a baby and doesn't stink do it every other day. Let the natural oils in the skin work. I did this and his eczema went away. To this day when he breaks out he gets put to bath every other night schedule until it clears up. My neighbor started doing this and her son's cleared up too.
Again, I didn't have to deal with food allergies so I don't know if it will work, but it's just a suggestion.

Good luck!

I don't have a child with food allergies, but I am a medical writer and have written articles about food allergies in children. I agree with some of the other suggestions about getting your baby tested for specific allergic triggers. If you live in Durham and can get to Duke, Dr. Wesley Burks might be a good physician for you to see. He is world-renowned for his knowledge of food allergies--especially peanut and egg--in children. He is also very kind.

Yes, I would avoid eating foods like soy, nuts, garlic, onions and milk. I would look into goats milk as it is more like breast milk and very good for one. But, before you do that I would first speak to your pediatrician or find a naturopathic doctor or allergist. Sounds like your baby has definite allergies! Hope this helps?
All the best,
S.

My son had eczema and I used Nutrogena hand cream (unscented) per the advice of the nurse at his clinic. It cleared it right up.

As far as your diet goes, peanuts are something that are cautioned against for the first 12 months usually. Milk and eggs for you should be ok unless your baby is allergic and is getting that through your milk. Chocolate and honey were on my doctor's list of things to avoid all together. You do need to keep your protien up though and cutting out milk and eggs can leave you depleted. Have you tried soymilk? My step-son was tested for allergies at nine months old and was able to have soy milk to substitute for cow's milk. Write down your concerns and before your next check up with your doctor and bring them up so that your thoughts are organized and you have all your questions discussed before you leave. If your baby has allergies, breast milk is still the best because it can be very hard to find a formula that doesn't cause a reaction as well.

Hi K.,

My daughter was about that age when she started having the same problem. We tried everything and she always had the most breakouts after her feedings, but she would scratch all day. They didnt want to test for allergies this early, but they did. It was hard to get her tiny vein at that age. The results were she was highly allergic to wheat which was in the cereal we fed her and most of her baby food. It sounds like thats what you are dealing with and I would request the test.

I would not give up the breastfeeding so early. Keep a log of your diet and see when the eczema gets worse. Also this is HORRIBLE allergy season. Could be environmental allergens that are bugging him. Keep up with his meds.

Basis Soap-Vanderbilt uses it on preemies.

K. -
I have many testimonials regarding eczema from adults to children and infants. These testimonials are the result of the wonderful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of the Mangosteen Fruit. You can read and see photos on the following website: www.insidemangosteen.com/judy0114 and/or contact me at: ____@____.com

Good Luck! J. H

K.,
My Dr. wouldn't test my son for allergies until he was about 2 1/2 years old. However, the product I found most useful for his eczema was Eucerin lotion. Good luck!!

My son is 18 yrs old now and developed eczema around the same age while I was breast feeding. I have had it all my life also. It sounds funny but i had to use nothing on him for about 2 mths and it cleared up. Nothing would work on him and all the lotions, soaps etc. only made it worse. At that age they do not smell alot anyway so i gave him about 3 baths a day only using water and nothing else.
Sure hope this helps you.

P.

K.,

My children both have eczema sometimes. My oldest is a four yr old boy, he gets break outs on his face the worst and his arms and hands. The only baby wash or lotion I could use on him was the Baby Magic in the yellow or clear bottle for the wash and Green capped lotion but never could use either on his face.I still don't know why these worked on him. and the number one cause of break outs on him is from baby wipes of any kind. From day one. I know they are always on hand but I never use them on his face and I tell everyone not to put anything on his face. They might not like me for it but I don't want him to suffer from it. Also still soaps and Shampoo's break him out. I am very careful on what sunscreen I use on him also. If anyone kisses his cheek with any form of lipstick I know because it breaks him out almost that moment. I use only unscented lotions on his face only when it begins to look dry. Now my 6 months old girl started breaking out with it around 6 weeks old. along with baby ance (spelling) She was breast feed and formula feed from day one and now only formula feed. Food just not seem to matter with my kids. My ped. told me to not use any baby soaps or shampoo, or lotions on her because of the fragrance she said to use a good moisturizing lotion with no fragrance. I buy Aveeno baby fragrance free for eczema it works well but still it takes time for it to dispear. I use it all the time I think it also prevents so of her breakouts now. My daughter also gets it on her scalp My ped told me to use T-gel shampoo on her it does clear it up well on the head. (It works on Cradle cap also because its a form of eczema) I worried about using the T-Gel but it worked and fast. Also the Ped told me not to bath her but a couple times a week. I did that and did sponge baths with just water and follow up with lotion (that worked on her skin) These work on my kids most of the time with mild break outs very rarely on less they come in contact from something I have stated above. But I know it is hard but keep paying attention until you find what causes it with your baby. Also be aware your lotions, soaps, shampoos and perfumes could be causing it also thur touch. I also can not use any hand soaps with fragrance it breaks my sons hands out. Good Luck!
B.
married for 12 yrs, full time working mom of 4yr old boy and 6 month old girl.

Hi K.,
I have been down this road and it is not easy, but switching to formula is not going to be better for your son! Just be patient and keep trying the elimination route! Two big allergens that can cause skin issues are gluten (wheat) and soy. And make sure when you figure out what he is sensitive to, you read labels super careful. Buying an allergen cookbook can help because they will tell you all the places certain allergens can be hidden or disguised (especially gluten). The benefit to figuring this out is when you know what he is sensitive to, you will be able to control his intake through your diiet and soon, his. If you can control his intake during the early years, he may not continue to be sensitive to them once his digestive system is fully developed. Big bonus for him!
A side note: A friend of mine has had excema all her life, always agravated by figs! Touching them, eating them, anything. She also recently discovered that cobalt (in some vitamins) makes her break out very badly. I guess the point is that you need to do a true elimination diet! It will be worth it.
Sometimes, kinesiologists can be very helpful with diet allergens.
Good luck and don't stop nursing!
M.