Eczema and Formula

Because of the timing, the eczema is due to the switch to using formula. If you breastfeed again, it will surely go away or improve. Good skin is one of the well-known benefits of breastfeeding.

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well, our son (now 21 months old) has eczema, but it wasn't really diagnosed until last summer. so I wouldn't jump to that conclusion until your doctor says that's what it is... you should take your child to see the doctor and ask about a possible dairy allergy? or try a different kind of formula. if the rash doesn't go away, the doctor will probably have you give benedryl, but only the doctor can tell you the amount your child needs, or if baby needs it at all. we had several rash flareups before we realized that our son's sensitive skin is triggered by certain things (baby oil, bubblebath, fabric softener...) but formula wasn't a problem. I do think I've read that certain foods can trigger skin issues like eczema...

Hi L. -

I see that you've already gotten a ton of great advice, but I just wanted to give you the name of my son's pediatric allergist in case you want to have your baby tested. My son had eczema and we later confirmed it was due to a milk allergy, along with some other food allergies. We had him tested when he was about 10 months old.

Our doctor is:
Dr. Timothy Brown
Associated Allergists
###-###-####

He's off of Rickert Drive in Naperville.

Good luck!

K.

I would agree with all of the food allergies. I would definately look intoa ped determatologist and allergist. Childrens was great for us too!

YES!!! There is a connection. Your child's GI tract is not tolerating the formula and that is why you are seeing the outward manifistation of the excema. Either switch to a better formula or breastfeed. You should look into more holistic/ organic formulas. Check www.icpa4kids.org for advice on other types. And by the way- stay away form soy. It is a phytoestrogen. You don't want to be pumping your kid with estrogen.
T.

Hi,

Eczema can be a sign of an allergy. My daughter is allergic to milk and she had excema when drinking formula. There aren't good tests for allergies in babies (or at least that's been my experience). If your baby has a milk allergy, there is a large chance that she'll have a soy allergy too, so often hypoallergenic formula is your best bet. However, my daughter hates the taste of it and it is so expensive. Good luck and hopefully her pediatrician can help!!

L.:
Glad to hear that things are working out for you. I just wanted to make you aware that there are wonderful products for our precious newborn's skin to protect it from so many irritants that are found in almost all over the counter baby products. I have found that a line of pure, safe and beneficial products are what is best for tender skin. I feel so much better knowing that me and my children are not putting chemicals, dyes, fragrances, or even animal by-products on our skin. These are things that cause rashes, eczema, etc. on the majority of people. I would love to share with you what I have found. Wish I knew this when my kids were born! I have learned over the last 9 years that what we put on our skin has definite effects, and not always for the better. Please contact me to find out what I am so happy to have found. We all want what's best for us and especially our children. I have 3 of them and I would do anything for their health and well-being. Hope to hear from you.

K.

Hi!
It could be an allergy. My son had VERY bad eczema on his face, and I finally figured out it was an allergy to sweet potatoes. I took him to the pediatrician and then a dermatologist, but it was mother's instinct that figured out the sorce! They did give him some creams to clear it up, but it didn't stop returning until I stopped the sweet potatoes!

L.

L., your baby might be allergic to something in the formula or have some intolerance of something. Try putting some childrens cortisone on the patches, but eczema is often associated with food allergies.
B.

L.,
I did not have a similar situation, but I have read about strange things happening when switching to formula and from one formula to another so, my suggestion is making your own formula. I did when switching my son from breast milk and we had great success. I got the receipe from the owner of All Ways Healthy in Lake Zurich. Her receipe comes from a peditrician. You make a fresh batch every morning, it is easy, healthy, it tastes great and most babies have no side effects like gas, spitting up etc. It looks wierd because it is green but it really is yummy and my son loved it. Good Luck.
S.

My son's eczema went away when I eliminated corn from his diet. I think your baby might be allergic or unable to tolerate one of the ingredients in the formula.

D.

Hi L.-
When I switched to formula from breast milk, my son developed a rash that started on his face and eventually went to his entire body. It looked more like chicken pox; not scaley. It took a whole week for it to come out full force. The drs. said it was a virus but it turned out to be an allergic reaction to his formula (I figured it out - not the dr!). We switched to soy and he was fine.
So - you may want to see the dr. to rule out an allergic reaction.
D.