HELP! Dont Know How to Help My Daughter

Hi V.,
A few people have said this already. You need to go to a professional who'd knowledgeable about food allergies. Most family doctors and pediatricians have little knowledge in this area, which is unfortunate because children often have food sensitivities when young that become allergies if undealt with. Because there are so many processes and body parts involved in digestion, the symptoms can range from top (ear infections) to bottom (rashes). There's a great book called Prescription for Nutritional Healing I recommend for all families. It says 75% of childhood rashes are due to allergies of milk, eggs, or peanuts. The most likely one is milk. Other possibilites include allergens in the environment such as detergent or mold. AS far as treatment, I'm sure you will want to use some things that treat the rash, like Benadryl, but if you just treat the rash without dealing with what's causing it, the allergy will manifest in other ways and/or get worse. I also recommend probiotic (there's some tasty liquid varieties at Harry's Marketplace in Marietta kid's love, and while you're there, pick up Prescription for Nutritional Healing for more suggestions) as it will boost your child's immune system, which it needs to fight the allergic reaction.

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The best thing I can recommend (and it sounds a little strange) is Crisco. Get the plain kind , not butter flavored. Cover her head to toe in it and put her in a cotton, footed sleeper all night and you will be amazed by the difference in the morning. My boys do it once a week to keep eczema under control. PS Do not wash her until the next night, fight the urge to clean her up the next morning. Wash the sleeper in a little Dawn detergent and the oil will come out. Good luck!

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All i can say is I know how youfeel. My son is 8 months now and he had terrible eczema. we used aquaphor 6 times daily, doused him in it, and got a script from our doctor called atopiclair. we bathed him aveeno oatmeal bath and washed him in luke warm water and cleaned him with cetaphil using no washcloth. this has seemed to work very well...our sons skin is all cleared up. sometimes there will be a slight flair up once and a while but nothing like it used to be...you just have to continue to do this forever and keep them on a strict regimine. it will take some time to clear up depending on how bad it is. do not look for immedeiate results. i would say give it a month. oh yeah and bath only every other day.

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We've had similar problem with our daughter. It ultimately turned out to be a food allergy problem. One thing that did help was a good quality fish oil supplement. Nordic Naturals makes a couple that are guaranteed to be free of metals and environmental pollutants and they're chewable. You can get either Pro EFA junior at The Natural Choice in Greer (my shop)or DHA junior at Creative Health in downtown Greenville or Earth Fare on Pelham Rd. Both supplements do contain soy so if that's a problem for your little one you might try a different brand.

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When my daughter was about 9 months, she developed an itchy rash all over her body. People kept saying it was the laundry detergent, but I would say "Of course it's not the laundry detergent- we use Dreft." Guess what- it was the laundry detergent. As soon as we changed it, her rash went away. The doctor said it was "contact eczema" which I guess means it was eczema caused by something she came in contact with (duh!). To make her comfortable, cut back on baths and use an extra-rich moisturizer- love love love the Aveeno line. Maybe ask the doctor about a medicated lotion (Gold Bond?) or ask a pharmacist to recommend something- they are always a wealth of knowledge about unheard of remedies.

Good luck.

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My son is 13 months and we have been through the same thing. While nothing will make ezcema "go away" there are somethings that helped. Wash with mild soap (cetaphil) every other day. Use Aquafor on the entire body two times a day. Can be quite messy but keeps the skin will hydraded with a nice layer of cover. No other over the counter lotion seemed to even start to help. Spread it on quite thick. The last thing was a steriod cream that the dermatologist gave us. None of the pediatricians we went to ever suggested it and the ones they gave us never worked for more than a day. It is called Cutivate. It will knock out the bad places and with two a day aquafor treatments it should help.

Keeping the skin covered will help with scratching. Also a humidifier by the bed can help too. Dry heat is the worst for it. Hope this helps!

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My son has his also, we knew when he was 2 also and were were also prescribed a hydrocortizone cream that has lasted about 2 yrs now b/c all u need is a dab.My son will even break out around the lips of he eats something like chocolate. It helps if you buy soaps and laundry detergants that are gentle on the skin.My son's has gotten better as he has gotten older so maybe ur sons will too.

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I know what your going through. My now seven year old suffered from eczema for years. It does get better. This is what worked for us:
while she is so uncomfortable right now, benadryl for the itching, so she doesn't scratch. Oatmeal bath will help sooth her skin. Pat her dry when she gets out of the tub, so her skin stays moist. Get some jojoba oil, tea tree oil and natural shea butter (can get from a place like Whole Foods) After you rub her down make sure you apply a eucerin or lubriderm lotion on her skin and don't rub it all the way in!! This acts a protector and will provide the skin with some moisture when it needs it. Aquaphor works great on the scarring areas and the shea butter so she doesn't scar. The jojoba oil works great in the bathtub water as a maintence in between the break outs. Limit the number of baths. This only dries out the skin. Try every two days or every other day. Make sure you are using a free of everything detergent to wash her clothes, bedding, etc. Until you know what allergen is causing the eczema, refrain from using strong perfumes, air freshers, cleaning products, etc. Keep her in a pull up or panties as much as possible, clothes help irritate. Extreme weather situations will bring it on. My son got his worst breakouts in the start of winter and summer. Once the breakout gets really bad a steroid cream seems like it was the only thing that made it better. Find out what the her triggers are. It may be something she's eating or environmental. Eating lots of fruits and vegatables seemed to help for us. If she is a picky eater try a Juice Plus vitamin. I comes with all the fruit and vegatables she needs in a vitamin. Again it does get better we rarely have any problems now and if we do it's a small area begind his knees or in his arm bend. I hope this helps. God Bless!!!!

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Hi V., my daughter has had bad eczema for most of her 5 years. Just lately, it has flared up again. I think it's the change of weather and different allergins.

Last year, at this same time, we found a new pediatrician, who just happens to have eczema, who told us eczema is bad skin and allergies. You might check with your doctor's office and see if you can start her on children's Claritin. I'm assuming they prescribed a hydrocorizone, it just may not be strong enough to get rid of it. I'd keep using it along with Eucerin or a good thick moisturizing cream.

Literally after years of no answers, this new doctor upped her hydrocortizone and put her on Allegra. For everyday, we've had good luck with Arbonne Baby Wash (I use it for body and hair) and Arbonne Baby Oil with Eucerin on top of it. Arbonne does have a lotion but it stung her open wounds. And No I'm not an Arbonne Rep. We still have outbreaks, but she is so much better and so is her behavoir.

Other things, I'm sure you know, but don't use soap, limit her baths and don't use any detergent with a fragrance. If your detergent does have a fragrance, a wash with white vinegar will get the scent out.

I know I'll see responses about the use of hydrocorizone but that is the only thing that gets rid of it - even it's temporary. When you have a child who is miserable, can't sleep, looks horrible (can you say fight with a barbed wire fence look?) and you aren't sleeping because she can't, you'll try almost anything.

Hopefully your child will outgrow it. From what I hear, many do. I feel for you and your family with this horrible condition. Good luck.

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My children have eXma (quikie spelled =-) but you would never know it! We use Pau'd'arco both internally and topically.
You can get it at brighter day in several forms:
as a tonic that you can add to their drink
as a bark that you can steap into a tea/body rinse
as a cream (you may need to special order this).

I have used all of them! I found for us the cheapest way to go that worked for us is to get the bark.

boil water add in a bunch of bark then turn down the heat and steap for atleast 1/2 an hour- do not boil the bark.
This makes a tea- strain out the bark.
You can add the tea to bath water- put it on a wash cloth and wipe them down with it and/or (and I always do this as it needs to be treated internally) put the tea in a sippy cup with added water and make them drink it.
As long as I diluted it enough my kids had no problem drinking it- including my toddlers. Sometimes I would add some peppermint or strawberry leaf to it to make a more tasteful tea- but not often as I made the tea to use both internally and topically.

A friend of mine whose children was suffering profusely from it did the tonic in the begining and then switched to tea daily added in their drinks and then used the cream to initially clear up the skin and then used it as needed when their where flare ups- if you saw her children today you would NEVER KNOW they had eXma!

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Yes it is drier down here. You need to rub your daughter down every night with Aquaphor or Cephtil? at least. My daughter's dermatologist actually prescribed a lotion gel type stuff that is $100 a bottle (TGfor insurance). Also you should take her to a dermatologist not just her regular ped. doctor. You will probably need a stronger cream like flucionide (spelling is probably off) that has a steriod in it. Also if the ezcema is on your daughter's belly or on her feet, she make have a nickel allergy and the metal buttons on her shoes or jeans are causing it. As you can tell my daughter has it too and it is bad lots. You can give her Benadryl liquid to help her stop the itching and let her sleep. If she continues to scratch through it then you may have to get a prescription for Hydroxine or Orapred. Anyway, check with dermatogolist. If you are in the Conyers area, try our doc...Dr. John Fountain...Family Dermatology. I actually see him too. Skin problems are heriditary. Good luck.

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My daughter also has eczema...Our journey sounds similar to yours...The things that may help your daughter - that did help us was allergy testing and elimination of all allergens (for us this was dairy, soy, beans/peanuts, tree nuts)..We eliminated all soaps, cleansers, strong household cleansers for the bath. We got a filter for the bathtub to filter out cholorine in the tap water. We use Aquaphor religiously twice a day plus prescription cream when she is really broken out, but that does not happen much anymore since eliminating the food allergens and working with a naturopath on some dietary things...Another thing to think about is her level of hydration overall (ie, is she drinking enough water?), the level of humidity where she sleeps...Oh, and clothing - we use mainly cotton clothing as other fabrics seem to irritate her skin.
As far as the immediate issue of itching, perhaps you could call the pediatrician and ask if there is anything oral you could give her - I think Zyrtec is one brand often prescribed..If you are not adverse to medications, of course. It sounds like if the cream was working and now is not, perhaps the pediatrician also needs to see her in the meantime and see if there is anything else that can be done.Usually the presciption creams are only used on the flaring areas, but there should be also something your peds would tell you to use daily to help prevent the flare-ups by keeping the skin well-hydrated and lubricated. Watch for any areas where your daughter has itched a lot and drawn blood - sometimes this can lead to infected areas. If you have concerns, I would definitely take your daughter in for another appointment with the peds. Also, you may try a food diary and see if any of the foods she eats is correlated with breaking out a lot.
Every kid with excema seems different in terms of what really helps them and what they are really sensitive too, but hopefully our journey will give you some ideas of things to look at and discuss with your pediatrician.

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Hi, I am another Mom with a child with eczema. He was diagnosed at the wee age of two months. I am opposed to steroids so I started researching natural methods to control eczema. The creams don't work anyway! I found a site on the internet that said to avoid these following foods: dairy, chocolate, wheat, and soy. He had bad gas has an infant and so I cut these items out of my diet. His gas disappeared, but as long as a child drools the sensitive skin will break out from the acids in the saliva. By the time he was one his skin became crystal clear. Eczema suffers tend to have dry skin so winter is the worst season. I keep a bottle of Grapeseed oil (oil is better than lotion b/c it soaks in) in the bathroom. While the body is still wet I rub oil from neck to toe. He is 3 1/2 yrs old and is still on this diet. It's a hard one for most to follow. My husband doesn't but I do so that he feels included in all our meals. We've tested the foods in his diet but they cause mild reactions on his skin. I also read that any food containing more than 3-5 items is a no no for eczema sufferers. His condition has forced us to eat healthily...all the time! I keep chocolate stashed for my indulgence after bedtime. He loves spelt bread and yogurt(the cultures make it ok to eat). Please feel free to contact me for more information. I have an article that I could send. I control is eczema without expensive lotion and tonics. Good luck!
Sincerely, N.

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Eczema is sometimes an allergic reaction to a food or something else. My daughter had eczema as an infant and it ended up being caused by a milk allergy - which she outgrew around 1 year old and hasn't had a problem with it since. It could be made worse now because the air in the house gets dry from the heater running, so a humidiier may help. If you use laundry detergent or fabric softener with fragrance in it, that may irritate her skin as well. I suggest All free & clear, it may help a bit. Good luck!

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Hi, V. . I am really hoping that I can be of help to you . I understand your concerns and frustrations completely . I have three children who have eczema . My oldest son is 7 and he has it pretty bad and my other two children have very mild eczema. There are many reasons why eczema may flare up - including extreme temperatures and allergies . My son's doctor sent him to an allergist to see what he may be allergic to because often times, eczema and allergies go hand in hand . Your daughter could also be eating or in close contact with something that she is allergic to and it can cause the eczema to get MUCH worse . So an allergy test is always very helpful to control her eczema. I find that this steroid cream called LOCOID LIPOCREAM works very well for my son. I just apply a little on his face and on the itchy, break-out spots after he takes a bath. The first day you use it (after a bad breakout like hers) you may not see much of a difference. BUT if you continue to use it everyday for about three to four days- you should definitely see a big improvement. I think that most doctors try to avoid writing prescriptions for steroid creams unless it is really necessary , as continuous use can cause thinning of the skin . I use it right now because I just don't know what else to do and it seems to help him a lot . I myself , am in search of a natural remedy to use daily because I know that the steroid creams are merely a "quick fix" and could cause him harm in the future (I sure hope not ).There is nothing worse than seeing your child in pain or discomfort and not being able to help . It's a feeling no mother wants to or should have to feel . I hope this helped you at least a little . :) Have a great day.

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Hi V., I also have a two yr old daughter with excema. Change in season and climate does irritate the skin. What kind of cream are you using? We tried everything and nothing seemed to work until the doctor prescribed Triamcinolone Acetonide ointment. Its not a cream, but more like a vaseline. It works immediately. Also we use the Walmart versions of Cetaphil lotion and skin cleanser(exactly the same ingredients). As well as free and clear detergeants. Another thing that helps on a daily basis is a cool air humidifier in her room. The warm air one didn't do as good of a job.

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One of my daughters has skin issues, also. Her doctor said it was OK to use hydrocortisone 1% - no more than once per day. She also recommended Baby Aveeno Lotion. Both have worked wonders with her skin. I use the Baby Aveeno Lotion after baths and as needed. I use the hydrocortisone right before bedtime, since I can only apply it once daily.

Good Luck,
T.

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Eczema can be caused by so many things, it's definitely best to see a dermatologist. I can tell you though that I know a lot of children who have done really well with food regulations and probiotic supplements. One of the most commom causes can be milk products. Check some sources online for probiotic information and try making a record of food intake that you can bring to the dermatologist with you. That would be a good place to start. Good Luck

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I wouldn't take her to the hospital, but you can take her back to your pediatrician if you feel she needs to be seen before the 13th.

I would try giving her an Aveeno oatmeal bath daily and using Eucerin lotion (the kind in the tub, as it is much thicker than the kind in the bottle.) You can also try some hydrocortisone cream on the really bad areas. You can also try and give her Benadryl as it will help with the itching, however Benadryl will make her sleepy so you may want to only give it before bed.

When you put Eucerin on her, make sure the areas are covered with clothing...like at bedtime make sure you put long pyjamas over the areas. Hope this helps.

I want to second what I read below about Melaleuca. Their Renew lotion is phenomenal. They also have a Renew bath oil that I bathe my daughter in. Also they have something called Melaleuca oil and MelaGel, I apply those to the areas on my daughter that are the worst. I put it on right before bed and it helps wonderfully.

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Hello V., my name is Terrie, but my friends call me Goose. I have 3 grandchildren, a 6 year old girl, & a set of twins (boy & girl) that will be 3 in February. There are no skin issues in my family, but my daughter in law had the same problem when she was young. When my first grandaughter was problem she had it too. But thankfully hers wasn't real bad. But when the twins were born the girl twin was eat up with it. There were places on her arms/legs that were starting to scar also. The cream from the doctor really didn't help much. So my daughter in law heard about the Crisco. Now the only bad places she has on her arms/legs were the ones that were starting to scar, but they are almost gone as well. It works wonders, and stop using any lotions with fragrance or bubble baths. So I hope this helps and good luck!!!!!! Goose

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Hey V. We suffered through this same problem with my oldest son using the creams from the doctors and visiting the dermatoligist in Atlanta for children. My son even went w/o a bath because they said water was drying him out ! After a trip to the ocean at 4 months old he was clear for nearly 2 months so once a week I would let him play in a tube of luke warm sea salt water ( I bought the sea salt at the herb store) and my son is now 11 and only has spots every now and agine that we can control with a spray bottle of sea salt water ! I stopped using all RX creams that could cause him harm in the future when I could control it with a natural source ! I hope this helps ! It worked for me and my sons. Oh by the way I had 2 more sons who never had 2 go through what my oldest had to experance thanks to the sea salt !

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my niece and granddaughter also have excema, we treat it with an oatmeal bath,some benedrayl, and eucerin cream. It works for both of them. hope this helps. oh yes cold weather makes it a lot worse.

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