Seeking Advice About Skin Problems

What stuff have you tried? My daughter had that when she was younger (she's 5 now). We used elidel (I believe that was a prescription creme). We also had to use soap and lotion with no dye/fragrance (cetaphil is what I used). If you're not already, be sure to wash his clothes and bedding in detergent with no dye/fragrance. I can't remember what we used, but I know it wasn't Dreft. My daughter still gets really dry/itchy skin on her legs from time to time. I'm a big fan of Aquafor. I put that on her legs, and they are back to normal the next morning. Just some ideas for you. Hope that helps.

Hi, I was reading your post about your son. I am a member of the M.O.M. team, although I don't have any kids. We have some great products that are over the counter that would help your son immensely! Please go to my website www.healthy4ubiz.com (put it in the address bar instead of searching for it) to receive more info. The website is for people interested in the business aspect of it but that way I can reach you by phone once I receive your request. Or you can email me at ____@____.com Melaleuca products are amazing and all natural!
M. G
Carroll, IA

S., I would consult with Dr. Schmillen at Mountain Family Wellness Klinik in Nampa, ID. She is an MD as well as a Naturopath. She has tests and equipment available that are not common. Instead of just suppressing the symptoms, she will help you find the underlying cause.

My daughter had this as well and when the prescriptions we had for her didn't help enough, we used a livestock ointment called Corona (not the beer!). It can be found at any livestock supply store (like Shiptons Big R)and works miracles. It comes in tubes or canisters and a little lasts a long time. I would put it on after a bath and cover with socks, leggings or long sleeved shirts if possible overnight. I know it sounds weird but it really helps and also just for the itch and dryness. You can also use it for chapped lips and it is AMAZING for diaper rash!! I hope this helps! ~S.

I have ecema too.... not as bad as your son, but I use Cortizone 10 or 1%..... it looks awful til it dries up, but it's what helps me. Also for the itching you could as your doctor about what amount of Benydrl to give him.... this also helps with itching.

M. H.

I don't know if this would help so much with the itching part of his eczema, but there is a lotion called Amlactin that you can buy at Costco that really helps speed the healing process up. I've noticed a drastic difference after putting it on at night and what my skin looks like in the morning. I get hive quite often and feel that it really does help. Good luck!

M. Drake

I have 2 daughters that regularly get it in the winter. I too tried all the prescription creams. I found the best thing is regular hydrocortazone cream. Try and get the stuff that has 2% or more You can buy it at any drug store. Use it 2 or 3 times a day and really rub it in. Along with Ucerine cream, that really seemed to help my kids. It stings a little at first that's why the ucerine cream. It tends to lessen it a little. Doesn't last very long tho. And it really does help my girls.

1 WORD : SOCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! put socks on his hands and feet so that he can't scratch them at night. I use my size socks because they go all the way up his arms so he can't get them off. We have also been blessed with hydroxyzine. This relaxed him and helped us all to sleep better!!

Hi S.:

Oh my gosh, I know what he's going through. I had eczema so bad growing up that my mom had me on prescriptions all the time for it.
Well, I am soooooooo excited to tell you that I found something for myself and several other friends that have children with eczema. It's called Renew lotion and it's only sold by Melaleuca the Wellness Company. I would love to talk with you more about what this company has for products. Everything they sell is environmentally safe. They do not use harsh chemicals and caustic ingredients and yet all of it works so well. I've been a customer for a year this month and will never shop at the store again for these same kinds of products.
One thing I've found is that when I use Renew lotion and also have changed out my laundry soap and the cleaners I use to clean my home with I don't suffer with eczema anymore.
I thank God everyday that I found Melaleuca. It has changed my life and the life of my children. I would love to share with you the information that I learned.
Email me at my personal email address: ____@____.com
I will be glad to call you and talk with you. So if you want, leave me your telephone number and I'll call you as soon as I can.
God bless you!!

T.

Hi S..

I have a 13 year old daughter that had severe ecemya when she was younger, to the point of cracking open on her hands and feet. We used and still use Aveno. That seemed to eork better than almost anything. Another thing that helped is bathing every other day. That way the skin doesnt dry out as bad.And try putting some neosprorin on the raw areas it helps with the healing and the pain. If you have any more questions or just wanna talk feel free to email me at ____@____.com. I am a morried mom of 2. I am 29 years old.

Sahah,
My twins boys both had problms with Eczemya and we had to use prescriptins too. We also used Eucerine cream when not on the perscription steroid. I put it on them every day and it seemed to work well
Good luck!

I have a new baby who has developed this problem as well. He is only 6 weeks old and for the last few his skin kept getting worse and worse. I bought some hydrocortizone cream and within 24 hours his skin was almost cleared up. My doctor pescribed some cream called elidel that works, but not quite as well. Plus, the hydrocortizone cream is known to take away the itch. I had a friend also tell me that she uses a lotion called Aquaphore on her and her daughter. She says it takes it away within 24 hours too. I just posted two articles that were helpful to me on my blog on MySpace. Maybe they can offer somemore hellp for you as well. www.myspace.com/msphrogge

I hope this helps! I know how devistating it made me feel to see my new baby boy's skin getting worse and worse and not being able to do nothing about it. His skin is all cleared up now, so hopefully your child's will be too.

There is an over the counter lotion called Aquaphor by Eucerin that works really well. It is basically a medicated vaseline that traps the moisure into the skin. I use it for my two kids and me. We all have eczema, too. Make sure not to use anything that is fragranced, it will worsen the reaction. Also limit the amount of soap and water usage.

S.,
You've gotten lots of advice from lots of people, which goes to show everybody is different and each body responds differently to different products. My children all have had excema since infants, and all due to allergies. My oldest had to have the steroid cream until I figured what worked for my family. Vanicream (non prescription but found behind the pharmacy counter) works best for prevention. If it's too flared I put a little steroid cream on it until it's under control.

But, I wanted to tell you about the prescription our allergist gave us to help with the itching (and it truly worked). It is called hydroxyzine. My oldest would itch herself raw every night until I used that in combination with the vanicream.

Good luck, I know how hard it is to see your baby miserable.

vericream, found at Bi_Rite is a super sensitive friendly lotion to help keep the skin hydrated...they also make soap and other products.....I know atopiclair is a persccrition, but my babies face was better in 2 days.....see if you cant get a few samples. be careful of the perfumes and fabrics you use. Alo is he is getting too warm, thats when mine is the worst. Good luck! It sucks, but it can be dealt with.

I have had break outs of excema and the best thing that I have found to help is selsun. You can get a prescription from the doctor or some shampoo have it in them. I put it on let it dry and go to sleep then wash it off in the morning. It helps tremendously. If he will leave it alone you can try putting in on at night. Or put it on and put a sock over it so he wont bother it. Or even just put it on and let it sit for a few minutes then wash it off.

I have 3 neices and a nephew with severe excema. Their mother took them all off of dairy products, and it works. They completely cleared up. If they accidently get any dairy they break out again. You have to watch everything for dairy. Things like carmels even have dairy in them. They use soy milk, veggie cheese, etc. It is hard, and a major adjustment, but it worked for them.

I had eczema really bad when i was an infant ( I would scratch till I bled) although I've mostly grown out of it now, but when i was little, my mom would keep socks on my hands when I slept so I wouldn't scratch the sores open. When she bathed me she used water only and NO soap by doctors orders when I was enflamed. Also the ointment they used to calm the itching was triamcinolone cream. I still keep on hand to this day. It is a prescription you can ask your pediatritian about it. You should not bathe your son daily because it will dry the skin out and worsen his condition. keep putting lotion on and keep the skin from drying out. Once he is cleared I would sugest not using soap until right before he's ready to get out of the tub and then dry off really well, and use lotion right away. Keep away from soaps and lotions that contain perfum and dyes, cause that can irritate the skin as well as just being dry. Hopefully he, like me will eventually grow out of it. I am ging to be thirty this year and still have few outbreaks but nothing near as bad as when I was an infant. Hope this helps. Jeni

My sister has eczema- her worst flare ups were when she was a teenager. At that time, what gave her the most relief was Eucerin Cream. I don't even know if they still make it or if it is safe for babies- but it was a thick, creamy lotion and it really helped with her itching.

My brother had it really bad when he was a baby, and my step-daughter has it. I rinse the clothes twice in the washer (especially their sheets) and don't use dryer sheets. The fragrance and stuff worsens it. Also you may want to try the "Dreft" laundry detergent, it doesn't have any color or fragrance and it helps...

I have a product through my home based business that is excellent for ecemya and it won't harm your little guy. Send me an email with your email address or your phone number so I can tell you about it. All Melaleuca products are excellent and they are guarenteed.

A. R.
____@____.com

We use Aveeno for babies that is a cream for eczema. It is not that expensive and works amazing! Also we stopped using dryer sheets and his skin is much better. The Method brand detergent is free of harsh chemicals and works wonderful!
Good luck!

My 4 mo.old has it too. But I swithed all his shampoos and lotions too Aveeno baby and that seems to help a lot!! The Johnson and Johnson has too much perfume in it and irritates it. They also make a anti-itching calming cream that is relly good. I have it on my neck and I use that and it helps a lot. Also Try to keep it dry. Like leave his socks off during the day if his feet sweat. I would also ask for a diff. perscription if nothing is helping. I used to use one that was a really thin lotion but I can't think of the name and it was gone right away!! Hope he get's better I know how bad it can be.

I live in a house full of Ecemya. We all use Glysolid. Its usually only found in salons. We used to sell it at mine, and my mother still sells it at hers. I believe there is a website for it where you can get free samples. My daughter, two, gets ecemya pretty bad as well. It took about two appications for it to really kick in, and now she has her baby soft skin again. You don't need much and it lasts forever too! Let me know if you are interested and because I am a licenses cosmetologist I can get some for you. Either way, good luck!

N.

Hi! I, too, have eczema and it was worse when I was little. I suggest getting some anti-itch cream and putting it on him in the areas he normally scratches... it will help stop the feeling of needing to itch and help him sleep. I had to wear gloves to bed when I was little and take a red pill to keep me from itching.. I am sure it was just an anti-itch type pill.. also keep him hydrated and use lots of lotion.. plain lotion with no fragrances or dyes, etc. I use the Equate stuff from Walmart.. the white plastic container with blue cap...I think its about .97 each. I apply lotion every chance I get.. right after the shower.. etc.

Laundry detergent and dryer sheets play a huge role in how much he itches.. I have to use Melaleuca detergent or something very plain... I have thought about making home-made detergent when I run out of Melaleuca.. (my mom sends it to me for free, bless her heart) and btw I can't use anything else by Melaleuca their stuff makes me itch too!! I think since it is diluted enough in the wash and you only have to use a little bit that I don't break-out from their laundry detergent but it's the only stuff of theirs I can use. I grew up with it but I can't use the hand soap or hair care products.. I break out. I do use Sunsilk Anti-poof and was using Suave and it took a couple weeks for my scalp to get used to the change.. but it finally is used to it now and it works better for my hair so I am happy (I don't change products hardly ever since I know will have to deal with unhappy skin and break-outs).. Suave was causing me to have dandruff so I needed to switch to something better!
I also use Bounce Free of Dyes and Perfumes dryer sheets .. my skin goes nuts if I use the cheap stuff or anything else (believe me I have tried!!).

I also take Benadryl allergy every 8 hours in the Spring, Summer and Fall.. the eczema gets better as he gets older but the allergies get worse!! So hopefully you have a pet free home.. otherwise it will make him flare up more. When I was growing up we had an older dog that would lick my hands and feet and thus making me itch more.. so it made the situation worse!!

He may develop Asthma as well.. I use an albuterol inhaler off and on when I need to.

I have also found taking a not-as-hot shower in a shorter time helps with my dry-ness. I love the hot but it makes eczema worse so I like to run my hands and arms under cold water if I feel the need to itch.. sometimes it works.

HTH,
C.

I am so sorry that your little one is having problems. I have lots of testimonies concerning the chemicals found in the products that we use every day causing excema to be worse. I have a solution if you woul dlike to hear about it. We have a fabulous produtct that has been clinicly proven to treat severe skin conditions such as excema and it has no harse chemicals like the other products out there. We have chemical free products for your laundry, his bath, etc also. I encourage you to at least have a look at what I have to offer, I beleive it can really help your son. Let me know if you would like more information.

D.
____@____.com

this runs in my family and my 15 month old has it. the only thing i've seen clear it up and keep it cleared is cinnamon pills. good luck!

My husband has ecemya and my son has craddle cap really bad. My hubby has been using the same product for many many years! He swears by it, and won't use anything else. He puts it on right when he gets out of the shower EVERY day! I use the same thing for my son and nothing else has worked better. I put it on him 2-3 times a day, especially after a bath. Don't know if you have used this before, you might be a little surprised. Cortizone. The regular yellow tube. Don't try the generic. My husband never really breaks out with the patches of dry itchy skin unless it is really dry out. You should really try the cortizone. Don't rub it in too much, my hubby says it needs to soak in. I just have to hold my sons hands for a few minutes so he doesn't rub it into his eyes (he's only 4 months old). Good luck with this, I really hope it works for you.

I have eczema really bad. You might need something stronger to get it under control, but I use the generic hydrocortizone cream plus aloe on all of my dry areas every day, like lotion. Let that dry, then use cetaphil all over. It seems to keep it under control. Cetaphil is at walmart and there is a generic brand that is exactly the same. They have soap, body lotion, face lotion, a whole line. Hope that helps :)

J.

S.,
my son has spots of eczema from time to time, but i have noticed that since we stopped using lotion that has any fragrance or anything else in it, his breakouts are few and far between. i swear by aveeno lotion. there is one in the baby aisle specifically for eczema, I forget the exact name. try that if you want and see what happens. good luck!

S.,
Hi! I see you have already receives a lot of advice but I wanted to give you one more thing that I did not notice on any other posts. Have you ever tried The Body Shop? We have a aloe line which is for extreamly sensative skin. There is no color, scent, checmicale etc. it is as natural as you can get. Let me know if you would like a free sample. I can mail you one if you are interested. You can also check out my web site. Hope this helps and like I said if you would like a FREE sample let me know:) I hope this helps you and your little one:)

www.thebodyshopathome.com/web/aduneman
-A.

I didn't read through all the responses, but my little brother had horrible ecema. My parents put in soft water and he is doing great now. He is 9 years old an rarely has a flair up. My 9 month old daughter gets dry skin so we take her there for baths and she seems to do better. good luck!

My son has really bad eczema also. We use Aveno oatmeal bath for when it is flared up. We notice a change in his skin almost instantly. We also use the oatmeal Aveno cream with hydrocortisone on some areas when needed. We never use store soap. Only glycerin soap that has no dyes or fregerance. This has made a big difference. Prescriptions never worked for us either. Good luck!!!

My son had realy bad eczema also, and none of the perscriptions worked for him either (we tried 3 different ones) But what I have found that works is the Aveno moisturizing body wash for babie's and only bathing him every other day. Also I use the Aveno baby daily moisturizer twice a day, and that seams to curtail most of his breakouts, and when he does get a breakout I use the Aveno Hydrocortisone cream. Seriously, I tried lots of other products and even suposedly sensitive skin prodcuts and ever Eczema specific products and none of them worked for us, but on we have been using the Aveno products for almost 8 months now, and my son has only had a few very minor breakouts in that time, where befor, he had rash breakouts all over his body that nothing got rid of. It's worth a shot!
Hope your son get's better, I know how hard it is to see your child suffer.
Good luck
J.

I have a two little girls that also have problems with eczema. We have found a few things that help it, first off, no long baths. They get short baths or they take a shower with me, sitting in the water dries out the skin. Watch your soaps and shampoos, we use Aveno baby soap for their bodies and hair, but only twice a week. Most of the time we wash with only water. Also using Eucerin lotion right after the bath helps to lock moisture into the skin. The final thing is the prescription Elidel works wonders when their skin flares up. I hope this helps.

Try aveeno oatmeal baths to help with the itching also. keep him rubbed down with a moisturizing cream there are many to choose from. I used to buy the equate brand at walmart for my nephew. and make sure all the cleansing products you use on him are dye and fragrance free that also should help.