Seeking Advice on Eczema

My youngest has it mildly and we are also having ear infections. My pedi, new one I switched to recently, advised allergy testing (specifically from Immuno Laboratories) and so now we are on a strict diet for four months to rebuild her immune system to fight off these allergens. SO far she is clearing up and when she normally would get worse (after being out in the cold/wind) she has not gotten worse. We have only done the diet for 2 weeks so far, but I do think it is clearing her up and I am not using any creams, etc. Just thought I would share---feel free to email if have questions.

____@____.com

Hi N.,

I believe I will be #34 to respond, but I wanted to let you know my experience with Eczema. Both my sons have it, however, my first (who will be 6 yrs in April) had it the worst. We saw the doctor numerous times about his skin, and each time we were told to do something that ended up not working. Finally when my son was 6 months, our dermatologist (bless him), prescribed my son with Desonide steroid cream. He told us to first wet the affected area with water, then sparingly put on some of the cream, then cover it up with Cetaphil Cream. Within days we noticed my son's face improve. We now only have to use the Desonide if he has a breakout, which is rare these days since we take good care of his skin. We religiously use Cetaphil cream (multiple times a day if we need to). I always put way too much on, but it keeps my boys' skin healthy. We don't use harsh laundry detergents...Gain and Downey work fine for us. Bounce was horrible to their skin. We used Baby Aveeno until he was about 2-3 years and we switched to Johnson & Johnson Chamomile & Lavender, but they've since changed their formula, so now we use the Wal-Mart version of the OLD formula. It's really a trial & error kind of thing because each person has a different reaction....hope you're able to find something that will help your little one.

S.

Our grandson has the same problem.....seems more prevalent these days. Our nephew had it as well and his doctor said it is allergy-driven. With our grandson, besides the creams, we bathe him in water with epsom salt and it seems to help when the breakout is bad. We also give him a little benadryl which helps some as well. I think this is something that we just don't know enough about yet.....

There is nothing that will be a TOTAL cure.
My son was born with it.
You will have to try MANY things till you find what is best for you all.
We use dove soap (sensitive skin) and aveeno bath products/lotions. We also use Elidel and Cortizone cream when things get flared up.
The key is moisture helps and finding a good routine for your daughter.
My son is four and we have good/bad days.
He wears 100% cotton everything. He sleeps on 100% cotton sheets. I try to only let COTTON touch his skin.
If he wears, for example, FLEECE on his skin (polyester or acrylic, anything but cotton) he gets WELTS in addition to the excema on his wrists, elbows, knees and now eye/lip area.
You will get lots of advice.
My best advice is to get to a pediatric derm and pediatric allergist... they know all the "latest" stuff.
GOOD LUCK

I didn't read the other responses because there's a ton, so someone may have already said this. Have her allergy tested or start eliminating foods, yourself, to see if she's allergic. My son has exzema due to allergies. Although somtimes he flares up for no apparent reason, it has helped a lot to know he's highly allergic to peanuts and milk (& others.) Hope this helps

Hi N.,

My daughter had eczema bad when she was a small child,I found that warm oatmeal baths with alittle baby oil added were a great help. I also used those Actabath tablets, she enjoyed those since they fizzed abit and gave her relief from all the itching. Hope this helps.

L.

You already have a tremendous number of responses. I will speak from my experience with my daughter (now 13). She had eczema on her legs, feet and elbow area when she was born. My pedi (Dr. Piga) told me that a lot of children out grow it.

I used a lot of Aveeno, Cetaphil, Gold Bond and over the counter products. I did not want to use the steriod creme. We also found that when we were at the beach, it cleared up a great deal. We also learned if she got in the grass, it got worse.

Each year, it seemed like it got a little better. At 13 now, she has very little left and it is only on her toes. She treats it with calamine lotion.

I don't know of any magic creme or lotion but I just thought I would give you a positive thing that can happen for you.

Susan

Both of my kids have this as well. I've tried all kinds of stuff from everywhere. I have found this store in my city that has bath products and lotions, and creams that have all worked on my kids. The other products in the past never showed any results. BATH JUNKIE products are the only things that worked after the first application. Also having a little girl with UTI problems she is able to use their bubble bathe without any fears of getting UTI because their products don't contain the particular phosphate found to cause UTIs.These stores are franchised, but you may go to their website to see where the closest store is to you. bathjunkie.com

Baths dry it out so you don't want to wash it too much. My children has it as a baby and I only bathed them once a week unless otherwise needed. Babies don't usually need to be bathed more often then that. There are some other creams out there, oatmeal seems to be a popular treatment (Aveno has a lot of products.)

I had a friend at work that had excema, and she used Aveeno lotion (unscented) and it helped her a lot.

Hi,
I had a problem with Eczema on my face that hit me last September. I used two products from Melaleuca, Inc. and got rid of it completely. I haven't had any problems with it returning for over a month now. The two products are Renew Lotion, which has been proven in clinical trials to beat Eucerin hands down. And, the second product I use is Melaleuca Oil (tea tree oil). Melaleuca only provides a high quality oil, so it really cleared it up and healed my skin.

If you want any more information, just email me at ____@____.com. Melaleuca is a different store to shop at and has over 350 products that really work and cost less per use than the chemical filled ones in the stores. Melaleuca really tries to go to nature for the answers to all the health questions and issues out there. Worth taking a look at. I also get a check every month simply for letting others know about the company.

I know you will LOVE these products.

J.
____@____.com

Hi N.! I am very blessed that I don't have to deal with eczema, just allergies. However, i do know a few people that have and here is what they've done. They have changed all of their products to more natural, safe products. I'm talking cleaning, laundry, personal, etc. After a few days they saw an improvement and after a few weeks, it was gone and after a few months, no more outbreaks. I would love to help you and your daughter...you can contact me if you're interested!

Either way, GOOD LUCK!!

T.
____@____.com

Bless Her Heart AND Yours! I hope it goes away and doesn't hang around long... this time of year, with cold weather can be worse. I grew up with it & Atopic Dermatitis. Johnson & Johnson's Baby Shampoo is good for bathing... Anything from Aveeno without fragrance is good... Keep her moisturized well! Looks like you've gotten some good advice from lots of folks... You have to find out what works for her, though. Cetaphil is another product that I used. Also, allergy testing is something that if no one has mentioned, may be something you need to look into.

My 2 year old has that too. That cream does not work well! I use Aveno bath wash and I coat her in the Aveno lotion when she gets out of the bath and in the morning when I get her dressed. I noticed a big difference when I started doing that. Now that the weather has changed I noticed her hands and cheeks get real chapped. So I tried a real thick cream that looks like vasaline, I think it was called Aquafer. Walmart sells it. It helps alot too. I use that at night because it is so oily. Hope this helps!
Mom of 2 beautiful daughters ages 10 and 2.

I'm 52 and still deal with eczema when I'm stressed. Definitely consult a nutritionist. I find when I remember to take cod liver oil, it is much better. These things must be treated internally as well as externally and most dermatologists won't tell you that!
Good luck.

Dear N.:
I have psoriasis which is slightly different, but steroids are not good in the long run for either disease. Against itching, I use the Benadryl spray (works wonders) or Cortizone-10 (again, not long run). Over night you can try zinc oxide, calomine (sp?) or plain Vaseline. Both are messy, so bandages or towels come in handy. You should stop Vaseline after a few days because it would also be a good breeding ground for bacteria.

From what I heard, Eczema comes and goes in waves. Like the other posters said, you may need to find the source of the irritation. With any skin disease, I recommend natural clothing (cotton, linen, wool) over artifical fibers (polyester, nylon, acrylic).

BTW, too much washing and scrubbing can make it worse. Lots of sleep helps to a degree to restore some rest.

Regards,
W.

hey, N.... funny you ask about excema, I just received a "So Whata Happened" section from mamasource and it was about excema and it contains alot of advice, actually 44 responses... so I am going to check a few of the ideas out b/c my son has excema as well... But if you like I can send you an email with the info..

N.,
I strongly agree with the women that recommend Melaleuca's products. My daughter and I both suffered from it and the steroid creams did NOT help us. Nothing did, until we switched our home over to their more natural products and started using Melaleuca's Renew lotion. Our doctor says that a lot of times we are allergic to the chemicals in our homes (he said the air inside is more harmful than the air outside!!) and that's where the eczema stems from. I thought he was crazy, but sure enough it worked! Neither of us have had a speck of eczema since and it's been GREAT!
I hope this helps your situation like it did mine!!
~B.

Hi N.
Have 3 year old granddaughter that has Eczema. Try using Sarna Eczema anti-itch lotion. A little expensive but is well worth it. You can purchase it at the drug stores.

I have had eczema before, this is what I did.

Use cetiphil or equate skin cleanser for 2 days without water, on the third bathe the child with either the cleanser or cetiphil bar soap and shampoo first. Lotion after bath with cetiphil or equate lotion, put on while damp. Continue this two day cleanser/one day water bath for as long as it takes. When I lived in Nevada for 6 months, I did this for the entire 6 months. The child may grow out of this or this may be a long time thing.

Change to dye free laundry detergents(such as purex free) and softners(such as downy free).

Give this several weeks to work. Make sure you was the bed sheets and towels and double rinse everything.

Maggie C

Our baby suffers from the same thing. We were advised by the Dr. to try the wet jammies treatment for four nights. As awkward as it sounds, this worked. After the baby is wiped down clean using the Aquaphor wash by Eucerin, and using the Aveeno Soothing Relief Moisture Cream, or (better yet use the cream your Dr. prescribed) the baby is dressed with a pair of (damp PJ's) and put to sleep. We did this right before our baby was going to bed, this way the complaining was minimal. and yes I felt bad doing this but we used a blanquit to help if it was a bit cold. The pj's will dry during the night. The reason for this is to add moisture to the dry areas. In the morning use the moisture cream again under clothing. It was working by the second night.

"Do not" bathe the baby everyday, as this dries the baby's skin. Do a quick sponge wipe down. You can bathe the baby every other day, but a quick one. Avoid the continuous running water or bath tub baths. Use the Aveeno Soothing Relief Moisture Cream found in the babies section at HEB or other pharmacies.
It worked for us hope it works for you. Good Luck!

The pediatrician recommended a step by step system to treat my daughter. When she has a breakout I start with the first thing and add steps if necessary. Moisture is the key. The first step is to use Dove for her baths. The second is to use moisturizing cream right after her bath to lock in the moisture. I was given samples of Eucerin and Aquaphor. They both worked well. You could also try creams specifically for babies/toddlers such as Gentle Naturals or Aveeno. I have it, too, and Aveeno works well on mine. The third step is hydrocortisone cream. And the fourth step for us is the steroid cream Elidel. However, we haven't had to use it. The first three things have worked. My niece has eczema also but much more severely. Hers has been linked to food allergies. I hope you find relief!

Hi N.,

I have found that mangosteen juice made by Xango is a tremendous help. It's been used for 1000's of years in southeast asian cultures for skin conditions and other maladies. There is a luncheon this Thurs. at the Wah Kee Chinese Rest. on Blanco & 1604 behind Luby's from 11:30 to 1pm. There will be an RN present to discuss and answer any questions you might have. I will be there and you can join us as my guest. It doesn't hurt to have more knowledge!

My daughter also had problems with exzema. We found that many of the baby products may have harsh chemicals in them that are hard on the skin. We use The ABC set that Arbonne carries and have never had any more trouble. Their products are all natural and seem to work the best for us.

We dealt with this when my daughter was 2. After 6 months of agony-two baths daily with eczema bath wash, oiling and rubbing her down with sticky prescription creams, then dressing her again-we moved out of the house we were in. We discovered within a week that it was due to the old carpet in the house that was full of old pet dander. We had taken her to the allergist but had not tested for pet dander because we didn't have any pets. We never thought of the pets that other people had or that they had had in the house before us. So...moral of the story....think pet allergies?
The one other idea is that my mom sells a baby cream made by Arbonne that is very gentle and good for babies with eczema. You could try that.

Hi N.,

I sell Arbonne, and we have amazing products that get results very quickly with Eczema. Arbonne's products are all botanically based, pH Correct, formulated w/o dyes or chemicals, & w/o animal products or by-products. All of the chemicals and animal by-products that are put in skin care products today are extremely harmful to our bodies & skin. I have picture testimonial of children with Eczema that have had success with Arbonne's products and other info. I would love to tell you more about them and send you this info. You can contact me at ____@____.com.

N.,

I have suffered with Eczema as a child also with steroid creams always being the only answer and with no results. My oldest son has had eczema until 2 years ago when I found the cure!! He had always been given a steroid also and no results. I went to the health food store and did lots of research what worked for us and we have not had a any issues with a patch in the area where we could not get healed for 10 years. Was a colodial silver gel with aloe vera. We applied morning and night for several weeks each day we saw the results. The spot got better and better and in a few weeks it was completely gone and we have not had to apply anymore colodial silver to the area and it has not come back not even during the winter months. We do us all natural organic soaps as well and shampoos so that may help with keeping irritants to a minimum.

Hope that helps

LB with 2 boys ages 10 and 12

My 14 year old son has suffered with it since he was 2.
Zinc helps, soap with no fragrance. Everytime the weather changes, he breaks out. Skin Hydrator creme from BeautiControl helps alot. Daily moisture with no fragrance is key.
You can check out the creme on my website. It really does work. You can contact me if you have any questions. Good Luck!
www.beautipage.com/cyndiblau

Hi N., I have eczema and I too have had trouble finding the right cream. I finally found one that works great. Ask your doctor about "cutivate". I have been using it for years on my face it is quite gentle. It usually resolves my issues in a day or two

Hi N.,
I am a mom of a 3-yr old, who had newborn eczema. I myself have eczema, which I will have for the rest of my life. My child probably has it still, it's a hierditary condition, but the steps I take to keep mine under control also affect him, and we are both doing ok. So here is what I do, which can be challenging to manage day in and day out when you are busy:
1) all products from body soap to shampoo, laundry detergent, frabic softener sheets, and dishsoap are perfume free dye-free products. Sometimes they cost more. We use Arm&Hammer sensitive skin for laundry, Dove sensitive skin for body and shampoo.
2) My dermatologist advised me to buy Euceryn hand cream in the big tub (not the hand lotion in the tube). The stuff in the tub is a thicker cream. Apply everyday, everywhere, after each handwashing.
3) Wash hands less frequently with lukewarm water - too cold or too hot can affect sensitive skin. Be sure to dry completely, then apply the hand cream.
4) Use vinyl gloves to do chores or anything that would cause skin to be in contact with any kind of chemical. This includes even applying hair gel, folding clothes, washing dishes. They only time I don't is when I give the baby a bath because there is no way to keep the water out of the gloves.
5) Carry little bottles of your soap with you. Everywhere you go there is perfumed products, so keep yours with you.

It's been an inconvenient adjustment having to think about this all the time, but it's under control. Hope this helps. Your daughter will probably have this condition for the rest of her life, so the sooner getting her used to making adjustments, the sooner will be become 2nd nature.

BTW, before mine was under control my dermatologist prescribed a steriod ointment. I used it for 2 weeks before seeing results. Then after that I went to the Euceryn cream that you can buy at any corner drug store.

My son had it when he was 13 months or so. The dermatologist diagnosed him as having "eczema dyshidrosis" and prescribed creams and ointments that didn't work. We started using Cetaphil hand cream (in the tub) several times a day and it cleared up. We haven't had a problem since. Now we only use the Cetaphil once a day, if that. I'm not sure if it was a coincidence, but before he got it, I had started using Oxyclean powder additive to our laundry. That was the only difference in our routine. I stopped using it. Not sure if it was stopping that or using the Cetaphil or both, but I'd still suggest trying the Cetaphil (you can get it cheaper at Sam's Club).

Hi N.,
All I could recommend in using is Tahitian Noni Juice. Here is a testimonial on Eczema:

Author: Melissa C.
Title: Eczema

I started drinking Noni juice in March 2005. My doctor claimed that I had eczema on several fingers. He told me there is no cure for eczema, but he can give me a steroid crème to help to prevent itching and redness. But the eczema will always be their. After drinking Noni for 2 to 3 weeks I notice that the itching and inflammation was gone on my fingers. Now I rub Noni on my fingers every night before I go to bed. It is truly a God sent I found Noni.

You can go to this website to get more information. www.nonihealthinfo.com. You can go and read on the research and you can also read on more testimonials on Eczema. Click on Testimonials and then click on Skin you will see a long list of testimonials from people all over the world that have used tahitian noni juice for their eczema problem.

L.
____@____.com

Hi my name is E.! My four year old son has ezxema and it was very bad the past two years I had excema growing up ans still do today so did my mom!
I thought that id share with you what we did to get his under control! When we started doiong this at first I thought its not going to work Ive already done all this! But, after we did it for 48 hours all of it together his excema has been under control. There is still some flare ups sometimes, like if he gets too hot, or a blanket or clothing are scratchy! Let me know how it goes and if you need me to give you some more info! He also has had staph five times do to the exzema!

We try top avoid red dyes also for my other is allergic but its helped some too!
Johnsons 24-hour mosturizer, dove unscented soap for the body for bath, and tide dye and scent free soap for the laundry no fabric softner.
ask the doctor about tricymalone ointment put it on three times a day, the lotion threee to five times a day, a bath every other day, take a sponge bath on the days in between, the allergist put my son on a anti itch medication hydroxyz the generic of atarax. He takes it at bed time. It makes him sleepy but his excema is under control.
I still put the lotion on him every night but he only needs the tricymolone for the break outs. He looks great now!
Best of Luck and God Bless!
E. Silva
____@____.com

My doctor said to put hydrocortozone on it and they put Aquaphor on it. This worked great for my son, sometimes it would practically clear up over night. I still keep the Aquaphor around for small places that may come up (my boys are 5 & 3).

My son has it, & we use Elidel on him. It's better than the steroid cream because you can use it every day.

Hi N.! I have not had a problem with Eczema, nor do my kids, but I do tend to get rashes for other reasons, such as heat and dry skin from cold weather. Have had cancer with radiation treatments and all is well now, but lingering issues with radiated skin makes me prone to problems in that area. Some of the best stuff I have found is a Melalueca product called Renew, it is a very wonderful lotion that has a reputation for helping people with Ecxema. I have a friend whose daughter has break outs with Ecxema and the Renew has really helped her. Another item I use is called Aquafor, which is over the counter and can be found at a pharmacy near you most likely. It is what was prescribed by my oncologist to use on the radiated area, but I think it might be a help too. If you do not know anyone who sells Melalueca, let me know and I can help you if you are interested. It is healthier alternative to steroid cream. Good luck! S.

Hi N.,

I used dove for sensitive skin (no scent) to bath my son and use the Eucerin claming cream and I haven't had eczema in a long time. You might want to try it, he use to have it so bad he would bleed. Especially in the summer with the pool usage. Good luck!

Jennifer

A friend of mine told me that some people have tried using Arbonne products (sold through independent consultants) with great results. You might want to try some of the other recommendations, and then go this route. Good luck!

Try warmspirit special attention cream. Their product are all nature based products and works wonder for eczema, diaper rash, and dry skin. You can visit my website at www.warmspirit.org/glendam.

I am a stay at home mom of 4. Two of the 4 have eczema real bad. I have found what the docs give you sometimes work and sometimes don't. You have to just try all the creams out there to see what works best for your daughters skin. What works for one of my sons does not work for the other. I will say "Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion" works really well for them. Cetaphil also makes a product when the skin is real bad instead of a bath you apply the lotion and just wipe it off and the skin is left soft. If she is itching have her sit in a bath with the "Aveeno Soothing Bath Treatment" or the "Oatmeal Bath". Not for more than 20-30 minutes and dont forget to put the lotion on right after she dries off. We have gone through a lot of prescriptions. This seems to have a handle on it. For the hair if she gets the scaly scalp use "Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo". It smells real minty but it works.

I hope this helps. This is what works in our household.

I use Arbonne International. Its all natural and botanical. Let me know if you are interested and i can get you some. My email is ____@____.com or you can go onto the website http://kmb.myarbonne.com - My 3 year old has eczema and this has been the only thing that has made a difference. I have tried prescriptions and everything else.

Kim Thomas

My daughter has a moderate case of eczema and usually breaks out around her knees, elbows, panty line around her butt, and backs of her thighs. I have used just about every prescribed ointment, cream, lotion that her doctor can give me, but nothing has worked very well at all and definitely not long term. I hate using creams that contain steroids for the long term becuase there is the concern of the skin becoming thinner and thus more prone to infection. A friend about a year ago introduced me to the Arbonne line of skin care. I bought the ABC Baby care line and have used it on her for a good part of a year with great results. She isn't itchy, so she doesn't feel the need to scratch (making it worse) and overall I would have to say her ecxema has dramatically improved. I have found that with sensitive skin, you can not apply anything that has a fragrance what so ever. Most other lotions/ treatments contain some sort of petroleum based ingredient which is very unhealthy for this skin type. So Arbonne doesn't add fragrance, no petroleum, and no "soap". Their hair and body wash is very gentle, yet effective. I'm a believer in the products and will continuely use them on my kids. These products are a bit pricey, but in my opinion if it works, I'll pay whatever the price. I hate to see my little girl be so uncomfortable.
Continue with the dye-free, fragrance-free laundry detergent, no dryer sheets or fabric softener. You may want to see a food allergist as well, since most cases of eczema also have to do with food allergies. We had my daughter tested and she ended up having some slight allergies to food, so we minimize her consumption of those as much as possible, to help with her eczema.
Hope this helps and good luck!

Eczema is often a sign of a mild food allergy. I would recomend having your son tested for food allergies. Eucerin works great for treating the rash especially the cream. Equate (wal-mart brand) has a copy that works well and is significantly cheaper. We went to allergy arts for our testin and while I'm not fond of the staff the information we gained helped.

I had the same problem with my daughter (now 20) and I had to remove the toxins from my home. I don't use any bleach, ammonia, formaldehyde, phosphates or anything like that in my home. I use natural alternatives in my cleaning and laundry. I started doing that 4 years ago and she hasn't had a flair up since then. We tried everything and visited dermatologist after dermatologist. If you would like some more information feel free to contact me at ____@____.com can leave me your name and phone number and a good time to contact you-mornings, afternoons or evenings and I will be happy to do so.

M.

If you can , get an appointment with an allergist. Eczema can be a sign of a food allergy. My son is allergic to citrus and chocolate. When we eliminated those from his diet his skin cleared up. To test for allergies, she may have to be a bit older. Ask you doctor.

The Renew lotion from Melaleuca ( www.melaleuca.com ) is awesome! It has tea tree oil in it & is the best overall lotion that I've ever come across. It completely cleared up my son's eczema.

I also gave a bottle of it to my brother-in-law who has asthma and eczema......he's since promised me his first born child ;-) and my sister says he carries the bottle with him everywhere!

I've had excema (or skin allergies) since I was young and still deal with it today at 40. The steroid creams can only be used sparingly. Excema is tied to allergies so I would get her tested for what it is that she reacts to. (Dust, molds, food, are some of the most common).

no perfumes - especially any chemicals in cleaning products in your house - go all natural - use vinegar and water if you can't purchase the all natural things.

I found out I am allergic to "down" or feathers so any down pillows or comforter cause my rashes.

Aveeno bath (oatmeal) is good.

Best to you - I know its hard to see this little one go through this.

Hi i am the mother of 3 boys and my oldest son which is 11 now started with eczema at the age of 2. I didn't know what was wrong with him. He got up one morning scrating. He was scratching so much he stated bleeding. I took him to the doctor, the doctor told me to start using dove soap on a regular. Before I started with dove I used avneo oatmeal packs which helped him alot. The oatmeal tends to sooth the itching. After a while of using the aveno for a while my mom started making oatmeal bags for me. All she did was get an old t-shirt, put oatmel in them and stitched them up. All I had to do was put the bags under my son's running bath water and bathe him with the bag. Also try not to let you daughter sit in the tub too long because the water can dry her skin out alot. my son is fine now and only has the eczema a little in the summer. I buy the aveno soap bars during that time. I hope this helps you..

T.W.

Our experience has been that eczema was a symptom of a food intolerance/allergy. My son had it worst from dairy. Good luck!

My grandson had eczema until we started using products without
harsh chemicals. We use Melaleuca products. I have been using these products for 8 years and wouldn't be without them. If you
have any questions, contact me.

R. D.
www.melaleuca.com
____@____.com

My daughter has eczema also. Our doctor told us to apply a cream called vanicream in addition to the medicated creams. It is over the counter, but you have to ask the pharmasist for it. You need to keep them moisterized. We have to apply it 3 or 4 times a day when she is really bad, but at least every night. We also switched to a glycerine soap. Anything to keep the skin from drying out. Also, short baths or showers,luke warm water. No bubble baths.

I found that using "foamy" soaps made my daughter and I have problems with eczema. There is a lotion made by Melaleuca called Renew that actually heals the skin and is made for eczema sufferers. You still have to locate the source of the problem though. My friend gave her son Benedryll when he was really bad and then used the creams when he scratched.

You may want to find out what she might be allergic to by doing a skin test. Talk to your doctor about it and see if it's right for you, it may give you the answer you need. It's hard to make your child go through that, but it's better than having constant problems!

N., I have a son who is now 16. He had Eczema so bad when he was 2. I finally took him to a homiopathic doctor to find the souce. I was tired of treating the symptoms of the rash. We boosted his immune system and tried different foods. For him it ended up being red food coloring and perservatives. The skin is a giant organ that releases all the toxins in your body. You just have to find what your daughter's body does not like. There is not be a quick solution. Start by eliminating all processed sugar and perservatives, the most common thinkgs kids are allergic to are eggs apples, wheat, perservatives, and processed sugar. give it a couple of weeks and start adding things back. There are multiple resources at the library or the book store. or find a good homeopathic doctor that will treat the problem not just the symptom. I found that oatmeal baths and soap eases the itching. Remember that if she has an open sore from scratching that the steroid cream will make it worse and not let it heal. Good luck

EMU OIL look on ebay or at your local healthfood store, this stuff is a miracle worker also Grandpa's Pine tar soap you can find online as well use both of these and you will see results. Also I put cetaphil lotion on mine and that makes it get better as well.

Hi N.,
I have battled eczema all my life and my son has it-although you'd never know it. When he was teeny tiny, I took him to a pediatric dermatologist and she gave me a steroid cream, but also recommended that I use a cream called CeraVe. It used to be sold in Walgreens and CVS, but I find now that I have to order it from an online pharmacy called Hocks. (www.hocks.com). It runs about $12.99 for a 160z tub. It works wonderfully and keeps my son's skin totally hydrated. If you don't want to do mail order, you can try Cetaphil cream in a similar type of tub. I saw it today at Sam's club in South Austin.

For soaps, I use a handmade Oatmeal, Milk and Honey soap from a company (mama owned) called Mamasayswash. Kathy Jones is the owner and her soaps are very mild and detergent free. both my kids have amazingly smooth skin as a result as do I. I use All Free for laundry. It has been the only thing that doesn't break the kids and I out. I have used it for years.

Finally, don't forget to monitor food. My son has horrible reactions to milk, chocolate and strawberries. They all cause him to break out in a red rash and the milk gives him diarrhea as well. He is a dairy free baby, very rarely has chocolate (last on Halloween) and never has anything strawberry. It has made a huge difference. Food sensitivities are tricky. You have to basically go bland for a couple of days and then slowly introduce things. Having gone through this myself, I just started with my son when I introduced cereal. I would only introduce one food at a time and I avoided all "allergic" foods like eggs, strawberries and chocolate. Due to my own lactose intolerance, I have never given him cow's milk and he drinks soy.

It's challenging, but well worth the effort. Let me know if I can help otherwise.

D.

N.,
My son and myself both suffer from Eczema. It took me many years of searching before I found something that works. When your doctor had you change the soap and laundry detergent did he recommend all natural, or did he suggest dye free and fragrance free. There is still a big difference. I have converted my house over to all natural products! We are on a budget and I used to shop at Walmart, but now I have found a company that has everything we need to keep our Eczema from breaking out, and I actually spend less than I was before. The lotion I use for our Eczema I also use on my son when he gets a diaper rash! The bath oil is amazing. You put in a drop and it goes to work. I am on a mission to help as many suffers of Eczema as I can. I know how miserable it can be when it is not under control. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
H. M

I have two friends who each had children with severe eczema. Nothing (steroids,etc.) seemed to work for them either. They both used an Arbonne cream (sorry, I don't know which one it was), but their children's eczema went away almost immediately. They both swear by it. If you don't know anyone affiliated with Arbonne, I think if you go to arbonne.com they can help you. Good luck!

My 11 month old has exzema... the doctor prescribed a strong hydrocortisone cream and it works well, I also put aquaphor on his creases etc. when they start to look chapped. :)

My daughter has just had her first skin problem ever! I freaked out and took her to the doctor and she prescribed Elidel, which I tried using religiously, but it seemed to hurt her when I was putting it on, and it didn't make a difference. Then my friend who I had shared my arbonne baby lotion with, reminded me how it had worked awesome for her two boys. So duh, I used it and it's AMAZING how great it works! It went from being SO RED and scary looking to almost gone in like 2 days! And some people think Arbonne in expensive...I only pay 9 dollars for that miracle lotion! Maybe you've already tried it, but I'm a reafirmed believer of Arbonne! :)

hello N.,
I'm sorry to hear of your troubles with the eczema. I have it as well as my oldest daughter. For her I use the AVEENO oatmeal baby bath. It is very gentle and doesn't dry out her skin. You also don't have to use a harsh soap on them. Otherwise I use Dove. Also, as far as laundry detergent I've always used, Tide Free or All free. The work great. My daughters is very under control now that we hardly ever have to use her cream. Also, don't bath your child daily, it dries their skin out way to much.

I to have a daughter that is nine and still suffers from eczema. Here is a trick I use when hers gets bad, which is in the winter. She uses Dove soap (she uses this year around) and she rubs down with Keri lotion after a bath. If it is really bad, after she takes a bath I rub her down in Vaseline and then the lotion, it will be better the next day. Continue the Vaseline until it starts doing better. I have also found a new lotion from Avon called Moisture Therapy and it works really good. Being consistent with it is the key. I hope this helps and good luck.

Hi N., There was a question about this just the other day and I bookmarked it because my daughter has eczema http://www.mamasource.com/request/8257704397916602369

Good luck!

Hi there !
My son has exzema - and we currently take him too a Dermatologist - she prescribed prescription lotions & a prescription by mouth (liquid) - to help stop the itching.
also try Benadryl that also helps stop the itching.
He is always itching too, but seems to have slowed down some with this medicine. Our Dermatologist said it is just something he will have to outgrow. I have also tried the Aveeno Bath treatments -there packages and you just empty one in to the bath water, that also helps, you can also use CVS Brand of bath treatment and it works just as well. I also some-times put baby oil in his bath, gives his skin some moisture. I use an oatmeal / dove soap.
Have a good day !

my son had an eczema from all soaps except Dove and Amyway laundry soap. i also had to rinse everything two times. he out grew it, thank goodness. K. P.

I agree with Regina (below). We use all Melaleuca detergents and cleaning products as well as bath soaps and shampoos. They also have an AWESOME lotion called Renew that literally hours after applying it signs of eczema are nearly gone if not completely gone.

We have eczema and other skin issues and we started using Arbonne's baby skin care line and it has worked amazingly. All their products are botanically based, so there are no chemicals, fragrances, mineral oils, etc. in the products. They are truly pure, safe and beneficial. My husband is a physician so we have tried every cream, ointment, steriod, etc out there with no relief! I was so impressed with the products that I started a home based business with Arbonne. If you would like to try the products, let me know. I'd be happy to help. You can also check out my website at www.foravibrantlife.myarbonne.com.

Hi, I absolutely know your pain not from a mom's perspective, but from my perspective as I grew up with excessive eczema. I hate to tell you, but it is a game of Russian Roulette. Like you, my mom was willing to pay for anything to get things done, so we went through a lot of creams and ointments.

One thing you have to remember is that eczema is an auto-immune disease, meaning what may work on another child may not work on yours unfortunately. I'll give you some things that worked for me:

1. I use cocoa butter or shea butter. It is very heavy, but soothes the skin well.
2. I used Hydrocortisone 1% cream from Kroger (yes the generic brand)
3. Now I use Oil of Olay with Shea Butter. It works wonders for my skin, but test it out, because I didn't use it as a kid.
4. You have to continue to keep your childs skin moisturized. Don't think that one application of lotion per day is enough...
5. Try tea tree oil, I didn't use it, but a friend of mine did.
6. Know that your child may be irritable all the time. It doesn't mean you are a bad mom, it just means that he/she is itching! I have an outgoing personality, but was terribly irritable as a kid.
7. My doctor who had the most success with me was Dr. David Whiting. He is much older now, but this guy knows his stuff. You should look into some of the work he has done...it is amazing.
Dr. David Whiting
5924 Royal Ln Ste 104b
Dallas Associated Dermatologists
Dallas, TX
###-###-####

I hope this helps! Know that as your child gets older, they will grow out of it (in most cases). Most people can't tell I even had eczema and I was completely covered from head to toe as a child (my mom was afraid to take me out in public) Please let me know if you have any more questions ____@____.com.

With my son's eczema I found that the Aveno baby wash and lotion work the best. I also use a prescription lotion called Hylira that is amazing. He gets that right after his bath and then the Aveno lotion the rest of the time. Hope it gets better for you.

A.

Now let me start with THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. I'm a pediatric nurse and I sepcialize in wounds and skin care. I have had tremendous success with a cream that has no steroids(steroids have terrible long term side effects)and you can buy it over the counter - REAL CHEAP! (approx $6)Also because its classified as a medical product you can use your Flexible spending $ and there is no tax. Its called "Remedy Skin Repair Cream" made by Medline Inc. Find a Medical Supply Store or an Ostomy Supply Store in the yellow pages call and see if they carry it. It smells like vanilla and oranges. Added bonus use it yourself as a night cream and it will smooth fine lines and take years away. For $6 its worth a try. PS I dont have any affiliation with the company! I dont work anymore Im a stay at home mom of two.

I use Aquaphor for my son. It's very greasy (like Vaseline) but I put a lot of it on before he goes to bed and it definitely helps.

Aquaphor!! It can be found at Walmart in the lotion section. I won't live without this stuff anymore. It keeps my son pretty much clear as long as I put it on him every night after his bath...if I don't put it on for a few days, he gets such bad spots behind his knees and his wrists that they bleed. This stuff works on chapped, cracked lips too. I use it for any and every skin problem in our home. Also, my son is 2 and his doctor made sure that I knew not to give him very hot or long baths and not to use harsh soaps or detergents. I give him quick showers now and still use baby detergents for his laundry.

Absolutely! We went through the same thing. Steroids did NOTHING. Do you know anyone who sells Arbonne? If so, get two products from their baby line (oil & lotion). Put the oil on first & then the lotion. We saw results in 3 days of just lathering up before going to bed! I had a friend who had the same result with both of her kids. Good luck!!

All of my 6 kids have had it in some form or another. However, my 4 year old has it horribly bad. I finally took her to her ENT (ear nose throat) doctor, who also tested for allergies. Turns out she was allergic to her cat (which we were all devestated), eggs, wheat and a few other things.

We had to get rid of our cat, which was quite devestating to everyone, but she did get a little better. I watched out with her eating things like shredded wheat or whole wheat crackers or bread. I can't cut out wheat completely because it's in everything...as in flour. But I have noticed a difference when I limit her.

There isn't any over the counter medicine that works for her skin. Elidel didn't work either. The ONLY perscription medicine that works is Cutivate lotion, or the generic form of fluticasone propionate cream. It can be a bit pricey, but if you have insurance than the cost is quite worth my child not scratching herself so badly that she bleeds.

I have been fighting this since she was a baby. Knowing what foods to stay away from (and cats) has helped a bit, but we still struggle with it. They say she'll grow out of it because most kids do. But she's going on 5 years old and still has it, but I'm still hopefull.

Test for allergies, get a cream that works...cutivate has worked wonders for us. And just keep her skin hydrated. I use Sarna for normal hydration. It's over the counter, but you have to ask the pharmasist for it for some reason. Lotion her up at night and put long sleepers on her so she doesn't break the skins scratching at night.

Hope this helps!