Dermatologist for Toddler with Eczema Issues?

I've also brought my son to Dermatology Specialists in Edina for the past two years. However, we've used Dr. Jennifer Dick. As it turns out, my son has/had an allergy to dairy and soy (He's slowly out growing it). We figured this out with an elimination diet.
However, Dr. Dick was able to give us topical treatments while my son's skin was so raw that he was miserable. She had great suggestions on what to use for bathing (ie no bubbles, Cetaphil liquid cleaner at the very end of the bath, patting dry vs. rubbing, followed by an application of Vanicream lotion immediately after coming out of the tub is our usual routine) If he has flare ups, we also use Derma-Smooth on his scalp and Protopic elsewhere.
We always avoid laundry detergents with fragrance and no dryer sheets.
We've been happy with our care at Dermatology Specialists.

All a dermatologist is going to do is prescribe a cream, typically a steroid based one. These creams won't ever get to the source of the problem, they will mask it but eventually steroid creams just make the skin worse. My son has eczema and we had to eliminate certain foods from his diet to finally realize it was a dairy intolerance. He no longer eats ANY dairy and his skin is so much better. It isn't always that simple though. It takes a lot more work on your part, but still worth it to get to the real issue. There is no magic cream from a Dr. that is going to make a difference and they will not be able to tell you anything different from what you observe in your home with her. Also it never hurts to give her foods rich in good oils such as avocados and possible fish oil and flax supplements, you really have to nourish the skin from the inside out. good luck

My 5 year old daughter has had severe eczema since she was born. We too tried a few doctors who would prescribe hydrocortisone or protopic and basically send us on our way. We now go to The Skin Care Doctors in Burnsville and we like them a lot. We go back every 6 months and if something isnt working, she tries something else. We've had luck with something called DermaSmooth oil. Its the only thing that took the dry, scaly patches off the tops of her feet. I think they have a few different offices in the twin cities. I know they have another one in Edina. I also took her to a pediatric allergy specialst. His name is Dr. Schrekenstein and hes with Southdale Peds in Edina. Hes wonderful! We got her tested for allergies and found she has a few environmental allergies which were exacerbating her eczema. She takes Allegra every morning and this has helped her a lot. If you suspect she may have allergies, I would highly recommend taking her to an allergy doctor.

I know quite a few people who use Reliv and no longer have issues with eczema. One friend in GA could not get her son's condition under control for many years and searched for many years as well before trying Reliv. He has beautiful skin now :)

Check out www.heartland-healing.com I think that's it, or google Heartland Healing Hastings. Ms. Jody is a naturopath and uses a very gentle, non invasive treatment and testing procedures to help determine what the allergens are. She uses the NAET, if you have heard/ done research on that. She has treated/ healed a few children I know, one had mid senstivities and is currently working on one who has had eczema since 6 months old or so.

I'm sure you already know in your gut that any dermatologist is only going to prescribe meds, because of all the *junk* they are only doing it for the $$, they don't know how to heal and prevent only how to medicate these days. Good luck!

Our 21 month old saw Dr. Jennifer Lee at Dermatology Specialists, Eden Prairie, MN.

http://www.dermspecpa.com/

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She was great, knowledgeable and responsive. Our son has mild eczema but also developed a growth in his leg that needed to be removed, which she handled.

Good luck.
D.