how long before diet improves eczema?

[chic2chic]

my baby is 2.5 months old, and i've started an elimination diet to figure out what is causing his terrible eczema (he's exclusively breastfed). i was already off dairy for weeks, and just cut out eggs, wheat/gluten, corn & soy.

if anyone has done this and it succeeded, how long did it take for your baby to show signs of improvement? and how long before the eczema vanished completely?

(my baby is otherwise pretty content, has normal poops, great weight gain, no spitting up/reflux -- it's just his skin that's affected)

[kjbrown92]

For DD2, once we found the right trigger, it was 3-4 days before the eczema started clearing (she was not breastfed at the time, so it would take an additional 4 days to get it out of your breastmilk). For my DD2 it was corn.

is sleep okay?

[Chinese Pistache]

A few days to see improvement and about a week to see complete healing. If you're not seeing ANY improvement, then my guess is that there are other triggers you're still eating.

[chic2chic]

Originally Posted by kjbrown92

is sleep okay?

sleep was fine until a few days ago, when the rash got worse. now the itching keeps baby (and me) up much of the night

if it takes a few days, i'll keep my fingers crossed that it gets better soon... and if it doesn't, i'll start eliminating other foods, too (thanks, chinese pistache).

i'm planning to take him to an allergist in a few weeks, also. neither of my other kids has ever had eczema, so this has thrown me for a loop. (they were both sensitive to dairy, which is why i was already dairy-free)

[meadowgirl]

I feel your pain. My son, who is two, also has had eczema since birth. To be honest with you, although he's been allergy tested and tested positive for a peanut allergy (and also sesame), nothing has really helped his skin condition.

Chiropractic helped lessen it and I've done some recent research on Evening Primrose Oil and other Omega 3s, which seem promising. (Google "Evening Primrose Oil and Eczema" and read about it. I just started using it on my son this past weekend and am hoping to have some results.) Mostly though, I've just been frustrated with my son's condition.

Keep her creamed up (a few times a day) and cover her body. Footed pjs and hand mits while she is little should help protect her. A humidifier in her bedroom should help too.

[kjbrown92]

If the rash got worse, then you're eating more of the trigger food. What have you been eating because you eliminated the other things?

[chic2chic]

well, the rash got worse before i started the elimination diet. and i'm racking my brain trying to remember what in particular i was eating (i did have quite a few eggs that week)... i was already on very minimal dairy and low gluten. i generally have a very varied diet, and cook everything from scratch -- no processed food and no eating out (somewhat of a TF diet, i'd say).

today is day 4 on the elimination diet (no dairy, wheat/gluten, eggs, fish, soy or corn) and his face/torso seem to be clearing up. his scalp is still horribly itchy, though.

i'm hungry and cranky, and it's my birthday this week so i had fantasies about a giant, rich layer cake that i was going to buy at my favorite bakery :
alas, the cake will have to wait.

thanks for the tips, meadowgirl, although i'm hesitant to use EPO on a 2-month-old.

[Chinese Pistache]

Happy Birthday!

Make sure you're keeping a detailed food journal. You WILL forget things, so write it all down

Also make sure you're getting enough calories. You need a good fat/oil and meat.

If you're up for some gluten-free baking, this cake is quite popular: http://viveleveganrecipes.blogspot.c...te-cake-2.html You probably need to find another frosting recipe, though, one that's soy-free. I bet it would taste good without frosting, too

[chic2chic]

thanks, chinese pistache -- and that recipe makes my mouth water already!

you're right, i do have to keep a food journal.

i do consume a large amount of meat to compensate (local, grass-fed beef & lamb), as well as beans, and salad with lots of olive oil; a flax-seed smoothie in the mornings. so i hope i'm getting enough omega-3s that way... i guess i'm just more hungry if i can't accompany everything with a giant hunk of bread-and-butter *sigh*

one problem is that i'm used to cooking asian-style, with lots of soy sauce. everything seems so bland without the soy...

[Chinese Pistache]

I keep meaning to make this: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Soy-Sau...te/Detail.aspx For corn-free, I'm cutting the boullion and ading a safe beef broth in place of water

[riomidwife]

Originally Posted by Chinese Pistache

A few days to see improvement and about a week to see complete healing. If you're not seeing ANY improvement, then my guess is that there are other triggers you're still eating.

Same here.

I would definitely be doing probiotic therapy for you and your baby! This can really help!

On a side note, I suspect my son may also have a polyester allergy in addition to food senitivities, and these fiber allergies are often overlooked, so that may be something to look out for.