Eczema... frustrated and need some new ideas

[mama k nj]

The short version:

DS2 is 4months and has horrible eczema on his face mostly. It got so bad it was raw and scabbing, I took him to the pedi and got a script for hydrocordizone and antibiotic ointment (to prevent secondary infection). Used those for a week. It cleared up, but stopped using it and it came back. The Dr flat out said it's not food related but I'm thinking SOMETHING has to be causing this.

The longer version;
I had it as a baby/child. Was on steriods as a young child and it went in remission until a few years back... right after I had DS1. I went the medical route and did steriod creams. That backfired because it just came back even worse after I stopped using them. DS1 had a little bit too and we went to a homeopath. She helped a little, but nothing really cured the problem. I did allergy testing too and nothing came up on the skin tests.
Then I had some personal stuff going on and I gave up on finding a cure. DS1's cleared up on it's own thankfully.

DS2s is so bad and I know it is disrupting his sleep. His skin is extremely dry as well. I am at a loss at what to do/try. I am thinking about trying an elimination diet next eventhough I did that before (when I was seeing the allergist) and mine never completely cleared.

[changingseasons]

How exactly does your doctor know that it's NOT food related?

I can almost guarantee you that it is. Eczema is an atopic form of dermatitis- meaning it is caused by an allergy- either food or environmental. Since it's pretty rare for babies to have environmental allergies (they usually show up a few years later), it's almost always food related.

Now that doesn't mean that it's a "true" allergy (IgE/anaphylactic), it could be a food intolerance, which will not show up on standard allergy tests.

Have you tried an elimination diet? Food journal?

[mama k nj]

Yeah, I was leaning toward food sensitivity too, but you know how it goes with medical drs sometimes....

I did the elimination diet for myself when I was seeing the allergist. It was so hard and it never completely cleared up so I got frustrated and gave up after a month.

Now that I think about it, dairy might be a culprit. I avoided it for DS2's first couple months because I heard it helps with colicky babies. (DS1 was very fussy and colicky and I wanted to avoid that again.) He never was colicky thank God, so then I started having some again. hmmmm

[changingseasons]

Dairy is the #1 culprit for babes, so that's definitely a good possibility. Followed by soy, eggs, gluten, corn.

[prescottchels]

Here's a link w/a story of a woman that cured her severe eczema naturally
http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/eczema.htm
The top treatments look like-adding omega 3 essential fatty acids, don't use soap, apply shea butter, cut out dairy, gluten, maybe nightshades.

Good Luck!!!

[balancedmama]

The biggest eczema trigger is eggs, followed by dairy, soy, wheat, peanuts. I assume that it's the same whether through breastfeeding or direct ingestion.

This was DS's weeping face rash that my dr said was yeast. We put everything known to man on that, and it just didn't get better. I asked about food allergies (which really why did I even bother asking an md?) and she said no way. Later we found out that it was from egg. DH was making me egg sandwiches a few times a week. Honestly I just didn't think it could be that bad from me ingesting it. I know, I know, I was just sleep deprived. Anyway, yeah...I would definitely explore food allergies.

[runningmomma]

I had luck with Ostrich oil for my 1 year old. Within a week of starting it, his skin started to clear up. I never could figure out what caused the eczema, but the oil helps it to not be an ongoing problem.

HTH - good luck!

[MyLilPwny]

I never figured out what caused my dd's eczema either. She had it since she was a newborn. Allergies do not run in our families. I did elimination diet from 5 to 7 months old. Eczema did not improve at all. It got worse if anything. I added back in my foods to my diet, starting with raw dairy first and eczema started disappearing and was 99% gone by 9 months old, the remaining tiny spot on thigh disappeared a few months later. I liked using Boiron Calendula cream and Egyptian Magic Cream for the eczema.

[mntnmom]

1st, put a humidifier in his room at night. Nothing works for everybody, but this has been a lifesaver for my boys.
2nd DS1's ALLERGIST said eczema was not food related, it just seems to be the standard "party line". I had observed flair ups after he ate hazelnuts though, so we did the test. Sure enough, he's got mild allergies to a bunch of stuff and taking him off of it all finally made his full body, oozing sores manageable. Testing can really suck for little guys though. I would suggest an elimination diet for now, and look at testing later.
He still has very dry skin, so we moisturize him at least daily, especially in the winter. Another thing I *think* has helped is lots of good fats in the diet. If your guy is BF, that's probably irrelevant at this point, but hemp oil is a great skin moisturizer, as is good old olive oil.
It's very frustrating, as the "cure" for each person is different. The medical route has worked out pretty well for us.

[SquishyKitty]

I wouldn't put any oils on his skin until you know what is causing it. Some oils can exacerbate it, instead of helping it.

Get a good moisturizing cream, and don't use anything with scents or dyes. Even on you, it could be that he's coming in contact with it when he nurses, you know?

Don't use soaps or anything on his face, which I doubt most people do for a tiny baby like that anyways lol. Moisturize while his face is still a little bit damp, instead of completely dry.

Check your laundry detergent too, sometimes that can cause reactions.

To be honest, my #1 culprit is water. Anything but pure, clean water causes my skin to break out. I never figured that out until we moved to a house with a well, so our water is pumped directly from our creek, filtered, and that's what we drink and shower and clean with. As soon as I use water somewhere else, the breakouts start.

Can you put a filter on your showerhead and in your kitchen faucet?

[mama k nj]

Originally Posted by balancedmama

The biggest eczema trigger is eggs, followed by dairy, soy, wheat, peanuts. I assume that it's the same whether through breastfeeding or direct ingestion.

This was DS's weeping face rash that my dr said was yeast. We put everything known to man on that, and it just didn't get better. I asked about food allergies (which really why did I even bother asking an md?) and she said no way. Later we found out that it was from egg. DH was making me egg sandwiches a few times a week. Honestly I just didn't think it could be that bad from me ingesting it. I know, I know, I was just sleep deprived. Anyway, yeah...I would definitely explore food allergies.

That's exactly what it looks like when it starts out! Then it seeps and gets worse 'cause he's always rubbing it on things.

I really don't think I have it in me to do a complete elmination diet right now. But it's looking like I should at least give up eggs and dairy and keep a food diary.

Ironically my eczema is the best it's been in awhile right now.

[mama k nj]

Thanks for all the ideas! I feel like I have some new things to try now.

I had considered the water (we have city water) and I drink filtered water, but maybe I should start buying the reverse osmosis water from the hfs.

Our air is definitely too dry so I will be getting a humidifier.

I've been using coconut oil on him and only oatmeal in his baths. I already use super gentle laundry soap and mild personal care products. I really dont' think it's anything he's coming in contact with externally.

[naturalmummy]

looking for continued advice on this topic...

I think it's called lurking when you're reading someone else's thread for advice on a similar issue. I'm a lurker right now. I was just about to post a new one, but figured this was so similar that i'd just continue this one...
So much helpful information already...things I have not tried yet.

My DS is 9 mos old and has developed eczema on his face in the last 2 months. In the last week it has gotten very bad - red, oozing and he keeps itching it on either me or anything else he can get his face on. I know it's affecting his sleep - he wakes up rubbing his face against me or the sheet.
I have tried several creams including California Baby Calendula (this seems ok but sometimes I think it stings him b/c he'll cry after a few minutes, so now I am putting it on very slowly, patch by patch). I have also tried straight calendula oil which seemed not to sting but not sure if it's helping.

I too suspected food vs anything environmental. We have been experimenting with solids for about 6 weeks (nothing he is too interested in), so I had at first assumed it was something he was eating, but then I started obsessing that it was something I was eating, so I was planning to start the elimination diet today...was going to start with dairy & soy, but do i need to eliminate eggs & nuts too? I guess I'm not sure what the true definition of "elimination diet" is.
What I also don't understand is how he could have gone 8 months w/o any skin reaction to BF and now have this sad, raw face...so should i assume it is the solids and not the breastmilk? He hasn't eaten any of the top allergens - have really stuck to rice, oats, fruits & vegs (again, none of which he is even interested in).
We don't have any food allergies in our family, and frankly I was very surprised he developed this, thinking that living naturally and EBF would help prevent any allergies...but from reading so many previous threads, it seems like this affects a lot of us.

I am so stressed about this, wondering what else I can do to help him...and every time I eat something i'm feeling anxious and guilty that it might make his face worse...

Thanks in advance for the support knowlegable ladies!

[mama k nj]

Originally Posted by naturalmummy

I think it's called lurking when you're reading someone else's thread for advice on a similar issue. I'm a lurker right now. I was just about to post a new one, but figured this was so similar that i'd just continue this one...
So much helpful information already...things I have not tried yet.
....
I too suspected food vs anything environmental. We have been experimenting with solids for about 6 weeks (nothing he is too interested in), so I had at first assumed it was something he was eating, but then I started obsessing that it was something I was eating, so I was planning to start the elimination diet today...was going to start with dairy & soy, but do i need to eliminate eggs & nuts too? I guess I'm not sure what the true definition of "elimination diet" is.
What I also don't understand is how he could have gone 8 months w/o any skin reaction to BF and now have this sad, raw face...so should i assume it is the solids and not the breastmilk? He hasn't eaten any of the top allergens - have really stuck to rice, oats, fruits & vegs (again, none of which he is even interested in).
We don't have any food allergies in our family, and frankly I was very surprised he developed this, thinking that living naturally and EBF would help prevent any allergies...but from reading so many previous threads, it seems like this affects a lot of us.

YES! I so can relate. DS is EBF, didn't do any vax for him, and try to live naturally and still have this issue. It's hard not to look around at family members who feed their kids whatever, use Tide and J&J babywash, chemical cleaners.... and don't have these problems.

Anyway, to answer your question, a true elimination diet is very strict. You eat no allergenic foods (no nightshades like potatoes, no eggs, no dairy, no wheat, no soy, no nuts, etc). When I did it before it was basically rice, veggies, only certain fruits and meat. I know I am not up to that right now. Everytime I have attempted something so strict I have a strong emotional and physical response. With two little ones I know I can't put us through that.

Oh and I thought I'd throw one more thing out there... I've heard probiotics might be helpful so I started giving those to him last week. (Udo's Choice makes a infant/toddler powder.) Makes sense that it would help since eczema seems to be an autoimmune issue and probiotics help your immune system.

[kjbrown92]

Originally Posted by naturalmummy

My DS is 9 mos old and has developed eczema on his face in the last 2 months. In the last week it has gotten very bad - red, oozing and he keeps itching it on either me or anything else he can get his face on. I know it's affecting his sleep - he wakes up rubbing his face against me or the sheet.

I too suspected food vs anything environmental. We have been experimenting with solids for about 6 weeks (nothing he is too interested in), so I had at first assumed it was something he was eating, but then I started obsessing that it was something I was eating, so I was planning to start the elimination diet today...was going to start with dairy & soy, but do i need to eliminate eggs & nuts too? I guess I'm not sure what the true definition of "elimination diet" is.
What I also don't understand is how he could have gone 8 months w/o any skin reaction to BF and now have this sad, raw face...so should i assume it is the solids and not the breastmilk? He hasn't eaten any of the top allergens - have really stuck to rice, oats, fruits & vegs (again, none of which he is even interested in).
We don't have any food allergies in our family, and frankly I was very surprised he developed this, thinking that living naturally and EBF would help prevent any allergies...but from reading so many previous threads, it seems like this affects a lot of us.

What kind of rice cereal? Some of them have soy lecithin in it (which is a top 8 allergen, and a top 4 food intolerance)
I would suspect a food he's getting as a solid, if it didn't start until solids were introduced.
A TED is a TOTAL elimination diet (that's the Dr. Sears type which is lamb, sweet potato, rice, pears, zucchini). Then there's an ED which is just some form of an elimination diet. Some people take out the top 8 allergens, some people take out the top 4 intolerances, some people do a combination of the two.

For eczema, it seems like it's dairy, gluten, soy, corn, and eggs as the top offenders. For my DD2, it was just corn.

[changingseasons]

Originally Posted by mama k nj

That's exactly what it looks like when it starts out! Then it seeps and gets worse 'cause he's always rubbing it on things.

I really don't think I have it in me to do a complete elmination diet right now. But it's looking like I should at least give up eggs and dairy and keep a food diary.

Ironically my eczema is the best it's been in awhile right now.

It's not necessary to jump straight into an elimination diet. That are extremely hard, physically AND emotionally. You can just pull out a couple top suspects for a couple weeks and see how that goes. If you see some improvement, but not all, pull out your next suspect, etc.

Check out my blog (under my user name.) I have pictures of DD's eczema (under Our Story), and info about doing elimination diets, etc.

[mama k nj]

thanks changingseasons! I will check out your blog. I know that a strict ED is not for me right now. Last time I did it, it was very hard emotionally and physically and I wasn't bfing then. (Once I tried a fresh juice fast "detox" and wound up laying on the floor so exhaused. So yeah, the extremes don't do well with me. LOL)

[naturalmummy]

Thanks for the responses ladies, and mama k - sorry to hijack your original thread. Thank you too for the suggestion about probiotics. I hadn't given him any supplements of anykind yet, since I take all high quality supplements and thought he would get it all from BF, but i realize anything that can strengthen the immune system could help.
Does the probiotic change their stool or anything else to look out for?

Changing seasons...What is also super helpful is to hear that I shouldn't necessarily jump to an elim diet, and to know about the emotional response piece -- i am already having a major emotional response just even thinking about the diet (even though i would TOTALLY do it if i knew it would help him or if it became my last option). Then I started to get anxious about him getting thawed BM tomorrow - he does get that one day per week since I have to WOTH on Tuesdays. I was stressing about what might be in the thawed BM depending on what day I pumped it, and started to think i wouldn't be able to do a true elim b.c of that.

I am going to start with dairy elim...and we are holding him off of any further grain solids - only fruit & veg.
BTW- the rice i gave him was homemade rice cereal in which I used organic brown rice mixed w BM - that's it. Nothing from a box.
I did notice how much soy lecithin is everything - at one point I was actually supplementing with it b/c i had recurring plugged ducts, but fortunately (fingers crossed) that is behind us (i think it helped when DS settled into a little more of a nursing routine so my milk wasn't always busting at the seams).

Thanks again ladies! I'm sure we'll chat again.

[naturalmummy]

oh, and changing seasons - i'll check out your blog. Thanks!

[slimkins]

I'm kind of lurking, too, because my DS has broken out with eczema, as well. Surprisingly, my ped thinks it is an internal allergen, something he is getting through my breast-milk, and recommended I start with eliminating dairy. I was proud of him when he suggested this. It's been almost a week and I feel it looks a little better. I have been consuming soy, though. Hopefully, we don't have to eliminate everything and our LO's improve.