Steroid Creme Alternatives? - Page 2

[WuWei]

Here are a few alternatives. I'll try to find links to confirm ingredients.

An old timey solution we used was Burow's Solution. It is Aluminum Acetate resulting from the reaction of Calcium acetate and Aluminum Sulfate. It is buffered. I imagine it is the sulfate which helps, similar to Epsom salts which is magnesium sulfate.
http://allnurses.com/nursing-student...on-180652.html
http://allnurses.com/nursing-student-assistance/burrows-solution-180652.html
http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual_ha...h35/ch35f.html
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec18/ch203/ch203c.html
http://merck-ut.merck.com/mmhe/sec18/ch202/ch202c.html

We'd make a solution with water and the Burow's Solution powder. Then make moist wraps of gauze and wrap the open skin area to keep it moist and to allow the sulfate topical absorption. Sulfate is critical to opening the sulfoxidation process- detox pathway. http://www.detoxpuzzle.com/sulfate.php

Other conventional treatments are Silvadene Cream, which we used for burns and other large areas of open skin. Silvadene is a sulfa derivative.
http://www.healthsquare.com/newrx/sil1404.htm
http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec10/ch11...lvadene&alt=sh

I assume you've tried Calamine Lotion and Benedryl topically.

Homeopathic Apis Mellifera in pellets and cream will help with itching.
http://www.herbs2000.com/disorders/shingles.htm
http://www.altmd.com/Articles/Homeop...kin-Conditions
http://www.worldwideshoppingmall.co....thy-eczema.asp
http://www.homeopathic.com/store/product=1011

Eczema:
- -support lymph system's ability to detox Lymphomyosot
- -dry, itchy Sulphur 30C
- -topical Calendula ointment 3.5oz
- -topical Calendula ointment 13.5oz
- -itch, burn, swell Arsenicum Album 30C
- -scalp Kali Mur 6X

Udder Balm is another ole timey salve for open skin. "Bag Balm" is another version. Again the active ingredient appears to be sulfate!

Flanders Buttocks Ointment saved my son's butt. No joke. Dairy-caused excoriated skin beyond open and weeping. It was raw, hamburger looking skin in contact with green, mucous stool.

The ingredients are Zinc Oxide and Peruvian Balsam (these are the only ingredients listed on the tube!) It is the balsam which apparently has some healing properties. It would heal in 24 hours, until the next allergen exposure. Zinc Oxide alone didn't have the same effect. Flanders WILL STAIN anything it touches or rubs off on. His cloth diapers were permanently brown, forever and ever. (I assume you are not using any alcohol or antimicrobial based diaper wipes.) I don't think it is safe for baby to ingest this though.

Oatmeal baths help for soothing, unless a severe gluten allergy.

There is a "Miranda Castro 7-cream" which is legendary in Europe. Although, it has coconut oil.

Manuka honey is an amazing healer.
http://www.naturalnews.com/027170_ho..._bacteria.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15979745

Shea butter is another holistic alternative. Source: http://www.agbangakarite.com/
http://www.pioneerthinking.com/cd_sheabutter.html
Quality grades: http://sheainstitute.com/index.php/t...a-grading.html

Topical probiotics (dairy-free). Water kefir could help, from my understanding of the microbial benefits.

Other researched alternatives are: licorice gel, chamomile cream, witch hazel extract, evening primrose oil and borage oil. These are diluted applications, it appeared from quick glance.

Additionally, Soaking in kelp and/or bentonite clay infused water helps.
http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/eczema.htm


Pat

[WuWei]

Originally Posted by BirthKathy

http://www.drugstore.com/products/pr...02&catid=13140

I am trying this out today on the back of my son's knees.

http://www.amazon.com/Resinol-Medica...pr_product_top

Caution, both of those have many allergens as active and inactive ingredients.


Pat

[wrabbit]

First of all, big hugs. It is really hard to see your little one so uncomfortable and to top it off have to restrict your diet. My little one was 4 months when eczema became a problem so I focused on my diet mainly. I went back and forth thinking that she was allergic to everything or nothing, soooo frustrating. Here's what finally worked for us. Her skin has been clear for a couple weeks now.

- I tried to balance my body ph ( lots of info on the net for this)
- I tried to get my gut ecology bacK in balance ( I used nutri biotic to kill candida and probiotics to build up the healthy stuff
- eliminated ( with the occasional slip) dairy, nuts, corn, eggs, soy
- hypo allergenic clothes soap ( some of the "natural" ones have enzymes in them that can be irritating)

-no soap at all on the baby. On days when we are working on the cradle cap issue I just use olive oil on her head and rinse it off with water. babies hair is so fine that it doesn't actually feel greasy after this. Sometimes will add olive or coconut oil to bath to super moisturize her skin.

I have found now that my digestion is working better that I can be a little less strict on my diet. Dairy is still a big trigger but I found a small amount once a week is ok now. I hope this helps.

[wrabbit]

Sorry I got rambling and forgot you had asked about topical treatments. I haven't tried it but I would assume you could try grapefruit seed extract extremely diluted in the tub. I had the most dramatic results when I started taking it orally to kill yeast. Babies skin cleared up in a couple days. From what I've read (please get a second opinion) babies can be given solution orally as well. Good Luck!

[nicole_marie]

My son's eczema was non responsive to treatments (and actually got worse) because it was INFECTED WITH STAPH. I'm wondering if a simple course of antibiotics would have really been any worse than using steroid cream twice a day for a year...hmmmmmmmmmmm...not to mention the STRESS of trying to use alternative therapies.

[sbgrace]

Originally Posted by nicole_marie

My son's eczema was non responsive to treatments (and actually got worse) because it was INFECTED WITH STAPH. I'm wondering if a simple course of antibiotics would have really been any worse than using steroid cream twice a day for a year...hmmmmmmmmmmm...not to mention the STRESS of trying to use alternative therapies.

Yes, it would have been better. I think your doctors failed you honestly. This finding isn't at all uncommon/unknown in eczema. http://pediatrics.about.com/od/eczem...zema_staph.htm http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-a...ds-with-ezcema

I'd look heavily into staph control measures for the whole family.
I hope he's better very soon. I know this has been a long journey and, in your shoes, many would feel angry about it I'd think.

[nicole_marie]

Thanks Rachelle, I think the most difficult thing for the alternative community should embrace is that eczema is often an inherited autosomal trait, much like hairline, freckles and the ability to roll the tongue. If you are doing *everything* and your child goes from growing well in the 90th percentile to FTT, you might consider the genetic factor.

I am a huge proponent of natural medicine and it cured my oldest son's eczema when he was a baby within 3 days and without an ounce of medication. He was allergic to dairy and sensitive to soy. We also added a probiotic and fish oil.

[sbgrace]

Originally Posted by nicole_marie

Thanks Rachelle, I think the most difficult thing for the alternative community should embrace is that eczema is often an inherited autosomal trait, much like hairline, freckles and the ability to roll the tongue. If you are doing *everything* and your child goes from growing well in the 90th percentile to FTT, you might consider the genetic factor.

I am a huge proponent of natural medicine and it cured my oldest son's eczema when he was a baby within 3 days and without an ounce of medication. He was allergic to dairy and sensitive to soy. We also added a probiotic and fish oil.

I get your frustration. I feel similarly about reflux. I get frustrated because, in my son's case, it had nothing to do w/allergies or intolerances or my milk. Chiropractic and cranial sacral did nothing for his reflux. GI tested for their pet causes and shrugged their shoulders when the cause wasn't what they expected. In our case it had everything to do with internal muscle tone for him and I don't think he's terribly unusual in that though his severity was and the duration. At any rate, we wasted time and he suffered and lots of doctors (alternative and otherwise) failed him. When I sought advice online in various places people would tell me their pet whatever. Nothing helped. He was failure to thrive from 3 to 18 months and then things actually got worse.

I think we do need to look broadly. It's a human condition to put on glasses of our experiences that color or views of all similar things we encounter. That's true in all areas of course. We're better served and better able to serve others if we can at least be aware of what glasses we're wearing. You and I are, because of our experiences, now wearing new lenses. We too have to be aware that our thoughts in these areas are still heavily influenced by our experiences.