Can someone help me understand dd's ezcema/rash/skin?

[marimara]

I need some help understanding ezcema from a holistic point of view. I have had it in the past and now my daughter (3.5) has it, on her face, arms, and now getting on her chest.

My ezcema started due to dermographism and a severe outbreak of chronic hives that lasted about 8 months, where I itched and itched and scratched and caused ezcema (according to my allergist/immunologist). I started a high raw diet and it cleared up (with the help of some steroid creams) and now drink green smoothies every single morning and the hives and ezcema have stayed away.

DD developed a rash on her face this winter, it started around her mouth because it was very dry and she was always licking her lips making her lips chapped and then it spread to her chin and cheeks around her lips, all due to her wiping her face on her sleeves, licking her lips, etc. I tried keeping lotion and creams/oils on it, lip balm on her lips but it didn't work.

In the last month I have noticed that the chapped stuff is mostly gone, but now she has tiny flesh colored bumps all over her face, neck, some of her chest and her arms. Sometimes the bumps on her face turn bright red and oozy (like ezcema) she rubs it on her sleeves again and dries it out. She says it itches and she scratches it. She scratches her arms too and they turn into red bumps too and even hives (similar to the hives I had during my outbreak).

I have tried coconut oil (doesn't seem to work that great but I haven't been using it that long-1 week), weleda calendula baby cream (works ok), and some other lotions. Many of the things I have tried on her, she screams and tries to rub it off because it burns her skin. I have extremely sensitive skin but hers is more sensitive than mine.

So before I take her to our HCP, I would like some input from MDC mamas about what is going on here.

She does eat dairy/nuts/some fish/wheat. She has eaten these things her whole life (well as long as she has been eating food) and the rash just started in the last 4 months.

Is it possible that it's just dry skin that is continually being irritated by her clothes/sheets/etc. and not healing up? If that's so, what about all the tiny bumps all over the place?

Thanks!!

[KimPM]

She can start showing allergy signs at any time, even after eating something for a long time. It could be anything she eats, or anything in the environment, or anything she gets on her skin, including from clothes and shoes that have not been washed.

[marimara]

That is so scary, so now I don't even know where to start. On a sidenote though, her face looks a lot better today after a thick coating of Weleda last night, and I put her a 100% cotton pillowcase back on her pillow. Her hair tangles easily so I had switched her cotton pillowcase for a satin one, but polyester, it helped her tangles, but I think it might be aggravating her dry skin.

[KimPM]

Originally Posted by marimara

DD developed a rash on her face this winter, it started around her mouth because it was very dry and she was always licking her lips making her lips chapped and then it spread to her chin and cheeks around her lips, all due to her wiping her face on her sleeves, licking her lips, etc. I tried keeping lotion and creams/oils on it, lip balm on her lips but it didn't work.

In the last month I have noticed that the chapped stuff is mostly gone, but now she has tiny flesh colored bumps all over her face, neck, some of her chest and her arms. Sometimes the bumps on her face turn bright red and oozy (like ezcema) she rubs it on her sleeves again and dries it out. She says it itches and she scratches it. She scratches her arms too and they turn into red bumps too and even hives (similar to the hives I had during my outbreak).

I have tried coconut oil (doesn't seem to work that great but I haven't been using it that long-1 week), weleda calendula baby cream (works ok), and some other lotions. Many of the things I have tried on her, she screams and tries to rub it off because it burns her skin. I have extremely sensitive skin but hers is more sensitive than mine.

Can you remember if there was anything new she started eating or wearing, or a new product you started using (laundry detergent, soap, shampoo, toothpaste) sometime near when it started? What changed, other than it getting dry? With it starting around her mouth area, I'm wondering if it's something she's eating and getting wiped around.

(I've been through this kind of sleuthing so many times now, it all seems just normal to me. And it is hard to figure out, quite often.)

[marimara]

It's not detergents, shampoos, or soaps. I've kept the same for a long time. It's possible that with all the Easter candy everyone was handing around (articifial colors, flavors, food additives), that that is what started it. I normally don't allow her more than one small piece of regular candy a week and over Easter it just got out of control. We visited family out of state and I just sort of gave up after attempting to get everyone to keep the candy and chocolate away from her. Since we've been back from vacay, I threw out all the leftover candy and chocolate and started w/the Weleda. So that may be it I'm paying attention now for sure. She's doing a lot better w/ the Weleda but she's still getting some hives on her arms, where she scratches. Pollen is WAYYYYY high right now, so that may play a part too. Thanks for the input, keep it coming if you have anymore!!

[KimPM]

The hives continuing means there is a continuing reaction to something, even if it's less than it was before. Hmmm. I've never heard of someone having a hives reaction to pollen. I suppose it's possible, but I'd first think of something else. Did she start wearing wool over the winter? If there truly is nothing new, then it could very well be that she's started a reaction to something she's been exposed to for awhile. DS was like this in December...he got a mild cold-type virus. Somewhere in the middle of it he started showing a new reaction to something. Given his history, I strongly suspected another food allergy. I had to pull back his foods to a conservative level until he was clear, then add them back in one at a time. We finally figured out it was grape he was reacting to...and he'd been eating it for months...most of last year in fact. Seemed weird how it suddenly turned into a huge reaction triggered by a mild cold.

[marimara]

Yeah, that's what happened to dd. She had like 3 colds in a row, then the rashes started...hmm. interesting...I wonder what it is. I really hope it's not dairy, because she eats about 70% of her caloric intake dairy.

[nicole_marie]

Have you had the rash swabbed for infection? Please consider having severe, stubborn, non-responsive-to food-elmination type eczema SWABBED for bacteria. My 15 month old has been struggling with a very severe case of atopic dermatitis (eczema) since he was 3 months old. He lost 8 pounds on the elimination diet, his face started to swell and he had trouble breathing (and was put on albuterol). We spent a week at Mayo clinic and his eczema is infected with STAPH. We started an oral antibiotic yesterday and he is already showing tremendous signs of improvement and he even slept through the night last night for the first time EVER.

"Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema) is one of the hardest disorders to cure. A homeopathic doctor tried and failed to treat his own infant daughter from weeping, scratching eczema. It went so far as malnutrition and death." -homeopathworldcommunity

"Atopic dermatitis, a common problem, is often an inherited autosomal trait, often in association with other related atopic diseases such as asthma and hayfever." -homeopathyworldcommunity

Examples of inherited autosomal traits are hairline, freckles and the ability (or not) to roll the tongue. Eczema often falls into this category as well, so don't beat yourself up if you have done *everything* and it's still not enough.

You can read my story on this thread (which includes photos)...
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...319&highlight=