eczema questions??? please help!!!

[mamatwig]

my 5 yr old ds has what i believe is eczema. starting maybe two months ago he started getting this one little patch of red dry skin on his cheek  and the tops of his hands are always super dry and red and rough scaley skin that sometimes gets so dry it bleeds. it doesnt itch him much , only occasionally so that is throwing me a little. from everything i read it sounds like eczema, but is it possible for it not to itch?

he has never been a very sensitive kid, but this spring he has definitely has allergies. his dry patches do seem to be worse on days when his seasonal allergies are worse. can eczema be a reaction to allergies from outside?  i read that most of the time it is a food allergy. i dont no what it would be, he has never shown sensitivity to foods before.

it doesnt really bother him it just looks painful when it flairs up bad. i want to take him to the dr for it but at the moment we have no  ins. so i have to wait a little while. just trying to figure out what it is and what is causing it! anyone who is familiar with eczema, i would really appreciate your thoughts! thanks:)

[changingseasons]

Yes, eczema can definitely be caused by environmental allergies.

When I get eczema, it only itches when it's first flaring up or when it's going away (and the skin is all dry where it's healing.)

[MotherC]

Through many years of visits to doctors (including a Pediatric Dermatologist) regarding eczema,  I was never asked about what my child ate. It is only recently, and through many of the posts from this Forum, that I am associating food with her eczema.

For your experience, notice what is touching your son's hands: 

soaps, detergents, lotions, sunscreens, cleaning products (if he helps you clean), bubble bath, etc. You may need to slowly eliminate a few. It may take a few days for him to react (or in this case not react), so stay vigilant.  If you must re-introduce an item go for the dye free, fragrance free products. I'm not saying these will be the answer, but it is a start. Keep good notes through this process because it may take awhile.

Watch for food triggers. Has he recently been introduced to a new food? Has he taken a liking to one food imparticular and eats alot of it?

Had he started any new meds just prior to this reaction (you mentioned seasonal allergies)? Check that out.

Many children with seasonal allergies and/or asthma also have eczema. The antihistamines used to treat the allergies may also help with the itch of eczema.

I don't know if what he is having is eczema, but it sounds as though he is having a reaction to something, so the above items are worth consideration.

Suggestion: Ask a pharmacist to look at the dry spots. Many of these professionals have been around a long time and may be able to give you their opinion. If you have access to a school nurse, ask him/her. I'm sure they have seen it all!