Dry (not red) cheeks IS eczema or not?

[northerngirl]

Dd2 has had dry cheeks for months and months. I thought it was just winter plus wiping her face with a wet wash cloth after 3 meals.

Well now it's pretty much summer and her cheeks are still dry. I have tried putting olive oil, lanolin, and weleda on her cheeks after wiping, but that really didn't do much. But I would rather not put creams ect., shouldn't her skin be smooth like the rest of her body?

The pedi wasn't sure it was eczema but that it could be now that the cold weather has passed.

Today one cheek seemed a bit smoother, then I wiped her face after dinner and now it feels more dry. So it is the wiping?

We are free of gluten, dairy, soy, peanuts, tree nuts (except for almonds), corn (except for maize corn), night shades, citrus, coffee.

And right now I am going egg free to see if that would help. This would be since last thursday. I would have seen a change by now?

Any advice welcome! THANKS.

[kjbrown92]

Just out of curiousity, why maize corn but no other corn? corn is a big offender for eczema, so that's why I'm asking. I'd take out ALL corn (including derivatives like dextrose, maltodextrin, citric acid, etc.) before taking out anything else.

[northerngirl]

Originally Posted by kjbrown92 

Just out of curiousity, why maize corn but no other corn? corn is a big offender for eczema, so that's why I'm asking. I'd take out ALL corn (including derivatives like dextrose, maltodextrin, citric acid, etc.) before taking out anything else.

It is masa corn. That is the same as maize? I have no idea. Both I and dd were muscle tested for that type of corn fine. Specifically it is in the Lundberg Rice Chips (3rd ingredient in them). The chiro lady we saw said that lots of people have issues with corn, but not masa corn.

But I am not 100% committed to everything she says, although she did get dd's mucus in her poop to go away.

I never thought/heard of corn being the cause.

I am not eating much for packaged food: those rice chips, occasional van's gf waffle, rice torillas, occasional sorbet.

Is there a good comprehensive list of the hidden corn? Probably should look at supps too I suppose.

Should I just add the eggs back and go gung ho on getting the corn out? I love me some eggs right about now.

Thank you so so so so so much for your reply!!

[kjbrown92]

If you already know that other corn is a problem, I would eliminate all the corn first. I think if you google "corn allergy" there's several lists out there. A lot of them you have to call the company to ask, and then you have to ask 8 different ways. As in

"your label says citric acid, can you tell me the source"

"source?"

"yes, the source. Citric acid is sometimes derived from corn" (pretty much all the time in the US unless it says something else)

"oh, let me look it up... I can't tell"

"Can you ask your supervisor to find out the source of your citric acid? my daughter has a bad reaction to all corn derivatives so I need to know whether this is safe to give her"

etc.

maltodextrin, citric acid, ascorbic acid, dextrose, caramel color (that could be a bunch of things), MSG (again, could be a bunch of things), cellulose, "vegetable" anything, modified food starch, food starch, xanthan gum. My youngest dd couldn't have corn from age 2 to now (she's 6yo) and she can now tolerate citric acid, ascorbic acid, and xanthan gum, but still nothing else. It's a very difficult one to avoid. It just seems like it's easier to eradicate ALL of one thing, before looking for another culprit.

Some practitioners are better than others with muscle testing. My old naturopath said gluten was fine for me. After going off it, clearly it was not fine for me. My osteopath though, has been very accurate so far.

And actually, my son had a worse reaction with masa corn than regular corn, now that I'm thinking about it.

[kjbrown92]

and no matter what, I'd keep a detailed food journal (for both of you if you're still BFing).

[northerngirl]

Originally Posted by kjbrown92 

and no matter what, I'd keep a detailed food journal (for both of you if you're still BFing).

Good timing. I was just checking if anyone had replied to this.

I have been keeping a food journal for both of us for a while. My problem is finding a pattern in it all... from the time I eat something to the time she gets it through my milk to when she reacts. It's just not that clear to me. And now that I am seriously convinced that she has eczema on her cheeks, that time frame also confuses me.

Also, when you mentioned corn I thought back to when I gave dd some jarred baby food maybe a month ago. Just on a whim I bought it, she had never had jarred baby food before. It was apples and plums I think. She got red right around her anus. There was citric acid in it.

Side note: She also sleeps horribly. Not really longer than 3 hours. Up a lot to nurse. And is 17.4 lbs at 15 months, and did not gain any wait from 12-15 months.

This seems like a lot to take on given every single supplement I take (I think) has some sort of corn in it. Since I am off so many foods is it safe to not take them (prenatal, calcium, vit d3, probiotics, hcl, b12).

I would feel better if I could just take a prenatal. Is there a truely allergen free one? I was thinking the Thorne prenatal? I currently take Vita Natal by Eclectic Institute.

Or if I just dump all supplements for a certain number of days? a week? and just see what happens.

[kjbrown92]

So far all the Thorne ones we take our safe. And we have safe Vitamin D, probiotics, B12, etc. so they are out there. Vital Nutrients is one good company, Thorne is another one. We use Klaire probiotics, the other one we've used is GI ProHealth (I also use their yogurt starter to make coconut milk yogurt). For my DS, he reacted to something exactly 24 hours after I ingested something, then reacted for the following 3 days. You're looking at PATTERNS in the food journal. You have to be a detective. Look for reactions, then go backwards, and look for the same thing every time (whether that's 3 hours, 12 hours, or 24 hours). Look at all symptoms: sleep, poop, rashes, behavior, etc.

[northerngirl]

Originally Posted by kjbrown92 

So far all the Thorne ones we take our safe. And we have safe Vitamin D, probiotics, B12, etc. so they are out there. Vital Nutrients is one good company, Thorne is another one. We use Klaire probiotics, the other one we've used is GI ProHealth (I also use their yogurt starter to make coconut milk yogurt). For my DS, he reacted to something exactly 24 hours after I ingested something, then reacted for the following 3 days. You're looking at PATTERNS in the food journal. You have to be a detective. Look for reactions, then go backwards, and look for the same thing every time (whether that's 3 hours, 12 hours, or 24 hours). Look at all symptoms: sleep, poop, rashes, behavior, etc.

 If I take out the corn in all forms, do you know how long I could expect to see an improvement? I am just thinking that it would be expensive to replace all of my supps with corn free ones....and I just order 2 more bottles of my prenatal. Or just go without any supplements for a bit?

I was talking to a friend at work who has many many allergies (fruits, veggies, mold, pollen, ect) and she said that eczema can stick around for many months even though you've removed the cause of it. That is true?
 

Thank you so very much for your help. There's not much for practitioners in my area that can help with this. Our chiro we see for muscle testing is 3 hours away and we simply cannot afford to take off work and travel. I am sorta on my own now and not knowing exactly where to go.

[kjbrown92]

If it were me, I'd just go off the supplements for a week before replacing all of them (that's what I did when I took DD2 off the probiotic that was causing her issues). Most things get out of your symptom in that time (except gluten, though soy for my DS is a 10 day reaction, but that's unusual I think). With my DD2, her skin would clear in just a few days of removing the offending food. I haven't heard of eczema from hanging around that long after an offender was removed. Though remember that it could be environmental as well. Typically (if anyone has a "typical" child) children don't get environmental allergies until 2yo, but I've known younger ones who are sensitive to cats or detergent or whatever.

[northerngirl]

Originally Posted by kjbrown92 

If it were me, I'd just go off the supplements for a week before replacing all of them (that's what I did when I took DD2 off the probiotic that was causing her issues). Most things get out of your symptom in that time (except gluten, though soy for my DS is a 10 day reaction, but that's unusual I think). With my DD2, her skin would clear in just a few days of removing the offending food. I haven't heard of eczema from hanging around that long after an offender was removed. Though remember that it could be environmental as well. Typically (if anyone has a "typical" child) children don't get environmental allergies until 2yo, but I've known younger ones who are sensitive to cats or detergent or whatever.

Thanks for your reply.

I did pick up the Thorne prenatal and have been taking it since Friday. The only other supp I am taking is D3, carlson brand drops in coconut oil and Natural Calm magnesium. Those didn't appear to have hidden corn.

I suppose I should stop giving dd her supps: vit D3 (same kind), probiotic (UAS Labs DDS Junior), fish oil (Metagenics)?

I think that I did piece one thing together. I think she doesn't do well with yams. It was 21 hours after she ate them and her poop was weird, but formed and had a sour smell to it. A bit later she pooped again and her inner cheeks and bit on her labia were pinkish, but she did not have a red ring around her hole. Her cheeks are were still dry.

I've almost got all of the corn out. But today I ate a rice tortilla with my tuna salad. It has xanthan gum in it. You'd think if corn was the culprit and I ate one thing with a small amount of the xanthan gum she still would be getting better? but not completely.  Right now I am at a loss of what to eat.....hungry mama=cranky mama.

Feeling really low right now.

[kjbrown92]

xanthan gum would have been enough to set my dd2 off.

coconut is another culprit for a lot of people (since you mentioned the coconut oil in the Vitamin D - we use the same one).

Eat easy things: roasted chicken, baked/boiled sweet potato, rice, steamed veggies, hamburger, etc. And lots of them. We do chicken/turkey bone broth which is high in nutrients/minerals. Stick the roasted carcass in a crockpot and let it cook for a couple of days. The stock comes out nice and rich looking and oh so tasty. Then you can cook your rice in it for more flavor.

You know iodized salt has corn in it right?

[northerngirl]

Originally Posted by kjbrown92 

xanthan gum would have been enough to set my dd2 off.

coconut is another culprit for a lot of people (since you mentioned the coconut oil in the Vitamin D - we use the same one).

Eat easy things: roasted chicken, baked/boiled sweet potato, rice, steamed veggies, hamburger, etc. And lots of them. We do chicken/turkey bone broth which is high in nutrients/minerals. Stick the roasted carcass in a crockpot and let it cook for a couple of days. The stock comes out nice and rich looking and oh so tasty. Then you can cook your rice in it for more flavor.

You know iodized salt has corn in it right?

This morning dds cheeks seemed less dry. And her bum looked ok as well. Her sleep hasn't changed much.

I have only been taking the Thorne prenatal for the last couple days for supps.  And I have been eating not much variety. I still do not have all hidden corn out yet. Those darn rice tortillas have xanthan gum in them. And vinegar in mustard has corn in it?

I guess I am not that far away from the diet that you are suggesting. Pretty much like an elimination diet? You didn't mention any fruit. There are some fruits that I did not muscle test well for, which we avoid. But I have been eating apples, bananas, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries (1-2 servings/day) And I am avoiding other veg that I didn't test will for: nightshades, onions, cauliflower, eggplant, mushrooms, cabbage. Have been eating baby romaine, kale, chard, carrots, broccoli, celery, avacado (that's a fruit i guess).

I am eating almond butter and some eggs. I have taken both those out for a time and did not notice a difference, so I added them back because I need that fat/protein. It is difficult at times because the only meat that I eat is chicken and some tuna. Just been adding meat back in from years of being veg. I tried to do hamburger, but had a tough time with the taste.

The rest of the family will only eat chicken, 1-2x/week.

I have been doing nettle infusions starting this week. It doesn't seem to be causing her distress. I was a bit shocked my the taste, wow.

I also just received my water kefir grains in the mail today. Wanting to add that in too...I think.

On one hand I want to just do the elimination type diet, get it over with and find out, maybe what the deal is.

On the other hand I just think that I am having a tough time with my already restricted diet, that it almost seems impossible to do. I have to work out of the home 3x/week, and I have to be awake and act smart. Taking out more things recently has got me a bit on the edge and a bit cranky.

Sorry this has gotten so long, thank you for reading if you do.