Sometime around January of 2011, dd (now 22 mo) developed a small cluster of tiny pimple-like bumps on her chin. It stuck around for some time without changing, then gradually the pimple got larger and more spread out. Some days it would appear to be clearing up and then would flqare up. Eventually it came to spread to all around her mouth,chin, and a bit on her cheeks...no nose though. And now it also appears like red, dry blotches as well as the bumps. I am not sure whether milia is also a symptom of allergies, but she also has had milia on her cheeks and the backs of her arms since maybe the fall.
She also developed eczema breifly as an infant and went away on its own. And once again this past fall. Her doc said to bathe her less, don't use soap, anf put some OTC hydrocortisone 1% cream. The combination of these healed it up untill right around the time that the rash was at it's peak. Then it returned, worse than it had ever been. It usually comes to the same spot on her chest. And this time it was also on her hips.
Around this time, (June 1st) we switched to a naturopathic dr and began to try the elimination diet, started her on a probiotic, and essential fatty acids (especially the EPA b/c it is good for the skin). Our first 4 thing we tried were wheat, soy, dairy, and eggs. Both she and I eliminated them b/c I am still BF. After a week, the eczema faded away and the rash look better. We reintroduce wheat and things seemed okay. Dairy produced a larger reaction, so she has not had dairy since. I have allowed myself a little bit, such as buttered toast, but this is a vast difference considering we are Weston A. Price followers and have had lots of raw and cultured dairy in our diet.
We don't each much soy anyway, but no strong reaction with that one. It had been getting more difficult to tell though because slowly the rash was getting better and then worse again...like the dairy is likely an allergy, but there must be something else in her diet that is also causing a reaction. So now we have elininated peanuts, corn, and tomatoes. During this elimination things initially looked better than they have in a while, but yesterday and today her face looks aweful. I have diaried, but the things she has been eating this week are primarily foods that seem pretty safe...except for maybe strawberries and blueberries. I am going to stop letting her have these tomorrow.
I just want to figure this out. It is so frustrating. And I do my best to eliminate everything she is too, except the no dairy thing has been the one thing I have cheate on. How important do you think it is that I stringently avoid dairy? I was assuming that because she doesn't nurse all that much anymore anyway, and my production is low, that she couldn't possibly be getting much from me.
This is hard b/c there has been no complete improvement with the removal of any food.
Do I just have to keep trying to eliminate and reintroduce foods and look for rections (however subtle)? Also, how do I judge a reaction when I cannot seem to clear up her skin for long enough. It would be easier if her skin would clear up and then I introduce a food and notice a rash appear. The rash has been coming and going whole time.
Sorry for the frustrated ramble...this whole thing is beginning to make me grumpy. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Follow Mothering