URGH!!! I'm about to give up on ED! Should I really stick with it still? - Page 2

[strmis]

Originally Posted by SweetSilver 

Yeah, and the dryer sounds fine if you are not using any fabric softeners in the wash or dryer sheets that might leave a residue on the dryer wall.  It might take a few washes to get out all the detergent.  Check any labels on her clothes for spandex or lycra, too as they can also be irritants, or exposed elastic.  All things to consider when you are out of ideas.  This post has focussed so much on foods that I don't remember if you said you had pets?  Is she sharing your bed?  I'm thinking of environmental allergens that might affect her skin.  Again, when you're out of ideas......

Yeah, the cradle cap could muddy up what you are seeing esp. since in the worst cases it can spread to the entire body, starting at the forehead/neck area and reaching her torso and onward.  I cleared up my daughter's by using that Neutrogena product (name??) every day for a week.  OK, not the most holistic/natural method perhaps, but she was miserable and all her skin was angry red and bumpy.  We just treated her scalp and it went away.  Of course, not the end of the skin troubles, but that particular one disappeared after one round of treatment.  Happier baby, to be sure!

Also, no soap!  Babies don't need soap or very many baths or hot water.
 

welll, I guess I should say that we havent used fabric softener in the drier, LATELY. Its been a good few months and even before we rarely used them.

She shares our bed. I will be washing pillow cases (shes been laying on them lately to keep her nose clear d/t a cold) and all her blankets so she can have a barrier between us and the bed.

We have a bird, althoug she tested negative to feathers from the skin prick test.

Its worst on her face. She barely has any on her body, least of all her bac. The skin in her elbow and knees are itchy and her abdomen is starting to itch, even though it doesnt look too bad. I just figure the face has the most sensitive skin so if it is environmental, that would get the worst of it. Just my reasoning

[strmis]

Well, tried it! I see no noticeable difference, unlessvivdid it wrong. Maybe u should have washed all the bedding besides the ones she rests her head on? Who knows.... Anyways,. She didn't get worse tho, so that's good.

[mom.of.two]

I didn't have time to read all of the responses, so I'm sorry if I am repeating anything.  This sounds exactly like my niece and what she had going on.  My sister had to go completely grain free, within 2 days her baby cleared right up.  She followed the Specific Carbohydrate Diet.  Or you could try the GAPS diet.  My sister has discovered, it is more a situation of her own compromised health and leaky gut.  So these two diets I mentioned are healing diets.  She has also found she needs to limit all dairy, as she herself started showing dairy intolerance symptoms.

I hope this helps a bit.  I know how exhausting and draining this whole process has been for my sister.  But she is feeling health benefits from the diet change as well.  She also takes her baby to the chiro weekly for adjustments.  That has also helped tremendously.

[dot1]

Sorry I've not been checking the thread.  Just noticed it again.

YES - wash the baby clothes separately from the adults, in hot water with only a tiny amount of an unscented, all natural laundry soap. Or, just use hot water, with no soap at all.  Seriously, the hot water is what kills dust mites.  If the clothes aren't stained or dirty looking, then really, what's the need for soap?     I would LOSE the vinegar rinse, since hot water will deal with the sanitation part.  It's just a potential skin irritant.

Interesting comment about the cradle cap.  I recently saw a baby who had a nasty red rash....and it did turn out to be cradle cap and an antifungal ointment cleared it up right away.  However, in our case, I think it was eczema since the religious overmoisturizing routine did the trick.

If you think about it, the skin is an organ.  Dryness causes cracks, which paves the way for irritation.  If you can seal up those cracks through intense moisturizing, then the skin will be less irritated by things contacting it.  

I believe that internal and external triggers can work together.  E.g. a food sensitivity might make the skin more prone to irritation from external substances such as detergents or scratchy clothing or fingernail scratches, etc.  Once the cycle of broken skin starts, then I imagine it's hard to reverse it.  In our case, when I've ingested dairy, dd has gotten some cheek rash from where her spit-up contacted it.  When I'm dairy free this doesn't happen.  

I can't emphasize enough the importance of a moisturizing protective barrier that's very thick/emollient.  Wiping down the skin with just warm water first is very important too, then immediately moisturizing to seal in the moisture.

Hope it clears soon.  That's awful not sleeping :(

[Amandamarie]

All Free & Clear has changed their formula. They added Optical Brightners which can be very irritating. It also has corn derivatives and my daughter is allergic to corn. I switched to Charlie's Soap and she's doing much better. I was getting itchy from the detergent too  (no allergies) and no problems now.

On an infant, I bet it would be even more intense. I would stop the All Free & Clear.

[strmis]

Originally Posted by Amandamarie 
 I switched to Charlie's Soap and she's doing much better. I was getting itchy from the detergent too  (no allergies) and no problems now.

On an infant, I bet it would be even more intense. I would stop the All Free & Clear.

I'd have to switch to soft water, correct? Any way to see if Charlies soap would work without going thru the trouble of getting a water softener as a "test"?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mom.of.two 

I didn't have time to read all of the responses, so I'm sorry if I am repeating anything.  This sounds exactly like my niece and what she had going on.  My sister had to go completely grain free, within 2 days her baby cleared right up.  She followed the Specific Carbohydrate Diet.  Or you could try the GAPS diet.  My sister has discovered, it is more a situation of her own compromised health and leaky gut.  So these two diets I mentioned are healing diets.  She has also found she needs to limit all dairy, as she herself started showing dairy intolerance symptoms.

I hope this helps a bit.  I know how exhausting and draining this whole process has been for my sister.  But she is feeling health benefits from the diet change as well.  She also takes her baby to the chiro weekly for adjustments.  That has also helped tremendously.

OMG.... my head is spinning with diet. I feel guilty everytime I eat anything. I did rotation diet for a bit and then realized that I have ZERO clue of what the triggers are, if any. I've kept a food journal and stopped because I couldnt pinpoint anything. 

Now I'm debating just doing a total elimination diet for a week or two and if that doesnt work then, perhaps I can try one of these.  My family already thinks I'm crazy because I've pretty much cut out the top 8 food allergies as well as berries.  I'm starting to think DH and my mom are thinking this is all a scheme because nothing works. They hate seeing me suffer (and of course, DD2) going through all this.  If I tell them I'm doing another diet (if the TED doesnt work) I dont even know how much support I'll be getting, not that I dont wanna try.   At the same time, are there any free resources on GAPS and SCD. I dont want to have to buy an entire book to have it not work. URGH!

[mom.of.two]

Sorry, I havent been online for a bit! I just saw your post and since its been 3 week, a lot may have changed. My sister never bought the books, she found enough information online to be able to jump right in. Have things gotten any better? You may need to stick with a certain diet for 2 weeks in order to see any change in your little one. If there is no change, then those foods that you have eliminated are not the culprit. One thing to consider is the quality of meat and dairy you are consuming. Say your little one has an issue with grains or corn, if you are eating grain fed beef or drinking the milk from a grain fed cow but you have eliminated grains from your diet you may not see a difference.

My son had issues with grains when he was younger and when we were out of town we bought milk (still raw, organic) but from grain fed cows and he had a reaction. Just a thought!

I hope things have improved a bit for you!