Where to begin tracking down possible food allergies?

[Sisyphus]

My ds (4yo) has recently (a few months ago) developed excema on his butt cheeks. I've tried lanolin and aquaphor and they aren't helping. Now, it's not only not going away, it's getting worse. He also snores like a freight train most nights and has allergenic shiners. Nothing in his diet has changed recently, so I'm assuming that it's an ongoing food allergy that I just haven't picked up on yet.

Does anyone have good references for how to do a food allergy elimination diet? I'm so overwhelmed at the thought of trying to figure this out on my own. I don't want to go to the ped because I know they will just want to put him on drugs and I'm not ready to go there yet. I'm also wondering if it's an allergy to the detergent I'm using on his clothes or the soap/bubbles we use in the tub... there just seem to be SO many variables and possibilities and I just want to figure this out as FAST as possible (so he can be comfortable) yet, I also know I need to be methodical and careful...

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[khrisday]

I would discontinue using any bubblebath, and switch to a dye/perfum free detergent to see if that helps. Then eliminate dairy. That is a biggee for food allergies.

[KathinJapan]

Dr.Sears website www.drsears.com has info on the elim. diet. Food allergies can develop anytime, or change, so it may be a new thing.
Also you can get clothes clean with just hot water. Try separating all of DSs stuff and do an extra long wash with really hot water, avoiding reds and whites in the same load. LOL.
It does take a lot to get it all figured out. Good luck,
Kathryn