Why not to use vaseline for eczema? (nt) - Page 2

[serenetabbie]

MuesliMama, it could be something environmental... like the dog or dust mites. Our allergist explained that excema is an allergy that manifests in the skin, and it could be any allergin that causes it.

I try not to use anything that has mineral oil in it on the our excema. It seems to make it worse... it ends up feeling dry and oily at the same time. Gross. What worked well for us were Arbonne products ($$ though), some of the Bath and Body line (check the labels) and JASON products. I also put dust mite covers on the beds/bedding, vacuume a lot, use dye-free/perfume free when the budget allows (sometimes it's the cheap stuff or nothing!), cutting fingernails as short as possible, and wash the pets every month (I also use AllerPet). When it gets really bad the kids have oral meds they take.

[Apryl Srissa]

I've been lucky enough that none of my boys have had this, but I and my mom have had it for years. What I have found to help the most is pure cocoa butter. I slather it on really thick in the spots that are broken out. Unlike most creams it doens't burn going on, and helps a lot. Another one that was recommended to me was jojoba, but I haven't tried that one myself. Eczema can also be a signal to some vitamin/mineral deficiencies (which is usually where mine come from), so some research in that direction may help if alergens can't be found. I know usually for me it is a lack of A, but to much A can also cause it as well as I think low potassium (I'm not an expert and this is just from memory) so it maybe worth checking into, especially if you have cut so much from your diet, you may not have enough fat to be absorbing the A you get, since it is fat soluble, and if you are low, then so would your milk be.

Hope you find an answer soon,

[Pattyla]

I just wanted to post about eliminating gluten. It takes up to 6 months for all gluten to work itself out of your system so a 10 day elimination of wheat may not show any difference. My dr was surprised that after only a week off of gluten my dd and I both had a reaction to a small exposure since it usually takes longer to work out of your system. At about 2 weeks off gluten (not counting the small mistake) I began to have a lot more energy and feel better than I have in a long time.

Good luck!

[Panserbjorne]

Yup-we've been off gluten completely for about a months (mostly off it for a year-but that doesn't really count) and the rashes are almost gone. It takes awhile for the physical symtoms to go.

[UrbanPlanter]

gluten free here, among many other things.

I *just* last-resorted to vaseline yesterday bc nothing else was giving ds relief for his eczema, and most things I put on him "sting" so he cries and protests. He lets me put on the vaseline.

I have to find something with no scents or allergens that I can get on his skin that is not petroleum based... there seem to be some good ideas on this thread.

also, we have been trying www.naet.com to see if that will cure his eczema and help alleviate some of his allergies... hope it works :

[Meiri]

What I've used for when we need serious moisturizing--winter dryness as well as eczema issues--are olive oil, Neutrogena oil (not so often), coconut oil, Lubriderm for Seriously Sensitive Skin. A real mix of natural and less so! Straight cocoa butter is nice too, but mostly for the chocolate smell.

For me, petroleum jelly or nonpetroleum jelly (which is what I keep upstairs for human use now) is for the times when outside moisture must be blocked from the skin so that that source of irritation can be eliminated and the sore spot heal in dry peace. This mostly applies to private areas for DD and me. It's also good for really chapped lips and when you need to block really cold wind too.

I would not consider either for eczema because it seems to me that the skin cannot "breathe" with something that heavy on it. I prefer oils or lotions, maybe creams, that are absorbed to some degree into the top layer of the skin. It could be that I just can't stand being able to feel something on my skin though. If it works for someone, then great.

Even when I use olive oil on myself in my sugar scrub, I resoap to take enough of the oil off that I don't slide though the very air. Enough is left for moisturizing.

Another thing to remember with eczema is to bathe/shower in not so hot water. Doesn't have to be tepid, but hot can be drying. Patting dry rather than rubbing dry is important too--and something I have difficulty remembering.

[delphine]

Our dermatologist also recommended Vaseline or Aquaphor for ds's eczema. We ended up using non-petroleum jelly, and I think it works just as well. The dermatologist recommended that over something oil based.

[Meiri]

Our dermatologist also recommended Vaseline or Aquaphor for ds's eczema. We ended up using non-petroleum jelly, and I think it works just as well. The dermatologist recommended that over something oil based.

Umm, this makes no sense. Vaseline is oil based. Unpetroleum jelly is made from the oils of whatever plants.

The point of the lotions and oils and greases is to trap the body's own water moisture and water from bathing/showering in and on the skin. They prevent the evaporation that leads to dry skin. They also form a barrier againt irritant moisture--stopping the wet/dry changes that cause irritation.

[delphine]

You're right, I guess I should have said "olive oil based". We had been using a homemade salve that was olive oil based and the dermatologist recommended that we use petroleum jelly or aquaphor instead. I do still use my salve, but found the nonpetroleum jelly didn't need to be reapplied as often.

ETA - thanks for the thoughts on the "jellies" not giving the skin a chance to breathe. I hadn't thought about that before, but you are exactly right.

[Meiri]

That makes more sense, thanks for clarifying.

As far as the jellies not letting the skin breathe, if that's what helps the eczema, use it, in a thin layer. It does wear off over time, which would allow for "breathing". And it's also not like you're putting it on 100% of the child's body.

[Kellymae4]

My thoughts after using Vaseline on Eczema for almost 20 years

I find this very interesting. I was diagnosed with eczema at the age of 4. I remember growing up and not knowing anyone with eczema. Anyway, in 1989 I went to Denver, CO to live at National Jewish Asthma clinic. They were doing research on eczema and I was a "test subject". I lived there from May to November. Anyway, I had some crazy tests done on my skin. It was determined that I wasn't allergic to anything! They taught me to do the wraps. I slept like a mummy for a long time until I was about 14 and we stopped going to determatologists. Anyway, I still think they don't know what they are talking about. I am now 30 and I still have eczema. During my stay at National Jewish and since then.....I have used Vaseline after EVERY shower, bath or face wash. You could say I am addicted to it. My eczema breaks out in March! Thats it only March and if I get sunburnt. Anyway, Lately I have been breaking out with abcesses on my arms, face, torso, and buttocks...not on my legs. In fact, my legs are the only place that I don't regularily lather the Vaseline after contact with water. My mom has been researching boils/ abcesses and found that one of the MAIN causes is from petroleom based products. Today after my shower, I lathered on Aveeno lotion and my skin is still smooth. My eczema is brought on by stress...I suggest taking ALL stress out of the child's life. If you feel a little stressed then your child double or triples the stress in their life. Help them relax....read the Bible, meditate, play a game...just keep them busy and they won't itch. A word from an eczema sufferer.....Thanks, Kelly

[SleepyMamaBear]

we will NOT use petroleum products on our bodies in my family, not in soaps, shampoos, lotions, creams, nothing.
when dd1 was a baby she had (still has) labial adhesions, the dr reccomended petroleum jelly, specifically due to its ability to MELT SKIN. his words not mine. he said all petroleum products break down skin cells
um, yeah buddy, how about not!

for our eczema we use coconut oil to soote moisturize and coat the skin.
we dont bathe more than 2-3 times a week.
we never use hot water
use only natural soaps, like those from Oregon Soap Co.
pat dry, never rub.
and watch our intake of dairy and gluten.
we also use Charlies for our laundry detergent and cleaning needs. it makes a HUGE difference

[WC_hapamama]

Something to be mindful of if you're using "natural" moisturizers is that you may also be sensitizing your child to that as an allergen.

I'm honestly not thrilled with using petroleum jelly based products on my kids, but we're already dealing with sesame, peanut, coconut and tree nut allergies.

[tooticky]

WC_hapamama: This is what I found as well.... In searching for a natural cream, oil, lotion I could not find any that were free of all of the things we were avoiding. We tried coconut oil and olive oil but they did not seem to help.

I opted to use Vanicream (actually, the Canadian equivalent) for a short time to help heal her skin during our TED.

My thought is that once (or if!) she reaches baseline, to try something that is non-petroleum based, then start adding some different foods back in.

I had been wondering about the use of oil as a moisturizer, but reading through this thread I think I understand that it's less of a moisturizer and more a means of keeping the water in the skin. Is this correct? Applying right after a bath/shower is what would help keep dd's skin moist?

[tooticky]

Also, looking through the website for Eucerin, I don't see petroleum listed as an ingredient. It's a bit of a confusing site, so I may have missed it. Is Eucerin petroleum-based?

It seems to have quite a bit of other stuff in it that I wouldn't mind avoiding for the moment, though...

[H & J's Mom]

I am surprised so many find Vaseline works for eczema. I’ve always thought of it as a barrier (to avoid diaper rash, not cure it). I’ve never even thought to try it for DD’s eczema.

For DD, the only thing that works is steroid cream (hate to have to use them as I’ve seen first hand the damaged caused by long term use). She uses it sparingly until the outbreak is under control. Once the outbreak is under control we use eucerin (or any body lotion) on a regular basis to keep outbreaks at bay. If we notice the outbreak at the early stages eucerin will sometimes clear it up but it won’t work once it has advanced.

This works wonderfully except for my 10yo to remember to use cream regularly seems to be an issue. She’s good for a while and then slacks off until she notices an outbreak coming on … sigh

[GoddessKristie]

Our allergist also told us to use Aquaphor or petroleum jelly on my DS' eczmea. The idea is to seal in the moisture that's already there so the skin doesn't get dried out. He recomended using it after a 15 min. soak in the tub. He also prescribed a steroid cream, but steriods have a way of thinning the skin over time and thin skin on the knees and elbows is not good for a little boy!
So, of course there was no way I was going to put that stuff on his skin so I use a cream called Lantiseptic. It's lanolin in a beeswax base and it is like a miracle for his skin. Lanolin as many of you know, is the closest substance to your body's natural oil and the beeswax helps seal the moisture in. It's a bit sticky, but I find that helps keep his hands away to prevent scratching it. We put it on at night and put him in footie pajamas so he can't get to his legs or back, where he scratches most often. When we first began using this stuff I took his pj's off the third morning and cried because his skin looked so beautiful. We've been battling it for a year and I was starting to think he'd never have normal skin again. I highly recomend it.

ETA: Latiseptic does have petrolatum and mineral oil in it, but it's 50% lanolin, then from most to least are beeswax, fragrands HEEDTA, lanolin alcohol, mineral oil, oxyquinoline, petrolatum. Then just the misc. like purified water, sodium borate, and sorbitan swsquioleate.
So, if you're looking to avoid them entirely this is not the cream for you, but they are in such small amounts here as opposed to pure petroleum jelly or Aquaphor which is a petroleum jelly base, that I am comfortable using them.