could oil of oregano cause an eczema flare-up?

[caedmyn]

I finally figured out all my DD's food intolerances and her eczema was mostly gone. About a week ago I started putting a couple of drops of oil of oregano on her feet every night to try to treat her yeast issues. Now her cheeks are getting pretty red again. Could she be reacting to the oil of oregano?

[Caden's Mom]

If she's allergic to oregano, I don't see why not. Since its applied topically though it seems strange that its on her cheeks rather than her feet.

[wendy1221]

That does seem wierd. Oregano is a leaf, so it's not as likely to be allergenic as seeds, say, but it's possible. I'd be wondering more about cross contamination or any new products you've gotten recently (new brand of anything? Even bulk items from the hfs can be put into bins that previously held something else.) Just some thoughts.

[Meiri]

I've come to the conclusion over the years, partly from reading here, that it's possible to be allergic to anything. So, yes, it's possible.

[caedmyn]

Originally Posted by wendy1221

That does seem wierd. Oregano is a leaf, so it's not as likely to be allergenic as seeds, say, but it's possible. I'd be wondering more about cross contamination or any new products you've gotten recently (new brand of anything? Even bulk items from the hfs can be put into bins that previously held something else.) Just some thoughts.

I've introduced several new foods into my diet in the past few weeks, but they're all low on the allergen scale. The only new food she's gotten is cauliflower. No new brands of foods...hard to say about bulk items since I do buy some of those but I don't think I refreshed any of my supplies in the last week or so. Oh, I did buy a different brand of dulse...could that have been contaminated with something? DD did have traces of tomato sauce and palm oil (both foods I haven't introduced to her yet) a couple of times, too...I'm making sure she doesn't get any more of either of those for a bit to make sure they're not causing the reaction.

[wendy1221]

I believe tomato is a food that is high in natural histamines, so it's possible to react to it w/out actually being allergic to it. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

I hope you figure it out! Either way, I would cut back on everything new, including the oregano oil and trial them separately w/ a week in between. Only way to be sure.

[caedmyn]

Originally Posted by wendy1221

I believe tomato is a food that is high in natural histamines, so it's possible to react to it w/out actually being allergic to it. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

I hope you figure it out! Either way, I would cut back on everything new, including the oregano oil and trial them separately w/ a week in between. Only way to be sure.

So a histamine reaction could cause eczema?

[wendy1221]

yes. I have been wondering now if Liam was NEVER allergic to dairy since he has been totally fine w/ it since his first accidental exposure at 9 mos old. *I* have a problem w/ dairy, though, and the theory is that he reacted to even trace amounts of dairy in my diet b/c I am allergic to it. So he was actually reacting to the histamines I was producing not to the actual dairy.

Some kids are very sensitive to histamines. So they will react to a food b/c of the natural histamines in them, not b/c they're actually allergic to them. http://www.nutritionlondon.net/phdi/...ocument&part=4

Aren't some of the other foods listed here some foods you've noticed a reaction to?

[caedmyn]

Unless tomatoes have a sky-high amount of histamines, I don't think that's the problem, as she seems fine with sauerkraut and avocado. I really can't imagine it's the tomato anyway as she only had traces of it, like a couple of pieces of veggies out of a soup that had tomato puree in it.

I guess I'll give it a couple more days and if there's no improvement I'll cut out the oil of oregano. I did give her some ear drops for a few days that contained garlic oil right before her eczema got worse, so I suppose she could be intolerant to garlic. She'd have to be pretty sensitive, though, for that to be the problem. Or (my favorite solution!) she could have eaten something off the floor--I baby-sit a 20 month old who eats wheat, dairy, and eggs and is extremely messy. I clean up as best I can after her but I'm sure DD occasionally gets a bit of food she shouldn't have.

[Chinese Pistache]

Originally Posted by wendy1221

yes. I have been wondering now if Liam was NEVER allergic to dairy since he has been totally fine w/ it since his first accidental exposure at 9 mos old. *I* have a problem w/ dairy, though, and the theory is that he reacted to even trace amounts of dairy in my diet b/c I am allergic to it. So he was actually reacting to the histamines I was producing not to the actual dairy.

Some kids are very sensitive to histamines. So they will react to a food b/c of the natural histamines in them, not b/c they're actually allergic to them. http://www.nutritionlondon.net/phdi/...ocument&part=4

Aren't some of the other foods listed here some foods you've noticed a reaction to?

I've wondered this, too, about some of my dd's allergies. I guess only time will tell after she's weaned.

[caedmyn]

Anyone know whether avocado or cauliflower is a more common allergen? DD's chin was quite red after dinner and it was fine before dinner, so she must be reacting to one of the things she had for dinner (carrots, chicken, cauliflower, and avocado). I'm sure she doesn't react to chicken and I don't think it was the carrots, either, so it must be either the avocado or cauliflower. She has avocado quite a few times before but generally only once or twice a week, so that might not have been enough time for a reaction to show up. The cauliflower is a new food for her and she's eaten a lot of it this week.

[wendy1221]

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