Do I try TED or just top 8? - Eczema

[mamak05]

My DD is 2 1/2. She has had issues with eczema off and on since she was 3 months old. We lived in a very cold dry climate until she was 5 months and now we are in a hot humid climate. Her dry spots seem to come and go and reacted well to having lotion on them.

Something changed in December. We traveled at that time (to a colder climate) and she had a flare up that has not improved and seems to be worsening. She has spots in places she's never had them - like her chin. And she's miserable, especailly at night. Nothing seems to be helping/

I'm racking my brain to try to figure out all the variables and I won't bore them with you here, but I am trying to determine if I should try TED or a top 8 elimination diet. She nurses a ton.

This concept is familiar to me, but I need to become more educated. What I'm really trying to figure out is if I really need to get very strict with our diet and then add back in or if starting with eliminating the top 8 is better (on reflection I think my diet is mostly top 8 foods!)

Can you offer your perspective/advice?

Our ped wants us to get the RAST tests and eliminate dairy. I'm willing to do the test, but I think I need to explore food issues more.

[kjbrown92]

You can go either route - top 8 and then take out more foods as you need them, or TED and add stuff back in as you can. RAST will get you the IgE responses (does it do environmental too, or just food?). But the elimination diet (either way) will get you food intolerances that won't show up on the RAST. Dairy is always the ones the doctors seem to recommend first. Also it's easier at that age to put the whole family on it than just one child, because she'll know she's getting different things, and at that age, everything seems to be tantrum-causing (just a suggestion).
Kathy

[mamak05]

Thank you for your reply. We are testing for environmental stuff too - I had childhood allergies/asthma, so I wouldn't be surprised if she has some triggers too.

I think Top 8 seems like it will be a place to start for us - i am stuggling with the concept of needlessly avioding lots of foods since both DD and I have lost weight due to illness recently, but I obviously want to determine the causes behind her eczema.

And yes, she was not keen on the no dairy idea even though she rarely has it. Just the idea of not being able to have something is annoying!

[WC_hapamama]

Eczema is usually an IgE response, and not always food related. I have mild eczema with no food allergies... my triggers are environmental (pollen, dust, perfumes, detergents).

I'd look at non food sources before making diet changes... make sure it's not a personal care product, cleaning product, clothing, dander, dust or pollen, then worry about food.

Given the choice of going top 8 free or a TED, I'd start with top 8 free.

[nalo]

Just wanted to let you know I was struggling with the same question for my EBF 8.5 month old. Tomorrow I will be starting an ED with the following items removed from my diet, just so you can see what someone else is doing.
Dairy (has already been cut out for a while), peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, soy, wheat, corn, tomatoes, chocolate strawberries, avocado, banana, citrus. This is more than the top 8 but less than a TED. Fingers crossed...!

[mamak05]

Originally Posted by WC_hapamama

Eczema is usually an IgE response, and not always food related. I have mild eczema with no food allergies... my triggers are environmental (pollen, dust, perfumes, detergents).

I'd look at non food sources before making diet changes... make sure it's not a personal care product, cleaning product, clothing, dander, dust or pollen, then worry about food.

Given the choice of going top 8 free or a TED, I'd start with top 8 free.

Yes ma'am. She barely gets any personal care products, but I am going to get an air purifier for her room for at night, change our laundry rountine to very hot washes for sheets/towels and try to get a different laundry soap.

Do you have any recommendations for laundry detergent/soap that work well for you? Also, if your eczema is related to environment what else can you do besides the air purifier/laundry soap?

Do you personally have any other symptoms - i.e sneezing, itchy nose/throat, cough? My daughter has none of these that I've noticed.

Thank you!

[mamak05]

Originally Posted by DoulaMary

Just wanted to let you know I was struggling with the same question for my EBF 8.5 month old. Tomorrow I will be starting an ED with the following items removed from my diet, just so you can see what someone else is doing.
Dairy (has already been cut out for a while), peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, soy, wheat, corn, tomatoes, chocolate strawberries, avocado, banana, citrus. This is more than the top 8 but less than a TED. Fingers crossed...!

It's tough just cutting dairy, since it is in so many things. Good luck to you - I sure hope it helps!