Help Me Figure Out DD's Eczema (long)

[mochimama]

Ok, I've been lurking a lot in this forum lately and I know you all are experts. I really need some help figuring out the cause of my dd's eczema. She is really miserable.

It started about a year ago. Dried spots on her torso mainly. We thought it could be ringworm, eczema, ??? Traditional doc said treat for both, see what works, nothing worked. Dematologist friend said it was eczema and treat with moisturizer, she'll grow out of it.

Fast forward to the last few months: eczema has been concentrated to the backsides of her knees and insides of elbows (knees worse) in large patches.

Last June we eliminated wheat for about a month with some improvement.

We decided to go full force at the end of the summer and did an elimination diet with her: no wheat, gluten, dairy, soy, nuts, eggs, nightshades (I'm sure I'm forgetting something) for several weeks. The patches got smaller, but never fully went away.

Two weeks ago we got an Asyra test done: she didn't test for sensitivities to anything but fruits and pesticides/herbicides and her lymph system was clogged and she tested for having chronic congestion. We've been using the homepathic drops the practitioner gave us and she told us we could go ahead and start phasing out of the elimination diet.

Things were great for about four days and now her eczema patches are probably four times as large as two weeks ago, very inflamed and very itchy. I called the practitioner again and she suggested it could be a yeast/mold issue. And that the reason for the decrease in eczema activity with the elimination diet (but not total removal of it) is because of a lack of sugary foods with the elimination diet. Now that we've added foods back (like milk and wheat) the yeast is taking off.

Does this sound like it could be the cause?

We also had some mold issues in the house when we first moved in, could that be it? I've noticed that twice when we've gone away from home for several days, her eczema looks better. But I cant be sure.

Also, if she had an internal issue with yeast, would the irritated skin respond to fungal medicine? Or is that just the body's response?

Thanks for your help--were a little desperate over here with the constant scratching and lack of sleep.

[Chinese Pistache]

I can't help you with the yeast, but I wanted to recommend a corn elimination. Your dc has the same symptoms as mine did. I also eliminated wheat, dairy and soy and saw small improvements, but not complete. That's because MANY products containing wheat, soy or dairy ALSO contain corn (cereals, breads, etc.). Also, corn is very pervasive, so you have to read every label. This is the list that helped me: http://www.cornallergens.com/list/co...ergen-list.php Also, be aware that your dc may be allergic to more than one thing, but sometimes, you have to eliminate the "big" allergen to unmask the others. My dd is also allergic to dairy and soy. Good luck.

[xekomaya]

Yikes.
When you said things were great for 4 days, did you mean 4 days with no eczema at all? I would go back to whatever was going on at that point to start trying to work it out again. Its possible it is yeast, and some kind of flare up, but it sounds suspect that your DD ate nothing more sugary than milk and wheat during the elimination diet. Did she eat other grains or even fruits?

If she has an internal yeast issue, you could see an eczema flare when you start antifungals, and you might (probably) also see other die-off reactions (irritability, fatigue, headaches, etc).

It is possible it is a mold or environmental problem in your home, but its easier to start with the eliminations and possible yeast.

[mochimama]

Thanks for your replies.

Chinese Pistache--You know what, corn was one of the things I forgot--we also eliminated corn. I was reasonably careful about eliminating things like baking powder, but might have missed something. How long did it take after you eliminated all corn did your dd's eczema totally go away? I think we did no corn for at least two weeks.

xekomaya--The very low baseline eczema was still there for the four days--what I meant was that with the addition of the other foods there was no flareup. But now it's out of control. And you know what? Dh and I were just talking about this--during the elimination time she ate lots of fruit (except citrus and grapes and raisins) and rice milk which has a lot of sugar in it. So you made a good point. We just started tonight going back to her previous diet.

I am at wits end--and she's so miserable right now...

Anyone else have any ideas?

[mommydancer]

You can search threads to look what others have recommended as far as soap/washes, lotions, healing creams/oils, that sort of thing. I never wash DS's skin with anything except Cetaphil, and apply Cetaphil lotion before dressing him.
It does sound diet-related, though, as far as the cause. I hope you put your finger on the problem soon.

[kjbrown92]

Sounds dietary to me as well. My DD has lots of food intolerances that cause other issues, but corn causes eczema for her. And it is hidden in EVERYTHING. You have to be a detective to eliminate it all.

[Wugmama]

I would definitely get her on some good digestive enzymes, the kind that don't have any allergens in them, like enzymedica. And also, continue to avoid the foods you know bother her. I think you need to be off of them for at least a year, if not 2 to heal from them?

Check out the heal your gut stickys in the health and healing forum. And some of the heal your gut threads here.

We've had a long road but are finally mostly clear after being almost hospitalized with eczema it was that severe. We've done a lot of food avoidance and still are. We've done the CLO, supplements and enzymes, and still are. Just moisturizing doesn't do any good. You have to stop the irratations and heal from the inside out.

Best wishes, keep reading, you can do it!
Tracy