[youngmom77]

<p>Hello. Hoping someone has a good idea on what this could be.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My dd is 2 and has severe eczema on the insides of her elbows. We are able to manage it pretty well with emu oil, and certain fragrance-free lotions. Had allergy testing done and nothing turned up.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But about a month ago she started getting this little pimple looking spots near her eczema. DH pointed it out and I thought it was just her eczema acting out, until it started to spread from the arms to the chest, back and tummy. Then I thought maybe a 2nd helping of chicken pox, even though she had them pretty severe when she was 11 months old. They went away after a couple of weeks and I thought that was the end. Now they are back. And spreading even more (legs and thighs). Dr gave no ideas on what it could be. Poor girl just scratches and scratches. Anyone deal with this kind of thing before? or have any ideas what it could be?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>There are no other symptoms. We have not changed our diet or any health or cleaning products. I already use fragrance-free, sulfate-free, paraben-free.  DS and I are on a df diet for his eczema, so dh and dd are on a low-dairy diet.</p>

 

[tsfairy]

<p>Do you have a picture? My first thought was Dermatitis Herpetiformis, which is related to Celiac disease and wheat intolerance.</p>

 

[elanorh]

<p>Dd2 had ring-shaped eczema for quite awhile before we realized it was eczema.  She was exposed to ringworm right before it showed up, so we thought it was ringworm and treated it with an antifungal.    The allergist told us that it was a particular type of eczema.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>He told us to start using Vanicream lotion (available at prescription counters) - it has worked wonderfully for us.  Dd2 has outgrown all her allergies -- the eczema didn't change with diet changes, but disappeared with the Vanicream and only flares when I don't bath/Vanicream her as often as I should. </p>

 

[youngmom77]

<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.mothering.com/content/type/61/id/441167/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="DSC01616.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="15542" data-type="61" src="http://www.mothering.com/content/type/61/id/15542/width/1000/height/500" style="; width: 1000px; height: 500px"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Here are the spots on her arm. Where my hand is, is where her eczema is. (we have a family history of eczema on the inside of the elbow, so I am not concerned with that) But from my thumb on is where the spots are. They are pink with a clear blister-type center.  The second picture is of her side.   <a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.mothering.com/content/type/61/id/441197/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="DSC01618.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="15544" data-type="61" src="http://www.mothering.com/content/type/61/id/15544/width/1000/height/500" style="; width: 1000px; height: 500px"></a></p>

 

[elanorh]

<p>Hmmm..... It looks similar to what SJ had although hers seemed darker than your picture (they did have a kind of dry/blistery center and/or ring around them that way too sometimes). </p>
<p> </p>
<p>What are you using for body wash/shampoo?   We use California Baby Calming wash/shampoo, and then the Vanicream lotion immediately after her baths.  And we're supposed to give her a good 20 minute bath daily especially in the winter. </p>

 

[tsfairy]

<p>It does look like DH from what I've seen, but it could be almost anything.  Does she already see a dermatologist? It might not hurt to take her in and have it checked out, especially if it lasts more than a week or so.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As far as chicken pox - I don't think you can get a 2nd case. Once the virus is in your system, it manifests as shingles, which looks very different.</p>

 

[deditus]

<p>Oh, yeah, that does look like DH. I would get to derm ASAP for biopsy.</p>

 

[youngmom77]

<p>We use fragrance and sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner from Whole Foods and Grandma's Lye Soap. Since dd, ds and I all have eczema, we use fragrance, sulfate (ect) free laundry detergent also. Sulfur/sulfate allergies run in the family. I have eczema for the past 13 years, so we have found the stuff that works for us. Finally. Thanks for all the ideas guys! I really have appreciated it. We don't have a dermatologist, so I'll call their dr on Monday and get a referral. I'll let you guys know what they find out. I do have a question for those who know more about Dermatitis Herpetiformis. Is it an allergic reaction to gluten? Because she had allergy testing done and she was negative on everything they tested. Including gluten.</p>

 

[Contrariety]

<p>My niece had a similar thing, starting from the eczema inside her elbows, too.  She had the chicken pox vax, and it still looked like chicken pox.  Her doc said it looked like a breakthrough case.  It did not manifest as shingles.  Has your DD been exposed to chicken pox, either the vax or through contact?  Maybe it is chicken pox?</p>

 

[youngmom77]

<p>Oh, lotions we use emu oil with vitamin E, Shakai borage, fragrance free Burts Bees, CereVe and No More X E Ma cream. I have to rotate on what we use if the skin starts to become "immune" to whatever we are using</p>

 

[youngmom77]

<p>She had chicken pox when she was 11 months. (see pic) And after she started showing more spots this time, I called and asked the dr. They told me it is possible, but very rare that children can get it twice. But when I took her in to double check, they said it is not chicken pox. She has not been exposed, as far as I know. But she wasn't exposed the first time either, that I know of. All the kids at church didn't have it and we were homebodies and never went anywhere else. So I am not sure how she picked it up the first time.</p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.mothering.com/community/content/type/61/id/442412/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="HPIM2209.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="15660" data-type="61" src="http://www.mothering.com/community/content/type/61/id/15660/width/658/height/500" style="; width: 658px; height: 500px"></a></p>

 

[deditus]

<p>It is NOT an allergic reaction to gluten, it is associated with celiac disease which is very different than a gluten allergy.</p>

 

[tsfairy]

<p>Did you have her first case of chicken pox diagnosed by the doctor?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>DH often comes and goes like that.  I have a patch on my arm that pops up, lasts for a week or two and then goes away for a few weeks or months.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>And as deditus said, DH is associated with Celiac disease, which is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten, rather than an allergy.</p>

 

[coyotemist]

<p>Chicken pox can happen more than once on the rare occasion the body doesn't sero-convert.  This can happen both after getting pox, and after the shot.  It's an immune system thing, and like others said, rare, but does happen.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As for allergy testing, it is notoriously inaccurate in those under 2, and they usually only test the IgG not the IgA.  DH comes from IgA.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Here is some more info and a close up of DH  <a href="http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/dermatitis_herpeti.html" target="_blank">http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/dermatitis_herpeti.html</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>This site recommends a drug treatment, but if she has it, you might consider something like the GAPS diet to heal the gut.</p>

 

[youngmom77]

<p>So I took her to the family practice dr and the dermatologist and they both agree that it looked like a skin infection from her scratching her arms so much. We have her on antibiotics and it cleared up within a day. (!) The dermatologist gave me some cream to put on her when she breaks the skin open again so she won't get another infection. Thanks for all the input and care!</p>