[prettymom]

DD has had eczema since she was just weeks old (now 8 mos). I recently removed dairy from my diet because I started Eat to Live, and I noticed her eczema has mostly cleared up. (I also took out a lot of other things from my diet.) Does anyone know anything about eczema being caused by dairy in breastmilk? Could it be caused by something else I was eating? Or is it now just clearing up on its own and this is all coincidence?

 

[courtenay_e]

Our allergist told us that diary is the number one reason children experience eczema, and soy the second, with eggs running a close third. I know with my ds, if I have an occaisional shot of cream in my tea, it's no big deal. BUT, if I have that shot of cream AND have egg in a muffin, well, then, it's eczema time! And the threshold of every person is different. But, to answer your question, yes, it's definately a probability that your ds' skin has cleared up because you're removing an offending food, probably dairy from your diet (thus his).

 

[lazra]

I know there are quite a few experts around the board, so I'm sure you'll get a really good answer, but I wanted to give a quick recap of our experience. In short, yeah, definitely, dairy can cause eczema. That was dd's main allergen (corn and tomatoes/nightshades were in there too, but not as strong a reaction). Even once I was off of dairy completely, it took quite a while before we were able to clear up the eczema, but even a tiny bit of dairy in my diet or hers and it immediately flared.

Take heart, though, as those stories of "growing out of it" can come true - we just recently moved and she spontaneously (really!!) recovered from the dairy allergy. Of course, it has now been traded off for an egg allergy, but egg is so much easier to avoid (and I'm more informed now, so am actively pushing the pro-biotics and omegas).

Good luck.

 

[quirkylayne]

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/t041800.asp

COMMON SIGNS OF FOOD SENSITIVITIES

SKIN
hives
red, sandpaper-like facial rash
dry, scaly, itchy skin (mostly on face)
swelling in hands and feet
puffy eyelids
dark circles under eye
slip swelling
tongue soreness and cracks

RESPIRATORY PASSAGES
sneezing
runny nose
stuffy nose
wheezing
watery eyes
rattling chest
persistent cough
congestion
bronchitis
recurring ear infections

INTESTINES
burnlike rash around anus
abdominal discomfort
mucousy diarrhea
constipation
intestinal bleeding
poor weight gain
bloating, gassiness
excessive spitting up
constipation
vomiting

BEHAVIOR
fatigue
migraine headaches
hyperactivity
crying
irritability
night-waking
anxiety
crankiness
sore muscles and joints