[Pridelandsmommy]

My dd (2 yo) gets nasty flare ups of eczema......Usually it is just extremely dry patches of rough scaly skin but now she has the oozy weepy kind on the backs of her knees/inner elbow creases, the typical areas. My normal routine was just keeping her skin extra moisturized and protected with Aquaphor.<br><br>
As a last resort, her ped gave us Elidel a while back but I never used it as but I am leary on using it for a few reasons. I try to avoid Rx's to begin with and in desperation, decided to try it on her last night. Immediately after I put it on she cried that it was hot so I quickly washed it off. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"><br><br>
Any suggestions?

 

[velcromom]

I've used unrefined shea butter and emu oil, each takes down some of the swelling and relieves the discomfort. But I think to break the cycle of blistering/weeping/itching/peeling, best thing is to track down the cause if you can. My ds has dairy sensitivities, and moisture holding on the skin can also cause a flare-up. My own seems to be primarily an allergic reaction to detergents. I just spoke to ds's ped, and while the shea butter is holding the rash to a minimum, it doesn't completely take away the itching or keep the blisters from rising again, so she suggested adding some cortisone cream. I'm considering using a small amount during times when it's really bad, but perhaps not for when it's a mild patch.<br><br>
There are also dietary supplements one can try, you might get some good info if you do a search to read some of the other threads on excema. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[MomInFlux]

My DS had some eczema (just dry, scaly, red skin) behind both knees. I mixed some tea tree oil in vaseline and applied it before bedtime. It worked practically overnight (but his was a pretty minor case).

 

[suebearsmom]

Get some essential Fatty acids into your babe! if she is still nursing you could take them.If not,look at the HFS for gelcaps formulated for kids and squeeze into something else.It will really help a lot! Hugs,Catherine

 

[hippiemom]

I second the idea of trying an elimination diet, keeping a diary of the diet, etc. I would have the attitude that there must be a reason for this to be happening, kids don't just get eczema like that. I have a good friend whose daughter got terrible flare ups, esp in winter. Her scalp got so scaly her hair thinned out. She is older now, and has grown out of it, it is much milder now, so there is that hope. but I would try leaving out things like dairy, nuts, then soy, maybe wheat, etc. It is worth a try. As for topicals, my friend swore by "Eucerin", and aveeno baths.

 

[Red]

I get eczema. It took forever for me to figure out it was due to a dairy allergy, but once I did, it made a world of difference.<br><br>
When I do eat somethign cheesey and break out, I use Shea Butter. Be very careful to get only the unrefined, organic, 100%pure Shea. Some of the others have chemical residues in them from processing. You might try mixing it with tea tree oil, which is my next plan.<br><br>
Also, oatmeal baths are very soothing, and bathing in Dead Sea Salts helps to treat by supplying minerals directly to the skin.<br><br>
Keep trying to find the source and you'll make out much better.

 

[Meli65]

I agree with all the posts talking about allergies. Ds has lots of food allergies/sensitivities and had bad excema as a baby on his face.<br><br>
We've had luck with treating his allergies homeopathically and by following a more-or-less "caveman" diet. Also, calendula cream (sold at health food stores) is wonderful for healing and doesn't have steroids or anything like that in it.

 

[kavamamakava]

If you are still nursing her, you can take 8 capsules a day of evening primrose oil and it will get to her through your milk. I did that for my son and saw results but it made me very moody so I quit that and tried sesame oil instead.<br>
Sesame oil is very good for topical issues. YOu apply it directly to the skin and affected areas.<br><a href="http://www.youthingstrategies.com/qualities.htm" target="_blank">http://www.youthingstrategies.com/qualities.htm</a><br>
If you can't isolate it to a food issue, you can apply evening primrose or flax seed oil to the eczema after a bath. Also, as far as prescriptions go, I found that protopic (tacrolimus) worked best. I'm pretty sure it's not a steroid/cortico-steroid ointment, but I'd have to double check.<br>
I have an online friend who just magically solved her daughter's eczema problem that she had been dealing with for over 2 years by eliminating red dye from her diet. Her daughter loved strawberry milk and she never thought of that as being full of artificial dyes. Red dye is made from a certain kind of South American bug and is also called carmine. It can even be referred to as "natural color" on some labels. It is actually a common cause of eczema in children.<br>
Good luck trying to isolate it. I know that tracking food and eating habits can be rough. We treated the worst flare up with protopic and began daily sesame seed oil massages and added an EFA supplement to his food. We also switched from Dr. Bronner's soap to Aveeno and that seemed to help as well.

 

[RiceMomma]

Pride- I feel for your baby. My little girl, 23 months, gets really bad eczema. I've learned that almost everyone is different as to what flares their eczema. For what it's worth, here's what makes my dd break out: eggs, peanuts, certain detergents, fabric softners, disposable diapers and soap. Also, she breaks out when she gets frustrated, and when the weather changes. She can only wear cotton or untreated wool.<br><br>
We found out about all that stuff by getting her allergy tested and by watching her closely to see what might be bothering her. It's been crazy- she still breaks out, there may be some things we dont' know about, but we're at the point where we don't have to put steriods on her, so I feel good about that, and she's not miserable all the time anymore.<br><br>
As a skin regimine, we put eucerin on her daily at least, use cetaphil as a cleanser, and I only bath her 2x a week. When her skin is bad, we use Protopic on her, which is like Elidel but stronger. Like elidel, it can sting the first time you use it, I don't know why,maybe becuase their skin is just so sensitive, but the sting should go away- if it doesn't, wash her off with a mild soap, and try putting it on her again later (this happened the first time we used the protopic. It didn't bother her the second time I applied it.) It really really helps tremendously- it's better than having broken skin with the oozing or bleeding that can lead to infection. This is the thing after avoiding the "triggers" that has helped us the most.<br><br>
If she does come into contact with a trigger, I give her benydryl (sp!) to head off the attack, or even if she's just having a really itchy day and is miserable- hopefully she won't irritate or break the skin.<br><br>
I'm trying to find out more about homeopathic treatments, but at the moment, I don't know much, so I can't help you there, other than telling you to steer clear of strong chemicals and synthetic fabrics. Sorry, I know this probably isn't what your looking for in terms of natural remedies, but this is what i've learned so far. If you have any success with other remedies, I would be very interested in hearing about it.<br><br>
I'm hoping my dd grows out of this. Hope you find some answers!

 

[Alkenny]

I have to agree to toy with the diet and see if it helps, or the soaps and detergents you use. Both of my boys have eczema...we can't use any detergents with enzymes in it (Tide, Wisk, Cheer, etc) nor any fabric softeners. The baby is allergic to lavendar and my older son can only use Ivory bar soap.

 

[Pridelandsmommy]

Thanks so much mamas.......I will def try out some of those suggestions......<br><br>
I did take her to a pediatric allergist and she really only came up "sensitive" to eggs......but, I don't 100% trust those results. I do have her on Lactose Free milk but I think I will eliminate dairy all together this week and see what happens. Thanks again!

 

[JaneS]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Pridelandsmommy</strong></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I do have her on Lactose Free milk but I think I will eliminate dairy all together this week and see what happens.</div>
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How are you doing this week?<br>
It's not the lactose that is the allergen in dairy, it's the protein molecule.<br>
This thread might be helpful as well:<br><a href="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=161371&highlight=elimination+diet" target="_blank">http://www.mothering.com/discussions...imination+diet</a><br><br>
Are you giving her a probiotic?