[mochimama]

Hi, I've posted on here before and have done a lot of research from the old threads--I've learned a ton from you all this last year--thank you!
My 2Y10M old dd has had pretty bad eczema since 16 months old. Entero tests said she was intolerant to gluten, dairy, soy, and eggs. We also do not give her nightshades, nuts, corn, avocados, mangos, peas, tomatoes (is that a nightshade?) and probably 10 more minor things that I can't remember. We had eliminated citrus before, but now give her a citrusy multivitamin because were worried about her not getting enough vitamins (gluten, soy, and dairy free).
Despite all this--she's still itchy!
I'm wondering if you all think it would be okay to try a total elimination or near total elimination with her. If so, what foods should I include? How long would I need to see things clear up before adding something else? What do you think about the vitamin?
Oh, we also thought it could be environmental, but we've taken her to visit family for 10+ days on a couple of occasions with no change.
Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[kjbrown92]

Can you tell us what she is eating and maybe we can figure out likely triggers? If she's not BFing, a rotation diet might be good for you to figure it out without taking out a lot more foods.

What is the multivitamin? You say it's gluten, dairy, and soy free, which leaves me wondering about corn in it... is she on any other supplements?

Does the family you were visiting live in a different part of the country?

 

[mochimama]

Kathy, thank you for your response. I've used a few recipes from your blog in the past--loved the meatball soup--thank you very much. I know you rotate foods as I've read some of your posts in the past. It confuses me a little bit, but maybe when I answer some of your questions you can guide me a little more easily.

Not BFing--just stopped about 10 weeks ago.

We live in Colorado (pretty dry up here at 8000 feet). We visited humid Delaware for about two weeks and Minnesota for about two weeks with no change in eczema.

The vitamin is Nature's Plus Source of Life Animal Parade. Ingredients are: fructose, citric acid, guar gum, natural cherry, orange and grape flavors, megnesium stearate, spirulina, rose hips, whole brown rice, broccoli, spinach, mango, carrot, West Indian cherry, and papaya.

What she eats now (almost all organic):

Regularly: white rice, brown rice, enriched rice milk, rice flour, rice noodles, rice crackers, rice tortillas, apples, apple juice, bananas, papaya, pear, broccoli, kale, carrots, onion, garlic, celery, squashes, zucchini, lentils, black beans, chicken, turkey, olive oil, grapeseed oil, basil, oregano, salt, nutritional yeast (she tested negative on Entero for yeast), sugar

Sometimes (every other week or so): millet, buckwheat, millet flour, buckwheat flour, xanthum gum, baking soda, baking powder, apple cider vinegar, rice vinegar, arrowroot, tapioca flour, maple syrup, garbanzo beans, red beans, green beans, non-preservative bacon

Once in a while: flaxseed, beef, blueberries, chard, Annie's mustard (I know this might have corn in it), cucumbers, lettuce

Anything look sketchy? Should she be on any other supplements?
Thank you again.

 

[kjbrown92]

there's corn (citric acid) in the vitamin (unless you've checked with the company and it's not a corn source; doubtful) and I'd also ask about the source of the fructose, which is probably also corn), and xanthan gum is also corn-based. Are you making the rice tortillas? Because I haven't found one that's soy, dairy, corn free yet myself... I don't know anything about nutritional yeast... what is it grown on? I'm just suspicious of corn these days... after reading that it's one of those top 4 (dairy, gluten, soy, corn) that is responsible for causing leaky gut and other intolerances.

Corn is a big one for eczema (along with dairy and eggs).

You're right, the seasonal allergies would be very different in those parts of the country, unless say, everyone you visited, had cats, or something.

I haven't found a safe mustard yet... I thought Annie's was corn vinegar... not sure though.

Is it homemade baking powder or regular (corn-filled) baking powder?

 

[mochimama]

The baking powder is not corn free and the tortillas are Food for Life (xanthum and cellulose--is that corn?). I also see that they have safflower oil in them.

Just curious--are your kids sensitive enough so that any little bit of corn (or whatever) affects them? I keep thinking that whatever we haven't cut out must be big because her eczema is pretty bad right now--almost worse than when she was eating all the foods she is allergic to.

So if I rotate do you think this would help any? Or would being more stringent on the corn be your first go?

 

[Shelsi]

Yep, like Kathy said, there's quite a bit of corn in those foods. It's also potentially in the chicken & turkey via the juices they surround it in...and my corn allergic dd has to have grass fed beef or she reacts. The vitamin definitely sounds corny. I guess at this point I would take out all the corn and see what happens and if there are no changes then you can re-evaluate. Google "corn allergen list" and I believe the first link that comes up is a great list of all ingredients that are corn derived.

 

[kjbrown92]

I'd take out the corn first, like Shelsi said. Then see. Yes, my kids are THAT sensitive. DD2 used to get eczema from corn. Avoided for a year or so. Started giving her a probiotic that I thought was corn-free, turns out it had citric acid (corn) in it. We went through 2 rounds of abx for a supposed case of folliculitis (pimple like things on her butt that were painful). People on this board told me to look at all her supplements again (since we were on a rotation for food) and that's when I realized the probiotic had corn in it. So yes, they're definitely that sensitive. So corn would be my first guess.

baking powder (I mix up in a little jar) equal parts tapioca starch + cream of tarter + baking soda. Works just fine.

And whatever it is she's reacting to could be in small amounts but she could be very sensitive to it. My DS reacts to even a particle of milk in something, could just be cross contamination and it will set him off.

 

[mochimama]

Off to get rid of all corn!
THANK YOU!

 

[Shelsi]

Let us know if you need help...corn is prob the hardest one out there, it's sneaky.