Eczema help?

doriyoung

Oh, before we cut out the allergen, we used a mixture of equal parts Vitamin E oil (or sometimes grapeseed oil - the cosmetic, not food grade), Eucerin, and Cortisone.

You might try that combo with the coconut oil another member posted.

dragonc321

My daughter has had it since she was a baby. I put Juergen's original formula lotion on her morning and night to make sure her skin stays hydrated. This usually prevents it. If she gets a bad break out we use a corticosteriod from the doctor called desoximetasone. It is the lowest strength and will clear it up in a week or less. I had to try lots of creams and lotions before finding out which worked best for her. It may just take some time trying to come up with a combo that works for your child. I do know that alot of the pharmaceutical creams take more than a few days to clear up the patches (and yes I am a pharmacy technician for 10+ years for all those who start bashing my advice) so it may just be kind of a trial and error for a week with creams to find what works. I know it is awful to watch them suffer and feel helpless. Good luck to you!

skinnynerd

bump

chicadejmu

My son had eczema all over his legs (but I wouldn't say it was severe) and his arms were pretty dry. He has a severe peanut allergy (which thankfully he's outgrowing) and is also allergic to oak and pine pollen.

I tried using goats milk soap during baths (only those made with natural ingredients - no added dyes or perfumes). It really helped because they didn't dry out his skin more.

But I would bet that there is an allergy involved and if her eczema is really that severe, it's probably worth the allergy testing even though it's no fun. If it turns out it's either an allergen she can avoid or she can get treatment for, that's even better.

Good luck - it's always horrible to watch our children suffer and feel helpless.

pamelak5

I have eczema and so does my daughter. Aquaphor diaper cream works wonders. (I use it everywhere)

fit_librarian

I have eczema, and as a child it was just awful. Putting thick lotion (there are ones formulated for eczema...try First Aid Beauty, Aveena, Eucerin) on regularly, preferably every day. Oatmeal baths also help. I've used Sweet Blessed Bee Magic (stupid name but I swear by it) makes an oil that really helps. It doesn't really relieve it but it does help with the scaly appearance. Watching out for food allergies, knowing what the triggers are will definitely help the most though.

ser0630

bump. I know a 3 year old who is suffering really bad. Doctor keeps tossing creams and such. Half are sooo expensive and insurance wont cover it or even help. Parents are at their wits end. Poor baby. The dremo told them excema isn't food related. I wonder.

I know the parents have tried a handful of epsom salts in her baths. And they say she cries when they put the creams on her as well. They have also tries the Eucerin lotion on her after baths and everyday. Nothing seems to be helping the little angel.

Let them know about Eucerin Calming Body Wash Daily Shower Oil. I use it and have been using it for a couple of years. It doesn't irritate sensitive skin and my dermatologist recommended it. It also doesn't strip the skin of the oils it has. I use that with Neutrogena Body Oil.

monicalosesweight

I get terrible skin rashes. I would start by looking at the following:

1. Check your laundry detergent! Yes. This kills me every time. I now use BioKleen Grapefruit Laundry Detergent because even the stuff which claims it's hypoallergenic is coming with something called a whitener. For some reason, I've run into several people who have an allergy to this stuff.

2. Softener - Switch to something like Downy Unscented

3. Wheat - Keep it out of her diet for a few weeks as rashes don't disappear overnight. Are you going to a dermatologist? If yes, they can make a stronger allergy cream for her that might help. It can be allergy related. I suffered through that during my entire childhood. Options: You can make your daughter rice grain pasta for lunches and make rice for meals at home. Breads are pretty bad unless you have a place near you where you can pick up gluten free bread like Udi's or Julian Bakery. You can also get Rice paper and make her cute little oriental dipping rolls. It might actually be fun to help her make them and it'll feel very elegant. Grin. It's found in a lot of places (oriental sauces and stuff - even shampoos).

4. Corn - Yes - this is one of the grains that can trigger rashes. I would avoid it too for a while.

5. Oatmeal is safe BUT make sure it says Gluten free.

6. Don't believe Quinoa is safe - it's not! Avoid it. Stick to the rice products.

7. Vaseline - Yes. Some people are sensitive to it. I'm not kidding. My doctors made my rashes worse by suggesting creams they thought would help me and they were all vaseline based (I'm allergic to the petroleum product).

8. Ask about Zyrtec. They make a kid version. It's the only over the counter that won't make her drowsy and it does help with skin problems. Zantac (if she gets acid stomach) has that as a side effect. I know because I ended up at an emergency room with a nasty rash and they suggested it and told me about it.

9. Avoid cheese for now - go to something like Almond Milk. The normal ones are pretty good and they are great in cereals. She won't really miss milk. There are even non-dairy products that you can use in those rolls for school lunches. I can imagine right now you're freaking out about that issue. It's a major pain.

10. Shampoos and Conditioners - You might want to go for one that doesn't have any petroleum based products. No chemicals...very mild. Johnson's baby shampoo has chemicals. Avoid it! A good organic store like Whole Foods should carry a large variety. Sometimes things like that make it worse. I know it does with me.

If possible, get her allergy tested. It's easier to avoid an issue if you know what it actually is. It's pretty easy and they have a variety of tests. For now, you're just trying to figure out what's making it worse or causing it. Keep a diary of her symptoms! That's critical. If you keep the grains (corn, spelt, wheat, rye) out of her diet for a month, you should start seeing changes. Like I said, it won't vanish overnight. It takes a bit of time.

Please give her a hug for me. I have total sympathy for her as I'm sure it's making her miserable. I know it bothered me a lot in school and there's always the worry that other kids will pick on you. Keep the communication line going so she feels confident about herself.

monicalosesweight

I almost forgot - get a zinc ointment. They make some that blend in but she can always wear a pj that doesn't matter so much. Zinc is really good for clearing up skin issues.

Be careful with the Eucerin. I know that's pretty popular but I ended up allergic to it. It's petroleum based. For the majority of people it's safe - not if you have a skin sensitivity and you're still identifying it. If you want to use it, put it on a small area and see if it gets better or worse before putting it everywhere.

demery12371

Has anyone tried the Aveeno Active Naturals Skin Relief Bath Treatment with 100 % Natural Colloidal Oatmeal. Just wondered if any had and what your thoughts were on it.

We have and it worked pretty well. My son doesn't have it as bad as some here have but it helped. Also their lotion for inbetween flare ups. We switched to Downey Free, Tide Free and the Clorox Free to wash his clothes/bedclothes and that helped alot too.
He only seems to flare up in the spring/fall and the beginning of winter. Summertime is a reprieve for him.

fairyT83

Have you tried changing dairy products, cows milk and cheese really flaired my skin up. I had goats milk and cheese and it really helped.

znkmommy

These new lotions by neosporin have helped me so much also drinking tons of water has helped. I have chronic Dyshidrotic Eczema on my palms and the bottom of my feet sometimes it's so bad I cannot walk.

http://www.neosporin.com/essentials/

monicalosesweight

The sulfur soap the one poster mentioned isn't a bad idea. If there's a fungal infection involved, sulfur is the one thing that fungus supposedly hates. It certainly could hurt. Did they do any tests to verify that there isn't an infection involved? There are fungus like infections that can be pretty bad. Sometimes they have to go to something more serious to help it clear up.

cjosenga

My grandma used Noxema for her eczema. Shw used it as a lotion instead of a face wash.

the_hotness

I've suffered from it all my life (i'm 29). I feel like I have it under control now. Here's what I've changed in 2012 that contributed to my "healing" lol:

No dairy. Dairy/cow's milk is a trigger for any and all allergies. Eczema is an internal/allergy issue, not external (it just manifests itself externally). I've recently started eating greek yogurt again and sure enough, I've had two new breakouts since. So I'm off any and all dairy. Sugar is another HUGE trigger. Watch his sugar intake closely.

No perfumes, dyes etc. This one is pretty standard. But I use Dreft to wash my clothes, I don't wear perfume etc. I use either 100% shea oil on my skin to moisturize or I'll alternate that with Cerave cream. I exclusively used the Cerave cleanser in the shower (it's good for face and body). It doesn't lather because it doesn't have all those detergents and chemicals in it. But it cleanses and moisturizes at the same damn time lol. Now I alternate with Cerave and the Oil of Olay body cream wash since I have it under "control".

Cool baths/showers. No hot showers. And no prolonged showers or too frequent showers, etc. I still take showers twice a day (once in the morning before work and one before bed) but they're each less than 10-15 minutes and in lukewarm water.

Ingesting enough water and oils (fish, etc).

These small changes have changed my world. Seriously. You don't know how much it sucks to have eczema until you have eczema. People thought I'd been in a fire (literally) and was suffering burns.

I sincerely hope this helps.

TheFitHooker

My 8yr old son suffers from this as well. He is allergic to everything and nothing seems to help him. Same issues, the doc's all wanna throw us creams. None of these creams even begin to touch it. He just had a horrible out break about 2 weeks ago and we just now getting it under control.

1 - 1 1/2 cups of bleach in the bath water. I don't know if you notice this, but if you take her to a chlorine pool it kinda helps, Son's dermatologist told me to do this with him. We give him a bleach bath once every 3 days. The other days of the week we give him an oatmeal bath. I feel an old sock up with oatmeal and scrub him down with it and leave the sock in the water so the water will look all gray and smell like oatmeal but it really soothes the itching.

His Dermatologist also wanted to do UV ray light treatments on him but we lost our insurance and couldn't afford to do it. I've thought about taking him to Florida tans and putting him in the light there but, I'm not sure the strength the doc wants it and I'd rather only do this under a doctor care.

Oh yeah and BAG BALM, it works really good. You can get it at walmart in the pet department, I know it sounds crazy but if your daughter is anything like my son, the skin is so dry and so rough, this stuff will help it so much. We stocked up on this and it's helped us.

Dairy products are a no go, Dairy flares it up.

Vitamin B is good for it as well.

Cindy393

I have had horrible eczema on the bottom of my left foot for 32 years now. I went through every OTC and prescribed steroid and some would clear it up, but it always came back again.

I finally found the Gold Bond for Eczema. It stops that itch that I can never stop scratching at, and it also clears things up. Safer and cheaper than steroids for sure.

giftogab

I know this may sound weird, but make some plain oatmeal and put it on the itchy areas. Leave it there for a few minutes then wipe it away. Our daughter had really bad eczema as well and that really did the trick. You can also buy Aveeno lotion with oatmeal in it. give it a try.

alpha1029

Bump

hooktravellers

Hi - I noticed someone else mentioned a bleach bath - found this on the internet previously for a friend, not sure about putting her in bleach, but if you're at your wits end, it is really diluted, more like being in a chlorinated pool, then maybe it's worth a try?

Using bleach to treat eczema

A study published in the May 2009 issue of Pediatrics tested treatments on children with severe eczema. The kids ranged in age from 6 months to 17 years.

Researchers found that soaking for five to ten minutes twice a week in a diluted bleach bath was five times more effective at treating eczema than plain water (used by the placebo group). The improvement was so dramatic that the researchers stopped the study early to allow children in the placebo group to benefit from the method.

Amy Paller, senior author of the study and the Walter J. Hamlin professor and chair of the department of dermatology and professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, says that – with their doctor's approval – parents of children with moderate to severe eczema might want to try this method, especially if their child gets skin infections.

Paller recommends a scant two teaspoons of bleach per gallon of bathwater (or 1/2 cup per full tub) at least twice a week, taking these precautions: 1) Make sure your child doesn't drink the water. 2) Disperse the bleach in the water before putting your child in the tub (you don't want undiluted bleach to get on her skin).

Nashville pediatrician Smith agrees with Paller's approach. "It's safe and easy to do," he says. "It's basically like a freshly chlorinated swimming pool, which serves to kill germs in the pool. It is very useful for kids with recurrent skin infections related to eczema, but it has also been shown effective just to eliminate bacteria, making the eczema easier to treat."

Smith tells parents to use 1/3 to 1/2 cup for a full tub or 1 teaspoon per gallon. He also suggests rinsing off briefly afterward, to get rid of the bleach smell.

To avoid getting the bleach water in your child's eyes or mouth, Smith cautions not to use bleach on the face. Instead, he recommends a good barrier ointment such as petrolatum to protect the skin on the face from irritants such as saliva, food, and beverages.

For open, oozing areas on the face, he suggests over-the-counter antibiotic ointments such as bacitracin or a polymyxin/bacitracin combination. If these remedies don't work, it's time to get in touch with your child's doctor.

ALSO

Not sure if they are large enough, but this website touts "The only garments to be awarded the seal of acceptance by the National Eczema Association"

https://www.halocomfortluxe.com/shop/detail/159/two-piece_set_silky-smooth/1201/halo_comfortluxe_sensitive_skin_sleepwear_two-piece_set_silky/

RubyRout

Check out this website for factual information http://www.nationaleczema.org/ or check out the Mayo Clinic information on eczema.

Katanthus

Watch out for products that say "gentle" "pure", but lathers. IF it lathers... it has a detergent in it, and that will dry the skin. Preservative, perfumes will also dry the skin.

Emollients and oils, such as lanolin should be medical grade. There is a minute amount of the population actually allergic to lanolin. What they are allergic to, is the residue left in the product when it is cleansed for use. Hence the reason for the using medical grade.

Wet wraps system works wonders on childhood eczema. Developed by a company called Seton Healthcare, UK a number of years ago. I have seen amazing results with them. This system is NOT used on infected eczema. The infection should be cleared before using Wet Wraps.

tameejean

I haven't been able to read through ALL of the comments, so sorry if this is repetitive, but I had a VERY bad as a child. I would wake up in a bloody mess from scratching my legs in my sleep. It didn't really ever go away until I quit dairy and gluten a few years ago. I also (had) seasonal allergies and (had) bronchial asthma and those seem to have "gone away" too.

I still do not use anything with fragrance and I used a coconut oil soap and keep my skin well hydrated. I hope you are able to find some relief for her!

icesk8ermom

Well it looks like you have gotten many recommendations; hopefully something will work for your child! I do recommend trying one thing at a time to see what works and what doesn't work.

I personally suffer from eczema on my scalp right at the bas of my head; not a fun place to have it! I have done a ton of research to see what could be causing it and to help with my syptoms.

For me this is what helps; for your child it coule be something totally different as you can see so many comments with many diferent recommenations!

First, I try yo limit my intake on acidic foods; IE OJ, Strawberries, grapes, tomatoes etc. The acid seems to flare my symptoms up and then I start to itch which also makes things worse. Additonally, I use a shampoo that has coal tar in it when I get bad. Although it doesn't smell pleasant they do make a bar of soap that you can get that also has coal tar in it that can help. My brother has it on his hands I told him about the soap and he thought he heard me say pine tar so he got a soap with pine tar which worked for him.

Also, fish oil is good as they have found that most people with eczema don't get enough omega 3's in their diet. And finally, stress and or anxiety plays a big role in it as well; try to pay attention and see if your child is suffering either of these.

A good lotion to use is Sarna anti-itch lotion. This feels awesome as it has menthol and camphor in it which is very soothing to the skin (great for sunburns, poison ivy, insect bites etc too!) it is steriod free and is actually advertised for people with eczema. I am an allegery sufferer as well; however, my smyptoms are itching all over rather than the waty eyes and sneezing....before I realized I had allegeries I practialy used to bathe in this stuff.

~Good luck I hope you find something that works for your child as suffering from eczema is no fun!

Website for the lotion...... http://www.sarna-skincare.com/

ser0630

I have had horrible eczema on the bottom of my left foot for 32 years now. I went through every OTC and prescribed steroid and some would clear it up, but it always came back again.

I finally found the Gold Bond for Eczema. It stops that itch that I can never stop scratching at, and it also clears things up. Safer and cheaper than steroids for sure.

I might have to try the Gold Bond for Eczema. I have also heard that Sarna is a good lotion to use.

I was told that eczema can also be tied to allergies and asthma, which I have (including food allergies).

I've been suffering from eczema for years. Here's what I use/do:

I take Zyrtec at night to help alleviate the itching at night. I also take Zantac when I am dealing with stress because heartburn can trigger eczema flare-ups.

For a body wash, I use Eucerin Calming Body Wash Daily Shower Oil (you can find it online for approximately $8 a bottle). I take showers with warm water (because hot water can dry out skin and make ezcema flare-ups worse). Instead of rubbing my skin dry, I pat it dry with a towel and use Neutrogena Body Oil (the fragrance free) as an after-shore moisturizer. During the winter, I do use Aquaphor as a moisturizer and Selson Blue dandruff shampoo as a cleanser on the spots are red and scaly.

During the winter (because I live in Minnesota), I have a humidifier running to get more moisture in the air in my house. For me, the cold, dry air here can trigger eczema flare-ups. I also go tanning 2-3 times a month to help control the flare-ups.(I may go up to as many as 5 times, depending on how bad the flare-up is) Yes, my dermatologist recommends this (and she also has bad eczema). I only go for 5-7 minutes at a time. During the summer, I do go outside in the sun and I don't use sunscreen because that causes flare-ups (and I've been told that's one of the worst things you can put on the skin of someone with eczema).

People have suggested to me taking a fish oil supplement. I can't and that is because I'm allergic to fish/seafood and shellfish. I will eat Smart Balance peanut butter (with Omega 3's that come from plant sources).

Feisty_Red

Thanks all..gives me a lot to go over!!!

marisol7649

Funny, i was asking my 7yr to show her eczema on her legs.it went way.

I no more milk I replaced it with almond milk,cut out the sugar and replaces it stevia.
Also white breads and sometimes wheat bread.the sun has helped allot.

ginakiki

First try to cut out all Dairy!!! Then go get a food allergy skin test to see what foods you are allergic to. It could be a wide variety of food and airborn allergies ..Plus check for dogs, cats, grasses, molds, weeds, dust etc... allergies. Make sure you consult an allergy doctor. Don't give up it takes time to rule things out. Good Luck

neandermagnon

my advice would be to ask to see a really good dermatologist. There are different kinds of eczema. The kind my family has is caused by a genetic defect which results in the skin's natural barrier being water soluble. This means it easily washes away, so most of the treatment is based on protecting and rebuilding the skin's barrier.

All of this was what a dermatologist in a UK hospital explained, based on recent scientific research. As I said there are other kinds of eczema so that's why I recommend seeing a dermatologist who has up to date information.

This treatment was very effective for me, I had eczema my whole life, it was under control within a month from the following advice. this is why you need to see a dermatologist who is really good and has up to date information.

Anyway... too frequent washing makes this kind of eczema way, way worse, and when washing, only products that are specifically suitable for this kind of eczema should be used for washing.... i.e. no soap, no detergents, no alkaline products as these strip away the skin's barrier... E45, baby sebamed and Cetaphil products are all suitable (although they may not be for every individual if there's sensitivities to any of the ingredients). No bubble bath or similar (it contains detergent and/or soap and is alkaline). Also, no rubbing the skin dry, dab it dry. Then apply the emollient directly after washing.

Regarding emollient creams... most of these are no good, they only moisturise and they can be irritating (again this is dependent on the kind of eczema, so they're not useless for everyone... just for this kind of eczema). The emollients we've been prescribed are designed to replace and rebuild the skin's natural barrier, rather than to moisturise. They feel more sticky than moisturising, however they are very, very effective. They stay on the skin (you don't notice it there, other than the fact the skin feels softer). Emollients that just moisturise only work for a few minutes, then the skin's back to being dry and irritated, because the moisture evaporates away (the skin's barrier keeps moisture in, as well as keeping foreign substances out).

Steroid creams - these were prescribed for short term use to get the eczema under control and at the point where the emollients only plus being careful about what goes on the skin, how to bathe, etc, keeps it under control. I use these on my kids for flare-ups (a few days at a time, once in a while), I haven't had to use them on myself for years. Many general practitioners will prescribe these for long term control of eczema.... that's not how they should be used and they can cause damage to the skin if used incorrectly for long periods.

Allergies - allergies develop because of the eczema, not vice versa (in this kind of eczema... in other kinds, e.g contact dermatitis, it is caused by an allergic reaction)..... what happens is, after the skin barrier is washed away, the skin is completely open to anything that wants to get in, so foreign substances get in and trigger an immune system reaction. Once the skin is inflamed and irritated, it'll have allergic reactions to many things it comes into contact with, while unaffected skin somewhere else on the body can cope with the same substances on it, because the barrier is still intact there and the substance isn't getting into the skin. Some people with eczema can appear to be allergic to many, many things because of this, but it's not caused by an allergy, it's caused by a genetic defect that results in a particular protein being missing in the skin's barrier, which results in the skin's barrier being water soluble, which then gets stripped away and once that happens, the skin will have hypersensitivity reactions to many different things. Fixing the skin's barrier is what's necessary. Many people with eczema have a tendency to develop allergies, so this does not mean they don't have actual allergies as well, just that you can't conclude that because something causes an eczema flare up, that it is an allergy. Look for other allergy symptoms like hives if you suspect an allergy. If the only symptom is the eczema being more irritated, then it's probably not an allergy. If there's hives or other non-eczema allergy symptoms as well, then it probably is an allergy.

Other - wearing cotton clothing and doing an extra rinse cycle when washing clothes, helps, as this helps to prevent sweat building up on the skin, and limits the number of potentially irritating things that get on the skin. Until the eczema is totally under control, be careful with anything that you put on the skin, e.g. face paint, make-up, etc... my kids have both had their faces painted without problems, but only after their eczema was under control.

If you want any more info, you can PM me... but mostly try to see a really good dermatologist that has all the latest research. Going from a lifetime of severe eczema to none at all (besides having to continue to be careful how I wash and care for my skin) after a month or two... that's not a small thing...! and btw I don't avoid any foods because of this, my older daughter has outgrown her food allergies and the younger one has a couple of food allergies but these are unrelated to eczema (she gets hives and may vomit after eating certain foods).



TL; DR: lifetime of severe eczema turned around in 1 month by a dermatologist at a UK hospital (i.e. conventional medicine) who knew what he was doing (as opposed to GPs who don't usually know how to treat severe eczema) - explanation of what's actually going on genetically and medically with this kind of eczema and why the treatment works (pls read whole post for that)

astrovivi

I have had it all my life, since I was a toddler.

it calmed down as I got older but i still get the odd break out rash.

using a lot of steroidal creams is really bad for the skin as it thins it out ... you should keep those only when it's really severe.

I think i've pretty much tried EVERYTHING.

But what I found really works and still do today:

1. Use soap-free cleansers every time...for face, hands, body etc. never use anything drying. Opt for special cleansers for exzema prone skin OR go for natural based cleansers with a light oil base.

2. Avoid skin and hair products that contain isothiazolinones and parabens and other chemical/industrial preservatives. They can make it worse, if not be the cause of it. Sulfates can also be a factor for some people if a contact allergy is suspected.
You can get tested for all of these as contact allergies.

3. I use products based on the following as well as these directly on the skin. They are all good but shea butter is amazing for eczema as it rosehip oil:
Shea Butter ***
Rosehip Oil ***
Coconut Oil
Macadamia Oil
Sweet Almond OIl

compresses with warm water to which you add some essential oils of geranium, rosehip, lavender, rose, and chamomile can also help.
i found this helped a lot when I got eczema around my lips and eyes.

Hope this helps