Eczema help?

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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).

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.

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)