Eczema – How Long Until You Start to See Results?

Updated on August 28, 2008
M.A. asks from Jersey City, NJ
9 answers

My 4 month old son has been suffering from eczema for a few weeks. It’s like his heat rash became eczema in some places and in other places the dry skin patches just appeared.

Our home has central AC so he’s in a cool environment for most of the day, except for walks in his stroller and time in the park. I do bath him daily but mostly only with water because he enjoys it as a part of our nighttime ritual. When I do use soaps, I’ve only ever used all natural, like the California Baby and then would follow with the California Baby Calendula cream.

Well, recently his eczema has taken a turn for the worse and is all over his torso, with some on his back and even a bit around his genitals. My girlfriend suggested I switch to the Mustela Stepatopia, which I did this weekend.

My questions are: How long does it take to see positive results? Should I think about taking him to the doctor, even though it seems to bother me more than it bothers him? Do you think I should stop using Dreft to clean his clothes? Isn’t he too young to be allergic to the cats and the dog? They aren’t allowed in his room anyway. I’m really trying to figure out why this is getting worse and not better.

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L.C.

answers from New York on

Weleda ... the baby line - especially the oil, the shampoo/shower wash and the lotion or creme.

ALSO ... visit the Weleda site or if you are near NY the Weleda North America store and try Calendula Ointment - a homeopathic medicine. You may also find this at Health foods stores or a few Whole Foods markets.

You can also try Calendua tincture 9taking internally by you if you are breast feeding and given to the baby by dropper if not. It can be added to food and is gentle and safe for a baby (similiar to Chamomile - provided there is no allergy to ragweed).

Lastly ... INCREASE greatly your Omega 3s, DHA and basically the "good" fats in your diet - if breastfeeding and in your baby's if not.

I would also come off of ALL dairy for now - except yogurt and goat cheese or milk. Almond milk, Hemp milk and Oat milk are good.

If this does not help ... I would immediately check into a parasite cleanse (for you if you are breastfeeding) - usually involves a tincture of wormwood and a few other herbs taken in dropperfulls twice daily for a month. I have ssen this work wonders for candida, yeast infections, excema etc.

Please verify this info if you like with a homeopathic doctor, Naturopathi Doctor an M.D. trained in Integrative Medicine, Herbalists and Clinical Nutritionists.

You can also call the Hoeopathic Pharmacy at Weleda North America ... an 800 number and ask to speak with the Hed Pharmacist - Petra.

Good Luck ... hope this helps!

BE WELL!

p.s
I would not wash the baby's clothes or bedding with anything but non toxic - organic ingredients. The other irritate and add to the problem not to mention expose your baby to toxic chemicals. For starters check out wwww.seventhgeneration.com

See also the book : Toxic baby, Toxic World ... and Mothering magazine (online or in stores) ... both are real eye-openers.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.D.

answers from New York on

Hi M., I do not know about how long it takes to see results but one thing strikes me. The rash on his torso, back and genitals. How long are your walks. Is he in the stroller too long? Is the seat plastic? Maybe his body is reacting to the heat. Try good old corn starch to dry it out or Zinc based cream/paste. My best, Grandma Mary

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S.M.

answers from New York on

Hello M.,
My son too dealt with a nasty case of eczema from the time he was 2 months until about 9 months. The things that really turned it around for me was to constantly apply a thick coat of aquafor ointment to the areas that are the most affected. That is in addition to applying jonhnson baby lotion. I would apply both the lotion and the oinment at every diaper change and right before bed. I also bathed my son daily even though some say the water will make it worse. After tyring EVERYTHING on the market for babies with sensitive skin including california baby and aveeno what worked best for me was plain old johnsons and johnsons baby wash. There were a few areas on my sons body that were more difficult to help than others so i asked my doctor and was given a prescription for mometasone furoate cream usp.. after using that for a day or two his skin was back to normal. The thing about eczema is you must stay on top of it to prevent a breakout. Now that he is a year old he seems to outgrown the eczema and his skin is always beautiful! Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.R.

answers from New York on

I love this creme and body wash for our child. She has has eczema since very little (now a year and a half). Here's a bit of what I have learned but from another source http://www.naturalfamilyonline.com/go/index.php/66/treati... Key it to look at TRIGGERS and find out what works for your child. Teething seems to cause my daughter's to flare up (= stress....) and hot weather. I use this - you can laugh - nipple creme for nursing moms on her ankles after the bath and then stuff her into a zip up footie. Here's where you can get it or 1-800-diapers... I figure if a baby can latch on with this -- OK to use for toddler.....! :) (http://store.babycenter.com/product/breastfeeding/nursing.... She can't get at it and then works overnight. It's very sticky/tacky I should say so can work to stay on and also I rub it on her during some days when it's bad and it stays on. She is allergic to dairy, eggs, peanut and fish. SO this seems to tie into her issue BUT I am sure all kids with a skin condition do not have allergies. Wishing you the best and hope your child feels better soon. Muestela Stelatopia creme and body wash works for us with this nipple cream "mixed" in.

Me = FTWM of wonderful twin girls that are 18 months old

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.C.

answers from New York on

It sounds like we are having a similar experience. I took my son to the doctor yesterday about his skin and had also been using the California Baby products. They suggested (as you have been doing) reducing use of soap (our son also loves bath time so we did one last night without any soap). They also suggested switching to Aveeno lotion rather than California Baby. I just picked some up yesterday after the doctor's. I just thought I would pass this along. We are going to try the Aveeno and see if it gives any better results.

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C.B.

answers from New York on

Hi M.,

First of all you need to get rid of ALL your toxic cleaning and detergent products, that inclides Delft. If you are using J&J baby shampoo, stop using it, it contains formaldehyde.
You can do two things: shop at a health food store for all your supplies or I can show you how you can save time and money shopping for nontoxic products at wholesale.

C.
www.saferforall.net

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E.S.

answers from New York on

My son started to develop eczema when he was 3 months old. What we have found that works best for him is a combination of Renew lotion and Aveeno baby. Even though your son is in A/C and cool all day - Central Air is very drying to the skin. Make sure you put lotion all over his skin all the time - moisturize, moisturize, moisturize - even when his skin is doing well. If you take him to the Dr they will tell you to put hydrocortisone on his skin which is VERY bad for him. Only do it if you have to because your baby is in distress. Daily baths are great - we use Dr. Bronners baby soap - it is wonderful! I also use the Seventh Generation laundry products to wash all of his laundry.

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A.M.

answers from New York on

Hi M.,

My 4 year old had eczema too. The only way to make it go away for us was finding out what food she was allergic too. I was nursing, so I found out that I couldn't eat the following: eggs, soy, corn, strawberries, dairy. It was tough at first, but I really wanted to breastfeed. When I eliminated these foods, her eczema cleared up in a matter of days. As she got older, I tested her tolerance for these foods. Right now, she can eat corn with no problem, but she still has eczema if she has any of the food I mentioned above. I would really suggest to you that you look at the baby's formula or your milk or whatever it is he's eating. By the way, regular doctors never told me this. It was a holistic doctor that told me about eczema being the body's reaction to food.

Best of luck to you,

A.

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L.G.

answers from New York on

i was told by a friend of mine to try Eucerin cream on my daughter's excema. She gets a mild case up the back of her legs each summer and it works very well for her. The pharmacist at my supermarket also suggested hydrocortisone cream. Both worked wonders and the hydrocortisone keeps her from scratching.

The main thing is to use heavy moisturizing creams that will keep the moisture in the skin. good luck and hope it helps

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