Son W/ Eczema

I noticed that when both my girls eat lots of avocado the symptoms were much more controlled. When I mentioned it to my husband, the very next day he read in a magazine that avocado helps with eczema symptoms.

Hi Felcia
I just saw a program on t.v. "view from the bay" and they had products on there from CALIFORNIA baby. com
and showed a pic of a baby who had eczema and they used calendula cream on it and then show other photos of how in just one week it cleared it. u may want to check out their site and email them a question about it.. anyway, might be worth a try. good luck

take a look at www.eczema.net/ It looks at treating eczema from the inside out and not using steriods or all of those money wasters that they sell at the stores. My DD who is
9 has been suffering since she was about 4 months old. I am giving her probiotics and cod liver oil which. The probiotics kill the bad bacteria in the intestines which help clear up and cure the eczema. The cod liver oil pills have vitamins A & E which will help moisturize from the inside out. Good luck!!

My son had horrible eczema. I tried steriod creams which I did not like using because I felt like it was just supressing what was really going on in his body. I tried all different kinds of creams and lotions to no avail. I finally started changing his diet and I added a whole food supplement called Juice Plus to his diet. It is 17 different fruits and veggies in capsule or gummie form. I also started rubbing olive oil on his skin every night after I bathed him. I am so happy to say my almost 6 year old boy has been eczema free for 3 years now! Good luck with your son and I hope this helps. If you want to get more info Juice Plus, go to www.StudiesOnJuicePlus.com and check out all of the scientific studies that have been done on JP+. It has been a huge blessing to my family.

If you haven't tried Homeopathy, it's very effective for skin conditions, as well as MANY other conditions. Homeopathy is an easy and safe alternative to allopathic treatments but can also be used in conjunction with western medicine. I've used Homeopathy for myself, family, and friends for 30 years. The remedies have worked miracles on my kids' ear infections when they were little....and other conditions as they grew. You can research lots of info at www.homeopathic.com There are lots of self help books on the subjuct and now a new book explaining what Homeopathy is, the new science of why and how it works, the history,and the famous people using it. It's called The Homeopathic Revolution, by Dana Ullman. If you live in the Bay Area, CA, I think my homeopath is great with pediatrics...and she's also a Physicians Assistant. Christine Ciavarella is with Hahnemann Medical Clinic in El Cerrito at ###-###-####.
J. Saperstein

Is he eating a lot of chocolate, like chocolate milk or things that could have caffeine in them. I found that taking the caffeine out of my diet eliminated my eczema.

Great grandmother of five.

Our son has it as well. I have tried so many things it makes my head spin. However!! I discovered an all natural product from "Wise Ways Herbals" called Eczema Care. It is a natural herbal remedy that I've been using for a few months now and has been amazing. I started with the Eczema Care Salve which in itself was a great improvement for his skin I saw improved the next morning. I also give him the oral herbal remedy 3 times a day. I put 10 drops in his milk or juice and the slave throughout the day especially at night when the itching flares up for him and he is sleeping most of the night now. Their website is: www.wiseways.com I also only dress him is cotton clothing, don't dress him heavy, even when it's cold don't over layer. Our son also has a food allergy which triggers its. If you haven't already you may want to do that test. Also alot of processed foods trigger it as well. Also regular soaps are bad. I use Castle Soap for babies. Regular castle soap is fine as well. I hope this works for you. You have to just keep trying things and don't be too discouraged when something stops working and you have to move on to something else. Good Luck!! Valerie

HI F.,

I feel your pain, My son got his first case of eczema around 5 months old. It felt paintful looking at it. Dr gave him perscription 2% cortizone which cleared it up in a day. He had it mostly on the back of his legs, tops of his feet and ankles and sometimes a very light case on his face. I only used the 2% when it was a bad outbreak. It thins the skin so I tried to avoid using it as much I could. Then he took swim lessons at 6 months but the pool really made it worse due to the chemicals. I tried EVERYTHING out there and spent a lot of money on just a trial purpose. Some lotions actually made it worse. I finally decided to try "Burts Bees". Night and day. They have a baby line too. the lotion is wonderful it's not heavy like the other creams out there. It's a little pricy but keeps his skin clamed down and i don't have to use the perscription anymore. The newest product I have found is Baby Bee's milk bath powder. Its pricy but it works and I don't thave to use it all the time. It smells good and it makes my son's skin so soft. I can't remember the last time he had a red patch of dry skin on him since using Burts Bees. We are both very happy. He is now 2 and sometimes in the summer he will have a small red area the size of a dime on his foot and that is it. Good Luck to you.

Hi F.,

I also have a son who's had exzema (according to the Dermatologist) since he was 3. He's 7 now, and my daughter has it too, she's 5. It's not as bad as his. I've tried everything and the only thing that has worked for us is this product called Renew from Melaleuca. I've never heard of this company before until this woman talked to me about it. It's a direct sales company and I was skeptical at the beginning but I had to try it to see if their claims were true and if it worked for my kids. So far it has worked, it's all natural. It would be better, if you are interested, for you to talk to her directly and she'll tell you more about it. Her name is Christine and her phone number is ###-###-####. I hope it works for you. E.

Hi Felecia,
My personal suggestion is a combination of many of the answers previously listed. My daughter was having major emotional and physical issues, one of which was eczema. We figured out thru NRT (muscle testing) testing that she was eating foods she was allergic and/or sensitive to and that was one of the reactions. Basics like soy and wheat. For your child it may be dairy, or something similarly simple. Once she was old enough, I started her on Barlean's Organic Flax oil (the pills don't work the same) and drying brushing/washing with Castille soap instead of chemical body washes (I do the same it's a huge difference). The combination of those actions have made it disappear.
I hope you find a resolution that works for you.

You have had so many great responses. My son who is now 8 had it horribly when he was younger but now it is occasional. There is hope! It runs in our family and seems that the older they get, the better it gets. Like you, we tried everything from products to cutting out all kinds of foods. Nothing worked! It took us many years to figure out what was best for our son. Here is what worked and still works for us.
Limit bathing and don't use hot water.
Use Cetaphyl when there is a break out.
We use Aveeno bath products when his skin is not broken out.
I love their baby shampoo & body wash in one. I also use their bath oil.
Use lots of Aquafor. Very greasy but works so well.
We use Elidel for breakouts.
My son's face and eyes were dry too. We used Aquafor on his face but used Keil's eye creme. It was the only thing that didn't sting.
They key is to make sure his skin is always moisturized! I have also found it key to moisturize while the skin is still damp from the bath. It seems to soak up better.
Best of luck to you! T.

Hi F.

I have two friends who said that their children's eczema lessened significantly when they started to take fruits and vegetable supplemnts, specifically Nutrilite Children's Fruits and vegetables chewables. They do not contain any vitamins and minerals, just phytonutrients extracted from plants. I don't know if this will help, but it can't harm! Good Luck.

M.

Hi-

My three kids all have had excema since 6 mos. old. My doctor told me to stop using any scented laundry detergent(I use Kirkland free and clear), no dryer sheets, and bath every 2-3 days. I try to time it after school or after the weekend when I know they will be playing or getting dirty. Also, right after the bath use Eucerin cream that comes in the container not pump version. This seals in the moisture of their skin. It is worse in the winter because of how dry and cold the air is here. Hope this helps.

F.,
Our pediatrician told us to put hydrocoritsone on first, then put a good lotion on it. I find for my excema,
I use aquaphor healing ointment (there are two different kinds) and that helps a lot. I also rotate lotions about every 2-3 weeks, as it seems to build up an immunity to it.
I also use Heel Of Approval by true blue spa, which is carried at Bath and Body works. Mind you, the excema is on my hands, but the stuff is for the feet. It also has shea butter in it, and very few people are alergic to it. Try
it out on a spot where he does not have excema first, and it he itches or burns, wash it off, and don't use it again.
That is my daughters reaction to it. I hope these suggestions help.
W.

Hi F.,

You may have tried this already, but I wanted to respond. Try 1% hydrocortisone cream with aquaphor ointment(half and half-mixed together). 2X per day and see if that helps. Good luck and have a nice day!

Molly

Hi F.,
My daughter had eczema and still gets spots at times of it. The only thing I found that helped clear it up is Arbonne wash and then only bathing every other day. Then after bath put on the Arbonne ABC oil followed by the lotion. I tried so many things and had a friend that had battled it with her daughter and this was the only thing that worked on both of our girls.

I am not sure if your other children have had eczema, but it tends to run in families. My older brother had eczema and so do I. It was caused from stress for the two of us. He had seen his doctor and I believe was sent to dermatologist that prescribed a cream that my brother could put on his hands. I am not sure the name of the cream, and my brother is unavailable until at least Wednesday. I will try and see if he happens to remember the name of the cream. I just looked in one of my medical books and there are a few common causes of eczema. Dependant on what the cause is, there may be differing ways to treat the skin. If you know what the cause is of the eczema, I could offer you what the books says is a way to treat, but I'd talk with doctor about what they would recommend. Best of luck!

F.,
My son had eczema at 4 months old and would scratch his forehead until he bled. I would cut his nail, but that would not stop him. In the morning his sheet would have blood on them from him scratching so hard. He is now 5 1/2 and the eczema is gone. He will occasionaly get a dry patch. Hopefully your son will grow out of it. I was taking him to a Dermatologist who suggested lots of Benedryl, this will take away the itchiness. Also a ton of moisturizer. The only thing I use on him is Eucerin cream in a jar. It is on the expensive side, but it is the only moisterizer that will not irritate his skin. I use unscented baby soap and shampoo on him because he still has sensitive skin. The doctor did prescribe Elidel cream when his eczaema was at his worst and that finally got rid of the eczema. I do find that even as the eczema is gone he still has sensitive skin and as long as I use unscented products and lots of moisterizer it help. Good Luck

dear F..... I have 2 daughters that suffer from eczema off and on as well. I have also tried different things, here's what has worked for us:
-no bubblebaths
-no harsh soaps of any kind, we use Aveeno for dry, itchy skin (works well cleans but leaves just enough moisture on skin)
-our girls are 3 and 2, but we still use baby detergent dreft
-immmediately after their bath we lather them up with MUSTELA. you can find it at lullaby lane. It's expensive, made in France. However it works SOOO good, it's not goopy, and works wonders during ugly outbreaks.

have you completely ruled out the possibility of food allergies? my dd's eczema didn't go away until we cut out even very small quantities of dairy for several years.

My daughter is 17 and she has it. She uses things with out fragance. I was reading here on the site that fish oil from Trader Joes helps along with baby wash and lotion from Arbonne i haven't been able to try that as of yet. I need to find someone who sells it. She has a cream from the Dermatologist she uses when she has flair up.
Hope this helps.
S.

There are manny causes for this condition. My daughter was born with the same. They say oatmeal baths, but since being a Mary Kay beauty consultant, I used our "Extra Emollient Cleansing Cream" and bathed her total body in it. Keep the skin moisturized (we had "hydrating moisturizer" that parents loved-still have a few)and don't keep them in water too long since just that will dry their skin.
Another consideration could be allergies. Try using gluten free products (cut out wheat)and check your child's diet. Soy milk is a great alternative to dairy based milk. Interested to hear what you choose to do.
E. C.

F., I had a son with severe eczema, mostly affecting his knees and hands. I made a pumice of baking soda and water to relieve the itching and help clear the rash when he was a baby. Later I used a prescribed ointment. But you need to concentrate more on what to avoid. I found the only soap he could use was Jergens Beauty Bar. Often I didn't use soap on him at all, just some baking soda or a little vinager in the tubwater. I tried different laundry detergents and whichever one was in use while he wasn't having outbreaks is the one I stuck with . I bought only natural cotton clothing and bedding. I avoided renting houses with synthetic carpet.

What I avoided worked better than any treatments.

Try Baby Bee Skin creme. Worked on my friend's baby who was suffering with eczema for 1 1/2 yrs. They tried everything and this actually helped him heal. Check out drugstore.com reviews on this product. I even used it on my eczema which wasn't bad, but it disappeared after using it for about a month. The stuff doesn't smell good, but it works. It's kind of sticky, but it stays on the skin and makes the itching stop. Usually eczema is a food allergy, so I would have your baby get a blood test to see what's bothering him. Good luck!

Hi F.,
Our oldest daughter had her first bout of eczema when she was 4. She is now 12 and only gets it occassionally. We use Aveeno shower, lotion and hydrocortisone products. There is also a book titled "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" which you can find at The Vitamin Shoppe or many health food stores. It offers natural and homeopathic remedies. Hope this is helpful!
T.

The kid I nanny for has it really bad and they give him a hormone cream to put on at night. He hates it. And it doesn't really fix the problem, because it comes back as soon as he stops using it.
If it were my son I would try acupuncture. They have ways to work w/ kids w/out needles. This fixes the root of the problem - his internal energy system.
Acupuncture has helped me stay drug free even though I've had a host of chronic problems. I highly recommend it.
Let me know if you'd like a referral.

Hi F.-
Have you tried the Arbonne Baby Care products? They REALLY work. I have many clients that have tried lot's of things and have fianlly had sucess with the Arbonne line. It is a Swiss company that carries botanically based products that have been scientically tested for results. Many Pediatricians recommend Arbonne for eczema. I can send you some FREE samples if you like. My email address is ____@____.com. Please let me know if you would like me to send some.
D.

Hi F.

I am grandma in this group. I had two kids with eczema. One of the things I learned was don't bathe them everyday. The drug stores sell a cleanser for a waterless bath. I can't rememember the name of it, but just ask, they will know what you are talking about. There are a number of reasons for the cause of eczema. I would recommend using perfumed free laundry detergent and softners. Even rinsing his clothes twice. I currently for myself use Shaklee brand laundry detergent and softners. My skin is much better than it was before. I didn't have eczema, but I was allergic to perfumes added to products. I'm also allergic to shampooes and rinses, even my own sweat. If after trying products on the shelves of our local markets and you don't get find any cure I would strongly recommend Shaklee. I currently have an add showing on member perks with a 10% refund on any order placed.

I hope this helps.

B.

Hi,

My son has had eczema since he was 2 months. He is now 12. When his skin gets bad in the winter, like now.. we use vasoline on the bad spots along with Triamcinolone Acetonide(steriod) ointment from his doctor. This takes it right away! When he is not having a flare up, we use Cetaphil (cream not lotion). It works wonders..It is anywhere between 10 and 15 dollars a tube, but well worth every penny. The whole family uses it, it works so well.
If you use this cream daily. I think you will see a huge difference.

J.

I use Arbonne's baby care products on my son and it is great for his dry skin. He does not have eczema, but I have friends who's children did and they used the Arbonne products when nothing else worked and got great results. I also have letters from some doctors who can't believe how great it works. They suggest that after giving the baby/child a bath use the Arbonne baby oil where needed (best at night). The Arbonne baby oil is so good because it is all natural and allows the skin to breath. In the morning use the baby lotion. It sounds so easy but it works.
If anyone is interested in trying the products before buying them I would be happy to give you some samples. I love these products and encourage you to at least try them. It's worth a try.
Best of luck!!
www.beautifulwithin.myarbonne.com

My son suffered a lot till he was 2. He would be bleeding from the dry areas. I followed the doctor's advice to the T, about not giving too many baths. Use Cetaphil cleansing lotion instead of bath. When they do take a bath, they should soak for a long time to get the moisture in. Vaseline was great for my kids. However I also realised, exzcema, is somewhat connected to food allergy. You might want to see what his diet is when his rash increases.
We had to use Desonide regularly for the affected areas for most of the year .
Hope this helps
J Ghose

Having a daughter with eczema I understand. I have found that her eczema cleared up almost completely once we found out what she was allergic to, eggs and nuts. She still has the occasional flare up but for the most part she is good. Try cutting back on the common allergies, milk, nuts, egg and see is that helps.
Otherwise try cutting baths back to everyother day and no more than 5 min long. While he is still wet coat him really well with aquaphor and then let him get dressed. Try using creams instead of lotions since they are thicker adn work better.

Dear F.:

Always use mild soaps and detergents for your son's clothes and body. The use of Dove has been very beneficial to my son's eczema.

M. J. (Nana)

Dear F.,

I am so sorry to hear that your little boy has eczema. It can be so uncomfortable for them.
Please check out mybiopro.com/dkh and solutions.emf411.com
Go to the water unit. I know that you probably have had so many
wonderful suggestions.
Though I do know for a fact that this does work. I have seen with my own eyes. My daughters head and hands are totally under control. I would be happy to refer you to people that this has changed there lives. The co. is now in South Africa due to Aids and there skin conditions.
My cell is ###-###-####

Blessings to you and your little one.

K.

My mom used aloe vera from the plant on my sister when she was little. She had tried everything as well, and that seemed to work the best.

Best of luck!

F.,
I suggest adjusting his diet, and as importantly, switch to natural household products. Laundry soap, toothpaste, shampoo/conditioner, body wash etc. You can check out my website for more information, and I promise I won't personally try to sell you anything, just show you a product line I believe in. http://www.healthyfamilybiz.com. Contact me for full access to the guest area and sample product list. We focus on non-toxic products for the home, personal care and nutrition. This is a business opportunity if you are interested, but more importantly, a source for better, safer products. Check it out and let me know what you think.

When I was a child I had eczema consistently for my young life until I was ten. The doctor would either give me cortisone cream or a shot depending on how severe it was at the time. He suggested I might be allergic to eggs or orange juice.
As an adult I heard a lecture by the head of pediatric medicine at the University of Illinois Medical School who said that the skin is the most emotionally reactive organ in the human body. A huge light went on for me. My parents had a volatile marriage and therefore an unsettled household (to put it mildly). When I was ten years old my father left the family and the arguing and unhappiness immediately subsided. After all those years I realized my eczema was an emotional reaction to my unhappy family life. I have not experienced it since then and have never been allergic to any foods.
I am NOT saying this is what is causing your son's skin problems but I just want to share it with you and others as a point of information. I hope that you will be able to find some relief for him. I know how uncomfortable it can be.

My daughter, now 22 months had eczema but slowly outgrew it. I'm sure you tried many creams/lotions just as we have. Unfortunately, when she had flare-ups it was difficult to tell if it helped or not. Now that her skin is relatively free of rashes, I've discovered she's allergic to MOST of the creams/lotions I've tried on her. The only things that's been good for her is Pearl Cream (prescribed herbal cream), California Baby Calendula cream and plain Vaseline. I tried the "dry" method and the "wet" method and found out short, regular baths in lukewarm water was best. But no soaps. I do use California calming shampoo and body wash for her hair 2-3 times a week, sometimes less.

We've also cut out wheat, dairy, eggs, nuts, strawberries, melons, prunes, oatmeal, barley, and brown rice because we found out she was allergic to them.

Hope your son's eczema improves. I know how hard it can be for both parent and child.

min

My daughter uses triamcinolone. It is a prescription drug-so you would need to ask the doctor, but it is great. Even better than hydrocortizone-I know this isn't spelled right. My daughter has had eczema forever now also-this has been the best solution.

Oatmeal bath followed by hydrocortisone cream. Also if you want to go the natural route try Arbonne's baby line. The lotion is awesome. I even used it when I had a break out during my first pregnancy.

We slick our son up with Vaseline after his bath at night as well as in the morning, it works wonders!

Hi F.,

I work with a gal who said milk baths helped her. Literally, milk. She said at least 2 % or whole milk as she believes the fat in the milk does some of the moisturizing. But she used plain milk (someone exposed her to it when she was about 12) and it has helped her to heal. Soaking once or twice a day. Letting the area dry.

I have psoriasis and use Eucerin original cream, which helps my granddaughters with their milder breakouts. They've mostly outgrown it, by 7 and 8 years old.

Good luck to you!

my 4 1/2 year old son also has eczema and weather also seems to trigger it. I give him a bath every other night using Gentle Naturals eczema baby wash and when it gets bad we have an Rx of Triamcinolon 0.1%

Their is a lotion called curell i've always thought it worked really well expecially if you apply it right after your bath.

Hi F.,
Your son is probably lactose intolerant. My whole family is lactose intolerant, as am I and my son. Eczema is a classic symptom. The medical profession is still very ignorant and resistant to this digestive trait, but I have 40 years experience with it. My pediatrician wouldn't give my knowledge any credence and wanted to put my son through a whole barrage of unnecessary tests. As a concerned parent with health insurance, we are fat cash cows to the medical system!
Luckily, these days, there are numerous dairy free products including Lactaid milk, soy and rice milks, soy yogurts (Whole Soy is the best brand), margarine (instead of butter), I am yet to find a good fake cheese, they all suck! Also, beware of processed foods as they often sneak in some dairy, so read labels.
I couldn't hurt your child to try a dairy-free diet for a couple of week, just to see if it helps.
Good luck.

My son had severe eczema during his first year of life. I really saw improvement after I started using Aquaphor on him and gave him fewer baths. It was recommended to me by our doctor. They make a Baby Aquaphor as well, which doesn't smell so much like petroleum as the adult version. I tried a prescription steroid lotion, but didn't like the potential side effects and preferred not to treat with steroids if possible. Besides, the steroid lotion seemed to dry his skin out. I still use Baby Aquaphor on him after baths, and it hasn't flared up this year at all (he is nearly 2). The Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Cream (navy blue cap) works well between baths when needed. Good luck, I know it is hard to see your little one suffering!

My 17 month old son has Eczema too. My doctor told me to try Cetaphil cream(not the lotion, the cream works better)and Cetaphil soap. It works great for me. Also, he uses prescription Triamcinolone Acetonide ointment when it gets really bad but I don't have to use it often as the cream usually takes care of the itchy rash. I hope this helps you, I know it's so hard to stop the little boogers from scratching!

Hi my husband has eczema too and he find it get worse in winter to. He uses adveeno body wash and lotions. If you have tried this then he finds that anything with fragrance in it makes it worse. i hope this helps

You've probably tried all of these, but just in case here are some things I do for my one year old's eczema:
-hydrocortisone cream
-vaseline on top of cream to keep it on
-short, cooler baths with only dove sensitive soap - no baby body washes.
-when severe, bath only every other night
-Eucerin cream - itch relief, apply nightly after bath and as needed
Hope this helps!

Both my kids have had eczema and I would definitely recommend seeing an allergist (Dr. David Cook's practice is excellent - his group has offices in Walnut Creek, San Ramon, and Berkeley) to determine the possible causes. My son (4) has asthma and a lot of environmental allergies and my daughter (13 mo.) thus far is allergic to eggs and berries. You'll feel better once you understand what will cause it to flare-up and how to potentially prevent it.
Here's what's worked for us:
Seventh Generation Baby Detergent (at Target in San Ramon)
Vanicream lotion (recommended by our allergist it's even better than Cetaphil, have to order ____@____.com)
Vanicream bath oil (this is a MUST!)
Vanicream sunscreen Sport SPF 35
Avoid any food allergens
Put presciption cream (we have Elicon) on as prescibed when it really flares up and cover it with Aquaphor to seal it in

Hi there, I had a son with eczema really bad. I used to let him play with his hot wheel cars in a plastic dish tub of oatmeal. I used it in the bath too. Aveeno is a very good product as well. He was allergic to shellfish, peanut butter, corn and other things. I researched them and found alternitives, it was hard, but I always look at it as a learning experience. I can read a food label pretty darn fast now. You can always take a look at what your washing his clothes, sheets, pillows, etc. in as well. It all matters. Good ol water is good to drink, to get rid of the toxins in his body. I put a little lemon in the water and it tastes good that way. Lemons aren't cheap...a lemon tree isn't that expensive, it might pay off. These are just some of the things I have learned from having a child with this problem. My son also had asthma along with exzema. There are probably books at the library that you can read on this topic & even hanging out at the bookstore. Good Luck ~~ J.

search 3/26 "bad eczema". Some great ideas there. My son has it too and I am currently trying the Arbonne products that people suggested. Other suggestions are there too.
Good luck

Personally, I have seen the results of Arbonne baby products work. They are amazing. It is botannically based and one of the safest products out there on the market. This has always been important to me. If you are interested in learning more, please let me know. I can send all the product information to you. The results are amazing and your pooor thing will be feeling better quickly. It is also very well priced. I can help you get incredible pricing, much better than retail. Please let me know if I can help you. p.s. - there is no fragrance added!!

My son is 2 and has had eczema since day one also. This last week has been really bad. I use triamcinolone acetonide cream .1% from the doctor. I use this only when it gets really bad. Usually three times a day for about three days and it goes away. Then I use a thick sensitive skin cream by aveno once or twice a day everyday to try to keep it from coming back. The doctors have told me this is not something you can prevent just maintain. I keep him in pants and long sleeves to help prevent the itching he does. Not sure how I will handle it as it gets hotter. I also try to cut his nails once a week but that is a challenge within itself. Good luck. If you find a better cure let me know.

Hi F.,

I'm sure you will get lots of advice about how to treat the eczema. My advice it to find the cause. For both me and two of my children, the exzema is triggered by food allergies. The best treatment is to figure out the trigger and remove it! Could be foods, or seasonal (pollen/mold), or environmental (dust/pet hair/laundry detergent).

Do you or your husband have a family history of allergies (of any kind)? If you are interested in advice about how to try to pinpoint the trigger, let me know...

-D.

Hello,
My son is now 7 but had serious bouts of eczema since he was a baby. I have also found that this was diet related, as some of the other moms stated, and keep him a way from dairy and processed sugars. I recommend doing research on any prescriptions the doctors give, as you will find pretty much all of the creams they prescribe do not heal or help the problem but merely make the visual rash go away so you think it is getting better. All it does is cause the body to react in a different way to let you know something is wrong, which is why eczema is closely linked with asthma. Diet is the way to source most all problems. I recommend natural creams that are olive oil or shea butter based, not pretrolium as many products are. These don't hydrate and are toxic. Good non dairy products are soy milk, almond milk, rice milk, and a good cheese I have found is Soy-Station, Almond, or Rice Cheese. I get all these items at Whole Foods. Good luck!

Hi F.-

I have a 4 month old daughter who also has eczema. It flares up pretty bad on her forehead, cheecks and in the crease of her arms. I went to a health food store and got pure Jojoba oil and calendula cream. The jojoba oil works great (even for the baby acne). Try it out you'd be surprised.

ok, this may sound weird, but I just read in the paper last week, one of those write in to the dr. columns... they said to rub the inside of a banana peel on your skin and it takes care of eczema. I figure it would be worth a try, with the cost of expensive creams and such... who knows. We don't have that problem with our kids, but I thought I would share what I read.

J&J Soothing Naturals works GREAT for my two sons, but they have very minor patches of eczema. The Aveeno baby lotion was suggested by our pediatrician, but it didn't work at all. The Soothing Naturals did the trick for us, even on severe chapped cheeks. Smells yummy, too :o) Good luck!

Hi F.,

I have read that grape seed oil or grape seed extract are very effective, but I would talk to a naturopath before giving it to a child. They might have ideas about other highly effective remedies too. I agree with another writer who suggests finding the root cause, probably an allergy? I have read that Celiac Sprue can cause such problems, for instance. Good luck!

My daughter had eczema from about 3 mo. on. Her break out usually followed a viral infection. Her doctor prescribed Eladel. It was miracle. As soon as we saw an outbreak, we applied the cream twice a day. It quickly went away. There were times when she had to have the cream for weeks on end, but it kept it at bay.

I have had eczema myself on and off since I was a child and here is what I can suggest after years of battling this.

If his skin is really flared up don't bother getting any allergy testing done (wait until it has calmed down) when your body is reacting that way you will show you are allergic to almost everything.

Avoid sugar it will just contribute to the inflamation and irritation (that is always the hardest part for me)

CeraVe lotion is the best lotion I have found for eczema I also gave some to my 4 yr old nephew and it was just as effective for him. (it is a more expensive lotion $12 or so. They have it at Walgreens but not all drugsotres have it. If you have a topical seroid cream you can mix a little with the lotion so it isn't so strong on his skin, but gets the flar under control.

Use goats milk soap on him in the bath/shower. I don't know what it is about it, but it has a claming effect that is great.

Also, I have found a luke warm bath in Dead Sea Salts such as Massada Salt to be very soothing. Make sure to apply CeraVe as soon as he gets out of the bath. (they have salts and soap at Elephant Pharmacy and Pharmica)

Sorry this is SO long...hope it helps!

hi, i have a 8 year old and she also has eczema and i been using aveeno skine relief moisturizing lotion and i put on her in the morning when she goes to school at night when she goes to bed but at night i put lots of it in her skin and leave it and its been helping her lots and i also use been using this lotion i bought its called renew but u can't get this at the stores i got it in a catolog that sell organic stuff the website is www.melaleuca.com go chek it out hope this could work for you

R. guzman

My 9 month old son gets the flare-up when he sucks on his lower lip or chews on toys. I recently found out that using any soap (even the mildest for babies) caused more problems as it dried and irritated his skin. I now only wash his face with water and use California baby calming botanical moisturizer and almost immediately the redness calms down. Be careful of using hydrocortisone creams especially if you apply it often and liberally. I had a patient who ended up with staph infection in her finger - her immune system was dampened by the cream and made her susceptible to the infection. Good Luck!

Dear F.,

My daughter's eczema showed up when she was about 4 months old and had a diet of only breast milk. Cutting wheat and dairy out of my diet did the trick. The eczema disappeared completely, unless I "cheated" and ate a bit of pasta--then one day later, she'd have a bit of it again. The Naturopathic doc I consulted said that eczema is children is generally food-allergy related.

Many people who can't tolerate wheat can tolerate spelt, which is very similar. Baking with spelt flour and barley flour saved me!

Good luck,
J.

Hi F.:
My son also has very dry skin and he is 20 now. Yet it started when he was a toddler. I was advised to give hime Aveeno baths. You can purchase this item in your local grocery store or drug store. Also, before he finishes his shower or bath rub baby oil all over his body. Evey 2 weeks use a lufa sponge and lightly exfoliate the skin then hydrate with aloe ( from the plant you will grow in your garden) and light baby oil. Vitamin E gel tabs can be taken as well. Unfortunately, children do not like this regime. Are you able to go to a dermatologist? My son still has dry skin but has never been diagnosed with eczema just dry skin That it what his pediatrician told me years ago - Good luck yet you should consult a doctor

Hi F.,

Please send me your email or your phone number, I have a response from the founder of 302 Skincare. We have some products that can help your 4 year old. The founder Richard Huber has asked that you call him directly so he can answer your questions. In case you want more information, the website is www.302skincare.com.

my email: ____@____.com

Thanks
D. Kelly
###-###-####

There is a cream that I Buy in a Mexican store or in Mexico if I am there it is Quadriderm. It is an anti fungual that worked on an unexplainable rash my Husband got when he was mining. I had my aunt try it for her eczema and she said it really helped. M. Pool

Drinking Raw milk can really help with eczema. My family drinks Organic Pastures Raw Milk. You can get it at the Sac Co-op (cheapest), Whole Foods and Nugget Market.

"Raw milk has been used as a therapy in folk medicine — and even in the Mayo Clinic — for centuries. It has been used in the pre-insulin days to treat diabetes (I've tried it — it works), as well as eczema, intestinal worms, allergies, and arthritis, all for reasons which can be understood when we realize just what is in milk — such as the cortisone-like factor for allergies and eczema." (http://www.realmilk.com/raw.html)

Wow, F.! You have been given a lot of advice. I am struggling with my 6yr old with eczema. However, I am working with a homeopathic Dr. (Dr. Manteuffel) in the Bay Area. My goal is to treat the cause, not the symptom. I worked with him for my oldest when she had eczema, and she hasn't had it for years! We still haven't found the lasting remedy for my son.

For external relief, I've used natural oils (but he doesn't like how his clothes stick to his body afterward). So, I've looked at all the advice and got some natural alternatives I will try as well - thanks.

Aveen Oatmeal Bath is effective short term. Pat (don't rub) the skin dry after bath.

Mom of 18yr girl, 11yr boy, 6 yr boy, and one on the way!

I manage a medical spa in Redding, California. My husband and I have an organic poultry and veggie farm, and I make my own line of therapeutic essential oil products - all under the brand name McCluck Farms. (I started making my own products in my early teens as I have allergic sensitivities to many products and spent much of my early years as one big walking welt of hives. My Rash Relief oil has been used successfully to treat eczema, hives, insect bites, acne and many other skin conditions for sufferers aged 3 - 90 years. I would be happy to send a sample to you along with the list of ingredients if you are interested. You may contact me at ____@____.com or look me up on the web at mccluckfarms.com

My first son also had excema, from a few weeks after birth until age 5. It got so bad at times -- especially around the joints like elbows, wrists, and knees -- that the skin would become infected. I doubt it was diet-related since it started when he was just breastfeeding. Based on our experience, I suggest: bathe only as needed, use a mild soap (we used Cetaphil), apply moisturizing lotion immediately after baths, apply prescription creams as recommended. And -- consider moving. My son's excema did get better over the years but it disappeared completely when we moved out of our damp 1880s San Francisco Victorian... to a much warmer and dryer home in the East Bay. Of course, this might have been a coincidence, I understand that many kids do outgrow it. Good luck!

Hi F.,
I am 69 years and I have had eczema all my life,although it is in remission now it sometimes appears especially in my head I have to be really careful about what shampoo I use. Nothing with any fragrance in it.I had it really bad when i was little and my mother tried everything.Finally when I was older I went to a dermatoligist and she prescribed LIDEX ointment for me there is a cream and an ointment I used the cream it worked like magic for me. I keep it an hand all the time now but of coarse I can't use it in my head but if I have a flair up anywhere else I use it imediately. Your son may not be able to use this medication but it won't hurt to ask your Doctor. Good Luck

My son had excema as a baby and we used Aquaphor, a cream. It worked very well.

Jennifer

I have heard of this more and more. In the newspaper we have a doctor that recommends rubbing a bananna peel on all areas. I have been reading the comments sent into him from people that have eczema and all of them have said it goes away by doing this. So go get some banannas, eat them and then rub the bananna peel on your son. Try it for a week and see if it works. Its cheap and if it works, wont that be great. Good Luck

Hi F.
It looks like you are getting a lot of good advice. My 4yr old son also has eczema from the time he was a baby. After talking with my Dr. we limit his baths and use luke warm water and slather him in lotion when he is done. He also gets it in his hair and have found a great shampoo that i also put in his bath water when he is having a flair up. Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo. It cost a little more than i wanted to spend on a shampoo but the eczema cleared up and has not come back in the time that i have been using the shampoo.

I have personally dealt with eczema for most of my life. Usually on my elbows & knees. It seems to get better as I get older but I still get outbreaks during seasons changing. I definitely suggest using Avenno as your daily lotion. I really like their products and they seem to keep my skin at peace.

Hello F., I'm M. Bauer. I got eczema on my hands from dealing with diapers when my children were babies. I was given a prescription from the doctor that worked but I wasn't supposed to touch anything after putting it on. Not practical. My daughter is now 11. She is allergic to nickel.& getting a lot of rashes. The doctors have been prescribing all kinds of creams. Many of the creams are costly, have steroids and side effects like sun sensitivity.

I am a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant. We have an extra emollient cream that has no steroids or side effects. I have found it to work as well on my hands and most of my daughters rashes. Its ingredients are similar to Aquafor, but it is not as expensive. I'd be happy to send you a sample (no charge) for you to check out. contact me. ____@____.com

Hi,
I make an herbal salve that is showing remarkable effectiveness in treating ezcema. I didn't formulate it specifically for ezcema but I keep receiving testimonials about how well it works. I would be happy to send you a sample (free of charge). Give me your address and I'll get one in the mail to you today. You can look at my website schoolgardenco.com for more info. It is called Superhealer.

Good luck!

L. Ludwigsen
School Garden Co.

Hi F.! My son has eczema ever since he was born too. Yes, it does come and go and gets worse in the winter. His doctor told me not to bath him everyday and after years of his skin cracking, splitting, and looking like he had ringworm, the doctor prescribed Triamcinolone ointment. My is 12 years old now and still has to use it on occasion and it works in a couple of days and sometimes just a day. What I learned on this website was that my son is lactose intolerant and it does bring on the eczema but he loves milk and can taste the difference. So, we just use the ointment. I sure hope this helps.

Cod Liver oil does good for this. I use the Carlson lemon flavor so it's not so fishy. Good Luck, M.

Hi F.,

My name is C. K. My oldest daugther has eczema, on and off since she was a baby.. she is now 8 years old. The lotion that I use on her is called Renew.. it works wonders. I've also had people use the lotion and it cleared up their skin unbelievelably (sp). It has the Melalecua oil in it (tee tree oil). If you'd like a sample, and your not too far away, I could drop it in the mail if you'd like. My cell number is ###-###-#### if you'd like to call.

Have an awesome day.

C.

Have you tried giving him flax oil. 1 tsp per day?
also I have heard of a lotion made by Mustella for eczma that works wonders.
I would emphasise on EFA's and eliminating any allergens.
goodluck

Hi F.,

My son also has had eczema since he was a baby (he is now 8), and he still has flare ups in the winter, and especially now because he has really bad allergies, and the pollen is really bad right now. Eczema is really hard to get rid of, but there are a few things that seem to work for my son. First, don't allow your son to bathe for long periods of time, as this will only dry out his skin more. If he isn't afraid of the shower, I would recommend that he start showering as this seems to shorten the amount of time they spend in the water as compared to bathing. When he gets out of the shower/bath, slather him in good lotion such as Eucerin, Curel, or Aveeno. These are a little on the expensive side, but they worked much better for my son than the cheaper brands. Hydrocortisone cream seems to help my son with the itching aspect of eczema, and I will usually apply this to the affected areas before he goes to bed. If your son seems to suffer from allergies as well (I think these 2 things are linked), you might want to try giving him Claritin or Benadryl to help block the histamines and maybe even help with the itching as well. If you have tried all of these remedies before, you might want to consult your son's Pediatrician. He/she may be able to prescribe medication that will help your little boy. Best of luck to you both!

Hi F. -

My daughter had this as well - it got really bad in the winter- she could barely walk - it was very painful for her. For her it was caused by food intolerances - I eliminated wheat, dairy, and sugar from her diet, and it cleared up - she is now 15 and has had only 1 episode since she was about 8 or 9. I also added omega 3 oils to her diet (fish oil, flax oil) - it acts as an anti-inflammatory and helps the skin (among many other things)

Good luck!

Hi F.,

I am not sure if this has been suggested, but the California Baby Calendula Cream is great! It is all natural and works great on my son (7 1/2 months). My son has sensitive skin and it works great!

Good luck!

My older daughter had eczema all over her body due to allergies, both to foods and the environment. After controlling for the foods, what lingered due to the environment was still pretty bad. I found a product online called called Freederm HC that completely took care of the eczema. Now we use it only once in a while for flare-ups. It does have 1% hydrocortizone cream in the formula, but it also has an antibacterial/microbial agent and some natural emoliants in its formula.

For day-to-day we apply Eucerin cream (comes in a tub/jar), which is very thick, or Aveno lotion when she's not so dry. Any moisturizer you use is most effective when it is applied just after drying skin, and rubbed in until it can no longer be seen, usually about 2 minutes.

Good luck!

Hi there,

You've received a ton of advice, as did I facing the same issue with my 7-month old but with limited success.

I tried all the mainstream remedies (lotions, fragrance-free soaps, cotton clothing, etc), but it seemed to only mildly alleviate my son's symptoms. My doctor suggested I use hydrocortizone, but that's when I decided to go alternative.

Last month I saw a homeopathic doctor (Sandra Kamiak in Saratoga) for a consult. We did a thorough verbal background briefing on our family, and then she gave him a tiny bit of homeopathic medicine on his tongue. I stopped using all the lotions, per her guidance, and his eczema seems to be improving, albeit very slowly. It no longer goes to his forehead and neck, and although his cheeks are still very red, they no longer ooze/weep the wet stuff.

My strategy is now to treat the cause versus the symptoms. I'm going to give this a shot, give it a few months to see what happens. I can tell you 5 months of spending a fortune on every magic potion/lotion that was recommended did little.

Hope this helps.

C.

My son who is now 7 has had eczema since he was at least 4. We use a prescription called Elidel only on the effected areas and it works very well. Once it clears up it helps to just keep putting moisturizing lotions like Eucerin to keep it under control. You have to be very diligent as even skipping 2 days can make it come back. I realize with 3 kids that it is difficult. We usually put it on at night before bedtime. Check with your pediatrician about it. The tube lasts for a long time.

Our 10 month old is covered in eczema from head to toe. It is an ongoing challenge. For non-prescription treatment, we have had good success with bag balm. It is very greasy, much like vaseline, but works better than the plain petroleum gels.
We have also had to give him antihistamine at nighttime so he won't scrath during his sleep.
Good Luck!