My 15 Month Old Baby Has Eczema

Hi J.,

I am an Alternative Health Practitioner. My wellness center is located in Simi Valley, CA. Eczema is usually attributable to a lack of essential fatty acids. It can also be caused because of allergies. You said there are some foods that do not seem to agree with her. This could be allergies. There are things you can give her to help balance out the flora in her little system. I would be happy to share them with you if you get in touch with me. As a practitioner, I don't give out generalized advice to people. I would rather deal with you specifically either through a telephone call of a visit.

I have been in the field for 30 years and know that there are things that can be done to help her.

Blessings,

J. Sanders
Alternative Health Practitioner
kaysnutrition.com

Get an aloe vera plant!!! I used it on my son's eczema and it really worked. I don't mean aloe gel out of a bottle, I mean the plant and you cut a piece off fresh, peel it and rub it on.
Good Luck

My son has eczema as well and has had it since he was a newborn.

A few tips, as these work for us.

Bathe every other day unless he's downright filthy. Aveeno bath soak as needed (buy the generic oatmeal bath is much cheaper and works the same)
Aquaphor works wonderfully after a bath. It's expensive but it works. Slather it on and then put put pajamas on. It soothes the skin overnight. It's sticky and we call it glue so my son can tolerate putting it on.

Eucerin creme daily in the AM and PM.

Elidel prescribed from his Dr. works for minor flare ups.

It's just something you have to keep up with daily. The soap he uses in the tub is Aveeno brand for eczema. Pat his body dry and put the Aquaphor or creme on right away.

Mild soap

Have you thought of seeing an Ayurvedic doctor? He or she should be able to treat the problem from a variety of angles from diet to herbal creams or ointments. In many cases the remedies are easy to make and not expensive. From an Ayurvedic perspective Eczema is a symptom of an imbalance in the body. Ayurveda looks to see where the imbalance might be...so the remedy for one person might be totally different from what might help another.

Hi J.....my little guy is 20 months and has had eczema for about 10 months. I have found food allergies to be the biggest culprit, and i think he will always struggle with his skin. So it's a good time to make a loving connection with this now, find gentle unstressful ways to deal with it. Starting with food, Wheat is the biggest trigger, I would suggest cutting that out completly. I know that seems overwhelming, but you can do it. Its for your baby, right. Sometimes dairy, and eggs. But do the wheat first. I also have found that omegas and DHA help. He loves little supplememts, and it helps him not be scaly. Will your baby let you massage her. Tell her what your doing, use light touches, and either a homeopathic cream, or there is this great stuff called emerald aloe by andrea sina. It's 20$ a bottle, but you can really streach it out if you mix it with regular aloe. I would not use chemicals. that might create a cycle of skin problem. Good luck to you and you beautiful girl!!!

My suggestion to you is that you visit NAET.com, order and read the book "Say Good-Bye to Children's Allergies" and make an appointment to consult with an NAET certified doctor. I go to Dr. David Karaba in Fullerton and absolutely love him. His phone number is ###-###-####. One of the wonderful things about NAET is that for children or the infirm, they can be treated through a surrogate, i.e., you. Here is the description paragraph from the book information.

"Say Good-bye to Children’s Allergies
By - Devi S. Nambudripad, D.C., L.Ac., R.N., Ph.D.
Paperback-1st Edition 2000
350 pages, 8.5’ X 5.5’ X .75’
ISBN: ISBN: 0-###-###-####-8-4
In Say Good-bye to Children’s Allergies, Dr. Devi S. Nambudripad, the developer of NAET®, will help you understand your child’s illness and will assist you in finding the right help to achieve better health for your child. This book will show you how certain commonly used products in your foods and environment can cause health problems in your child; how you can test your child in your privacy of your own home using the Nambudripad’s Testing Techniques described in the book. This book will educate you how your child’s health problems can relate to allergy, a traditionally under-diagnosed or misdiagnosed condition; and, how allergies can manifest into myriad symptoms that might seem unrelated. The author also provides remedies for mild conditions of common childhood ailments arising from allergies and how to find help in assisting your child find the right help for serious problems such as, asthma, hay-fever, common colds, sinus problems, milk allergy, peanut allergy, sugar allergy, hives, gastritis, vomiting, colic for newborns, ear infections, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, bronchitis, drug reactions, and many other conditions. Dr. Nambudripad explains how allergies are often the underlying causes to pediatric problems and how NAET® testing procedures and NAET® treatments can offer relief from these allergies. The book is supported by NAET® practitioners’ testimonials and patients’ success stories."

Hi I am a mother of three....my son and I both have eczema. I unfortuately have had it since I was two and my son at the age of 8 mons. We have gone through it all...eczema to impantigo. Don't worry! If your daughter gets itchy which babies tend to do at that age give her benedryl. My son practically lived off of it for the first 18 mons after he was diagnosed. He would wake up in the morning with blood on his pj's from scratching all night. We also asked his doctor to send us to a Allergy specialist to find out what foods he is actually allergic to to prevent the breakouts. That helped sooo much! I get it really bad during the winter season and during the summer. Cold air and sweat really don't help much. My son has been doing really well with Aveno for eczema. It's a new lotion that came out. It is kinda pricy but if you can't or don't have the money for it Vaseline's Intense Care for dry skin helps too. Try to only give her baths every other day and sponge clean the parts that are dirty on the days that she doesn't take a bath. Just make sure that you use a gentle soap like Johnsons baby bath or Ivory soap. Try not to use soaps that have a lot of perfumes as it can also trigger the eczema. Avoid lotions as well that have perfumes. Try to use dye free laundry soaps. Trust me this will change everything. The break outs will be fewer and far between. Good luck!

Hi J.,

My son has breakouts also but they have gotten much better! I read some great things on Mercola.com. I tried to decrease wheat and milk products to make sure that he is not having an allergic reaction. I also added Omega 3 fish oils for kids for his skin (Whole Foods). We also use Cetephil (spelling?) wash and lotion to keep his skin moist.

I hope this helps his is much better!!

Hi J.. My children don't have Eczema, but close friends of mine and my husband does. Their son developed Eczema at 2 months (he's a little over 2 now) and we watched them deal with their son's eczema. If I were you, I would have your daughter tested for any food allergies, since you mentioned that certain foods seem to not agree with her, then she may have food allergies. That's not to say that those foods caused her eczema, but avoiding them will prevent breakouts. If the air is dry that can cause the eczema to flare up. I don't know where you live, but if you have the heater on during the night, you may want to keep the thermostat at a lower temperature. Certain types of soaps tend to dry out the skin which is bad for babies who have eczema, our friends use Cetaphil. You can use Aveeno, too. But with our friends, their son was allergic to something found in Aveeno, so you may want to use Cetaphil in the meantime. I know they also use some type of prescribed ointment for when his eczema is really bad (I don't know if it's Atopiclair), but I know they try not to use all the time because it's a steroid. I would talk to your pediatrician for advice or a dermatologist to see what other steps you can take to make your daughter more comfortable. I hope I've helped you out a little bit.

Hi J.,

First relax yourself when you are around your baby. Make her feel safe and secure by hugging her more. Refrain from using soap in bathing her. After bathing her, massage her skin gently with lotion. ( use keri lotion or Aveeno, I used Keri on my daughter. My sister used Aveeno. They both worked. My daughter now is 18. My sister's boy is 9. They both had skin problems when they were babies.)Sing to her or talk to her. Say things to make her feel safe and loved and protected. Whisper to her to sleep all the wonderful things about her. Repeating " You are safe, secure and loved by all around you." Babies' skin problems usually have psychological implications as they could not quite verbalize how they feel. Once they feel peaceful and loved, all skin problems go away. Think carefully with an open mind what your daughter's anxiety and insecurity might come from. When you get a chance, read the book "You Can Heal Your life" by Louise L. Hay. You will completely understand what I am talking about. Good luck and believe your daughter will get well.

N.

Hi J.. I have one child and he is presently 9. He has Eczema and I was given a cream to use for him. I can't remember the name because we rarely have to use it anymore. When he was younger, they gave him a cream and it would discolor his skin. But the cream now is different. What I had to do is wash his clothes in detergent with no scent. He uses Dove soap. His lotions can't have any scent as well. He also had what they called a Nickle Allergy which is when you break out around the navel and this is due to the button on his jeans. Even at an early age, the cute little jeans would break him out so I would place a bandaide on the inside of the jeans where the silver part is. I also heard dairy products as well as chocolate will cause a break out. (Just for future references). They are not suppose to stay in water long so baths had to be short. But I would let him soak in Aveeno. And he couldn't really get in the pool that much when younger. What helps alot is Vitamin E oil. It helps with the itching and so forth. He used to scratch so hard that he would start bleeding so when younger like 2 and 3 when he would go to sleep, I would put vitamin E oil and his cream and plaze like a medical bandage or a large bandaid. I hope I have been of some help. Remember, no scents.

hi J. - I've had eczema since I was a child and I know how uncomfortable it can be. There are all kinds of prescription creams that are expensive and dangerous. What has worked for me, and so many others, is a lotion called Renew manufactured by a wonderful wellness company called Melaleuca. However, its also very important to look at your laundry detergent and soap. Most, even many for babies, contain harmful chemicals that can exacerbate the problem. I've included just one story for you below, but if you would like more information, just let me know. All the best, C.

"My son Jalen has severe eczema as well. From birth he was first given Elocon for it and then prescribed Eldel. They both burn when you apply it to their delicate skin and he had to stay out of the sun or the creme would lighten his skin. When I became a Melaleuca Customer I was amazed how changing the laundry detergent and using MelaPower, Kola Pals body wash, and the Renew lotion, has cleared up his skin tremendously. Since washing all our clothes, including my 10 month old, no "itchies". If he has a small breakout, from sweating now that it is the summertime, I rub a little Melaleuca oil on the patch and it goes away the next day." Aisha Black

sounds like my son. In between out breaks I keep his body well moisturized. This seems to help with the itching and the number of outbreaks.

Hi J.
My son had severe eczema at 4 months. He had it on his arms and legs too but it was really bad on his cheeks. Everyone would ask what was wrong with him...Sometimes he would scratch it so hard that it would bleed. His pediatrician sent him to a dermatalogist, and he tried 3 medications. Atopic worked on his body but nothing really helped his cheeks. The a&d diaper ointment (Not cream) works. They also said to use the pure white dove soap instead of baby body wash and shampoo. But don't give long hot baths because it could dry out her skin. Make sure her clothes are washed in a allergent free, dye free, fragrance free soap...
Then food allergies came at 1 year...He was allergic to milk, eggs, citrus, and tomatoes too(never heard of that allergy before)Becareful of nuts too because that is common too. They could grow out of it by 3, which my son did...He will be 4 soon and can eat anything! You can do a blood or skin test to find out allergies. So she doesn't break out into hives or worse if u give her something she is allergic too. Hope this helps. Good luck with your daughter. let me know if u have any other questions
T.

Hi J.

My daughter had eczema when she was younger and I found that California Baby calming moisturizing cream really helped because it didn't have the irritants. You can get it at most health food stores like Whole Foods or whatever is in your area or online. Products with Aloe Vera can be helpful too. The best time to apply moisturizer is right after their bath. Also make sure the soap you use is moisturizing. Some recommend reducing milk and milk products although that's not always easy depending on your lifestyle.

Winter is always worse because of the dryness so a humidifier might help too. Good luck and I hope she's feels better!

My son, now 5, was diagnosed with severe eczema at 3 months. For MONTHS we struggled with finding a solution to his unmanageable skin. Finally, we met with the team in the pediatric department at UCLA and found a workable solution. First, we bathe him every other day, or every 3rd if possible -and just after bath - apply a thin layer of DermaSmooth (a prescription peanut based oil commonly used for older people, but now prescribed for children). It works great. He was 6 months when we first started using it - so it's safe for little ones... We also cover him in Aquaphor as also use, when needed, the prescription dosage (2.5%) of Hydrocortisone lotion. It is working. He's 5 now and has few breakouts - but when he does - the DermaSmooth and the Aquaphor work wonders.
Good Luck!

Atopiclair was prescribed by my six month old’s pediatrician for dry skin when we insisted that we wanted a non steroidal cream. It did provide some temporary relief but the condition did not go away. The worse part is that she is two now and her skin has been bleached in areas where the cream was applied. The doctor says it might take several years for the spots to go away!

Lastly, this is quite an expensive ointment with significant copays depending on your insurance. However, it comes in such a flimsy tube that it cracks in various places with the ointment oozing out from those cracks after a few uses!

With dry skin / eczema it’s best to nip it in the bud. The more you prolong the worse the condition becomes. If I had to do it all over again, I would start with Cetaphil / Triple Cream / Aquaphor and if the condition does not improve soon, use a little bit of a steroidal cream early on so that it doesn’t worsen.

hello J.,my name is V. and my daughter suffers from eczema too.I am a first time mom too and did not know anything about it, so i took her to the doctor. The doctor recommended an ointment called hydrocortisome 1%(that will stop the itching and help the skin heal), also she told me that my daughter's skin would forever be sensitive to scented things and certain foods. she recommended that we wash all her clothes and our clothes also all the bed linens with unscented detergents ( "dreft" or "all clear")we switched all her lotions, and soap to hypo allergenic unscented soap for sensitive skin. ("Dove" unscented soap and "aveeno" lotions are great). we also went very slowly with her foods feeding her 1 new food each week just to make sure that she did'nt have any allergic reactions to any. the doctor also recommended that we do not shower her very often (b/c eczema makes the skin very dry)to keep her skin moisturized. so we shower her one day yes and one day no; during winter we shower her only 3 times a week again to prevent her eczema from acting up due to dry skin.To me it's mostly been an issue of keeping scented soaps and detergents away from her, I've had no problem with foods. but i also got alot of advice from a book called "the baby book" by Dr.Sears it's great you should really check it out Dr.Sears also gives a lot of advice on the "parenting" website. but just remember the key words to any lotion, soap, or detergent for her will always be: "hypoallergenic, unscented, for sensitive skin."

wish you the best!
V..M

I have 3 boys, 2 of which suffered from eczema as babies. Avoid bathing EVERY day, they eventually grow out of it by about 4 yrs. after bathing use an oil or a lotion called "sarna sensitive"...this worked for us! About $8 at the drug store.
ANd use when body is still wet...Really, if your Dr. hasn't told you so, they usually do grow out of it.
good luck

Hi - both of my children had eczema which usually goes hand in hand with asthma and/or allergies. Perhaps someone in your family or husband's family has had allergies, asthma or even eczema.

For my kids - I used Eucerin (and Cortizone cream) and put plenty of Eucerin lotion after every bath and throughout the day. You really DO have to watch what foods "trigger" the breakouts. You may want to give a little antihistimine such as over the counter children's Claritin (preferred) or Benadryl. Treat it like you would an allergic reaction. Eventually my children grew out of it although my 8 yr old gets a "spot" on his face in the summer.

Take care!
Kristina

I suffered from extreame eczema as a child and still have the condition as an adult. I truly feel for your child, know that she is in alot of physical and emotional pain. As a child bath time was the worst. Water dries the skin which makes the breakouts and dry itching afterword worse. Instead of daily bathing go to your pharmisist and get a cleansing lotion. You gently rub the lotion on the skin and then wipe off with a soft cloth. (I think the name starts with a C, if I can get a hold of my mother I will e-mail with the excact name, but there may be better products - that was over 20 years ago.) When she does bathe soak in an oatmeal bath which helps the skin retain the moisture afterwards and never scrub the skin or use "normal" soap. (If itching at night is a problem let her sleep in cotton gloves so she won't tear the skin while she is sleeping.) Be sensitive to foods they may actually make her stomach "break out". Unlike the outside skin you can't see the rash and she can't scratch to relieve the "itch". Be patient if her mood seems irritable as well. My sister and I both had these problems associated with the eczema. If you were constantly itching (even when there is no extream breakout) it would be hard for you to control your emotions too. Your daughter is lucky to have a patient and caring mother that can help her through out her life with this difficult condition. As she gets older be sensitive to her relationships at school. Children can be cruel especially with something that looks as ugly as excema can be. Know that your understanding and love will make a world of difference. Feel free to email me back if you would like to talk to someone who has lived through this.

C.
____@____.com

HI J.,
My son also had really bad skin as a child and we had a heck of a time keeping enough lotion on him to keep him happy and from scratching his skin off. When he was a bout 2 years old I learned that it was being caused from a exposure to chemicals. Almost all store brand or name brand products contain chemicals such as bleach, phosphates, formaldehyde, ammonia and petrolium based solvents. For instant most laundry detergents contain petroleum solvents that don't rinse completely clean from your clothes so when you sweat they reactivate and are absorbed into the skin, J&J put formaldehyde in almost ALL their products, yes even all their baby care line.
I"m not trying to scare you I just think it's important to know that this isn't just something your baby has it's something that is being caused.
All this to say I switched my home over to a completely toxin free home 2 years ago and my sons skin suddenly cleared up. And we no longer have any skin issues.
It's really easy to buy the products you just order them on line and they ship to you and they are even cheaper then store brands.

if you are interested I would love to give you more information as I was so excited that they worked so well, I know work for the company, helping Moms keep their families healthy!!!

H.

you can contact me at http://wisemommy.fourpointwellness.com

I was diagnosed with eczema years ago. I was prescribed cortizone preparations, which worked symptomatically. But, the eczema always came back, even worse. A pharmacist recommended that i try a homeopathic remedy called calendula gel (manufacturer: boiron, 1-800-264-7661). It is cool and odorless, and immediately felt great on the itchy condition. After i used calendula for about a month, the eczema went away, and never returned.

Before using it on your baby, you may want to consult a health professional. But, calendula is an over the counter first aid remedy, so i believe it is pretty safe.

A doctor of chinese medicine told me that calendula works extremely well on some people, and not as well on others. On me, it was really like a miracle!

N.

Dear J.,

I know that it is hard for you to bear, truly. Try not using soap, just water and no cloth to irritate, just your own soft skin on your hands.

Go on the internet to see what they have to say. www.dr.greene.com and www.About.com/pediatricians and just plain eczema. It does run in families. Maybe through your husband's side. I am thinking of something that is used in cleansing the udders of milch cows - can't think of the name of it. It is sold in a tube like toothpaste and is black and white sort of like cowhide. It helped me. C. N.

J.,

There is an ABSOLUTELY AMAZING organic children's and maternity pharmacy on Ventura in Studio City. It is called Green Cradle and they are incredibly knowledgeable. My friend's son had eczema so bad that he would rub it raw. They fixed him right up. She uses something called ecza salve. I use it for my daughter as well when she gets teething rashes. They are at least worth a phone call- so friendly!

Good luck,
K.

Someone mentioned calendula gel- California Baby makes a calendula cream for babies that is great! And that brand is paraben and preservative free. I saw Dr Christine Wood speak last year, and she recommends omega 3 supplements for exzema taken along with Usanimals kids multivites.

Arbonne International is a Health and Wellness company that has a great skin care product line for babies that has helped many babies (and adults) with excema. It is all herbal and botanical-very pure.Log onto www.Orangecounty.myarbonne.com for more info and product catalogue. Feel free to email me with your email address and I can forward some before and after pictures of babies with excema. They have a 45 day money back guarantee and have been in business for 27 years.
My address is ____@____.com
B. Anne

Hello There,
I came across your question and I didn't get a chance to read all the responses but I have 3 daughters and mu middle one has it as well, it is very common. I was turned on to Arbonne. They have a baby line which is called ABC and I swear by it. I have asked a few doctors about it and they have heard of it and have also heard that is really does work. I actually signed up to be a consultant just to get the discount. I am in no way trying to make a sale or get you to sign up, I really really believe in this product. Everyone that I have recommended to use it on their child has said it has worked as well. It is a reasonable and if it doesn't work for you they allow 100% refund w/in 45 days.
You can see real ____@____.com. I can help you find someone in your area that sells the product if this is something you would like to try. It is really worth it. I would recommend the body wash, lotion and baby oil. Is what I do is rub the lotion AND oil on my kids every night after the bath. We have not had a breakout ever since we have started using it.

Feel free to contact me @ ____@____.com and I would be more than happy to help you out.

Good Luck,
K.

My son also has eczema but it only worsens when he eats foods he is allergic to and has contact with carpet. Our chiropractor tested him for food allergies. I would recommend an elimination diet to see if certain foods are causing flare ups for her. As the other response stated, chemicals also cause flare ups. You can go to www.ewg.org to see how safe your products are. For more info on elimination diet go to http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/t041200.asp.

Eczema has many "causes"--stress/nerves, digestive challenges (foods) etc. I'd encourage you to explore the source of the problem and eliminate it. Also, look into noninvasive remedies, like accupuncture, diet changes, etc. good luck
L.

Hi J.,
My infant son has eczema also. He is 8 weeks old. My older son has it also. We use Eucerin cream on him everyday. It has really helped soothe the itchy looking skin. My pediatrician said we could put on 10 times a day and it would not be too much. It has a greasy, crisco like feel to it, but it has really helped. We also bathe him every other day. Each morning I use a wash cloth on his face. Oh and when we bath him use use Aveeno Baby wash, not too much and we rinse him with plain water. Also, we only use Dreft soap for his clothes and bedding; no fabric softener to speak of...all of these things have helped the irritation subside.

My twin boys also have eczema and this is what the doc told us: to help prevent it do not feed her any chicken or eggs; poultry couses eczema. to treat eczema use hydoclorousone (i dont think i spelled it right) cream or if it is too severe use the ointment. lotions that are mouisturazing also help her skin from drying and causing eczema. good luck.

Dear J.,
My daughter to has eczema. She is now 3 almost 4. When she was about 3 months old is when she started to break out. She had it on her face, arms, legs and belly. It was bad, she scratched all the time and then it would bleed. We used Gentle Naturals Baby Eczema Cream and Bath Soap. I found it better than any of the other products. Eucerin did nothing and Aquafor was just too greasy plus did nothing. The Gentle Naturals actually would calm the itch down too. I also bathed her everyday because one my doctor told me to plus I believe it was soothing to her and then we would, as we called it lubed her up with the Gentle Naturals lotion. I took her to two allergist to find out the foods she was allergic to when she was 6 months. I knew already she could not have eggs, dairy and peanuts. I learned she was not able to have soy too. They also put her on zyrtec and benedril. For her really bad flare-ups we had a steriod lotion to put on her but that we could only do five day's in a row. When she was 11 months I switched her over to Goats milk. I had a friend that told me about it and I researched it and found out that goats milk is easier to diagest. After we swicthed her it took about 3-4 months before she cleared up. I noticed in a few days that she was getting better. It was so good we took her off the benedril and zyrtec. JoJo was a very unhappy baby because she always itched and when she started with goats milk she was calmer and happier. Now she is almost 4 and you would never know she has ezcema. I hope this helps. I know I felt lost and unsure what to do when we went though this. I hope this helps you. Take care and if you have anymore questions you can write me.

Hello J.. I know of an awesome resolve for your lovely little girl. Most of the products that we use in our homes are chock-full of harmful chemicals and that plays a large part in eczema. I know of a health and wellness company that sells replacement products for your home that will completely rid your baby of the eczema. I have a picture of my church friend's son who had eczema on his face and it was completely cleared up after only 1 week. Let me know if this is something that interests you, it's phenomenal!

It would be a good idea to have your baby tested for allergies. A friend's child was diagnosed with eczema for over a year before realizing that she had severe food allergies and that's why she was breaking out. The good news is two-fold. Once she stopped eating the foods she was allergic to, her itching stopped and after another year she outgrew most of her allergies. Good luck!

cammomile bath may help to relax her itching. she is probably alergic to some stuff, and you have to experiment and see what she is reacting to. give her fresh food. i use a skin cream that is called rescue remedy. it has bach flowers and it is from the bach flowers company, and you can get it in any organic store, like the wholefoods. my 6 year old gets her alergies in her armpits. we gave away my cat, and that is helping too.

i think that skin problems may come from an emocional situation.

good luck

Hi J.,

My name is P. and I am a mom of a seven year old boy who also had excema when he was born and up to about a year ago. That was when I found an absolutely wonderful Baby line that just took care of his skin issues.
He hasn't any breakouts since he started using the line. I am so impressed with the line that now I share it with other moms. I love the fact that it is a gentle product, no harmful ingredients, no fake colors, scents and no animal testing.
These products are so much safer then anything that you buy at the local Rite Aid etc.

The Baby line is by Arbonne and if you like you can touch base with me or go directly to:arbonnecalling.com and order it.
You can even get up to a 35% discount online. I would be happy to mail you a sample of the line, that is always the best test to see how the products work for your little one.

If you like that email me at ____@____.com and I get that out to you right away.

Best wishes,
P.

I hope that this will help you, it helped me when I had shingles last year on my shoulder & rt arm,talk about itchy, painful - I have never had anythng so painful...anyway, One of my pain Doctors recommened using Aveeno Calming lotion, & it is amazing, it calms the skin, redness & the itchy, painful areas. I was thinking it probably work on your little one. Good Luck and also Aveeno has baths with oatmeal & other skin emoilllants in it, just a suggestion. I got it a regular drugstore like Longs or Ralphs/Krogers has it.

I.

Remember that eczema is usually an allergic response to something. Does anyone in your family have food allergies? Even if there is no history of allergies, it may benefit to remove certain foods from her diet for awhile (6weeks) and reintroduce each one at a time. A holistic health practitioner may be really useful at this point as well-this is in addition to your regular pediatrician.
My daughter had a severe rash several years ago that no one could diagnose until we reached for alternative help. Turned out is was a reaction to dairy. She still gets it if she tries to reintroduce dairy. After we found out what is was her skin returned to peaches and cream.
Good luck with the diagnosis. It's so hard to see our babies not well.

Hello~so sorry about your little one. My son has eczema which was worse when he was younger. He is now 8 and rarely has flare ups. I haven't heard of the lotion the dr. gave you, but if it doesn't work well, I would take her back and ask for an alternative. There are more out there. My daughter (3) has very dry, sensitive skin, but not quite the eczema. I would suggest ( if your not already) using only detergents that are fragrance free. A great lotion to use when your not applying the prescribed cream, is Aveeno Baby lotion for Eczema. It works really well.Apply it every night after her bath. Watch closely those foods because they could activate the flare ups. Also don't use bubble bath, just clean water, and fragrance free baby soaps. Hope this helps :) Good luck

You should try the line of Aveeno products, they are great on eczema prone skin, and are very gentle. They have washes and lotions you can use to ease the itching. Also, make a note of all the foods you give your child so you can be aware of the ones that cause outbreaks and avoid them as much as possible.

Hope that helps you out, good luck.

Eczema is connected to allergy or food sensitivity, especially to dairy products. Eliminating dairy from your diet, if you're nursing--everything: milk, yogurt, cheese, casein, whey; and obviously, from hers, can help. It takes time for it to clear, about 2-3 weeks, but after around 3 days you may see some relief. Also look at other potential allergens: wheat, corn, for example; as well as laundry detergents or other environmental factors, like pets. For topical treatment, calendula works better than hydrocortisone, according to a friend with an extermely allergic to dairy child. (Eczema all over his face if she ate any dairy while nursing). Hope this helps.

hi sorry for your child's troubles. Both mine have eczema and we use eucernin it's at most stores though it can cost a lot of a little but it works. I find that not washing them every day though they get rinsed off and using dove sensitive skin body wash when we do wash them (every other day or every 2 days ) helps for our children. Most doctors wont prescribe the eledel for small children because it's black labeled ( not sure if / how it effects small children's development) but try cortizone if that doesn't work i'd ask the doctor what he can recommend before using anything else .. We also wash our clothes in sent free and dye free soaps and use bounce sheets that are sent free, harsher soaps dry out the skin even dreft we were told. as for her food sensitivity try to see what the triggers are and avoid them for a few months and see if it passes or if it's going to be with her for a long time, since allergies come and go in little ones.

Cease all dairy and see if it helps. My son had it and it completely went away once we did. It's a gradual process, we used rice milk to transition him off milk by going 1/4 to 3/4 ...1/2 etc..others use soy but that can sometimes cause allergies too...Here's a website my pediatrician referred me to. www.notmilk.com The Guy whose site it is is a bit extreme but most of the articles are backed up by research..
the most convincing evidence is seeing the rashes go away:)
N.

Hi J.;

I agreed with you, it is itchy and uncomfortable. My 16 yrs old daugter used to have that problem when she was growing up. I took her to her allegist doctor to test which one she was allergy of. She used to use 3/4 different kinds of ointment prescribe by her doctor. We changed the kind of soap,detergent to wash her clothing. I eliminated acidic fruits and juices because she has reaction to it. Also some drinks or fruit drinks that has food coloring which I found out that my younger son is allergy to it also. He has asthma. You daughter is so young to have that eczema until it is heredity in both sides of the family because my husband side has it. Sometimes we cannot eliminate everything around us because whatelse can we do. If your daughter is allergy with some food or drink, try to introduce her body to have this food or drink once a month which I done that with my both children who has eczema and asthma. The best thing I could suggest to you is talk to your pediatrician doctor of her and let the doctor recommended to allergy doctor because she is young to be tested. Also I found out when the child is stress, it is also trigger by this allergist. Good luck and take care. Please let me know what happen.

A. W.

My 2.5 year old also has eczema. He also has severe food allergies and asthma. Get her to an allergist ASAP to get tested. Also, ask your pediatrician about creams for the eczema outbreaks, including Elidil and Elicon. Hydrocortizone works too, but ask your doctor about all that. Slather her with lotion every chance you get (like Eucerin, Aquaphor, and Cetaphil available at your local drugstore) and use a humidifier in her room year round. Good luck...

My oldest had an excema spot on her face from the time she was 3 weeks old to 8 months old. I stopped nursing her at 8 months and it went away. When she was 2 she ate a lot of my walnuts (I'm a walnut addict) and she broke out with an allergic reaction. We took her to an allergy specialist and what do you know, that was the cause of the problem. I ate Walnuts when I was nursing her so she was having a reaction to that. Check all foods. Take her to an allergist and get her checked.

Good Luck!

Dearest J.,

I am a mother of two beautiful girls. Both of them have mild Eczema. Their pediatrician recommended anything Aveeno. Aveeno has bath bubbles, body wash and lotion for every skin type. This helps their skin tremendously, even during their outbreaks. My oldest sometimes gets outbreaks on the inner part of her arm and with that I apply hydrocortison cream until the rash is gone. Usually I apply it at night time. Use Aveeno body wash or when in the bath tub there is a powder that you put in the bath tub and you soak the baby in it for awhile.

Omega oils are great for eczema. Look up Nordic Naturals online. They have a great kids formula with fish oil in it that is really pure and moleculary distilled.
Stress can also inflame eczema. Try to cut back on stress, like too many activities. One great way to calm her is to give her a bath every day and then massage her with good organic oil - or even olive oil from your kitchen if the other is too pricey!
H.

While my son doesn't have eczema (at least not yet), I have chronic eczema that began mildly in my teens and has since gotten progressively worse each year. Though my dermatologist prescribes steriod ointment and oral antihistamines to help during tough periods, it's hard to think of giving these to your young child (especially with the thought of her needing to use them long term).

In addition to all the wonderful advice you have gotten so far, another thing that works for me is reducing irritants that rub against my skin... including any dyes or perfumes in lotions and laundry detergent. I tend to break out around my waistline and anywhere my clothes touch the skin all day (inside elbows, shoulders wear my bra strap crosses, etc.) and using the "free" detergents on clothes, sheets, and towels helps reduce the severity of my outbreaks. I also avoid too much sugar/caffeine in my food/drink because that can sometimes aggravate things (even natural sugars like those in fruit or juice can have a big effect if eaten during an outbreak). I sympathize with you and your daughter because I know how frustrating it can be to itch all the time without being able to stop it. Keep trying different products and strategies until you find what works best for your daughter and definitely find a pediatrician or dermatologist with significant experience with eczema to help. If the atopiclair isn't working, ask for something else. Sometimes you have to try a variety of medications until you find what works best for you. Good luck!

Hello!! I have eczema and so does my son. It's hereditary. There are many wonderful things out there on the market now, as well as RX. Just like everybody doesn't use the same skin for oily, dry or combination skin. You have to play around with different products on a small area of skin for a few days and keep a note of the reaction and whether it is getting better or not. Cotton is best or cool materials, that doesn't keep body heat in. Wash her often when she seems iritated with cool water. Lubriderm lotion and plain vasaline are heaven sent! This things will help calm her skin after you wash her! Also, keep an eye on her environment. Simple things as weather, weather changes, pollution, people wearing heaving cologne or perfume, food can all be irritating her! When she's itchy tell her not like that and teach her how to kinda of slap it gentyly. This kind of itch seems like it's on the surface, but really the only way I can explain is it goes way deeper, like under the skin. So she may be trying to scratch an itch she can't really reach. I hope this was helpful and if you have any questions, please let me know! I've had it since I was 18, so for about 20 years now. And my son has had it since he was several months old. The great thing when you get it as a child you're more than likely to outgrow it. It's not curable, but can be very controlable was you found out was is for you and not.

Sincerely,
T. S.

Hi J.,
I have severe eczema, was born with it, it went away as a child but has come back with a vengeance the past few years. Hydrocortizone is great the itch. My dermatologist told me to use Aveeno products (my husband also has psoriasis & was told the same thing). Use as much perfume free cleaning goods as you can. I also find that non-natural fiber clothing aggravates it (acrylics, polyesters, nylons, etc) No dryer sheets at all as they leave a residue akin to parrafin wax on your clothing. I use perfume free Downey, All free & clear and Oxyclean on all our laundry. Chocolate sends me into a frenzy of itching! Milk & dairy don't bother me, though, nor does wheat. The important thing to remember is to keep your little one moisturized! If the itching is unbearable, I have found that benadryl cream helps alot! The cold dry air of winter is worse for me than summer, though in summer I have "hot spots" where I have flare-ups: inner thighs, inner arms, back & chest-anywhere I've sweated. Most important advice I can give you: see your pediatrician before you do anything! He will know what is best. If there are allergies involved, he'll be able to test to see exactly what you are dealing with. Good luck, and I'll say a few prayers for you and yours.
G.

You are right to assume that foods may be flaring this up. I would have her tested for food allergies specifically for casein(protein in cow dairy), soy, eggs, wheat, & corn. Your pediatrician can order a blood test for IGg antibodies for casein(dairy), wheat(gluten), soy, eggs, and corn. You can also go the elimination diet route. If I were you I would find a naturopathic doctor, ND in your area. You can do a google search for finding one in your area. They specialize in getting to the cause of the problem vs. using cortisone creams, etc. to manage symptoms.

Hey J.

I have eczema. It is very itchy and not any fun. Oatmeal baths help - I would buy real long cooking oatmeal and grind it in a coffee grinder. It helps sooth the itchy skin. You should try to make sure you are using soap that has NO fragrance added. The same with laundry detergent, I use cheer free and bounce free dryer sheets. If you use bleach run the laundry through the rinse cycle twice. You want to make sure that anything that comes in contact with the skin is washed, sheets, clothes and blankets. Cotton is the most comfortable fabric as well. If the eczema gets bad you might want to consult a dermotogist. They have such wonderful treatments out there your little one should not have to suffer.

Good luck

Hi J.,
I have had great success using natural products to get rid of eczema. The most common base ingredient in skin care products is mineral oil. Mineral oil does not penetrate the skin, so you (and your baby) are not getting the benefits of the products you are using if they have mineral oil in them. Also, a lot of products out there have animal biproducts in them, and then the companies have to mask the smell of the animal biproducts by adding perfumes and dyes. Perfumes and dyes are the main source of skin irritations and problems.
Arbonne International is a certified vegan company (using no animal biproducts), so they dont have to mask the smells with perfumes and dyes. All the products are botanically based, pediatrician and dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic, ph balanced.
Arbonne has a baby line that has helped others with their eczema. I would love to tell you more about it and send you a sample of the baby line so you can try it on your 15 month old.
Email me back and I can give you more information about the line and also send you a free sample of the baby line.
(I used the Arbonne cleasing gel, lotion, oil and diaper rash cream on my 9 year old son when he had a rash on his face and hands, and it dissappeared immediately and has not returned.
M.
____@____.com

Hi J.,

Do have a look at glyconutrients. There are eight biological sugars required for cell to cell communication, five of which are found in mother's breast milk.

Did you breast feed your daughter? If your daughter is getting these glyconutrients, her immunce system will work more productively. Have a look at www.mannaworld.com.au on the wellness or performance page. It will help you understand what they are.

There is hope!

S.