Eczema - Norwood, MA

I haven't read the responses but my 4yo son had excema from 6months - 2yo. It went away when we stopped giving him dairy. You could try it for 2 weeks and see if it helps. I've read that excema, dairy sensitivity and asthma are all linked, so you should also watch out for any wheezing that might appear. My son's first wheezing episode happened when he as 3.5. Good luck.

My kids and I have all had problems with eczema from time to time. My doctor recommended Eucerine aquaphor and it has worked great. I first had it on my hands and it was the first thing I had put on my hands in over a month with out any stinging and I could finally bend them again with out pain. It had worked great for my kids too.

My daugter gets eczema really bad too we use Cetaphil in the tub and Fluticasone propioate cream (prescription) that cream I dont need to use very often but when it gets really bad i do and it clears up almost over night.

M.

I haven't read all of the responses, so this might be repeating information. But this is what we used when our 12-year-old was young. After several years of using Aquaphor, we changed to "hydrophilic ointment" which was the best. Our doctor recommended both products. I had to ask the pharmacist for the hydrophilic ointment. Although it was not a prescription item, they kept it behind the counter. (Not sure why.) It did the trick if I regularly applied it to the affected areas. (It has the consistency of Noxema but without the smell, if I remember correctly.)

When it got really bad, we would use hydrocortisone or a prescription. But the hydrophilic ointment, along with fragrance-free and dye-free products for everything (soap, detergent, etc.) helped a lot. Regular application of the ointment is the key thing, though.

We never tried exploring food allergies, but that might be a route as well. However, after a few years, our son grew out of it. The only skin reaction he gets now is sensitivity to nickel in watches.

Good luck!

My friend has really bad eczema herself especially on her hands, and her son has it on his torso. She got rid of it by using Reliv products - she uses the adult product and her son uses the Kids Now product. The fiber product - a full scoop for her, and about 1/4 to 1/2 scoop for her son - seems to make the difference. The Kids Now gives him a lot of the nutrition but the fiber added seems to make the big difference in the allergies/eczema - when she ran out of fiber, the eczema came back. I know she would be happy to speak with you directly if you like.

1. bathe only once or twice a week.
2. cetaphil cream (from cvs) works great, but if there are particularly bad patches, on top of that put vaseline.
3. no fabric softener

those things helped so much.

I have a 4 year old and 2 year old with the same problem. We have had eczema all 4 seasons of the year! I found the Arbonne baby products to work for us the last 4 months. We use a couple drops of the baby oil in the bath, the baby wash to wash, and the lotion at the end of bath. It's hypoalergenic, botanically based, no dyes, no chemicals and dermotologist tested. And made in the U.S. which is important to me these days as well.

I loved it so much I started selling it to my friends. It's awesome! If you'd like a sample I can send you one. my email is K.@____@____.com have a sunscreen that I put on my daughters cheeks this weekend, and her cheeks didn't get pink from it!

My son had terrible eczema. He was given steroid creams too. It turns out he had many food allergies. When I eliminated all the food he was allergic to his eczema went away. Try eliminating dairy for two weeks and see if that is the culprit. Now I simply bathe him with California Baby soap and use aquaphor after to lock in the moisture. He only has breakouts of eczema when he has eaten something that is an allergen.

Hi Kelly,

My 17 mos old daughter has had excema since she was 3 mos which is pretty well controlled now. We have been to allergists and derm, and she does have food allergies, which help control it. Derm recommends 1-2 baths a day, and immediately following while their skin is still moist lather on the lotion. It helps seal in the moisture. I use Cetaphyl skin cleanser in the bath as it is very light and pure/gentle on their skin. And after her bath, as derm recommended I "dip her in vaseline"--put on a thick layer and then put her pjs on. She wakes and her skin is still moist.

It is so tough seeing them itchy--good luck, I hope you find the right answer for your son!

Hi K.,
Arbonne baby products "ABC" should definitely give you results. You could also us the new FC5 line that is made from all fruits and vegetable's (first of it's kind). It has St. John's wort and rice starch that should help with eczema. You can get more product info at http://www.arbonne.com http://www.arbonneFC5.com or http://www.kellymcinnis.myarbonne.com

If you email me your address I'll will drop some baby samples in the mail to you.

Good luck,
K.

My girlfriend came over with an insane case (she has fought eczema since a child)-- giant red splotches all over her body and face. I loaned her my Curel Intensive lotion (the blue bottle with RED lettering) and her case cleared up in 24 hours. I read about how this is wonderful for babies with eczema and have used it on my kids ever since. They should market it as a baby product. It's wonderful!

Hi Kelly
My friend's son had eczema very badly. I can get u in touch with her.
J. h

Hi, Kelly! Yes, I can help you! My name is H. & I work for a company called Inkomfe Solutions. Inkomfe Solutions make skin care products that help heal Eczema, Psoriasis, Rosacea, Acne, & many other skin issues. ALL of the products are made in S. Africa & contain African Botanicals that help heal skin care problems. We offer a variety of products that can help & are very AFFORDABLE. I would like for you to check out my personal website www.freewebs.com/inkomfe & also the company website www.inkomfe-usa.com where you can actually place an order & have it shipped directly to your home. If you order off the website please enter code 1013 in the "How did you find our site box". Also, feel free to give me a call & I can let you know which product would benefit you the most. ALL of the products are safe to use on infants/toddlers. I had Psoriasis for over 15 years & am now Psoriasis FREE for 3 years since using the products! No more using steroid cremes & spending $ on products that I'm told will work. My info. is on my personal website if you'd like to call me to discuss your son's Eczema. I'm here to help!!

Best of luck,
H.

Hi Kelly,
My son has had skin issues since birth. Not terrible, but patches of dry skin on his legs, arms and behind. His doctor said it was eczema, and wanted to give him steriod creams, but I won't allow that! I found out about this wellness company that manufactures safe, economical and eco-friendly products... so I tried it out. MIND YOU, my skin has been a problem for years. Dry, itchy, just terrible. We started using Renew, which is what their body cream is called, and within a few days, my son's skin was clear, moisturized, and he hasn't complained since then. We've been using their products since September, and I'm a firm believer in this company.

Just a word of caution, you have to do more than change their creams... the laundry detergent you use, and chemical in the house all attribute to our families skin problem, breathing issues, etc. If you want more information, please write me and I can speak with you to tell you more.

Our kids mean the world to us, we all as moms want the best for our family, without breaking the bank! Write me anytime, or call me. ____@____.com ###-###-####. C.

Hi Kelly,
My children also have eczema and we treat it with a particular lotion, Renew. I tis only available through an online store. But the effect it has had on our children is amazing.

www.SaferForYourHome.com/arizona
Contact me for more information.
--C. W

Hi Kelly, You didn't mention what you're using for soap, but I'd strongly recommend Cetaphyl (or store brand) in addition to your creams for treatment. Also, eczema is correlated with food allergies, so you might try eliminating common ones from his diet. Good luck.

Hi there,
Not sure what everyone else has suggested but what has worked for my 26 month old best is a product line called tender moments from Jafra...they have a baby bath and body oil and I put that right into his bathtub water when I bathe him. I also started using a new baby bath that Johnson's is putting out and it's a bath oil in the baby bath wash form and those two products have improved his dryness greatly. The Jafra products are a little pricey but nothing has worked on him as well as that body oil in the bath water. Good luck!

One word..........VASELINE! Works wonders for my son with eczema. I no longer even use the steroid cream from the doctor.

I see that you already have a lot of responses but I thought I'd put my 2 cents in. I had it when I was a child and my son now has it too. My mom used the original Nivea cream, the kind that comes in a blue pot, and that's what I use on my son. It helps a LOT because it is thicker than most any other creams out there and resists rubbing off like most lotions. Give it a shot - it's helped us a lot.

I have it, my son has it and also my adopted daughter has it very sever. When I got her, her legs and arms were so bad she didn't want to wear clothes and the backs of her knees would bleed. She won't let me put anything on her skin cause i don't think she has ever had lotion on her. She says she hates the feeling and screams. I had to start her off with a steroid cream which I got from her doctor who said to also coat her skin in Vaseline. What really works though is Eucerine cream. the thick one in the jar. Once it is under control you can use a lighter cream for a moisturizer. Then figure out what the allergy is that is setting of your sons eczema. The doctor said only use dove soap. No bubble bath stuff at all. Also if you want to use something that is soothing and natural use the inside of a banana peel. Just rub it on the skin. Sounds silly but it is a great moisturizer.

Good Luck!

My daughter has had eczema since infancy. We too eucerin cream and a cortisterioid as well.
When she was a todder I was advised not to bath her nightly as it only exacerbated the problem. This helped with her dry skin and itching.
Now that she is older (13) it seems to be mostly on her hands and crooks of her elbows during the colder months of the year. I have to remind her to cream up her hands and make certain she has gloves or mittens on.

Aquaphor( made by Eucerin) works wonders in our house. When my youngest was an infant she had a horrible case of eczema on her cheeks almost to the point of infection an the Aquaphor cleared it up in less than 2 weks. I always keep a tube on hand for her sporadic breakouts. It's great!

Hi,
My daughter had eczema and what I did, based on my ped recommendation, was bath her daily with dove soap and moisturize immediately after, without drying her off completely, with Eucerin. It really seemed to work. In fact, she hasn't had an outbreak in a long time... even through the winter.

Try Badger brand body butter. Its worked great for a number of people I know. Good luck.

http://www.badgerbalm.com/c-5-body-butter.aspx

My daughter had skin problems when she was little. We used eucerin cream,steroids, and tar baths. We had her tested for allergies and eggs were high. We don't serve her eggs, and limit her to foods with eggs and her skin has cleared up almost 100%. I also limit her to the amount of baths - she is now 5!

My daughter has it and our dr. advised to use Dove soap in the bathtub and then Aquaphor (which you can find at any pharmacy - it's almost got an ointment texture) after the tub. It works for us. Good luck.

The best lotion it is Renew from Melaleuca, haven't find anything like it, try changging you laundry detergent many of people skin conditions comes from danger products that you have in your home, also go to www.marketamerica.com/telmall you'll find great solutions, you can call me anytime at ###-###-####, best regards T. Milioli

Hi - I use Eucerin on my fingers when it gets bad...it heals it, you just have to apply it a few times a day. I have also used Lanolin nipple cream on my infants face when excema pops up because it is safe if ingested, not a cure but soothes and stays, even thru drool on well cause it is thick. Good luck!!

Hi Kelly,
I see you have lots of great responses, but here is my 2 cents to add to it!

My nephew had TERRIBLE eczema from when he was a baby.
Turns out he was allergic to many foods. When his mom (who was exclusively nursing him) eliminated dairy and wheat from her diet, his eczema totally went away. When he was older, if he ate anything with wheat or dairy in it, he broke out again. She was really good about keeping him off of his allergens, and his skin was fine (unless he got into something he was allergic to). Now he is going to be 7 in a few weeks, and he seems to have outgrown his allergies - she has slowly re-introduced the allergens and his system seems to be able to tolerate them now that he is older.

You can try an elimination diet - remove the dairy and the wheat for 2-3 weeks and see what you notice about your sons skin. then, re-introduce those foods, one at a time, and see if you notice a difference.
Good Luck to you!

My 15 month old has eczema, I was told by my doctor to put 1% hydrocortisone cream on it 3 times a day when it broke out and I also used Aquaphor(Eucerin makes it, they also have baby Aquaphor which is what I used, it's thick but works well). Also not sure what you use for wash but Gentle Naturals has Eczema Baby Wash that works well too(Winnie the Pooh characters are on the label) I also use Gentle Naturals Cradle Cap Shampoo because she gets it on her head as well and that works pretty good too!

Just speakng from my own experience i can tell you what worked for us is the soap we were using for her baths we found were making her skin dry and eczema like. I found Aveeno stuff not to work (for us anyway). I got some soap that was organic. For her hair i got the California Baby shampoo/wash. The bubble bath i got is Kiss My Face (for kids). Its all organic and has no harsh anything in it. When she was smaller we used Dr. Bronners liquid soap (the lavender) and it worked great. So far since i started this her skin has been all clear. Also Eucerin cream right after the baths too. This we found was very important. Really glob it on after a bath. Its like Vaseline and kinda gross but it does the job for sure.

My son has eczema. When he was a baby, the doctor had me wash his bedding and clothing in Borateem. While it helped, it didn't clear it completely.

Once he got older, we switched our household over to non-toxic products and cleaners from our laundry detergent, the soap he uses, cleaners. We also eliminated some of the foods he eats. As a young adult he tried Eucerin, but it only helped the problem as long as it was used daily. We found a lotion called Renew. If he misses several days, he is still fine and it may take a week before he is bothered again.

I saw one mom suggested Vaseline, but I remembered there were reasons I stopped using that when my children were young. So I looked up the MSDS sheet on it and this is why our doctor advised us not to use vaseline.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special Remarks on other Toxic Effects on Humans:
Acute Potential Health Effects:
Skin: May cause irritation. Low hazard for usual industrial handling. It does not readily penetrate the skin.
Eyes: May cause mild eye irritation.
Inhalation: Inhalation of mist or nebulized particles of this material may cause respiratory tract irritation.
Symptoms may include coughing, breathing difficulty, and chest pain.
Ingestion: Ingestion of large amounts may cause gastrointestinal tract irritation.
Chronic Potential Health Effects:
Skin: While petrolatum is regarded by some to be biologically inert and nonallergenic, there have some cases of
allergic contact dermatits. Repeated skin contact with petrolatum induced changes at the cellular level in rabbits.
Petrolatum was not a skin sensitizer in guinea pigs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The store we switched out to is The Wellness Store. A store that has produced non-toxic products for 24-years now. I would be glad to get you information on the store and how you can switch stores and purchase safer non-toxic products.

Good luck.

M.

Eczema is a symptom of something out of balance, most often a food sensitivity. Dairy, sugar and wheat are all potential culprits. Do an elimination diet, where you take out these foods for a couple of weeks and see if there is any improvement. My hunch is it is one of these foods (dairy is the most common). In the mean time the BEST topical remedy for eczema is Evening Primrose oil. You can get this at any healthfood store, in capsule form. put a little on the area a few times a day, it works wonders! also you can give it as a supplement(moms take this too!) and it also works great. I am a health counselor that has tried both evening primrose (just tried it on my six-month old for a patch of eczema and it cleared up in less than a week) and the elimination diet. You would be surprised how much the food we eat effects the health of our skin. Eczema is a symptom of something in your child's diet. Good Luck!

My 5 year old son also has really bad eczema. I feel like I just found something that works really well. When he gets out of the bath I don't dry him off and I load him up with Neutrogena Body Emulsion lotion. It really does work. He used to itch so bad he would bleed. One thing, if he does have raw skin be careful it can sting a bit. Good luck, H.

Both of my children have eczema, as do I. Limit bathing your kids to 1-2 times/week, especially in the winter. I only use unscented dove soap & Eucerin cream. I use A & D ointment when it's bad & on my own hands at night. I find that lotions burn when the eczema is really bad. Also running a humidifier in the winter helps. The only other thing I do is I use only Dreft in the laundry & I run my children's clothes through the rinse cycle twice. Good luck.

Hi kelly My son had very bad excema. he would scratch till he bled. I also used aveeno, then medicated cream the pedi gave us then I discovered ARBONNE. Pure, Safe and Beneficial. No chemicals, fragrances etc.... It works wonders The whole family uses the products now. Thya have a baby line that is so gentle anyone can use it and we no longer get excema or any kind of skin irritations. please see mom owned businesses, my is listed and I can help with anything questions you have. I am in greenville also.

Has he been tested for a dairy allergy its the number one cause of eczema in infants and toddlers. When my son is itching because eczema flares up I give him some benedryl per his ped. orders. I found the best lotion in the entire world for this is renew lotion by melaleuca