Need Advice to Treat Skin Execma

I bath my son nightly in lukewarm water and use cetaphil cleanser. Afterwards I apply aquaphor ointment on the bad areas. It seems simple but it works for us. My son is 16 mths and mainly gets outbreaks on his legs, arms, and face.

my son is 6 1/2 months old and he also has execma. we use a steroid cream when it gets bad and i use Arbonne Baby Care Body Oil. It is amazing. You can't use baby oil because that will dry it out. I also use Aveeno Baby creamy body wash in the bath, for his hair and body. I would say to try some of that and see how it goes.

My son also had this problem and I switched my laundry detergent to Tide Free and eliminated fabric softeners. I do use dryer sheets for the static, but use Bounce Free. Both of these products are free of perfumes and dyes that can irritate the skin. He has had no problems since I switched. Good luck!

Try giving him oatmeal baths. Go and by some organic and natural oats( the kind that u would by to cook with). Get a Muslin bag or some new knee hi's and soak them in his tub. Aveeno also sells a wonderful line of oat meal products. When you wash the clothes by everything dye free and perfume free.

Use the Eucerin everyday it is very mild and it will keep his skin moisturized. A friend of mine who is an md and also a homeopathic doctor said that if you take some eucerin and crush any kind of vitamin b into it that will help the execema. Try those things and keep the ointment for really bad break outs. After his baths only blot him dry and put the moisturizer on while his skin is still damp this will keep his skin from being too dry.

My oldest daughter had excema really bad and it is a whole lot better now.

Let me know if any of this works.

I've controlled my 2 yr olds by cutting out all the scents & harsh chemicals on his skin. Some things that work for us:
Aveeno oatmeal bath
California Baby sensitive skin hair & body wash
California Baby calming bubble bath
Aquaphor Baby (CVS has a generic that's just as good)
Pure Jojoba oil (you can buy at Whole Foods) - put it on when he gets out of the tub & is still wet & then pat him dry - this probably has been the biggest help in my opinion.
Johnson's soothing naturals soothe & protect balm - great for face
All Free & Clear or
7th Generation Natural laundry detergent
Hope this helps.

Ok, you've had a lot of responses so I'll keep this short. Don't bathe hime everday. I know it sounds gross, but babies and children don't actually need a bath all the time because they don't have the same things going on as pubesent and post pubesent people have, and it's better for their skin if they only get a bath every 2nd or 3rd day. My son, father, and 3 of my sisters have the same problem and this really does help.

Our son also had excema from an early age and we tried many different things including prescription creams, hydrocortisone, 100% Aloe Vera, etc. and were only using very mild soaps on his boy parts and to wash his hair using cooler bath temps. Finally tried some Purple Emu Pure Refined Emu Oil and it took care of it and FAST. Our son is three now and still is a little sensitive skinned, but whenever I see that he's a little bumpy or itchy, I apply it and he's good to go. Only have to use it a few times in the winter months nowadays. You may have to call around to find this product, but we have it in our local Hy-Vee and a few pharmacies, try the ones that are known more for natural products. Hope this helps! Jen

Dear E.,
First of all hang in there. Have you tried Aveeno Soothing Bath Treatment? My daughter had a bad problem when she was young. We bathed her in this every night!! Hard water can reek havic on skin as well. Try doing everyones laundry in Dreft detergent and use NO fabric softeners on any clothes etc. in your house. Keep your sons skin from getting too dry. I used all Aveeno products because they are dye, perfume etc. free. It all sounds drastic but it was the only way to keep my baby from serious itching. The biggest thing was Dreft for everyones clothes and sheets, blankets etc. and NO FABRIC SOFTENERS!!!!!
Good luck and hang in there they do grow out of it!
J. T.

It is most likely a food allergy, otherwise a healthy 5 month old should not be getting rashes. I know all about food allergies as I have them myself and so does one of my children. Rashes are a classic sign of allergies. It is either from the formula supplementation (what are you using?) or something you are eating that is in your breastmilk. I would think it is more likely the formula. My second child was solely breastfeed and when I introduced solids at 7 months she began to have many problems. I had to go on a strict elimination diet and remove foods from my diet as well as hers to get her well. Absolutely do not continue to give her the medications---they will make it worse down the road. I also know this firsthand from years of steriod use on my face for a rash (this was many years ago now). It was awful going off of the medicine. The doctors don't understand about food allergies. Don't know where you are located or if you are open to alternative health practioners, but I have the names of some wonderful people who really saved my daughter when she was having her food allergy problems. The first is: Cardin Chiropractic in Overland Park, KS. They are located off of Antioch and 133rd St. Really wonderful people and they do take insurance. They specialize in food allergies. Also, Dr. Alain Salas, DC who is located in North Kansas City. His office is called the Pain and Stress Elimination Center. He cured me of some of my food allergies. Hope this helps!

Hello,

I don't know if anyone has suggested this to you. My customers that have had problems with execma and psorasis have had excellent results with this product called Renew,
I would be glad to send you a sample if you like.

http://www.melaleuca.com/ps/index.cfm?f=ps.contentPage&am...

Category: Healthy Body -
Submitted by: Yesenia Negron

Help for Excema
My four year old son has suffered from excema since he was a baby. During all these years we have switched detergents, soaps, cremes, and tried just about everything from aloe to oatmeal. The doctor's solution was a topical steriod and an allergy medication every night to control the itching. I did not like the idea of covering my son's body with a steriod creme, be it over the counter or not. Even the non steriod brands had side effects that worried me. Giving him allergy medicine every single night didn't seem right either. The itching was so frustrating that he would break open his skin on his arms, legs, under his belly button and on his buttocks. His "boo-boo's" were constant source of frustration and discomfort for him and me as well. Finally a friend introduced me to Melaleuca, made me aware of toxins in the products I had been using and suggested I try changing certain things at home. I decided to start with the laundry detergent, and give Renew lotion a try on his skin twice a day. In a matter of days, I saw a marked improvement and within 2 weeks of constant use, most of the open skin had healed or was close to healing. Applying the lotion did not sting, so he cooperates and lets me apply it with no fuss. Now I am convinced that there are natural alternatives that work and Melaleuca's quality products have found a place in my home.

A similar story:

Pam ###-###-####

E., I too have struggled with my daughter who is now 4, with skin problems. She seemed to be alergic to everything I put on her. About 3 years ago, I came upon a fabulous line of natural products made in Colorado. Since then I have become a consultant for the company and love every product that we sale. The name is Lemongrass Spa Products, and the product that I would reccomend for you is either the Almond Body Butter of the Baby balm! You can check out the products on my website at www.ourlemongrassspa.com/T.
If you have any questions, you can call me or email me as well! I have several clients who will swear by these products for execma as well as many other skin conditions. The best thing about the products is that they are made with no harsh chemicals or perservatives!
T. B.
____@____.com

May sound crazy but, try lotrimin or monostat 7. Truly the cure all. Works great on burns too.

I have used the Arbonne cleansing gel and loition on my daughter, not the baby line, the adult line. It is all natural and a has a nice scent, which was good for a little girl to finally "smell" good. I tried the baby line on the son, who is almost three and I did not see any results. The baby line was not developed 6 years ago when we began using it. My daughter began suffering from ezecma as an infant and we went through steriod creams and prescription shampoos. When she was 5 we found Arboone and she still uses today when she has a flare up and within one or two showers, the rash is gone. She is now 11. You can find lots of Arboone dealers or go online to www.arbonne.com Good luck.
T. S.

Hi E.,

It sounds like you got a lot of great advice. You need to do what is right for you and your family. I will tell you that as a registered nurse myself who personally has dealt with execma myself off and on my entire life, it is usually an allergic response to something. Try to use a little chemicals as possible. Switch detergents, 7th Generation Free and Clear is a great one. Don't use soaps or lotions with with scents or dyes. And make sure clothes are natural (cotton). I currently have a small case now on one of my shins. But can tell you that after a long winter, not only did I not keep moisterizer on my skin but wore socks that had a lot of synthetic fibers. You should also look into food allergies. If you're supplementing with formula, there may be something in that that's causing the problem. I also agree with the posters who suggested a more naturopathic/holistic approach to healthcare. The more and more I read and research, the more and more I'm turning away from traditional medicine. I'm not anti-doctor or nurse, but I have come to realize that as health care professionals we are taught to treat symptoms with chemicals (drugs). Very rarely does a traditional doctor even think at looking for a cause and trying to prevent it in the first place.
I too can help you with looking at ingredients of your formula and let you know how manufacturers hide ingredients which may not be the healthiest.

In good health, Lori K

Definitely try Renew lotion by Melaleuca! That is all I use on my five month old. He hasn't had anything but Melaleuca products since birth. They have shampoo, bodywash and bath oil. Also, I have been putting organic olive oil in his bath water, and his skin is so so soft. Just stay as natural as possible, and his skin will do much better.

I have recently partnered with and purchased products from a company that manufactures everyday household products with all natural ingrediants. Everyone I've talked to who used their skin therapy location has seen drastic improvements in their dry skin and eczema. It's not just the laundry detergent, but anything with harsh chemcials which we use on our skin that can cause irritations. If you are interested in improving your family's health and saving money, please visit our website to learn more and to contact us.

www.livetotalwellness.com/markliz

We have tried the Triamcimolone and use it for flare ups, too. My son has had ezcema since he was 1, all over his body and face, but it has been much better as the years went on.
I don't think there are any "preventative" ointments, but only those that treat the area once it flares up. The Triamcimolone does seem to work, and I was concerend about using the medications, too, but we don't use it often, maybe just a few times a week. I haven't been able to find anything else that works. You could also try Aquaphor- an ointment, for us it seems like ointment works better than lotion (like eucerin). I have heard that mineral oils are not good for the skin (like Vaseline), and although we have not turned to an alternative source, you might try to find a cream or ointment w/o mineral oil.
Food allergies- my son is allergic to everything! The main concern is nuts/peanuts- we avoid altogether. Others include wheat and soy, and we try to avoid them, but it is difficult. I would call an allergist when your son gets older and see if he can be tested....we did a blood test.
Good Luck!

Hello, My son had the most awful case of eczema when he was younger. We tried using the triamcenelone with eucerin and that did not work very well. We finally took him to a dermatologist who gave us straight triamcenelon (not mixed with anything) and another one called desonide. They both work great if you keep up with them. I started using Purex free and clear laundry soap and Cetaphil body wash. To keep his skin moisturized I use Equate (walmart brand) Creamy Petroleum Jelly it works better than lotion but wait a few minutes to put his clothes on so it can soak in. The doc also put him on an allergy medication to control the itching. Needless to say I have not noticed any long term affects from the topical ointments. He is now 3 1/2 years old and has pretty much outgrown his eczema and has no scarring. The main thing is to keep his skin moisturized and we would put the vaseline on him 2 -3 times per day and it did work wonders. As far as the allergies he may be too young for them to test him but milk and eggs can make eczema worse if he is allergic to them. You may want to find a childrens dermatologist to take him to - he was much more helpful than our pediatrician. I do not know where you are but we see Dr Newell and Childrens Mercy Hospital in KC MO. I hope this helps and feel free to ask me any questions you have. E.

Try covering the steroid (I use mometosome on my son) with Aquaphilic ointment. You can get it over the counter at the pharmacy and a little bit goes a long way. It helps keep the steroid in place so it can do its job more quickly which means you have to use it less often. Make sure when you do use the steroid that you just use a thin layer, don't goop it on really thick. The Aquaphilic ointment is also ok to use by itself anywhere on baby (face, legs, arms). We also had to stop bathing our son so often, only about twice a week, so his skin wouldn't dry out so badly. Good luck!

it could be a milk allergy. That was what happened with my son. I was breastfeeding him originally and was beginning to wean him with formula. When he was given the formula...oh my god...he really broke out. his exzema oozed. quite painful and he constantly was scratching. His pediatrician took one look at him and said - milk allergy (he knew we were bf the boy).
how to tell it's a milk allergy? well replace his formula with a soy based formula for a week...also since you are bf...you have to avoid dairy products as well. once your son clears up...give him a sample of the regular formula. IF he starts to breakout...there you have it. What to do if it is a milk allergy? there are a lot of websites that can help. I learned what ingredients to avoid and what food to not introduce to him. the guidelines are - do not introduce milk or eggs till one year of age, do not introduce nuts till 2 years of age. Turns out my son is also allergic to eggs and peanuts...we had a food panel performed at 18 months of age.

We only use hydrocortisone and benedryl for my son's flareups. Those seem to work for the milk and egg. We have an epipen for him in case he comes into contact with nuts. We have been very fortunate that he has not had an incident.

Good luck, seems you haver gotten a lot of responses from all the moms here :)

I would insist on seeing a specialist at this point. I would want to see a dermatologist and an allergy doctor. They may think he is too young--at that point I would find out when he is old enough. AND I would certainly get a second opinion. If you do not have an HMO then you can probably even see a specialist whether they recommend one or not--you could then call the specialists and get some feedback.

All of my children have excema, some worse than others. It is a life change not just a lotion to put on it. My children can only bath in Ivory soap or Aveeno. Must use a gentle laundry detergent/dryer sheets and you must stick with the one that you find that will work(change will cause an outbreak). If someone holds your son that has a different detergent or perfume on can cause it to flare again. After taking my children out of the bath, they put Aquafor on or another gentle non-perfumed lotion. The summer is worse because the pool chlorine drys their skin.

Good luck,
D.

My son who is now 9 1/2 years old has had eczema since he was about 3 months old. He also has seasonal allergies and asthma. All of these things seem to go hand in hand. He also had food allergies..i couldn't even breastfeed because he was allergic to my breat milk. We later found out he had an allergy to the hormone in all milk.
I was so scared to use the steroid creams all the time so this is what i did. I starting using Cetaphil soap (i bought mine at Walgreens) this seemed to help. As he got older we used the Aveeno oatmeal baths. Which soothed the rash and the inflamation.
The best thing I found by accident..he would get break outs in his diaper area. I noticed when I used Desitin on him it would clear up completely. So I got Triple Paste and used it all over his body..the zinc oxide in these products is what helps clear up the rash.
I also have an adult friend who has eczema and I told her about this style of treatment and she used it and still does. It worked very well for her too! Hope this helps.

Hi E.,

There are many things to try, and I am sure you tried almost everything! Have you switch your laundry detergent as well as the soap and shampoo to all natural without harsh chemicals? I am not trying to promote a brand here but trying to help, there are several choices and different brands today.
When my daughter was 2 years old, she had eczema on her feet, it was really bad, at the point that she couldn't stay standing because it hurted and she used to scratched against the floor, at that time I was starting to be concious about the checmicals and I was replacing some products to non chemical ones. As you said, the doctor prescribed corticoides and a moisturizer....I was very concerned with the coritcoids as well, then I remembered that I had a purse size tub of Renew lotion in my purse and showed him the lotion and told him that according to the manufacturers, there is no better lotion than that to help with eczema or dry skin....I was new so I wanted to be sure about it rather than experimenting with my already suffering child. He told me to try it because the ingredients where so good! I start using it twice daily (morning and night) the eczema was gone faster than I would ever imagine, never came back but as soon as I realize her skin is a little dry I apply Renew. Knowing that it is naturally based without any harsh chemical or corticoids is a relief. I never used the prescriptions. I am also using everything from the same company now, but I am not doing the business side, I can still enroll people in the company if they want to purchase there but don't want to work the business because I do jewelry and I am doing that full time now.
If you would like to give them a try I can help you with that without the sale speech. The membership to be able to buy there is usually $29 (we are having a promo for March only $1 dollar, ends Monday at midnight though).
This products are the best quality you can find at a great price, they are not more expensive like anybody can think.
Hope you get relief soon,
Mariana Abadie
www.MyKidsFirst.com
www.MaiaCreations.ecrater.com

I understand your issue. I have 2 children with eczema they are 6 and 12 and have had it pretty much since birth. I can tell you a few things that we do that does seem to help. In addition to using the all free and clear soap you might try bathing him with cetaphil bar soap that has no dyes or scents and after the bath put cetaphil or eucerin cream on his entire body. My son has used the steroid creams pretty much non-stop for 12 years and they have not had an affect on him other than he becomes immune to them and we have to switch from time to time. Another trick I have found is dress them in 100% cotton clothing to help cut down on the itch. Since your child is an infant and I am sure you hold them you may also want to wash your clothing in the all free and clear as when he is laying his head on your clothing there is chemicals and dyes in your clothes that will be getting on him. Also don't put perfumes on your clothes when he is with you to prevent them from causing an irratation. When purchasing lotions to use make sure that alcohol is not one of the first ingrediants as this will dry his skin. Hope this helps.

My daughter has had execma for as long as I can remember. She is 4 1/2 years old now. I just took her to a dermatalogist today. I was told to put her Protopic (prescription her dr. gave us 3 years or so ago) on one week and cortizone 10 on the next week as well as when ever I do not put the meds on at night to put vasiline on it to keep her skin moisturized. This was the first time that I had heard of switching the two back and forth. She also told me to give her zyrtec syrup. So that the itching is not so bad. She said that zyrtec was better for skin rashes than clairitin. This was also the first time that I took her to the dermatoligist. I only got to see the nurse and not the dr. like I would have liked. I hope this helps you out some.

E.,
We have dealt with execma & severe skin conditions for several years. Let me tell you what will clear up execma. I have medical verification on this and I know how it has helped our son. Use Renew lotion. It's the best of science & nature blended together & I can get you all of the information you need. Please call me at home ###-###-#### or my cell # ###-###-####. Our e-mail address is ____@____.com

Blessings & wishing you all the best,
P. Elting

It absolutely could be a food allergy. It sounds like you are doing a lot of things right, so the fact that they aren't really making a significant difference makes me thing that the food allergy is where you might direct your attention. Your poor baby has to be miserable! I have a son who is the same and we use all the free and clear stuff on him in addition to coating him with lotion every night. You want to do it immediately after getting him dried out of the bath because that will trap the moisture in the skin. I would make an appointment with an allergist right away because I think you might find your answer there. Not that you will stop the other stuff, but there maybe a culprit you can find and get rid of.

I have friend whose doctor had her daughter stay clear of milk and products containing milk. It has made an amazing difference for her. It was hard at first because so many things you wouldn't think of has milk products in them. She was very careful and it has worked. She drinks soy milk and eats soy cheese. It is worth a try.

Hi E.,

Our middle daughter has Eczema. She starting flaring up really bad shortly after her 1st birthday. I too, was concerned about the effects of the medications.

Our dr. did several things for us. He sent us to an allergist to make sure there was not some sort of allergy involved and that this was only Eczema. Once we established that it was eczema - we have found out that the best way to treat is to make sure that the skin has moisture.

Our best source has been Aquaphor. It is really greasy, but it works very well. You have to get the flare-up under control with the steroid and then be very vigilant about keeping the skin moist with the Aquaphor. With minor flare-ups you can use the Aquaphor and just hydrocortisone (you can use them at the same time) instead of using the steroid. The other thing that helped our daughter was using Zyrtek to control the itching. I'm not sure, though, if a 5 month old can have Zyrtek or whether you would even want to give it to him! Our daughter was closer to 18 months when we finally started that. She had scratched herself bloody, so we were willing to try anything at that point!

I hope this helps. Best wishes!

M.

I would change doctors and would also go to an allergist. I have both that are great. I just can't remember if they take children, but you call them and get referred if they do not. My Dermatalogist is Karen Forsman ###-###-####. The allergist is Jeffrey Tillinghaust. I don't know his number of hand. It is most likey a food allergy that you may be eating and transferring. All those topical cremes can damage the skin if used too long. Try asking for a shot, in place of the creams. Try cutting back on wheat, rice, white sugars, etc. to see if the rash goes away, if so, you know it is an allergy. I would take him to ER at Childrens Hospital and I guarantee you will be assigned a fabulous ped derm and allergist that will get to the bottom of the issue. Then you will be able to get in their office immediately after release. Derms and allergist are the 2 hardest doctors to get an apt. if you have never been before. You must have a good referral and reason to get in quickly. Good luck.

I do know that using sea salt and olive oil in a scrub . Keeps the area clean. then use Green tea bags in a warm wash. with Vitiman E lotion to keep the moisture in. A more natural way to take care of it.

My sons both had mild excema but I found a lotion that our doctor prescribed very helpful. It is an emollient cream called Vanicream. It is not medicated. We also use Cetaphil soap (can be purchased at Walmart in the skin care section where the Neutragena, and astringents are located) for baths which has helped tremendously.

Hi E.,

I have 3 small children and my youngest two had a few issues with eczema starting at a young age. We actually found an all natural remedy through a high quality juice blend. I do not like to give or treat my children with medicines unless it is absolutly needed so I am always looking for alternative way help them heal.

I started my kids on the juice at a little older age than your son, but I have some friends who have started to give thier son the juice at 6 months, plus she drinks the juice (nursing mother) and they have also had some great success with some health issues.

If you are interested in learning more about what we drinking, please shoot me an email and i can tell you more.
____@____.com

A.

Hi E.,

This is going to sound crazy, but try putting Castor oil on the eczema. It is a natural source of vitamin E and I have used it my self to get rid of eczema. It's not going to happen over night, and it may take a little while, weeks maybe. I had eczema on my face and eye lids because of a reaction to an eye medication. It was horrible. It took a couple weeks, but it is completely gone and hasn't returned. It is obviously quite greasy, but so worth it. I would certainly be concerned about the prolonged use of the steroids as well. I see a doctor that uses alternative medicine (the kind nature intended), whole food supplements and chiropractic. I have had so much success with him. Any ailment I have brought to him he has taken care of. He suggests the Castor oil to everyone that has eczema and everyone that has used it has had success, to my knowledge. You can get it at Walgreens, usually near the prescription counter. Good Luck!

H.

My daughter also gets rashes on her arms in bend of her elbow. The doctor gave me a medicated cream for it, but I put my Jordan Essentials Shea Body Butter on it and it cleared right up. I sell it so it was handy. It has Vitamin E and other essential oils in it. If we stop using the lotion it comes back, but one or two applications clear it right up again. If you are interesting trying the lotion contact me.

Eczema; our daughter who is just turning 14 has struggled with eczema since she was 1 1/2 however we took her to an alternative practice and let me just say this she no longer has eczema. The root cause of her eczema was Allergies (she is allergic to Milk, Soy, most animals and plants). After seeing dermatologist, allergist and her pediatrician and after using all types of steroid, cortizone creams, and medicine we finally have gotten it completely under control.
To be honest with you there are so many things that you stated above that you SHOULD NOT be doing with your son who has eczema. Keep in mind that my only expertise w/ eczema is that I watched our daughter struggle with it for years. But here is what I do know, after having the alternative medicine practice look at her we were told to not use the following items and to get on simple things like Vitamins.
1. Eucerin lotion.
2. Cortizone/Steriods
What you should do: VITAMINS. Our daughter takes a total of 17 different vitamins that after a test (nothing with shots or scratches) showed that she was missing a lot of essential nutrients in her body. Because of that her body could not fight against Eczema.
I would HIGHLY recommend you contact Pristine Health, A Natural Choice, LLC at (3030) ###-###-####. They are located in Colorado (which is where we are originally from) however you could call and see if they have any references for you in your state/city.
PLEASE do take a chance on the Alternative Medicine approach I PROMISE you and your family that you will not be disappointed.
You may also contact me directly if you'd like...I am very passionate at trying to reach out to children suffering from eczema and would like to help share what I have learned. My email is ____@____.com.
Thanks

Have you tried changing laundry soaps, or the soap you use to wash his body. I had the same thing happen to my daughter and hers was so bad she started loosing the pigmintation of her skin when she was just 5. It was horrible. She had such beautiful skin and she had huge white splotches all over her body. Mainly on her face, arms, and legs. The doctor prescribed a 2 different creams that seem to be the only thing that worked, one of them I believe you have already used but here are the names directly from the box...Triamcinolone acetonide ointment USP 0.1% and Clotrimazole and Betamethasone Dipropionate USP 1%/0.05%. She is now a beautiful 11 year old girl and has the most precious skin I could have ever hoped for, well with the exception of getting pre-teen acne. LOL I too was afraid of the prolonged steriod use, however it did take about 6 months to clear it up. I will be praying for him and for you, for strength and that he sends his sufficient grace down for you and heals your son.

They also told me to wash her only with DOVE soap. The blue box has NO dies, NO perfumes, and NO additives.
Jeannie

E.,

Hopefully it will go away soon. My daughter too had it and we did the same routine you did. Don't worry about any prolonged use your son will be fine. I too have execma and I have to put baby oil on after a shower and then lotion. When babies get it most likely it will go away as an adult you will have it forever. keep the routine going and don't stop. If you stop before it is better you will just prolong the rash.

Hope this helps!

I think that the reason that the nurses are not too concerned is because small babies (0-8) months often go through varying skin conditions and changes. It is totally common. The skin, not used to life on the outside, just has to work things out. I know it is a concern to you, but if he's not irritated, you might just give it some time to clear up (or mutate to something else) on its own. These skin "annoyances" usually clear up on their own after several months. I, too, would be concerned about using so many prescriptions on such a little guy. Give his skin some time to change and breathe. On the other hand, if you, or anyone else (dad, siblings) has a history of allergies, it might just be excema. Excema usually occurs in rashy patches. It can be on any part of the body. Instead of adding medications, I would try eliminating some things first. Excema is worse in winter, so try lukewarm vs. hot baths. The hot water dries out the skin in winter. Also, use a gentle cleanser, like cetaphil, which contains no harsh cleansing agents of any kind (soaps like Johnson & Johnson, or Ivory dry out the skin!) Your Eucerin with Triamcinolone is good for Excema. I've used it. Unfortunately, if it is excema, he'll always have it, and patches will come back. You will notice that they "go away" during the summer, and reappear in the late fall/early winter. I'm not sure how old your son is now, but I would rule out food allergy until he's eating food. Likely, a food allergy effects the digestive system, and he'd have stomach ache/vomiting. Overall, try not to worry so much! I know it's hard with your first baby. Hang in there!

Hi E.-
First of all, I am so sorry to hear about the routine dr. visits and medications your son is having to go through!
You hate to hear of our little ones in discomfort!

Has anyone suggested trying Arbonne's Baby Care products? I have an 19 month old son and from day one I have been using all products exclusively. The diaper cream and body oil are especially fantastic when used together! I also use the body wash and lotion. He has responded very well to these products and the mothers that I have recommend Arbonne's products to have had nothing but successful things to say! One mother mentioned that she no longer had to see the dermatologist b/c the condition cleared up. Another told me that not only did her son's skin begin to clear up within days but he was sleeping better and not running fevers!

Arbonne's products are all natural and botanically based, fragrant free, no animal testing or bi-products. And most of all, products are approved by Pediatricians. My father is a pediatrician and pediatric oncologist and has referred many patients and nurses who's children have excema to me b/c he sees the success in using these products and knows that they are truly SAFE!

If you are interested in learning more about Arbonne's products, especially our baby care line, please don't hesitate to email me at ____@____.com. I always offer a 35% discount on products and sometimes can even extend the discount to 50 or 80% off! This month I have a special promotion on qualifying orders which you can receive a FREE gift, $20 in value! We also have a wonderful 45-day return/exchange policy if it doesn't work out at well as anticipated.

I hope you do find something that works and you son is no longer is discomfort!

Best,
E. Brown
District Manager and Independent Consultant
Arbonne International
www.arbonne.com
###-###-####
____@____.com

My son also had excema real bad as a baby. We took him to a dermatologist and did all the things you are talking about. But when he was 11 months old, we discovered he was allergic to milk and eggs. After quitting all milk and egg products, our son had beautiful skin. I nursed also so the allergy wasn't readily apparent because he wasn't get direct contact with milk and eggs. I would certainly check out the allergy aspect. It was the ony reason our son had excema.

I'm not an expert but my niece is 4 and has had constant trouble w/ execma. My sister-in-law has tried everything and it is a constant battle. One thing she has done that has helped is remove all polyester from her wardrobe. Apparently polyester aggravated my nieces execma. She still has flare ups - especially in winter but this has helped. Good luck.

Have you thought about trying Emu oil?
K.

Hello E. B!
Take this from a mother of a twelve year old who has had skin problems all her life. When they prescribe something and it works keep on it. Eczema is one of those things that takes some time to heal to a great percentage but with work it could happen. My daughter has never been diagnosed with eczema but all the creams have helped when used correctly and regularly. My little cousin had eczema when he was born all over his cheeks and legs, his mother kept him lotioned as directed, he's now 6 and only has a couple patches on his knee's. It can be frustrating but just let it take it's course. I have heard of the rare case that it goes until adulthood, but that is when it has not been diagnosed and/ or taken care of when they are younger like your son is. He should be fine, and GOOD LUCK!

Oh P.S. You have to be consistent!

My son is 5 years old and has had execma since he was an infant. I battled for years with different products in his bath and medicines the Dr gave us to try. His would get so bad he would bleed. I found something called Salt Glo that has really helped. It has Sea Salts from the Dead Sea in it so it's a salt based product so when it's bad it will burn. You scrub it on and rinse off when done. It leaves so much moisture behind in his skin. At first he didn't like it at all because of the burning from the salt. The more I used it the more his skin healed the less red it was and the less it burned. Now it doesn't burn at all and he begs for his itchy stuff when he takes a bath. If I forget to get it out he reminds me to get his itchy medicine. We have had no serious flars in over a year and he doesn't cry anymore because he itches so bad. Also I don't bathe him daily as this irritates the condition. The medicine from the Dr will work, but it will not completely heal the condition and as soon as you don't use it the skin will be red all over again. What we did was use the Dr's medicine to keep it somewhat healed along with the Salt Glo. We bathed with the Salt Glo and lotioned daily with the Dr medicine. After 2 weeks noticable difference. We eventually dropped the steroid and just use the Salt Glo when we bathe. The only place to get the Salt Glo is BeautiControl. They are an in home spa experience company based out of Texas. You can call them and find a representative local to you or call Donna Hieronymus ###-###-####. If you decide to give it a try just be really careful with his face and don't get it in his eyes. A jar of 10.5 oz is $25 and lasts us for a couple months. Hope this helps you out. I remember feeling so helpless for my poor son. I was more than thrilled when I found Salt Glo. I also don't think BeautiControl realizes how much it does for execma. Hope he gets better quick.

Eucerin Aqaphor is what worked best for me! Any drug store carries it.

Hi E.,

I have a granddaughter with the same issues and we LOVE the Arbonne ABC Baby Care line of products. It's both dermatologist and pediatrician tested. Arbonne's products are all pure, safe and beneficial and I've received many success stories from client's with children that have the same issues. Some have had their children on prescription creams and ointments that have not worked, but when they try the Arbonne products they are very impressed. I can't believe how common this is these days with babies and childrens' skin. We have several other products that might be useful as well. If you would like for me to send you a free sample I would be more then happy to. You can also go to my website at www.vickimartinez.myarbonne.com and browse the online catalog. I can also give you info on the annual wholesale account where you can save 35% and more on orders. There are no minimal or monthly requirements so it's nice, you just order what you want and when you want and renews annually. We have a 45 oney back guarantee as well so if it just isn't working you can get your money back. Let me know if you would like more info via phone or email (contact info on my website) and I would be more then happy to answer any questions you might have. Best of luck to you and your little one.

V.

E.,
So sorry for your son. I have a 9 year old and have been dealing with this his entire life. He has been in drug studies (effects of steriods on adrenal gland). I have tried many things, but what works best on him (what he prefers) is vasoline and aquaphor. He will be doing the allergy patch test in May and I hope to find some answers then (not holding my breath, since I've been wanting them for years). We have been seeing a pediatric derm. almost from the beginning and she has remarked that my son has a very severe case. We have even tried sinus surgery to relieve the symptoms. Please feel free to keep in touch with me (or to vent) since I can relate to what you are going thru.

C. B.

Try Vanicream skin cream. Be sure to only dress him in 100 percent cotton clothes, avoid fabric softners (even dryer sheets) and bleach. You should launder all your clothes in the same way since there's so much physical contact with you when they're young. Also, try Cetaphil Cleanser in the bath. The Vanicream company also makes a shampoo called Free and Clear which is extremely mild. All can be purchased at Dermadoctor.com . For the oozing patches, try Domboro salves. You can buy them at any drugstore - ask the pharmacist. My son had horrible eczema as a baby. The good news is they will grow out of it. It's a hard thing to deal with - heartbreaking, but your symptoms sound much like our son's and it will get easier. Once our son hit 1 1/2 he was less prone to flare ups, but it's a constant battle - even the pollen would irritate him. Check out the Care Pages on the Children's Mercy website for eczema - it has all sorts of good advice. Good luck. Also, you may want to check your son for food allergies as they can be passed thru breastmilk.

I know you've gotten a TON of responses, but decided to still send in my response because I recently had a bout with my 20 yr old daughter & execma. She went to the dr, then to a specialist, got several steroid shots, used all the shampoos, soaps etc as directed, & continually was getting worse. I looked it up on the internet, found info about natural Emu Oil. It all sounded kind of weird & crazy, but she was away from home in her 1st year of college & desperate about what to do & mom over 1000 miles away. So I decided it couldn't hurt. She gave it a try & within days it not only was gone, but it's been over 1 yr & not a single problem with it since! I swear by it! Good luck!

Hi E.

I have a home based business, go to www.cherylpointer.mynuskin.com and login in it is free. look up calming lotion if you have any problem finding it let me know. I have clients that are diabetic that can not use anything to help their dry skin problems, and this is gentle and does work. Let me know if you have any questions.

Hi E.,

I have mild execma however my symptons are a little different. I actually sell for a health and wellness company called Arbonne and on my hands I use their basic lotion and haven't had a problem in a couple of yeears. I also have it on my legs were I use a skin conditioning oil. What I would recomend for your son is the baby line, it's perfect for sensitive skin. Give me a call if you are interested or not or if you would like to get together I could talk to you more and explain the company.
Thank you!
K. Modglin
###-###-####
____@____.com

Hi E.,

My nephew is now 8 years old and has execma stil he was little too. The dermatologist gave them a ton of steroids too but what we have found that works just as well is Gold Bond lotion. It is really great! Good luck.

E., check the ingredients on everything you use on him. My youngest sister was allergic to lanolin, which is in just about everything. I'm not sure what Mom used instead, as this was many years ago, but avoiding the lanolin meant no rash!

C.

My son is 21 Months old and has had eczema for about 8 months....it started on his face and slowly moved to his arms, legs, stomach, etc. I bought a lotion from Melalueca.com called Renew. I also started using the Aveeno bath wash. His eczema cleared up in about 2-3 weeks. I like it because it is natural and not medication. I did try several over the counter lotions and hydracortizone, but nothing has worked like this lotion. I just put it on him daily. Good luck.

My son also has eczema really bad. When it first started it would crack and bleed. I was told to use the Eucerin, but it made it worse so I started to use Fragrance Free Curel on him. It took a lot longer and I had/have to really keep up on it. Sometimes putting it on twice a day. You might also want to try switching his bath soap. I found that Baby Magic made my son's eczema so much worse. So I've been using the Johnson's Moisture Care baby wash and Head to Toe (for his hair) instead. They do have baby soap that is for baby's with eczema. You could also try that.

I know you have gotten a lot of good advice and I just wanted to reiterate what someone had written that chemicals play a huge role in what goes on in our bodies. Children especially are highly vulnerable to chemical toxins found in everyday household cleaners, from dishwasher liquid to toothpaste to laundry detergent.
I don't know if you're familiar with Shaklee but they have an awesome cleaning line that is all natural, bio-degradable, and non-toxic. They are highly concentrated to save you money (and keep waste out of landfills) and they have everything to replace all the bad chemicals found in our homes. If you are interested in more info, please e-mail at ____@____.com or look at the products yourself at www.shaklee.net/lisazigrang.
Good luck!

Hi E.,
My daughter also suffered from ezcema. I understand your concerns with using steriods and other medications that are neccessary good for them. I also was concerned because the cream I was using was black listed. I was given a sample of Arbonne's Baby products to try on her and within three days her ezcema started to clear up and now years later she still is ezcema free!!! Also the poducts are botanically based with no harmful ingrediants. It's worth a try. I can send you a free sample of it. Email or call me.
V.
###-###-####

E.,
My niece has it as well as a friend of mine. She tried Oregeno oil (swansonsvitamins.com)and you can get it in liquid form. Check out all the information, print it out and take it to your doctor before doing it since he is so young. My friend is a nurse and she was taking it for allergies and it helped her execma as well. I gave the info to my sister for my niece to try. Good luck.

My son has it too & I never got him treated for it that they gave me medication for. I discovered two forms of extra emollient cream by Mary Kay. I was at the point that I'd try almost anything to make his skin look normal. I sell Mary Kay & we have a dermatologist department & I was like why not ask them what would be helpful. You can buy it seperate or as part of our Satin Hand set. I could send you one & if you like it...buy it & if not just simply return it to me....the company will send me out a new one as long as I send that one back into them. I can also contact them & make sure it's safe for your child since he's five month's old. Just let me know if your interested. I hope you find the help that you need , good luck & God Bless!

My now 11 month old also had a bad case of excema a few months ago. Our dr. gave us a 2.5% cortisone ointment. It helped tremendously. I also noticed it seemed to be less active when I wasn't giving him orangy colored baby foods. I'm thinking he may have an allergy to sweet potatoes or carrots or something with that color. Hope it gets better.

I see others have already told you about Renew lotion from Melaleuca. Some of our customers who children have eczema have tried it and say it is the only thing that has worked for them. I would try something natural first and see if it works before I go with some of these Medications. I am sure you can email any of us who are in Melaleuca for help.

I have a friend that went through all kinds of treatments for excema, for her infant boy. After almost a year, they found that oatmeal baths really helped, along with some of the topical creams. I know Aveeno has some oatmeal bath stuff. I've never used it- but I know it worked for her! Good luck!!

E.

I am an Arbonne Independent Consultant and we have a baby line that has had great success with help in treating excema for babies and adults. I would love to send you a sample if you would like to try it. It would be worth a shot, nothing to lose if it does not help. Email me your address and I can get it in the mail to you. My email address is ____@____.com P

Have him tested for food allergies. They can do a simple blood test to find out if that's what it is. My daughter is allergic to milk and eggs. She had horrible eczema until I finally had her tested. Her skin is beautiful now.

I also bf my daughter and MY milk consumption was affecting her skin.

E.,
I understand how you feel, I have a friend that her son was going through the same thing and she even had him in a study at Wash U I believe and I gave her some Arbonne Hair and Body Wash, baby lotion and baby oil and it cleared up his skin and she took him out of the study and that is what they have used since he was about the same age as your son. If you have not heard of the company or would enjoy a free sample, please contact me because this is a product through a home based business that is a natural and botantical based. I also have a daughter that has very sensitive skin and it is the only thing I can use on her. I would love to help you. I can be reached at ###-###-#### or email me at ____@____.com as I would love to send you some picture testimonies and share more with you.
K. B.

My daughter has mild excema also. I have been told sunlight helps but I have not yet tried it. I also put aquaphilic ointment which is like a lotion but more moisturizing. I hope this helps, good luck to you.

My son has this problem and he seems to flare up with skin sensitivites. I was told when he went for his first ever check-up that he has allergies to cow's milk, mainly the sugars and proteins in cow's milk. So, he was put on a very expensive formula for when I didn't have enough milk to nurse him. I was also put on a restricted diet from his pediatrician where I could not have dairy if I was going to continue nursing him. We did all of that stuff and the flare-ups seemed to decrease dramatically through the week. But, it seemed as though he would flare-up again on the weekends. I have finally pinpointed that sensitivity as well. On the weekends we go and visit grandparents. All of the grandparents have pets. So, I have realized that my child has a sensitivity/allergy to dogs and cats. We did have a dog when we first brought my son home but got rid of hime shortly after due to the dog becoming aggressive so he isn't around the pet hair at home so that has helped. Try to see if your baby has some skin sensitivities that are causing the flare-ups. A friend of mine has a child that flares-up with certain types of carpet fibers, they can be sensitive to the weirdest things.

Execma is almost always caused by food allergies. You can develop food allergies at any time. I would have him tested. Is there some food that he really likes, such as milk? That could be what he's allergic to. It seems as if we are drawn to the very foods we shouldn't eat.
D.-mom of 9

I hope this helps, my sister had the same problem with one of her sons when he was a baby like in your case, the doctors said some of the same things. She didnt really have the money to take him to get the doctor treatment so one doctor told her that keeping skin moist, use cool water and no high temp around him that might make him sweat, this would cause more irration, all things helped for the most part but it was when he was between 1 and 2 years old he had something happen to him, his appendix burst causing emergency surgery well in the process discovered that my nephew had another type of virus or infection that caused execma, he was given antibotics for all the infections and has not had another episode. I know he may seem young to have this be internal but you never know.
I hope this helps some what. Good luck.

My husband and son both have excema. The thing that works best for us, and is the cheapest, is mixing our own "lotion":
small petroleum jelly (not tiny, but small)
bottle of vitamin E cream (get the cheap kind)
bottle of baby lotion (again, get the cheap kind)
Put it all in a bowl and mix with your mixer. It will get very creamy and fluffy. Use as you would regular lotion. It is wonderful! I also use it as a diaper rash cream, and it works better than Aquaphor for my little man.

Here is an AMAZING LOTION called Renew from Melaleuca.

I am going to try and put the link to the flyer. If it does not work please call me and give me your email so that I can send it to you. This LOTION HAS BEEN CLINICALLY PROVEN TO BE 4-YES 4 TIMES MORE EFFECTIVE THAN EUCERIN, IS THINNER AND CHEAPER....

http://www.melaleuca.com/ps/pdf_us/US%20Renew%20PIB%20080...

ALSO HERE IS A VIDEO TO WATCH ON THE TESTING BETWEEN EUCERIN:
http://www.melaleuca.com/ps/index.cfm?f=ps.contentPage&am...

PLEASE CALL: M. ###-###-####

Hello. My son had eczema and I was told by an allergist/immunologist to bath hime everyday and within 5 minutes of him getting out of the tub to put vaseline on him. It worked like a charm and today he is eczema free.

E., I went through this myself so I know what this is like first hand. I love and trust my pediatrician we are at St. Lukes Hosp., he prescribed almost the same treatment as you have stated. I have 5 children and the only ones that seemed to have eczema were my boys. I also went through all of the above with the steroids etc. Almost the exact same thing. I also tried the Cetophil. The steroid seemed to work temporarily and really only releived the irritation somewhat, but as soon as I stopped it or forgot to apply even for a day it was right back as bad as if I had never treated it all. It was also so frightening that they would tell me to immediately wash my hands to remove it and also not to touch the other children after applying because of transfers, but yet I was applying directly on to my little one. I went through this with my oldest son and then began it on my baby around the 3 month mark. I was introduced to Arbonne by my O.B. and I have been eczema free for almost 3 years. I am now a rep. for Arbonne mostly in part for the above very reason. My oldest son swears by it. He would wake up with bloody sheets from scratching so hard in his sleep. He can not use anything else. We move into a different home about a 1 1/2 ago and he somehow found a bar of soap and began using it. As we sat in prayers one evening I almost died when I noticed his skin looking like it had prior to Arbonne. It took about another 3 weeks to get him under control and that was with only a couple weeks of use without my knowing. I promise this is not a sales pitch and would love to help you or really help your son. I would be more than happy to give you my discount and let you see for yourself how amazing these product really are. They are pure, safe and beneficial. As long as he is not allergic to a particular botanical I am absolutely sure you will find releif with the Arbonne. Please Call me.

J. Bonderer
Independent Consultant
Area Manager - Arbonne International
###-###-####

My daughter is 4 y/o and has had eczema since she was teeny tiny! We took her to a pediatric dermatologist here in town. Although she has to be treated with steroid creams for flare up's, one trick we were taught was to use plain vaseline petrolium jelly, instead of any kind of lotion, everyday. It is natural and does not have any perfumes or dyes in it. Also, she told us to put a little bleach in her bath...DO NOT do this for a 5 month old without calling a Dr. first...but the dermatologist says it's as safe as a swimming pool and it dries out the eczema. I was very worried about trying it...but it works! The last thing she told us was that the laundry detergent you use is not the problem since it goes thru a rinse cycle...it's the fabric softener that stays on the clothes/sheets, etc. In her opinion, free and clear detergent is pure marketing bliss, but that's about it. I hope your little guy get's to feeling better soon!!!

My son developed eczema when he was 3/4 months old as well. For him it's a dairy allergy (actually a milk protein allergy which applies to soy to... he had to switch to a hyperallergenic formula and now he drinks rice milk). Our pediatrician told us that milk is the most common aggravation to eczema in infants. And it's also something they can sometimes outgrow if it's removed from the diet and reintroduced later. My son is 2 1/2 now and it's gotten better... he has small amounts of cheese, yogurt, etc, but I can tell when he's had too much and his skin flares up again.

We use the steriod only when it's gets out of hand and stop as soon as it gets under control again. On a normal basis we just slather him with Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Moisture Cream. Our pediatrician said to just always be sure you use a cream or a balm... not lotions. Something about the water content in it or something. What works well for us is a bath every day (with a non-soap soap like Baby Magic or Aveeno wash) and applying the Aveeno cream IMMEDIATELY following the bath.

I've tried Arbonne numerous times as I have many friends that sell it and heard many stories of moms who swear by it, but actually it aggravates my son's eczema. Badly. So I just go back to the Aveeno. Some swear by Arbonne, some swear by Melaleuca, some swear by Eucerine, I think you honestly just have to find what works best for your baby's skin.

My son had that when he was young until he was almost a year old. I only give him a bath every other day and put eucrin on him. Actually I use the walmart brand because it is cheaper and I like it better. Milk can cause execma to continue. My son was also on that steriod cream. It worked the two weeks he was on it and the other two weeks the execma would just come back. It will get better, but if he is on milk based formula then try to change to soy.

it very well could be a food allergy. Execma is an allergic reaction to something - it's determining what that something is that can be so difficult! My daughter (now 5yrs) has the same issue and it started about the same time. She has went on a special formulat (the Nutramagin I believe) and that helped some. Now she takes Zyrtec daily and that is the first thing we have tried that actually helps prevent the rash for the most part. The ointments sometimes help, but that is when the rash is already there. When she is on her Zyrtec almost the only time she has rashes is when she plays outside in the grass (she is allergic to grasses) or is around cats - however even in these events, the rashes are not as bad as they used to be. I don't know at what age a child can take Zyrtec, but we found a wonderful allergies/immunologist in Overland Park, KS who has been a tremendous help!! Good luck!

HI! I would reccommend visiting a naturopathic doctor for use of herbs. Burdock root is amazing for execema, as is red clover (all totally safe and native ks plants). the preferred way to take them is through transferring to him through your breastmilk. these herbs would also do nothing but nourish your system as well. you can drink them in a long brewed tea or tincture while or shortly before breastfeeding. you can get the herbs through whole foods, phoenix herbs, or me, as i grow both naturally in my garden. good luck to you two!... A.

Hi E.,

I have something I would like for you to try. I have seen it work time and time again! It is Calendula-n-Honey lotion from Daisy Blue Naturals. My friend uses it everyday on her hands to keep the exzema away. When she told me that I looked at her hands and said you don't have exzema, "Exactly" she said. I have suggested it for infants and toddlers too. Each time working beautifully. If you are interested please email me or go to www.3743.daisybluenaturals.com. The lotion is free from harmful chemicals that that flare up exzema. It's worth a try! 60 days to try!

Best Wishes,

J. Hobbs
____@____.com
www.3743.daisybluenaturals.com

My son has exzema also. Here are some of the modifications we made to help him with flare ups.
no fabric softener, use dreft detergent
vaseline three times daily to keep skin moist
dove sensitive for bathtime soap
we also switched him to neutramigen formula, but he was only formula fed.

The vaseline seemed to be key for us. He was prescribed triaminolone by our pediatrician but I was told by a pediatric dermotologis that it was too strong for an infant. They prescribed a stronger hydrocortisone ointment for his body and suggested over the counter hydrocortisone ointment for his face and diaper area. (both used twice daily during flare ups)

Exzema is very frustrating. In our case our son was covered in a rash from head to toe but didn't seem bothered by it. There are many triggers and it takes a while to figure out what it is. Best of luck to you!

Yes, eczema is often caused by a food allergy. My son (3 months) is soy and dairy intolerant. I have to avoid eating those foods or he gets it bad. Try not eating dairy for a week or two and see if it helps. You'll be surprised. Of course, that means the formula you are giving him is causing it, as well as your breastmilk.

My son also had extensive eczema which we did trace to milk allergy. These are the steps that help with him: Kept his fingernails clipped short to lessen damage to the skin due to scratching. Exposed skin to sunlight 30 minutes (tops) each day as more sunlight seemed to make it worse. No long baths as this strips natural oils from the skin. Aveeno or oatmeal in baths. Consider possible food and environmental allergies. Nursing moms - consider possible allergens in own diet. Very often allergies to citrus fruits, eggs, wheat, milk (my son could tolerate raw goat milk), shellfish and/or chocolate are related to eczema. Try an elimination diet. Foods high in potassium and vitamin A can be beneficial, such as cooked carrots and leafy greens. There are homeopathic remedies also which I found very helpful - depending on the type of eczema. There ARE other treatments beside steroids. I agree with you that long term usage of such medications may be of more harm than good. The skin is one of the body's elimination systems - his body is trying to eliminate something and you just need to discover the potential irritants to his system. Our son is now 12 and "almost" eczema free with the above noninvasive interventions. Hope this is helpful and good luck!

M. in Anderson, MO

My daughter has excema and has had it since she was a baby, she is now 3. This is what her dermatologist told us to do... bathe her everyday and only use Dove unscented bar soap- it is not tear free so you have to be really careful around the face- then put hydrocortisone on the red areas and rub her down with a thin layer of vaseline every night. Everything that goes on the skin must be unscented and dye free because those things make it worse. Also make sure the skin doesn't get wind burnt because that will aggravate it too. You may need a dermatologic pediatrician to look at it because I would not want to use topical steroids for very long either unless absolutely needed.
Good luck and I hope some of this helps.

Well, I looked through all other responses and found no reference to yeast, so here goes. Has your son taken any oral antibiotics yet? If so, and even if he hasn't the rash could be a yeast problem. You can buy over the counter creams for yeast, but they can be just as worrisome as the other creams you referred to. If you decide to buy one, I would apply it on an area where your son cannot ingest it (back, butt, etc). There are different strains of yeast, so the particular cream you buy may not clear it up, but if it does, you'll know what his problem is. The best way to eradicate a yeast problem is by seeing a chiropractor/kinesiologist. A conventional doctor, if he even recognizes the problem, will prescribe stuff that requires the liver be checked periodically for damage! A CPK doc will use manipulation and homeopathic remedies to solve the problem. Yeast overgrows when good bacteria naturally occurring in the intestines is wiped out or at low levels. Good bacteria can be restored with a probiotic. There is one for children called Primadophilis Jr., but I'm not sure if it can be used for a baby. Stuff like this is available at a health food store.

My son had it too and his Dr. prescribed Aquaphor with a steriod - clobetasol .05%. It went away in one day, after only one application. My husband is a neurosurgeon and he was very impressed with the results. After his baths (I use Aveeno calming bath wash) I rub him down with regular aquaphor and haven't had any problems with his skin. Occasionally he'll have a dry spot here and there and I'll put a tiny bit of his Rx on it and its gone. Hope this helps!

I would first take him to a pediatric Dermatologist!! or at the very least I would take him to a dermatologist...I quickly learned that there is a huge difference in a Family doctor and a specialist!!! The extra money it may cost is well worth it. AND I would ask your dermatologist if he/she would suggest an allergy test...Allergy tests aren't too overly expensive and are well worth it if you find your little man is allergic to something.

You also should be paying close attention to the types of lotions and Bath soaps you are using (anything scented is not good)...and use the coolest water possible so not to dry the skin out and the shortest time spent in the water the better...it will also dry his skin out...

BUT if he had a rash all over his body I would be concerned that it is something more than Eczema. A dermatologist is your best bet...and if you're already seeing one I would get a second opinion...sometimes the hardest thing to do as a parent is to go to a different doctor if your son's isn't finding the right options for you.

Both of my daughters have Excema and what has worked for me is using Arbonne products. If you aren't familiar with the company, the sell all natural products with no perfumes, dyes, or animal byproducts. They are a little pricier, but it work!! Within 3 days of using it the first time my daughter was almost completely excema free!! If you have any questions about it I would be happy to answer them! Good luck!!

E.,

My son has this kind of execma too really bad. My doctor's told me the same except instead of lotion use the aquaphor. It's a vasline based product but it makes a huge difference. I could put lotion on my son and you wouldn't even be able to tell. His skin was so dry. Once I started using the aquaphor after baths his rashes are very minimal now. Occassionally I'll have to use hydro. cream to but not very often.

Hope this helps.

My 3 year old was diagnosed with execma when he was 1 and although it doesn't seem as bad as you child's, I have had good luck with the Avenno body wash and lotion. I bathe him daily with the hair and body wash (make sure and get the kind that is perfume and dye free)then as soon as he gets out, I pat him dry with a towel and slather him with the lotion. Make sure that you get all of the little spots, like armpits and behind the knees. When he has an outbreak, I have to apply the lotion 3-4 times a day. It will take a couple of days to get it under control, but this is all that has worked for us. Good luck

Excema can be a reaction to strong chemicals in products you are using around your child (ie. laundry detergent, shampoo's, lotions, etc...) I found a company that makes natural, kid-friendly products and sales them at whole-sale. They have a lotion called Renew that has been clinically proven to treat Excema. A lot of their products contain the highest quality form of Tea Tree Oil which is very penetrating and has been used in a variety of conditions for centuries. I'd love to tell you more about all of their products. Most people don't realize they have different options other than what is sold at the stores. The chemicals and toxins in these products absorb right through the skin and can do alot of damage. Let me know if you would like more information. ____@____.com
A.