Allergy, Excema and a Growth Spurt

Updated on April 29, 2008
B.C. asks from Barrington, IL
9 answers

My son, Johnny, is 6 months old and has allergies to wheat, egg and our beloved dog. He also has very sensitive skin, so we have had to go with all sensitive & fragrance free soaps and detergents. We have also put in hardwood floors which appeared to help his excema from the dog dander allergy. I have noticed that he is waking up more at night and eating more throughout the day. I believe that he is going through the normal 6 month growth spurt. Unfortunately, he has gotten more and more itchy from his excema all over his body, but especially his face. Does anyone know if excema and allergies can act up like this from a growth spurt? We have also been outside more lately and I am beginning to wonder if he has outdoor allergies like my husband does (i.e. grass & tree). Any help would be great! Thanks.
p.s. yes, we do have air purifiers - one in his room, one in our room & one in the main living area of the house.

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G.H.

answers from Chicago on

allergies are strange things. It could be the different floor cleaner for the hard wood, the things blooming outside ( I can't breath in the morning at this time of year, my daughter gets spotted ). My vet said in the nice weather, we could wash the dog outdoors weekly and brush out there daily. It helped keeping allergens out.

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S.X.

answers from Chicago on

I would think w/spring the dog is shedding more? Do you have a room air cleaner? We bought a kenmore one and seems to help

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L.H.

answers from Chicago on

I have to say this is expensive but if I leave it off over night I can not even come downstairs without having to take something because of my allergies to my dog. If I was not so allergic I would not know how much this actually works! The Oreck air cleaner has helped us keep our dog maybe it can help you.

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J.K.

answers from Chicago on

Hi B.--Thought you may want to listen to this free call, should be really good!

Tuesday April 29th
"A Review of Allergy Prevention"

8 PM Central Time call ###-###-#### pin # 33500

This talk will discuss air-way allergies, such as asthma and hay fever. We will review what causes allergies, recent reports about the health risks associated with some popular allergy meds, how building the immune system combats allergies, and then review products that provide a natural solution.

Contact me if you want help implimenting what you hear.
J.
____@____.com

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T.F.

answers from Pocatello on

Dear B.,

I do not know anything about a connection between eczema and a growth spurt, but I do know plenty about allergies and eczema.
I have addressed it with one of my daughters and I have worked with many parents to help their children be alleviated of this problem.

Here are some suggestions that you may or may not have tried already:(specific to eczema)

1. Avoid eating dairy, acidic foods (oranges, tomatoes, pineapple etc.) eggs, and peanut butter, French
fries, margarine, donuts, hydrogenated oils, and SUGAR.
2. Avoid lotions and creams with Lanolin.
Even moms and dads should avoid lanolin if they hold and come in contact with the child. Many people do not know these have side effect like thinning of
the skin and loss of pigmentation.
3. Use laundry detergents that are free of fragrance, dyes, and chemicals.
Things like Dreft for Babies or FREE products (like tide Free) are NOT okay to use. They leave a residue on the skin that causes skin problems in many people. I use and recommend SHAKLEE cleaners. They were one of Oprah's favorite picks last year. Visit my website to learn more about non-toxic cleaners that can save a lot more money than buying from the grocery store. www.shaklee.net/fruth/getclean
4. Remove all chemicals from your home. Many of the everyday cleaners we use contain harmful chemicals that can irritate the skin.
For example, if you use a floor cleaner that contains bleach and the child is playing on that floor the residue
from the cleaner will end up on his skin. You would NEVER give your baby a bath in bleach, so don't use it
to clean with. "Over 150 chemicals found
in the average home have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer, and psychological abnormalities.
(Source: Consumer Product Safety Commission) Again you will also be saving your family $200 to $300 a
year just by switching to Shaklee Cleaners.
5. When giving your child a bath, try to use to coolest water possible. The heat will bring out the rash
even more. Be sure to use a cleanser that is at a perfect ph. When finished, lightly towel dry leaving the skin moist
and immediately apply moisturizer. This will help to lock in moisture.
6. One of the most important is a supplementation program, which includes essential fatty acids and probiotics.

AS for his allergies, have you considered an air purification system- one that is effective against even the tiniest microbials as well as pet dander? Of course, the recommendations for eczema relief also apply to allergies- non-toxic laundry products and household cleaning products are essential. Lastly, there are some great supplements that yu can give your baby, even at 6 months of age that will build his immune system. Let me know if you want more specifics.

I hope this helps.

T. Fruth
Wellness Consultant
www.shaklee.net/fruth

K.M.

answers from Chicago on

B.:
It is hard to pinpoint exactly what is the cause but it sounds like your little guy is really sensitive and you might have to go a little further with what you use on him and in your house. Many products claim pure or botanical when in essence they may have only one ingredient that is such. The FDA does not regulate the personal care industry and therefore manufacturers (even trusted ones) can use what they want. Unfortunately it truly is "Buyer Beware".

So yes, household cleaners, detergents for clothing, body washes, lotions, diaper cream, etc. all have to be pure, safe and botanically based. I switched over 10 years ago because my children were getting sick and I was tired of going to doctor's office every month (probably paid for many a vacation too!).

I would love to tell you about a line of products (for the whole family) that is just that - pure and safe. It is a Swiss line of product (Europeans have higher standards than we do) and is guaranteed as well. It's great to know that what we put in and onto our bodies is providing a benefit and not causing any harm - especially to extremely sensitive people. Let me know how I can help you. It truly makes a difference of what you buy and what it has in it. Best of luck to you. You sound like you are really trying hard. That's how we learn!

K.

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

My son too has excema and during the winter it was very controlled; however, with the change of weather it is beginning to flare up again. It really flares up when he sweats, so we have gone to all cotton for him- especially cotton pjs and bedding....this has seemed to help a lot. I also recommend aquaphor as much as he can tolerate- my dr. recommends 5 to 10 times a day (my son won't tolerate that much) and I have also been using Huggies hair/body soap w/oatmeal, this seems to be working great vs. Dove sensitive or Aveeno.

It is so heartbreaking to see them in so much distress from this- hope this info helps!

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C.M.

answers from Chicago on

B.,
I too have excema and I just found this lotion that has done wonders on my excema. i actually haven't had any problems all winter long which usually is my worst time! Check out their brochure at http://www.melaleuca.com/ps/pdf_us/US_RenewPIB0806.pdf
Let me know if you are interested in trying it out!

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L.P.

answers from Chicago on

B.,
I don't know if this will help - it's actually not the answer to your question. But... we found Cetaphil lotion and Walgreen's generic version to help great with excema.
L.

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