Eczema - Spencer, IA

How often does he take baths? I know that little boys like to get dirty but if he is not dirty, don't give him a bath. You need to try and limit the baths as much as you can, if you can get away with every 2 days or every other day, do it!! Also, maybe try a different detergent like "All" free and clear. It doesn't do good on stains by any means, but it really does help with dry skin.. I have eczema, and both my daughters have it.

My son had a bad breakout with eczema also and I know you said you don't want to see any more doctors, but Crutchfield Dermatology is the best. Dr. Crutchfield did a wonderful job and he was cleared up in a week. He is located in Minnesota. if you live in Minnesota maybe you could try just one more doctor. Good Luck

My son is 2 1/2 and I have had the same problem. He would wake up in the middle of the night and itch. We took him to dr after dr and nothing seemed to help. I tried all the expense home remedies that I could find. What seems to help him the most is Gentle Nautrals Disney baby Eczema Baby Wash (for the tub) and plain old vaseline VERY often. (I usually do this when he goes potty.) I hope this helps!!

My 5 year old has eczema also. We have found that using Hydrocortisone 1% on the really itchy spots works well. Also, Target sells a line of products called Vanicream. We are fans of the cream, soap and sunscreen. If your son is like mine, almost any other product causes itchy spots particularly behind and knees, wrists and elbows. One other thing, after a bath once the water had drained, we re-rinse in the running water to make sure all the soap is really gone. Hope this helps.

B.,

My son has also suffered from eczema - since he was just a little baby. We also tried SO many things, with no avail. Recently I heard about a lotion called Vanicream - which can be used daily over your sons entire body...unlike some other creams I've tried, where you are only supposed to use them on the patches of eczema. It seems to really help my son's skin, and also helps to prevent other flare ups. It's sold in the pharmacy (behind the counter) but a large tub was only $15 at our local Walmart. Another thing that has seemed to help is using the dye and fragrance-free laundry detergents. I assume you've already researched the internet about possible causes for outbreaks, but if you haven't, you should do so. It's amazing the things that are suspected causes of flare ups. I hope you're able to find something that brings your little boy relief!!

Perhaps the doctors you have seen already checked this, but is it possible your son could be reacting to food allergies/sensitivities? The reason I ask is that my 10 year old son was having all kinds of strange things going on with his health for months last fall - nothing overly serious, just recurrent hives, stomach aches, fatigue, rashes, etc. We took him to the doctor on numerous occasions for several things - things we thought were unrelated. They always treated his symptoms, but like you, nothing worked. Finally I asked his pediatrician to run a basic allergy panel from a blood sample they had already taken. We found out he is allergic to several foods that were part of his daily diet (potatoes, carrots, corn, and peanuts to name a few). We removed these foods from his diet around Christmas time and he is like a different child - full of energy, happy, no stomach aches and no rashes or hives! There are a lot of great doctors out there, but I think many of them tend to treat SYMPTOMS and not figure out the actual CAUSE of what is going on. The doctor would NOT have tested him for allergies if I had not convincingly ASKED him to. We did not go to an allergist - his pediatrician ran the test. I am SO GLAD that we did! It seems that a widespread breakout like the one you are describing would be caused by something going on from within. Allergies are one possibilty. I'd instist on finding the CAUSE before I wasted any more time and money (not to mention your son's discomfort) on "surface remedies." Good luck to you - I hope you isolate the cause!
(About me: SAHM of six kids ages 7-21)

i know someone that has it bad as well and she takes a bath every night with some bleach in her water. she is 17 and knows not to drink the water so you could try distilled white vinegar....this helps toughen up the skin. also, my daughter had very dry skin earlier this month(dont know if eczema or not, i doubt it) but i found aveeno eczema care lotion at walgreens by the neosporin not other lotions, has helped her. and it is ok enough to use on her daily. she is 6 months.

Try SHIKAI's Borage Dry Skin Therapy Children's lotion. It's worked really well for us and only costs $10 or so for an 8 oz pump bottle. We buy it at Whole Foods, although it's probably available at many other stores.
Check out http://www.shikai.com/publications/borageChildrenSkin.htm

My neighbor had this with her littlest girl. She was a rashy scratchy mess. She did the dermatologist too. She finally had luck with a Homeopathic practitioner. The woman took a history and started at birth and went forward to present and they did remedies to correct the oldest stuff first. They used remedies that dealt with the vaccinations she had received, and she is mostly improved, if not all the way. I don't know if you have a Homeopathic practitioner in your area, or if it' even legal there. But it's definitely worth a shot.

I know you have had a lot of responses, but here is one more that no one has mentioned. COCONUT OIL. Unlike other products, this is completely natural not just plant based. I use it in my childrens bath. It mosturizes with out leaving them oily. Even if they get it in there hair it dries soft not oily. And it is completely safe to eat. I know my 16 month old gets water in her mouth everytime she is in the bath. I read it in the book "Coconut Cures". I thought it was weird at first, but I tried it on my feet and hair. I even use it on my face now instead of my mostorizer and it has cleared up my acne.

Best of luck

Single mother of 2 girls, 5 yrs and 16 months

Great product for young children with Eczema:

Gentle Naturals Baby Eczema Cream

Moisturizes Dry Skin & Soothes Itching Associated with Eczema
With Aloe Vera, Calendula, Jojoba & Vitamins A, D & E
Nurtures Dry Skin to Help it Heal
Effective care for your baby with Nature's help.

A super rich, soothing moisturizer for babies with eczema. Gentle Naturals Eczema Cream is specially formulated to form a protective emollient layer to lock in your baby's natural moisture. Natural calendula and jojoba oil soften and add extra moisture. Aloe and vitamins A, D and E help nurture skin and help irritated skin to heal. Gentle Naturals also contains lavender and chamomile to help calm and relax your baby and is dermatologist tested.

Sounds like you need to find out whats causing the eczema. My son and husband get patches quite frequently, worst in winter! Rash cremes are relief, but your not going to solve the problem with them. Food allergies might be your main concern. Has your son been tested? If your worried about cost you can at least try removing the most common foods that cause allergic reactions in children and see if you see any results. It takes about a week or two. Eggs, Nuts, Dairy, Wheat, Soy and shellfish are the things to test first. Remove them one at a time from his diet for at least 2 weeks each. If you don't notice any changes after 2 weeks than you can be relatively certain that he doesn't have an allergy to that food. If there is something that he eats a lot of I would also test that. My son gets hives from Strawberries for example.

The other thing to do is to get a humidifier and put it his room at night. It gets rid of airborne allergens and the humidity will help reduce the skin irritation. Keep him hydrated and try some ibuprofen for itch relief too.
Good Luck, I'm so sorry your son has to be so uncomfortable!
H.

I and one of my twins also get eczema pretty bad. My son will itch repeatedly, leaving scratch marks on his skin. I do my best to make sure that his nails are not only cut, but filed to soft but sometimes I don't catch it soon enough. I forwent the derm appts because they are expensive. And I found that most of the prescriptions make it worse, and drier. Seems like derms always prescribe to make it worse before it gets better and I couldn't live with that.
We only use dove soap, and use either eucerin or cetaphil for moisturizing. There are a few key things that the derm said that I keep a practice of.
First of all, don't bathe him every day. I usually only bathe my twins around 3 times a week. I only use J&J soap, or dove. Johnson's also has a great baby bath bar, that's gentle and cleansing, yet sensitive for the skin. The bar only costs less than a dollar.
Also, keep to the dirty parts - under arms, privates, bottoms of feet, etc. Your main trunks (arms, legs) don't really need to get soap because they don't really get dirty. Unless they're playing in mud. Otherwise, the soap that washes/rinses with the rest of the body is plenty.
Don't rub dry, just pat with a really soft towel. Moisturize immediately. I use eucerin on the really dry parts. I stay away from perfumed soap and lotion. Most baby lotions are perfumed, and therefore irritating. Keep it gentle, and in time it will get better.
I also always stick to 100% cotton. Polyester, with my son, always seems to make him itch so I stay away from anything that's not cotton. Doesn't have to organic cotton, just 100% cotton. I make sure that he's wearing long sleeves when he has to wear his winter coat and such.
It does get alot better in the summer, with more fresh, moist air. Winter is horrible with the freezing temps and winds, and the added bundles of clothing.
Hope these are helpful hints.

Hey B.! I don't really have any home remedies, but I'll tell you what I do to treat my daughters Eczema... I thickly coat her in Eucerin Cream about three or four times a day (whenever I change her diaper). I use Aveeno Soothing lotion on her bottom/diaper area. I also use Seventh Generation wipes and diapers (I get them from www.diapers.com). I only bathe her once a week in an oatmeal bath (to help the itch) and in the meantime I use Cetephil wash, the kind that you rub on and wipe off (no water invovled). I also try not to use anything with fragrances in it. So, I use Seventh Generation Free and Clear laundry detergent (which is good for us and the environment!).

My 3 yr old just had the same thing, just not to the bleeding. We did see a dermatologist and a 1/2 and 1/2 mix of vaseline and mild steroid did the trick and did it very quick.

Vaseline does wonders for eczema. DO NOT USE ANY BABY OR
SCENTED LOTIONS! They will make it worse. Do not use bubbles in the tub for the same reasons.

Now the next thing I haven't experienced, but have a few friends that swear by it. Have you tried Arbonne's baby line? Check out www.arbonne.com and look it up. I also know of someone that uses the baby bath and baby oil from that line and CANNOT be without it! She ran out once and immediately the eczema came back....she will never be without again!

I plan on ordering the product myself.

Let me start by saying that I am not sure what others have responded with. My youngest at 9 mo has the worst Eczema I have ever seen. I had also tried numerous over the counter lotions and soaps, as well as , prescriptions. One time a nurse friend of mine gave a lotion called Renew from the Melaleuca company. It is sold privately and not at stores, but you can call the 1-800 number or go on line to order. They are as follows 1-800-282-3000 and www. melaleuca.com
My son's eczema that was head to toe was 99% gone after 10 days and the little bit that does come back goes away generally within 24-36 hours and never gets real bad or itchy. I generally put the lotion on in the main trigger spots each time I change him and generously after each bath. I also use the kids bath soap/ shampoo and this seemed to help too. Good Luck!--- K., Mom of 3

Have you tried gentel naturals eczema wash? I even use it on hair. I have also found aveno eczema lotion (can only find at walgreens over by the bandaids) and eledel cream from the dr. Hope some of this helps! I know how frusterating it can be.

I STRONGLY recommend the ABC Arbonne Baby Line- it is so gentle for that sensitive skin, and is so pure and safe that the skin really responds well to its healing things like eczema. Below I have copy and pasted a letter about a happy doctor who now carries Arbonne's Baby Line-- check it out! I really do hope this advice helps. I am an Arbonne consultant, and I am very very fond of these products. If you want to get this line, I am actually offering 50% off all skin care sets only until the end of February (I am up for a promotion, and so I am doing this special to get as much volume as possible!) If you decide to order this line through me at 50% off, it would be $41 plus 6% tax and also S&H. The line has hair and body wash (which I use, even though I'm a "Grown up"- I just love it!) sunblock, body lotion, baby oil (safe and mineral oil free!) diaper rash cream, and a free Rejuvinating cream for mom.

I really hope this helps, B., and please contact me if I can be of service for ya!

KALA HAIDUK SIGLER, MD, FAAP

I have been practicing pediatrics for fifteen years. General skin care, rashes, and the very common skin problem, eczema, are all a large part of the practice of pediatrics. Until recently, I recommended a mild liquid cleanser and lotion of the parents' choice, as long as they avoided fragrances. For eczema, I recommended a heavy cream or lotion that was quite occlusive. These were either mineral oil or petroleum-based. In addition, topical steroids were frequently necessary. In recent years, two non-steroid creams have come available for the treatment of eczema, and I have relied heavily on these. I dramatically changed my recommendations for skin care several months ago.

I was introduced to the Arbonne Baby Care products quite by accident. I was aware that they were available, but had no intention of using or suggesting their use until I began to learn more about the deleterious effects of mineral oil on the skin. Still unconvinced, it took seeing a patient of mine who has eczema make a dramatic improvement off of the medications I had prescribed, using only the Arbonne Baby Care products. Seeing this child no longer require topical steroids or Elidel, I became convinced to give it a try. After seeing dozens of children with horrible skin use these products and see drastic improvements, I can unreservedly recommend them. I have seen child after child no longer require topical steroids or Elidel. I have seen child after child go from having rough, itchy, easily irritated skin, to having soft and smooth skin. I have had only two children out of the literally dozens that I have recommended the product to in the last four months who have not seen an improvement. While this is certainly not a double bind, placebo controlled, multi-center trial, it has been more than enough to change my practice recommendations. These results are personal experience in my practice, and Arbonne cannot guarantee that everyone who uses these products will see the same results, but I am personally very impressed with the results.

My routine recommendation is to wash the child (of any age, not just infants) with the Arbonne Baby Care Wash. Follow this with the ABC oil. Because this oil is not made with mineral oil, but natural safflower, sunflower, jojoba and shea butter oils, the oil is not occlusive. It soaks into the skin quickly, allows the skin to breathe, and does not clog pores. If baths are given at night, I recommend the ABC lotion the following morning before dressing. The ABC Herbal Diaper Rash Cream and Sunscreen (6 months and over) are also wonderful products.

I not only wholeheartedly recommend these products to my patients; I make them available to them in my office. Seeing the tremendous results that I have, I feel that I could do nothing but this.

Try calendula ointment. Yes, it's greasy, but it worked for one of my girls. As the eczema improved, I switched to Kiss My Face (brand) Honey & Calendula lotion. Look for it in a natural foods store.

My daughter has eczema also, not terrible, but still not very much fun. One thing that has helped her is Emu oil. We got it at our dermatologist, but I'm sure you could find it online too. I also use it on my face. It's worked for us and it's not too expensive. Hope it works for you. Goodluck!

Arbonne sista!!! I know a few have posted to this already--it's absolutely true. This stuff is herbal/botanically based so no crazy chemicals for your baby's skin! The reason everyone keeps putting their info is that you can't get it without finding a consultant or becoming one yourself (very reasonable and you get a 35% discount if you sign up). The no mineral oil thing is huge. I have several people who have had fabulous results. This is definitely worth a shot! I can get you a free sample as well, ____@____.com or call me for more info ###-###-####. Good Luck!

Hi B.,
I can sympathize with you, as I grew up with eczema and so did my daughter. I follow natural medicine and that has helped me immensely. I will give you some things to try and some things to consider. Note, give most natural remedies about 2 weeks or more to work, as they don't just mask a symptom, but work on getting your body to heal and restore itself.
First, eliminate any outside triggers, such as: perfumes, medicated creams, rubber, latex, any metal touching skin (such as a zipper or jewelry). Wash his clothing and bedding in detergent that is free from all perfumes and chemicals. (All Free, Dreft or a organic soap will work well.) Also, do not use any fabric softener or dryer sheets. (You will find that once you have washed all of the chemicals out of your fabrics, you won't need the softeners.)
Second, eliminate all food triggers, such as: eggs, peanuts, strawberries, all dairy, sugar, white rice and white flour, gluten, fast foods, fried foods, processed foods, chocolate.
Third, add these foods to diet: Brown rice, any gluten free products, almond or rice milk, flaxseed oil or ground flaxseed (can be eaten in applesauce, oatmeal or mixed in juice), chicken, fresh veggies and fruits- especially: bananas, broccoli, carrots, spinach and beets.
Avoid sunlight, keep baths to a minimum, use only perfume free soap, keep house humidified- dry air makes the skin worse, wear soft cotton clothing.
Sensitivity to gluten is widespread and unrecognized. Most people suffering from skin disorders usually do better eliminating dairy and gluten products from their diets. I know it is a huge step to try to eat without these foods, but try it for 2-4 weeks and you will probably see a huge improvement. You can then add them back one at a time and see if they are both triggers or if it is just one. Once your son is older, he may out-grow this sensitivity, so he may be able to eat them occasionally later in life.
Additional tips: research eating without gluten online- there are tons of tips and recipes to make this easier. There are a lot of gluten-free products readily available too. Try adding primrose oil and vitamin B6- those are known to help infants with dermatitis.
Topical tips: for the skin- make a mixture of goldenseal root powder with vitamin E oil, then add a little honey until it is the consistency of a loose paste, apply to area to relieve itching and promote healing.
Chamomile tea can be made and cooled- it can be drank or sponged on the skin to reduce inflammation. (Only use for about 2-4 weeks at a time, take a break for about 2 weeks then you can go back to it.)
There are so many more things you can do, but these are the basics and they worked for us. I don't know where you live and what you have access to, but use the internet to research and find products if you have to. Eczema can be a lifelong irritation if you don't find the problems that trigger it, eliminate them and heal the body. Overtime, your son should be able to be exposed or eat most things, at least occasionally, without a breakout. It is also a good healthy way to eat and live that your whole family can adopt and benefit from.
I also know it isn't easy working full time and running a family to make these changes. You can enlist the help of your family and know that once you have the eczema under control it will all be worth it. It may also take a serious hard look at re-evaluating how your life is working now and what you can and must do to take care of your family.
I wish you the best of luck and patience as you take the time to figure this out.
E. C.

I have that on my hands every winter. One year I had it all over. I also went to a dermatologist. Their advice was no showers, warm not hot baths, air dry or very lightly towel dry. My regular Dr. prescribed Triamcinolone 0.1% ointment 15 grams which is suppose to be used twice a day but I use mainly at night so I can sleep. I wash my hands A LOT during the day so it really doesn't pay to use in AM for me. Lotions, even the thicker creams, provide very temporary relief and need to be applied constantly. I do understand. Last night at our church's women group we actually discussed healthy living and natural ways to heal. So often our bodies become ill due to something lacking in our diets. In most cases it is lack of water and certain oils. Our church doesn't get into fad diets or cures but just common every day lifestyle changes. I don't have a lot of info to share at this time since I just learned about this and haven't tried myself but you could research it on the web. I also have 5 children 26, 16, 13, 11, 10 and two grandchildren 6, 3.

Our daughter had eczema and we took her to a chiropractor to cleat it up. We didn't use any medications. It's worty a try, chiropractor's help the nervous system.

We found that Aveno oatmeal baths and a RX called Elidel work best for our little guy! Good Luck.
~H.

i had eczema as a child on my lower legs & upper arms...
i used a dr prescribed cream at the time which was a long time ago...
my eczema always cleared up in the summer when skin was more exposed & have read that natural light does help.
you could get some natural light (sunlight) bulbs cheaply at a pet store (they sell them for lizards i believe) & have those in his room?? maybe google that to see if any other issues. 1 good note, i grew out of my eczema & no longer have the problem as an adult.
S.

I took my son to a dermatologist. Is that the type of doctor you're seeing? One visit was all it took. P.

I had horrible, horrible eczema my whole life (until three years ago). What finally worked was HOMEOPATHY. I go to a homeopath in Litchfield, MN, and she is amazing!!

I used to break out just from water and had to use waterless soap as a child. I found that my biggest trigger is citrus/acidy foods. I will still break out if I have too many strawberries, oranges, or tomatos! Or if I use any products with citrus. The allergist I went to tested me and told me I was NOT allergic to any of these (and not allergic to water), but I was "muscle tested" by a chiropractor and was told that I was allergic to citrus. Eczema is an allergic reaction to something.

I've heard Aruvedic treatment is very helpful for chronic excema. There are many good books out there on Aruvedic, and most treatments are very gentle -- like dietary changes and mild herbs. Good luck!

Hi~ I am from the Falls as well.... not sure if anyone has mentioned this but my little sister has it bad as well, she can't wear shoes or socks some of the time.

Here are afew things that helped her out if you want to try them...
Eczema is yeast on your skin.... when your yeast in your body is off this is a reaction from it. The menthol in the creams and lotion are there to stop the sting, but if his skin is so dry already anything will sting.

Keep putting lotion on as many times as you can in one day, even if it means 20 times a day. Don't give him hot baths or very many baths at all. Even if the water is just warm just having him in the tub is going to dry him out even more.

Going and seeing an allergist is good, my sister found out she is allergic to wheat! It's not the sole cause of hers but it's doesn't help either.

And if it comes to it, if you can remember tose really bad rashes babies get and they bleed on their bottoms, using athletes foot cream, just a little is goes a long way, can help ALOT!!! All athletes foot is, is yeast. I hope he gets better, watching my little sister go throught hers was bad enough for me.

Hugs!
B.

Hello Im K. and i to have Eczema ive found in my case using oatmeal bar that you can get at are walmart here in Sheboygan .

In the past I have used Corona cow salve. My daughter used to get bleeding rashes from one diaper change to the next. This would clear it up in a diaper change or two. I have also used it on myself and my kids for most every skin ailment. A friend here at work has eczema so I gave her some to try. She tells me that it really helps. Hope it works for you!

J. E

Dear B.,
I am guessing that your little guy is in need of attention and this may be a way to get it. You must be terribly busy and he sees the swirl of activity with all the other kids. He still needs a lot of TLC. Also, if you are stressed then he will be too. Try to be kind to yourself and give him a little extra time and I'm pretty sure the rash will go away. Please give it a try. =)

Hi B.,
My daughter has/had eczema too. Your son's case sounds worse than we had, but what has really helped is a cream called "Vanicream" that you can buy from the Target pharmacy. It is behind the counter, so you have to ask for it. A huge container is about $13.00. It has no alcohol, as many lotions do. I was surprised that our dermatologist never mentioned it. My sister-in-law told me about it (she and her son both have bad eczema), and it has done a great job keeping my daughter's eczema at bay, even in the winter time. I hope this helps!

K., Middleton

Wow, looks like you have already received a sea of advice to wade through. I hope you are finding solutions. My son fights with patches of Eczema, too. The Dr. had prescribed an ointment called ProTopic (didn't see that listed in your previous responses) that worked wonders for us. Once we have it under control using that ointment, we lotion him good with either AquaPhor or Eucerin lotions (found at any store) after bathing. In the bath, we use only Dove soap. The Dr. had also told us that if he is playing in the bath, it's actually better to let him soak LONGER (not in soapy water, though) than 20 min. If you put him in and take him out, just being wet actually draws moisture out of the skin. If you leave him soak for 20 min. or more, until he is "pruny," the skin has a chance to absorb moisture from the water. If we stay on top of it, using all of these bits of advice, the eczema stays at bay pretty well. Good luck!

My 7 yr old twins have the same thing. For the last two years I have used the Arbonne ABC hair and body wash and baby oil and lotion. They very rarely have a flair up now and the oil heals it right away. The products are all natural. I have a free sample at my salon you could try before spending any money. It has been wonderful for my boys. C. Image Salon 2428 Easton Blv Des Moines ###-###-####. I also have apediatrician recommended letter.

My daughter had eczema and when we switched our products over to more natural, organic products it went away in about three weeks. Her eczema wasn't that bad but I think these products would work for you too. A lot of times eczema and other rashes are linked to chemicals in the products we are using and when you eliminate them a lot of times the rashes get significantly better or go away completely. Let me know if you want more information on the products.

Hi B.!

You have to give Arbonne's products a try! There are two suggestions I have; first, start with the baby line. Use the baby wash, then the lotion and/or oil. I used this on both of my sons, and it was a blessing. I had been using prescriptions and didn't want to continue with that.

You can also try Arbonne's rejuvenating cream and skin conditioning oil. They work fantastically, too.

I have free samples that I can certainly send your way! No obligation - just see what happens!

By the way...we're in the same neck-of-the-woods! I live in Sergeant Bluff, IA! You can certainly call me at ###-###-#### or just email at ____@____.com blessed!
L. G

A Natural Remedy from www.mercola.com

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

Evening primrose oil would be the best option for GLA and you should take 6-12 capsules per day. Doses less than six per day will not work. Borage oil has large amounts of nervonic acid and should be avoided.

Omega three oils are also very important and my favorite recommendation here is either freshly ground flax seeds (in coffee grinder) or Carlson's lemon flavored cod liver oil.

Have you looked into his diet? Could he be allergic to something? I used to have eczema SO BAD when I was little (nothing helped!) and years later my mom read that it can be caused by allergies to food, I think. I thought I had heard dairy or something. Anyhow, now that I type this I realize I am not being very helpful, but have you seen an allergist? Or maybe try changing his diet a bit. In the meantime, the BEST stuff I have found for any skin condition is Aquaphor. It is great. Good luck, I feel so bad for your baby!

Hi B.,

Several things. First make sure you are using soaps that are not drying or irritating. Dove makes good products. Second, make sure you are washing his clothes in soaps that are not irritating.

You can use Eucerin lotion...that helps. You can also try Arbonne products, which may help. Get the baby line. The "diaper rash" stuff really works on the areas that are really red. Also tea tree oil shampoo may help with his scalp.

My granddaughter has eczema and we have tried everything. The doctor even gave her steroid cream! The Arbonne seems to be working. If you need an Arbonne representative, go to www.arbonne.com and click on the button that says to find a consultant in your area.

Good luck!

L. :)

My 3.5 year old son has also suffered with this. He comes to me and says "mommy I'm itchy" I feel so bad for him. What we have done is bath or shower him with the vanicream soap, it's not tear free so you have to be careful, I find that the Johnson&Johnson shampoo's are gentle enough for quick use on the hair, and then I barely dry him with a towel and slather him up with the vanicream cream. (I usually buy the big tub at Target.They have the soap too.) Put on one piece zip up jammies so that they can't scratch. I even had to use a onsie.I have tried to do a bath or shower everyother day or sometimes 2 days inbetween. Everyday is just way to harsh on thier skin.This is hard for me since we were always everyday bathers. Also, no fabric softner in his laundry, and a dye-free, fragrance free detergent. Other than that keep nails short so he can't scratch as badly, and maybe even pay attention to what he is eating. I know my little one was sometimes worse with certain foods.(eggs, strawberries.) Especially when he was younger. Not as bad now. Good Luck and let us know what worked for you. JenniferG

A friend was completely cleared by eating foods high in calcium; namely shrimp and broccoli.

i see that someone has suggested Vanicream. we use this. my son has it bad on his hands and feet. we use a prescription ointment then lather him in vanicream. then we cover his hands and feet with cotton gloves and socks. he usually sleeps with them. he also is a older than your son. you could also do cotton pjs. another thing, is an antihistimine(benadryl). or a prescription one from doc. like hydroxizine. we use that. helps with itching. another thing we used was Robathol. it is an oil that you can get behind the counter at pharmacy. ours had to order it. they don't stock it. we added that to his bath and that seemed to work. the only drawback was that it made the tub slick... good luck! hope some of the suggestions help. ~S.

Did they check him for food allergies? When we discovered my daughter's dairy allergy and she stopped eating it her eczema went away. It was like magic. Hers wasn't all over her, but we had tried a few prescription creams and non of them helped. We used Eucerin and it helped for a little, but really needed to be applied regularly.

When my little one had bad eczema, the best solution we found was olive oil. Rub it on him.

Also it may be helpful to treat it like an allergy. Start playing with his diet. Remove milk (all dairy) for a week and see if it helps. Try removing hydrogenated oils. (ect)

Also my little one had allergies to laundry detergent. Maybe you should try a natural brand like 7th Generation....keep trying different things until you can isolate the problem.

Hello _ I feel your pain with this . My son , who is now 11 , also has eczema . He also would scratch to the point of bleeding . The things that we found to work for us are the Aveno oatmeal bath , they also have a lotion just for eczema , I have also bought over the counter Hydrocortisone ointment ( 1 % ) , and then when he would scratch to point of bleeding I would buy Dremablast spray , that would take away the sting , and it numbs the area for a little bit. I also resorted to wraping his legs and arms with soft gauze after I would use any of the above , making sure that the medication wouldn't rub off on his clothes , and it made it more difficult to scratch . You could also try looking up other treatments on line . Have you also tried to change the detergent that you was his clothes in ? I found the certian types of body soap would also make it worse , so maybe you could try the Aveno body wash as well , or something that has no scent or dyes in it . One more thing that we do is to give him some liquid antihistamine , that too helps with the itching , it may make him a little sleepy , but it helps. Good luck to you with all of this !
M.

B.,
In my experience Eczema is usually caused by something and any skin creams etc are just trying to soothe the symptom of a bigger problem. I would recommend allergy testing as that can cause really bad eczema, or if you really can't afford to do that, you can do your own elimination/challenge diet to test for food allergies. You can find those diets online. Not sure what to do if it's an environmental allergy like pets etc.
Good luck!
S.

My son has always had bad eczema we tried everything. My family has a long history of allergies to foods. I began to play with his diet. I found that he is allergic to something in milk after it is processed, If he drinks organic milk, it clears up considerably. The odd thing is that when tested he doesn't show a diary allergy.

These are some interesting tips I found on a website - Good Luck!!:
Renee from Sweetwater, TN writes; "Use Noxema instead of lotions, eczema was what it was originally made for. Hence the name... Noxema (no eczema). Sounds crazy but it works! Use the original Noxema, not the new and improved stuff!" Thanks Renee! Debbie Russell from Somerset, Kentucky writes; "My daughter had eczema to the point of breaking out in welts all over her body. We tried everything until someone told me to use Crisco on her. I completely covered her in Crisco 2-3 times a day. She was white and greasy but the Crisco absorbs quickly. The eczema is gone." Thanks Debbie! Natalie from Carrollton, Texas writes, "My daughter had sever eczema along with skin allergies so most OTC remedies didn't work. Finally I tried Suave's Intensive Healing. It worked wonders. I applied it 3-4 times a day and after a month or so started to work down the frequency. After 2 years, we apply it everyday during the dry season and every 2-3 days otherwise and we haven't had to use any expensive prescriptions. One of the ladies I had worked with had an 18 year old son and said it was the first time he had actually been complete clear of the eczema his entire life." Thanks Natalie!! B.L. says; "Don’t use soap any more than you have to. Using ordinary soap will deplete moisture from your skin which can weaken your immune system and can leave you more susceptible to toxins and bacteria!Use mild soaps with glycerin, or soy soaps. There is an excellent soy soap for you to try called the Soysational Bella Bar. This soap is great for people with psoriasis or eczema. All natural and softening, you can use this wonderful soy based cleansing bar to shower, shave and shampoo! Click here to order this amazing soap; Buy Bella Bars"

Fish oils (internally) and Burt's Bees Evening primrose oil( it's really a lotion) used topically. Also, the food allergy thing is a pretty good bet.
Good luck!

I would suggest plain water baths every night and then completely coat your son in vanicream lotion and put his pj's on. You can buy it in a big tub with a pump at Walgreens, Snyders, etc. For his head condition I do think that you have to use something from the dermatalogist. Maybe you could ask them to give you refills for the year or something though, so that you do not have to keep paying for the doctor visits.

Hello,

Katie H. has it exactly right, use Renew lotion and other bath products from Melaleuca and you will see the difference.
If you are interested to hear more about Melaleuca products and how to get them please contact me.
____@____.com

Good luck

Hi.. B.,
Have you try equate Hydrocortisone 1% cream? is work for my son, and I still use it and my son is 4 year old now.

A little about me:
stay home mom with two son 4 and 6 weeks.

What worked for my daughter was avoiding dairy and soy products and adding essential fatty acids (fish oils) to her diet. Our family has found that food sensitivities/allergies play a huge role in skin and tummy issues. Hope this helps!

I have a little one who is very vulnerable to ezcema-BAD too. It's so hard to see them suffer.
I recommend keeping an eye on his diet. My daughter was sensitve to milk products. Use METHOD laundry detergent. Make sure you limit his exposure to dyes and chemical fragrances.
I swear by Arbonne. I have a wholesale account and would be glad to get you the products for 35% off. Email me if you are interested at ____@____.com care!

Hi B.,

Eczema is a skin inflammation, and a problem with the skin’s ability to hold onto lipids (fats). It’s incredibly itchy. When it’s severe the skin can crack and hurt. It is not “just dry skin”. It can be painful.

Eczema is an allergic reaction to something. It could be topical or internal.

Stop all dairy (in ANY form), wheat and eggs. These make eczema worse. They could also be the source of eczema. Dairy is the biggie. If cheese or yogurt is baby’s favorite food….then it’s almost always an allergy or intolerance that has set up an addictive reaction in the body.

Nutritionally, I would suggest Starting baby on Kids VitaLea, GLA (3 cap daily to start), and Optiflora. I’d go
for Optiflora 2X daily w/ ¼ tsp of powder per serving.
Vita- C at least 2X daily. C is a natural anti-histamine. See those products at (http://www.shaklee.net/helpfromlinda

Use Small wonder shampoo/bath and Shaklee cleaning products to reduce skin irritation. - http://www.shaklee.net/helpfromlinda

I’d poke some of the GLA caps and apply directly to the eczema in the beginning also.

If you have questions, let me know.
L. L

I will second the Melaleuca suggestion!!!! Our daughter Miriam used to have eczema. It was being caused by the harsh chemicals and preservatives contained in the laundry and personal care products. We switched to Melaleuca products and use the Renew, and the eczema has never returned. It has been 3 years now! If you have not had a chance to hear about the company and set up an account, I would be happy to share the information with you! My email is ____@____.com. I will warn you against Arbonne because Arbonne uses the presevative Quaternium 15 or Q-15. This is a formaldehyde releasing adjent. This preservative is the main reason Miriam had eczema. Johnson and Johnson use it as well.

A little about me:
We have two girls, Miriam 5 and Lydia 2. I work part time as a clinical Social Worker. My husband is self employed and also actively shares Melaleuca with others. We live in Excelisor, MN.

Hi, So sorry to hear about your son being itchy from eczema, but anyway, my granddaughter has it when she was little baby starting with red on her face and then her body and it got all over so my daughter had been taking her to dr and derm you name it so she went and bought the cream from Walmart and it works as she put it on her after her bath before bedtime and it really went away but little bit of this and that but its alot better now as the dr says it may go away when she outgrows with it. The cream that she had been buying its called (EUCERIN)by Walmart brand which its Equate and it had to be cream not lotion. Equate is cheaper than brand so she said it's completely gone. Thought you like to know so try it and let us know. Take care, and will be praying for him.

Hi B.,

Check into food allergies--especially to that of dairy products (milk, cheese, butter, yogurt) or eggs. These are often suspect in eczema. Try eliminating dairy products from his diet for a week and see how it goes. Look into an allergy specialist...I recommend a practitioner of allergy elimination techniques (www.naet.com).
My clients are seeing welcome relief from eczema by eliminating dairy... Good luck!

Try Aquaphilic lotion. It's very thick and works well, as suggested by my pediatrician for my daughter a couple of years ago. You can buy it at Walgreens but will have to ask the pharmacist for it. It's not a perscription only item but it's not generally on the regular shelves. It's somewhat expensive, $15-$18, but lasts for a very long time. Good luck!

Try Vitamin E oil... the highest I.U. number you can find. The health food departments of some grocery stores have 32,000 I.U. (Jason brand). Put it directly on the eczema. It's rather sticky, but soaks in. It soothes the itch and heals. I use it on my kids (ages 4, 7, 9) when their eczema flares up, which isn't very often anymore. Hope this helps.

Hi B..
I would recommend bathing in luke-warm water; do not rub dry but rather pat dry and even leave drops of water on the skin---then immediately afterwards liberally slather on a thick emollient (I recommend Vanicream or Aquaphor) to the entire body. This helps lock in the moisture on the skin. You can do this daily, if your time permits. I also really like the new Aveeno Eczema Care Cream (ask pharmacist to order if you cannot find it in the First Aid aisle)--it contains ceramides which help restore the normal barrier function of this skin---use this immediately after bathing and at least one other time during the day. Hope this helps! Good luck!

have you tried Cetaphil cream or Aquafor? They are both over the counter and not too expensive. Cetaphil also makes cleansers and they are super gently. It has greatly helped my son's keratosis pilaris (form of eczema).
Good luck!

Hi B.,
I had Eczema for over 40 years until I switched the the product line I use. It was as bad as your sons. I switched over laundry det, body soap and use the medicinal grade lotion. It's been cleared up for years! If you are interested in other options and no more doctors appointments feel free to contact me.
Blessings and Health,
S.
http://www.YesToSuccess.net/S.
helping families with health and wealth for over 11 years
PS: My parents used to call the oinment they bought from the pharmacy a tube of gold, it was so expensive.

Hello --

I also have a son with eczema. His was diagnosed at 7 months old, and our dermatologist told us not to worry, it would be gone by the time he started school. My son is now a 15 year old high school freshman STILL suffering with this condition.

The one thing I have learned about eczema is that it is in the same family as asthma and hayfever -- they are sort of a "trilogy", if you will. I have asthma and hayfever, my husband has hayfever, and our son has ALL THREE. We have tried MANY things in the past which have worked temporarily, AND our son has been hospitalized for a week at a time when his skin has been bad. If you want home remedies, our dermatologist at Children's in Milwaukee had a great concoction -- You should take Eucerin lotion and mix it with vaseline/petroleum jelly. Give your son a nice, warm bath and when he comes out, towel him dry while leaving a little moisture on his skin. While still damp, "lube" him up with this mixture and then wrap his arms, legs, hands and feet (if affected) in plastic wrap. Then cover him up with a HUGE, nice, warm towel for about 20 minutes. I know this can be difficult, believe me -- I've done a LOT of cuddling while watching cartoons to keep him calm. This has really remarkable results after just a few days.

As far as his head goes --- the only thing we tried was Balnatar, a coal-tar based shampoo. It STINKS, makes stains in the tub (that wash out) but really cuts down on the itch! You can also try straight baby oil onto his scalp, allowing him to sleep on a towel, and then shampooing in the morning. Now at 15 he uses Head & Shoulders Dry Scalp shampoo -- they have lots of pleasant fragrances. This you have to use very cautiously with a toddler...

I would check with your dermatologist first with any of the suggestions noted. You should also consider having your child allergy tested to see if there is a chance that what he's going through is related to another type of allergy.

I've read some of the other advice given and want to warn you that changing soaps, whether for body OR laundry can have a negative impact on your son's skin. I have always used Tide w/bleach and regular Downey. When I changed from this to what other's recommended his skin got absolutely out of control! I changed back, and THAT was the one constant that prevented flare-ups. Fragrance-free EVERYTHING is bound to be better, but be prepared -- soap is soap and he may react to the change.

Good luck with whatever course of treatment you take!

About me: Full-time working, married mom of 3 --- 18 yrs, 15 yrs and 6 yrs.

My son battles eczema as well. This has been his worst winter. Surprisingly, Avon's Intense Moisture Therapy CREAM (not the lotion) has worked pretty well, but it does sting. We also use Vanicream.

We have also found that certain foods affect his eczema very directly. He is certain to have an outbreak if he has anything with artificial coloring (cereals, blue yogurts, jello, kool-aid, soda pop, ANYTHING with caramel coloring, etc.) He also gets continued outbreaks from dairy products. Our daughter gets eczema on her face really bad from dairy.

You may want to investigate food sensitivites as a possible source of his eczema.

THE BEST laundry soap and softner to use is Shaklee's Fresh Laundry. It is the ONLY laundry soap that is gentle on his skin AND gets the stains out. I will never go back to any other laundry products. (I do have to use vinegar with every load to get strong odors out of clothes, but I find that it helps soften the clothes and I actually prefer vinegar to bleach). It's also "green" so I feel good using it. You can find distributors through the i-net. I am one, but I'm not telling you this to sell you something so I'm not giving my personal info.

We also keep a humidifier in our son's room to help hydrate the air and his body from the outside. For the inside, we have our son drink lots of pure water to hydrate from the inside out.

I feel for you! I know the battle eczema can be and how painful and irritating it is for our children. I'm hoping they will grow out of it sooner than later!

have you tried vicks vapo rub..it works for everything else...all kinds of rashes, toe nail fungus....i would try a little on one foot to be sure he does not get a reaction...this is a miracle drug...all the things it helps..and not expensive..no doctor prescription ..

B.- I have eczema also. I have had it since I was an infant. I have tried everything. The best over the counter is hydrocortizone cream the highest percentage you can get. Otherwise have your dermatologist write a prescription for it. Do not use too much because the prescription is very strong I could only use it 2 times a day on affected areas. I know my mom put vaseline and also baby oil. Those didn't work for me. Also I can only use dove, caress or ivory bath soap. Ivory dish soap and either tide or Arm and Hammer laundry detergent. Anything else and I break out. My mom did this by trial and error. Certain times of the year are worse than others. I can't use many lotions that don't "burn" the dry areas or make me itch worse. Be careful trying new things so not to cause more irritation. Check on the creams etc for sun exposure I know htat I couldn't be in the sun long with some of hte ointments and creams I have tried. Good luck!

Hi, I do have the best remedy that turned out to be a life saver for me! It's called "Tea Tree Oil" it comes in a liquid form that you can apply it to the areas where needed. It's not real expensive and I believe that every house hold should have one for; burns, cuts, scrapes, or ANY type of irritation to the skin. I myself suffered from a skin disorder that happened when I had an a bad reaction to a new leather pair of tennie shoes that caused very painful blisters on the bottom of my feet. After being mis diagnosed several times by ER-doctors & other doctors... who were astonished to see that my condition had worsened to the point that I could no longer wear shoes nor could I walk without exstream pain.(I had to be on crutches) I did finally get professional help that diagnosed me with severe (worse case they had ever seen) "Pustual Sorrieses" (I think I spelled that wrong?) and they were able to help me with pain and improve my condition. How ever I ended up having to go on a medication which entailed me having to give my-self shots 2x a day. The shots costs around 3'ooo.oo a month so I knew that I would not be able to aford to continue them. I would try to spread out my shots to keep my condition under control but when I would stop the injections, my condition would come back. I was very worried because not only was my skin affected on my feet it also went to my hands and I could just not control it without these shots of "Embril". I had heard a little bit about "Tea Tree Oil" so I thought I would try it... at this point I didn't have nothing to lose. To my amazement I noticed it starting to work after the 1st week of using it! I now have know more skin problems and no more doctors or expensive bills or Rx's. Please give it a try, it worked for me and it's an amazing product... safe to apply to face or where needed to the irritated skin. I don't know why none of my Doctors were who were top Dermatology Specialist had no insight on this product..? But, they were amazed to see that it did work and that I no longer had a skin condition. I hope this truly works for your son! Good Luck, From another full time working mom!

I wish you luck, my son's going thru the same thing. I've seen some improvement with light weight clothing, luke warm baths. I use citaphil at the end of the bath, dab him dry and use eucerin lotion (its the only thing that doesn't burn his skin). I apply hydrocortisone cream daily, and use a humidifier in the house and another right in his room. We also eliminated all scented soaps lotions and laundry detergents. It is no longer red and seems tollerable, but it is still rough and bumpy. Hopefull spring will bring him relief.
Ang

My little grandson had eczema-Bad. We found that using Neutrogena body lotion was a god send. We would use it on him after bath and when he woke up in the morning. After about 2 days would work wonderful. Hope this helps. Good luck!

Hi B.,
I am an Independant consultant with Arbonne International and we have incredible products for eczema. We are Dermatologist reccommended for many skin disorders such as eczema. I would be happy to share more information on our products and unbelievable before and after pictures. All of Arbonne's products are Botanical and free of and dyes or fragrances. I have many clients using our Inteligence skin care oil and rejuvenating cream for their eczema and absolutely swear by it!
I feel so bad for your son and would love to be able to help you out B..
If you want to email me, I can give you more information. You can contact me at ____@____.com
Take care,
E.

I suggest allergy testing. Most likely he is allergic to something. Our skin shows symptoms of many things and eczema can be caused by allergies or a nutritional deficiency, such as omega 3's. My cousens little boy had the same issue and it turned out he was allergic to several things, dairy and certain starches. They were literally sucking the good stuff out of his skin. She took him to a nutritionist and they helped her with an eating plan and suggested a supplement of omega 3's. He is doing much better now.

Ecxema can be a reaction to an allergy. I understand not wanting to go to the doctor again but you should at least check into the possibility of allergies. Have you tried a perscription strenght steriod.

My daughter also has eczema all over her body and head. I don't have any home remedies but we use the Aveeno oatmeal bath twice a week as well as the Aveeno extra moisture baby lotion. We also use the Burt's Bees milk and honey baby lotion everyday. She only gets a bath every other day. We use moisturizing shampoo for her hair too. My stylist reccomends a thick conditioner once in a while too for her scalp. These seem to help her.

Good luck.

I have found that eczema can be caused by anything. I suffer "winter eczema" which I believe is brought on by lack of vitamin D. I find that when I get a small amount of sunlight (either natural 15+ or artificial for about 1 month) it can help rid my arms of this seasonal dermatitis; be careful not to burn his already wounded skin and protect his eyes if you choose to try this method. Laying him out in front of a sunny window inside the house may work well enough too.

Also, eczema is often caused by food allergens, nuts, eggs and dairy in particular. Laundry detergents and body soaps can also be a culprit, try switching to hypoallergenic soaps; those that don't contain perfumes or colorants.

I would first of all pray for guidance, then contact a naturopathic doctor as they will be less likely to administer drugs to alleviate the symptoms, but rather find the root of the problem to treat it. Then I would recommend eliminating his environment and diet of possible culprits (you can find more complete lists online) and see if it clears up; then reintroducing them 1 by 1, 1 week at a time to see if you can find out what exacltly is causing it (it may be more than one thing).

You may try bathing him in a bath of Activated/Medical Charcoal powder (found at healthfood stores or online at www.buyactivatedcharcoal.com-this site has MUCH more information if you wish to read it) and warm water (avoid overly warm water, it causes the skin to dry out more). The charcoal may temporarily stain his skin (particularly around the wounded areas), but it will not harm him and may remove any pathogens from his skin that may be contributing to the problem. Then be sure to keep his skin moist; try lotions and soaps like Aveeno or Burt's Bees brands that are made with natural ingredients and are hypoallergenic.
If all else fails, visit Mayo Clinic. I hope you find relief for him soon. God bless!
H. R.
(Disclaimer: This advice is not intended to replace professional medical advice. It is always wise to consult your doctor before embarking on any new course of treatment.)

Hi B., my name is L. Faber and I knoow just the product. It is called Arbonne which is formulated in Switzerland and is pure and safe (all natural ingredients). I have tons of testimonials for QUICK eczema relief with our baby line (ABC line). I live in Brandon SD and can get you samples to try for FREE today. Check out Arbonne.com and read the ABC testimonials for eczema. Contact me here or ____@____.com or ###-###-####. I would love to help you out.

Hope to hear from you, L. F

wow, you look busy with 5 children--how do you do it?

I use Vanicream on my daughter and it works wonders!!

I'm no doctor, but it sounds like your son's body is responding negatively to something in his diet. If you haven't already tried, perhaps it's time to start eliminating foods that children are typically allergic to from his diet--milk, soy, wheat, and sugar. His immune system must be in overdrive.
Start just like you did when he ate his first foods--rice, simple fruits and vegetables (apples, pears, carrots, beans--well washed).
Also pay attention, though you probably already do, to what kind of chemicals you use to wash clothes, towels and bedding in. Get a baby friendly washing detergent and don't use dryer sheets.
It's most likely something internal that his body is reacting to.

Have you tried Eucerin (sp)? That works for my kids, though they only have eczema on their hands. Good luck!

Hi B.
I would have your son tested for allergies.

my little boy has it really bad to, the first thing is to make sure he only gets a bath 3 or 4 times out of the 7 days, eczema loves moisture, also as soon as he hid done pat him dry and rub lotion, non scented, all over, for the rest of the days give him a sponge bath, also try a oatmeal bath, it works everytime, u can aldo ude a&d ointment on him, i learned all this from the uw in madison, also get ur doctor to prescribe triamcinolone 1% cream, trust me u will be amazed on how good the stuff really work, but fot home remedies, yeah give him a oatmeal bath, my son use tro have it really bad to where he would itch himself into a bloody mess, i did all this and my son 2 year old son has none of it left on his body

Hi B.,

Have you thought about getting a water softener or whole house purification system? I know that's a huge investment, but it may make a huge difference. If you have city water, the chlorine will absorb into your skin almost instantly. Chlorine is diluted bleach. The state requires the city to put in so much chlorine for disinfection, but you don't need to have it on your skin. If you have well water, you may have iron in your water. And other impurities as well. This will dry out your son's skin too.

Check out a reputable water treatment company and have your water tested. Don't just go buy a softener at a home improvement store. You can have your softener custom built to suit your family's needs and not a cookie cutter system.

Your son may have more sensitive skin compared to the rest of your family, but it is very possible that you don't have to have all the creams and doctor bills! : )

My 6 year old daughter also has eczema, and I find to help the itching a allergy medicine, like claritin or benadryl, helps with the itching. It doesn't clear the rash, but it does seem to work well for the itching.

My 6 year old suffered the same symptoms every winter since he was about one. At 5 we found out that he had wheat and milk allergies and since then-absolutely no eczema! We also brought him to a natrupath dr. because I felt like the steroid cream didn't solve the problem, it just stung him and pretty much poisoned him.

Hi B.! My 7 year old son has suffered form eczema and we've found success using Arbonne's ABC products (body/face wash and lotion) as well as their Intelligence Skin Conditioning Oil. Because of the success, I'm now a wholesaler buyer/consultant for Arbonne and am sell their products. Please let me know if you'd like more information. I could send you some samples if you're interested.
J.
____@____.com

I have 4 kids and my 5 month old has it super bad..he's the only one of the four! It is like your described. We have used all the medications prescribed and have done everything the Dr. has said...nothing works. But just the other day, someone told me to use Aveeno baby because it helped her son who was super bad also. It has been wonderful!! I lotion him up about 4 times a day and after his baths really well. He hasn't had an outbreak since! If your son is having a really bad outbreak right now, you may have to use Cortizon first to bring it down some. This winter has been really bad for dry air. Vanicream and Aquaphor did nothing for my son..the only thing that has worked is Aveeno Baby lotion.

Hi B.,
My gradnson also has eczema and I have been doing some reading, something that used to be used ages ago was No-xema now known as noxema,get the original not the new version, also you might want to try a mild bath with some apple cider vinegar in it. Just let him play in the water and a very mild soap like Restore, I get it from our Co-op, or possibly a health food store near you. Good luck and Bright blessings for you and your family.

M.

Try Aveda's beautifying oil at least 2 times a day--once in the morning and one at bed time, maybe? You might even try mixing that oil with Vanicreme lotion, which you can get over the counter at pharmacies (I've gotten it at Walgreens). I would use quite a bit of oil mixed with the lotion--not just a couple of drops. I would use fragrance free laundry soap and try to have him bathe only 2 times a week, using the oil and lotion when he gets out.

Have antihistamines helped at all? Maybe a benedryl at night would help with the itch and help him sleep.

Good luck!

Eczema is usually a sign of allergies. I would highly recommend allergy testing and then avoid the triggers.

Good Luck

Hi B.
I know you have a ton of responses here but just want you to also know that Reliv has done amazing things for those with eczema. The bonus is that it will boost the immune system and your son will be healthy all over ... not just from eczema. :)
Reply if you want more info.
Sincerely
L.

Hello,

My 2 year old son also suffers from very bad eczema. I have learned some tricks that keep him comfortable and clear by doing the following:

Cotton clothing is his best friend. He cannot be dressed too warm or he will begin itching.

All clothing, bedding, ect. is washed in Dreft. Fabric softener can only be Dye free, sensitive free Downy. One of his worse reactions, was from Tide w/frebreze. If I do not use the correct products with him, his poor skin looks as if he has chemical burns and his itching never stops.

If he has a bad outbreak I bath him in the Aveeno Oatmeal bath, followed by Johnson's lotion - pink bottle only (nothing else). Again, the towels, clothing ect. have to be washed in Dreft or the eczema comes right back.

I discovered that he is very sensitive to perfumes as well as other household products. I don't put on a lot of perfume and I apply it to my skin instead of my clothing. My son will break out from contact with another person. One hug or kiss from a relative using or wearing certain products causes his face to breakout. Since I cannot shelter him from the whole world, I keep the hydrocortizone creme on hand - until I can wash off the irritants. I think the hardest part for me was finding the various sources of his skin irritations. He still has the outbreaks but we can keep his skin looking pretty good by controlling what comes in contact with his skin.

Hope some of this helps. I understand your frustration and wish you and your son the best.

A little about me:
Full time mother of 2 year old boy/girl twins and 7 month old girl.

Hi B.,

Eczema can be the result of dairy and wheat allergies. Alternative doctors will direct you off any products that contain these two. Also the child can be allergic to corn.

If you google alternative therapies for eczema, you'll see many opinions. I had severe eczema for many years (that means oozing from my face, arms and legs, (bandages, ointments). It was horrible and nothing worked in the end. I met up with a chiropractor in Seattle who steered me away from dairy.

That took care of the problem....all those years of suffering and it was just milk. It takes 4 stomachs for a calf to digest it's mother's milk (the cow). There are no enzymes in milk (unless it's fresh from the teats) to assist in assimilation, so our bodies don't assimilate it well.

Hope that helps.

J

Hello,

My 6yr old son has allergy induced eczema. He is on a liquid zyrtec. For his skin the only cream that doesn't "burn" or sting is Aquafor. It's an over the counter ointment. It's not instant relief where he stops itching right away, but it does helpto soothe him and he can sleep. We cover him head to toe each night and his skin improves greatly and after a couple of days the itching is completely gone. You may even want to try morning and night, but it does feel sort of greasy. Hope this provides some relief if you choose to try it!

W.

Hi there. Probably not a cure, but should definitely help. Try Cetaphil in the cream form and apply it to his skin after baths, before bed, and whenever you feel is needed. My son also had some eczema, and this truly helped a lot. I hope that the Cetaphil combined with another good remedy will clear it up. But please do try the lotion, it worked great for my son, and it also works for me whenever mine acts up.

I'm sorry to hear this! I can't image what that would be like. Arbonne Internation has an amazing "baby line". Your son really isn't a baby anymore, but the moisterizing lotion or baby oil may help. The products are all made of pure ingredients which help to return the skin to its natural state. I have a sample packet if you would like to try it. Just let me know, I would gladly send it your way!

If you put olive oil on his head and let it sit, it helps. He'll smell like a salad for awhile, but it works!

B.- Hey there, I am a licensed cosmetologist in MN, and one of the newest products distributed by Circle of Friends is called little Docs. They have an entire line of products specifically for eczema and sensitive skin, shampoo, body wash and cooling spray lotion. Nothing else has seemed to help for my 8 year old. Good luck LeeAnn

B.~
I too was in the same situation with my son. I started using Arbonne and have the eczema at bay...small flare ups here and there but not the bleeding episodes any longer. HTH
M.

Have you tried aquafor? It has helped my son.

B.-

I suggest you try the ABC Baby Care from Arbonne. It has the most gentle baby wash, lotion, and oil formulated without dyes or fragrance. The line has worked wonders for many with Eczema. All the Arbonne products are botanical, contain no mineral oils are PH correct and a pediatrican oversaw the developement and formulation of the baby line. The costs are very resonable. Lotion $14, Wash $14. Oil $18 Diaper Cream $14 Sunscreen $22. If you would like to try a sample set though I have some and would be happy to mail you one.
I so hope you find relief for your little one.
Best of luck,
Kathy M
____@____.com

I've been using California Baby Calendula Cream on my 5 month old. He has eczema on his legs and much worse on his back. I lather him in it 2-3 times a day and it does a pretty good job of clearing it up. He does seem to have breakouts of it when I consume food/drink that contains a lot of acid (I'm still breastfeeding). So I've been very particular in my diet, and I have noticed a difference. Perhaps a change in his diet may help? (Which I know will be difficult for a 2 year old.) Good luck!

Two of my sons started having eczema as babies and still get it from time to time. It is caused by allergies, and or food allergies or detergents and soaps, lotions, etc. The most common food allergies are wheat and dairy. Does your 2 year old also have a lot of ear infections and colds, congestion? If so, most likely the eczema is caused by foods allergies. What I have found that works for my boys is giving them only organic wheat, (since that is their particular food allergy) and I use only "natural" soaps and detergents that are dye adn fragrance free, such as Tide Free and All Free. As far as treating the rash itself, Calendula Gel the Borion brand, check out www.vitacost.com to find it at a reasonable price, it works very well to help clear up the rash. I hope this helps.
C.

Have you tried Zyrtec? My child had it bad too, & the doc. said we could use it 2 times a day for a few days, then to one a day & then none. It does make them a little tired, so use at nap or bed time. Be aware it says for kids 6 years & up, so you may want to ask. It HAS helped us!!

B.,

I am an RN and work for a retail pharmacy chain and deal alot with home health. We carry alot of wound care products and have a wound care specialist that speaks at some of our meetings. I was very impressed with a product called Skin Repair Cream from Medline. He showed us studies and pictures of people with eczema and other skin conditions and most were severe. I could probably get you some samples is you are interested. You can contact me at ____@____.com Luck!

J. Guthrie

My daughter had that same problem. We tried different things from Doctors and nothing seemed to help. With our Sensaria product we have eliminated almost all her problems. Simply using the bodywash on her skin has been a big help. Also the jojoba oil is amazing because it is as close as you can get to your skins own natural oils.

Hi B., my name is K.. When I was younger I had eczema bad too. I called and asked my mom about what she did with me. She told me that she kept my nails as short as possible so I couldn't dig at my arms and stuff, and she said also long sleeves as well as often as possible. One way to help with your sons scalp is when you are giving him a bath soak his hair for a few minutes with baby oil then run a comb through it to get all the dried skin. Then after that wash your sons hair with shampoo until you got the baby oil out. My mom said that would help my head for two to three days at least. Good luck I hope you can find some more home remedies. But maybe baby oil will help with the body to.
K.

My son has eczema, not really bad, but it is there. We ordered some cream from our pharmacy and that seems to help alot. It is called aquaphyliac, it works great. Another thing to try is monistat. I've been told that it works great on diaper rash, because all it is is yeast. Same with eczema. Hope this helps.

Hi,

My 6 year old struggles with excema. It is not as severe as it was when he was 2. These past 3 years I use Aveeno Lotion and for a long time I used Aveeno shampoo too. Really helped a lot. Some times I need to apply 2-3 times a day. In the winter when it is worst I use some prescription medication. Hope it helps.

Take care.
G.

Privilaged to work at home full time and homeschool Joshua 6 + and Joel 2 year old

This is what I do it's the cheapest and works the best in my choice.

I only give my daughter a bath/shower as few as possible during the week in the winter months. She's not outside getting sweaty or dirty so it's not that hard to do.

I then will bathe her, and when she get's out I dry her off and have her stand with legs and arms out like when the police arrest someone. I slather on the generic of Eucerin creme from Walmart called Equate- Dry Skin Cream it comes in a tub. It's extremely thick and creamy. I slather that on about a 1/4 inch thick and then put her pjs on so she doesn't make a mess on furniture and it locks the moisture in. By morning her skin is smooth and soft. My duaghter has eczema and this is our best remedy and even beats prescriptions creams and is alot safer too. If my daughter's hands are bad I will do the same method but have the sleep with socks or mittens on her hands.

Hi! I had very bad Eczema when I was a child so my heat goes out to you & your son. Have you tried using dove soap only when he takes a bath or shower and good old Vaseline petroleum jelly? This was something that my mom read about 20 or so years ago and it seemed to work. Good luck! A. M.

Hello, B.

I would take your son to a deramtologtis. They are doing new studys all the time to take care of this problem. the other thing would be a lotion it's a little expensive but it helps my husband who gets it on top of his head it's called eurince it a thick lotion. Go to walgreens, they will have it. i hope this helps have a great day.

Wow! You are one busy mama! If you haven't yet tried any of Arbonne's products then I would definitely consider them. I have seen amazing things happen for children with eczema especially when nothing else is working. My 3 children do not have eczema but they do have very sensitive skin and Arbonne has done wonders for them in several areas. If you're interested in trying some samples just let me know at my website and I'll get those to you. www.saraoleson.myarbonne.com

Good luck to you! I hope you find something that will work

Sometimes eczema is caused by allergies. Trying changing your laundry soap, lotion, wash, shampoo, etc to kinds for extreme senstive skin. They will have no perfumes or dyes in them. For instance, Cetaphil is a great wash and lotin, its expensive, but Wal-Mart now has a knock-off version that works just as well. HTH!

I'm sure you've been told this, but take out all fragrances in laundry and bath. Like use All free and clear and dove soap. Don't bathe too often and not too hot and then slalther him with lotion. There are baby excema creams and aveno has a cream as well. Although it sounds like you need hydrocortizone or a prescription steriod cream.

My son is 19 months old and has suffered from eczema since he was a couple weeks old. Since he was born in the summer, the doc linked it to a dairy allergy and the heat. Over the past year, his reactions have gotten worse on his face, neck and wrists. Finally, the pediatrician recommended allergy testing. Turns out he is allergic to a ton of foods. We were then referred to an allergist who recommended additional allergy testing for cats, dogs and dust mites. He also presecribed a nighttime medication that relieves anxiety and said that kids with eczema have a mositure deficiency in their skin. We were instructed to give our son daily baths with nothing in them for at least 30 minutes. He said to not drie him off so that his skin could absorb as much moisture as possible and then rub him down with lotion such as cetaphil. We have had miraculous results since then. At the same time, the allergist gave us Epi pens. Since eczema is an allergic reaction, you need to take precautions with what is triggering outbreaks more than others and when to react if necessary.

If your in the twincites (MN) area, my son's allergist is Dr. Helm. He was previously a pediatrician who turned into a allery doc.

Good Luck!

Not sure if you have heard all of this but...my 3 have all had borderline eczema. We use all natural, very mild soaps, cleaners, and lotions. We avoid all use of additives in our products and give them baths as infrequently as possible. We try to avoid dairy and citrus. I think diet is more a factor than we realize and doctors are always a bit hesistant to look at "natural remedies." Hope this helps a bit.

Exactly what Amy said. True eczema, severe eczema, won't be solved by 'rubbing a little aquaphor on it' like the advice you'll probably get. Dont use hydrocortizone, it will weaken the skin making it more susceptable to breakouts, and its been linked to cataracts in the eyes. Don't use it.

Its caused by something. My son has severe eczema, the open bleeding crusty oozing skin that takes weeks to heal, causes him PAIN. His is due to a dairy protein allergy that stemmed from his first exposure to formula in the hospital nursery. He breastfed, but the nurses gave him a bottle of formula against my wishes on our 2nd day there, and he broke out the next day. Because of that, he suffers from eczema.

You need to find out the source of the problem. Its not going to get better until you find out the cause. It may be dairy protein, it may be wheat, or eggs, or soy, or nuts. Cutting that food out of his diet will greatly improve his symptoms. Using unpasteurized dairy products has helped out my son greatly, though its often hard to come by. We use alot of almond milk, since soy is not healthy, especially for kids. And we are very diligint in what he eats to make sure that he's not getting excess dairy. Its in everything, bread even!

But you do need to have him allergy tested, or see a homeopathic doctor who can advise you as well. What works for us is keeping the dairy out of his diet as much as possible, warm baths every night, then slathering on Equate Dry Skin Cream (in a white tub with a twist off lid at Wal Mart). After countless prescriptions, even oral medications, this is the only routine that has kept his eczema from burning his skin literally right off.

Remember too that dry air will exacerbate the problem. Run a humidifier in your home, make sure his clothing isnt' being washed in anything harsh. Dreft, Tide, are all harsh on skin. Anthing that says 'whiter whites, brighter brights' will beh arsh on the skin, it contains optical brighteners. Even the 'Free and Clear' detergents can be harsh because of what they ptu in them to get clothes clean. We use www.charliesoap.com but in the regular store, look for something that is cheap, like Gain. Minimal ingredients means its going to be gentle on the skin. We've had great luck with Gain when we buy detergetn in the store.

Also check his soap that he uses in the bath. Baby soaps are harsh, most commercial soaps contain sulfates which will eat at his skin. We use homemade soap, www.realsimplesoap.com and it has done wonders for his skin. It is made from a bunch of essential oils, and we use it right on his hair too to the eczema doesnt affect his scalp (we had that problema few years ago, he lost some hair because of it, that of course grew back). Changing soaps has madea difference in the overall feelof his skin. His skin feels like sandpaper all the time, and using the homemade soap has made his skin a little softer.

Has he seen an allergist? My son's eczema was spreading and probably would have continued to spread if we didn't find the allergens that were causing the eczema. Now he's virtually rash-free.

Also, google for nutritional support for eczema, probiotics and omega 3 fatty acids are very important for eczema and other skin issues like this. There has been research lately of these effects on eczema, allergies, and asthma. He should have received ample amounts of these during gestation and during birth itself, but if he didn't it can lead to problems like this.

Also, consumption of trans-fatty acids (such as found in fried foods, chips, some bread, etc.) minimizes the positive effects of omega 3 fatty acids- it even reduces the overall fat content of your breast milk (if you were nursing), babies need healthy fats and cholesterol for proper growth. Anyway, I could probably write a book about this subject but I don't have the time- PM me if you want more info.

Do some google searches and please look at the sources because sometimes people talk about subjects that they don't really understand. Nutrition (not necessarily supplements, but rather foods that he should be eating more of to gain certain necessary nutrients), probiotics (found in yogurt, but also can be found in soy yogurt and liquid supplements for infants and toddlers), and omega 3 fatty acids (from flax seed and fish oil- there are also liquid supplements he can take for this- Carlson's and Nordic Naturals are two good brands). With nutritional help, you won't see results over night, but it will improve in the long term while you're finding something short term to help with the problem. ANd if you haven't done a "skin prick test" for allergies I would highly recommend this one. My son's doctor mentioned it in passing, and I was surprised what little he said about it considering how incredible the results were! Within two weeks of avoiding his allergens, his rashes were gone! This was a child who went to sleep every night in tears, scratching his rashes which started to bleed and ooze, and then would become infected. And you with the skin prick test, you will find out that same day what his allergens are.

And wow, I don't mean to be rude, but I would have never put Vick's on my son's eczema! I can't imagine the pain that would cause!

Hi B.,

My advice would be to make an appointment with an allergist. I think that eczema is due to food allergies. I had eczema when I was little and looking back now I think I was allergic to milk.
Have the allergist test for common food allergies...milk, egg, soy, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts.
You could even do your own little test at home and remove these common food allergens from your son's diet for a couple weeks to see if the eczema gets any better. Reading labels at the stores are very easy now days...at the bottom of most ingredients lists it will say..contains: soy, milk, and wheat.
Good luck with your son!

S.

My four year old grandson has eczema and was a mess when he was a baby. Once they found out he was allergic to milk and make sure he stays away from that and wash his clothes in perfume and dye free laundry soap he does great. When he was a baby it was hard to find anything he didn't break out from.