Eczema and Food Allergies

I really don't have any solutions, except to try a regimine of eliminating these foods/drinks for a few weeks and then reintroduce them one at a time for a few days and see how the reaction is(maybe a rotation diet would be helpful)-documenting is a key. Sorry,nothing else, I am in the same boat with my 6 yr old.

I adore Earth Best baby food. It's healthy organic and most is vegan or vegetarian with no wheat, gluten, or added sugars, my daughter has eaten it since she was 3 months old!

Hi A.,

I see you've received great advice from the rspondents already, especially about getting the facts regarding food allergies.

As a Shaklee Distributor, I get the eczema question increasingly. We love to help kids with eczema and have had great results. Here is what I’ve seen:

1) Once in a while all it takes is Creamy Baby Oil and Optiflora probiotic capsules (little "pearls" can be softened in warm water.) No matter the age – the creamy baby oil is used by adults, too, who have dermatitis or eczema. But I strongly recommend hitting it with all we’ve got, for quicker and better results.

2) So many people have been helped by using OmegaGuard (fish oil capsule can be pierced and consumed in liquid.) Among all the other many benefits, it’s so great for skin. And of course he can help get his nutritional bases covered with Infants and Toddlers Vitamin and Mineral Mix.

3) Decreasing exposure to toxins is so important for everyone, especially children, and of course for people with eczema. Consider making the switch to Get Clean non-toxic cleaners not only for laundry but for cleaning dishes and the whole house, too. I’d recommend the starter pack that is fragrance-free. These are highly concentrated, and less expensive per use than the store brands. We suggest Shaklee’s baby bath & shampoo for bathing.

You can find these at www.UnpavingParadise.com and www.GreenCleanersThatWork.com.

Hope you find this information helpful.

All fruits and veggies, meat. There are all kinds of wheat free products at Whole Foods and Trader Joes. Things made with rice, Rice will have to be your carb. They make rice chips etc. Brown rice is best. Bring up all of this on google, and you can get more ideas. Soy is also a great substitute.

Hello-
Sorry to hear you are having trouble with your son. My friend is an excellent nutritionist and I'm sure she will have the answers you need. Her name is Katrin Keiningham & she is from Germany. She knows alot about healthy foods and what to avoid as her father died last year from cancer and she became very passionate about it during that time. Her email is ____@____.com you can call her at ###-###-####. Tell her H. send you her info. :-)
Good luck!!
H. S.

Hi A.,

I'm so sorry to hear of your issues. It is so hard to figure these things out sometimes. Rest assured that you will find the answers you need. The above posts were great!
I can't help you with Food Allergies but I do know I can help you with the eczema. I'm sure you are already aware that the products you choose to use are very important. I represent Melaleuca (a Health & Wellness Company) who is dedicated to manufacturing products that are safe. They don't contain any harsh or harmful chemicals in them that could irritate your little one.
We also make a fantastic lotion called "Renew" which is clinically proven to work 7 times better than Eucerin for that type of condition. It rubs in like a lotion too.
Please let me know if you want to find out about Melaleuca. I would be happy to just get you the information on the company.

If you think your son is allergic to one or more of these foods, what I've heard someone suggest is to eliminate them from his diet (formula is dairy -- the base is cow's milk; unless you're using soy, which can also be an allergen) for a few days, and then feed him a lot of food with one ingredient in it -- if he has a reaction (if his eczema flares up really badly), then you know that *that* caused the problem. It's a quicker and easier solution than trying to totally eliminate dairy or wheat or whatever from the diet for weeks and seeing if the eczema clears up.

Have they done any tests or is this just his 'hunch'? There are many internet resources, books at the library & yahoogroups that can help you understand your childs dietary needs. I have a family that has celiac disease (intolerance to gluten) and I have found loads of help online, a local support group & the library. It is a bit difficult at first, but soon becomes 2nd nature. Eczema is one of many symptoms of celiac disease so it is possible he's either intolerant to wheat or could be more than that, could be gluten intolerant.

Blood tests can confirm it, but they have a high failure rate, although it is a good place to start if you've not taken him off wheat/gluten.

I know several people on my celiac yahoogroup that don't eat dairy or eggs either & they have a great menu, healthier than before all this happened truthfully.

Get him tested to make sure this is what it is. BTW, celiac disease is hereditary, most likely you or your husband have it to. It's recommended that all family members get tested when one tests positive. We eat some of the best foods now and no gluten or wheat at all.

Best of luck to you.

If your dr thinks your child has allergies, you need to have him tested. My son is allergic to wheat and it is an autoimmune disease that destroys your small intestine. My son suffered for almost one year before we found out. He barely grew, vomited all the time, was malnurished etc. Wheat allergy is called celiac disease and it is diagnosed by endoscopy. Blood tests do not work until they are 3 yrs or so (dont let your dr tell you otherwise. My son was negative on the blood and positive by bioposy and my son was 2 yrs old.) You can have an dna test done to see if he carries the gene. Push for your dr to do something. Its really hard to find food for my son and it is very expensive. If your child is not allergic to it, then you are harming your child by not allowing him to have the vitimans and nutrients from wheat, dairy etc.

Hey A.,
I myself am definitely no expert but I have a son who has severe eczema and a daughter who has a mild case of it. My pediatrician, too, told me that they would likely (especially my son) have allergies to many foods. My son is now 4 and my daughter is 3 and I have yet to find anything they are allergic to. All children are different and your child may have some allergies but I wouldn't worry too much unless your child shows signs. Just try introducing them one at a time so that you will be able to tell what exactly is causing a reaction (if there even is one!) Like I said, I'm no expert but I hope this helped some!

Hi A.,
I'm so sorry for your little one and you too. I have food allergies myself and I know how hard it could be. I agree that the child should be immediately tested. I recently took my little girl to asthma and allergy specialists and I was so happy fot the way they treated her. I switced from cow's milk to goat's milk which is so much more healthy, even for people without allergies, you can do a little research yourself. I did the transition gradually, mixing with her regular milk and now she loves and wouldn't take anything else. You could also supplement with fish oil, most of times pediatricians forget to mention it, but I'm sure if you ask him, probably will agree. You can also think about probiotics... Have you ever heard about dr Mercola's site? You can find all the recent info and alerts. I know that the cost is a subject for all of us, especially these days, but still is better to prevent than treat any disease ... Hope this helped a bit, feel free to email me if you believe I can help or where to find what. Stay strong, you're not the only one...

Have the child allergy tested immediately if he's that allergic. Use a pediatric allergist, not just a general allergist or a pediatrician. Typically they recommend waiting until 2 but with eczema (a skin rxn to consistent food exposure one is allergic to), you need to know as soon as possible. Most likely the child is also CURRENTLY allergic to nuts if milk and eggs is a known allergy.

FYI, allergy testing is painful. I just recently had it done myself for the fifth time. The needles don't actually hurt on muscle tissue, but on fatty areas, which babies have alot of, it is very painful for a very short amount time every time they inject the allergen -my last test consisted of 75 different allergens. Give the child tylenol/motrin an hour before the test as allowed (most rx's are not allowed due to interference). Also, try to get the child on an allergy rx now until the test - typically you have to discontinue allergy rx 7 days prior to a test. fyi, zyrtec worked for both my children as infants/toddlers, but while it made my daughter sleepy and cranky out the wazoo, it made my son LITERALLY BOUNCE OFF WALLS for 4-6 hours at a type. Hyperactive doesn't begin to come close to describing his behavior.

I have eczema due to a dairy allergy. I don't avoid all dairy - just most. even some in my coffee affects me. My best recommendation is: Get some zyrtec or similiar, get an allergy test, and in the meantime, use eucerin lotion several times a day (3 is great, 2 is necessary) to combat the rashy dry skin. I would highly recommend avoiding cortisone creams as they thin your skin out and babies' skin can't take it longterm.

FYI, lexington is the allergy capital of the world - literally. We live in Georgetown and EVERY child I know that's been born in the last three years has severe allergies - most with nut and dairy too.

We (my whole family) use Dr. Lindsay of Allergy care of Kentucky - based out of Louisville, but he travels to different offices around the state every day. I highly recommend visiting their website at www.allergycareky.com to find out if they travel to your area. If not, I'm certain they could give you a recommendation for a well-educated, well-respected pediatric allergist.

If he has food allergies, keep in mind it may be airborne and rid your home of such products. You can know for sure after the allergy test, tho. Our daughter is so allergic to nuts that if you eat something (say fruit cake) with nuts in it, touch the table, then she touches the same spot, that she can have (and has had) an ongoing reaction involving hives, wheezing, inability to breathe, and various other allergy symptoms for weeks. Also, with every exposure to a food allergy, the intensity of the rxn increases. With a milk and egg allergy, stay away even from food that contains those items. Tell everyone you know to wash their hands before touching your son. And make sure daycare/babysitter/church knows not to expose him to such things or people who have exposed themselves to such things (think fruit loops, biscuits, etc).

Also, sign up with the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis website at foodallergy.org to get updates on food items sold that contain your allergens but don't list them on the ingredients on the packaging (ie, arnold/brownberry breads, some tyson chickens, etc).

Hope I've helped more than scared you! It's difficult having a child with food allergies bc other people don't understand and think you're nuts - but you get used to it! LOL. Hopefully your son is just having a bad skin month! Most children with allergies, food or otherwise, grow out of them, btw. Have hope and be blessed!

Good luck :-)

Good luck!

A.,

I'm sorry to hear about your little one's allergies. I know how frustrating it can be. My son has numerous allergies too. Rice is a great alternative to wheat. You can use rice flour, pasta, milk, etc... Some children who have issues with cow's milk can still eat yogurt so you may want to try that. Here is a link to Dr. Sears' info on allergies. I have used his suggestions for an elimination diet in the past, and like the most/least allergenic foods list. His site has some good general nutritional information as well. That should give you a few ideas. I hope this helps. Good luck!

B.

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/t041800.asp

I have a daughter who is now six years old and healthy. At age 1, I learned that she was allergic to milk and eggs, and that explained a lot about why she had been sick so much before that.

When I found out that I couldn't give her milk or eggs, I felt like a truck had run over me. What on earth would I feed this child? But I figured it out, and you will too.

First of all, get real allergy testing so you know exactly what to avoid. Don't just go on your doctor's word for what "probably" is the problem. The "big 6" things that are the most common allergies are eggs, wheat, milk, corn, nuts, and soy, but you need to know exactly what your child's problem substance(s) is/are.

The good news about egg and milk allergies are that they are often outgrown. At 6, my daughter can now drink cow's milk, but still tests as allergic to eggs.

It really isn't hard to live without eggs and milk. It just took some getting used to, and you will get used to it too.
You can give him meats, fruits, and vegetables just like always.

To avoid milk: Soy milk is a great replacement for cow's milk. My daughter liked the taste and chugged it, and it's fine for cooking. I made her pudding with it, and pancakes, and anything else that called for milk. I also bought soy-based yogurt.

To avoid eggs: Don't worry. Google the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) and get a list of egg substitutes. You can't use EggBeaters or other things like that because they are made from real eggs, and that's the allergen. But you can use many different substitutes, including mixtures of water, vinegar, and baking powder, or apricot preserves, or applesauce, or other things. There's a product called EnerG Egg Replacer that contains potato starch and tapioca flour; I have't used it, but I've heard it mentioned many times. I actually bought a box a few weeks ago, but haven't opened it yet. After awhile of cooking without eggs, it's like second nature, and not hard at all. I can even do a pumpkin pie without eggs, and you wouldn't know the difference if I didn't tell you.

To do the pancakes, use Bisquick and the recipe on the side of the box, but instead of an egg, use 1 tablespoon water, 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar, and 1 teaspoon baking powder. I use a measuring glass I got at Wal-msrt (beside the measuring cups) for a dollar or so. It's 4 ounces, but marked into teaspoons, tablespoons, ounces, and milliliters. Anyway, put the water and vinegar together first, then add the baking powder which will make the whole thing fizzy. This will give rise to breads, cakes, etc.

Incidentally, commercial breads should be okay, as well as Oreos and Chips Ahoy cookies. Stay away from other peoples' homemade cookies, though. Although there are many egg-free cookie recipes you can find online, your friends won't know about them. And look through your cookbooks. You'll be surprised to notice how many dessert recipes don't use eggs at all.

One lucky thing for you is that labeling laws have gone into effect in the past few years. It's now much easier than ever before to check the ingredients in foods.

The main thing is, don't flip out. You will figure this out. Email me for more ideas if you need to. Good luck!

A.--I'm sure the reason that your dr. told you this is because studies are now showing that children with ecxema are more LIKELY to have food allergies......this does not mean your son definetly has them. If food allergies run in the family your kids also have a greater chance of having them. Since you most likely have a 1yr. apointment coming up I would make a list of your questions and have them handy so you can discuss them with the dr.(If not I would schedule an appointment to go over your concerns). He may suggest feeding your son the foods and watching for a reaction or if there has been issues with his feedings already he may go right to an allergist and have your son tested. There are plenty of gluten and dairy free products out there now, even at your neighborhood grocery store so I don't think finding food for him to eat is going to be hard ---
Mostly I would say, don't stress yourself out over this until you know for sure what you are dealing with. As for starting him on foods until you are sure....Fruits, veggies, and lean proteins, and soy or rice milk are all good as far as table foods. If you are all having a special treat like ice-cream or something and you don't want him to be left out, you can get "tofutti" it is a soy 'ice-cream' that could work for him.
Good-luck
Peace

Take him to a pediatric allergist. They can test him for all of the those and immediately tell you what he's allergic to and they will give you info about what foods to eliminate from his diet. I knew my oldest had a food allergy, but I could not figure it out so I took him to an allergist around 9 months and the test for eggs was positive. It's not a fun test, they get pricked on their backs for the different foods, but it only lasts a second and then they are fine. Once you know what the allergy is, it's much easier to find foods that they can eat. It will definitely be easier to find foods with just having to eliminate one thing instead of all three. After having been through this with my oldest, it made it much easier for me to determine that my youngest was allergic to citric acid. It can be a pain to have to adjust to, but they usually outgrow it pretty quickly. My oldest outgrew the egg allergy when he turned 3 and my 2 year old is already back to eating foods with citric acid. There are also all kinds of websites out there with recipes and food choices for certain food allergies. I even found a chocolate cake recipe without eggs so my son could eat cake on his birthday. It is really good too, my husband actually prefers it to other cakes.

Have you been to see an allergist yet? If not, I would make an appointment and have him evaluated. The allergist will test him to see exactly what he is allergic to and how severe it is. This will really help in watching labels and in planning his nutrition. Good luck!

Although it is a pain in the rear, it is possible to feed your child foods he is not allergic to. I have two children and between the two I can't fix anything with eggs, dairy, or peanuts. Plus, chocolate gives me eczema.

At first it was difficult but I have learned to look at every ingredient and find safe foods. Different brands will have different ingredients so you will need to look every time. And just because that one brand is ok this week does not mean it is next. Manufacturers change them often.

If you need any other help then contact me. I would be glad to help.

Dear A.,

Go to www.Feingold.org for a leading authority on food allergies. Feingold is a 30yr old non-profit organization whose purpose is to inform the public about petroleum based artificial ingredients in our food supply. These harmful additives can cause a multitude of symptoms and can also cause sensitivities to normal foods. They have a monthly newsletter and have helped hundreds of thousands of families over the years. Best wishes.

L. B.

One possibility is rice. I'm also allergic to wheat and, besides regular cooked brown rice, I can bake with rice flour. Many health food store items also use rice flour instead of wheat.

Since he's still young, you can add the rice baby cereal to anything else you feed him, like mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes or whatever, to give him more nutrition. Again, I would recommend buying the infant rice cereal from the health food store. That may help him avoid other allergies in the future.

He will be able to get enough nutrition. You'll just have to be a little more creative. It won't always be easy, especially when you're eating out or at someone's house, but of course it's worth it.

I wish I could recommend a food allergy book to you. I've read so many that they blend together. Check on Amazon or go to your library to see what they have. Most food allergy books contain recipes and sample menus, too.

We have been dealing with this too, our little one is now 15 months old. We eliminated milk products and he has been on soy formula, then switched to soy milk. Now he is back on regular milk and we are removing eggs. (Allergy testing is not bad, just scratches on the back and wait 15 min for reaction. Dalton didn't even mind it.) You can find many good foods right in the grocery stores these days, Kroger carries soy milk, soy yogurt, soy cheese, etc. Be sure to read labels and look up egg allergies on the internet, there are some things made from eggs that are listed as other ingredients on labels, such as "lecithin", etc. There are some pastas made from brown rice that I found in the organic section of Food City, if you have one of those. The pasta was also egg-free. It tasted pretty good, we all could have eaten it, but it was rather expensive. After a while, you just get used to reading labels all the time. A good thing I have noticed is that many companies now list allergens like milk, eggs, wheat and peanuts at the end of their ingredients list. Makes it faster to eliminate a product. Good luck!

You said the doctor said "could" have an allergy to these things. If it were my child I would seek the advice and testing of another doctor. I wouldn't try and take him off everything until I was sure what the problem is.