Itchy Ears & Head: Eczema? Allergies? Help!!!

Updated on September 20, 2009
B.H. asks from Bridgewater, NJ
36 answers

My 6-month-old daughter has a case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. By day, she is a little angel. By night, she is an itching and scratching terror!!!

Although her day naps are peaceful and uneventful, she cannot stay asleep at night. She wakes up every hour or so scratching so hard that her ears and forehead turn red. This only happens at night. When she awakens for the day, her skin looks fine and doesn't have the tell-tale rash and redness of eczema that she has behind her knees and at her inner elbows. My wife and I have been to 10 (yes, ten) different pediatricians. Each and every one has said that her head-itchiness is caused by eczema. Minus the one genius doctor that said ignore it, all of the doctors have prescribed low dosage steroids (Cutivate or 0.025% Triamcinolone Acetamide) or suggested the OTC steroid, Hydrocortisone 1%. WE REFUSE TO USE STEROIDS ON OUR CHILD!!! These Doctors also don't suggest seeing an allergist until at least 9 months once they can draw blood for a CBC test.

We have tried the following non-steriod options to no avail:
- Mineral Oil (Baby Oil) - Immediate skin reaction
- Eucerin & Aquaphor
- Gentle Naturals Baby Eczema Cream
- Aveeno Moisturizing Lotion
- Mymix (prescribed)

We only give her a bath every three days and use Aquaphor Gentle Shampoo & Wash on her head only. We do not use any surfactants/cleansers on her body.

I am not looking for a debate on steroid use. We have decided not to use them.

Has anyone had something similar occur (and found a solution)?

Has anyone taken their child to an allergist before 9 months?

Could this be teething? All ten doctors said it wasn't teething related. She is not yet showing any teeth. She does bite on her teethers when we offer them, but only for a minute or two. She never liked a pacifier from day one.

HELP!!!

Thanks for reading.

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So What Happened?

Wow! Thanks for all of the responses! You all are great!

Other details:
- We spend some nights at my parents' home with baseboard heating (not forced air like at my home). She has the same nightly itching there, too. Nevertheless, thanks for the "cleaning the air ducts" idea. Sounds like a good idea for my home anyway.
- We have had each doctor check her ears for infection, and they have never seen any indication of infection.
- We have tried giving her Benadryl at night (2/3 tsp) to stop the itching. No effect.
- We have tried giving her Baby Tylenol at night to counter the teething pain. No effect.
- We switched our detergent to Dreft. We wash all of our clothes with it, even ours, so that we don't let her rub her face on our shirts without it being washed with Dreft. The first night we did this, she was slightly better in that she got about 4 hours of sleep initially, but then Mr. Hyde came back.
- My wife is only breastfeeding.
- Also, just to clarify, there are no rashes on her face to visually confirm it's eczema. It only gets red from the rubbing but is fine in the morning with no scaliness or dryness that is stereo-typical of eczema or psoriasis.

Many thanks to you all for reading and responding. Keep them coming.

Featured Answers

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T.Q.

answers from Albany on

Does Eczema really just appear at night?? Sounds like maybe a misdiagnosis. Could it be heat rash or something else? If it were allergies or Eczema, it doesn't seem like it would just flare up at night.... just a thought.

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E.R.

answers from New York on

Hi, B.,
It is more important to figure out WHY she has this eczema rather than to just treat its symptoms. It is an allergic reaction, as you suspect, and so get the test done if you can, by someone more keen on treating the cause of illness. Important also is to keep in mind that allergy tests don't always solve the situation because at this young age, allergies don't always show up; they are many times "sensitivities" rather than a full blown allergy. But that being said, you can try an elimination diet. At 6 months, if she is eating regular foods, start by just feeding one food only for a week and see if there is any change. Then add one new food every week. If she is formula fed, it could be a milk allergy. If she is breastfed, it is up to mom to try eliminating foods which could be the problem. Environmental allergies, as others suggested, may be the culprit; chemical clothes detergent, chemical household cleaners if she is crawling and in contact with the floor, etc. These are all common and if pinpointed, can be helpful when eliminated. I wish you the best of luck solving the mystery! P.S. It sounds like you are ready to start seeing a naturopathic doctor and/or a homeopath!
PPS: I've come back to edit my response because I re-read your request and the shampoo you mentioned, while saying it's gentle, still contains many chemical compounds, which when researched you will find them to be toxic. It sounds like your daughter may be sensitive to this? Sodium Laureth Sulfate, in most cleansers (makes bubbles) is not considered safe by many health-conscious people. Here is a link to one site mentioning this product:
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product.php?prod_id=1011...

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D.S.

answers from New York on

HI B.,
Eczema can be a horror for anyone especially an angel like yours. I suffered for 10+ years and found the answer for my condition. There is a company called Mealaleuca and they have products that cleared up my ithcy, red and inflamed skin. The lotion is called Renew and is fabulous. They also have childrens body wash and shampoo that has also helped cause I bathe my son. The laundry soap is gentle. No more ithchy legs in the middle of the night. You get the idea. I would love to share more if you are interested. Please contact me @ ____@____.com of luck.

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S.M.

answers from New York on

Hi B.,

You recieved a lot of good advice but I just wanted to give you one more idea for a little relief. My baby has eczema as well and she is now 15 mos. old. We don't see it as much anymore but she had it very bad when she was about two months old. We did end up giving her the steroid creme but what helped her itching head throughout the first year was simple. I used rosemary oil. I bought it in a natural food store. I rubbed it into her scalp and then I combed her scalp with a fine tooth comb which lifted all of the dry patches right off of her head. Don't be afraid to rub a little bit harder. If your baby has a lot of hair it may be hard to see but if you look closely you may see the dry skin and it is itchy. You can probably use baby oil or other oils but I read that the rosemary oil is good for such things. The first few times I did this, a lot of her hair came out in clumps (this is normal for babies anyway) but after I cleared up all of the dry patches it allowed the hair follicles to grow and she grew this gorgeous head of red hair.
As for the rest of her body, bathe her less often for shorter periods (the quicker the better), and make sure the water is not too warm. The warmer the water, the more irritated her skin will become. Also, make sure you use a non-fragranced moisturizer after. I used callendula but the dr. said he wouldn't use that, he said to use one without fragrance such as Lubriderm unscented.
You should still see an allergist at some point if this persists but a lot of times it goes away on it's own. My son had the same thing when he was about two. Little dots all over his body. I had him tested for everything and he was not allergic to anything that they could find.
Good luck with everything and I hope we all helped you a little.

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K.K.

answers from New York on

My son was the same way, and we now have the situation under control. We did opt for steroids, which ultimately seem to have solved the problem, but here's a list of all of the things we've done to help:

Hydrocortisone 2.5%
All Free, Clear detergent (or other laundry detergent free and clear)
No dryer sheets (fabric softener)
100% cotton clothing
Only bathe 2x/week – cool/warm water
Lotrimin on head (if flaky – could be fungal infection)
Dove soap (Aveeno OK)
Cetaphil/Aquaphor (soap/moisturizer) (Aveeno baby ok)

Have you seen a pediatric dermatologist yet? I might try that before an allergist. The other thing we did (that didn't solve the problem but got us all some sleep), was that we swaddled him in a Miracle Blanket much longer than most people recommend, somewhere around 9 months. He could break out of a normal swaddle very early on, but the Miracle Blanket is a bit tricker. Seems a little sad b/c we were basically just keeping him from scratching, but it seemed to work in our case.

I know you're not interested in steroids, but what we found was that we had to use the hydrocortisone a lot for the first couple of weeks, but since we got it under control, we hardly ever have to use it, just for flare ups. So his total usage has been very small, and it definitely solved our problem.

Good luck.

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S.W.

answers from New York on

My son has eczema and I took him to an allergist at 7 months. They did a skin test and also a blood test. We found out he was allergic to multiple foods.

If your wife is breastfeeding, have her cut out dairy and soy from her diet. Dairy can stay in her system up to 2 weeks. See if that helps.

Also, try washing your daughters beddings and clothes in All Free and Clear detergent. Maybe since its only happening at night, there is something that is irritating her skin in her crib.

Good luck. I feel your pain.

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L.M.

answers from Syracuse on

My son, who is now 6, had severe eczema as a baby. We read and were told so many different things (ie. limit baths, take 15 min baths every day, etc) that it was so frustrating. It turned out he was allergic to milk, eggs and nuts. We had him tested at 9 months, but maybe 6 months isn't too young. I would call some allergists to find out. Perhaps you may want to limit dairy, or experiment with a different formula or if breastfeeding, have your wife cut out dairy. I have heard that dairy is a likely culprit in these instances. Your baby could have no allergies as well, but may be sensitive to different soaps, detergent, etc. Unfortuantely it is a lot of trial and error. Also, it gets worse in the winter months. I hope this was helpful. We did end up using hydro. 1%, but it was much more severe, covering his whole body, before we realized what foods to avoid.

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K.T.

answers from New York on

Hi B.-

This may not be useful to you, but with my son I found that the Aveeno Baby Soothing Bath Treatment was a big help. It's made with ground oatmeal, and it really calms red itchy skin. Like I said, it may not help you because how long will your daughter's ears be in the tub?? :)
My other thought for you is that she probably sleeps with her head to the side, so an ear would be touching the crib sheet. I would try a free and clear detergent, or a natural detergent, in the washing machine, and do a double rinse cycle to make sure everything is out of the washload (and avoid using a dryer sheet). It may be that she is reacting to the detergent you are currently using.
Good luck! I know that finding out what is bothering a young child is soo difficult and frustrating!

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K.T.

answers from New York on

yes, we had our son tested for allergies at 6 months - through the skin testing. He had eczema, rashes, irritability and it happened more when I ate his (not known) allergens. He was diagnosed with milk, tree nut, and peanut allergies at that time. Once I removed them from my diet completely, the rashes went away and he was more of a happy baby.

good luck. push for a referral to an allergist. It took us many months of going to the dr every time he got a rash to finally get referred. Keep pushing and if the baby is breastfed, you may try fully cutting out some allergens (look at labels, etc) for a week or two and see if it helps (elimination diet). With that information, you may have a strong case to finally see an allergist.

good luck.

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K.P.

answers from New York on

You have gotten such wonderful advice so far. I thought I would add this information to the arsenal of data you have already received.

Shea Butter
Almond Oil
Jojoba Oil
Castille Soap

These are the products I use for my neice's eczema and they work. All can be found at your local health food store. The castille soap is a concentrated liquid natural & gentle soap which you can put into a separate container and add water to dilute to the needed concentration. A little goes a long way with all of these products. They make the skin soft, smooth and soothed.

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L.C.

answers from New York on

B.

Look at Old Timer's Herbals (www.oldetimersherbals.com) - the owner Ray Yetter might be able to suggest an Herbal alternative for your daughter. I have tried the Golden touch skincare solution for my son (the bugs love him) and it helps. Also I would try different detergents - this could be a cause as well.

Good luck- L.

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A.F.

answers from New York on

i can't help with the itching, but for teething i used Gentle Naturals Homeopathic Teething drops. found at Target in the baby aisle. essentially chamomile and was a life saver!

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L.D.

answers from Albany on

Best thing I ever found was Arbonne's Baby Care Line. My older two had eczema horribly and my middle son had it so bad, he would wake from naps bleeding from scratching. The Arbonne products not only cured their skin but it kept my son from scarring. I couldn't be happier! My oldest will be 9 next week and he STILL uses the line because storebought products make him itch.

I wish you the best!

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S.M.

answers from New York on

have you tried bathing & shampooing with dr. bronner's unscented castile soap for baby (light blue label)? I had a similar prob w\ my dd when she was abt a yr, just not so extreme. I switched to this soap as well as to moisterizing with badger balm baby cream then moved to california baby afteer winter as it is lighter...(bb is greasy)completely cured prob. The baby oil & Aveeno etc all have fragrence which makes prob worse. Tea tree soap is also grt for eczema, but might be too harshfor her unless you really dilute it. Forgot to mention my dd was diagnosed w\ eczema too, but that seems to be catch all for any and all skin conditions so I dismissed RX creams. Going unscented/organic my dd has not had a prob since & I uses same on my newborn with no probs. good luck

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A.S.

answers from Rochester on

I don't know how much help I can be, but my kids had eczema on their bodies, and Aveeno Concentrated Itch creme (it's in a smaller sized lotion bottle) helped.
I don't know how much hair your child has, so it might be kind of messy...
Maybe there's a spray hydrocortisone that people use for sunburn, etc.?
I don't blame you for not wanting to use steriods - I don't like them either...

I have psoriasis on the scalp so I can relate to the itchiness, but I used Neutrogena T-Gel shampoo - you could try that? It's stinky but it works. Not sure if it may be too strong for her age?

Try looking online for over the counter treatments, like babycenter.com or webmd.com?

Good luck!

Keep trying alternatives...:)

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M.D.

answers from New York on

My daughter does have allergies and eczema. We did not experience the same thing you are. But we have had our fairshare of eczema. The allergist recommened changing her bathing soap to Cetaphil. She is now 6 years old and we still use cetaphil. There is a cream I like it's not prescription but you have to get it from the pharmascist. The name of the cream is vanicream. you can check their website. It's all fragrence and dye free. I got mine at CVS and asked the pharmasict. It was like $20

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E.D.

answers from Albany on

My child suffered from eczema as well although it doesn't sound like to the same degree as your. I too was hesitant to use steroid creams and found a nuture based product line from Arbonne. You can check it out at http://emilydemund.myarbonne.com. I am not trying to promote my own website, but I am a consultant for the company and only decided to become one after using the baby care line with such success! You can read about my story on that website above and see the products. Let me know if you have any questions. Good luck with whatever you choose to try! It is so hard to see your baby suffering!

C.M.

answers from New York on

Hi B.,
Funny, I just read about a natural remedy for eczema yesterday. Take some regular flour, toast it in the oven until it is light brown. Let it cool, then rub (gently) all over her scalp and the affected areas. Do this several times a day/night. The eczema should be gone within a few days.
Good luck!
Corrie Moone ("Grams")
from the Pocono Mts. of PA

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S.W.

answers from New York on

I can certainly understand about not wanting to use the steroid but my son had eczema on his face and our doctor prescribed cutivate. We only used it sparingly and it disappeared and most importantly my son was comfortable. My husband made a good point about little one and health issues that may pop up. B/c they are unable to speak with use we should do what we can to help them feel comfortable.

If you'd like to try a homeopathic doctor go to: http://www.hpakids.org/
and find a physician there that might be able to assist.

good luck

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A.D.

answers from New York on

You have lots of good advice. I would definitely use the scent and dye free detergents and fabric softeners. All and Tide both make these.

You can bathe your child even less than you are, in the winter my daughter had such dry/sensitive skin she usually only got a bath once a week (since the dirty parts get cleaned with every diaper change anyway).

I would call an allergist and see what their minimum age for testing is, and whether they do skin/scratch tests or blood tests or both. My daughter had an early lead test, and it was a little traumatic on both of us, watching the lab person try to draw her blood, in fact the first person to try couldn't do it and had her manager come in and try. I forget how many months she was, but it was somewhere between 4 and 8. Make sure she is really well hydrated if they are going to draw blood.

And finally, my brother had eczema, and later found out he was lactose intolerant. Our pediatrician, well after the fact, decided the eczema might have been a milk allergy or intolerance, so you may want to try eliminating dairy if your daughter gets any (switching from regular formula to soy if she is not breast fed, or have your wife try changing her diet for a week). What did help my brother was using an oatmeal soap for baths.

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C.M.

answers from New York on

I would venture to guess it is likely something in her diet (or her mothers if she is breastfed). I learned that my son's eczema & chronic congestion was contributed in large part to the dairy in his & my diet; regardless of it being organic dairy. When I greatly reduced the dairy and replaced the milk w/ organic rice milk (many rice products & rice itself is now gmo rice unless organic - I refuse to allow him to have GMO produce); his congestion cleared and the eczema got better. I also installed a water filter on my shower head and ran that through the shower head for his bathwater & drinking faucet from Aquasana as the water in our area is known to be not so clear - that was before eliminating the dairy. Since the filter alone was installed his skin greatly improved! I only used gentle soap (really a non soap that helps w/ skin conditions); I got from a True Value Hardware store called Grandma's Lye Soap. YOu can get it online at secrets of suzanne.com or ask your true value to order it as it is available from them. IT is a very simple product.
I found that all the products you mentioned using to not at all help. The ingredients in many of them actually make conditions worsened especially if not addressing the cause of the condition which is usually food related if not from external causes (such as laundry detergent, soap or water; something the skin comes into contact with.

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K.S.

answers from New York on

Hi B.,

My son has eczema too, and one of the things that really helped, while being very gentle, has been therapeutic-grade Lavender essential oil. It's one of a handful of essential oils that are safe for a baby's skin, and it helps quite a bit with scratching (and also with soothing and helping baby sleep).

Two words of caution, though: Make sure that what you buy is pure Lavender oil (i.e. no fillers and most especially no Lavandin oil, which has completely different properties, but is often used to extend Lavender oil because the latter is pricier). Also, make sure that it is therapeutic-grade essential oil. A lot of health-food store brands are not, and so, while you get the nice smell, you won't get all the benefits. Here is where I buy mine, where what's in the bottle really is 100% pure therapeutic-grade Lavender essential oil:
https://www.youngliving.org/dailymastery
Create your account, then you shop, like Amazon, but in reverse.

Hope this helps,
K.

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G.S.

answers from New York on

You absolutely have to do what you feel is right. She is your daughter and it is up to you from the moment she was born to be her advocate. I'm not sure where you live, but I did take my daughter to an allergist(morristown, nj) before she was one (don't remember exactly how old) and although the woman wasn't extremely helpful, I felt that at that point I did all I could.

The only question I would have would be that if you are not using any type of soap or anything to clean her body, wouldn't whatever you are using just continue to just cover what your daughter does have. I've used a lot of different ointments/lotions on my daughters and without using something to wash that off with, it really isn't even getting to the surface.

I would suggest contacting you local hospital and see if they can be of any help. Good luck!

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R.Q.

answers from New York on

If you can find an excellent allergist who focuses on food allergies, then it might be worth a trip. In your case they would recommend elimination addition testing (blood tests are not accurate below 2 years and even then the false negative/false positive rate is really high).

Basically what you do is eliminate 100% if any suspect foods from your child's diet until you reach baseline (no eczema). If your wife is breastfeeding she would not eat the suspect foods either (cheats and mistakes start you over at day 1). When you reach baseline for 3 consecutive days you test each suspect food (for breastfeeding only babies mom would eat) and wait for 3 days to see if there's a reaction. Reaction=remove food from diet completely. No reaction=ok for now, but proceed with caution in case there's a build up reaction (my DD gets build up reactions from milk. Dairy 2-3 times a month is ok, but more will cause eczema in her. Soy on the other hand happens after any direct exposure--including oil and lecithin which are generally considered safe for soy allergy sufferers :/)

Your "teething symptoms" may actually be another manifestation of food/other reaction. If she has "cradle cap" this also is often another symptom when it extends beyond the newborn period.

Good luck. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions about what I've posted --in a rush this morning so didn't have time to proof it :P

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L.

answers from New York on

Hi B.,
I would say you need to change your laundry products and get her a serious moistrurizing lotion.
I did that with my son. He always scratched and scratched and, like you, we got fed up with the ointments w/steroids. I then was introduced to Renew lotion. It seemed to have helped a little bit until when we were better educated to change our household/laundry products for the lotion to be meaningful. The harsh chemical that touches your daughter's skin are the culprit.
If serious about the well being of your family, contact me.
Good luck.
L.
http://www.mykidsmyworld.com

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C.H.

answers from New York on

Sounds perplexing. My only thought is whether you've tried changing her bedding materials or the detergent/fabric softener/dryer sheets used to wash them? Some kids can be very sensitive to some fabrics, dyes and fragrances. Not sure if that will help, but perhaps it could be triggering the itching? Best wishes!

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B.F.

answers from New York on

Our daughter is 4 1/2 now & battles eczema too. We have used Calendula creams & lotion on her since she was a baby to soothe the outbreaks. It is also great for diaper rash. Some people think that baths should be regular, others disagree. Please stay away from steroids & hydrocortisone creams as much as possible. They have long lasting effects, and can cause asthma later on in kids. You should also look at her diet to see if some foods are making it worse. Also, the change in seasons and extreme heat or cold can make it worse.

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C.G.

answers from New York on

B.-
I had a similair problem that went until my son was 2. At that point I open my eyes to Melaleuca (my husband was shopping from them for 14 yrs - I was skepitcal) - they have household products that are derived from Natural products- the change in his skin came with switching his laundry detergent along with the shampoos and lotions plus baths with their Renew Bath oil.

C.

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A.B.

answers from New York on

HI B.,

I read all the requests and they sound good. My only suggestion is to call an allergist give them all the pertinent info and age of your daughter and let them tell you it's too early to test etc. Also isn't odd it's only at night? If it was eczema it doesn't wait till a certain time to manifest. Something in the crib in her room is irritating her or maybe she is more bundeled at night and too warm and the itching begins? Sounds like you and your wife are doing all the right things, I'm sorry your little one is so uncomfortable. Best of luck. A. B

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E.E.

answers from New York on

OMG....you are describing my son. He is now 7 months old but about 2 months ago he started getting ezcema. Although his face didn't have a terrible rash on it, he would itch and scratch his head and face ALL NIGHT!!! We were actually away in the middle of the adirondacks for the whole summer and didn't have access to his drs. so I went online in desperation and found something called the Peke Moe!! It's made in New Zealand and it's a little pricey (think it was $58) but it has been the BIGGEST lifesaver. You can go on the website and check them out but it's like a sleepsack that keeps their hands inside. He continued to rub his face with this on but it was nearly as bothersome and he FINALLY started sleeping through the night. We got the all cotton one (we didn't get the eczema straps that are optional). You HAVE TO get one....it saved my life!!! For a couple of nights I did use Benadryl (1/2 tsp.) b/c I figured it was better then him being miserable and it did work even though I hated doing it. Also one of my Drs. actually recommeded bathing everynight and immediately after apply a thick coat of Eucerin cream (I know...GROSS)and then wrap him back up in the moist towel for 5 minutes, but this was more for the ezcema on his body not the issue with the head scratching. Good luck and let me know how it works out. P.S the drs. also suggested using Dove unscented sensitive soap and maybe you could try not washing her hair at all for a little while.
E.

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A.M.

answers from New York on

Hi B.,

ECZEMA IS A FOOD ALLERGY. I HOPE YOU HEAR ME, IT IS A FOOD ALLERGY!!

I was there with my daughter too trying to figure out how to get through it and doctors kept saying she'll outgrow it. In my humble, layman's opinion, I don't think doctors get a lot of nutritional training in med school. That said, ECZEMA IS A FOOD ALLERGY. All those creams and treatment just soothe while the problem persists. My daughter had eczema. Lucky for me I saw the best doctor who is a nutrition expert - holistic and all. Dr. Mark Nesselson in NYC. He made a list of all the possible culprits - wheat, eggs, milk, citrus, soy, strawberries, corn. I couldn't believe it, but I eliminated all of these and her eczema went away. Then I slowly tried one at a time. It turns out that she was allergic to everything except wheat. So, I gave her rice milk, other fruit juices, no corn, etc. Now, she's five and outgrew all except strawberries. When she eats something with a trace of strawberries, sure enough, her eczema kicks in and I have to get the acquaphore. Again, let me stress, ECZEMA is the skins reaction to food. Please try to eliminate the above. Maybe even a consultation with Dr. Nesselson if you are near enough. I think it will help. All the best to you and your family.

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M.B.

answers from Rochester on

B.,
I tried to get this private but it wouldn't go. Check into her mattress. I'm not saying bedbugs (because I think you would have noticed), but she may have an issue with the mattress. Try her on your bed - or with the allergy-free sheets.

Good luck,
M.

PS: re read what you posted later, and definitely look into the food allergy on Mom's part with the breastfeeding. Please don't read this as stop - it is so good for her!

Also - does she wear a hat at all? Does this happen when she wears a hat?

C.S.

answers from New York on

I've been there. My little man at about 6 months old had terrible eczema and he would scratch his poor little face to shreds. His was constant, it wasnt better or worse at different times of the day.

Not to contradict what you are saying, but we did use hydro-cortisone on his face to clear it up. It didnt take long, and we used only very little. Once it was clear, it was easier to manage and to keep under control.
But I do understand your reservations about using it. And I respect your decision.

We dont know for sure what caused it, but at 12 months he had the RAST Blood test to see what he was allergic too. This was ordered by our pediatrician. We didnt see an allergist until the results came back positive. He had a reaction to peanut butter. That is why he had the test.

It never occurred to us that his infant eczema was b/c of an allergy. It seemed to flare up the most during cold weather. So we just assumed it was weather related. (Looking back, I dont know why we didnt make the connection)

Not sure if the RAST test could have been given at a younger age or not. It was never anything that was discussed until the peanut butter incident.

Long story short, we learned he was allergic to eggs, milk, nuts, peanuts, cats, and dogs. We eliminated the allergens. Said good-bye to the family pets. And viola. The eczema went away. And its never been seen again.

We have pictures of the cat sleeping next to Joey with his face all red and inflamed. I could kick myself for not making the connection.

Since in your case, it only happens at night, is there something that she is exposed to only during that time that could cause a reaction?? Or perhaps a food or treat she only has at dinner that could cause a reaction?

Lastly, I did find a GREAT product that worked wonders in keeping his eczema in check. Its called Pure Baby Eczema Care. I am sad to say its VERY HARD TO FIND. The only place I can find it is on hardtofindbrands.com. You can check out the purebaby website for info. But the product isnt for sale on their yet. They changed their website, and sine then they havent sold anything online. I had found mind at Babies R Us, years ago. There is a phone number on the bottle, its 888-311-PURE.

I wish you the best of luck getting her eczema under control.

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J.B.

answers from New York on

try Burts Bees Apricot Oil. very gentle and has no chemicals. those other regular store brands have harsh chemicals in them even if htey say "natural." also California Baby products are all natural.

is she sleeping in the same place at night and during naps? could she be allergic to whatever you wash her sheets with? try something all natural from a health food store.

i hope this helps! that sounds awful!

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D.B.

answers from New York on

B.,

If this itchiness and rash that you're describing is coming from Eczema, I would be very surprised, especially since it only seems to take place during the overnight hours. With Eczema, it usually itches any old time of the day, not just during the overnight hours, and believe me, because I'm speaking from first hand experience here,the itch from it can drive you crazy!

A couple of other things that you may want to consider is if you or your wife use a different kind of laundry detergent on your daughter's bedding than you use on the rest of her clothing. If you do, perhaps there may be an ingredient in that that is causing an allergy, particularly if it is overly warm in her room, and she tends to perspire a lot when she sleeps.

Another thing that I would defininely recommend is having the air ducts and heat vents in her room cleaned out by a professional company. As someone who is deathly allergic to all sorts of mold, I can tell you that you absolutely would not believe the amount of mold and dust that builds up inside these vents, and then your heating or air conditioning system spreads it all over your house. Until I got married I always lived in a home with radiator heart. Then when I got married my husband and I purchased a home with forced hot air heat. Within a weeek I had hives all over me the size of my fists, and the itching was driving me crazy! As it turned out, our home's previous owner had finished the basement, without sealing the cinderblock walls under the paneling, and the space betwee the two had mold over 2 inches thick, causing our heater to spread the spores all over our home, unbeknownst to us! I nearly went crazy before we finally discovered what was causing my constant itching, so I would definitely suggest that you have your ducts and air vents profesionally cleaned!

If neither of these possibiities turn out to be the cause, then I would recommend removing anything that is in her room at night that she does not have contact with during her waking hours, and sooner or later you will probably discover the cause.

In the meantime, if you need to use something to alleviate her itching,so that she's able to sleep, I would check with your pediatrican to see if you can dissolve a benedryl tablet in her bedtime bottle or snack. Benedryl is extremely safe for small children, and, in fact, many doctors use it to make children groggy when they need to hold still for an X-ray or a test of some kind, because, in the proper dosage, it is completely harmless to a small child. Another thing that you might try, topically, which is extremely gentle and will stop itching almost immediately is Gold Bond Creme or Powder, as it is extremely cooling to the skin. Just be sure not to let her get in on her hands, or near her eyes.

Good luck in getting to the bottom of this, and I hope this information will be of at least some help!

D.

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M.T.

answers from New York on

Hi B.,

My daughter had eczema when she was a baby too. The only thing that helped her were Arbonne International's baby products. She is 4 now and I still only use their baby lotion, hair and body wash and sunscreen on her. Their diaper rash cream and body oil are the best too! These products are actually the reason I decided to start as a consultant with the company. I have samples I can send to you to try so you can see if they work for her. They are very safe...they're botanically-based, pH correct, hypoallergenic, dermatologist tested, pediatrician approved, they don't contain any dyes or chemical fragrances, they don't contain mineral oil, they don't contain any phthalates or parabens. Our products are not tested on animals and don't contain any animal products or by-products. In fact, they are certified vegan. My information is below. Let me know if you want to sample the products.

M. Targi
Area Manager
Arbonne International
###-###-####
____@____.com
www.mariatargi.myarbonne.com
"There is only one success--to be able to spend your life in your own way."
Christopher Morley

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