Relieving Itching with Eczema

Try an oatmeal bath. There are commercial preparations, but hommade works at least as well if not better. You can just put 3 minute oatmeal (not teh instance kind with sugas) in the warm water, or you can pre-cook it, draining off the "milk" to rub on the skin, or you can sew or tie oatmeal into small cotton bags to wet with warm water and rub on the skin. Rince.

Consider changing the soap you use for laundry, of you bath soap or shampoo.

My 26 month old daughter has eczema. I found that vaseline, with no fragrance (things used to make lotions smell good tend to irritate her) works best. After her bath, I slap it on really thick on the bad spots and put night clothes on that cover the spots (long pants with socks, or feetie pjs) so it won't come off on the sheets. In the morning it looks much better. You just have to stay on top of it and trim his nails really well so he won't be able to scratch. Hope this helps. ~M.

I see you have received lots of good ideas and reccomendations. I also have a son with eczema (he's 8 and has suffered his whole life). Aquafore works great as does a product from Mary Kay it's called Extra Emoillent Night cream ( also known as the pink stuff) But I would highly reccomend going to see an allergist. My son has both food and enviornmental allergies and since we have been treating his allergies the excema has been better.

I would strongly suggest a chlorine(chemical) filter from a local health store. It fits on your showerhead. The amt of chlorine in our water is very toxic. You soak in it and breathe it. A 10 min shower is the equivalent of drinking 10 glasses of tap water! I have one on all our showerheads and run my childrens' bath from the shower. They cost about $40 and you replace the $19 filter once a year. Since my boys don't take a bath EVERY night...I stretch the filter till 1.5 yrs!! Two, get Burt's Baby Bee soap for babies or something similar. The detergents and chemicals in the soap, plus the chlorine in the water are too harsh and not safe for kids. Three, get a natural laundry detergent. Nix the extras like chlorine bleach and fabric softeners...unless you can find natural ones! Think about the amt of time your childs skin touches the chemicals in fabric...towels, clothes, sheets, etc. Plus the toxic foam hand cleaners they make for children. I think you'll notice a difference in the way her hair and skin feel if you can implement these changes!! It might help the severity of the outbreaks...hence less itching. I do know that my mom has eczema..eggs really makes it worse. I am sure there is a different 'trigger' for everyone though!! Good luck!

The best thing that I have tried so far that seems to work wonders is Aveeno baby products. The cooler the water when bathing the better it is for the skin with eczema, warmer water seems to dry the skin more. Hope this helps.

It's true, eczema is an allergic reaction, but not just to a food. Sometimes even Dreft will irrirtate a baby's skin. If your baby has this as severly as you say, you really do need to switch to the wellness company that Michelle I. already mentioned.

True Story:
A woman I met through this wellness company had a 9 year old daughter that had eczema so severe on her legs that she would not wear shorts in the summer. She had this affliction since birth. They went through numerous tries with over-the-counter meds, and at the dermatologist to never have it improve. At 9 years old, mom switched EVERYTHING that touched her daughter's skin to the products from this wellness company. Within 2 weeks it looked better than it ever had in 9 years, and within one month it was completely GONE!

Many over-the-counter lotions have DETERGENT in them. The manufacturers do this so that your skin will eventually dry out again, and you need to use the lotion. You really should switch to a natural alternative and get away from the garbage that is in a grocery store.

try tea tree oil. hope it helps.

Tis the season for eczema, unfortunately! My 3 year son has had eczema since he was 7 months and I have a couple of tricks that work great. 1) Don't bath him everyday - it really dries out their skin. 2) Get yourself a good steriod cream and DON'T be afraid to use it. It works wonders. 3) We use a few different types of lotion - Mustela has a skincare line specifically for Eczema - if you go on their website it will lead you to a store in your area, Aveeno is great. Just make sure you are using a lot morning and nighttime.
Also, make sure that if you take him swimming rinse him off really well with water and then apply lotion. I have made this mistake and it just kills my sons skin.
For the itching, my doctor has recommended Zrytec during the day and Benadryl at night.
Good Luck!!

i know how you feel it will never go away but you son will learn to live with it. my son has eczema and has had it since birth when he was younger hes now 5 his skin would get so bad he would bleed from the crese in his arms and legs. he had his own med. cabint in the bathroom because of it. the only thing i got to work was doc. smith its for diper rash but it worked great when he would break open i just used that all over it make him feel so much better he would bring it to me to put on and not only did it stop the itch but heal it fast.so try that and then try just alittle bendrel at nightwhen he goes to bed it will help. if you want when he gets out the bath put it on with out drying him and lotions you should do that way too. J. w. killeen tx

Aveeno makes an oatmeal bath add-in that is great. Also when you bathe a child with ezcema, don't let them stay in too long. A five to ten minute bath is better for them. There is an OTC lotion made by Eucerin called "calming cream". It works great. It is about $7 for a tube, but it goes a long way. Also detergents, bath soaps, fabric softeners, shampoos, and even your perfume can irritate ezcema. Try using Dreft or Arm and Hammer laundry detergent. Baby shampoo and soap, and a fragrant and dye free dryer sheet. You can switch them one by one, to help find what bothers the child most. I have ezcema myself (since birth) and so does my son. OUrs stays under control so if you have any other questions feel free to ask me. Good luck.

Hello! My name is A. and I live in Elgin (technically coupland) and I work from home. My 2 year old had excema really bad when we moved here in January and I started my business. I was refered by another "work from home" mom to a company called melaleuca (www.melaleuca.com) and she told me to try their "renew lotion". I did and it had amazing effects on my daughter. Her excema is gone! I have a bottle of it and if we were to meet up I would definitely let you have it. They have trial sizes that only cost like $2 or something. Totally worth it. All of their products are all natural, no chemicals. I can tell you more about it if you need help figuring the website out. I love them! They are awesome! They have like shampoo and conditioner, cleaning supplies, makeup, vitamins. All kinds of great stuff. They only sell online or from a catalog though but it will get rid of the excema. They also have an anti itch cream that works great! My number is ###-###-#### and I work with Motivated Moms so if I answer the phone that way don't think you got the wrong person. Lol! Oh, and their products are gauranteed so if it doesn't work you get your money back! There is a one time membership fee of $29 but it's well worth it to make your child more comfortable and happy! Call me if you want to chat! I'd love to hear from you!

My youngest would get this seasonally. After his bath, without bubbles, I would apply vaseline and then put socks on his legs. I cut out the heel and toe area so that only his legs were covered. I saw a big change within a few days. Best wishes!

I have a child that went through this same uncontrolable itching. We found that eucerin applied at night and then wrap with a moist cloth then with a dry loose ace wrap helps a lot. It is very time consuming and we also had my daughter tested for food allergies and found regular milk and corn products were not for her. If you can keep cream on the skin and keep the child cool in the warm months.

PS eucerin or its generic conterpart doesnot wash out of pajamas very well.

Good Luck.
If you can find a support group locally with other parents it might help.
S.

My son and daughter both have Severe eczema, to the point that their ankles bleed. We have started using aquaphor (it is think and greasy like pure vaseline). It comes in a jar, like a cream. I use it twice a day. Their skin has improved so much that we now only have to use it once daily. It is the BEST!!!!!

There is this website that has Dr's talking about the natural NO side effects juice, go to www.Dailyhealthjuice.com ,
Dr. vaughn johnson and dr templeman both talk about his issue and how quickly this helps,

you can see pictures on www.InsideMangosteen.com, click on photos, there is a child with bad eczema and shows how quickly it help him.
This is not a drug, this is a juice, called xango the mangosteen juice,

It helped us, might do the same for your baby, all you need to do it try it.

Oly

There's a bar laundry soap that you can bathe with that works miracles on itching. It's called "Fels Naptha" and last I knew, HEB carried it.
GOod Luck.
L.

I have it as well as my daughter. Allways keep moistorizers available. Also when I notice "patches" or the itchiness begin to flair I apply Aquifer. It is actually for baby rashes but I thought heck it's clear it works good there why not try it. Sometimes if caught soon enough it takes care of the problem completely. Also sugar rubs in the bath tub help to moisturize and get the dead dry skin off.

Milk bath or oatmeal bath. They do wonders for this condition.

Hi S. - Eczema is a sign of a food allergy, I'd highly suggest cutting out dairy and seeing if that helps. The top ones are generally dairy, eggs (either whites or yolks), gluten, soy and/or corn. Hang in there! We've been there and done that. W

I've recently started using a product called Honey Guy on my 15 month old and it works great, better than anything I've used before, and it's all natural. The website on the tube is www.honeyguyproducts.com, but I bought mine from someone I work with that is a distributor. If you are interested let me know and I can put you in touch with her. Good luck.

Dear S.. I am a grandmother of a grand son who has eczema. When he is with me and starts scratching I rub him down with Hydrocortizone cream. The moisturizing of the skin relieves the ned to scratch.Also if the cream is used severaltimes a day it helps clear up the skin and the child will feel better.

Hi S.,

My name is T., I'm a 40 year mom with a 20 1/2 month old daugher who has had eczema since birth as well, in particular behind the knees to the point where it became this thick patch of dry flaky skin, and then little patches here and there. My cousin just recently told me to put baking soda in her bath water. She said she would use about a cup for each both for her two sons. I use 1/3 of the box in my daughter's bath and it actual worked. It's amazing:) For the first time in her life she does not have those red patches behind her knees. I only use it for a couple of days until it is gone and then start again if it comes back. My cousin has also recommend that I get some goat's milk soap, haven't tried that yet but it's worth a try. But diffenately try the baking soda in the bath water, it really worked for my daughter Brooke:) God Bless you and your son, TammyT & Brooke Jolie...

my son has the same thing, and a long time ago, our old pedi before we moved here simply suggested: bath every other day, to keep skin from drying excessive. Use Dove sensitve soap, and lubriderm lotion every day. When there is a big scratchy break out....I put trimiclone(sp?) lotion on it, and he doesn't itch anymore....

My daughter has this real bad too. I had to pull her off everything and use only Arbonne products on her. From the Arbonne shampoo to the ABC baby care wash and lotion. Everything. Arbonne is all natural. Most kids with eczema can't take all the perfumes and additives in stuff.

You may want to have him tested for food allergies. My son, who is now 12, had very bad food allergies from birth until 4 years old. One of the first signs that he ate something he shouldn't have was a rash or severely dry skin.

I myself have eczema. One thing that I've done is to keep my skin moist. I bath with baby oil and apply it immediately after a bath or shower. Eucerin lotion is also good. The itching comes when the skin is dry. so as much as possible keep the skin most. The pink stuff I know this is spelled wrong calymy lotion. I hope this helps some what.

ARBONNE Baby Care products work great for my kids! If you like I can help you get your hands on some. Just msg me back. ~A.

www.arbonne.com
#10408107

Hey S., my name is T. I recently started shopping from a new store that is products that are no toxic and enviromently safe. They have also stated using these products in your home has helped with eczema. For more information join my website @ http://www.themomteam.com/TRACYSOWELL

If there is an issue with pH, you can use white vinegar as a rinse after a bath. Just warm it up so it's comfortable and apply all over. The smell goes away after a little while, but whats a little vinegar smell if it helps?

Best wishes!

Hey S.,
I see that you have gotten some great advice. I want to let you know that I'm an Arbonne consultant. Arbonne has a baby care line that most of my customer's that purchase the line are adults for thier eczema. The line consist of body/hair wash, body lotion, body oil, diaper rash cream and sunscreen.
All botanically based & ph correct, non-irritatin/sensitizing & formulated w/o nut oils. Plus, lots of other benefits. Give me an email and I will send you a sample. Good luck!
www.stephanielowe.myarbonne.com

Hello, I shop with a wellness company that offers an amazing lotion called Renew that has worked wonders for many people with eczema. We often receive testimonials from people that have tried several medicated cremes, steroids and therapies and had no relief and then after using the Renew lotion saw incredible results and relief. I would love to share these testimonials and the details how to get these wellness products if you are interested. Please visit www.livetotalwellness.com/freedom and request more details. I would love to help you and your son.
M.

Aquafor ointment at night......love this stuff!!
It's over the counter and works great.
Also, there are LUSH products that I'm told work well. You would need to order online if you tried these as there is not a store in Houston yet. There is one in Dallas I think.

don't know if this will help you; but, my son has excema break outs especially when the weather is changing. My pediatrician prescribed "hydrocortisone valerate cream" and i also cover his legs (that is his place of outbreak) in Aquaphor. Aquaphor is messy to work with but his outbreak will "go away" usually within the day he has the breakout and the Aquaphor keeps his skin from drying out and therefore reduces the outbreaks. You may want to ask you pedi about this route. Just a thought....good luck.

My 4 year-old suffered with eczema when she was an infant. I am a physical therapist and often treat wounds in the clinic. We use an ointment in the clinic called Aquaphor. You can buy it at HEB. Our pediatrician prescribed Elidel (now off market) and I would "seal" it in with the Aquaphor. The results were amazing. I would suggest to use whatever prescribed cream your MD has you on and cover it with a layer of aquaphor. Also, when the outbreak clears, continue treating the prone areas with Eucerin lotion first followed by Aquaphor. It will help prevent future outbreaks.

My son also has eczema, and my grandma told me that I should get garlic and smash it up and use the liquid in the area. That worked form my son. Hope it works for your son.

- C. -

Hi S.,
My son suffers with eczema also. He would scracth so much when he was little and during his sleep that he would develop impetigo. I was finally introduced to a company that makes safer products for the home and are tea tree oil based. The tea tree oil was so healing for his skin and they have a wonderful lotion called Renew with a high concentration of the tea tree oil. It also comes in a bath oil which I would bath him in at night. Simply switching out the laundry detergent also helped tremendously. If you would like more information on these products, please send me an email, I will be happy to share what worked for my son. After seeing first hand how well the products worked for him, I could never go back to shopping over the counter chemicals again. K.
MOM CEOS
###-###-####

Eczema is an ongoing condition that requires continuous attention. Apply lotion everday morning and evening so the skin never has the chance to get dried out. Over the counter, low percentage cortisone cream may be necessary to keep the itching at bay. Just use it sparingly. The smallest amount necessary to deal with the itching. If this doesn't handle the problem you should get prescriptions from a pediatrician that is familiar with the treatment of Eczema. There are lots of new prescription creams on the market that work wonders. Please don't let your child suffer with Eczema. It is miserable! You really need to treat it in order to make the itching stop. Once you have it under control you will need to be dilligent to keep it controlled because once the itching starts the more you scratch the more it itches. A very temporary fix to break the intense itching is to use cold packs on the the itchy spot.

S.,

Eczema can be frustrating. I have had it all my life. Unfortunately there is no way as of yet to get rid it, but you can manage it. Keep the skin cool and dry(heat can cause eczema to flare up.) If you haven't already you can try Eucerin CREAM. It is thicker than the lotion and will last longer. When i was little I remember my mom putting neosporin on me (when my eczema got really bad) and wrapping my arms and legs in plastic wrap. It sounds crazy, but it did help. She did that at night so I wouldn't scratch. You can also see if anything he is eating is causing his rash to worsen. I have a reaction to sugar and milk. Another common causer is egg yolks. I hope you find something that works. Eczema is no fun!
M. K.

For my 7 year old daughter. It is mostly on her arm. Last year she was having severe itching and it was beginning to spread. She started to get in on her wrists back of her neck scalp, and forehead. I was getting worried because when her eczema is flared so is her asthma and she constantly coughs and wheezes. Someone told me that pork was the cause. I had been giving her kolaches for breakfast and those pancake sausage dogs. So we took pork out of our house and within a week she started coughing less and her eczma quit spreading.We also took out McD's chicken nuggets because that also seemed to bother her. She now only has it on her arms - that crevace(sp) above the elbow and her flares up occur during allergy season. Our dr said kids with asthma seem to have it most. My son also had it when he was born. But at 6months he caught the chicken pox. Severely. After that he has not had a problem. Weird. But it is gone. He is now almost 4 and we have not had another eczema rash.
Good luck

I know when you get ant bites, you put vinegar on it and it takes the sting and itch away. My son too has very sensitive skin. We use hydrocrotisone 1% 3 times a day. Also, we bathe with dove white soap. We also use aquaphor by eucerin it is really greasy but works. it keeps his skin moist. You can get it at CVS.

Go to www.mynikken.net/lizcoker and check out the water.
It is very important to have PH balanced water to drink and to bath in.

Look into allergy testing and treatment. It's a lot of work but worth it. I have seen miracles in childhood skin problems with allergy treatment., provided there are allergies. In my past experience, eczema can be a result of food allergies.

Grind up regular oatmeal in a food processor or blender, add buttermilk powder (found on the baking aisle at groceries) add about half a cup to his bath. Do not use soap until the end so he does not sit in soapy water. You can also add some chamomile tea to his bath.

Yes, I have some botanical products you must try. Have you tried the Arbonne baby line? I have had great results and testimonials from my clients. Contact me through my business site on mamasource.
B. Brothers/Arbonne International
###-###-####
____@____.com

Hi S.,
I work with an awesome wellness company who is known for helping families with eczama and eventually eliminating it totally. I would love to share our lotions and bath oils with you so give me a call and I know our products will eliminate the itching very quickly.

B.
###-###-####
www.MoreForMyBaby.com

I have been told that Jojoba oil is good for that. It is the closest thing to the skins natural oils. Eczema is caused because the skin isn't producing enough oil. If you are interested I sell Skin Care products and I have Jojoba oil in my catalog. www.sensaria.com/beckysspa

Hope this helps.

Becky Scheffer

I would consider a probiotic. They are supposed to be great for allergic type disorders. The number 1 thing that worked for my son was using breastmilk topically, provided you can your hands on some. I would dab that on and coat it with Aquaphor and it was gone by morning.

I now use Resinol, which has Calamine, Zinc, corn starch, and lanolin, and then coat it with Aquaphor. Works almost as well as breastmilk.

I was reading recently about BAG Balm, comes from cow udders. I'm sure it's right along the lines of breastmilk. I'm going to try to get my hands on some myself.

I would sure try the probiotics for long-term relief, though.

Best wishes!!

Hi S.,

I can't say enough about essential oils. I use the oils for just about everything. Check out this website and click search and you will find so many testimonials on the use of natural oils. http://www.oil-testimonials.com/7532
I always try to use these oils instead of over the counter meds. If you want more info go to my website youngliving.org/sherylhawkinson I will be happy to help you if you have any questions.

If you go to the internet and do a search for cures with honey and cinnamon you'll find one for eczema. I had several friends with children who have eczema and they say they have had great result with the honey and cinnamon paste remedie.
good luck

I have similar advice to Judi S. on 4/25. After 4 years of my son suffering from eczema and the Pediatrician not very sympathetic (he had it too), we found some relief. Tide detergent and others were the culprits. We only use hypo-allergenic now. We found out by accident. I had changed detergents, but didn't associate that with the improved condition. Fall came and he put back on pants from Winter, back came the rash. I washed everyting again. Minimal problems since. I use my own detergent when travelling/vacations. Pediatrician never discussed detergents with me.

Hi S., have you tried cetaphil? You can find it over the counter. It comes in soap and lotion to use after the bath. My other suggestion is take your baby to a Dermatalogist and see what they say.

Good luck,
Elisa

Hi S. - have you tried working with posssible food allergies or changing your laundry detergent, baby products like his bath soap and shampoo? Also you could try children's claritin at night, but there is obviously something he is reacting to. It could also be external - allergens outdoors. I would try and figure this out for the next month. Good luck.
Alli

I am in the same boat. My son who is now 9 has had eczema since he was 2. It always seems to get worse in the winter and summer, when it's dry. We have tried everything under the sun for itching and healing. The most important thing is to control infection. I keep my son's fingernails very short and file off all the sharp bits. I have found an amazing cream and bath oil that is totally natural and organic at the Herb Bar. The brand is Max Green Alchemy Skin Rescue Cream and Blooming BAth Oil. It's amazing. I give him an oil bath at night, then put on the cream and then put him in a sleeping suite which usually consists of long sleeved organic cotton pjs and cotton socks. We have just found and tried an amazing product you should give a try. THey are specially designed organic cotton pjs with feet and mittens. Since your son is younger they will have your size. My son is wearing the largest size they carry and I am asking them to search for larger sizes. Their website is www.eczemzcottoncomfort.com
Try 'em out and let me know how they work. THey are both a bit expensive but are much healthier and safer than the cortizone creams and other Western solutions.

At a health clinic I discovered Shea Nut butter and it was a Godsend. Not only does it heal hemmoroids, cuts,burns,etc, it is what I use on my face as a base for makeup. You can get it in the health food stores or on the internet. Make sure it is pure shea butter and not mixed with anything else. Also, you could use Aloe vera gel. I grew up with eczema and my youngest son had it. Being exposed to the sun helped me,and my mopther used all the creams, mineral oil,etc, but I did not know about the healthy alternatives. Good luck. I'm sure he will outgrow it. Good luck and have faith in the meantime.
Mama K. (of 4)

Take him to an allergist right away! Severe itching and eczema could be from food allergies or different products you are using on his clothes, etc.

My 2 boys had eczema as infants and both have severe food allergies. Now that we avoid the foods they are allergic to they have beautiful skin!

A good allergist will do the skin prick test for accurate results. Blood testing for allergies is not as accurate as skin testing. Trust me, I found out after lots of misinformation.

I have a son that also had a problem as a baby w/eczema that caused him to bleed. He was tested for allergies before he even turned 2. The dr. told me that it was "the itch that rashes" and if you see him start to scratch, put lotion immediately even if you don't see anything. He told me to apply it 5x a day and it REALLY helped. When I apply creme that much, he really doesn't need any meds much at all, even tho he prescribed them to him. Make sure you get a creme that is free of chemicals and perfumes tho.

I hope you find what works for you. I recently found a co. that has all natural products free from dyes, preservatives and chemicals. My son was so excited that he got to use the same soap and shampoo as everyone else. (Now he is 3.) I am happy too b/c these products don't cost me an arm and a leg like the others did and he is getting better and better each day. (We have only used them a little over a month now.)

Also, for some reason citrus is known to aggrevate the problem. I found out when I looked in a natural remedy book. He was eating it like crazy and now I don't let him anymore. That has helped along w/using the chemical free soaps and lotion.

Best wishes to you and your son,
M.
Mom to 5 Wonderful Kids
www.4MyChildrenSake.com
MOMs Helping MOMs work From Home

As you've heard from many others, eczema is an allergic reaction. Have him tested for allergies w/ a blood test (RAST test, I believe is the name) and completely avoid everything that test shows as an allergy. Even before doing that, you can quickly change to all-natural, organic products for his skin, laundry, and cleaning products in your home. I have one son w/ asthma and one with major skin allergy issues. You can search these products and recipes on the web for more information. Google "organic cleaning recipes" for making your own cleaning products, using stuff in your kitchen, which is really inexpensive. Oprah did a show about this on Earth Day, so I'm sure she has info about it on her website right now. My local HEB carries organic cleaning products, Mrs. Meyer, Ecover, and Seventh Generation are all wonderful products if you don't mind spending the money. Natural laundry detergents such as 7th Generation, Ecover, Allen's Naturally (Dreft drove my sons' skin nuts---lots of fragrance in it---but all of these products work fine for us. Ecover is my favorite.) For skin products, such as soaps (hand and bath), shampoo, lotions, etc., stick to organic products. I find them at HEB, Whole Foods, and on the web. California Baby is by far my favorite, www.californiababy.com (I buy it at Whole Foods or online). It's expensive, but everything I've bought lasts a really long time, so I'm buying it less often. Highly recommend the sunscreens, hair and body wash, and lotions. These are about the only products my youngest can tolerate. I've heard very high praise about Shaklee products, but I have not tried them. www.shaklee.com. They are more expensive, but last a long, long time so the cost is not much higher in the long run. Also, go to www.cosmeticdatabase.com to check all body products that you use, on both him and the rest of your family. It rates products on toxicity, and has been a very valuable resource for me. When I've stayed w/ products that rate 0 to 2, a very low toxicity, I have found that my child does not react to them. Good luck! I hope this helps! Remember, you can spend almost no money, or lots of money on this stuff. It all depends on if you will take 5 minutes mixing a simple cleaning recipe or you only want to buy it pre-made. Also, consider in the overall cost the cost of medications to treat the eczema, the "cost" of the pain for your son, etc. In the long run, the cost of going organic and all-natural will be cheaper because you won't continue having the health issues.

Have you tried Desitin? It the passed that has helped our kids.

I use witch hazel on my own eczema. Allergy season makes it worse. Have you tried eliminating foods from his diet one by one like milk, wheat and citrus? I have heard putting a banana peel makes it better too, but not tried it yet. Calendula is calming.

I've heard that lavender oil is useful for eczema so I googled it and found this site w/ some home remedies that you might try. http://www.blackpearlbotanicals.com/eczema.htm They sound like they're based on good principles - I know oatmeal is supposed to be soothing to itchy skin and it mentions that as well. Anyway, if you can find something natural that helps, it's always better than medications. I hope this helps!

Hi S., this might sound a little crazy but try cornstarch. My grandmother told me to rub some on my son who kept scratching his stomach and the itch was gone almost immediately.

I feel your pain. Our now one year old has suffered from it since day one. However, we found out that he had lots of food allergies that were making his worse. So many food allergies present themselves as eczema and are left untreated. I would would have never known that, and my pediatrician did not even say that. One of my doctors happened to mention it to me when he saw our sons skin. I would definitely ask about getting him allergy tested. For children of a young age, they can do it as a blood test. In addition to doing that and changing his diet (he ended up being allergic to milk, eggs, nuts, wheat...all the things I consumed while breast feeding and some of what is in almost every food on the shelf) our pediatrician prescribed some medicated cream that helps so much!

I have been told I worry too much, but hey...I would rather do something and find out that is not the case then never know and leave something untreated.

Good luck!

My daughter is 9 and has been dealing with eczema (psoriasis) whatever for almost her whole life. We purchased sheets, PJ's and pillows from an allergey-free shop out of england, but any 100% cotten sheets and pjs and an allergy-free pillow will do. I have a cream made at my compounding pharmacy (just petroleum jelly whipped into a cream) call aquaphilic. It costs about $8 for a large jar and is not greasy. We also give her a medicine (liquid) called Hydroxizine. It is a prescription antihistime that also has sedative properties. Helps her from scratching in her sleep and to sleep better. You would have to ask your baby's doctor about the medicine to one so young, but we only give it when she is really bad. So after the bath and before bed we lotion her up and put on long sleeve and legged pjs and also cotten gloves with medicine if her hands are bad. Obviously with a baby this would not be practical. If we are consistant this actually works very well. We too have tried steriods and Eladil, but this works and it does not contain any fragrance that seem to aggrevate her condition. It sounds like a great deal of work, but she is now old enough to be embarassed by her sores from scratching and puts the cream on with little assistance. I hope this works for your fellow. Itching is miserable at any age. Please let me know if it works. We tried dermatologists and they wanted to put very expensive creams and foams on her and they didn't work as well. Good luck.

L.

My Mom and I both suffer from extremely dry skin, and my youngest boy seems to be following in our footsteps. I have battled eczema patches on my legs and hands &/or wrist for as long as I can remember. With us it is a matter of managing and maintaining.

*What works best for us is Dove soap which was recommended to us by a Dermatologist when I was a kid. Dove is formulated for dry skin, and of course now you can get it in scents, for sensitive skin (which is what it has always been made for), and exfoliating.
*Aquaphor works wonders, it doesn't stain, and is thick enough to stay on. I find using Aquaphor repeatedly helps to keep areas moisturized.
*Aveeno lotions help when itching is an issue.
*Arbonne has an excellent line of baby products. Their baby oil is fabulous! It really absorbs well, unlike baby oils that are in the stores that are petroleum based.

We have to be very careful about harsh and/or scented products. Hard water will aggravate the condition, so if you have hard water where you live please consider getting a water softener installed. It has really helped us. I have found I have an additional sensitivity to the OTC hydrocortisone ointments, as well as some of the prescribed products. Lastly stress will really aggravate eczema.

Good luck!

I just recently heard that bathing them in baby oil and then rubbing them down with baby oil after their bath relieves the itching... good luck..

Have just heard from another mother about a cream called Acidmantle (sounds great). She said her pediatrician. Said it would work wonders...and it did. I just found out last week anD have not tried it.

The other thing I tried that has been amazing is a Hague water system.my fIve year old went from scratching (bleeding in some places) to sleeping through the night with significantly improveD skin (have been doing this around three weeks).

Hi. I am a 48yr old mother and grandmother. As I understand it, eczema can be made worse from what is eaten. Limiting or eliminating sugar will help tremendously. Never try to "dry it up". This will just cause cracking and bleeding. There are specialized creams that can be prescribed from a dermatologist. Good luck and God Bless.

A dermatologist told us the only detergent you should wash clothes in is Cheer Free, the powder. Also said absolutely no fabric softener and to use Cetaphil or Purpose bar soap for bathing and especially to stay away from Ivory soap, the most drying of all. Took care of much of the problem.........Very grown up husband has delicate skin, reactive to much. He and I both have given up on pharmaceutical creams which seem to be useless, have scary side effects and don't seem to do any good except to keep the pharmaceutical companies going. Try going on the internet to buy "Rex EME" cream. Cheap and awesome and has taken care of several problems the dermatologist couldn't do a thing about. Also try Aloe gel from the health food store. If you can't find the Rex EME online, get back with me and I'll hunt up the address for you.......Oh, you also should know that most of the skin creams you get by prescription have the same preservative in them; my husband is allergic to that preservative and actually gets worse when treated with them.

Not only do you have to be vigilant about attacking the eczema, but you have to use the right lotion. I had eczema on my temples, right near my eyes. I use Melaleuca's Renew Intensive Skin Therapy. After a short while my eczema cleared up and never returned. I use this same lotion on my kids. My daughter has extremely dry skin - almost to the point of going into eczema, but we keep it healthy by using the Renew.

For more information go to www.melaleuca.com or email me directly at ____@____.com can shop with Melaleuca as a Preferred Customer and get loyalty shopping dollars back every month you shop for free products. I have saved so much money, my kids are healthier, and I get to use safer products in my home without all the chemicals that cause most of our health problems these days. I was skeptical about this company because they truly do save you money, but I gave them a try three years ago and don't ever plan on shopping anywhere else again!

J.
www.livetotalwellness.com/janislanz
www.melaleuca.com
www.saferforyourhome.com

S.,
My 13yo daughter has had eczema since she was a toddler. My pediatrician recommended that I use only Dove soap for sensitive skin (no perfume or dies). Also, do not change laundry soaps...if you find one that works well with few problems stick with it...frequent changing of soaps and perfumes can make it worse. I have always used Tide, so I stick with it for laundry and Dove for the shower...limit bathes...soaking in water frequently is not good either according to my pediatrician. I hope this helps. God Bless you and your family. M.

Have you tried drinking goat milk instead, if not already on goat milk?

I recommend trying Xango juice. I would apply it topically and give it to him to drink. We have seen great results with this. My grand-kids love it. Call me and I will be glad to give you a free sample ###-###-####). Visit my website for more info at www.eliminatethebox.com.

Hi S.,
i did'nt read any of the other respons ,because i myself have eczema ,and have all my life i'm 49 AVENNO makes some great products for children they are oatmeal based,and work well you need to not use harsh chemicals when cleaning ,always use the same laundry soap ALL makes a great one die and fragrence free try to keep the skin moist just but lotion on several times a day .AT night you can but vassilene on the places that are bad ,but it on thick and put foots on the hands so strachting in sleep is not easy .BENADRLY is great you dont have to give the full dose ,so the child will be knocked out all the time but a small amout will help.Please dont say dont sratch because if you have you would know you have too its like something is under your skin.If your in the Brownwood area DR Lipzig .is great have some allergy test ran ,that can be a big help also .I hope this helps if it dopes let me know .best of luck to you
L.

Hi, I have eczema also. Once you start scratching it is very hard to stop. It feels so good, its almost like you are addicted to it. Does your child have allergies that you are aware of? You may want to try eliminating items from his diet and see if that helps to control the eczema. Also, ALL free and clear is good for washing laundry for people with eczema. My pediatrician said we should all wash our clothes in it not just my sons, he has it also, because we all hold him and he is touching our clothes.
Have you tried lubriderm lotion? After bathing and drying him off put the lotion on him immediately and then dress him. A lot of people with eczema have allergies to the perfumes in lotions, detergents, and some foods. For instance, my son cannot have milk products and has to drink soy milk or he breaks out. He reacts the same to perfumed lotions. I also use Dove sensative skin bar soap on him so he doesn't have reactions. I realize your child may not have the same allergies, but thoutht this may help. Best wishes!

we have had luck with tea tree oil

Hello, You have some great advice. Eczema is a skin allergy that flares up with the change in wheather and or anything that irritates the skin. Asthma, allergies and eczema are all the same. My oldest has been to asthma and allergy speacialist for 5 years now and that has been the best thing thats happened for us and dealing with her flare-ups. But the main thing is to stay on top of it. When bathing your child just use warm water and or a very mild soap, but too many baths can dry the skin. make sure u moisturize everyday. Aquaphor and eucerin is good, and hydrocortisone. No frangrance lotion. But if u do love for ur baby to smell like a baby I mix johnsonandjohnson babylotion (small amount) with the eucerin.

I didn't read any of the responses before I posted this one, but I have had really great luck with Blue Star Ointment. It doesn't specify on the label that it's for your son's condition, but I've used it for things not specified and had amazing results. Examples are athlete's foot as well as fever blisters that get larger and won't go away with anything else. It does say that it's for itching, and I figure it's worth a shot if nothing else you've tried works. You can get it at Wal-Mart in the pharmacy section as well as other stores. It's not expensive either.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

Look up a book by Dr. Don Colbert - you can go to his website at http://www.drcolbert.com/. Put eczema in the search and it will suggest the best choice for you. He has natural ways to helping with these types of things as he has experienced them himself.

God Bless!

Well, I also have a 28 month old son that has had eczema since birth. His eczema varies in severity. The areas that we treat most often are his cheeks, inner bend of elbows, and backs of knees. The flare ups have many contributing factors like exposure to sun and frequent bathing/swimming. During the warmer months, my son (being the true-blue boy that he is) is always playing hard outside and getting so dirty. His doctor told me to bathe him only 2-3 times a week if possible, but I have to bathe him daily. I am very cautious with what I'm using to bathe him, though. Many soaps (like johnson&johnson) do not have the appropriate pH balance for infants and children, so it may aggrivate the situation. Aveeno and Arbonne ("ABC" line for kids-body wash, body oil, & lotion) are 2 good lines to use. I've had good luck with both. When my son gets really bad, I use Aveeno Oatmeal Baths and very rarely will I use the steroid creams. However, I do NOT feel comfortable exposing him to steroid creams often, so I avoid them if at all possible. I treat him with the oatmeal baths 5 nights in a row and can see a big difference. Of course, I'm always hydrating his skin. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! And don't forget the sunscreen. It really seems to keep it manageable.

I have two daughters with eczema. Not to scare you, but eczema can be a part of a triad of allergies, asthma, and eczema. My daughters have all three. There really was nothing I could change in their clothing that would help them. For me, it is all about managing their allergy symptoms. During seasonal allergies, antihistamines with lotions (Aquafor, cortisone cream, Ellidel, etc.) When they are sick the eczema flare ups are worse. (It's one way I can tell when they are really sick). The eczema completely goes away when they are sick enough for prednisone or (Orapred). Please just don't use some sort of natural plant product that may cause an allergic reaction you might not be ready for. Good luck.

I never use cortizone or steroids, in fact I dont worry about eczema at all anymore. My daughter had huge spots all over her body. I used mary kay revitalizing mask formula 2 I put it on her and let it dry durring dinner then washed it off in the bath. After a few days it was gone. IF there are open scratches use mary kay extra emolient night cream instead of neosporin. It works better faster and gets rid of the itch. I dont sell mary kay and I rarely used it until I found this out. It is a life saver! If you have a consultant call her if not email me at ____@____.com and I will send you to my consultant who knows all about my eczema problem
kris