Baby has Severe Eczema - YouLookFab Forum

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Baby has Severe Eczema

Thistle

Veteran

DD2 was diagnosed with severe eczema yesterday. She is covered in it, and it is severe enough that at 4 months the doctor wants us to use a steroid creme to get it under control.

In the meantime, we have to start removing any possible underlying causes. She is exclusively breastfed, so the doctor does not believe that is the root cause. So all shampoos, lotions, wipes etc. have to be removed. I started rewashing all of her clothes with a dye free scent free detergent as that's what I could get. I am looking for a better choice, but my area is not exactly friendly in B&M stores.

DH doesn't see it as a big deal, but he has no allergies. He doesn't get it.

The idea that you can't let anything with fragrance touch you (think make-up, lotions, deodorants, shampoos, etc.) is foreign to him. He doesn't realize how much of it there is. The doctor says there is a slim chance she'll outgrow it, but doubts it given how sensative my skin is. After talking, he actually recommended using my products on her (cetaphil, coconut oil, etc.) as he thought it would be better than most of the baby products available.

I had really hoped and prayed they would get DHs complete lack of allergies and sensativities

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37 replies

Latest reply was from Neel

abc

Veteran

Aw, Thistle, so sorry to hear this news. However, think of it this way. DD2 has a momma that is knowledgeable and caring, so she will get the best treatment out there from someone who truly understands her diagnosis.

Hugs to you and your little ones.

Deborah

Veteran

Thistle I am sorry to hear this. My son had awful eczema when he was a little baby also. I have to be honest and say I don't know a lot about it. The Doctor didn't go down the allergy route but rather prescribed creams etc. Well none of them worked. Then a friend of mine recommended Hemp Cream by the The Body Shop. Within days the eczema cleared up. I aways keep a tube and some months ago Master 12 developed an extreme dryness on his face, within 2 days he was back to normal. I realise that Master 12's eczema may be a different variety to your little one's but I thought I should share.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I wonder if there could be a connection to the baby's gut bacteria and the eczema? And if you eat probiotics (the kind that are safe for infants - I have some myself that were marketed for infants) I wonder if that might help? The only person I know who had severe eczema all their life seemed to finally get relief when they started making and eating kefir.

carter

Veteran

Ugh! My daughter had it very severely as well. Back then (20+ years ago), he prescribed elocon and called it a day. It wasn't even considered back then that it could be environmental or food-related. Today, when she's "low-carb dieting" (not eating grains), it's virtually non existent. When she is eating grains, she still battles it. If I had to do it again, I would cut grains out of my diet while breast feeding. There may be tons of causes. You're off to a great start with the products used on her. If there's no relief, maybe take a closer look at your diet?

DonnaF

Veteran

Poor baby! I order Charlie's Soap powder over the internet because it is scent free and rinses out quite well. I suppose winter's dry, heated air is no help at all.

My DD gets eczema (and localized lupus) as well, and steroid cream only marginally helps. Her flares are associated with stress, but I'm not sure how one can assess a baby's level of stress.

Don't you also have one or more furry pets? Could it also be triggering a reaction?

Style Fan

Veteran

Poor DD2. I have very sensitive skin as well. I never use products with scent in them.

Thistle

Veteran

Our biggest issue is we don't know. Yes, we have a kitty, but we also have no permanent carpet, either. And kitty isn't allowed outside.

Eczema is usually caused by more direct contact, like soap or lotion, although environmental factors can cause it too. For me, my skin goes ballistic over scented products and some dyes.

Food can cause it too, but she exclusively breastfed, so that minimizes the risk there. Yeah, a lot of trial and error just to figure out the causes.

rachylou

Veteran

Poor baby. Heat and dryness can also bring it on. Do you guys use a humidifier? (or are those not ok these days?)

deb

Veteran

I am so sorry about your DD. I have had eczema all my life. To the point where my hands crack and bleed. Summer is worse for me and I never found what causes it. I will be doing the same thing that I believe is keeping it under control then all of a sudden it pops back up.

Sara L.

Veteran

Oh, poor baby! I have no advice just wanted to send positive vibes. Hopefully you can find the cause. My older son has a dairy allergy but we don't have any skin allergies. I have no allergies at all and DH has hay fever/asthma type allergies so we don't know where the food allergy came from.

Jules

Veteran

A few years back I believe the advice included adding fish oils to the mom's diet (I know these things change all the time, so look that one up!). Also, how often do you bathe her? You might try reducing baths, at least for the winter.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Sorry to hear that Thistle. Have you tried health stores? They usually have some selection of soap. When I had babies I did laundry for them exclusively with baby soap - the same one I used to bath them. No detergents at all!
Another thought: even if you are breastfeeding she still can get food allergies from your milk. I remember once when I ate strawberries - and my son was all puffy and red after nursing. It is worth it to watch what you eat as well for now - just in case.
Sending healing vibes to a poor darling and comforting hugs to you!

AJ

Veteran

Oh no! I pray you'll be able to find a solution soon. Is it making her irritable?

tulle

Veteran

Poor baby! I recommend using no soaps or commercial creams at all for now. Oats are wonderfully soothing for the most sensitive skins: a handful of organic rolled oats knotted in a clean soft cotton sock can be dampened in warm water and used for cleansing (just squeeze until the milky oat "juice" comes out and use like a sponge.) I make my own skin salve by warming olive oil just enough to melt a bit of organic beeswax in it; stir and pour into a clean jar--great for diaper rash protection. I also find that people prone to eczema should avoid fuzzy synthetic fleece fabrics; they can make the skin sweaty and irritated. Good luck!

Astrid

Veteran

I'm sorry Thistle. I have neurodermatitis, but it's much better now than it was as a child. It just flares up slightly with stress. I think using very simple unscented products is a good idea. I know what really helped me as a teen was presribed flaxseed baths. Not the oil, it was pulvery stuff you added to the bath. I had to stay for 15 Minutes in these hot baths, no showering afterwards. They made me feel knackered and I always fell into bed afterwards, so you might take it easy with the baby or talk to your doctor first.

Sal

Veteran

Oh gosh Thistle, I know how hard that is. My sister's baby has had extreme excema from a young age. I am happy to talk to you about her experiences but know you may be overloaded with ideas.
Sending you my best wishes and feel free to send me a PM if you want to

Anonymous

Oh, how awful Thistle. I'm so sorry. I have no experience with eczema, but I hope you can get to the cause of it soon and that little one gets some relief. Poor mite, she must be miserable. ((hugs)) to you.

Summer

Veteran

You have my commiserations, Thistle. Two of my children and a grandson suffered with eczema from birth. My DD and grandson were severely affected, but both are now virtually clear as adults. My DS had a milder form and was clear by age five, so please don't give up hope that your little girl may grow out of it eventually.

We used a combination of emollient creme, emulsifiers for the bath, and very sparing applications of steroid creme for major outbreaks. I endorse Deborah's recommendation for hemp creme, which my DH uses for his dry, sensitive skin. Simple is good, too, maybe when you DD is older.

I know how frustrating it is,trying to avoid the irritants in virtually every toiletry and detergent product, and also trying to work out what the triggers are. It's all a matter of trial and error, I'm afraid.

Good luck with all this, Thistle. "One day at a time" is a good maxim to follow in cases like this.

AM

Veteran

My sisters-in-law both cleared up psoriasis with diatomaceous earth. Not sure if this is relevant but you might want to check into it. And I'm so sorry. Keep smiling and yes, "one day at a time."

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Thistle, I had to look it up a little more just to see. I found these articles that may be helpful.

ECZEMA AND YOUR GUT
http://www.lynnmoralesnd.com/a.....czema-gut/

http://articles.mercola.com/si.....-risk.aspx

Eczema in infants linked to gut bacteria
http://www.sciencedaily.com/re.....231351.htm

Anonymous

Oh my! I went through that with my oldest DD, and she suffered with it until age 7. My doctor attributed it to stress, as my first husband left us when she was only 10 months old and was nowhere to be found for years. Anyhoo, we did the creams and everything. The best strategy was to buy those outfits that cover the entire body and snap or zip up the front. That prevented her from scratching too much. She still dug at her ears until they bled, though, and her baby pics all show her covered with eczema. After age 7, it cleared up and she never had any more problems, thank goodness. She's an adult now and has very clear skin.

Summer

Veteran

Coming back with another thought, Thistle. I know you like to wear cashmere, and wondered if that could be a possible trigger? Sheep's wool is a known allergen, but it might be worth checking out cashmere, also; just a thought.

SharLa

If nothing else seems to work, some breastfeeding moms begin to watch for a relation to what they are eating and any reaction with baby. Thas been used when colic is a problem, but it may be worth exploring for your situation.

Alassë

Veteran

I'm so sorry about this stress on you and your baby, Thistle.

Anonymous

I am so so sorry, Thistle. My sister has severe eczema as well. Although the environment plays a role in her outbreaks, the major culprit is stress. My sister has learned to control her outbreaks by managing her environment (harsh detergents, jewelry, stress).

Thistle

Veteran

Texstyle - after reading those links I am wondering if it was my antibiotics with a delayed reaction. I had a severe ear infection so bad I lost hearing in my left ear. I was on massive antibiotics for 11 days in early February to get it to clear up. I took probiotics during that time to prevent the yeast infection I get every time I take antibiotics. I wonder if there could be a connection. The pediatrician didn't think so, but maybe . . .

KikiG

Veteran

A friend's baby had the same problem, and it cleared up magically when she went to cloth diapers. Something in the chemicals in disposables was causing the immune flare and resulting in the serious skin lesions.

kellygirl

Veteran

Ugh, I'm sorry you and baby are going through this. Allergies are the worst--and people without them don't really get it. I've heard that coconut oil is very good for eczema. I hope that you can get sorted quickly. Sending healing vibes your way.

unfrumped

Veteran

So sorry for baby's allergies. I know you will do all the things needed to sort through causes and cures, or manage as best as is possible, since easy answers may elude you. You are an excellent mom. Remember to take care of yourself, too so you have energy to take care of the little ones and not flame out!

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