Update on Eczema - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Off Topic

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Update on Eczema

Thistle

Veteran

So, I did A LOT of research over the weekend. I am pretty sure it is due to something touching her skin as she has no eczema in her diaper area. It's like the diaper is protecting her. My research was concentrated on what could be causing a contact reaction.

1. We removed fabric softener and rewashed all of her clothes. She still gets it in spots, so I think there is more to it than just this. I also worry if she is still getting it in spots while on the steroid cream, it will come roaring back when we go off it tomorrow.

2. After extensive reading, I think the issue is detergents touching her skin. I spent a very long time looking for pure and true soap to wash our clothes in, soap without any detergents like was available before. There are no large commercial soap flake makers left, and even Dreft is just a mild detergent. I spent a lot of time learning what names detergents can hide under. I finally found a company that sells true castile soap out of Vermont (I learned all about castile soap, and lye soap, and glycerin soap ). Going to try that. Might try to find a soap maker in my area once the farmer's markets reopen, but I don't want to wait that long for her skin.

3. I found someone that sells felted wool balls felted only by washing in hot water (made from wool from their own sheep) Going to use these in place of fabric softener.

4. I removed all cleansers in the house and replaced them with apple cider vinegar and water blends.

5. I also bought from the Vermont store (I suspect the founder has eczema and started the store to make products he could use) true soap to wash my pumping supplies and her bottles.

6. We started using pure organic coconut oil on her skin to moisturize it. I can tell her skin loves it!

7. We got special gauge to read humidity in the house and have been running humidifiers to get it up to at least 30%.

8. I stopped eating dairy last year as it made me sick during pregnancy (just like with DD1), so I don't think that's it (almond milk is quite good!). However, I did give up strawberries for the time. Those had come into season and I had been eating quite a few of them whereas I hadn't in the depths of winter.

9. We already have hard wood floors with just throw rugs and HEPA vacuum. We just need to start using it more.

I figure once the eczema is completely gone without the steroid cream (assuming I have gotten it with one of these changes), I will slowly add back things to try to make life a bit easier.

Amazing what we will do for the little ones in our lives. Not sure I would go through all of this if I were the one that had the eczema.

Off Topic

20 replies

Latest reply was from Isabel

jackiec

Veteran

Great work!! Thanks for the update. Sounds like you're on it. Isn't it true, the lengths we go for our little ones. Have you ever read the book Slow Death by Rubber Duck? Talks about all sorts of hidden toxins.

I don't use fabric softener, but have these cool plastic balls that you put in the dryer to help prevent static cling. They spend half the time kicked around the house, but when they do go in the dryer they are very helpful. They have a centre part where you can insert lavender essential oil sticks (pure lavender) if you miss the fragrance. I don't bother b/c we have been fragrance free in the laundry dept for years. Those felted balls sound useful.

PS Vinegar is the best! I use it everywhere. In fact, I practically cough up a lung if I use any of the commercial stuff anymore.

Good luck with your continued research. Hope your DD continues to improve

Diana

Veteran

I just remembered something. You aren't by any chance using Oxiclean on anything (bedding, clothing, etc) that touches her, are you? I found out a few years ago that I am sensitive to it (contact dermatitis and not a true allergy in my case) when I accidentally bought the wrong version of my normal detergent, and it turns out that a lot of babies are sensitive to it as well. Sneaky, because it is touted as a gentler, safer alternative to bleach.

abc

Veteran

It sounds like you are doing everything humanly possible for her. Please keep us updated.

I honestly don't know nearly as much as you do in terms of chemicals and protecting her skin, so please take this as just an option, but after moving to Mexico I discovered a soap called "neutro" (Neutral in English). It's cheap and effective and does the job without fragrance. I don't know what else is in it, but maybe it could be an option for you? Here is a link to it on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Grisi-Na.....B001T8OD00
you can also probably find it in a local Mexican grocery store, the brand is called Grisi and the soap is called Neutro, a bar should cost less than $2.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Meredith

Veteran

You are a rockin' mama. I hope you find answers quickly!

Thistle

Veteran

Diana - I hadn't thought of the oxiclean. And yes, I have the baby version of it. It even has Baby right there on the label! granted, I did her last load of clothes in dye free, scent free arm & hammer and nothing else.

ABC - I will see if I can find it in the Mexican section of my grocery store. I would love to get a look at the label I mean, soap, real soap, was made for thousands of years. One would think it would still be around without having to go to Vermont to get it!

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

MTBGirl

Veteran

So glad to hear your progress Thistle! Years ago I remember Drs. telling me that Arm & Hammer was one of the stronger irritant detergents. Not sure if that's still the case with the free version. You might want to check on Dr. Bronner's castille soap. I buy it in my local grocery store. It is organic and there's different varieties. And in case your interested, Tropical Traditions offers an amazing organic, unrefined coconut oil. Best of luck! : )

Diana

Veteran

I think Oxiclean is probably not toxic, but leaves some kind of irritating residue for those of us with sensitive skin. For me, the culprit was actually that it was on my underwear; you can imagine how unpleasant that was. It didn't seem to bother my skin elsewhere but I probably have thicker skin than a baby! Apparently people who cloth diaper often use it on their diapers and this can cause irritation.

For the record, I use All Free and Clear liquid and I don't find it irritating (except when I accidentally bought the one with Oxiclean!). I don't have too much problem with fragrances besides finding them too strong, but I do have problems with some harsh detergents and surfactants.

By the way, it's a bar soap so maybe not the easiest for washing clothing and things, but I use the 365 glycerin soap from Whole foods. I use a lightly scented one, but the unscented version contains only saponified coconut/palm oil and glycerin, and it's the least ingredients I've ever seen in a commercial soap. It's cheap (1.79 a bar in my whole foods), sold at all Whole foods, and is pretty long-lasting.

Here's a review I found of it, mostly just so you can see what it looks like:
http://organaholic.com/2012/07.....free-soap/

Summer

Veteran

Thistle, you have really done your homework here. I admire your determined approach to a very tricky problem. Here's hoping that you'll see an improvement very soon. Please keep us posted on your little one's progress.

trekkiegirl

Veteran

Poor little thing!! This may or may not be helpful to you: My dd has super sensitive skin and also keratosis pilaris so I make my own laundry soap. I use a bar of Zote laundry soap (it is very mild basic real soap) and once it's grated up, combine that with borax and washing soda. All very mild ingredients. For the rinse cycle I use a combination of half water half white vinegar. I can always tell when she's been exposed to store bought detergent (ahem at her dads) because her bumps get more red and raised.

Anonymous

Thistle, so sorry to hear. I have skin allergies and one laundry detergent that has worked for me that you might want to consider is Biokleen Unscented laundry liquid. Hope she gets relief soon!

http://www.drugstore.com/biokl.....d/qxp28045

anne

Veteran

Thistle, I have been thinking of your poor baby, but had no wisdom to add. I hope that you research and the suggestions on this thread will help.

deb

Veteran

Thistle, I use the Clearly Natural glycerin soap, unscented. It works wonders on my skin and my husband is using it now.

http://clearlynaturalsoaps.beaumontproducts.com/

rachylou

Veteran

Oh, I was just thinking - y'all will have to remember your own clothes have to be rewashed.

Fabric softener is pretty deathly...

Debbie

Veteran

Thistle-it sounds like you are doing an awesome job of getting this under control. If you have a Whole Foods or Trader Joes near you they usually have someone on staff that can recommend products to you for different allergies.

Sara L.

Veteran

I'm glad to hear she's doing better. I hope you can figure out the culprit so it doesn't recur.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

YOU ARE AMAZING. That little baby is blessed to have you as a Mama.

AM

Veteran

Well done Momma! Keep up the great work and great care of that little one. And thanks for sharing.

Anonymous

Thistle you are such a great mother. It has been many years since I had babies but I always did an extra rinse of their things with white vinegar, which removes detergents and softens. I especially needed it for diapers and had no problems with diaper rash when using the vinegar.
I'm glad that your little one is doing better. Any product containing sulfur in any form gives me eczema, especially shampoo and my scalp. Beware of anything that makes suds.

Marilyn

Veteran

Darn! Sorry to hear this, Thistle. My daughter has had severe eczema since birth. She's still struggling with it at 28.

In terms of products it's a lot of trial and error. She's learned over time what works for her skin and pretty much sticks to it. When she was little we used a lot of Glaxal Base Moisturizing Cream. It was recommended by the doctor. Currently she uses Cetaphil products.....things like the Barrier Cream work well.
In terms of detergent, I just used a regular fragrance free detergent with vinegar in the rinse cycle. No fabric softener or dryer sheets.

I would assume your daughter hasn't been tested for allergies yet since she's still tiny. But down the road that may shed some light on things as well. For instance Diana will break out if she sits on grass with bare legs. She's allergic to various nuts, cats and dogs, dust, and pretty much everything that grows outside. She's developed sensitivities to some fruits and vegetables in her 20's.

Try not to worry about the steroids. People, many who probably didn't know what they were talking about, would make comments about it and scare the pants off me. But she's used it as needed all her life and she's fine. I tried various homeopathic alternatives, etc. but in the end nothing but cortisone cream clears her up.

If I can be of any help please let me know.

Isabel

Veteran

I hope that helps ! My heart broke for your baby. Coincidentally, I was going to throw out the idea of Castile soap. No one in my nuclear family has eczema now ( though my dad does ) , I use Castile soap for household cleaning, for my daughter's nebulizer parts, for laundry, etc. I put essential oil drps in for cleaning the bathrooms and when I take a bath. I LOVE Castile soap. I also use baking soda and vinegar.

Good luck.