Eczema? XP from BF

DahliaFlower

I think my LO may be developing eczema.  He is EBF, I am already dairy free and gluten free.  Are there any other offenders I should be thinking of eliminating?

Also, we had been using some Aveeno moisturizing products, but I think we're going to switch to something free of methylparabens etc.  (maybe Original Sprout).  Any suggestions?

TIA!

BSnipes35

DS1 is four years old, and we've dealt with severe eczema from birth. I caution everyone against lotions and washes. All he needs is a bar of Dove soap and some Vaseline or coconut oil for moisturizing. I'm an adult with eczema, and Aveeno burns my skin.

You can try things like Cetaphil and Cerave, but get the tub not the lotion that's in a pump bottle.

As far as foods, corn (baking soda, cornmeal, cornstarch) was a trigger for DS1. His diet was very limited from age 2-4. But he's able to tolerate it now. He also had acid reflux as a baby, and citric acid was a trigger. I switched to formula before three months. It was too hard to try and figure out what was getting through to him. Once we started table food, it was easier to connect the flare to a food.

DS2 has it now, too. He is EBF. So far, I haven't seen any food triggers. But I also have never exposed him to the soaps and lotions like I did with DS1. Eczema is very tricky to deal with, because it waxes and wanes so much. You'll drive yourself crazy trying to "fix" it and trying to figure out the triggers. Chocolate was also a big one for DS1 (I forgot to mention that). Try eliminating the chemicals first. See if that helps a little.

JMU_Bride09

I agree; Vaseline is the best! I use hydrocortisone cream on flare-ups as well as vanicream daily in the morning and aquaphor/vaseline daily at night. I also only give LO a bath every five days with daily wipe downs in between.

Salemkitty13

LO had a reaction to the Aveeno products. We use Cetaphil products and Aquaphor.

I'm also trying to figure out food sensitivities and its been hard. We are off dairy, beef, eggs, chicken, nuts and chocolate. I read that once they are older infants that its probably a protein or family allergy. I just started soy free also because after almost three weeks I haven't seen an improvement. If soy doesn't do it corn and wheat are next. Here is a link about elimination diets.

https://www.askdrsears.com/topics/feeding-eating/feeding-infants-toddlers/food-allergies/elimination-diet

I will follow this thread. I'm interested if anyone has information.

PB102012

We have had great luck with Aveeno.... But I seem to be the minority.

DahliaFlower

Salemkitty13 said:

LO had a reaction to the Aveeno products. We use Cetaphil products and Aquaphor.

I'm also trying to figure out food sensitivities and its been hard. We are off dairy, beef, eggs, chicken, nuts and chocolate. I read that once they are older infants that its probably a protein or family allergy. I just started soy free also because after almost three weeks I haven't seen an improvement. If soy doesn't do it corn and wheat are next. Here is a link about elimination diets.

https://www.askdrsears.com/topics/feeding-eating/feeding-infants-toddlers/food-allergies/elimination-diet

I will follow this thread. I'm interested if anyone has information.

Wow!  I thought my diet was restrictive!  Right now I'm off gluten, dairy, peanuts, chocolate.  Good for you for managing to avoid all this other stuff without starving.  

I agree with your comments re. predisposition.  DH has eczema himself and I have lots of environmental allergies and sensitivities.  

We started out with Aveeno, which I used to think of as being more natural, but the truth is that's all marketing, it's really not much different than any of the other mainstream products out there.  We already used (have always used) Honest Company shampoo / bodywash which is free of chemical additives.  We recently started using the Original Sprout "Scrumptious Baby Cream," which is very pure, no irritating chemicals, and I feel like it's worked very well.  I also have some Aquaphor for patches that get very inflamed.  We bathe LO only every few days and do most of the washing with soapy hands rather than an abrasive washcloth.  

RMarie88

We're having success with Aveeno and Aquaphor. We bathe her every other day with the Aveeno Baby Cleansing Therapy Moisturizing Wash and put 1/2 a packet of Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Soothing Bath Treatment in her bath water. Then gently pat her dry and apply Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment to any rough or red areas then put Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream everywhere else. We also wash all her laundry and our own shirts in detergent and fabric softener without dye or perfumes. Good luck!

anyert2

We have had luck with the Aveeno. We bath him every other day and then put the Aveeno lotion on daily. If there are any flair ups we use the hydrocortisone the doctor prescribed but we have been lucky and haven't used that but a few times. We also wash all of babies clothes in Dreft.

fiddlefern

DS1 has awful eczema.  We lather him up with Vaseline or Aquafore 2-3 times a day.  Also you may want to try using some BM on it.  DS2 has a milk case and BM usually clears it right up.

stephl3055

Did anyone else's pediatrician think that their LO's eczema wasn't allergy related?  LO's doctor thought it was inherited/genetic.  Sure enough we asked DH's mom and she said he had it when he was a baby.  Aquaphor keeps hers in check most of the time. 

EandIMommy86

Aveeno has these little oatmeal packets that you can use in their baths. It is suppose to help with any flakiness and dryness. This is my second time using one and it is noticeable. You just put it under the faucet while the water is running so that it mixes in and bathe LO in it for 10 minutes.

Jam+1

Yeah.  My LO had it early on and pedi didn't even mention possible allergens, only genetics.  My husband had it as a baby and recently had some flare ups.

We cleared it up with Dove soap baths every few days and Cereve or Restoriderm at least twice daily (evening and morning). 

DahliaFlower

steph 13055 said:

Did anyone else's pediatrician think that their LO's eczema wasn't allergy related?  LO's doctor thought it was inherited/genetic.  Sure enough we asked DH's mom and she said he had it when he was a baby.  Aquaphor keeps hers in check most of the time. 

Yes, absolutely.  I think that babies in families like ours are prone to develop eczema, but on the other hand there may be triggers that make it worse or set off the inflammation.  My pedi specifically mentioned family history as being an important factor, as well as dry winter weather.  

valliegurlw

My baby has eczema as well (apparently its hereditary). We've been using the combination of Aveeno & coconut oil which has done wonders! You can't see it anymore but I apply the Aveeno only a couple times a day & the coconut oil whenever Im changing his diaper just to be sure.