eczema

My 6 month old daughter has eczema and I took her to a derm who prescribed hydrocotisone to her. While it does seem to work sometimes she still has red skin and seems to itch all the time. I have been using aquaphor which I absolutely love but still each day she seems uncomfortable. I switched soap from huggies hydroallergenic to the unscented dove (which still smells like there is a scent) but she still looks red on her belly, arms afterwards. Her face always seems to have red spots from drooling so much/teething, plus she sleeps on her belly so sometimes she wakes up a mess. Also she scratches her head so much but I don't know what to put on it b/c the aquaphor is so greasy.

I've been using the ALL clear detergent, never tried Dreft, didn't know if it was worth it or not b/c I heard some negative things about it like smell, expensive, and that the All clear is the same anyway.

I also don't know if her formula (soy) could be the problem or the new foods. She's pretty much had this since she was born but it has gotten worse from 3months on.

If anyone has any suggestions/advise that works on their kids please let me know, I hate to see her uncomfortable.

 

Have you considering a milk protein allergy. One of my boys had this and had eczema too. I noticed that his cleared nicely once he got on the right formula. He still did have occasional break outs on his cheeks and the backs of his knees. I used Eucerin cream for those times. We did not need a hydrocortisone, so it appeared pretty mild.

 

We battled it with Ben from infancy until it suddenly disappeared at 12 months. The only correlation I found was that he switched to milk from formula, although he also was over the worst of teething too by then (and less slobbery).

We used a combination of Dove body wash (the pedi said not to use the special sensitive or unscented ones, but to just use the regular old fashioned one), hydrocortisone cream (although I personally found the over the counter ointment, not cream, to be the most effective on his face), aquaphor, and Aveeno colloidal oatmeal baths (and you can use the oatmeal to make a little cosmetic "mask" for the face, and rinse it off).

 

I agree that eczema is often a symptom of a food allergy. Aaron had the worst case on this scalp that the ped had ever seen. We stuck to perfume free (beware - unscented is not necessarily perfume free) soap, laundry detergent, lotion, etc. It got so bad that we had to move to elidel, which is now not recommended for babies/children. I second the oatmeal bath, which helped relieve his itching. We also used only 100% cotton clothing. Now at age 5, he hasn't had a real outbreak in quite a while.

 

Both of my older children have bad Eczema, we found out with my DD#2 that hers was directly related to a milk allergy, as soon as we switched her to soy milk it mostly cleared up, although she still has some boughts. As far as what to do this is what our Dr. recommended and it has definitely work for all four of my kids (the twins have eczema occasionally also). So at least one bath a day if not a couple in the beginning, dab them off, not completely apply Vaseline and cover with long sleeves. Also make sure there is no soap in the bath. If you need to use soap he said dove is the best to do. As far as laundry detergent, I've just always used regular All and not had problems with it. I'd say the #1. thing to do is find out if the eczema is caused from an allergy (food or environment). then use those other items to help alleviate the itching. hope that helps.

 

One of my girls has it bad as well, she was fine all summer but the second it got cold again, she flared up.

Have you tried the Baby Oil Wash? I have found that to really help (it also got rid of cradle cap!).
Also I limit baths, and I always cover her in aveeno lotion first and then vaseline (cheaper than aquaphor and works just as well).
We also sleep with a humidifier at night and during naps.

Hopefully you can find a solution! Good luck!

 

My dd has eczema as well, here is what we do. Baths daily and put lotion on within 3 minutes of getting out of the bath (locks moisture in). We put lotion on her everytime she wakes up and after her bath (so 4 times/day), this has helped tremendously!! We change her shirts immediately if they get wet, including bibs when we are feeding her (I know its a PITA but it works!). Use scent-free, dye-free, everything-free detergent, and put all of her clothes on a double rinse cycle.
Use aveeno oatmeal oil baths once and awhile.
Only use cotton clothing on her, and if she is itching alot we put long sleeves on her - this seems to help stop some of the itching.

We also use cortizone cream if is gets really bad - but so far we have only had to use that about 1/week.
Hope you find something that helps soon!