https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Apr 2026 01:24:47 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-poor-eczema-baby#post-2246460 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 20:53:12 +0000 zeebaby 2246460@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Spoon: That's interesting! I haven't had eggs in two days and his rashes have reduced. I thought maybe it's the new moisturizer. And I have eggs almost every morning. Thank you for the tip. I'll stay away from eggs for a while and see what happens. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-poor-eczema-baby#post-2246409 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 20:06:33 +0000 Mrs Spoon 2246409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Food allergies. Try cutting out dairy and gluten. If that doesn't work you might have to go a full blown elimination diet. That is what worked for us. Turns out the trigger were citrus, eggs, tomatoes and strawberries. After about 10 days on the e diet, eczema was totally cleared. And it was so bad. Makes me cringe when I look back on pictures. We were able to reintroduce those foods when DD was around 18 mo this and she's fine now. We also use pure Shea butter (from Amazon) topically. Better than any special eczema lotion. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-poor-eczema-baby#post-2246334 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 18:30:41 +0000 zeebaby 2246334@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ash: We use aquaphor now. But not every day. Most days we bathe him with just water. I would like to see if I can get trial sizes of all these brands. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-poor-eczema-baby#post-2246330 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 18:21:50 +0000 zeebaby 2246330@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinpye: Thanks so much for the response. He turns 6 months in a week so I'll be on a look out for food allergies. I agree with you on not cutting anything out completely. I'll be happy if I can just control it. Right now it just feels like lots of trial and error. And I just want to stick with something. I haven't tried centaphil. We tried eucerin, mustela, and curel so far. The one we are using right now is called metaderm. I feel like there is a slight reduction in the rashes. It's calmed down a bit but not the itching though. And I would like to find an affordable brand. </p> <p>There are so many products. It's hard to figure out which one will work for you. It makes me happy to hear that your LO is growing out of it. This is our first. It sometimes feels like when you have one thing figured out something new comes up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-poor-eczema-baby#post-2246301 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 17:15:39 +0000 blackbird 2246301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you tried ceraphil? They also make an eczema cream. It's been the best in my experience </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-poor-eczema-baby#post-2246293 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 16:55:11 +0000 Ash 2246293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zeebaby: I was kind of straight forward haha but dairy was the main reason for ds' eczema. We had to use prescription meds to clear it up (not cortisone). And we use earth mama angel baby body wash because nothing else was gentle enough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-poor-eczema-baby#post-2246267 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 15:43:18 +0000 erinpye 2246267@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our youngest has it and it was much worse when she was that age. What we did was slather her with that Cetaphil super heavy cream that comes in the tub with the blue lid, right out of the bath, while her skin was still damp, every night, and also slathered her in the morning. We thought certain foods made it worse once she started solids at 6 months, so we eased up on them but didn't cut anything completely because I didn't want to cause a food reaction later by keeping her from it early on. Now at 17 months, she's growing out of it, which they seem to do by about 2 years in most cases.</p> <p>Eta: I was hesitant to use too much cortisone because it thins skin, but used it a few times on really bad flare ups to get them under control. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-poor-eczema-baby#post-2246264 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 15:37:27 +0000 zeebaby 2246264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yin: Thank you so much for your response. I have been good with moisturizing. We use a hause brand called metaderm now; it's pricey. I would like to give a different brand a try. Will try vanicream next. Do you think I'll be able to get a trial size? We gave curel a try and that just flared up his ezcema. So if I can next time I would like to begin with a trial size. </p> <p>I think I'm going to give benedryl a try and see. Since he's been itching badly maybe I'll try it for a week and see. He is a breastfed baby too. We are starting solids in a week. We are planning on doing it slow to eliminate allergies from food. So maybe we'll figure it out if he has food allergies. </p> <p>Thanks again! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-poor-eczema-baby#post-2246258 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 15:28:41 +0000 zeebaby 2246258@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ash: I only take little bit of milk with my tea and I use a lactose free brand. Maybe that's not enough. Thanks for the tip; I'll give it a try. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-poor-eczema-baby#post-2246197 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 12:35:01 +0000 yin 2246197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Moisturize often! We use Vanicream and apply twice a day, once in the morning and once at night right after a bath. If it takes 7 days for the steroid cream to work, you should be able to go 7 days without before using it again if it is working correctly. </p> <p>For my kids we have to make sure to avoid scratching (breaks the skin and leads to an infection), and I will give them an antihistamine before bed (we use prescription antihistamine similar to Benadryl that makes them a little more drowsy). It helps a lot for LO1 because he is unable to fall asleep due to itchiness or wakes up often throughout the night and scratches. I don't give it to him every night, only on days I notice that his eczema is flaring up and bothering him. We don't bathe every night because soaps will dry out their skin. On bath nights with soap he usually does get a dose since his eczema bothers him the most. </p> <p>With that being said, I wasn't great about caring for LO1's eczema and wish I had done things differently. It took me a long time to address his skin needs. I tried to find options that were more natural and weary of too much intervention from the doctors. That led to infections and continued stress. :sad: </p> <p>In our case, my kids' eczema is related to their food allergies. I breastfed/pumped for both of them and noticed that cutting out foods helped improve their skin and reduced their other symptoms. It didn't get rid of their eczema by any means, but it helped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-poor-eczema-baby#post-2246050 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 06:39:42 +0000 Ash 2246050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Cut dairy :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-poor-eczema-baby#post-2246046 Sun, 26 Jul 2015 05:50:56 +0000 zeebaby 2246046@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi moms,</p> <p>My 5 month old LO has been dealing with eczema for few months now. We have tried almost everything; the only thing that seems to work is steroid creams/oils. We do that for seven days and it goes away. Stop that and it's back. Our paedritician recommended children's benedryl 2.5 ml dosage for nights. He does wake up itching and she thinks it would help. I know some doctors are too quick to prescribe meds. We are on the fence about trying it. I would like to know if any of you had experience with this. </p> <p>When I see the poor guy itching it bothers me. He's such a sweetheart. I could really use some advice :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-those-whose-kids-where-allergy-tested#post-2237597 Wed, 15 Jul 2015 15:13:03 +0000 Mrs.Pinecone316 2237597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone! I know allergists all recommend different things so we will see how it goes. My pediatrician told me that they don't test that young either (when she was 6 weeks and put me on an elimination diet) but then my husband and I went to this seminar with a food allergy/ eczema specialist and she says she wouldn't recommend an elimination diet and would def skin test her and that she wasn't too young. The allergist we got a referral from through our insurance is a different one though so he may say she is too young. It can be frustrating when doctors aren't all on the same page with what is best to do. This elimination diet is making me miserable and we haven't seen a whole lot of improvement in her skin.. I just want answers. :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-those-whose-kids-where-allergy-tested#post-2236175 Tue, 14 Jul 2015 11:34:51 +0000 raintreebee 2236175@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Pinecone316: btw the allergist told us that a significant portion of eczema cases are non allergy related. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-those-whose-kids-where-allergy-tested#post-2236168 Tue, 14 Jul 2015 11:29:21 +0000 Adira 2236168@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son, Xander, had a skin prick test at 8 months to confirm an allergy. He had an allergic reaction to yogurt and then a dairy-based formula, so we were already pretty sure he was allergic to milk, so that was all he was tested for, just to confirm it. It was a skin prick test where they pricked his back with nothing, a histamine, and milk and then after 5-20 minutes, checked the results. I held him to my chest during it and he fell asleep. But some kids don't like being pricked and don't react well.</p> <p>I'm guessing your allergist won't do that though since you don't have a specific food you're suspicious of and your child is so young.</p> <p>Not sure this will help you, but our dermatologist for Xander didn't think his eczema was necessarily due to his allergies. I didn't change my diet while breastfeeding him despite the fact he had eczema and was allergic to milk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-those-whose-kids-where-allergy-tested#post-2236162 Tue, 14 Jul 2015 11:25:10 +0000 charlotte 2236162@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our experience is a little different - first allergist appointment at 12ms after reacting to peanut butter BUT for our next child LO1's allergist said if she has eczema and other potential allergy symptoms like big brother then we can come at 4 ms for blood work and if that is all negative she recommends feeding the common allergens then. She gave her own daughter nuts in rice cereal at 4 months, in line with the new research that earlier exposure might be better.</p> <p>So, if I were you, I would ask how they recommend introducing allergens (what age and order ETC). I am jealous - I wish we had started working with an allergist when we knew LO1 had eczema from an early age but the pediatrician said he would just grow out of it on his own. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-those-whose-kids-where-allergy-tested#post-2236161 Tue, 14 Jul 2015 11:24:37 +0000 LuLu Mom 2236161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO was tested around 9 months (little marks on back) it didn't bother her, she would just glare at the nurse every time she did it, didn't hurt enough to cry. At 3 months I would be shocked if they would do it, ours only did it at 9 months after a scope confirmed allergy cells in the esophagus and they felt it was necessary to find out what it causing these.</p> <p>After we deteremined allergens they did blood test and then a food test in office to judge her reaction. this was over a course of several months that we still had issues. My daughter had loss of weight due to her projectile vomit and she was on Allimentum formula. I think you guys have quite a bit to go before testing will be required. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-those-whose-kids-where-allergy-tested#post-2236160 Tue, 14 Jul 2015 11:23:34 +0000 Truth Bombs 2236160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with @raintreebee:. Neither our pediatrician or allergist were on board with any sort of testing until after a year. Around 16 months LO did a scratch test on her back where they tested a number of common food allergies as well as the environmental allergies that tend to manifest first (dogs and dust mites). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-those-whose-kids-where-allergy-tested#post-2236157 Tue, 14 Jul 2015 11:21:39 +0000 anbanan15 2236157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our LO had FPIES, which is non-IgE, so it might be a little different (the may not go as far as doing patch testing (APT) on your LO) but he had RAST blood testing done, which is a regular blood draw, by GI before we saw the allergist. Then because of the FPIES dx they wanted to do APT, but our allergist will not place a patch if the child is IgE to an allergen, so we had skin prick testing (SPT) done first. The SPT was done at our first appointment and APT was set up for a few weeks later. SPT was done down the arm at that age and APT in the back.</p> <p>Our second had suspected FPIES and for her we only had SPT done at her first allergy appointment. We were going to do APT, but decided against it because she is sensitive to adhesives. We have also tossed around having SPT done for vaccines for her, which I didn't realize they could do, but have not done them.</p> <p>I think questions depend on what the results are. I would want to know if they required and epi pen and all the info regarding when/how to give it, foods/products to avoid, if you need to avoid related foods etc. Basically ask anything that comes to mind. Our allergist always gave her email out too to ask further questions as they came, so maybe see if that is an option. It was always faster than dealing with the front desk. She even called on a holiday before.</p> <p>ETA: DS was 6 mo when he had RAST done and 7 mo when he had patch. DD was around 3 mo when she had hers. Our allergist would not do treatment for suspected sessional allergies for her at that age though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-those-whose-kids-where-allergy-tested#post-2236153 Tue, 14 Jul 2015 11:17:34 +0000 raintreebee 2236153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Pinecone316: our allergist won't do testing on young babies bc it's inaccurate. I think this is typical. They will likely put you on a different elimination diet. Or tell you it's not allergies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/for-those-whose-kids-where-allergy-tested#post-2236146 Tue, 14 Jul 2015 11:11:39 +0000 Mrs.Pinecone316 2236146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a consult with an Allergist soon for my 3 month old who has bad eczema from what we think is a food allergy despite my elimination diet. What can I expect at the first appointment? How does allergy testing work? Any questions I should ask? Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elimination-diet-for-food-allergies-need-help#post-2204884 Thu, 11 Jun 2015 08:07:03 +0000 yin 2204884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For over a year I avoided dairy, egg, soy, wheat, tree nuts, and peanuts. From my experience, my two kids had really bad eczema, and eliminating foods from my diet greatly improved their skin. With LO1 he showed less symptoms (bad eczema and occasional streaky blood), and I only eliminated dairy, egg, and wheat. He ended up being allergic to dairy, eggs, and peanuts. With LO2 he showed more symptoms (eczema, reoccurring bloody stool, mucousy green stool, and excessive spit up), and he is allergic to 8+ foods. I breastfed LO2 for 18 months and was on my diet for most of that time. I really hoped that I was crazy for eliminating so many foods, but an allergy test at 10 months old confirmed my suspicions. :( While I am finally free to eat to my heart's content, I continue to cook allergen free for my kids. It's difficult, but there are a lot of products and resources out there that make it a little easier.</p> <p>Some great companies to look out for -- So Delicious (coconut products), Enjoy Life (cookies free of the top 8), Daiya or Teese (vegan cheese), select Kind bars, and Earth Balance (vegan butter - look for the red container/box for soy free). </p> <p>Some snack ideas - chia seed pudding (chia + can coconut milk), rice cake with sun butter, roasted chickpeas (oh she glows has a great recipe), homemade granola (gf oats, honey, pumpkin puree, chocolate chips, raisins), coconut yogurt, hummus without tahini (check Trader Joe's)</p> <p>Some sweets -- Enjoy Life chocolate chips, Enjoy Life cookies, So Delicious coconut ice cream, So Delicious ice cream bars, banana swirl (frozen bananas mixed in a food processor or blender, add cocoa powder or sun butter), sorbets, water ice</p> <p>Some good replacements - brown rice noodles, sun butter, arrowroot powder (in place of corn starch), flax + water (egg replacer), Food for Life gf bread (much harder than normal bread but it works), Daiya and Teese cheese, Earth Balance butter and mayo, coconut aminos (tastes like soy sauce but less salty)</p> <p>Make sure to check your vitamins and supplements. I've found that a lot of them have soy, but it takes a bit of investigating to find out. Rainbow Light does a great job of listing allergens. </p> <p>Chipotle is one of the few places you can eat at. Just make sure to let them know you have a food allergy (easier than explaining elimination diet) and request for them to change their gloves. Watch them carefully, especially around the cheese. Whole Food is also another good option because ingredients are listed in their hot food bar. </p> <p>I do agree with others that an elimination diet might be too drastic of a step just for eczema. Maybe just try to avoid dairy and soy at first to see if there is an improvement. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elimination-diet-for-food-allergies-need-help#post-2204268 Wed, 10 Jun 2015 14:53:50 +0000 raintreebee 2204268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Pinecone316: Our allergist said that eczema is most commonly not food related. The fact that my son had it all over did not change that. I was off dairy, eggs, soy, and nuts. After a month, I added back in eggs and nuts. I then started eating dairy and soy a few months later. I don't think the eczema ever got any better with the diet.</p> <p>Before the diet, they had me try alimentum formula as an experiment while pumping. He wouldn't drink it, and my supply permanently crashed. Next time, I am going to just ignore it all unless there is blood in the stool (his stool was just green, no blood). We spent so much time at specialists, and so much worry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elimination-diet-for-food-allergies-need-help#post-2203838 Wed, 10 Jun 2015 09:48:09 +0000 anbanan15 2203838@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Pinecone316: I did a TED (total elimination diet) with both of my kids, where you go down to a few foods from key food groups and slowly add foods in one at a time noting any symptoms in your LO. With my son I went from 3 to 15 foods over a year and with my daughter I was not able to add any foods in and ate the same 3 foods for almost a year. Your restrictions can be done, but you have to commit to it and get creative. I would also encourage you take make sure you are getting all the common and hidden sources of the foods are are trying to avoid. The hidden ones can be tricky (food allergy network has a good list that lists all the hidden ones for the top 8). When you grocery shop try to stick to the parameter of the store and avoid prepared foods when you can. If you do go after prepared foods try to stick to as few ingredients listed as possible and check labels everytime you shop because they may change ingredients without notice. I would try to stick to cooking whole foods. I ate a TON of quinoa daily with whatever veggies and fruits my son could tolerate cooked in there with it. Lots of olive oil to keep fats up for milk production (shots of olive oil are amazing. Sounds gross but totally works). Try things like like using sunflower seed butter for snacks to help keep fats up and make snacks more filling. Coconut aminos (fermented coconut, only ingredient) is a great alternative to soy sauce and flavoring. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elimination-diet-for-food-allergies-need-help#post-2203789 Wed, 10 Jun 2015 09:18:26 +0000 Anagram 2203789@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Pinecone316: My doctor suggested I eliminate foods one at a time--but starting with dairy and soy together, since that is the most common intolerance for babies. She said there's no point in eliminating everything if one or two might do the trick. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elimination-diet-for-food-allergies-need-help#post-2203711 Wed, 10 Jun 2015 08:29:34 +0000 catlady 2203711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Pinecone316: Yes, definitely try to get a second opinion or at least try to find out your doctor's logic. The main reason I caution you is because I did the exact same thing (but on my own, stupidly) where I took out a ton of foods at once with the hopes of adding them back in quickly. However, when my LO's issues didn't fully get resolved, our pediatrician basically made me stay on the full elimination diet until my LO outgrew her sensitivities because she thought if I added anything back in, it would make things worse (I've never really understood the logic but I was emotional at the time and willing to do it). If I go through this again with another LO, I am going to slowly remove foods one by one instead of committing to a huge list all at once. I'm fairly certain that I was avoiding foods that my daughter was perfectly fine with, and I regret that. </p> <p>So sorry you are going through this. I hope your LO's issues clear up quickly! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elimination-diet-for-food-allergies-need-help#post-2203545 Wed, 10 Jun 2015 00:04:28 +0000 Mrs.Pinecone316 2203545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gentlelunette: Thank you for the suggestions, the quinoa salad and mashed potatoes are a great idea. I do have gluten free oatmeal that I have to force feed myself because I am not a fan but my supply has been good so far so I should thank it for that!</p> <p>@hellobeeboston: I just looked up the bread. I must have forgot to mention I can't have EGG either and thats in it :sad: Thats for the cook book recommendation!</p> <p>@catlady: I agree that it is really extreme.. I wanted to cry when he was writing everything down. I think he thought it was doable because he feels like it will only be a couple weeks and once her skin clears up then I can start adding things back into my diet and see if she reacts to it. But when I started researching more online when I got home I haven't come across any lists as long as mine.. (other stuff I forgot to say in the post was no eggs or tomatoes too) If things don't get better in the next week where I feel like I can start adding things back into my diet I will def seek a second opinion. Oh, and you are super women for sticking with that diet for 10 months!! Its barely been a week and I have to keep talking myself off the ledge. </p> <p>@Pancakes: Thank you, it is nice to hear things can get better when your child has eczema. </p> <p>@raintreebee: I agree it is strange that her stool has never been bloody or mucousy but he is really convinced it is a food allergy because of the extent of her eczema/rash. What did your elimination diet consist of? Others i have seen online aren't as severe either.</p> <p>@FliegepilzHut: Thank you for your suggestions, It sounds like a second opinion might be my next move. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elimination-diet-for-food-allergies-need-help#post-2203496 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 21:43:00 +0000 FliegepilzHut 2203496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You poor thing! :sad: I don't know much about elimination diets...but second the idea of oatmeal with fruit being tasty and filling. Rice with vegetables would be good...and more pork or possibly buffalo? I second getting a second opinion before you cut EVERYTHING out...maybe a pediatric dermatologist? Hope you both feel better soon! :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elimination-diet-for-food-allergies-need-help#post-2203493 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 21:39:57 +0000 raintreebee 2203493@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was on an elimination diet for months, and it was way less extreme than that and my son had more symptoms than your LO. I would also seek a second opinion or ask your pedi for a referral to a specialist. Personally, I am starting to think the food intolerance thing is being over diagnosed in infants these days. Blood in the stool is a hallmark sign, and if that isn't there...eczema is often just eczema. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elimination-diet-for-food-allergies-need-help#post-2203487 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 21:28:23 +0000 Pancakes 2203487@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Pinecone316: Both of my girls have eczema. With LO1, my pediatrician told me I didn't need to eliminate anything from my diet, and subsequent dermatologists and pediatricians have also advised me not to cut anything out of her diet.<br /> LO2's eczema was pretty bad starting around 2 months. She was even on a course of antibiotics because her scalp was weepy and oozy. My pediatrician did suggest cutting out dairy but I found that managing her skin with moisturizer (we use a prescription called Prumyx) and occasionally desonide or triamcinolone was just better for everyone's sanity. Her skin got a lot better around 6 months, and for us that also coincided with spring. People that saw her as a newborn comment all the time about how much better her skin looks. Summer is tricky because when her arms and legs are bare they get irritated more easily but it's still manageable without me cutting anything from my diet.</p> <p>I would probably seek a second opinion. That just seems like a lot to be cutting out all at once. I might try just eliminating dairy to see if that helps before cutting everything else out. Good luck!!! </p>