We’ve been fighting Cannon’s eczema since he was two months old. I remember hearing constantly that his skin issue was a result of my eating habits. Which I didn’t buy. And wouldn’t you know – I stop breastfeeding him and it didn’t go away.
We have all sorts of creams, lotions, oils, body soaps as well as prescription medications. And they all work some of the time. We had it nearly cleared up and out of no where it came back in full force and we haven’t been able to fight it off since. The poor kid wakes in the middle of night screaming and when I go into his room he’s scratching at his legs or the back of his neck.
The pediatrician is hopeful that he’ll grow out of it by the time he’s two. Bennett still hasn’t grown out of it so I’m not holding my breath.
The hard part is we have no idea what triggers it. Is it the grass outside? Is it the strawberries he eats at lunch? Is it just the dry winter weather? Just when I think I’ve figured it out, it changes on me. So I’m counting down the days until summer pool weather because if he’s anything like Bennett the pool clears it right up.
Until then we’ll continue to rub lotion on his sandpaper legs!
Is there an indoor pool that is the same kind of pool as your pool that seems to clear it up when your other son had this that you can do a mom kid swim time class or open swim? If you were able to try that you would know if the pool helps or if it's also due to the weather during pool season and not just the time in the pool.
We actually have a salt pool (which utilizes salt to create chlorine gas) and finding them in a commercial setting is difficult. However, our summer seems to be coming sooner than later and he'll be in our pool in no time!
My boys get it really bad too…. so we use the melala renew body wash, hand wash, and lotion. It had worked wonders. You do have to be a member to order. But I'd be happy to let you use my account if you'd like to try it. Email me if you do:) good luck. No fun at all:(
Thanks Karissa! We do use the Melalueca renew products regularly. I think their products along with Vanicream seem to be the most helpful but as you can see they don't totally solve the problem!
I'm sure you have already tried this but, I have a friend who swears by extra virgin olive oil. She said it cleared eczema up for her little girl when nothing else would. Good luck!
I haven't tried that – I'll give it a try. Thanks!
the only thing that has cleared Jace's is including kifer in his diet. I mix it in smoothies for the boys or crazy Jace will drink it straight or mixed with a little juice (it's sour like buttermilk). If I give it to him everyday it clears up and stays clear. Jace's dr told me eczema is usually a gut issue.
I've been told it's related to gut issues which is frustrating because it's hard to track what triggers it. I've not heard of Kefir – we were giving him probiotics which didn't seem to help but I'll look into Kefir. Hope you're doing well friend!
the kefir is a natural probiotic and has worked WAY better than the over the counter stuff call me we can talk about it 🙂
(Sorry if my comment went through twice!)
Do you use topical steroid creams to treat the eczema? If so, you might want to check out ITSAN.org
I know you don't know me at all, and this is the first time I've commented, but I started following you a while back because of the adorable weekly baby photos you posted of Cannon, and seeing this post reminded me of what a friend is currently going through, getting her daughter through withdrawal from topical steroids. It's so sad and painful, maybe the info can help you since you are earlier on in the cycle?
Good luck and thanks for being an uplifting spot on the web!
Thanks for the information – I checked out the website and they have some great resources. Luckily we haven't used hardly any steroids. We have medications for him that we've filled but rarely do we use them as the directions state to only use them for two weeks at a time because it damages and thins the skin. That was enough for me to use them very sparingly!
My friend has had good results with baking soda and water, then aveeno lotion-Google it, her pediatrician approved it, good luck!
Thanks for the info. I'm assuming you're referring to giving a bath in baking soda and water, right?
Not sure you were looking for advice here, but if the pool helps, maybe talk to your doc about bleach baths? Sounds weird, but I've heard they work. I hope he grows out of it! Sammy gets a mild case every winter and it's miserable.
I just looked up bleach baths and I'm going to talk with a dermatologist and make sure that works with Cannon. It would make sense that if the pool helps him so would this practice. Thanks Linda!
Try eucerin calming lotion. If I am good at remembering to use it – it really helps my little guys legs! He too gets sandpaper legs 🙂
I love eucerin lotion. We're usually pretty good about daily applications, and often twice daily but maybe we need to up it to three or four times. I held a baby recently who had the softest skin and I was jealous as all of my kids have had rough and scaly skin!
My daughter suffers from terrible eczema. We see a DR. at Boston Children's who recommended a regimen of bleach baths followed by topical steroid, topical antibiotic cream and a thick layer of Hydrolatum over it all. Works like nothing else we've tried! I'm sure you know this, but kids with eczema are more prone to food allergies and asthma so keep a look out for those!
I haven't read all the comments above, so I don't know if I'm repeating something others might have already suggested you try. I do remember you commenting on this before. At that time I sent a comment saying that it might be the salt used in your pool water that helps his skin. If you have a soft water system in your home, this might help; it's similar to the stuff used in the salt water system for your pool. We don't use chlorine in our pool due to sensitive skin, we use a salt water system, probably similar to the one you use in your pool, and we use water filters in our showers which helps. Hard water is awful for eczema, and the water here in the Phoenix area is some of the worst there is. Also, you might want to get him tested for allergies to see what he is actually allergic to. I can't have strawberries, oranges, or anything citrus due to breaking out afterwards. I also used to be allergic to milk, or pretty much anything dairy, but eventually grew out of it. Just a couple of things to think about. 🙂
Since posting the above comment I have been informed that a soft water system for your home and a salt water system for your pool may not be the same thing, in how it works anyway, but I do think both will help skin problems.
I'm back again… I know how frustrating and miserable eczema can be, so thought I would add something simple to try… I sometimes put Vanicream (It comes in a lotion and a cream, I would suggest the cream one; it's heavier and works better, in my opinion) on my daughter when she gets red blotches. It's best to put it on when the skin is still moist, like right after a bath/shower. Also, you may want to try using products that don't have Sodium Laurel Sulfate, parabens, perfumes, DMDM in the ingredients (mostly in shampoo and conditioner, but also be careful what soap and moisturizers you use). There may be a few other irritants I'm not mentioning, but those are the ones that come to mind at the moment.
Try Vega testing through a naturopath!!! it is AMAZING. You will have your answer in minutes. It is non invasive (great for little ones) and saves all the guess work/ elimination diets etc. we used it on our children and with the first it was a wheat intolerance.We took her off wheat and all her skin problems cleared up.Then we slowly introduced it back into her diet and now she has grown out of it. Our 2nd child has a gluten intolerance but it shows up with hay fever symtoms in the spring. So we cut back on his wheat/gluten intake during spring and he is fine.it is such a relief to pinpoint the underlying problem rather then just manage the horrible symtoms of an allergy. I cant recommend Vega testing enough. we have used it on and off over the years whenever we are at a loss to what is going on health wise. It will find anything from allergies to viruses in your system to a hole in your tooth. I hope this helps! poor little love 🙂