baby eczema

[georgedowdin]

I have a 10 month old daughter who is suffering quite a bit from eczema at the moment. The doctor has prescribed all sorts of ointments etc. but they just made it worse. She tends to get it in patches which flare up from time to time and they really irritate her. Anyone know of any natural remedies or other things worth a try?

[alunrw]

This is not a natural remedy as such but have you tried Eumovate Cream -it was prescription only but now available via pharmacist.it really is very good and stops the scratch/itch cycle.

[Scarlett]

Many babies/people are allergic to dairy, which sets off eczema. However I realise this may not be the case for a 10 month old baby. My sister has 2 small children- both of whom have started to get eczema. She eliminated dairy from their diets (substituting it with other calcium etc) and they are now both fine.

[Scarlett]

What most people don't realise is that eczema is a reaction to something that the body doesn't like. The body is stressed, and the skin complaint is the result. Putting any kind of cream on it will only temporarily clear up the symptom- not cure the cause.

[Solarjunkie]

I found a simple dab of olive oil night and morning helped a great deal.

10 months is a typical age to react to new dietary things, dairy and wheat being prime culprits. Try cutting them out for a while. Also use less washing detergent, and cut out fabric conditioner - it has been known to help!

Good luck.

[Hgrove]

Some friends of mine had babies with terrible eczema and the remedy seemed to be for most people reducing or eliminating dairy and/or replacing carpets with laminate flooring.

[flaming]

A neighbour once had a baby with it and as the other posters say it was the cow's milk that was suspect.  The baby was OK  after the switch to soya milk.

In a magazine I once read that a little pouch full of oatmeal dangled in the baby's bathwater was a good cure but I don't know anyone who has tried that.  That would be a natural 'oil' in the water, wouldn't it? Googling on The Eczema Society website would be useful, I think. There is a site for societies for almost every ailment. 

Useful tip for adults:I have a small patch of dermatitis on my back.  After seeing a skin specialist and trying the ointments prescribed it didn't really go.  Ayurvedic doctor next:  I tried having no yeast or wheat for a long time as he said.  I have soda bread and now a very little  yeast/wheat all of which has helped tremendously.  It still hovers' at times but how it used to be was driving me nuts

[5029]

Zinc is a natural remedy for eczema.  Not sure if it is available in liquid form to feed to a baby.  You could also ask for liquid anti histimine from your dr

[kick3m0n]

can only agree about the possible dairy or wheat problems, as I know of a few babies who have had very similar problems.  I'd speak to your health visitor and try to eliminate each of these foods in turn, as a first step.  I also agree that the creams will only treat the flare up, not the cause of the flare up, but of course you still want something effective to help your little one when she does have a flare up, even if you are actively seeking a cure.  If the zinc thing is true...you find high quantities of zinc in bananas, and mashed banana is great baby food, so that may be worth a try.  Be careful tho....as I'm sure you know, too much banana can constipate babies (catch 22 eh?). good luck, and let us know if you find something that works/helps?

[artee]

definitely agravated by foodstuffs as the others have mentioned, but also it is so important not to agravate it externally . Ordinary soaps and shampoos have agravating factors in them. There are some good  liquid soaps out that don't have chemicals in them, especially a chemical called sodium laurel sulphate.  Also Mineral Oil which is a petroleum product. A good barrier cream can be helpful. Some are agravated by lying on a sheepskin too. Being over heated, in bed or out, can also cause extreme discomfort.

[artee]

PS   Have you thought of homeopathic treatment? Very safe for babes. the hralth shop should be able to advise.

[housemover]

Again i agree with the above answers re foodstuffs. My daughter suffered from 4 months of age. All the gp would do was prescribe betnovate and several other creams, none of which worked. betnovate does for a while but only masks the problem. Totally frustrated i turned to food testing and discovered the problem is alleviated by changing to soya milk and taking fish oil supplements (now she is 3) The flare ups are much less but soaps and paints etc really affect her hands so its an external and internal problem. A constant battle!