Dealing with Eczema

Since my daughter was 18 months old she has had eczema on her wrists, and the backs of her legs. She is now nearly four and her arms rarely have a day when they are not red all the way up to her elbows.

She has good days, and she has very itchy days.

We have been to allergy doctors and various dermatologist, made tons of tests, etc.

But it all boils down with living with eczema and learning to deal with it.

The nasty stuff has also decided to plague me, and having always had hands sensitive to too much soap and dish washing I am not also suffering from eczema all over the back of my right hand. The dermatologist also tell me it is an allergy.

What we use:

- Zinc cream. (This is something we can use often and freely, and so we do just that. I put a good coat on her arms every evening when she goes to be along with the other prescription cream she uses- which we use very sparingly).

-Bepanthen. (When we saw the last and best dermatologist she had me mix 3 things together to create a "perfect" cream for my girl. She had us mix this, with zinc cream and the prescription cream). I still mix this with the zinc at times to make it more spreadable.

-Coconut oil. (I use this after her baths to lock in moisture and it soaks in immediately. We also use it at other times, but not as much as the zinc).

- - -

-Avene Cicalfate- is what I use on my hand for my eczema.


What we do :

-Keep nails short.

-Use a special bath oil soap. BABE oil soap.

-Limit sugar, candy, and artificial color intakes (juice, etc).

-Since our girl at one time had a sensitivity to eggs we limit her egg intake.

-Change her bedding often. (She is also allergic to dust mites).

-Let her stay cool. Don't make her wear socks or a sweater if she says she is warm enough. Here in LV kids are kept warm. But being too warm makes irritated skin itch more.
- - - - -
-My eczema is very much triggered by water, washing dishes, working with acidic fruits and veges (lemons, tomatoes, etc. ) Because of this I try to wear gloves while washing dishes, and limit soap usage (even gentle soaps).



Living with eczema is very hard, annoying and tricky. Emotions trigger my daughter to start scratching and raving about itching. It is sometimes hard to tell if she is pretending and using her this or if really is true.

I feel badly for her and hope that as she grows older she will outgrow this. And learn how best to live with it and deal with it.

If you have ever dealt with extreme eczema how did you treat it?

The Battle Begins

Those who read my blog know that our little 3 year old daughter has struggled with very bad eczema for the past year and a half. We have seen numerous doctors, dermatologists, allergists, etc. But it kept seeming she had no allergies.

We had tried eliminating a food item for a week or two at a time. We have been avoiding red and orange foods for at least a month (they irritate further skin that is already sore and red)

Our life seems constrained on all sides for our sweet little girl. But she has accepted her limited diet with joy. As long as we are able to give her an alternative, she is always happy to get whatever she can. Our son can eat oranges, or ice cream, she gets bananas and nuts and feels special because her snack or dessert is different.

A friend has told me her son is allergic to dust mites, cat hair (even though they don't have a cat) and dust.  She suggested I have the doctor test these same items.

So last week when we saw the allergist I told her I'd like her to test for dust mites, mold , etc. The dd the skin test and it turns out that our little lady is VERY allergic to dust mites. They gave me a paper of things we need to do to clean her bed, room and our home. It is a daunting list, to say the least! But I am extremely happy that at long last we have a positive for a test, this is the first test that we ever had a lead on.

She also had blood tests done to see if she might be allergic to any of 30 food items. Nothing came back too highly rated, but eggs and milk were a little higher than the rest. So for the next month she gets no eggs and no milk.

I am grateful for some positive answers as to what is and could be causing her eczema. I am extremely grateful that she does not have asthma, which many do have when they have such a strong allergic reaction to dust mites. I am overwhelmed with I think of the cleaning regime I need to input. I am starting with been zealous cleaning her sheets, bed and their room daily.

Prayers appreciated in all of this! 

Thanks!

Severe Eczema

My 2 year old has suffered from eczema, or severe atopic dermatitis for the last year or so. The severity of it comes and goes, but right now it is worse than ever before. Her poor little hand, arms, and wrists are sore and red.

We have been to dermatologists and allergy doctors. Even the patch tests with various foods were all negative- thus proving she has no food allergies.

We have used all kinds of ointments, oils, lotions, etc.

But NOTHING is working.

Her hands are so raw, I put socks on them at night to keep her from scratching.

I feel like we are tumbling hopelessly in a spiral of irritated skin, endless lakes of ointments and doctors. I know not where to turn next, different doctors, different ointments. . .

Every doctor says the cause cannot be precisely pinned.

What am I to do? My poor sweet little daughter?!

Yet, I hope in God, and believe He will bring healing in some form.

And in the midst of confusion as a Mom and hopeless feelings of despair. Wishing I could crawl into the laps of my own parents and hide my head from the world of trying to make choices and decisions I don't understand, I know that God IS good.

And so I give thanks:

• my daughter is happy, when her hands aren't bothering her. 
• my kids play nicely together
• spring is in coming, and sunshine is in abundance.
• for uplifting music to encourage. 
• for friends and prayers