Best way to treat eczema in kids?

bobbi · 01-03-2013, 06:34 PM

My son has a touch of this, though it is rare that I see any indication. Lately, it has been showing more on his body. Does anyone have a good lotion or potion to use on it? Also, he has been taking more bubble baths lately - would that be aggravating it? If so, are there any other bubble alternatives to use - or just no bubbles? He usually takes a lot of showers but loves his bubble baths.

TIA,
bobbi

Heab · 01-03-2013, 06:52 PM

My kids have it so bad they only bathe once or twice a week. Pat dry, and put lotion on while still damp. They lotion once or twice a day depending on how dry it is. We also use soap with no fragrance. When it gets really bad we use olive oil instead of lotion.

Mystic · 01-03-2013, 06:54 PM

My daughter's pediatrician said to use cortisone cream and then as a daily thing after a bath/shower, to use Cetaphil lotion.

Just saw a commercial for a new product from Neosporin that is for eczema. May try that next since I'm just about out of cortisone cream.

bobbi · 01-03-2013, 07:16 PM

Wow Heab - that sucks.

I'm mad at myself because i had a bottle of expensive eczema lotion ($10) that I threw out. I was cleaning out my cabinets and he hadn't used it in a long time and hadn't had any dryness that I just threw it out because I didn't like it for myself.

You guys think the bubble baths could be irritating it?

greybb1 · 01-03-2013, 07:36 PM

No bubble baths or baths at all. Short showers in tepid water, not hot. Try not to use soap on the affected areas. Look online for some oil rubs you can make for him. They usually involve olive oil.

Just tell him as soon as it goes away he can take his bubble baths again!

Purple Sage · 01-03-2013, 08:02 PM

I have eczema and my nieces and nephews and one of my kids have it. We had noticed a pattern that everyone gets it in the winter, when we are covered up more and not in the sun so much....also the doctor recommended treating mine with UV therapy - what amounts to a VERY high priced tanning bed in the doctors office. I got curious and started doing research and found out that some dermatologists believe it is related to a vitamin D deficiency, started taking mega doses of vitamin D - 3000IU for myself per day and 800IU for the kids per day and for 2 winters now we have had no eczema - a total of 8 people have responded to this exact treatment...worth a shot!

Potaty · 01-03-2013, 08:06 PM

steroid creams only suppress it and then it can manifest as asthma, I would not use them.

Definitely switch to scent/dye free soaps, no bubble baths, good probiotic, vitamin D3, and a lotion called CeraVe. It is available behind pharmacy counters but does not require a prescription.

lkim · 01-03-2013, 08:18 PM

No bubble bath. Olive oil after. It breathes which baby oil does not. Biotin cream is good too. No soap. Unless he is dirty just baths two or three times a week. Trader Joe's sells clean shampoos with no sodium lauryl sulfites or whatever.

and no bubbles in the bath is huge. You're just drying him out

killerblues · 01-03-2013, 08:30 PM

I've had several kids on my caseload with this issue and many have tried gluten free diets with great results.

Mimosa23 · 01-04-2013, 12:34 AM

From personal experience, I would try the following:

wheat and sugar free diet, at best a low carb diet, with lots of fats.
Olive oil on skin
Soap free washes only
Sunshine/ vit D3
Seawater/salt baths once a week once skin is not broken (it hurts otherwise)

KeirasMom · 01-04-2013, 10:43 AM

One thing I haven't seen already mentioned is, in addition to scent/dye free body soaps, use scent/dye free laundry detergent as well. My daughter's eczema acts up whenever she uses towels or wears clothing that has been laundered with "regular" detergent.

jenericstewart · 02-25-2013, 06:53 AM

I have eczema. What takes mine away is applying true apple cider vinegar to the affected area. Just, like, maybe 1/4 t on a small spot. It burns, though. I don't know about putting it on a young child. Maybe dilute it (?).

Cortisone cream works, but that's stuff's not good for you.

Stardust · 03-06-2013, 05:03 AM

One thing that worked great with my eldest was porridge oats! In the bath though, not eating them lol.

It was recommended to us by a lady who was doing my then partners laser tattoo removal and said it was really effective for her. My son got it on inside of elbows and behind his knees.

I would use a muslin wrap / square and put a few handfuls of oats in the middle (just cheap generic ones from the supermarket) and I would then wrap it up and secure with an elastic band. Then while the bath was running I would leave it floating in the hot water, giving it an occasional squeeze. It would make the water go cloudy.

Then when he was in the bath would gently press the bag against the bits that were sore, it would feel a bit slimey but easily rinsed away.

It really helped take away the itchiness and redness. I don't know if it actually cures it or just soothes it but just using a couple of times a week in the bath really helped with my son.

tttmom · 03-23-2013, 10:55 AM

I have read a lot of information lately that there is a very strong link between many skin conditions, vitamin D deficiency and gluten intolerance. The link being that gluten destroys the gut so badly that many vitamins and minerals are not being absorbed, therefore causing not only deficiencies (vit D) but also major inflammation in the body, resulting in a varietly of different skin problems. Just something to check out if interested

Speck333 · 03-23-2013, 11:03 AM

I really think this is something that needs to be treated from within rather than topically. Like others have mentioned, I've read numerous accounts of people successfully ridding or reducing their (or their kids') skin problems by eliminating wheat and sugars from their diet. In some cases, it's almost immediate, in others, it takes several weeks.

OH, and I'd use coconut oil topically. It seems to work on everything else!

snowdancer79 · 04-05-2013, 05:22 AM

My 11 year old DD has severe eczema all over her body. It's the worst on her hands and feet, where her skin is so damaged it flakes, cracks, and bleeds constantly. Her pediatrician keeps prescribing her steroid creams that don't do anything. We finally got a referral to the Children's Hospital in Denver the end of this month. I decided to have her try to eat (relatively) gluten free, and she's been doing pretty well with it, but I haven't seen any change in her skin. It's very frustrating for her because appearances are starting to matter, and her hands and feet embarrass her.

coffeelover · 04-07-2013, 06:37 AM

My son has it and we were told by the derm to take a daily short shower, pat dry and put the cortisone cream on. He said that the shower would soften the spots and allow the cream to work more effectively. We also find applying Jojoba oil to the areas to be effective for mild flare-ups.

That is so interesting about the Vit. D link. He is the family member that is the least out-doorsy. Must start him on supplements right away.

01-03-2013, 06:34 PM	#1
bobbi Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 13,670 Gallery: bobbi WOE: Atkins	Best way to treat eczema in kids? My son has a touch of this, though it is rare that I see any indication. Lately, it has been showing more on his body. Does anyone have a good lotion or potion to use on it? Also, he has been taking more bubble baths lately - would that be aggravating it? If so, are there any other bubble alternatives to use - or just no bubbles? He usually takes a lot of showers but loves his bubble baths. TIA, bobbi

01-03-2013, 08:02 PM	#6
Purple Sage Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 12,763 Gallery: Purple Sage Stats: JUDDD 182/182/155 - 1st time 256/145/150 WOE: JUDDD and running Start Date: August 4, 2012 JUDDD January 1, 2005 Atkins	I have eczema and my nieces and nephews and one of my kids have it. We had noticed a pattern that everyone gets it in the winter, when we are covered up more and not in the sun so much....also the doctor recommended treating mine with UV therapy - what amounts to a VERY high priced tanning bed in the doctors office. I got curious and started doing research and found out that some dermatologists believe it is related to a vitamin D deficiency, started taking mega doses of vitamin D - 3000IU for myself per day and 800IU for the kids per day and for 2 winters now we have had no eczema - a total of 8 people have responded to this exact treatment...worth a shot! __________________ Christa Back on track and staying there.

03-06-2013, 05:03 AM	#13
Stardust Senior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 198 Gallery: Stardust	One thing that worked great with my eldest was porridge oats! In the bath though, not eating them lol. It was recommended to us by a lady who was doing my then partners laser tattoo removal and said it was really effective for her. My son got it on inside of elbows and behind his knees. I would use a muslin wrap / square and put a few handfuls of oats in the middle (just cheap generic ones from the supermarket) and I would then wrap it up and secure with an elastic band. Then while the bath was running I would leave it floating in the hot water, giving it an occasional squeeze. It would make the water go cloudy. Then when he was in the bath would gently press the bag against the bits that were sore, it would feel a bit slimey but easily rinsed away. It really helped take away the itchiness and redness. I don't know if it actually cures it or just soothes it but just using a couple of times a week in the bath really helped with my son. __________________ ~Bright & Sparkly Blessings~ Jackie

03-23-2013, 11:03 AM	#15
Speck333 Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 5,453 Gallery: Speck333 Stats: 181(16)/163(12)/99(0) ~ 5'2" WOE: Semi-Primal Start Date: Atkins restart: Jan. 3, 2010 (7/99 original start)	I really think this is something that needs to be treated from within rather than topically. Like others have mentioned, I've read numerous accounts of people successfully ridding or reducing their (or their kids') skin problems by eliminating wheat and sugars from their diet. In some cases, it's almost immediate, in others, it takes several weeks. OH, and I'd use coconut oil topically. It seems to work on everything else! Last edited by Speck333; 03-23-2013 at 11:04 AM..

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01-03-2013, 06:52 PM	#2
Heab Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 14,628 Gallery: Heab Stats: 223/214/150 WOE: Gluten free / workout Start Date: July 2013	My kids have it so bad they only bathe once or twice a week. Pat dry, and put lotion on while still damp. They lotion once or twice a day depending on how dry it is. We also use soap with no fragrance. When it gets really bad we use olive oil instead of lotion.

01-03-2013, 06:54 PM	#3
Mystic Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New Albany, Indiana Posts: 1,556 Gallery: Mystic Stats: 289/277/180 WOE: Protein Power Start Date: Jan. 7, 2013	My daughter's pediatrician said to use cortisone cream and then as a daily thing after a bath/shower, to use Cetaphil lotion. Just saw a commercial for a new product from Neosporin that is for eczema. May try that next since I'm just about out of cortisone cream.

01-03-2013, 07:16 PM	#4
bobbi Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 13,670 Gallery: bobbi WOE: Atkins	Wow Heab - that sucks. I'm mad at myself because i had a bottle of expensive eczema lotion ($10) that I threw out. I was cleaning out my cabinets and he hadn't used it in a long time and hadn't had any dryness that I just threw it out because I didn't like it for myself. You guys think the bubble baths could be irritating it?

01-03-2013, 07:36 PM	#5
greybb1 Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: The South y'all Posts: 1,240 Gallery: greybb1 Stats: 320/238/175 WOE: Atkins Start Date: September 2011	No bubble baths or baths at all. Short showers in tepid water, not hot. Try not to use soap on the affected areas. Look online for some oil rubs you can make for him. They usually involve olive oil. Just tell him as soon as it goes away he can take his bubble baths again!

01-03-2013, 08:06 PM	#7
Potaty Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 7,037 Gallery: Potaty Stats: 219 highest/193 now/135 goal WOE: hhcg + exercise Start Date: R1: 19.4 lost	steroid creams only suppress it and then it can manifest as asthma, I would not use them. Definitely switch to scent/dye free soaps, no bubble baths, good probiotic, vitamin D3, and a lotion called CeraVe. It is available behind pharmacy counters but does not require a prescription.

01-03-2013, 08:18 PM	#8
lkim Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: PMMG, California Chapter Posts: 11,634 Gallery: lkim WOE: Atkins Start Date: September 2000	No bubble bath. Olive oil after. It breathes which baby oil does not. Biotin cream is good too. No soap. Unless he is dirty just baths two or three times a week. Trader Joe's sells clean shampoos with no sodium lauryl sulfites or whatever. and no bubbles in the bath is huge. You're just drying him out

01-03-2013, 08:30 PM	#9
killerblues Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 5,073 Gallery: killerblues Stats: 162/148/140 5'9" WOE: atkins (ish) Start Date: a long time ago	I've had several kids on my caseload with this issue and many have tried gluten free diets with great results.

01-04-2013, 12:34 AM	#10
Mimosa23 Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Germany Posts: 5,926 Gallery: Mimosa23 Stats: 220/206/150 WOE: Nourishing Traditions without grains/IF	From personal experience, I would try the following: wheat and sugar free diet, at best a low carb diet, with lots of fats. Olive oil on skin Soap free washes only Sunshine/ vit D3 Seawater/salt baths once a week once skin is not broken (it hurts otherwise)

01-04-2013, 10:43 AM	#11
KeirasMom Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 7,316 Gallery: KeirasMom Stats: 277.6/155-159/165, 5'9", 40 y.o., Hypothyroid WOE: In Place of a Roadmap Start Date: Maintenance 1/23/13	One thing I haven't seen already mentioned is, in addition to scent/dye free body soaps, use scent/dye free laundry detergent as well. My daughter's eczema acts up whenever she uses towels or wears clothing that has been laundered with "regular" detergent.

02-25-2013, 06:53 AM	#12
jenericstewart Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 196 Gallery: jenericstewart Stats: 293+/213/183 WOE: BBD / JUDDD / CAD combo Start Date: 6/7/12	I have eczema. What takes mine away is applying true apple cider vinegar to the affected area. Just, like, maybe 1/4 t on a small spot. It burns, though. I don't know about putting it on a young child. Maybe dilute it (?). Cortisone cream works, but that's stuff's not good for you.

03-23-2013, 10:55 AM	#14
tttmom Senior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: out west Posts: 724 Gallery: tttmom Stats: 183.6/161.4/125 5'3", 37 yrs WOE: paleo/primal Start Date: 2/11/13	I have read a lot of information lately that there is a very strong link between many skin conditions, vitamin D deficiency and gluten intolerance. The link being that gluten destroys the gut so badly that many vitamins and minerals are not being absorbed, therefore causing not only deficiencies (vit D) but also major inflammation in the body, resulting in a varietly of different skin problems. Just something to check out if interested

04-05-2013, 05:22 AM	#16
snowdancer79 Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Colorado's Playground Posts: 1,159 Gallery: snowdancer79 Stats: 202/166/150 5'8" restart 10.01.12	My 11 year old DD has severe eczema all over her body. It's the worst on her hands and feet, where her skin is so damaged it flakes, cracks, and bleeds constantly. Her pediatrician keeps prescribing her steroid creams that don't do anything. We finally got a referral to the Children's Hospital in Denver the end of this month. I decided to have her try to eat (relatively) gluten free, and she's been doing pretty well with it, but I haven't seen any change in her skin. It's very frustrating for her because appearances are starting to matter, and her hands and feet embarrass her.

04-07-2013, 06:37 AM	#17
coffeelover Senior LCF Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 547 Gallery: coffeelover Stats: 5'4" 235/198/120 WOE: LC/Atkins Start Date: 01/15/13	My son has it and we were told by the derm to take a daily short shower, pat dry and put the cortisone cream on. He said that the shower would soften the spots and allow the cream to work more effectively. We also find applying Jojoba oil to the areas to be effective for mild flare-ups. That is so interesting about the Vit. D link. He is the family member that is the least out-doorsy. Must start him on supplements right away.