Re: atopic dermatitis eczema

[Guest guest]

I'm pretty sure Hives and Eczema are 2 different things. We used to

have both.

Hives are a red welt and might be raised but isn't usually rough to

the touch and is caused by a direct allergic reaction (can be

ingested or touched and even be caused by hot or cold). The only

things that worked for us were removing the allergen and giving

Benadryl. These were usually fairly short in duration..less than a

day at the longest.

Eczema is a skin symptom of an immune system reaction and is usually

rough to the touch, itchy but not as itchy as hives. It is

exacerbated by dry skin, skin irration caused by clothing etc. We

used to get circular patches often and had a full body case starting

the day after DS's 1 year vaccinations that lasted for almost 3

months. Fish Oil (EFA's) cured this in my son...we had eczema

starting at 4 months in my son and his last outbreak was right before

we started fish oil at 22 months. Cleared it right up and hasn't had

any eczema since (DS is 4.5).

Direct care is usually cotton clothing, using minimal soap, free &

clear detergent, and keeping the skin as moist as possible. We used

to give him a tepid bath at night and then do a full body coat of

Aquaphor or Calming Creme before putting on pj's every night.

Hope that helps.

(Max's Mom)

>

> DS has a severe flare-up of eczema, his whole upper body is covered

in

> hives. It started in spring, but got much worse now that we moved.

>

> he tested allergic to mold, dust mites and several grasses.

>

> I took all books from his room, covered the sofa in plastic cover,

got

> a kilo of cat hair remaining from the previous tenants from the

> radiator, and I am washing the floor every other day and do not use

> the air conditioning b/c it made him worse initially. But he only

> seems worse.

>

> Can that be caused by some kind of insect spray the previous tenants

> could have used in bathroom or kitchen (both connected to his

> bedroom)? What do I do in this case?

>

> Or grass pollen in the air?

>

> Or yeast flare up?

>

> Or any other ideas? I will be so thankful for any ideas, I am

already

> desperate. Steroid topical creams help for a day or two, and then

he's

> worse again.

>

[Guest guest]

The only thing that worked for us with eczema was changing all

cleaning/laundry to natural and unscented, treating yeast, NAET or

Bioset for sensitivites/allergies, and emu oil for topical healing of

the skin.

HTH,

>

> DS has a severe flare-up of eczema, his whole upper body is covered

in

> hives. It started in spring, but got much worse now that we moved.

>

> he tested allergic to mold, dust mites and several grasses.

>

> I took all books from his room, covered the sofa in plastic cover,

got

> a kilo of cat hair remaining from the previous tenants from the

> radiator, and I am washing the floor every other day and do not use

> the air conditioning b/c it made him worse initially. But he only

> seems worse.

>

> Can that be caused by some kind of insect spray the previous tenants

> could have used in bathroom or kitchen (both connected to his

> bedroom)? What do I do in this case?

>

> Or grass pollen in the air?

>

> Or yeast flare up?

>

> Or any other ideas? I will be so thankful for any ideas, I am

already

> desperate. Steroid topical creams help for a day or two, and then

he's

> worse again.

>

[Guest guest]

Are you allergy incasing his bedding? Stuffed animals are also bad. Also

washing bedding enough using a detergent such as Free and Clear, hot water.

Pillow? Allergy incase, maybe start out with a new one too? Just some

thoughts!

Tammy

[ ] atopic dermatitis eczema

DS has a severe flare-up of eczema, his whole upper body is covered in

hives. It started in spring, but got much worse now that we moved.

he tested allergic to mold, dust mites and several grasses.

I took all books from his room, covered the sofa in plastic cover, got

a kilo of cat hair remaining from the previous tenants from the

radiator, and I am washing the floor every other day and do not use

the air conditioning b/c it made him worse initially. But he only

seems worse.

Can that be caused by some kind of insect spray the previous tenants

could have used in bathroom or kitchen (both connected to his

bedroom)? What do I do in this case?

Or grass pollen in the air?

Or yeast flare up?

Or any other ideas? I will be so thankful for any ideas, I am already

desperate. Steroid topical creams help for a day or two, and then he's

worse again.

[Guest guest]

Acetaminophen also increases risk of developing asthma and eczema.

(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26788879/)

Supressing eczema with topical ointments -

(http://www.centerforhomeopathy.com/homeopathy.php?page=12 )

>

> DS has a severe flare-up of eczema, his whole upper body is covered

in

> hives. It started in spring, but got much worse now that we moved.

>

> he tested allergic to mold, dust mites and several grasses.

>

> I took all books from his room, covered the sofa in plastic cover,

got

> a kilo of cat hair remaining from the previous tenants from the

> radiator, and I am washing the floor every other day and do not use

> the air conditioning b/c it made him worse initially. But he only

> seems worse.

>

> Can that be caused by some kind of insect spray the previous tenants

> could have used in bathroom or kitchen (both connected to his

> bedroom)? What do I do in this case?

>

> Or grass pollen in the air?

>

> Or yeast flare up?

>

> Or any other ideas? I will be so thankful for any ideas, I am

already

> desperate. Steroid topical creams help for a day or two, and then

he's

> worse again.

>

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

thanks for answering! I am already washing all our stuff with Dr

Bronner's unscented liquid soap, and giving him probiotic against yeast.

A NAET practitioner said DS had too many allergies and he, the

practitioner, did not feel comfortable treating them. He offered

another protocol I had to do himself and buy the kit from him... It

also costs an arm and a leg. Did NAET help you fast? How many

treatments did you have to do? How did you find a practitioner?

Last question: what is emu oil?

Thanks a lot again!

Elena

> >

> > DS has a severe flare-up of eczema, his whole upper body is covered

> in

> > hives. It started in spring, but got much worse now that we moved.

> >

> > he tested allergic to mold, dust mites and several grasses.

> >

> > I took all books from his room, covered the sofa in plastic cover,

> got

> > a kilo of cat hair remaining from the previous tenants from the

> > radiator, and I am washing the floor every other day and do not use

> > the air conditioning b/c it made him worse initially. But he only

> > seems worse.

> >

> > Can that be caused by some kind of insect spray the previous tenants

> > could have used in bathroom or kitchen (both connected to his

> > bedroom)? What do I do in this case?

> >

> > Or grass pollen in the air?

> >

> > Or yeast flare up?

> >

> > Or any other ideas? I will be so thankful for any ideas, I am

> already

> > desperate. Steroid topical creams help for a day or two, and then

> he's

> > worse again.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for answering!

With DS, it seems first come the hives, and then he scratches himself

raw, and the bumps become rough and often bleeding. He had patches on

and off, but got an outbreak when two things happened: we moved and he

started high school.

I suspect there is some yucky stuff either at school or in our new

appartment.

At home, I am washing the floor and radiators with Dr Bronner soap to

eliminate traces of previous owners' pets, roach sprays etc., but

apparently that has not removed the allergen yet.

At school, I don't khow what to do. I can't wash the school building

and prohibit them to use all kinds of chemicals for washing and spraying!

A question: did your son had eczema on his scalp? and what did you put

there?

Thanks again!

Elena

t

> >

> > DS has a severe flare-up of eczema, his whole upper body is covered

> in

> > hives. It started in spring, but got much worse now that we moved.

> >

> > he tested allergic to mold, dust mites and several grasses.

> >

> > I took all books from his room, covered the sofa in plastic cover,

> got

> > a kilo of cat hair remaining from the previous tenants from the

> > radiator, and I am washing the floor every other day and do not use

> > the air conditioning b/c it made him worse initially. But he only

> > seems worse.

> >

> > Can that be caused by some kind of insect spray the previous tenants

> > could have used in bathroom or kitchen (both connected to his

> > bedroom)? What do I do in this case?

> >

> > Or grass pollen in the air?

> >

> > Or yeast flare up?

> >

> > Or any other ideas? I will be so thankful for any ideas, I am

> already

> > desperate. Steroid topical creams help for a day or two, and then

> he's

> > worse again.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hello Tamara, and thanks for answering!

He is sleeping on a couch, and I put a plastic protector on the couch,

but maybe it is not enough?

No stuffed animals for now, he is 14 (but still was reluctant to part

with his beloved stuffed horse). I have read advice to freeze animals

once a week to kill mites - in winter I'll try to do that!

Instead of a pillow, I put spare sheets into his pillow case so that I

can wash them weekly.

But it does not seem to help much. Every night he itches and scratches

himself raw. The only nights when he sleeps is when I put steroid

cream on him, but I can't do it all his life! I am desperate for a

better answer.

Thanks again for your help!

Elena

>

> Are you allergy incasing his bedding? Stuffed animals are also bad.

Also

> washing bedding enough using a detergent such as Free and Clear, hot

water.

> Pillow? Allergy incase, maybe start out with a new one too? Just some

> thoughts!

>

>

>

> Tammy

>

>

>

>

>

> [ ] atopic dermatitis eczema

>

>

>

> DS has a severe flare-up of eczema, his whole upper body is covered in

> hives. It started in spring, but got much worse now that we moved.

>

> he tested allergic to mold, dust mites and several grasses.

>

> I took all books from his room, covered the sofa in plastic cover, got

> a kilo of cat hair remaining from the previous tenants from the

> radiator, and I am washing the floor every other day and do not use

> the air conditioning b/c it made him worse initially. But he only

> seems worse.

>

> Can that be caused by some kind of insect spray the previous tenants

> could have used in bathroom or kitchen (both connected to his

> bedroom)? What do I do in this case?

>

> Or grass pollen in the air?

>

> Or yeast flare up?

>

> Or any other ideas? I will be so thankful for any ideas, I am already

> desperate. Steroid topical creams help for a day or two, and then he's

> worse again.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

THanks a lot for the answer and the info!

The problem is, I am not giving him any acetaminophen.

Concerning homeopathy, he was taking some remedies in spring and early

summer, but then I found out that the pellets were lactose-based (and

he is not only on GFCF diet, but also tested allergic to milk), and

the liquid remedy he was taking contained trace amounts of - guess

what -- mercury. I had to stop giving him both the pellets and the

liquid.

Besides that, I heard a lot of good things about homeopathy. Did it

help in your case? How do I find a good practitioner? and do all

homeopathic remedies have to contain either lactose or mercury?

Thanks a lot again!

Best,

Elena

> >

> > DS has a severe flare-up of eczema, his whole upper body is covered

> in

> > hives. It started in spring, but got much worse now that we moved.

> >

> > he tested allergic to mold, dust mites and several grasses.

> >

> > I took all books from his room, covered the sofa in plastic cover,

> got

> > a kilo of cat hair remaining from the previous tenants from the

> > radiator, and I am washing the floor every other day and do not use

> > the air conditioning b/c it made him worse initially. But he only

> > seems worse.

> >

> > Can that be caused by some kind of insect spray the previous tenants

> > could have used in bathroom or kitchen (both connected to his

> > bedroom)? What do I do in this case?

> >

> > Or grass pollen in the air?

> >

> > Or yeast flare up?

> >

> > Or any other ideas? I will be so thankful for any ideas, I am

> already

> > desperate. Steroid topical creams help for a day or two, and then

> he's

> > worse again.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Elena,

I just went back and re-read your posts. Some suggestions:

1. Maybe try a trial of low dose benadryl or claritin for a few

days. Generic brands are fine. If that helps, you know you probably

have an allergic reaction going on and NOT yeast or eczema. FYI,

Benadryl makes you drowsy and Claritin doesn't.

2. Since your son tested positive to allergies for some grasses, Dr

Bronner's probably isn't the best soap to use since it is based on

oils from olives and hemp. My sister who has asthma and allergies

often would react to " natural " stuff but did okay with the

petroleum/detergent based stuff. So...maybe switch to either

cleaning with diluted vinegar or even something like Dawn which is a

detergent and see what happens.

3. For sleeping at night, a cool shower might help right before

bed. In my experience with both myself and my son, heat of any kind

makes hives much worse. If it is eczema, this won't hurt it and

putting lotion on aftewards would help. Also, keep his nails trimmed

and maybe wear cloth gloves at night-cotton would be perfect. If he

does scratch, then the damage isn't as bad. In the winter, wearing

long sleeves and pants will help keep the damage down also.

4. For the stuffed animal, can you wash it and then dry it in the

dryer?? High heat is supposed to help kill mites etc.

5. Sit down and make a list of all the things that changed when you

moved. Did you get any new furniture? My son actually had an

immediate hive reaction to some wooden alphabet blocks. Once I

cleaned them with soap and water, rinsed them well, and let them dry

outside overnight he no longer reacted to them, but obviously they

were coated with something his body didn't like.

Did you get a pet? Did you start sleeping with the windows open or

drying clothing outdoors?

Maybe a list like that would give you a clue.

To answer your specific question, we didn't have eczema in the scalp,

so it didn't come up.

Hope that helps.

(Max's Mom)

> > >

> > > DS has a severe flare-up of eczema, his whole upper body is

covered

> > in

> > > hives. It started in spring, but got much worse now that we

moved.

> > >

> > > he tested allergic to mold, dust mites and several grasses.

> > >

> > > I took all books from his room, covered the sofa in plastic

cover,

> > got

> > > a kilo of cat hair remaining from the previous tenants from the

> > > radiator, and I am washing the floor every other day and do not

use

> > > the air conditioning b/c it made him worse initially. But he

only

> > > seems worse.

> > >

> > > Can that be caused by some kind of insect spray the previous

tenants

> > > could have used in bathroom or kitchen (both connected to his

> > > bedroom)? What do I do in this case?

> > >

> > > Or grass pollen in the air?

> > >

> > > Or yeast flare up?

> > >

> > > Or any other ideas? I will be so thankful for any ideas, I am

> > already

> > > desperate. Steroid topical creams help for a day or two, and

then

> > he's

> > > worse again.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Wow, a few more tips.

Make sure pajamas, clothing sleeping in are 100% cotton. Was several times

even if new.

Good old water is good too. Detergents/soaps can be even an issue.

If you haven't done food allergy testing, do so. My son has no issues with

a clean diet. If not a clean diet, is skin is the first to show it!

I too would try and antihistamine at night. He can not be sleeping well at

night itching all night. Been there, awful!

Best wishes and solving this mystery!

Tammy

[ ] atopic dermatitis eczema

>

>

>

> DS has a severe flare-up of eczema, his whole upper body is covered in

> hives. It started in spring, but got much worse now that we moved.

>

> he tested allergic to mold, dust mites and several grasses.

>

> I took all books from his room, covered the sofa in plastic cover, got

> a kilo of cat hair remaining from the previous tenants from the

> radiator, and I am washing the floor every other day and do not use

> the air conditioning b/c it made him worse initially. But he only

> seems worse.

>

> Can that be caused by some kind of insect spray the previous tenants

> could have used in bathroom or kitchen (both connected to his

> bedroom)? What do I do in this case?

>

> Or grass pollen in the air?

>

> Or yeast flare up?

>

> Or any other ideas? I will be so thankful for any ideas, I am already

> desperate. Steroid topical creams help for a day or two, and then he's

> worse again.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Elena,

NAET helped over a period of time for us. For food issues the longest

was 2 months (soy) but during that time we eliminated every

derivative of soy in the diet. Other food issues were fine with one

treatment. For chemical or pollen/mold type issues it took longer and

more treatments because it was difficult, if not impossible, to avoid

those things. We treated 2 allergens at a time and sometimes we went

once a week, sometimes once a month - depending on if symptoms

returned or started to get worse again. Over all we did NAET

regularly for about a year. Now we go in for " tune ups " . I got lucky

in that I knew the practitioner because she worked at a holistic

health clinic where I was studying/working. I believe you can search

both NAET and/or Bioset and they both have practitioner lists on

their sites. Email me if you can't find this - I know I have these

bookmarked somewhere and will happily send them to you. Or start

calling around to naturopathic doctors, chiropractors, etc. They may

know of someone.

If you are vegetarian I apologize in advance for this: emu oil is the

fat that is rendered when emu (you know the large Australian birds?)

are butchered for the meat (which if you are not a vegetarian is

quite good). I don't have an emu farm or any farm for that matter. I

use it in my massage therapy practice when needed, and often for my

family. It is like a liquidy wax, white and thick at room temp, but

turns into an oil on contact with the warmth of skin. It is odorless

and has a healthy balance of omega fatty oils, and is really rich. I

buy it (and all my oils) wholesale, but you can order it online or

get it at health food stores for about $12-$15 for a 4 oz bottle.

Just make sure it is 100% pure emu oil and not a blend. If you want a

link to that, too, let me know. Thunder Ridge is a brand I've used.

You may be able to buy it locally. It lasts a really long time - a

little goes a long way. At home, I use it to soothe eczema, diaper

rash, sunburn, and in place of department store facial night cream,

cracked heals, scar healing, etc. It's one of those things that we

consider part of our natural personal care and medicine cabinet and

always have in the house.

> > >

> > > DS has a severe flare-up of eczema, his whole upper body is

covered

> > in

> > > hives. It started in spring, but got much worse now that we

moved.

> > >

> > > he tested allergic to mold, dust mites and several grasses.

> > >

> > > I took all books from his room, covered the sofa in plastic

cover,

> > got

> > > a kilo of cat hair remaining from the previous tenants from the

> > > radiator, and I am washing the floor every other day and do not

use

> > > the air conditioning b/c it made him worse initially. But he

only

> > > seems worse.

> > >

> > > Can that be caused by some kind of insect spray the previous

tenants

> > > could have used in bathroom or kitchen (both connected to his

> > > bedroom)? What do I do in this case?

> > >

> > > Or grass pollen in the air?

> > >

> > > Or yeast flare up?

> > >

> > > Or any other ideas? I will be so thankful for any ideas, I am

> > already

> > > desperate. Steroid topical creams help for a day or two, and

then

> > he's

> > > worse again.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Elena,

I thought of another thing too. We had all eczema cleared up (my son

had it, but I had it worse) and for me it kept coming back on my

hands only. I couldn't figure out why. The MD allergist was insistent

(w/o testing that it was the essential oils I sometimes use for work,

but the NAET kept testing me NOT sensitive for those oils.

Finally I figured it out - it was HAND soap. At home I have only

organic naturally scented hand soaps at my sinks. The only time I

would get flares would be home visits to certain older/pregnant

clients - and they always had the full of chemicals and artificial

scents hand soap from the smelly store in the mall. Once I took my

own little tube of hand soap along it never happened again. Check all

your child's shampoo, soap, personal products ingredient lists maybe

there is a chemical or fragrance in there that is triggering this.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

My son had reddish rough oval patches all over his back and few on his arms.

Turns out they

were a fungal eczema that cleared up quickly with Canesten, a prescription

anti-fungal

cream. We had tried evening primrose, fish oils, vit E and never used any

soaps or stuff with

fragrances. If it sounds like your case, see if your doc can r/x it. Good

luck!