First, check your laundry detergent. Make sure it is free of dyes and fragrances as these may irritate sensitive skin. If you wash your bedding and clothing in something you are allergic to, it will make your eczema much worse. Second, check your skin care products for dyes and fragrances as well. Women should use hypo-allergenic make-up. Third, don’t take long or hot showers. Try to keep cool and hydrated. Heat and sweat seem to make it worse.

Many doctors think it has something to do with food; I think it depends on the person. I know if I eat too much chocolate it affects my skin. Try cutting down on junk food- this almost always helps a skin problem. Wheat is commonly said to be bad for people with eczema, I do not know how accurate this is, I usually say away from it to be on the safe side. Definitely drink lots of water- it’s always good for skin care. I’ve heard taking vitamin B12 helps, but I have not tried it myself.

Over the counter products seem to work the best. Try the Aveeno line. They have a hydro-cortisone cream specifically for eczema and it is the only thing I find that works. Use it sparingly; cortizone isn’t the best thing for your skin because it is a steroid, but it is our only option as eczema sufferers. For times between using the Aveeno cream, try Vanicream- you can get it over the counter. You have to ask the for it because they usually keep it behind the counter. Also try Aveeno oatmeal bath treatment. I even use it (the bath oatmeal) as a facial once a week or when my skin gets really bad.

Overall, the best thing to do is take care of yourself. Find out what your skin allergies are and accommodate them. Eat healthy and natural foods and drink enough water. Take your vitamins and try to stay as stress free as possible as eczema can be triggered by anxiety. Get enough sleep. Be on the look out for natural solutions- they are better for your skin than chemicals. There are many possible ‘treatments’ published online that include natural items like vinegar, oatmeal, honey, etc. You just have to try your own thing, everyone is different.

Here is the Aveeno product line:
http://www.aveeno.com/productListAction.do?pid=8000

Vanicream (and and other anti-irritant) Products:
http://www.psico.com/

Laundry Detergents:
ALL Free & Clear

For Usual Skin Care:
Moisturizer: http://www.neutrogena.com/ProductsDetails_37.asp?lProductLineID=13
Astringent: http://www.witchhazel.com/skincare_yellow.htm

A Book that you may find helpful:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/006072224X/sr=8-1/qid=1154285418/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-8907230-9292741?ie=UTF8

Good Luck!

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My son was the same way and at the time he was an infant/toddler we had an "older" ped who was wonderful. he said all of the expensive skin creams in the world – nothing is better than good old fashioned vasoline. Take a big glop while she is standing in the bath and then let her play for 5-10. Of course, stay close to make sure she is sitting as the tub gets slippery. When she gets out gently dry her off (don’t rub as it irritates skin conidtions). Cortisone is helpful but can lead to think skin, white patches on the skin and photosensitivity so try Vasoline first. Worked wonders for us and others I know

Keep an eye on her as she grows for allergies and asthma as they almost always go hand in hand with ecxema.

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I hope this information finds its way to those who need it.
A few other points
-my GP thought it was food related, found out this is not possible. KEEP THEM ON THE BREAST.
-cologne and perfume are HUGE irritants.My daughter can not kiss daddy after he’s shaved
-Heat also irritates her.
When an irritant is present I can quite litterally watch her skin react.
If your child is at all similar, please take the advice and help them. It’s made all the difference in the world.
Do not worry about diet. It does not effect the condition. Also, perfumes of any kind are a no-no. As mentioned, perfumes of any kind effect her immediately, be forwarned, parents. Breathable fabrics are also a must. Those lovely fluffy sleepers and blankets are nice to look at but the polyester is a huge irritant.
I have not noticed a reaction when she is emotional. She is a VERY relaxed child, though. So that could be why. Even at her worst, when she was scabbed all over her face and head, she was not overly bothered by it. We handled her scratching with mittens for a couple of months until she needed to start using her hands…. and yes, Sick Kids is absolutely amazing.
To be brutally honest, I brought this information because I tried all the "home remedies" I found on the internet and for severe eczema they do not work at all. This regime is for babies who who are covored in sores and are suffering. Sorbeline is a great treatment for mild cases. Honey I’m not too sure about. I just want parents out there looking for a solution, to see this testimony…. I’ve done the work for you, as has my daughter testing the home remidies and over-the-counter products. For SEVERE baby eczema, don’t even waste your time. Take this information to your GP if they have not found the solution and ask.

Zyrtec isn’t that bad and helps retard the migration of eosinophils, thus lowering the risk of asthma and other allergies by reducing inflammation (first link – research article).

Have you tried baths with plain bath salts (like Dead Sea salts)? Those baths seem to help my son’s eczema. Certainly there is plenty of evidence that both softened water or bleach baths are helpful, just the bleach baths need further studies and you need the right directions for doing them. We compromise by offering sea salt baths.

As for the steroid treatments, yes it’s steroids and yes over use is associated with thinned out skin – especially the ones by prescription. But as a biochemist I will assure you that the large molecules can not travel very far beyond the local area applied and will not effect her endocrine system or liver at all, it’s only local so do use them to help when it’s bad. You don’t want a child with a skin infection, babies and children have been known to scratch down to blood vessels and bone when sleeping because of the itch of infection.

OH yeah, does she also have a reaction when she’s very emotional? My youngest does, I can see it move on his skin, totally weird.

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The first thing to do is try and pin down the cause of the eczema. It could be dietary, allergy, or idiopathic. You may even find that with time the eczema disappears entirely of its own volition.

First of all is the commonsense approach. Try hard to keep her away from the things that get the eczema to flare up. When that’s not possible, then try to keep her body covered. There are some light weight but long sleeves type clothing that can help.

After this, it may be necessary to seek advice from a specialist- a dermatologist, who will be really able to pin down the exact nature of the eczema.

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Eczema is a skin condition with no known cure. Although it can be unpleasant, unsightly and very uncomfortable, eczema is neither infectious nor contagious. However, sometimes a case of eczema can become so severe that secondary infections can result. Dryness is the greatest enemy of eczema-prone skin. It can cause all symptoms to worsen. When the skin’s epidermal layer loses a large quantity of moisture, it creates an environment in which the skin is succeptible to invasion from a number of infections, some viral while others are bacterial.

Some examples of secondary infections that can develop along with eczema include warts, herpes simplex,viral molluscum, as well as staphylococcal and streptococcal bacterial skin infections. Other secondary skin problems that can arise as a result of the worsening of eczema include, but are not limited to, papules, small raised rough bumps on the skin, crusting as well as scaling of the skin, cheilitis, inflammation around the lip area, and eyelids that darken greatly.

One of the simplest ways to prevent eczema-related infection is to keep your skin well moisturized. Use a gentle moisturizer for eczema-prone skin such as Aquaphor, Alpha Keri, Eucerin, Curel, Lubriderm, Moisturel or Vaseline a minimum of twice daily. Do not allow your skin to become parched. Moisturize it instead so it never gets to the point of feeling arid. Hydrate yourself from the inside as well. It is vital to drink six to eight glasses of purified water daily. This will help flush your organs and safeguard against infections.

Broken or cracked skin is an entryway for bacteria into the skin. Avoid this by resisting the urge to scratch. Use cortisone cream or extra moisturizer in case of itches. For added protection, keep your fingernails short so you won’t be able to cause as much damage to your skin if you do scratch. If you have a problem with scratching in your sleep, consider investing in a pair of thin gloves and wearing them as you sleep. If your skin does have cracks or breaks in it despite your best efforts to prevent them, liberally apply antibiotic cream to them and, if necessary, bandage the wounded area until it begins to heal.

Other ways to help avoid eczema-related infections include using an air-purification system in your home or workplace to filter out air particles that could lead to flare-ups in your skin condition. Additionally, use a humidifier in your home to keep moisture in the air and thus not contribute to excessively drying out your skin. Increase your dietary consumption of fatty fish such as sardines and salmon. Also increase your intake of raw seeds such as flax seeds or pumpkin seeds. Flax seed is also available in oil or powder form. These foods all contain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which are an excellent for reducing swelling in the skin. As much as possible,avoid consuming trans-fatty acids in the form of hydrogenated oils as these tend to promote disease as well as decreasing the immune system effectiveness.

Barbara Smith
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/avoiding-eczemarelated-infections-85132.html

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