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Bananas, Pineapples and Eczema | talkhealth Blog

Does Pineapple make eczema worse?

For a couple of years now, MyItchyBoy has been eating and enjoying dried pineapple.  It never seemed to cause a problem for his eczema.  Or did it?

He’d usually have the crispy type of dried pineapple until we discovered a chewy, sweet and easy-to-add-to-snack-boxes version.  MyItchyBoy loved this stuff.

However, as he started to eat it more and more (virtually every day) I started to wonder whether the increase in his eczema was related.

Unfortunately, when it comes to eczema, it is really hard to work out what has caused a flare up, especially a minor one.  The delay in reaction, as well as everyday factors such as heat and tiredness, can make it tricky to pinpoint what has made it worse.

So, unscientifically, I dropped pineapple completely from his diet and turned to the internet.  Sure enough, there are plenty of people who react to pineapple in a bad way.  Hmmm….not conclusive proof, but his skin did calm down and he can live without pineapple.

Do bananas make eczema worse?

Do bananas make eczema worse?

And then to the humble banana…

The fruit most enjoyed by our family.

The easy to eat, energy-giving, versatile fruit that MyItchyBoy really likes.

What have I got against bananas?  Well, again, only a feeling.  A weekend of eating a lot of his favourite banana loaf (my lazy answer to baking as it is pretty much the only shop-bought baked good I can buy for him, he loves it, and it’s full of calories to keep him going), dried banana chips and fresh banana and well……….eczema.

Conclusive evidence?  Definitely not.  But again, I immediately stopped all banana eating by MyItchyBoy and the amount of eczema reduced.

His skin is still dry, he is still itching, but it is mostly limited to his ankles (school shoes and socks – another story!) and those times when he is grumpy, tired, bored, etc.

Hmmm….

I’m giving it another week and then I think I’ll give him a banana and see what happens.

I know that he can live without bananas and pineapples, despite pressure these days to eat more fruit and veg and have lunch boxes packed with the stuff.  But, without stone fruits (definitely flare up his eczema), apples, grapes and raisins (all give him indigestion unless in small, infrequent doses) and now pineapple and banana we are getting limited in fruit to give to MyItchyBoy.

Luckily he loves blueberries (unlike my bank balance!) and pears and vegetables, so I’m not too worried just yet.

I’m, of course, selfishly worried about finding easy things to put in MyItchyBoy’s lunch box and that I’ll have to keep up with the baking!  I do like the sleep I get when MyItchyBoy’s eczema is under control though…and not seeing him suffer unnecessarily.  So I’ll probably get over myself and cope.

I plan to challenge the eczema on both fruits again and see if I can tell if there is a difference.  But for now, I think we’ll manage without.

Oral Allergy Syndrome & Eczema Update – Making Good Choices Blog

Morning!

I thought today would be a good day to give an update on what’s going on with my eczema. On September 11th/12th I started a pretty limited diet.  You can read more about what I originally decided to stop eating here.

After doing this for a couple of weeks, I have found out some things by trial and error. When I encounter something I shouldn’t eat, I basically have an immediate flare. My spots get very itchy, my face gets red and burns and my lips get itchy/tingly.

I figured out gluten/wheat, soy, vinegar, almonds (not sure about other nuts) and beans don’t affect me or my eczema. I’ve been having those things in minimal amounts. I still can’t decide about eggs, but if I only have 1-2 every couple of days it seems to be fine.

I’m not sure about dairy because I haven’t had ANY since I started.

The fruits and veggies that seem to be especially bothersome EVEN cooked are: carrots, zucchini, tomatoes (although tomato sauce is fine, I’m guessing because it’s cooked for so long), apples and eggplant. This basically (besides the apples) is my entire summer diet. I ate all of those things multiple times a DAY and never realized I was having a reaction. Also I may have a reaction to honey, but I’m not totally sure.

I kind of can’t believe all those foods are giving me such a reaction (denial) but every time I eat one of them, I flare up. It’s SO crazy. I still haven’t tried avocado, but maybe in a few weeks I will.

When I’m home, this diet feels fine. I don’t really notice a difference. When I’m out/out to eat it’s pretty frustrating. My face was on fire this past weekend when I was at a wedding. I had a couple pieces of eggplant (stupid I know) and I think it was from that…but I’m really not totally sure. I also had dessert (cake) and other random foods.

In addition to avoiding these foods, I’ve been taking 1 tbsp of raw, organic (Bragg) apple cider vinegar, 2x a day. I’ve also been taking 3 probiotic pills a day, a multivitamin, 2 fish oil and 2 reishi pills (2x) a day. (Typically, I take 1 probiotic, multivitamin, 2 fish oil.)

For me, this was 100% brought on after pregnancy. I had occasional eczema, but like I said it ALWAYS cleared up within days of going light on dairy. To help my spots go away I’ve been using my perscription cream and during the day sometimes I’ll put either apple cider vinegar mixed with water (1:1) on it, or glycerin mixed with witch hazel (also 1:1).  I basically HATE using the steriod cream, but I want these spots gone.

So that’s that. I had no clue that so many people have oral allergy syndrome (like Dorothy). It’s pretty comforting. The thing I wonder about is if I can eat these foods over the winter, since it’s not allergy season. After a month or two I plan on testing out these foods, 1 at a time and seeing how it goes. I also will talk to the allergist about it when I go on the 15th.

I figured since I’ve found so many people who are dealing with this, I’d write about my experience. Please share any experiences you’ve had!

 

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Coping with My Child's Eczema – Nambutripad's … – A Dollop Of Me

It has been a while since I updated about how we are coping with Bubbles’ eczema.

I am pleased to share that the SEC Shower System is still working well for us. Bubbles still asks for her showers, and has said several times that the shower makes her skin feel better. This is a sharp contrast from her daily painful refusals before we had this system installed, and a relief to us.

Unfortunately, while the shower, cleansing and moisturizing routines help to provide some comfort and relief to her, we were still not getting to the root causes of her eczema. We already did what we could to reduce her exposure to dust-mites that she is supposedly allergic to, but flare-ups were still happening.

Just WHAT is causing her Eczema and extreme discomfort? I was driven to find some answers. Not satisfied with having to rely on steroid creams every doctor we saw prescribed, I located a Naturopath/Osteopath in Singapore who is a NAET licensed health practitioner. 

In brief, the NAET are a non-invasive, drug free, natural solution to alleviate allergies of all types and intensities using a blend of selective energy balancing, testing and treatment procedures from acupuncture/acupressure, allopathy, chiropractic, nutritional, and kinesiological disciplines of medicine. (Description taken from the NAET website)

Quite surprisingly and slightly alarmingly, at our first visit, the naturopath we consulted with detected several food sensitivities/allergies in Bubbles – gluten, chicken, eggs and milk! I flipped as most of those things featured in her daily diet. I asked why these food allergies were never detected in any of the three skin prick tests that Bubbles went through. He explained that regular skin prick tests detect proteins, but in her body, the amounts must have been too little for the proteins to be traced. Despite that, the tiny amounts were likely enough to trigger her eczema.

For relief of itch and to heal rash wounds, we were advised to give her regular salt baths. We simply add spoonfuls of sea salt into a tub of water, and let her soak in it. Sometimes, we do this just for her hands, as the itch and inflammation there affects her a lot more, given that we use our hands for almost everything.


Damage to the Gut | He also explained that in natural medicine, it is believed that the gut is the wellspring of life, so to speak. It is sometimes called the “2nd brain”. In Bubbles case, her food allergies from birth must have caused quite a bit of damage to her gut, causing it to inefficiently absorb nutrients, and contributing towards the eczema. From his diagnosis, he also said that Bubbles has more of a vegetarian constitution, and recommended that she increase her vegetable intake, and reduce her meat consumption. 

The information we heard that day was a revelation to me. Despite feeling overwhelmed, I also felt a tremendous sense of relief, thinking that we have finally been given some answers. We plunged head-on into changing Bubbles’ diet, eliminating first chicken and eggs, and gradually cutting out milk and gluten by the end of that first month. I will not pretend that it was easy. It was very, very tough. Tough on the poor girl of course (bless the little one!), and also on me, as I had to completely overhaul the family’s usual tried-and-tested, easy-to-make meals. Besides food experimentation, there was a lot of tears, stressful grocery shopping trips, worries and struggles.

However, we were rewarded as within 2-3 weeks, her skin noticeably cleared and showed a natural plump moistness. Her hair too became more silky, and less dry than before. The eczema did not completely go away, but the condition of the skin was definitely improved, the first time without any medication at all, and she was also much cheerier, perhaps from less discomfort.

Most tellingly, a couple of weeks into this new diet, I pointedly asked her if she felt any different. Her verbatim reply was: Yes! My brain used to be stuck, but now it is unstuck. I believe this is due to the reduction of gluten in her diet more than anything else, but felt thrilled that my then almost 4-year-old could clearly articulate this!

BUT.
Sadly, and frustratingly, her eczema has flared up again in recent days. We have quite religiously stuck to the diet, so we do not know what is going on. Could it be the additional dust exposure from getting our air-conditioning units cleaned recently? Or that our apartment block is getting a new coat of paint these few days? I really don’t know, and am quite depressed that we seem to be back at square one despite all our efforts.

Anyway, we are currently awaiting the results of a detailed stool analysis that the naturopath suggested that we do. We had to go to a different clinic to seek a consultation about this, and found out that such a test cannot be done in Singapore! Stool has to be sent all the way to the USA to be tested. I found this fact, plus the fee to get it done, quite incredulous! We went ahead anyway, as a detailed stool analysis could really be the key in getting to the root causes of Bubbles’ health issues.

I will share more about how this test has been helpful (or not) for us, once I get more information.

For those of you who may be interested in naturopatic health methods, and who are Christians like me, it may be useful to read articles from this site, especially this and this. I wish I read these before we embarked on NAET, but now that we have already gone ahead, I am more prayerful and cautious about next steps, and continue to pray for healing and protection for Bubbles.

Eczema Research Focus Month – Obesity and Asthma | Eczema Blues

Obesity linked to eczema and other allergic conditions

Obesity linked to eczema and other allergic conditions

This is an interesting study – on obesity. Obesity had been covered in this blog, noting a relationship between obesity and severe eczema. Obesity has impact on inflammation and chronic diseases, and in this study, there is some relationship established between obesity and TV on various allergic conditions. The study is part of the ISAAC study, which is questionnaire-based, instead of trials. In any case, it’s never good to be obese! The main points of the study:

1. Study covered children aged 6-7 years adolescents aged 13-14 years

2. Associations between obesity and symptoms of asthma and eczema

3. Vigorous physical activity positively associated with symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in adolescents, but not children

4. Viewing television for 5 or more hours per day associated with an increased risk of symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in adolescents

In a separate study, weight loss improved inflammatory skin condition psoriasis. So, even more reason to be healthy – exercise and don’t consume excess EMPTY calories – foods like sugar, fried food and transfat are pro-inflammation foods. Share your diet for your family in the comment!

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The Beauty Lounge | Dealing with eczema



Beauty
The BeautyLounge.ie


Published on September 16th, 2013 |
by The Beauty Lounge




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Eczema is a non-contagious condition in which the skin is irritated, causing dryness, itching, and red rashes often coupled with a scaly surface. While it is more common in infants and young children, eczema can affect any age group and must be diagnosed by a dermatologist. The condition may be temporary or chronic, mild or, in rare instances, very serious.

Atopic dermatitis is the prevalent form of chronic eczema. It is a genetically inherited condition that tends to run in families who also suffer from hay fever and asthma. Atopic dermatitis will affect about 10 to 20 per cent of people at some point in their lives.

Dyshidrotic eczema occurs on the palms of the hands, sides of the fingers, and the soles of the feet, and it is associated with itching and blisters.

Nummular dermatitis is a type of eczema that normally affects older adults. Round patches of scaly, inflamed skin may appear anywhere on the body, most commonly on the legs. Winter is the peak period for this condition. It tends to strike dry skin.

Stasis dermatitis (or gravitational eczema) affects the lower legs of older adults. It is basically a poor circulation problem, usually due to blood not being able to get out of the legs well. It is caused by varicose veins.

Symptoms and complications of eczema
Atopic dermatitis appears as red, itchy, dry skin. It tends to first appear in childhood, and may disappear completely before adulthood. It most often affects the area behind the knees and around the elbows, as well as the face.

Dyshidrotic eczema can cause blisters on the palms of the hands, sides of the fingers, and soles of the feet. The skin will feel itchy or you may feel a burning sensation, and it can crack or peel.

Nummular eczema appears as itchy, red, coin-shaped areas with discharge on the limbs and torso.
Stasis dermatitis appears as inflamed, scaly skin around the lower legs and ankles. Over time, it may turn dark brown.

If you get inflamed skin, it’s important to tell your doctor about any allergies you have and any unfamiliar substances you have recently come in contact with.

Treating and preventing eczema
Your doctor will recommend a treatment plan for your eczema that will take into consideration the type of eczema you have, the severity of the eczema, as well as other factors. For most people, a combination of therapies is needed to manage eczema.

Treatment options for most types of eczema can include moisturisers and topical corticosteroids. The most important step in both treating and preventing eczema flare-ups is frequent moisturising.

For some people with more severe eczema, oral corticosteroids may rarely be needed to control symptoms. For older adults, ultraviolet (UV) radiation is sometimes used, but the skin cancer risk makes this unsuitable for younger people. Antihistamines that cause drowsiness may be recommended for some types of eczema to help with itching and sleep. When skin infections occur, topical or oral antibiotics may be prescribed.

Stasis dermatitis can be helped by keeping in good physical shape so that blood flows freely through the legs. Support stockings can also assist in pumping the blood up out of the leg. And elevating your leg also increases circulation.

Susceptibility to most forms of eczema is genetic and unavoidable. Knowing what allergens and irritants to avoid can help you get through life without being inconvenienced by eczema.

Tips to help you deal with eczema:
• Bathe in cool or tepid water with gentle soap. Minimise the use of soap when possible.
• Use moisturisers immediately after you bathe to keep the moisture locked in. Avoid moisturisers with perfumes, as they may worsen the condition.
• Avoid scratching affected areas. Some people wear cotton gloves at night to prevent scratching in their sleep.
• Keep your fingernails short.
• Don’t let sweat stay on your skin.
• Avoid clothes that don’t let the skin breathe.

When selecting a skin care regimen, it is important to avoid ingredients that may irritate the skin. Products containing alpha-hydroxyl acids, glycolic acid and alcohol should be avoided.

Using mild, non-drying, detergent-free soaps and cleansers, followed by soothing and nourishing moisturizers are key steps in any skincare routine for those with sensitive, dry skin regardless of the products you choose to use. Applying calming creams and masks every so often or as your skin tolerance allows will also help in relieving eczema symptoms.

Nutrition and dietary supplements
Many people who have eczema have food allergies, so eating a healthy diet may help reduce inflammation and allergic reactions. Check with your doctor before giving a supplement to a child.
• Avoid exposure to environmental or food allergens. Common foods that cause allergic reactions are dairy, soy, citrus, peanuts, wheat (sometimes all gluten containing grains), fish, eggs, corn, and tomatoes.
• Eat fewer refined foods, and sugar. These foods contribute to inflammation in the body.
• Eat more fresh vegetables, whole grains, and essential fatty acids (cold water fish, nuts, and seeds).
• Fish oil: In one study, people taking fish oil equal to 1.8 g of EPA (one of the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil) experienced significant reduction in symptoms of eczema after 12 weeks. Researchers think that may be because fish oil helps reduce leukotriene B4, an inflammatory substance that plays a role in eczema. Talk to your doctor before taking fish oil if you are taking any blood-thinning medications, and before taking a high dose. If you’re taking high dose fish oil, make sure you use a brand that removes most of the vitamin A. Too much vitamin A over time can be toxic.
• Probiotics (bifidobacteria and lactobacillus, 3-5 billion live organisms per day) may boost the immune system and control allergies, especially in children. However, scientific studies are mixed; more research is needed to know for sure if probiotics will help reduce eczema symptoms.
• Evening primrose oil: In some studies, evening primrose oil helps reduce the itching of eczema. However, other studies have found no benefit. People who take anticoagulants (blood thinners) should talk to their doctor before taking evening primrose oil, and you should always ask your doctor before taking a high dose of evening primrose oil.
• Borage oil, like evening primrose oil, contains the essential fatty acid GLA (500-900 mg per day, in divided doses – amount of GLA varies by supplement), which acts as an anti-inflammatory. Evidence is mixed, with some studies showing that GLA helps reduce eczema symptoms and others showing no effect. Borage, like Evening Primrose Oil can interact with blood thinners and other medications. Speak with your doctor.
• Vitamin C (1,000mg two to four times per day) can act as an antihistamine. In one study, it helped reduce symptoms of eczema, but more studies are needed. Rose hips or palmitate are citrus-free and hypoallergenic.
• Bromelain (100-250mg two to four times per day), an enzyme derived from pineapple, helps reduce inflammation.
• Flavonoids, antioxidants found in dark berries and some plants, have anti-inflammatory properties, strengthen connective tissue, and may help reduce allergic reactions.

Herbs
Topical creams and salves containing one or more of the following herbs may help relieve itching and burning, and promote healing. The best evidence is for chamomile (Matricaria recutita) creams. Chickweed (Stellaria media), marigold (Calendula officinalis), and licorice (Glycyrrhia glabra) may also help, although there is little scientific evidence to back that up. One study did find a licorice cream was more effective than placebo.
• Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) cream can relieve itching. Liquid witch hazel can help with “weeping” or oozing eczema.
• St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), used as a topical cream, has shown promise in one double blind study. People with eczema who used St. John’s wort on one arm and a placebo cream on the other saw more improvement on the arm treated with St. John’s wort.
• Other herbs that have traditionally been applied to the skin to treat eczema include sarsaparilla (Smilax sp.) and marshmallow (Althea officinalis).

TheBeautyLounge.ieNuala Woulfe is the owner of Nuala Woulfe Beauty Salon and Serenity Day Spa, both in Sandycove, Dun Laoghaire. Nuala Woulfe Beauty Salon has been a top beauty salon and skincare clinic for over 20 years. Serenity Spa is of the top day spas and wellness centres in Dublin, and offers massages, ayurveda and naturopathic treatments, all tailored to your needs, in a tranquil haven.

For more, log on to www.nualawoulfe.ie and www.serenityspa.ie or see their Facebook page facebook.com/nualawoulfesalonandserenityspa

 



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My Struggle with Eczema – Making Good Choices Blog

I’ve talked before on here how I’ve been reducing my dairy intake because of eczema. Well even with eliminating dairy, it hasn’t seem to help much because I still have flare ups…and it really hasn’t gone away completely at all in between them. Overall it’s better than it was, but it’s still here. Some days it’s clearly worse than others, even when I don’t have any dairy. Also I thought I should mention…eczema is something I’ve dealt with on and off for years. In the past when I’ve stopped having dairy for a week or so it goes away and then I can handle it again in small amounts. I had ZERO eczema when I was pregnant and ate dairy in large amounts because I was always craving it. Also I probably wouldn’t care as much about it, but it’s on my face and it REALLY bugs me!

I went for an allergy test today at my general doctors and nothing came up. Not even dairy. First of all, I know for myself that when I have too much dairy I get itchy and my stomach is a mess. It’s gotten progressively worse as I’ve gotten older, which is why you don’t ever see me having fro-yo or Ralphs because they destroy me (ice cream is better on my stomach!) I also know for myself that wheat/gluten doesn’t bother me at all, but I still don’t eat a ton of it.

I’ve been doing a lot of research on what can cause ezcema and dairy is one of the first things that comes up. Also what I’ve read talked about an acidic diet and the causes of that. Even though I eat a TON of fruits and veggies and that’s what primarily makes up my diet, I still feel like I consume acidic foods (coffee, vinegar, meat, beans, soy, dairy, tomatoes). So I’m doing what I’ve been avoiding doing for awhile. I’m going to try a modified elimination diet.

I hate doing things like this…mostly because I feel like I eat so healthy, I HATE limiting or restricting foods. I HATE not being able to eat what I want…but I feel like this is the only way to give my system a break. I basically eat the same things everyday. I have had 2 or 3 eggs with a piece of ezekial toast with butter for breakfast for the past..um….year and a half? Then I have a greek yogurt or coconut yogurt (when I’m limiting dairy) with berries, chia and a large glob of almond butter…again a snack I’ve had for…ever?

So I’m trying to think of this as a reset and doing something to give my body a break. I found this regarding elimination diets, so I’m going to loosely follow it.

I’m going to try it for a week. I was hesistant writing about this because if I slip up or give up I don’t want to feel like I failed or am letting everyone down…but I figured someone else must have these struggles too!

What’s it going to look like for me? You need to do your own research and see what you feel comfortable with…this is what I am comfortable with and it may change.

What I’m NOT going to eat:

  • Dairy (butter, yogurt, cheese, milk) WAH…this is always SO hard for me
  • Soy
  • Beans (although I don’t think beans really bother me….)
  • Wheat
  • Eggs
  • Vinegar (this is going to be hard too because I usually have atleast 1 salad a day)
  • Tomatoes
  • Eggplant
  • Nuts
  • Acidic fruits: oranges, lemons

What I will be eating:

  • Lots of fresh fruits and veggies (minus tomatoes/eggplant which I eat A LOT of)
  • Sunflower butter (I’m going to replace almond butter with this)
  • Coconut milk (going to use this in my oats for breakfast)
  • Brown rice & quinoa
  • Chicken, turkey & fish (the elimination diet suggests cutting out chicken, but I don’t really feel it’s necessary for me)
  • black coffee (I just CAN’T cut out all coffee. I usually drink my hot coffee black, so this won’t be hard)

This is a good time for me to do this because I have 2 weeks off from weddings. My short term goal is a week. I don’t know what beyond that.

I’m starting tomorrow…mainly because I just had an iced coffee with whole milk in it. Figured one last hurrah!

In the meantime, if you have any great vinegar-less salad dressing or oat recipes, link away!

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Burgers, Fries, and Eczema | ScratchMeNot Blog

While eating fast food may make things easy in the short term, recent studies are showing that it could present some big complications for kids who have allergies, eczema, and asthma in the long run. While most of us understand that the foods we eat have a direct impact on our immunity, inflammatory response, and overall health, issues could be coming from directions we didn’t expect them. Recent studies have revealed that processed and preserved foods may have a direct and intense correlation with the number of allergy and sensitivity issues that doctors see each year. Let’s explore!

More Fast Food, More Allergy Diagnoses

The first warning sigh that there’s a link between processed food and allergies is the number of new allergy, eczema, and asthma cases being diagnosed each year. The trends of new diagnoses seems to go hand-in-hand with how accessible processed and preserved foods are to kids, so this has been a red flag to many health care researchers. According to one article, the allergy-related issues of over 500,000 kids across the globe have been directly related to dietary issues that may include fast food.

Recent data shows that teenage kids who ate several fast food meals each week had up to a 36% higher instance of allergies and asthma. Wow! How can we ignore statistics like these? The fact of the matter is that processed and preserved foods play havoc on the immune system because our bodies simply don’t know what to do with them. These materials are so complicated for the body to deal with that they take up resources which can lead to a body that simply cannot handle allergies and triggers the way it should be able to.

Processed Foods

Processed foods contain a shocking number of refined sugars, saturated fats, and trans fats – all things that are known to cause issues with immunity. When we have kids who are already dealing with allergies or other sensitivities – these foods can be the tipping point that leads to severe reactions and health issues.

The root issue here is that fast foods and highly processed foods may not be the best choice for anyone who deals with allergies, asthma, or eczema. These foods have the ability to weaken an immune system that has a lot of work do do, and they can stress out the digestive system to the point that good nutrients may not be absorbed as well as they should be. While we all rely on fast food occasionally when schedules are tight, it’s best to avoid it at all cost. Planning ahead with healthy snacks, fresh fruits, and home made meals in the freezer could be the difference between an itch free week or weeks of medications, scratching, and sleepless nights!

More on preservatives here.

For more information about figuring out what foods may be causing an issue for your child, check out our articles on the elimation diet process here.

Eczema in Babies | Amoils.com – Jane Chitty

Added August 29, 2013, Under: Babies, Children’s Health, Environment, Parents, Skin Conditions

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Baby Eczema

Eczema is the name given to a group of conditions that cause the skin to become inflamed or irritated. It is all too common in children with some 20% being affected. All the toxic chemicals and other environmental issues are mostly why this figure is set to rise worldwide (particularly in industrialized countries) causing itchiness, pain and other discomfort so that our young children’s quality of life is affected.

Baby eczema treatment

Baby eczema is a condition that is chronic and needs to be managed carefully because it can flare up regularly, being careful about what is applied to baby skin while remembering that the skin is the largest organ and everything gets absorbed firstly into the skin and then into the blood stream.

Try to think how you can treat baby eczema in a more natural way

  • A change of diet from one that is full of processed, convenience foods, sugars, high fructose corn syrup, artificial additives and colorings to a natural whole foods one (organic where possible) is the first important step to take. We know that this cannot be achieved overnight and if a child has already developed less then healthy tastes.  At the same time, and even more difficult, is to change your child’s diet to a gluten-free one. This could be the ultimate solution. 
  • Milk and other dairy products can irritate the immune system in many children so think about changing to non dairy such as coconut oil in place of butter and almond or rice milk instead of regular milk. Do not use soy milk with its estrogen because this can itself cause skin problems. The virgin coconut oil mentioned is also helpful to nourish and moisturize dry eczema skin as well as to consume with its high fatty acids and high lauric acid content. 
  • Provide breast milk for as long as possible for your baby but, in between, drinking water from a safe, filtered source with no fluoride will help to keep the skin hydrated and the immune system strong. 
  • Additional supplementing with zinc, B complex and fish oils can help your child’s dry, itchy skin from the inside out. 
  • We are always harping on the importance of vitamin D but research has proven that the lower the vitamin D level, the worse the eczema. If your child has eczema, start giving him vitamin D3, about 1,000 IU for every 25 pounds of body weight in line with the recommendations by the Vitamin D Council. 
  • Environmental issues can play a huge role in worsening eczema symptoms. These can be ones that you have no control over such as extremes of weather – heat, dryness, cold, wind – or it can be toxins in the home such as cleaning products, artificial fragrances and many more. Fabrics such as wool (even though this is a natural product) or synthetic items can cause aggravation too.  Apart from wool, work on changing to an all natural home. 
  • Keeping your young child’s skin moisturized can be an ongoing battle but there are two bathing routines which work well for children. The first is to use warm water that has been slightly infused with  bentonite clay. For the second, add 2 cups of colloidal oatmeal (such as Aveeno) to the bath tub lukewarm water, and even use oatmeal as a soap substitute by wrapping some colloidal oatmeal in a handkerchief before placing a rubber band around the top, wetting it, wringing it out and using as you would a normal washcloth. After any bathing, just pat the skin dry without any rubbing and add a natural lotion while the skin is still damp to conserve the moisture. 
  • Here is just such a natural lotion which you can make at home. You will need ½ cup distilled water; ½ cup oil (almond, grapeseed or olive oil); 1 tablespoon lecithin; 6 to 8 drops geranium oil plus some Vitamin E oil (as this is a good antioxidant).  Mix all these ingredients in a blender to form a thick creamy lotion which can be diluted with a little water if necessary. Store in a container ready for daily use. 
  • Essential oils are a very natural way to moisturize and treat a young skin and H-Eczema is such an essential oils formula that is safe, gentle and successful to use for children of all ages. 

Because any skin rejuvenation goes through a 28 day cycle, it may well take a few weeks to effect a noticeable improvement in your child’s skin. But don’t become disheartened – especially if the condition gets worse first because of the elimination of toxins. Perseverance is key.

Why is baby eczema occurring?

The skin of a child with eczema reacts abnormally to irritants, foods, dust, mites, pollen and other allergens. It also becomes vulnerable to bacterial infections. The skin of babies and young children is extra sensitive and therefore any treatment involving over the counter or prescription medications – ointments and creams, topical steroids and antibiotics – should be avoided because as well as being toxic, they come with their own set of unwanted side effects.

This epidemic of eczema in general, and in babies in particular, may be as a result of our all too recent obsessive concern with keeping ourselves and our homes free of germs. The media and advertising have made us feel guilty about any possible presence of germs so all those household and personal cleaning agents filled with chemicals and toxins are adding to the toxic load.

In addition, there is the “hygiene hypothesis” which says that by protecting children from exposure to dirt and germs, and by preventing disease from taking its full course in childhood, we are actually destroying the immune system’s ability to respond appropriately to infection and other stimuli.

There is a thin line we have to walk between on (a) sensible hygiene and (b) obsessive measures toward cleanliness, killing germs and suppressing illness.

Now and in the future

We know that having a young child with eczema can take a lot of dedication, time and effort to minimize the discomfort but by the age of 3 years, the number of children with baby eczema is halved while the majority of children will completely outgrow eczema by the time they reach their teen years.

 

About

Jane Chitty writes regularly for Healing Natural Oils, a producer and retailer of high-quality, all-natural treatments for a variety of conditions. After living for many years in Cape Town, South Africa, Jane has now settled in the UK but is able to spend part of the year in the USA as she has close family living in both countries. She loves to compare natural treatments and lifestyles – especially in the areas of health, green living and nutrition – in these three very different countries. Her daily posts can be found at www.amoils.com/health-blog.