Well we received Angelina's test results. Everything looked A-Okay. Angelina has gained nearly two pounds - she now weighs just over 21 pounds - and has grown 3/4 inch since our last visit to the pediatrician, in early April. Amazing!
About 2 weeks ago, Angelina broke out in a kind of rash on her trunk (back/stomach & chest) and it is starting to creep up around her neck. The rash stops almost exactly at Angelina's diaper line around her waist, and it is not on her arms or legs. It is red and blotchy in some places and her tender skin now feels bumpy and rough. It is a dry rash. She didn't have it in Russia, or for the 1st month home and it doesn't seem to bother her in the least bit. The doctor told us it was eczema that was caused by either an allergy in the air or a chemical irritant, such as dye in fabric or chemicals used in detergent. The doctor also said it was very common in children Angelina's age and that is usually resolves itself prior to puberty.
Today I re-washed all of her clothes, sheets, etc. in Dreft and we are applying lotion regularly to the rash, which seems to calm it down a bit from being too red or inflamed.
So my question is: do any of you have any experience with eczema to share?
My Bio. son has eczema, but only in the winter, I use dye-free, frangrant-free everything, I run a humidifier in his room at night, and I use dove body wash for sensitive skin. Johnson and johnson is great but it has perfumes and fragrences in it that egg on the eczema. Also occasionally I have to get a prescription for a steriod cream for his skin. Also use Eucerin lotion, for sensitive skin.
ReplyDeleteLorenzo had it and now I use nothing but Dreft for washing his clothes and linens and the Cetaphil for bathing and lotion. He was allergic to other bath products.
ReplyDeleteAveeno has a new line of Baby Eczema products worth a try in addition to all of your dye/fragrance free stuff. I found it at Target in the baby wash/lotions aisle. Charlie gets little bumps that look like ant bites on his hands, feet, and cheeks if we aren't careful with keeping his skin hydrated.
ReplyDeleteKennedi had it. It was quite severe when she was under two--especially in the winter. Her little cheeks look like they are on fire in her pictures. She is closing in on 5 this summer, and it has about disappeared. She had only a few flare ups this winter. The "greasier" the better. We're using the Aveeno Eczema lotion on Andrei, and that has helped tremedously with him, but I don't think it would have been enough to Kennedi's under control. We ended using creamy Vaseline and had the best luck with that.
ReplyDeleteOur son had it as well, I changed the washing up liquid to a "sensitive" one, and it worked, now he has nothing.
ReplyDeleteWe also use body lotions on him after every bath.
Can't give any names, as we wouldn't have the same ones here in Finland as what you have.
My 4 year old has had very bad exema at times. It has gotten so bad that EVERY kind of lotion or cream that we used would wake him up from his sleep screaming (the only time I dared putting it on). The allergist finally told me to later him down with Olive Oil and it helps tremendously. Our little Josie (bought home a little before your daughter) has also just developed exema but Aquaphor helps her a ton. Hers is almost gone with faithful lathering’s of Aquaphor. It is good stuff. My sister is a radiologist and that is what she uses on her cancer patients. Another good lotion is Cediphil. It is not as thick but does work for in-between Aquaphor times. All free and clear detergent has worked well for us. Also we do not use dryer sheets as they leave a coating on the inside of the dryer and many kids break out from the perfumes. Many of the baby soaps and lotions that have that great baby smell also have purfumes that can cause them to break out. If I was to do only one thing first I would get a tube of Aquaphor and try that. That is all I did with Josie and she is better. Getting rid of the perfumes really helps.
ReplyDeleteWell, sounds like you got some good advice on the eczema - our youngest son has it on his hands, mostly during the winter and it sure hurts to use any lotion other than something specifically for eczema.
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