Jackson has been struggling with eczema for the past 4 weeks! It is definitely a 24/7 job. I know it is not as bad/serious as what a lot of kids out there struggle with, but man it is miserable for the poor kid. He is so itchy all the time.
I got a prescription for him a few weeks ago, which definitely works miracles, but it doesn't seem to be staying in control (like it should) when I stop using it. The cream that was per scribed is a steroid cream that can thin a child's skin if used too often. So it scares me to use it all the time, but when we go back to only using the Aquaphor it seems to just come back. I've changed our laundry detergent to Dreft, I bath him in a Dr. recommend Dove soap, no bubble bath, put Aquaphor all over his whole body at each diaper change, but it just isn't helping. The picture below is from him itching himself so much that he started bleeding and then it turned into this lovely scab.
I feel so bad for the poor itchy kid. I am wondering if anyone else has had kids with Eczema and have had something work well for them. Tomorrow we have a doctor appointment, but I basically already know our options, get a stronger steroid cream or take him to a dermatologist...any advice would be welcomed!
I will have to get some pictures of the actual rash, but for now...enjoy the itchy scab. :)
Also, if you don't know what Eczema is you can read about it here....Eczema .
16 comments:
Oh, that's so sad. I have eczema too-- and have had it since I was a kid, although just in a few spots on my legs now. Mostly I found that it went away in the summertime, when I was out in the sun; and was much worse in the wintertime when heaters dry everything out-- especially in dry Utah weather, which is 10 times worse in the winter.
I haven't been actively treating my eczema for 3-4 years because of insurance (not being able to see a dermatologist), etc. and now I'm pregnant so I don't want to use any topical medications. But, when I was actively treating it, I was prescribed Triamcinolone by my dermatologist. It worked great. I loved it! I would definitely go back to it. I also used the 1% hydrocortisone cream that you can buy over the counter, it helps prevent itching, but doesn't make the spots go away. There is such a thing as 2% hydrocortisone cream, which is prescription, it also works very well at taking the spots away.
So, like I said, these treatments are what they were using 3-4 years ago. They worked great for me then, but there might be newer treatments. But, that's my advice, for what it's worth. Oh, and I've noticed a big difference in my eczema spots moving to a more humid climate from the desert of Utah. But, that's a pretty drastic decision. (And we didn't move here for my skin-- it was for the job, really.)
Good luck finding something that works. I've discovered that eczema really varies from person to person and that the intensity of it is so different. You might have to try a lot of different things to see what will work for Jackson.
**Thanks also for the advice about snow clothes. I'm very new to the realm of buying clothes for kids, so your advice was very helpful!
Het Michelle! Sorry to hear about Jackson's eczema. Taking Omega 3 Fatty Acids can help a lot with skin conditions! Omega 3 Fatty Acids are added to a lot of things now, and some baby foods have them too. But, you can also give him some fish oil that is free of mercury and has Omega 3 Fatty Acids in them. It has the strongest dose. It tastes best when mixed with juice or milk!
Good luck!
Oops, I was signed in under the wrong name. What I said was...
Poor Jackson. I hope you find a treatment that works for him. I've had problems with eczema, too, especially when I'm pregnant, but nothing too bad or uncomfortable. Good luck and I hope he feels better soon.
Poor kid! That must be so frustrating trying to get rid of it. Owen had Eczema--probably only for a couple of months and then I think he just grew out of it. We did try a few different creams--hydocortisone was one of them. I remember one of the things that made the biggest differences though was keeping his baths REALLY short. I guess the water will irritate it sometimes. So, I would only give him a bath when he NEEDED one. One of my brothers struggled with it a lot when he was little and a lot of it was due to food allergies, so you could always look into that if it just isn't improving.
Good luck--I hope it clears up soon.
That's so sad. Poor little guy. I hope you are able to figure it out!
Please check out this website.
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/skintype/10577/ginkgo-another-antioxidant-you-can-drink
Hey thanks for all the help and support everyone! I alwasy know I can count on you blog readers and friends!
Hi Michelle--
One of my cousins has lots of experience with eczema with her kids. And she always says that eczema goes along with food allergies and athsma--does he have either of those two?? I could get you her email if you wanted--she's also a nurse so she knows what the medical scoop is!
Good luck!
Never let him eat any seafood. It will worsen the eczema spots.
hey cute girl.
i have absolutely no suggestions. Sorry, but you've got some good advice here on the comments!
good luck! sad little jackson face.
Hey who ever annonymous is...could you leave your name...?!
Michelle, one of the families I used to work with did a thing called the True Foods diet and her son's skin cleared right up. I don't remember all the details, but I know there was no sugar, no red or yellow food coloring and lots of fruits and veggies! You can try looking it up. He did really well with it.
Hey Michelle-- so sad! You might consider taking a good look at his diet (like others have mentioned) because all the proccessed foods we tend to eat and give our kids aren't very good for us and it can have a big effect on the little ones. (Also called a "REAL FOODS" diet-- check our Real Foods in Orem, if you want) you also might consider taking him to a Homeopathic Doctor. I know you may think this sounds hokey, but I've seen this stuff work miracles (even on eczema) without ANY side effects or even a possibility of it hurting him AT ALL. If you want any furthur diet "stuff" or you want recommendations on a Homeopathic just let me know! Good luck!
SO, I read your comment on my blog Michelle and I have no idea how I got rid of the anonymous comments. I'm not sure I did anything! Sorry, I'm not much help.
Hey Michelle- I saw your link on Lindsay's and Sarah's blogs and checked it out. What a cute little boy you have! So what are you and your little family up to? Hope all is going well. As for the eczema (sp?) I'm sure you've had a lot of advice. My girl had it when she was younger and it got really bad. They didn't put her on a steroid creame after I had tried the hydrocortisone 1%. Like you said, the medication does thin the skin and can leave scars so I hated using it all the time. It worked but when I'd stop it would come right back. My pediatrician reccomended CerVae cream. It is over the counter but I had to ask the pharmacist for it. You can also get it at the pharmacy in the Utah Valley Pediatric building next to AF hospital. Smiths sells it by the pound and I think it cost 10-12 dollars. Anyways... it has worked wonders! Love the stuff! I bought it 7 months ago and am barely just half way through. I use it for myself a lot too with dry skin. Anyways, it helped to not have to use the steroid cream as much and it isn't too oily like a lot of other brands. Hope this helps! I'd love to hear from you sometime. My blog is tyleranderin.blogspot.com
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