Comments on: Eczema: What is it and what causes it?

By: Larissa

Larissa — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:36:47 +0000

This is interesting b/c my son also has eczema, and I am also considering trying GAPS. However I have had pretty good success this winter (he's 3 and has had it since 7 mos old - right after his 6 mos vaccines). We bathe 2-3 times a week only, use only dove plain soap. Slather on the Aquaphor while his skin is WET - it's gooey -- then he runs naked til it dries. This regimen has kept him off the steroid cream except on the flare-ups... and even off the medicine (he's on Hydroxizine at night for sleeping). Free detergents on his clothes. And the biggest most obvious culprit as far as food is food dye. If he goes to lots of parties in the summer and has lots of candies and cupcakes around holidays it breaks out. I switched to organic dye free candies and cut way back on anything processed (almost none) and he is almost eczema free (except a few patches - knees, wrists elbows). Anyway, I def. think GAPS can help but these have really helped him have the best winter so far. My youngest son does not have it and it is not a family thing - we really think it is vaccine caused. And my youngest has not been vaccinated b/c of it and is still eczema-free.

By: Jim H

Jim H — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:06:16 +0000

Chlorine Was Causing Eczema

Like most eczema sufferers, I did the whole routine with the doctors. For over 10 years they diagnosed eczema and prescribed various drugs – some worked a little, some not at all.

After relocating to a somewhat remote location in Colorado, my eczema symptoms and other skin ailments began to subside. A new job required travel to several cities on a regular basis. Every time I traveled, the eczema would return. Whenever I returned home, it would subside.

In an attempt to uncover the cause of the flare ups, I tried a number of experiments. Eventually, I tried purchasing bottled water and using it to wash my face instead of washing with city water. It worked! I remained almost symptom free while in the city. It is now obvious that my eczema would subside when I was at my remote home because it has well water which contains no chlorine or any other chemicals. And, in a remote area, there are no sources of chlorine.
I have since learned that millions of people are allergic to chlorine. In some of us, it causes eczema. It is suspected as the cause for many other serious ailments. Of course, not everyone's eczema is caused by chlorine, perhaps not even most.

A moderate investment of time and money can allow you find out if you are also experiencing a reaction to chlorine. One possible test is to buy some chlorine free bottled water and wash with it for a week. If the symptoms are still there, you are out a few dollars and some time. If chlorine is a trigger, you can invest in a relatively inexpensive chlorine filtering shower head.

Jim

By: eczema knee | ECZEMA

eczema knee | ECZEMA — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:10:47 +0000

[...] Keeper of the Home : Eczema: What is it and what causes it? [...]

By: Laura

Laura — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 06:19:44 +0000

I had eczema for about 7 months and did some topical stuff like hyrdocortizone but it did not go away. But when I changed my diet it went away with in two weeks. I started doing the South Beach eating plan and within two weeks it had gone away. I eliminated mainly wheat ( and other carbs) from my diet during the two week phase 1 portion of the South Beach plan.

I am assuming, not sure that maybe it was an allergy to wheat. I have not added wheat back to my diet even after a month into my south beach plan and its still gone. I guess I should go to the doctor and talk to him about it and see what he says. But that was my experience with eczema.

By: Jodi

Jodi — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:37:29 +0000

My 5 yo son has had eczema from a very young age... he gets it worse in the winter (we live in Minnesota) when the air is dry. I find that he is a lot better when his skin is hydrated well. I have recently started making my own super-fatted soap with oatmeal and honey and this has done wonders for his skin. It leaves it very hydrated therefore less itching.
I had a prescription for a steroid cream filled when he was two years old and I have used it so sparingly that I still have the same tube! Thankfully I have only had to use it in the winters when things get really bad.
If you haven't ever made soap, it is worth considering. It isn't hard, but there are safety precautions that need to be followed with the use of lye. (you have to use lye to make soap, no getting around it!)
I love the soap I have made and the best part is I know exactly what is (and isn't) in it.
Hope this helps!

By: Alicia

Alicia — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 04:36:40 +0000

My mother always had terrible eczema on her hands and a tube of steroid cream on her dresser. After she was diagnosed with celiac disease and went on a gluten free diet there was a vast improvement.

My second child got a horrid red rash on her face as an infant. The doctor said that it was baby acne and would eventually go away in its own. However, it went away immediately when I switched to a dye and fragrance free detergent. We even found that she broke out just from being held by someone whose clothing was washed in regular detergent, so I've washed all of our family's clothes in dye free detergent since then. She's six now, and while she never had ezcema, she still has very sensitive skin and still uses baby soap to avoid getting burned, etc.

By: Manda @ Lambs In His Arms

Manda @ Lambs In His Arms — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 01:35:36 +0000

I blogged about my little guy's eczema and food allergies a few months ago: http://lambsinhisarms.blogspot.com/2008/12/butter-creams-and-haydens-health.html Now that we have the severe eczema under control, I am interested to read about some natural mathods of keeping it away. Right now we are still using prescription creams a few times a week to treat any flare ups. Looking forward to reading your thoughts on natural and holistic treatment!

By: Jenni C

Jenni C — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:30:35 +0000

I started getting eczema on my hands 4 years ago. It was terrible! I even got a strep infection on my hand because of the open sores that were difficult to keep covered all of the time. To make a long story short...the first Dr.s I went to just kept giving me cortisone cream which didn't work. It was after a different Dr. who is in tune with natural treatments put me on 3000 (mg i guess)of combined DHA & EPA about 9 capsules of fish oil a day for something else. Surprisingly the eczema went completely away! Just to make sure it was the fish oil I stopped taking it and shortly after the eczema started to come back. Now I don't take as much fish oil (between 3-6 capsules a day) but the eczema stays away as long as I take it regularly.

By: Michele @ Frugal Granola

Michele @ Frugal Granola — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:11:40 +0000

For my small spot that showed up with pregnancy, I've found a product with Borage Oil to be helpful. ShiKai makes one, but it does contain a paraben, so I'm hoping to switch to the new Firefighter's Cream that Azure is carrying in the new sale catalog.

Blessings,
Michele

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:01:31 +0000

I've had eczema since I was a baby and my third child developed it around 3 months old. We discovered through allergy testing that foods (especially wheat, dairy, really acidic foods and food dyes)make it worse. Although there are other environmental triggers as well. We were prescribed hydrocortisone and reluctantly used it when things were bad. I've used it off and on since I was a child and am very aware of its side effects. I'm very glad you will be sharing natural alternatives for treating this. Right now she and I both use antihistamines occassionally to control the itching. But I would love to be able to deal with this from the inside out.