This past weekend I tweeted about a horrid night. My kids have eczema, and for those of you unfamiliar, it’s extremely dry itchy red patchy burning flaking scratchable skin. The more you scratch, the worse it gets. And when you’re two, you don’t stop scratching.
I’ve blogged about it before when Maile was it’s main target. We’ve tried every medication and natural remedy under the sun, we had the kids allergy tested which determined they were allergic to gluten, we took them off gluten and dairy, we had them (Kainoa) allergy tested again which determined he had no food allergies, but was allergic to cats. We kicked the cats out, bought an air purifier, replaced carpets…nothing it seems, gives us the answer we’re looking for…which is healthy skin.
Some days I’m really good at staying on top of the skin issue and making sure it’s moisturized…other days I don’t know what more I CAN do. So I do nothing until it calls attention to itself once again.
Last Saturday Kainoa cried and itched from the moment I laid him in bed at 8pm until the moment I finally brought him to my own bed just after midnight. I had been in and out of his room with different “remedies” during that time, but nothing I tried was working. He had scratched his feet into a bloody mess and didn’t calm down until he was laying in bed with me. I fell asleep before he did and woke up at 1am to tell him to go to sleep.
I’m happy to say (and knocking on wood before I jinx myself), but I got SO much support and advice from twitter during that difficult night and have totally stepped up my game with Kainoa. In just five days his skin looks amazing. I can’t remember the last time I saw it this clear. He’s not scratching as much, he’s not getting out of his bed to come sleep with me, he’s not crying out for medicine, and he’s much more pleasant to deal with throughout the day.
My solution, though, is a temporary one…I don’t know what I’m going to do when I have to stop the intense eczema killing spree I’m on. I’ve been giving him Zyrtec everyday, weaned him off the tylenol for pain a couple of days ago, lather his skin in Cortisone 10 Lotion for eczema three times a day, and I set up a fan in his room (which he loves).
I don’t know what I’m going to do when I need to stop using the Cortisone and Zyrtec everyday. Cortisone thins your skin when overused and I don’t know what Zyrtec does. His doctor recommended it at one point, but I was afraid of putting drugs into his little body…until we got desperate enough for them that is. I have no idea how long he can continue to safely take Zyrtec. Any ideas?
High fives all around for a happier boy (and mom!). Here’s hoping it lasts this time!!
alexis says
i feel so sad for kainoa. i had terrible eczema until i was a teenager, and it was so painful. and now my oldest son has it.
i’m glad that you were at least able to give him some comfort this week and i hope the remedies keep working. and you guys look so beautiful in that last picture.
June Freaking Cleaver says
I thought Zyrtec was approved for little kids…but then again, what does the government know?
Wonder if you could lessen the frequency of the cortisone cream to once a day and use a Benadryl-type cream the other two times, and skip the Zyrtec?
Before The Boy got into serious drugs, the doc prescribed 25 mg of Benadryl every night before bedtime. He slept like a dream.
Jeannette says
You don’t stop scratching at 25 either…
Mine isn’t aggravated by my allergies though so I don’t know. I finally had to get a prescription steroid creme for mine. It still flares up from time to time but just two nights of using the creme and I’m fine. I’m not sure the name of it, but its just a prescription steroid, much more potent than cortisone.
cardiogirl says
Same boat as Jeannette but I’m 42. My doctor prescribed Lidex and it’s a dream, baby. But it’s one of those creams that are supposed to be used sparingly since it thins the skin. But it works wonders.
Before I found that, however, I used and ice pack to stop the itching (temporarily) but usually it was enough to help me fall asleep. I also used Aquaphor which is OTC and like intense Vaseline. That was the only OTC thing that cleared my oozing eczema (sorry to be so graphic.)
Good luck.
Erin says
Kainoa is so adorable it’s scary!!
I hope it lasts or at least until you can find another treatment!
Julie@my5monkeys says
glad that it worked out.
All my kids have had it and grew out of it. I don’t think it got as bad as your sons–but we have had to deal with it. Hugs
Pumpkin and Piglet says
I’m glad you’ve found a solution for now. I have psoriasis now and had eczema as a kid. I dread my daughter getting it because I know how itchy it can be. Now it’ eased off can you reduce the cortisone cream to once a day and use a moisturiser a couple of times a day? I hope it carries on getting better for you both.
Missy says
OH girl, I so feel for you. It doesn’t get much better as they get older. My 11 year old has had it for years.
I will tell you it gets worse in the winter with the dry heat. And, all though she really likes hot showers in the winter, we had to cut them out. She takes her showers as cool as she can stand them.
I feel so bad for her. It gets so bad at times that her legs are covered in large raised patches.
We have an open prescription for Elidel. At the beginning of the winter, her DR. writes the script to last the whole year. Between that and the cool showers, we seem to be able to keep it under control. The best thing about the Elidel is it’s steroid free.
I hope the relieve lasts. It’s getting warmer now, so that should help. Good luck.
Neena says
My oldest also suffered from eczema when he was little – and he also has food allergies. The only non-prescription creme that helped us was called Vani-Cream. It is not easy to find – but our local drugstore was able to order it for us – and now the stock it, because it seems that other people like it too. We would just cover him with, head to toe, the minute he got out of the bath. He still uses the creme daily and he is fourteen years old.
I can’t tell you when the Zyrtec stops – my son still takes that for seasonal allergies – but the eczema is no longer an issue.
Good luck with the eczema – the discomfort is just painful to watch, I know.
Lara says
We have eczema issues on and off here. Aquaphor and cortisone are the creams I also use for my 2 year olds. As for the the Zyrtec one of my guys has been on it for over a year for unknown hives. He has nut and sesame seed allergies but no others and has tested out of the others. He just breaks out in hives. The Zyrtec keeps that under control. He hasn’t had any side effects and as a nurse I have done a good amount of research on it! Good luck
suzannah @ so much shouting/laughter says
i did a review on my site recently for (natural) ancient minerals magnesium bath salts that did wonders for my daughter’s eczema. hers wasn’t as bad as your poor little one’s, but maybe it’d do the trick?
Jennifer says
I didn’t think there was a limit to Zyrtec. When Baby Girl was two her allergist had her on a teaspoon twice a day, which is more than twice the recommended dosage, but it worked and she didn’t have any adverse side effects. Her pediatrician said it was fine for her to take that much as well so I’m guessing it must be a pretty safe medication.
My little one has eczema, but not that bad. When he has a flare up I can just coat him in Eucerin and within a couple of days it is better. I also have a prescription cream I can use if the lotion doesn’t work.
I know this isn’t a good option, but my stepmother suffers from eczema and she swears the tanning bed helps. I’m not sure if they sun would help or not.
Chrissy MacCEO says
My son’s eczema flares up every time it gets warm (humid!) out, and it takes his skin some time to adjust to it. We opt for Benadryl over the Zytrec becuase it’s a quicker drug that actually stays in the body for less time that Zytrec, so once you are ready, maybe try weaning him from the Zyrtec to a little Benadryl. Also, once you want to wean from the Cortisone, try plain ol’ Vasoline. It works like a charm and has no ill side effects (excpet for it being sticky so we only use it at night) The fan is essential!! Also, if he starts itching again, a cold ice pack on his skin will work amazingly! It takes the itch and sting right out.
So glad his skin is clearing up and that he feels better.
Ashley says
Ugh.. Excema.. We deal with it in our house too.. We did the allergy test and Lana is allergic to everything under the sun it seems.. Anyhow Zyrtec and some steriod cream that begins with an M seemed to help the most for us. I have to keep her nails trimmed super short to stop her from scratching till she bleeds. We also us robathoil in her baths and vanicream lotion and I hear they make a sunscreen that I have yet to buy. We also found out after taking swim lessons a few weeks ago, the chlorine from the pool water causes flair ups.. lesson from the doc was bath and lather up in lotion as soon as you get out. My other daughter no issues at all with excema, so wierd.
Coco says
When I get home I am going to look on this product I have and send you their info. I gave a tin of this product to a friend that has the same problem. It worked great on him. Better than anything he has ever tried. It is all natural and a nurse created it. It used to be really inexpensive but I think it has gotten a bit higher now.
Linds says
Hey you know Mama M. just posted on her blog about udder cream for ecsema… not sure if you’ve tried that or not, but maybe worth a shot if you haven’t. Here’s the permalink of her post:
http://fivecrookedhalos.blogspot.com/2010/06/ive-been-holdling-out-on-youagain.html
Kmama says
We have major eczema in our house as well. My son (5) has it terribly behind his knees, as well as elsewhere on his body, but behind the knees is the worst.
First, Zyrtec can be taken as a maintenance drug without issues. We have to give it to my little one every night.
Second, eczema will flare when hot. So if it’s his feet that are bugging him, try cool wash cloths to soothe them and maybe relieve the itchiness.
Third, we use Elidel prescription cream. Yes, it’s a steriod cream, however, because it’s stronger, you don’t need to use as much and it really, really works.
There’s a lotion called Sarna out there, and it’s anti itch (both regular and sensitive skin formulas) and made for eczema. Pricey, but it does help.
Have you tried Aquafor or Eucerin cream? They are heavy creams, but do work well for moisturizing, just don’t do much for the anti-itch.
Gina says
My L has sensitive skin, but nothing like your poor little guy. However, we are daily users of Zyrtec too. I notice that if I skip one dose, he tells me that he is “itchy…and it feels like bugs are coming out of my skin.” Nice. Good luck.
Jen C. says
Poor Kainoa…. I totally feel your pain. We’re going through the same thing with E right now and it’s really hard. Her doctors say it’s normal for babies to get eczema and that they’ll grow out of it eventually. As comforting as that may sound, it doesn’t actually DO anything to help her itch less. One doctor prescribed topical steroids that’s for kids but Jason doesn’t want to use it on her since his skin is all messed up from using topical steroids on his own eczema. So all we can do right now is just moisturize a lot and keep her in long sleeves near the AC at nights so that if she does scratch it’s not direct contact with skin.
Jen says
Hayden takes Zyrtec daily for his allergies and Claritin and eye drops and nose spray and sometimes Benedryl. Yes, I drug my child but I have to. It is the only thing that keeps him happy, able to breath and not in pain. We wean off most of the meds expect the Zyrtec and/or Claritin. I guess I am saying that Zyrtec can be taken for as long as you need it to be. I am not aware of any harmful effects, at least our doctor didn’t tell me of any.
I am glad that you have seem to have found a solution. I my heart goes out to you with this. It is so hard to see your child in pain and miserable.
Jamie says
Hey there. I know your issue. My Ped told me to use Vaseline. I used it and with in a week My daughter did not have a problem and it was gone..Only starts to come back in the winter and i lather her up and she is good to go. No harsh meds. :) You can give it a try. Unscented make sure. ;)
Evonne says
I’m glad you found some relief for now. My son had eczema really bad when he was 2. We tried every OTC lotion we could find, even Eucerin. Finally the dr. had to prescribe stuff. He gave him Mometasone for the flare ups and a tub of some other stuff as a maintenance cream (I can’t remember the name of it – sorry). It worked so fast! I forgot how white my son was!
Molly@WalkingThroughLife says
My daughter is 9 now and has had it since she was a toddler. Thankfully she only gets small flair ups now and then these days. What works for her is Cortisone 10 on the skin first, then a layer of Aquaphore Healing Ointment on the top. It’s seriously miraculous (hubby and I both use it to prevent razor rash. Make sure you get the one that says Healing Ointment, not just the plain Aquaphore. Here is a link http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=183554&catid=10400 ). My son, however, did not develop eczema until he was about 10, he is 12 1/2 now. The dr says his is more the ‘grown-up’ kind that he will not outgrow. It’s genetic from my mother. His knuckles and elbows are terrible, and he gets patches on his face and neck now and then. The same remedy works for him. I’m fine with using it for a couple of weeks at a time when it’s really bad and bothersome, that does the trick, and then just use straight Aquaphore Healing Ointment(it’s the exact same consistency as vaseline) the rest of the time. My niece and nephew are Much worse. They have many terrible allergies, they’ve both had it since infancy and still have it (they’re 5 and 7 now). They’re both on Zyrtec ALWAYS and their dr says it’s safe to take forever. They use prescription creams (I’ve used those before, but I’m more comfortable with the over the counter stuff). Oatmeal baths always help to soothe on bad days or nights. Keeping the skin cool, in the AC and not out in the heat, is a must. For those nights like you described, Benedryl really is the best solution. It will take the itch away and help him fall asleep. Never use anything on their skin with fragrance…even in the laundry or their soaps and shampoos. I’m sure you know much of this, I just wanted to help where I can. I know how sad it is :(
Pua says
I’m so sorry he is going through this. I’ll have to find a picture of my niece when her eczema was really terrible. There was no kind of meds that worked, but my sister got her allergy shots and it cleared it up. My dad uses Vaseline and Lubriderm on his eczema. He used Cortisone for so long the skin on his nose is perpetually red because it’s so thin. I hope Kainoa’s doesn’t give you much more issue :(
Renee says
I know this will seem like a long respose but I always try natural before OTC. I have found that Coconut (not creams with coconut, those are usally just perfume scented coconut) Milk and Oil are so beneficial to the body. It is loaded with lauric acid (the same stuff found in mother’s breast milk) and I drink one glass of coconut milk every morning (about 8 oz.) and my skin is not as itchy as it was before. My sister who is breastfeeding her son, was having trouble producing enough milk and started drinking the coconut milk and now she has no problems and he seems to nurse longer. Make sure you use “virgin coconut oil, you can get it at any health food stores or on the internet.
The benefits they have found so far are:
Reduces symptoms associated the psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.
Kills viruses that cause influenza, herpes, measles, hepatitis C, SARS, AIDS, and other illnesses.
Kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, gum disease and cavities, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, and other diseases.
Kills fungi and yeasts that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete’s foot, thrush, diaper rash, and other infections.
Expels or kills tapeworms, lice, giardia, and other parasites.
Provides a nutritional source of quick energy.
Boosts energy and endurance, enhancing physical and athletic performance.
Improves digestion and absorption of other nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose.
Relieves stress on pancreas and enzyme systems of the body.
Reduces symptoms associated with pancreatitis.
Helps relieve symptoms and reduce health risks associated with diabetes.
Reduces problems associated with malabsorption syndrome and cystic fibrosis.
Improves calcium and magnesium absorption and supports the development of strong bones and teeth.
Helps protect against osteoporosis.
Helps relieve symptoms associated with gallbladder disease.
Relieves symptoms associated with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and stomach ulcers.
Improves digestion and bowel function.
Relieves pain and irritation caused by hemorrhoids.
Reduces inflammation.
Supports tissue healing and repair.
Supports and aids immune system function.
Helps protect the body from breast, colon, and other cancers.
Is heart healthy; improves cholesterol ratio reducing risk of heart disease.
Protects arteries from injury that causes atherosclerosis and thus protects against heart disease.
Helps prevent periodontal disease and tooth decay.
Functions as a protective antioxidant.
Helps to protect the body from harmful free radicals that promote premature aging and degenerative disease.
Does not deplete the body’s antioxidant reserves like other oils do.
Improves utilization of essential fatty acids and protects them from oxidation.
Helps relieve symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Relieves symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement).
Reduces epileptic seizures.
Helps protect against kidney disease and bladder infections.
Dissolves kidney stones.
Helps prevent liver disease.
Is lower in calories than all other fats.
Supports thyroid function.
Promotes loss of excess weight by increasing metabolic rate.
Is utilized by the body to produce energy in preference to being stored as body fat like other dietary fats.
Helps prevent obesity and overweight problems.
Applied topically helps to form a chemical barrier on the skin to ward of infection.
Supports the natural chemical balance of the skin.
Softens skin and helps relieve dryness and flaking.
Prevents wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots.
Promotes healthy looking hair and complexion.
Provides protection form damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation form the sun.
Helps control dandruff.
Does not form harmful by-products when heated to normal cooking temperature like other vegetable oils do.
Has no harmful or discomforting side effects.
Is completely non-toxic to humans.
Again sorry about the long response, I just hate to see any child suffer with the itching.
Suzanne says
My last job was pharma sales, I sold Zyrtec for 4 years. It is so safe and if you want to email me with any questions, feel free…it was the first antihistamine to be approved down to 6 mos of age…huge! I would recommend you use the OTC for cost reasons, have him take the syrup before bed, consistently…that way if it makes him tired he will sleep better and that effect is transient, wears off after a few weeks. I would be glad to help in anyway, contact me, you make me laugh, I will educate you on allergies! They wreak havoc on people’s livelihood!
B says
My son has bad eczema as well. The key is staying on top of it. The cortizone should only be used for the flareups. Has anyone ever recommended washing the area with Head and Shoulders shampoo? Eczema is simlar to dandruff. It won’t work in all cases and if the area is open I wouldn’t use it, but next time you see it beginning to rear its ugly head, give it a try.
robin says
Good job mom!! Sounds like you are doing a great job helping all of the little ones in your family. I had it growing up too, and I can remember the fan made all the difference. It went away for most of my teen years and slightly came back as an adult, but it’s so manageable now I don’t consider it a huge deal. So, there is hope at the other end. Keep up the good work, and I’m glad the internet helped!
robin says
BTW, they didn’t have Zyrtec back when I was little (I’m 35), so it’s soo cool that there are more options now.
The Stephanie says
Poor thing! Glad to hear he’s doing a little better.
Melissa says
That sounds rough. I’m so sorry he (and you) are having to deal with that (and your daughter as well). My son has a skin condition (keratosis pilaris rubra faceii), but it doesn’t seem to bother him. He just gets very red, rough looking cheeks and chin if we don’t wash his face twice a day and put lotion on it. Good luck. I am sure it isn’t easy!
brainella says
My son has the same issue. He’s had eczema since he was 6 weeks old. It’s much better now but he still gets it on his hands, feet and legs. His pediatrician told us to use Zyrtec also when he was two. We do it off and on when he has flare-ups; it helps a bunch and he’s not so miserable. Otherwise we use Cera Ve lotion, Protopic (Rx from a dermatologist) when his feet are horrible, and bathe him only twice a week. Good luck.
Kelly Deneen says
I’m so glad the Zyrtec works for him! We may need to try that next winter if Delia’s eczema comes back with a vengeance. She was on Rx steroid cream, but it thinned out the skin on her face quite a lot. Her dr told me that the amount of steroid in Cortisone or the equivalent is quite a bit less than RX and can be used more frequently. I actually found good luck with using Gentle Naturals Eczema cream (baby stuff) on Delia after every bath. We also cut out citrus, and that made a WORLD of difference.
Margaret Howe says
How awful- wish you the best of luck with it!
Hey, saw this “Meet Oprah producers thing” and thought of you…
http://startupprincess.com/meet-oprah-producers-win-a-full-access-pass-valued-at-349-to-evoconference-in-park-city-utah/
Pamela @ 2 much testosterone says
My now 11 year old is free from eczema. We lived in Dry Colorado at the peak of it and used the hydrocortizone creme….. We moved back to Florida. I say, just add humidity!
Adrienzgirl says
Kat,
All of my children have allergies and eczema. When my youngest son was a toddler it was REALLY bad. We paid through the nose for all these expensive prescriptions, tried every known and unknown remedy. Creams, ointments, lotions, changing laundry detergents a gazillion times. Soap, no soap. Soaks in oatmeal, milk baths, on and on and on….
Finally, my pediatrician suggested that I not bathe him every day. Every other day would be fine. The soap and water, was exacerbating the problem. We stopped the nightly bath ritual. His skin finally cleared up. He still had/has flare ups, but allowing the natural oils in the body to stay with him for more than 24 hours really helps! Now his outbreaks are few and far between, AND they are manageable.
Also, we have to use soaps, laundry detergents and shampoos with no dyes, added scents, etc.
Cheryl says
We have dealt with this problem and I really, really feel for you.
Moisturizing is a HUGE deal. We were just at the pediatric dermatologist this past week. He advised having my son shower every day, and then instead of drying off with a towel, just brushing the water off with hands and then immediately applying aveeno moisturizer (we also are using rx Verdeso foam and also have protopic. He’s 6 1/2 now and is really fine, w/ just an occasional spot or two, but from 6 months to past a year? It was AWFUL. He has scarring on the back of his neck from scratching.
From what I understand, you can use Zyrtec every day and it won’t harm him. BUT is it a 12 or 24 hour thing? If it’s 12 then it won’t give him relief all day, so you have to up the dosage (ask your doctor first, obviously!).
With our son, the trigger was oats. As soon as we removed then from his diet, it was like magic. It wasn’t totally gone, but it was MUCH better. Sometimes it IS a trigger in their diet. He wasn’t allergic to oats, just had a sensitivity.
The thing with eczema is it’s also an auto-imune issue so it’s really tough to stop it completely. You just have to make them as comfortable as possible. I hope he will eventually outgrow it. It is SO miserable and I’m so sorry your little guy is going through this.
Julie says
Hey, I jumped over from ScaryMommy’s site, I couldn’t find an email link for you on here, so I just wanted to say that I appreciated your comment on the “other” site this morning. I think your perspective is a really important one!
Scott says
I hope it gets better for you guys. I know my son C2 has it and Tracy found something that worked really well for him. I know different things work for different kids and some have it worse than others. All I know is that she used something from California Baby. I am a husband, which means I know nothing.
Have a great weekend
Shelley says
I started getting eczema when I was about 18 in my inner elbow/arms and face. Hydrocortozone (sp?) works for me when it flares up, but mostly I just make sure I lotion every single day after my shower. I use Curel on my body and Eucerin on my face in the morning after the shower/before makeup and also at night after I take my makeup off and before I go to bed. I hardly ever have a problem with eczema anymore and I think it’s because of lotioning so much. I’m allergic to cats too! I hope this helps!
Jen says
Poor Kainoa! I’m glad he’s feeling better.
I know you can’t stay on Cortizone, but if he’s taking children’s Zyrtec, he should be ok on that for a while. I’ve been taking Zyrtec daily for, like, two years. I’ve been on allergy medications (I have to change them because my body builds up a resistance to them over time, deeming them ineffective) daily since I was 7 or 8 years old.
Other than the resistance (and I can go back to the same medication after a couple of years, it’s a cycle), I have had no side effects.
But, I would check with your pediatrician. They might have a prescription medication that would be more effective.
Jordan says
I take Zyrtec daily for allergies. I specifically asked my doctor if it was okay to take every day when she recommended it, and she said it was. There are absolutely no side effects I have experienced except for a clear head. :) (Although, I a much older than 2… so not sure the difference there.)
Bethany says
Have you tried bag balm? The stuff for cows? Mama M just blogged about it a day or so ago for this same problem.
So sorry you have to deal with that!
Katherine says
My 12 yo. son has eczema and his doc gave him a steroid cream (cannot be applied to face) that clears it up in two applications. In between severe outbreaks, I keep on top of things by spreading a high zinc oxide cream (ie: diaper rash cream ~ Walmart brand has the highest content) on it to keep it in check. When it gets in his hair, I simply have him put Nizoral shampoo on it, wait about 5-10 min. and then he gets in the shower. He hasn’t had an outbreak for months now!
Doc also said that concentrated oil like peanut oil or jojoba oil applied at night and covered (it’s messy) until morning will allow the scaling to flake off on its own without harsh chemicals. Just takes longer than steroid creams, but helps my son from picking at it as it looks so gross. Also, the doctor is adamant that cortizone creams make it WORSE!! I think he’s right. If your son continues with the intense itchiness… go buy Scalpicin extra strength at the pharmacy and apply it to the scaling. It takes away itch and doesn’t leave any residue on skin. GREAT stuff.
Hope this helps!
Kattia says
Great to hear of the temporary relief, My girls suffer from seasonal and regional eczema. It comes on with a vengeance in the winter months and appears only on certain parts of the skin. I loved the cortisone worked like a charm, I did find this cream for my husband. It is from Walmart and the name is Equate, it is equivilant to Aquifor but half the cost. It pains me to see my husband itch , I literally feel he is going to rip his skin apart , but this has help substantially. So I am prepared to attack the girl eczema in the winter.
I would suggest that you alternate months with treatments. Between cortisone, benadryl cream, Equate (from walmart), and maybe one other treatment that works . That would leave you using each item less. I am wondering if a humidifier might help as it would help keep the air less dry.
Michelle says
Hi,
My kids have mast cell disorder which gives them all kinds of problems but mainly rashes if I’m not careful. I feel your pain. Zyrtec and benadryl work most of the time. Argh.
Stacey says
My oldest has eczema. Other than moisturizing lotion a couple times a day, we have always had good luck with Elidel and Westcort creams.
Maya says
I have two kinds of eczema, one that I only get when I’m pregnant (which manifests itself as blisters all over my hands and in between my fingers, which eventually break and cause my skin to tear. Awesome, I know.) Anyway, my doctors have told me that eczema is an auto-immune disease, which means it has nothing to do with what a person is or is not allergic too.
One thing that was suggested to me is to get gloves and lather up my hands with a moisturizer, then wear the gloves overnight to keep my hands from drying out. It at least takes the edge off. Aquaphor is sticky, but it keeps the moisture in. My husband uses a special neutrogena lotion for his eczema too, but not the gloves.
Good luck!
MelissaW says
My youngest was on Zyrtec for the better part of a year, maybe a little longer, while we tried to find a new (safe) home for our cat, who he was very allergic to. That was from the time he was 18 months old until recently (maybe 4 months ago) when we were able to finally place her somewhere acceptable, and he turns 3 next month!
The Zyrtec really helped him and after a couple of “drowsy” days, he adjusted to it and it didn’t affect his sleep or anything at all! Plus, we also gave it to him in the evening, when his allergies seemed to bother him the most.
Mama Zen says
That sounds so miserable! I hope that you’re able to find a more permanent solution.
Rachel @ Mommy Needs a Vacation says
My heart goes out to you. What a nightmare. My kids don’t have eczema but my sister-in-laws kids do and it always flares up when it is hot. I do know that she slathers them in aquaphor. That is also the only cream I have ever used for diaper rash, etc…
Also, don’t feel bad about using drugs. You gotta do what you gotta do and if the doctor says you can give it to him, give it to him!
Good luck!
S Club Mama says
Poor Kainoa (and you). Talk to his doctor about longer-lasting treatment. I don’t have this and most people I know that do don’t have it that bad. I’ll ask them what they use though.
Megs says
i know you have a hundred recs by now, but here’s another one:
http://www.althaeasoaps.com/index.php?page=misterx-angry-skin-soap
Lisa Anne says
My son and I are right there with you. I suffer from it and my son has had it his whole life. Hes face use to bleed all the time as a baby. He legs are all tore up from his constant scratching in his sleep. It sucks!!
Jennie says
I just wanted to say, when I read this, I thought… oh my goodness, I’m not alone!
I have been having to deal with eczema with my 2 1/2 year old since she was 3 months old. She has EXTREMELY sensitive skin. I have had those nights where she itches till she bleeds and I have had nights where I just cry cause I can’t do anything. I actually had to take her to the er one night cause she was itching her skin off and i couldn’t calm her down!
we have seen several peds. 2 derm. and just recently an allergist! She is allergic to dogs and dust. Although, some foods cause it to flare up, they said she had no food allergies. I am in the same boat as you, I have to keep a strict daily regimen or there’s hell to pay. Shes on zyrtec 1x daily, aquaphor and eucerin lotion 2x daily, Flucinolone when it’s really bad, and we just recently heard if you give them a bleach bath once a week it helps! it’s just a capful of bleach added to bathwater, it’s supposed to kill any bad bacteria. Also it helps if at night they are really itchy, you can put a moisturizer (NOT a topical ointment or medicine) on where it’s bad than wrap it loosely with saran wrap or guaze and a bandage. It not only helps moisturize, but than they can’t itch it.
It’s always nice “knowing” someone going through the same thing! Our poor babies, only in my dreams has my babe had silky soft baby skin!
can says
My sister used grape seed extract for her daughter when she was a baby. She used this for awhile and it never came back. She is now 8 and does not use it anymore. It’s natural too. It was by melaleuca and called ProVex® Grape-Based Antioxidant, but you can probably get it at a health food store. She also used chemical free products. I hope he continues to feel better. It was so sad to see my niece with those itchy patches/sores.
Momma says
Petroleum Jelly. Vaseline.
Bathe him and cake it on him while he is semi-dry.
Thats what our pediatrician told us to do for middle child…………
angie says
I’m so glad he has relief, but that sucks about the cortisone only being able to be used temporarily. Did anyone answer the question about Zyrtec? I can ask Jeff. he’s a pharmacist.
Christine says
Aww, poor kids. My oldest boy had it for years, mostly on his hot zone. I had gotten a steroid cream from the Doc, but only used it sparingly. He had no known allergies, but eczema runs in the fam, so it is what it is. I will say that now that he’s an adult, he doesn’t flare up too often anymore. Hopefully your kids will grow out of it, too. Take care:)
Michelle Best says
I found relief not from the prescriptions from the doctor but from a fabulous cream called CeraVe! You can get it at WalGreens in the specialty lotions section not with the other healing cream crap that I spent a ton on and didn’t help!
heatherlyn says
I think Zyrtec is for allergies. And Eczema is a type of allergic reaction–or something lame like that. It has to do with the immune system doing the wrong thing just like in allergies. I don’t think the Zyrtec will hurt him. I’m so glad you found something that works. I HATE HATE HATE HATE Eczema!!!!
Amo says
My son also has eczema, although it doesn’t seem to bother him. He has it on the backs of his arms and on his legs. He will turn two years old in August and I want to have him tested for food allergies. I have celiac and can’t eat gluten. How do they test small children for food allergies? Blood test?
Sarah says
Aw, I do not have any ideas but I just wanted to say how bad I feel for your kiddo and I hope he gets to feeling better!
Dawna says
When I brought my son to the allergist he looked like a burn victim. His entire body was covered in scaly, patchy bleeding skin. We found out it was not a food allergy as thought, but a synthetic allergy. He can only wear cotton or else he breaks out EVERYWHERE. Plus he has eczema as do I (I came down with it just on my hands when I was pregnant with little Uriah and it has never went away).
To clear my little man’s skin I was given several steroid creams which did the trick within three days. I now apply Cetaphil to the itchy areas as needed, make sure he is bathed regularly (no soap/shampoos etc.) which for him is two to three times a week, and he seems to do well. In winter I have to keep more on top of moisturizing him. I follow the same regiment. No scented lotions… no soaps. I wear gloves to do dishes because whenever I come in contact with water the eczema just evolves into a monster. I hate it too. Thanks so much for your post and reminding me that we are not the only family battling this silly skin disorder. :)
Joy says
Wyatt was put on Zyrtec when he was only about 6mths old back when it still required a RX, it was like a miracle drug for him he had been having so many respiratory issues and nothing helped till a dr thought maybe it might be allergy related and OMG angels sang & he was so much better. After a long time on it, it seemed to loose it’s effectiveness and not to mention it was $$ even with insurance. So I took him off and over time tried other OTC allergy meds with little results. So when Zyrtec became OTC I put him back on it, and once again it was great he was so much better. No snotty, snuffy nose, no weezing, no coughing spells that kept him up all night it was great. He has been on it pretty much non stop since then, there are times that we will go off it for a small time but never long. he is 7 almost 8 and his dr has never warned us of any problems of him taking it for so long. He takes the pill not the children’s liquid. there is also generic versions of Zyrtec that are cheaper, just ask at you pharmacy for the generic version.
Jill says
I have severe eczema and have battled it all of my life. Thankfully I have been in control of it for a very long time and am not on any daily medications. As long as I am proactive in preventing my skin from breaking, life is good. I use zyrtec and cortaid occasionally to help with this.
Some suggestions (that you are probably already doing!):
I would continue with the daily zyrtec until the eczema is under control, especially since it is working. Both of my girls were on it daily (pediatrician recommendation) for a year or so until they outgrew their eczema. Once everything is under control, you will be able to take him off of it easily. He may even need something stronger, like locoid or atarax, to get him through this rough patch.
I would use a very gentle soap (Cetaphil or Phisoderm) only in private areas and underarms during baths/showers. If he takes baths, I would save hair washing for last and immediately rinse his skin off with clean water. Then promptly take him out of the tub. Dry him off, then immediately apply lotion. Have you tried Vanicream? You can get it at most pharmacies, but might have to ask for it behind the counter.
I use a free and clear laundry detergent with every load of laundry that I do in our home, regardless of whose clothes I am washing as I cannot handle the small amount of residue left over from the chemicals in other detergents. No fabric softeners or dryer sheets either.
Ok, I’m done. Sorry for the marathon comment. Hope your little guy’s skin continues to improve!
Marie says
{{{HUGS}}} to all of you! Ezcema sucks. Both my kids have it (3 and 6yo) but thankfully it’s comparatively mild most of the time (barring the odd really bad flare up when it gets infected, then we have the sleepless itchy night too). It’s heartbreaking when my DD (6) is really itchy and is asking why she has to have eczema :( We live in hope they’ll eventually outgrow it.
Hope the new regime keeps things in check.
xMx
Kathy says
If you live near an ocean, take him swimming. The salt water does wonders for LOTS of skin ailments (it will also get the fleas & ticks off your dog so give it a dip too if you have one still). If you don’t live near one, use sea salt in the bath. It doesn’t work quite as well as the real deal…I don’t know why…maybe it has to do with the critters & sand & everything else in the ocean….except for the oil but that’s a totally different subject :)
Donda says
My daughter has eczema and allergies and the eczema flares up really bad right before she has an allergy flare up. I have noticed that I can count on it like clockwork. We use a prescription called Triamcinolone Acetonide and after one day the eczema is cleared up. Hope that helps.
JO says
My kids don’t have eczema, but I just started making homemade laundry detergent because I was spending a ridiculous amount of $$$. Anyway, this SIMPLE recipe is supposed to also be good for allergies, eczema, etc… I just posted the process on my blog.
Jo
http://www.teensandtriplets.com/2010/06/because-they-drink-detergent-eat-toilet.html
Jo Schaffer says
Oh, girl. That’s nooo fun. My oldest son has had problems too. It flared up when we moved to a dryer climate.
Bag Balm helped… but yeah, its an ongoing thing.
Refined sugars are prob a good thing to avoid–they tax the vital organs.
Best of luck with all of that.
Amy says
My ten year old gets eczema moreso in the winter. It’s in spots and it drives her (and me) nuts! She cries, scratches, whines, and well you know! Anyway, I may try Zyrtec next time she has a break out. Thanks for the tip!
SomeGirl says
I battle eczema with my 3 year old… hate it! The only thing I’ve found that helps is oatmeal baths. I put 1/2 cup (or more) of oatmeal in a blender and blend until it is very finely ground, then add it to his bath water. I let him soak in it for 15-20 minutes and then apply aquaphor or vaseline to his affected area. The next day it is usually much clearer. When it’s really bad I give him zyrtec on top of the bath. I’m going to try your suggestion for a bad outbreak we’re having on his face… can get his face soaked in the oatmeal bath. ;) Anyway, I hope your child has continued relief! ♥ Michelle
StephanieinSuburbia says
Oh this sounds so awful! My baby has the start of eczema. She is 7 months now. My doc recommended Eucerin and insisted we bathe her every day. This surprised me at first b/c I assumed it would dry her skin out. But even though it’s a pain, when I do it and apply Eucerin right after, her skin is very clear.
Sharalyn says
Zyrtec can be taken for quite a while. My son has been on and off it for over three years before it became ineffective (this is common with allergy meds) and we switched to Claritin which is working for now.
FYI–most allergy testing on children under 4-5 years old is not accurate. You get a *lot* of false negatives. Most eczema is caused by a food allergy or intolerance of some sort. My son has never actually tested positive for dairy allergy, but absolutely is allergic to it. Even his allergist stated that if you get allergy symptoms even if you don’t test positive, you’re allergic to *something*, your body just isn’t telling the doctor what it is.
Lindy Leigh 56 says
Poor baby :(
I love your blog so I gave you an award!
http://lindyandree.blogspot.com/2010/06/m-at-betty-crapper-cooking-from-scratch.html
Mariah says
I am a huge fan of Epson salts, have you tried daily Epson Salt baths? The minerals are amazing in Epson salt and will help! Helped my kids when they were little
An Imperfect New Momma says
I hope you find relief soon. Monkey had a bad case of eczema when he was just 2 mos old. We used the cortisone too. It went away after like 2 days but it still comes back now from time to time (hes 7 mos old) so I hope you find your solution quickly.
Jamie Martin says
I’m not normally the comment type, but, “scratched his feet to a bloody mess” sounds like my day- today, actually.
Our middle kid is allergic to the world, and as you’ve seen, the testing is so unreliable.
I’m a fairly natural chic, and had my reservations about daily allergy medicine as well, but I gotta say- it’s better than staff infection.
Our allergist said this: As soon as it starts to get better, people drop the creams, but it will flare right back up if you don’t taper off. SO-
We do use a daily allergy med.
When a flare up is bad, we use prescription strength steroid cream until it improves, then step down to hydrocortisone over the counter, then step down to cetaphil (or something similar). This helps.
Jamie Martin says
one more thing- it does flare pretty bad when he gets hot, so the fan is probably his best friend if he sleeps warm.
Lindsey (aka modchik) says
I have battled with this myself and a little with my youngest — I have always found answers here http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/eczema.html
I do you the BIG GUNS (Rx anti-fungal and steriod ointments) then aquaphor then step down to natural things like coconut oil. I also recommend a water purifiction system – you can get one for just one shower/tub – I have told many people about this = the water in CA is especially hard and so harmful to delicate skin. I like this one: http://www.amazon.com/Aquasana-AQ-4100-Water-Adjustable-Showerhead/dp/B0016BS9T6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1276846697&sr=8-1
hope that helps! and stay with food thing – your skins health comes from within… get some good oils in them and lots of water.
Maria Trader says
My 6 year old has had eczema since he was born and for the last couple of years he’s been at that point you’re writing about where he scratches until he bleeds and cries and has trouble falling asleep. Thanks for sharing, we’re going to try zyrtec tonight :)