Things I’ve Learned The Past Two Years Navigating Child Eczema
The last two and a half years have been an exhausting journey, navigating the best ways to help my son with his extreme eczema. To give some backstory, his eczema began right after his first birthday. Prior to this, he had no signs of eczema. Shortly after his first birthday, he had the worst eczema outbreak to date. His entire body was covered to the point that the first allergist we met couldn’t perform the allergy test because his skin was too flared.
We were prescribed a topical and oral steroid since it was so extreme, to help the flare-up so we could perform testing. The oral steroid was a nightmare. Hudson had a terrible reaction to it, with extreme outbursts like I had never seen. Since then, we haven’t used any oral steroid medications. Once his skin was finally under control, we did our first round of allergy testing via back pricks. He was tested for over 1,500 things, and not one allergy came up. We were then prescribed a topical steroid and told to keep his skin moisturized and that we didn’t need to avoid any foods.
After this appointment, I was hopeful the topical would work, but it did not. It only got worse. We would lay awake every night with Hudson crying in pain from the itchiness and cuts from scratching. It was such a trying time, but we all did the best we could.
The lack of sleep got to us, and I decided we needed to find more answers. I tried some typical eczema elimination diets to see if that could help, and still nothing. I finally scheduled an appointment with a holistic doctor to get a hair allergy test done. It was great meeting with that doctor because it was the first time I actually felt heard. They offered a very different approach, with no steroids but avoiding whatever came up in the hair test. The hair test came back, and it literally tested anything you can think of for “sensitivities.” The results were 50 pages long, and so many sensitivities popped up—it was beyond overwhelming. It was so hard to navigate because you can be sensitive to things without it being an allergy. We did our best to avoid those things, but we would need a blood test to actually confirm allergies at this point because the two tests we did were so different and we weren’t seeing results.
Shortly after this, we met with a dermatologist who had a balanced outlook on eczema and prescribed us a light topical steroid (pictured below) that actually worked. They also recommended a very simple skincare routine that has helped us manage this. The dermatologist emphasized the importance of using a lotion containing ceramides, as people with eczema often have a deficiency in these lipids, which are crucial for maintaining the skin barrier. The only lotion we use now is CeraVe moisturizing cream. Additionally, the dermatologist prescribed an under-two-safe Zyrtec for itching and recommended using Benadryl only as needed for any larger reactions. We also changed our bathing routine dramatically only doing quick showers or baths with luke warm water and minimal soap.
Where we started:
The results are like night and day. We still have flare-ups, but we haven’t had any extreme ones, and now we only use the topical once in a while in the spots it’s needed. We still plan on doing a blood test at some point soon, but I’m thankful our current routine is working.
The biggest things I’ve learned from this experience are that everyone’s eczema is different, and different things work for different people. We must have tried every lotion in the book, but our simple routine and lotion with ceramides are what ended up working for us. Now, we also use a really good probiotic because eczema is highly linked to gut health. Ther-biotic is the brand we currently use.
Finally, there needs to be more education and awareness around the emotional toll eczema has on not only the person with it but also the parents and caretakers trying to navigate it.
Where we are today:
Here are a few more key takeaways from our journey:
1. Identify Triggers: Understanding and identifying specific triggers that exacerbate eczema, such as certain foods, fabrics, or environmental factors, is crucial in managing flare-ups.
2. Moisturizing Routine: Establishing a consistent moisturizing routine is essential. Using emollients and gentle, fragrance-free products helps maintain skin hydration.
3. Bathing Practices: Short, lukewarm baths followed by immediate moisturizing can help soothe the skin without stripping it of natural oils.
4. Diet and Nutrition: Monitoring diet and potential food allergies or intolerances can make a significant difference. Keeping a food diary might help identify any correlations between diet and eczema flare-ups.
5. Clothing Choices: Opting for soft, breathable fabrics like cotton and avoiding wool or synthetic materials can reduce skin irritation.
6. Stress Management: Recognizing the impact of stress on eczema and finding ways to manage stress through relaxation techniques or activities can be beneficial.
7. Medical Treatments: Staying informed about and being open to various medical treatments can help in finding the right balance for managing eczema.
8. Environmental Control: Maintaining an eczema-friendly environment, such as using humidifiers during dry seasons and keeping the home clean to reduce dust mites and allergens, can be helpful.
9. Patience and Persistence: Managing eczema requires patience and persistence. Not every treatment will work immediately, and it may take time to see improvements.
10. Support System: Building a support system, whether through online communities, support groups, or healthcare professionals, provides emotional support and practical advice.
Our journey has been long and challenging, but we’ve learned so much along the way. I hope our experience can help other families dealing with similar struggles. Below, are a few of the staples we love to use. Remember, sometimes simple is best.
