Olive Oil - Anyone tried it?

[Lil Mamma]

My DS1 has had really bad eczema for over a year, I have to keep taking him to the skin clinic as it seems to get worse and never better. I buy all the expensive creams and do everything they say, but his eczema is a very stubborn type and is really hard to manage apparently. Im at my wits end cos he keeps scratching at it which makes it spread and bleed, even though I put patches over it. I spoke to a lady today who's daughter had the same thing when she was little, and she swears by olive oil, says to rub it over the area several times a day and reckons its the only thing that worked. Im going to give it a go I think, has anyone else tried this?

[Ana Gram]

Tried it on her head and all it did was make her hair oily. Did nothing for her skin.

[WorkingClassMum]

Excema is a sympton of an underlying condition, rather than a condition on it's own.

Something is triggering the excema.

Rather than just treat the sympton, what is the clinic is saying is causing the excema?

Have you tried all the ususal suspects, like clothes washing powder, cows milk, wheat etc?

[Lil Mamma]

Yep - I switched to sensitive washing powder for over 6 months and noticed no change whatsoever. He went on a milk free/wheat free diet for around 3 months - did not affect his eczema. I dont let him play in the sand, I always make sure he isn't hot, make sure he always wears cotton materials etc.

:(

[WorkingClassMum]

That sucks - poor bubs

I'd maybe try a natropath/health food shop.

My FIL uses a lanolin/olive oil mix

[anitagareth]

my partner's ex treated/treats their daughter 's excema with olive oil - she refuses medical recommendations etc.
their daughter ended up with numerous staph infections in her excema and was admitted into hospital and treated with high strength antibiotics. the mother ended up with complaints to DOCS regarding her neglect the daughter and refusal to adequately treat a severe medical condition.
their daughter who is now 5 has severe scaring all over her body from the excema.

[loui999]

No go for us
Probably because olive oil is high in salicylates and DS has a problem with these.
You will be stabbing in the dark until you find the trigger and unfortunately there are so many out there. Have you considered a specialist and testing?

[canberramomma]

Yes, mixed with a little lavender oil works in some seasons for my DS. Depends what's flaring it up. Helps with moisturizing the skin. The lavender acts as an antiseptic to kill any infections under the skin.

[Marie Doltan]

Sometimes expensive creams contain nasty preservatives amongst other (nasty) things! - this could be making the eczema worse. What creams do you use and have you tried using preservative free all natural moisturizers? They're expensive, but worth it.

[phoenixml]

My DD has eczema and olive oil makes it flare up more.

Every baby is different, so it might work for you but it didn't work for DD.

Best wishes

[Lil Mamma]

I use Dermeze ointment which is just paraffin as an everyday moisturiser. I also use elocon ointment to treat flare ups.

We've finally got rid of the big, nasty red flare ups by doing a wet wrap dressing - rubbed a little elocon, then a big dollop of dermeze over that, and a plastic dressing over that (looks kinda like cling wrap). I guess we will need to do testing to find out exactly what's triggering it, it just keeps coming back after I think we've finally calmed it down.

*sight*