Breastfeeding & Eczema

**Manxie** · 03-11-2005 08:22

Hi

Just wondering what foods breastfeeding mums have found made their babys eczema flair up - if any? I am assuming there is a proven link between what we eat and their skin??

My 13week old has what I beleive to be eczema although I havent had it diagnosed as such. I have stopped using the dreaded J&J products. I also bath her every day as part of the night time routine as she loves it, should I stop this and if so does anyone have any suggestions for an alternative routine???

Thanks for any advice

**HoopDeeDoo** · 03-11-2005 09:53

I found with my son's eczema I have to bath him every night so maybe for him it's a dust thing . I still use the j&j soap free moisturising bath that seems to be good. When he skin is really bad I blend up some oats with sunflower oil to a thick consistancy, put it in a stocking and hang it under the tap while running. He'll have an oats bath a couple of times a week when his skin is flared up.
The most important thing is covering him in Hydraderm cream after his bath from head to toe. I've found this keeps his skin pretty moist. It has to be the one in the tub though with 10% Glycerol. It's just sorbolene cream but i've tried a few and the hydraderm seems to be the perfect consistancy.
Also try and keep her nails as short as possible it's really hard esp when they get to the age where they realise what you're doing and don't like it

food allergies are so individual if your daughter is allergic to something it could be anything. I've found with my son he can't have peas (split or normal), and strawberries. He may have a slight egg allergie too. I didn't pick a very good mate my husbands family has a sever egg allergy, nut allergy, and eczema

Over heating makes a huge difference too, my son goes bright red and itchy as soon as he gets too hot

Good luck it's not a very nice thing to have and you feel so helpless and sorry for the poor little things. PM me if you have any more questions

**bubbles28** · 03-11-2005 09:55

hi,
my 9mth old DS has had eczema since he was 4mths. I found that when I would eat eggs and dairy his eczema would flair up.
I have sice taken him for an allergy test and infact found that he is allergic to eggs, dairy and tuna. So, I agree with you that there is a link between BF mothers and allergies in babies.
The J&J products are terrible. My son was allergic to all of there products.
Our dermotologist recommended that is was ok to bath him very night but I was to use certain lotions to protect the skin from drying out.
Before I put him in the bath I coat his body in "EMULSIFYING OINTMENT" (which is also a soap substitute).
When he gets out of the bath I apply "DERMEZE" ointment all over his body and face.
These products are available over the counter at the chemist and are not expensive.
These are the only products that my son does not have an allergic reaction to.
So, I would recommend that you watch what you are eating and give these products a go.
Good luck!

**nemosmum** · 03-11-2005 10:20

DS has allergies and while I bf I was on a strict diet. While your unaware of the causes of the eczema I would steer clear of known foods that can cause reactions But I strongly recommend you get your bub tested as soon as you can.

Foods to steer clear of:

Chocolate
Diary products (eat in moderation as you still need your calcium, esp when bf)
Tomatoes
eggs
citrus fruits (oranges etc)
fish
nuts
smoked meats, salami and suasages
soft drinks (have them occassionally)

There are many more things that can trigger eczema not just food but your bubs environment too.

Speak to your doctor and get your child tested like we did and its almost been 10 months and he hardly ever gets an outbreak coz he is on a strict diet and we are able to manage his environment.

When bathing bub one tip dont dry bub with a towel just pat her dry with a muslin wrap as this will help protect the skin from drying out.

Feel free to pm me any time to chat

**Manxie** · 03-11-2005 16:41

Hi

Thanks everyone for the info, thats great. How do they do the allergy testing?? I'm a bit scared of her being labelled as being allergic or even suffering from excema-crazy I know but I think sometimes DR's are a bit quick to label, also if I'd listened to half the people around me should would have been labelled as having reflux when in fact she was just a bit of a spitty baby like most babies!

I was hoping it was just a reaction to the nasty J&J products. I think I will try and eliminate some of the suggested foods from her diet and see how she goes. I am eating quite a lot on the list!!

Thanks again

**nemosmum** · 03-11-2005 17:29

I was eating everything on that list before we got DS tested

We did a pric skin test when DS was 7 months and found he was highly allergic to dustmites and eggs. I wont lie, it wasnt very nice for bub (the pric test that is) and he was very unsettled for three or so days afterwards, but I am very glad we got it done. I mean I was eating eggs alot due to the fact Im not a meat eater and everytime DS was exposed to it, through cooking it, smelling it, through BM etc it was making his allergy worse and inturn making his eczema unbearable.

By finding out what his triggers were, putting him on the elimination diet and minimising the things he was exposed too we have basically been able to control his eczema and relieve his suffering. DS was in alot of discomfort, couldnt sleep and he also had bad reflux (which can be related to eczema). The reason we got him tested was becoz we wanted to find the best way to treat his condition, the more he was exposed to eggs and dustmites the more allergic he became and the more prone he was to developing allergies to other thing.

Please dont hesitate to get your bub tested it was the best thing we ever did.
Our little boy is so much happier now

all the best,
Sarah

**aardvark** · 03-11-2005 17:30

I ditched the J&J products in favour of a bland handmade extra virgin olive oil soap, and that helped lots.

I also swapped to Amolin Sensitive Laundry Liquid, and that helped even further.

It was not until after I stopped feeding that I managed to completely conquer the problem with both her eczema and my own. As an experiment, we ditched conventional food, and went organic, and the results were so good, we've stuck with it.

Neither of us have any skin problems now. The new baby will be eating organically from the outset.

**sarah81** · 03-11-2005 21:59

Hi,

My oldest DS had/s eczema and allergies. The paediatric allergy specialist I saw was actually involved in a study about the relationship between a breatfeeding mothers diet and eczema outbreaks, the results were inconclusive. So he suggested for my second DS to steer clear or nuts and eat other potential triggers in moderation. As its is difficult and not that advisable to cut out all things dairy, wheat, eggs etc. He also advised with my second child to introduce solids really slowly and no wheat, eggs etc before 12 months.

That being said I found once his allergies were identified by a skin prick test and I weaned him completely, his eczema rarely flared up and was usually to do with the enviroment. Hot weather, too much sunscreen etc.

Good luck, hope that helps.

Sarah

**nemosmum** · 04-11-2005 05:28

Originally Posted by sarah81

Hi,

My oldest DS had/s eczema and allergies. The paediatric allergy specialist I saw That being said I found once his allergies were identified by a skin prick test and I weaned him completely, his eczema rarely flared up and was usually to do with the enviroment. Hot weather, too much sunscreen etc.

Good luck, hope that helps.

Sarah

That was exactly what happened with Orlando only his triggers are dustmites (as he has out grown his egg allergy YAH!) but isnt it a wonderful feeling finally knowing what the causes are and being able to prevent out breaks gives me such an overwhelming feeling of power, to be able to protect my son is great

**Mum2Tyla** · 06-11-2005 13:25

Hi,
I have a hereditary form of ecsema, it may be food allergies it may not the one problem with skin problems is it can take a long time to find the cause and everyone will have a wonder product for you to try, I am also a vet nurse I konw dogs are not the same as humans but they do tend to get alot of skin problems food is a common allergen for dogs but so are inhalant and contact allergens, you may be recommended to use cortisone products they are effective but do have side effects, changing what you use in your bath amy help aromababy is good. Alot of the time it is elimination so try not eating dairy for a week or two and see if his skin improves, try one thing at a time so you know waht is working and what is not, hope this helps
Kelly