How long for eczema to clear up?!

[natashacs]

My LO has suspected milk protein allergy and at 4 months old, ended up in thick, dry, swathes of eczema across his body. He was scratching until he bled and the patches on his knees and across his torso felt very thick.

He is now on Neocate (phew!) and things are improving.

But the eczema is still there. I expected to wake up and it would all be gone, but that hasn't really happened. It is improving, but some days looks quite agitated. THen on other days I think 'well its almost gone now'.

We've been on Necoate for 2 weeks, shoudl his skin be clear by now? Or am I being too impatient. part of me thinks, well the eczema took a few months to get to its worst, so maybe it will take more than a fortnight to heal. The other part of me thinks, is this neocate not working, is there somethign else causing the eczema.

Does anyone know how long I should give it?

[Jimbob]

It could take a while longer for the eczema to completely clear. It is also possible that there could be other triggers to the eczema.

Kelly

[Spectra]

For my son it took a total of 4 weeks for it to be COMPLETELY gone.  Sometimes it seemed like it was getting worse, but at the end of the month it was all gone.  I take it you are doing other things, like double rinse his laundry, no fabric softener, scent free laundry detergent for sensitive skin, moisturizing every day, putting him in only 100 percent cotton clothes, making sure the moisturizer and/or toothpaste doesn't have any dairy/soy products or anything like citric acid that could create dry skin.  A lot of baby soaps have citric acid in them too.

[natashacs]

OK that's interesting it took two weeks. I guess if it improved as much again as it has done in the past 2 weeks it would be completely gone. I am doing all those things apart from scent free laundry detergent - which brand do you recommend? I will check his shampoo for citiric acid though  it is a natural one made from lavender I think. But will check again, thanks!

[natashacs]

Sorry, i meant to say its interesting it took 4 weeks!!!

[Spectra]

Yeah, it was weird.  In the first week his face cleared up completely, the next week it was his arms, then hands, then legs, and last his feet.  It seemed to go from top to bottom, very weird I know.  Well I just use the Tide detergent for sensitive skin, scent free, it's in the white bottle.  I'm not sure if there are better ones that someone else can suggest.  I know the Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo has citric acid, and may be more harsh on their skin than other soaps.  I also know that some baby toothpastes have milk product, it will say it "Contains Milk Product", like the Gerber apple/banana for infants. 

[KittysMum]

Aw, good luck Natasha. Hang in there - I hope he clears over the next couple of weeks. Are you using a steroid ointment to help the skin heal? I know they're not generally popular, but we've found Kitty has needed the extra help to heal, even once we've cut out all her problem foods.

Just wanted to send good wishes really, as the other girls have given all the good advice. I feel for you, as I know exactly how you must feel. Big hugs.

[natashacs]

Thanks both of you, I'll just hang in there. Re steroid ointment, I did buy some hydrocortisol 2 per cent cream as my sister (who's little boy had the same thing) said just use it don't worry about what people say. But I used it once then got scared. I prob will try it again to give the healing a boost. How often did you put it on, just once a day?
Will get some of that Tide detergent too. Wierdly, Finn's face is the clearest part of him so far, his cradle cap has also completely gone although I think that was also eczema across his skull. He still has lines of eczema around the front of his ears though. Anyway, fingers crossed it keeps improving, I just want a miracle cure and hate having to wait!!!

[Spectra]

Yeah, my son had terrible cradle cap too until I eliminated the dairy.  I forgot, I also used a steroid cream, twice a day, very thinly and rub it in well, and then it was totally gone in 4 weeks.  I was using the steroid cream since he was 5 months too.  There are other good brands of detergent too,  I believe Woolite has a scent free one too.

[KittysMum]

Probably best to ask your health visitor to prescribe you a steroid cream as she'll know what strength to go for.

Kitty's used very gentle ones in the past, progressing to slightly stronger ones and we're now on Eumovate, which I think is fairly strong for a baby of her age. But I get the impression that it's better with steroids creams to use them twice a day for as long as it takes to clear the eczema (then another spell the same length, even though the skin's clear) so that the skin heals completely. As opposed to using them here and there. The thinking is that you can end up needing the creams for longer if you just dabble around and never really get the skin completely healed.

Towards the end, I think it's advisable to cut down on use gradually, so that the skin doesn't flare when you suddenly stop. So maybe once a day, very thinly towards the end?

I'd like a miracle cure too; let me know if you come up with anything. LOL.