What could be causing mild exema in 19 month old?

[MDHmommy]

Since the winter, DS has had mild exema on his legs. It was very mild over the winter, until we went on vacation to Colorado, where it's very dry. Over that time, it flared up and got very red and scaly - but when we got home the more moist air plus humidifier and thick lotion I was applying had it more under control.
 
My ped mentioned that berries (strawberries, black berries and rasperries) can contribute to exema flare ups - so we have elimintated them for the past 2 weeks. The exema is getting worse, not better.

Couple of things to note: we use unscented dove soap and unscented Eucerin cream every night for bath. He gets Coppertone baby sunscreen on his arms and legs every day for daycare, and all over his bod on the weekends when we are at the pool. No other diet changes, other than the berries. The weather has been hazy hot and humid. I've not changed laundry detergent.

Any ideas on what food could be contributing to this? Thanks in advance ladies!

[Mom to M&M]

Milk intolerance can also lead to excema. But dry skin is definitely a factor. I use Aveeno Soothing Relief Moisture Cream and Bath Lotion only and find them tow ork very well.

[MDHmommy]

Would there be any other symptoms for milk intolerance other than exema? Is MI something that would get progressively worse over time (say 10-12 mos)?

[Mom2katiebug]

I would guess it's just dry skin where you haven't had problems in the past.  K had the exact same thing and we went to the allergist.  She gave some recommendations and some perscription cream to use and it clears it right up.  She also talked about her "3 minute rule" - within 3 minutes of getting out of the bath, pat dry (don't rub and leave some moisture on the skin) and lube her up with petroleum jelly.  Yep, petroleum jelly and then pop her in her jammies for the night.  It's a great moisturizer and has nothing allergenic in it.  We did this and it was fab for her skin although she didn't like the "thick" feeling of it and the stickiness of her jammies. 

I also get excema at weird times during the year and it's never the same spot twice from year to year.  Very weird how the skin reacts.

Oh we also use a store brand version of Cetaphil - it's incredibly mild and was recommended by the allergist.

[debo620]

we are also having sone exzema issues, mostly behind the knees. I think its just mostly from dry skin. thanks for the tips! we have been putting prevex on, but I don't think we are consistant enough, the 3minue rule is very interesting

[Mom2katiebug]

Yep, that's where DD has it this year.  Behind the knee - really bad on one side, not so much on the other.

[Mom to M&M]

Milk intolerance can get worse over time and I know your DS had a lot of sleeping problems too, right? But it also can just be dry skin...

[MDHmommy]

Hi Casey! How's miss Katie doing these days anyway? Thanks for the tip on the pat vs. rub. We do rub, because he's always trying to run away! I'll try putting the lotion on while skin is still damp to see if that works. The vaseline thing is kinda gross...i do have a giant tub of it tho from his circumcision so i might give it a shot.

Karen - yes, M was a horrible sleeper, but he's WAY better now. And he's drinking as much milk as ever. It's rare for him to wake up anymore at all. Doesn't have any other tummy trouble that I can tell, poops are pretty normal. Hmf. Maybe it's the chlorine from the pool, or the sunscreen we've been using. I might try the Aveno sunscreen instead.

Thanks girls!

[Mom to M&M]

I like sunscreens without zinc oxide - find them less irritating. Good luck!

[Mom2katiebug]

I do have to chime in that we've been off cows milk for drinking (still used as an ingredient) for about 3 months and haven't had an ear infection since.  She's has a couple of bouts of colds but no ear infections and they've been much milder than in the past.  This was after having at least one set of antibiotics every month from November to March and we had gotten the referral to get tubes in.  We were really, really close but I'm glad we dropped the cows milk and avoided the tubes. 

It could be an allergy that causes the exema, it really could be, but the allergist said that a food allergy only plays a part in excema about 1/3 of the time in my area (Seattle, WA, USA).  I think it has more to do with the dry inside air (heaters in cars, and heaters in bldgs) versus the moisture in the outside air when it's so rainy and our skin having trouble maintaining the proper balance.  Can't speak to other climates though. 

K's sleep isn't any better unfortunately.  Am considering trying melatonin - in fact, I bought some quick dissolve tabs that are mint flavored thinking she may like the flavor and not fight taking them.