Excema and cows' milk

[IdrisTheDragon]

DD was diagnosed with excema when she was about 15 months old. She had been breastfed until about 10 months and then had formula until about 13 or 14 months.

Last weekend she had a vomiting bug and I stopped giving her any milk (or anything really ) and noticed yesterday that the excema is a lot better.

Does cows milk contribute to excema? And if so, what could she have instead? My knowledge on this is minimal.

Thank you .

[Desiderata]

My knowledge is minimal too, Idris. Some people believe it to be the case and others don't. I don't personally believe that cows milk triggers or contributes to excema unless there is a pre-disposition towards the complaint.

My ds, for instance, drinks pints of the stuff every day and he doesn't have excema - and nor has anyone ever had it in my family.

It may be that the excema is just clearing up of its own accord in this lovely, summer sunshine.

[IdrisTheDragon]

I think she could well be pre-disposed to it (DH has asthma) - I don't think the cow's milk has caused it, just that maybe having cows milk doesn't help it.

DS drinks lots of milk and is also non-excema like .

[bran]

There is anecdotal evidence that changing from cows' milk to goats' milk is helpful for ezcema and asthma. However we sometimes change ds to goats' milk when he has a cold (to reduce mucus) and I've never noticed much difference in his ezcema. The biggest difference I've found comes from changes in topical treatments, it's virtually disappeared since we have changed his moisturiser and bath oil. But ezcema does have different triggers in different people so perhaps milk does have an effect for your dd.

[rubyshoes]

Hello when i stopped bf my ds he got excema asthma runny tummy and vomited alot. He didn't have a bug even though he was constantly being tested for one he was also blood tested for allergies and nothing showed up. I have to say it was a really bad few months till I changed my gp, she suggested changing him to goats milk, cheese, yogarts etc. Within 2 wks he was so much better and we managed to stop using steriod inhayers creams etc. His body couldn't cope with the mucus from cow dairy products. if you decide to try it you have to be very strict because dairy products are in loads of foods. Good luck x

[Nightynight]

Giving up cows milk clears up excema for some people, not for others.
I would certainly give it a test, because it is easy to do - but as ruby said, watch out for added milk/butter/whey powder in processed foods.

[tatt]

giving probiotics (which help to digest the lactase in milk) has a good track record for helping eczema. Switching from cows to goats milk helps some people. Sometimes eczema improves on its own and then can co-incide with being dairy free by accident. Therefore if you try being dairy free you need to reintroduce it after 2 weeks and see if the eczema gets worse. Only if it does is it worth considering being dairy free long term - and then you need advice from a dietician.