DS' eczema completely cleared up on holiday - how?

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DS is 7 months old and over the last few months has developed some really stubborn patches of eczema/irritation. We try to keep on top of ointment/moisturiser and have looked into allergies but it never seems to quite clear up. The best we seem to be able to get to is that it's not quite so angry red/oozy, but still itchy and bumpy.

We've just been to a warm European country for a holiday, however, and after not much more than a day his skin was completely transformed. First the redness disappeared and then the bumps completely cleared up. We spent pretty much every day outside, and he was mostly in the shade but had some short periods in the sun with E45 factor 50. He was also having a shower each day which would normally be quite drying but his skin was the softest it's been in so long, and he wasn't itching at all.

Roll on the return home, and genuinely, during the flight he already had a few red bumps back on his cheeks, and today they're much angrier again 😖 I expect we're going straight back to how things were before.

I'm guessing it was a combination of drier air, softer water and a bit of UV, but is there anything we can replicate back home? I can't get over the transformation!

Vitamin D.

Salt water , sun and less clothing
so nit trapping sweat

My eczema used to disappear on holiday. Probably combination of sun, sea and the moisturisation from constantly applying sun lotion. In the olden days doctors used to prescribe a warm climate for a number of ailments. The healing powers of the sun and a warm climate can do wonders.

Years ago I worked with a woman who suffered with eczema (used special creams, gloves etc). She visited relatives in Australia and found her eczema issues just went away due to the sun/drier conditions. Of course the issue came back on her return. When she had a baby the year after and it had inherited her condition she emigrated to Australia as she didn't want the baby's life blighted as hers was

Bit drastic but I also have family members whose hayfever and eczema cleared up after emigrating to Australia. I think different pollens to the ones your immune system overreacts to can also play a part. My DD's eczema cleared up when she began baby swimming lessons and only comes back when we let regular swimming lapse.

A friend of mine from university had severe eczema .
After university she took a gap year and went to Pakistan to stay with family . When she returned all her eczema had disappeared
I think it is definitely a combination of the weather, water and food

Different allergens
My asthma and hay-fever disappear totally in Tuscany. 20mins back in the south UK and I look like I've cuddled a cat, heat lumps everywhere. and dam barely breathe.

Sea water and sun is appalling for my excema. I often had to visit the GP when we went on holiday as my hands would be cracked and bleeding.

My eczema and hayfever clear up abroad. I think wet ever my body hates is in this country.

UV light therapy (basically what you get from the sun) is a common treatment for eczema! They do it in hospital - and it's a known treatment for eczema. The sun is very good for eczema

If you want more details, here is exactly how UV light (which you also get from the sun) works to treat eczema: Phototherapy for Eczema | National Eczema Association https://share.google/UlHsCEzwezB4dlqWd

I recall watching an episode of gp behind doors...someone had the worst eczema I'd ever seen...Doctor said he would never normally suggest it but 'prescribed' regular sunbed use....as he felt the benefits to his life would far outweigh risks.

What was/is his milk intake like? I find we often drink much less milk abroad, no breakfast cereals and because it's "different" DC don't want it.

Another eczema sufferer whose skin clears in sunshine. And salt water doesn't hurt either.

My son’s disappears on holidays too, it’s pretty depressing when we return and dh starts muttering about all the rich people who can retire abroad. Not water with us as ds doesn’t get into the sea much. Just the sun I think/ air

UV therapy is common treatment for dry skin conditions, such as psoriasis. It’s uncommon that this happens.

Not answering your question but have you read up about the risk of the contact with peanuts on baby’s excema sores/ developing severe allergies ?

It's the sun and humidity. I suffered as a child and young adult but as I moved to the Med it cleared up within days. It only comes back slightly when I spend time in the UK at Christmas in a dry, centrally-heated house.

Do you live in a hard water area? And was your holiday in a softer water area? Our DCs always used ro break out with eczema when our water softener broke down.

My dd who is 21 has always suffered really badly with it she now goes on a sunbed once or sometimes twice a month and the difference in her skin is unbelievable as she’s got older she’s become more conscious of it and she is a professional dancer so she’s also concerned that people can see it.The doctor actually suggested going on a sunbed as her skin was red raw and so painful
She also uses parabin and sulfate free sun cream on holiday which helps

It’s the sun.

I have recently been on holiday to a hot country. My skin cleared up so much, been back two weeks and my eczema is worse than ever now

This is so strange, I’m just back from 2 weeks in Spain and my eczema cleared up as well. I’ve been trying to work it out so really interesting to read these replies!

Throwing in one other suggestion. The sheets might have been dried in a tumble dryer rather than hung outside, meaning less pollen on them.

It will be the sun or time away from an allergen. My eczema would clear up at my mum's house, then flare up again when I was around my dad's dog every other weekend.

Could be bed linen. If you don’t wash at a high temperature it doesn’t kill some of the bugs that can trigger eczema. On holiday, hotels and professional laundries wash at really high temperatures that sterilise towels and linen.