Eccema and BF: dairy-free diet experiment. How long?

[cereza]

I am EBF my 5mo ds and he has developed eczema (from 3 months). GP says it's a mild eczema so she doesn't recommend allergy tests yet. I've read it could be that he is allergic to something in my diet and that dairy is the usual suspect. I do drink lots of milk (for bkfast, in my tea, late-night cocoa..., I like it a lot!). I also have butter, yogurts and cheese regularly.
If I start a dairy-free diet, how long do I have to keep it for? Or how long does it take for the offending food to provoke the eczema reaction (next day, a week?)

Apologies for spelling "eczema" wrong in title. It is with 2 "c" in my native Spanish

at least 2 weeks to be sure but you might perhaps see some improvement sooner. Although dairy is "the usual suspect", keep an open mind because it could just as easily be something else - eggs, nuts, pollen, washing powder... good luck

I was told 6 weeks by a dietician (although an effect would be noticed sooner) and then to gradually reintroduce to comfirm. A herbalist told me the same.

My DD did develop mild eczema at around the same age - I stopped wheat, dairy and eggs (not too difficult though, I am not a big fan) - didn't see much change, and reintroduced dairy & wheat gradually after 4 weeks; what certainly helped was to reduce the number of baths, stop shampoo and soaps, use a lot of Aveeno cream after each bath, and add rolled oat in a sock in her bath (made the water milky). DD (10 mo) is now eczema free.
Good luck!

Thanks v much for the advice.
I am using the Aveeno cream and Epoderm ointment, as well as Aveeno bath at the moment.
I am not sure I can keep a dairy-free diet for 6 weeks, not even 2! and TBH my GP is a bit sceptical about it being a food allergy. We'll see. Thanks again!

We were told 6 weeks too - because it has to clear both your system AND your DCs system before you can be sure whether or not there's an impact. I found it really not as hard as it sounds. Avoid soy also as often there's a link between cow's milk allergies and soy allergies.

Some tips for you to make it easier: you can still eat very dark chocolate with high cocoa solids that doesn't use milk or milk powders (check the ingredients), use rice milk with added calcium or oat milk on cereal (but check your cereal ingredients as lots have milk in) or in tea/coffee. I made rice puddings with ground rice, using rice milk and had this instead of yoghurts. Cheese was the real killer for me.... Green and blacks cocoa has no milk in it (make it with rice milk or water or whatever).

Your GP is right btw, it's the minority of eczema cases that are caused by food allergies BUT if there is a link the change can be completely remarkable. Worth a try in my opinion!

Good tips ReadingTeaLeaves, thank you. I've never tried rice milk nor oat milk but I'll definitely give them a go, as I cannot drink tea without milk!