eczema in 12wk old

[suzi2]

My DS (12 wks) has very dry skin and I think he's starting with eczema. Not a huge surprise as both me and DH have it quite badly.

Question is, since I am breastfeeding, could something I'm eating be triggering it? My friend is aGP and has said that it can't really be an intolerance as he is too young and has only had breastmilk.

Any thoughts? I'm not overly worried, just more curious...

[bobbybob]

Yes it can is my experience. As a first step though I would start taking probiotics and flax seed oil. They will get through your breastmilk and have been shown to help. This may be enough. Don't start cutting out foodgroups without a fair indication that it will make a difference (like a skin prick test)It takes maybe a month to see the difference.

Oh and GPs often know nothing about bfing and even less about bfing and allergies.

And delay introducing solid food until 6 months.

[mymama]

My ds was the same age when he came out with eczema/dermatitis. Went through it for months. Went to a few gps who said he was allergic to something but because I was bf they were only looking at environmental. At 7 months I gave him 1/4 weetbix and he had a huge reaction (hives/swelling/vomiting). Skin tested soon after showed allergy to wheat, dairy, fish, egg and peanut. I was eating all of these foods whilst bf especially peanut butter. As soon as I stopped eating these foods his skin cleared up within a couple of weeks. hth

[suzi2]

Thanks guys. I have a severe allergy to peanuts myself so haven't been eating them. I might try cutting out dairy - I have a mild intolerance (has got better with age) so I don't eat much anyway.

It really scares me that he may have a huge allergy to something when weaning. just need to avoid the trigger foods when it comes to it I guess!

Sus, x

[Mojomummy]

I read about a mum in VIVA magazine - her son was breastfeeding & had terrible eczema. She cut out all dairy & noticed an immediate difference. She completely cut it out & it went. So milk/dairy was getting to her son via her breastmilk.

have also read that bath products with SLS can cause problems, so worth looking into different bath products.

[jellyjelly]

mummyjojo.

What is viva magazine, you seem pretty interested in health, food etc Is it this type of magazine?

[jellyjelly]

Sorry that should have been to mojomummy

[Mojomummy]

Quite like mummyjojo

yes very interested in health/food etc issues. Viva is a magazine/newsletter from a vegetarian society. The eczema info was from a mum on the letters page.

How's your little 9mth old mindee ?