Sugars and skin reaction - any advice?

[greencybermummy]

DD (age 3.5) has chronic eczema. We use zinc oxide wraps on arms and legs 2 or 3 times week and so much epaderm it's untrue. Been dairy free for nearly 2 years now, not even sure if this helps now but we're used to it so carry on. Lately I've been noticing that particulary her face and neck flare up quite a lot more than before. Really hard to pinpoint what causes it but I have my suspicions about sugars. Today after some Saturday sweet treats she came to me and said her lips hurt and sure enough there was a puffy bit, she had an doze on the settee shortly after and when she woke her lips and one side of face was noticably puffy - gave prition and went down. Don't think she's had that particular sweet before, was a sour sugary thing but I have still got the packet and there are no artificial colours or flavours in it. Ingredients sugar, glucose-fructose syrup, wheat flour, dextrose, malic acid, vegetable oil (palm), citric acid, flavouring, fruit concentrates (aronia, raspberry), antioxidants (ascorbic acid, tocopherol-rich extract).

As I was thinking about sugars prior to this episode I am again but really don't know where to start to find out if they could be part of the problem. We have never had any allergy testing (but are under Cons for eczema care). I am fully aware that we can't cure the eczema but I would like to do what I can to keep it down for her.

So for those who have eczema have you persued allergy testing - is it worth it? Can it be done for sugars? how easy (or hard) is a diet that restricts certain sugars? Has it helped anyone?

I know many of you are dealing with far more serious and ife threatening reactions to food but I thought I would pick your brains if that is OK.

Many thanks
GCM

Hi GCM

I'm not sure if this helps, but does your DD get swollen with eczema? It sounds like she might have had a bit of an allergic reaction. As the piriton worked it may well have been a reaction to something. My DD is allergic to lots and lots of foods including wheat and she also has eczema, though it causes her to be itchy rather than the visible eczema that your DD has. Also, glucose syrup can be derived from wheat or maize and is in alot of sweets so it could be one of the ingredients rather than just sugar.

The other thing I have noticed with my DD is that if her eczema is worse than usual, it usually makes her more sensitive to her allergies and she tends to have more allergic type reactions.

ALso, I'm in my 40's and started to get eczema in the last 5 years or so and I have noticed recently that if I have anything with citric acid, that my few eczema patches flare up and itch loads after about 12 hours after eating or drinking things with citric acid in.

It might be worth mentioning your DD's swelling to your GP just to make sure really.

Take care and I hope you get to the bottom of whatever it is.

YES, get her tested, there is some allergens in that list , wheat, maize , palm , fruit.

if your kids reaction responded to piriton , thats a indication of allergy, esp with the swelling.
food allergies dont come in ones.
have you had blood testing with your GP this is called RAST testing. do this for environmental allergies, esp dustmite as this is a very common cause of ezcema.
i would push to see a pead immunologist, often the seperate consultants in asthma and skin, have very little training in allergies, so an immunologist is the person to see.

good luck.

Could it be the wheat?

Definitely push for allergy testing. And a dermatologist if you havent already seen one. We have head to toe ecxema here and we're just getting it under control now with steroids but we're using them less and less.

Until you find a cause, are you using steroids? We use Epaderm I swear it doesnt do anything. I use it anyway, although I wonder why.

@mumat39 - her eczema is of the terribly itchy type and that is what got us referred to Consultant Dermatologist in the first place. She still is terribly itchy even when her skin condition is pretty good (after steroids and emolients and wraps). Recently I know I have lapsed a bit on the steroids and wraps as things were going so well with skin condition but I've learnt my lesson as poor thing is in a right state at the mo. On top of the itchiness she recently is getting 'high colour' (don't know how else to put it) after eating and face and neck are not good (back on the protopic 2 x day).

I also have noticed like you if they are under the weather eczema is worse - my DD has had green snot almost permanently since Christmas (have just put it down to part of the general allergies) but am now going to do something about it.

@eragon- will push for RAST testing as you say especially if this can be done by the GP's. There must be something as she has constant runny nose and enough snot to keep Kleenex in business for ever. How does it work - is it a blood test? Do you have to specify what they look for (I really need to go to the GP's fully armed and knowledgable as they do fob you off and last year I felt they hardly understood the eczema, it took a nurse practitioner who had a child with bad eczema herself, to get referral to Consultant).

@whitetrash - we are back at Dermatologist next month so will keep asking. they definitely poo poo allergy testing where we go but I will keep on. Something is making the poor mite bad and so miserable. Like you I have my doubts about epaderm as sometimes after applying she seems to itch more but the paed derm nurses swear by it. Also it seems to make DD very hot (probably block all her pores as it's so thick!) but other emolients just don't seem to even stay on her skin, they disappear and she is soooo dry.

Thanks all for your advice. Gratefully received.

@whitetrash - I have wondered about wheat a few times as sometimes after bread she gets this 'high colour' on her face and neck. Would a RAST test help to determine that? Is it sensible to try and exclude it without advice from dietician or Consultant?

GCM

My DS had eczema when he was younger, excluding wheat, other gluten grains, dairy and sugar from his diet as well as all petrochemical creams helped him. Any one of a huge number of foods could be causing her immune system to respond and result in itchy skin. Epadrem made my sons skin smooth but itchy.

Sadly, there does not seem to be one set of answers that fits every child but I think it is worth pursuing allergy testing and speaking to an allergist / immunologist about the other reactions you are seeing after certain foods as these may be less easy to detect using RAST or skin prick but no less contributory to your DD's skin condition.

Sugar can depress the immune system which can also trigger flare ups. If your DD is run down, this could be making her more sensitive. Your description of her skin and constant runny nose does sound like someone with some food reactions going on. It may be that you need to exclude these foods for a time, allow her body to strengthen and then reintroduce.

yes, RAST is a blood test.
but first you really need to narrow down what yr child is allergic to, as allergies dont come in ones!

those sweets could have been cross contaminated with other stuff not on the label.

skin flushing is another sign of allergy.

its worth asking for the blood test for all environmental allergies, and then start on the food. you can start with milk first, its very concerning that your child has a major food group removed without confirming thats its for a good reason. esp as this has been removed for years! Has the doc reffered you to a dietian, checked her vit D ? very poor practice if gp hasnt done this.

if your demo doenst agree with food causing ezcema, obviously has not training in food allergy.

you REALLY need to start jumping up and down and demand a refferal to a allergy clinic.
ring the anaphylaxis campaign or allergyuk get some names and details on ones nearest to you, and take that info to your gp.

if that gp doenst work see another in the practice.
remember those that dont ask, dont get.