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Something in my house is causing DD eczema... any ideas?

12 replies

TalkingBadger · 16/05/2012 09:53

My 6 mo DD has eczema. I'm using surcare detergent and have had fluffy dog's hair cut short so far in my search for what is causing it. We went to Grandma's house for 2 nights and the eczema pretty much cleared up (apart from when she came into contact with cat mum's cat). Dog was there with us.

We've been home for 24 hours, I got her up this morning and her skin was clear. Now its covered in eczema! I've been keeping a diary of when its bad and it does seem to flare up when I bring her downstairs in the morning and after her lunch time nap.

I've been given some ideas from MN already but haven't been able to pinpoint other triggers at home apart from detergent and dog.

There must be SOMETHING around here doing this... But what??? Not dog, not detergent.... (about to give lounge a good clean to see if that helps its not THAT dirty, but wonder if it might need to be spotless).

OP posts:
paddlepie · 16/05/2012 09:57

Carpets? Bubble bath? Something she's eating, at breakfast maybe? Hope you find out what it is soon.

UnChartered · 16/05/2012 09:57

pollen?
food?
bath products in the bathroom?
is she b/f - something you've eaten?

TalkingBadger · 16/05/2012 10:24

eczema started while I was bfing, she is now bottle fed. Eczema is constant throughout. It seems specific to when she is moved from upstairs from her nap to downstairs for play time... Could be pollen. Anything I can do about that??? If its the carpet can I do anything there???

OP posts:
UnChartered · 16/05/2012 10:29

are you sure it's eczema? that isn't usually so noticeable so quickly - have you had it confirmed by GP?

if you suspect it's pollen though, keeping doors and windows closed and regular vacuuming will help

paddlepie · 16/05/2012 10:29

Does your mum have carpet or other flooring?

TalkingBadger · 16/05/2012 10:40

Yes I've been to the docs. Back and forward quite a lot actually because of the way it comes and goes. I'm not really happy having to use steroid creams on her, because it keeps coming back so I'm sure it can't be right to use it so often.

Mum has carpet too. Not sure what type she has, assume its wool like us.

OP posts:
imnotsmallimfunsized · 16/05/2012 18:48

The same thing used to happen with my eldest daughter found out it was my automatic air freshners and perfume that I wore.

tracyandcalum · 16/05/2012 19:13

With DS it is central heating/being too hot, anything perfumed and too many foods with cows milk in them (a little is ok he seems to have a limit then his skin breaks out). I think he has flare ups with Surcare so we stick to Boots washing powder. I suspect that carpet may bring on his eczema but only if his bare skin in on it frequently. Good luck, I hope you find out what it is soon!

mummyinspain · 16/05/2012 19:22

what do you clean with?
Carpets (dust mites)
Soft furnishing if they are pillow/ down or sythentic can set it off.
Throws - washing powder different
Pollution in general are you rural mum in city
teddy bears / play toys
Plastic mat / fleece = playmats
where is the eczema knees, feet hands or totally generilised. If totally generilised look to the more systemic ie. Food, water, you. if site specific look to contact.

If it is the carpet, try steam cleaning (on chance it is dust mites) daily hovering. and pray it is not a fiber problem. If it is can you contain it, ie is your kitchen or a room changeable or already has a different floor covering. Carpet will be worst during crawling phase.

If pollen / pollution. Shoes off at the door, out side clothing the same, wash hands, face and eyes, keep hair up and off of face (inc adults) damp dust every day, widows and door shut, wash / bath before bed, and that is still not helping and it seems not be seasonal pollen then you are going to need to do all that and a air filter.

Poor little mite. I know what she is going through.

Oh, and also increase omega 3,6, and 9 where ever possible

TalkingBadger · 16/05/2012 23:50

Oh wow thanks so much everyone!!

OP posts:
TalkingBadger · 16/05/2012 23:58

Imnot- I do have automatic air fresheners down stairs, that could explain the upstairs downstairs difference. I'll turn them off.

Tracy, worrying what you say about surcare as I thought that was a good one. I'll monitor it closely.

Mummyinaspin, I'll have to read that again in the morning to go through what you've said more carefully. The eczema is general- face/ arms/ thighs/ tummy/ back! I'll get the steamer out the loft, not been used since we moved in! I just use normal brands for cleaning, whatever looks good on the day for polish/ all purpose cleaners/ washing up/ bathroom sprays etc. do you know of a good 'friendly' brand?

Thanks again everyone. Sorry about first short message, pressed post too soon again!

OP posts:
mummyinspain · 17/05/2012 15:52

Poor wee mite, Ok best friendly brands are micofiber clothes and water (seriously you can clean anything with water and a mico fiber cloth) if Something is really really stuck steam it and then micro fiber it.

it certainly could be air fresheners. particularly the type that spary a mist into the air. which would also look fairly generalised,

Ok, next get on phone to mum (or email might be better) and have a proper compare and contrast! Done a bit for you

Fabric Softener?
Cleaning (how often, with what, what perfume etc)
Carpet (if you have not steam cleaned before it could be something from befor you owned the house)
Do you have pot plants does mum what type
Go room by room one thing at a time and see if you can find the differences. If you can cut out the differences, deep clean, See if DD skins clears if so you know somewhere in the differences you have found the cause. Add one back in at a time per week.
Ie, if different plants, put 1 plant back in a week later (or sooner if there is a problem obvsiouly) take plant 1 back out, put plant 2 in.

It may not be one thing, but maybe a combination of things together.

For example with me I can use the shampoo, conditioner and the hair spray of the same brand at the same time but NOT the styling foam, or I can use the styling foam with the shampoo but not the conditioner. or I can use the hair spray with the foam and thats ok! Weird Hey.

Also thinking back about it, is the eczama clearing when you take DD upstairs for a nap, and then reflaring when you bring her back down stairs? If so it could be more contact allergy than eczama (sorry)

One last thing, it could be pestisides, ie if Mum shops at the local organic market she might have pestiside free fruit, or if Mum shops at a different super market to you she may have different pestisides on fruit.

Pm if you want to chat with an adult with eczama

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