Milk , diet and rash advice for 11 month old eczema sufferer.

[gingerninja]

I've got some questions wise mumsnetters. (Not about creams, baths or oils, we've got a good routine there)

DD 11 months has had eczema since about 2 months old. She was bf until 9.5 months and then on to formula. Her eczema is very up and down and it is difficult to pinpoint any triggers. However, I suspect dairy and tomatoes agrivate it as since moving to formula it's been consistently worse and tomatoes have caused an instant reaction.

So, what are the alternatives to cows milk? Are they likely to cause a similar reaction?

How long do I need to have her dairy free in order to reintroduce it and gague a reaction.

Also having never really seen eczema before we're a bit baffled by it because we seem to have three different complaints. All over her torso and nappy area she has a tiny pin prick rash which seems really itchy. She also has blotchy very dry skin on her torso, feet and arms and very red inflamed areas behind knees, feet and under arms. Is the rash part of a normal eczema flare up or is that a reaction to something?

Thanks very much

She may react much better to goats milk, many eczema sufferers do. My dd was drinking normal goats milk ( not formula ) from about 9 months, and it didn't cause a flare up at all, where as cows milk always did.

Many thanks Celery, I may give it a go. I thought Goats milk wasn't recommended for babies tho. Although as she's 11 months I guess she is almost officially not a baby anymore

I saw goat's milk follow-on / growing-up (or something, but def not newborn) milk in Waitrose the other day, which may be an alternative if you're not convinced re normal goat's milk (which is fine from 12mo, btw)

Goats milk is a lot gentler on the digestive system than cows milk. I've read that many babies in the 60's, who couldn't drink cows milk, thrived on goats milk.

I'm not sure why goats milk is classed the same as cows, re. giving it to babies, but it's definately not the same - it's much more aggreable ( maybe not in taste though! )

Thanks guys.

Anyone got any other advice for me?

I was told that the lactic acid content of goats milk was a lot lower - and certainly when my baby had a short term lactose intolerance he did fine on goats milk. It left him a lot more hungry though, which I could never figure out...

Hi, I posted this on another thread you are on, so hopefully you will see one of these messages...

I noticed ds's eczema coincided with when I introduced formula into his diet. It took several months before I tried dairy free formula though, and I saw an improvement within a few days.

Some days his eczema is completely clear! That was unthinkable just a few weeks earlier.

Go to your doctors to get a prescription formula. I was told that the allergens in soya and goats milk are too similar to cows milk so if there is an allergy they will react to those too. The milk I use is Pepti - is is hydrolysed milk protein, so it is less allergenic.

Good luck! It was only on an off-chance that we tried this formula, and we saw quick results. I wonder what would have happened if I hadnt had that chance conversation with the dietician....

my docter is useless when it comes to giving me formula substitute for milk allegy, my baby 5month old suffers terrible ecszema and hives form the normal milk. i feel at my wits end. i go bak to work i'm worried what to feed her now. help please!!

try to get an appointment with a dermatologist at the hospital.

my doctor doesnt know anything about baby eczema, but luckily he refers ANYONE for ANYTHING to a specialist! If he didnt I think I would have made myself a complete PITA until he referred me to an eczema clinic.

Through the dermatologist, I asked so many questions about diet that she gave me the infant dieticians number. I then proceeded to call her about every fortnight with questions til she gave in and gave me an appointment!

Don't say I'm not determined!!

I think its really important you try a dairy free formula - not soy / goats milk etc, but proper formula for milk protein intolerance, so you can tell if it's a trigger. As I said earlier, the difference in ds's eczema on this formula was amazing...

I read that food does not affect eczema and that there is no link to food and eczema

BUT... a child/baby can have food intolerance as well which also causes a rash.

So it could be that your child actually has both.

thanks for advices...
took baby to healthvisitor recently and was told that the milk i was feeding her which is cow and gate comfort is more nutritional than the nutramigen that the docter would have described for babies with milk allergy. i want to know if that is truly the case.

my baby has red rashes over her mouth and sometimes any other area that the formula milk comes in contact with but these go away after a few minutes-is this normal???

i'm a first time mum and am worried about every little thing am i justified in this case??

Hi,
Not sure if this thread has died but have a simiar queston. My lo is 7 mths. Excema since about 14 weeks. Everybody has said not to switch to a diary free diet as won't be the cause but at this stage I want to try something new. I have to give her 1% hydrocortisone cream almost every day just to keep it under control. Is there any reason not to try one of the hypoallergenic formulas? She is almost entirely breast fed but has usually had one bottle of formula a day since about 10 weeks. I am beginning to go back to work now though so formula will have to increase. Can someone recommend a milk and soya free fomula to me please?
Thanks,