Son's eczema went and came back

[Olisqueen]

Hi
My DS is almost 16 months, he was breastfed exclusively till 9 1/2 months. When he was about 7 weeks old he started to get mild eczema and very dry skin. It seemed to go away at about 5-6 months. I only changed him from formula to cows milk about a month ago. His eczema came back on his forehead and a scaly patch on the back of his neck (I didnt note the connection at the time) Last weekend he had a sickness bug and has since gone off his 2 bottles of cows milk. I've noticed this week his forehead is lovely and peachy again and the scaly patch is going. My DP thinks its down to changing his milk but as he's always had cows milk in cereal and other foods I don't know. Surely cows milk and formula have the same allergens? I would greatly appreciate everyones views on this
Karina

Hi there,
I'm pretty sure that cows milk and formula contain the same allergens... Have you been using any creams etc?
My ds has had eczema since 3 weeks old (now 8mths). Been using steroid when it gets really bad and acqueous cream twice daily. I decided to stop using the acqueous cream as he cries when I apply it and thought it might sting. Used nothing for one week and then applied nivea soft every other day and his skin has been fantastic for weeks!!
I know that acqueous and the like are supposed to be very neutral so I'm not sure why nivea has worked for him.

Have you changed creams etc? maybe that has made a difference

Could it be - having some time off the bottles of milk? Or his body having a proper bug to fight and therefore not bothering fighting some harmless milk proteins - which is basically what an allergic reaction is. Or it could be a coincidence, or that he is a bit older.

could the formula have been one of the ones with esential fatty acids? They can help skin and they aren't in cows milk. Sometimes you can tolerate small amounts of an allergen eaten infrequently but not larger amounts or taken more often. Or it could be that the bug has destroyed the healthy bacteria in his gut and he needs some live yoghurt to restock it.

Mmm... some very interesting points raised;
Lorix, I read something about older children with eczema referring to aqueous cream as'stingy' cream- its good that nivea has worked for your son, I was prescribed diprobase for my son but it didnt seem easily absorbed. After his last flare up he was prescribed Dermol which is a lot more readily absorbed.My friend has a son with eczema and she says GPs prescribe diprobase first because its cheaper than dermol but its rubbish.

Kinderbob,
When his last flare up occured he had a bad cough and our GP said it was viral which made his eczema flare up so maybe theres no connection with cows milk.

Tatt
The formula he used to drink was aptamil which is crammed full of fish eyes extract I believe. That hadnt occured to me at all, even though I used to take a fish oil supplement some of the time when I was breastfeeding.

Many thanks Ladies :)

olisqueen if he'll eat oily fish wouldn't do any harm to give him some.

hi,
confirm omega 3 & 6 (contained in high concentration in fish oils,but also evening primrose & starflower oil)very good to build up skin resistance.
Aptamil good source.