More of an intolerance but can anyone help me wih this one? Think I might have found out what causes DDs skin problems

[used2bthin]

I hadn't been shopping for a bit so for three days DD was without her usual breakfast of weetobix. She has had very bad excema on her cheeks since she was 3 months, she is under a paediatric dermatologist for it. Then early last year she developed psoriasis on her arms and leg. The dermatologist said she was keeping an open mind as to what was on her face, excema or psoriasis but treat that as excema for now. Anyway, I digress- her skin looked so much better after the three days and I realsied that just by coincidence she hadn't had pasta either so decided to try it yesterday and today her skin is terrible. So would this be wheat I should avoid? Gluten? Do people usually avoid both if they are avoiding one? Clueless! Any tips? I think I will cut it out for the next two weeks completely to see.

Out of interest tomatoes, strawberries and any red fruits seem to cause a flare up, wheat based snacks like quavers and baby crisps do it and baked beans are so bad that I always know if she has had ven a spoonful fro the state of her skin.

She has ishoos ull stop today, keeps waking up, grr! But yes good point re deadly nightshade, she does get worse after red peppers too but only when they are raw Ithink!

Hopefully just me being paranoid but you didn't think I was being funny about the potatoes comments did you?

lol @ deadly nightshade - you feed her that, she'll have more to worry about than eczema!
but seriously, that is a good thing to have noticed - maybe reducing her exposure to the nightshades as well would be a good thing too.

It is possible she will grow out of this sensitivity, though - a friend of mine was very very sick aged 8, turned out to be coeliac disease, but as she got older she had less problem with it. She went back to eating wheat with (she thought) no problem, but recently we have discussed some of her health issues and realised that a lot of them could be due to the wheat so she has largely cut it out again.

Not at all benfmsmum!

Oh no at deadly nightshade lol I must mean nightshade! I am a bit like your friend in respect of the intolerance, had severe cramps and other problems as a child hence being taken off cows milk, then seemed to grow out of them. But have got an assortment of niggly health issues and keep meaning to try going dairy free to see if it helps. Ah well DD first! Omg we won't be able to eat anything between us!

I didn't actually mean you used2bthin, I thought I may have offended thumbwitch. I get paramoid sometimes as I seem to kill more threads than I chat on!!

Ah I see I did wonder! I think thumbwitch was referring to me saying about potatoes in the post before though. And tell me about it with the thread killing, nothing so depressing as looking at the threads "I'm on" and seeing my name all the way down it!

Glad I'm not the only one, you've made me feel much better now!!

You'll get the hang of wheat/gluten free soon enough, its easy once you know what to look for and the labelling is getting better these days. Well done you to spot the possible connection!!

Yes I am rather excited at having a more definate lead to follow if that makes sense. It has really been worrying me as I had always thought her skin would improve by three ish and that time is creeping closer and its still a huge problem. Till now (fingers crossed!)

SazzlesA I hope you will get some success with the dermatology appointment. I say DD has still got a problem with it but actualy it is so much better than this time last year when we first saw the dermatologist. She had it literally all over each cheek it was red, raised and looked like two enourmous burns. The consultant took photos and uses it in her teaching as it was a very bad case which still as her slightly baffled. Unbelievable how many times I went to the doctor or health visitor about it. The dermatologist first prescribed some strong steroid creams to get on top of it then we tried something called protopic then when it was a bit re under control went back to the steroid cream to keep it there. And emoliants. So definately it is much better since being referred. Just flares up and down.

bit more under control that should have said.

Well, I'm off to bed now. Good luck you too and please let us know how you get on used2bthin!

Thanks BenFMsmum, I should get to bed too! I will definately report back!

sorry BenFMsmum - my computer went AWOL so I have only just got back to you here - no, you didn't offend me at all - I found the comment about McD's chips having no potato in them v. funny.

Thanks! I can sleep better now!! Now I am really going to bed and won't be distracted by other threads..... I won't.....!!

sleep well!

Hello, not read all the thread (sorry!) nut DD3 cannot have weatabix, pasta or shreddies as she gets terrible eczema. Had her tested for wheat and it was OK (skin prick test) however, I know that if I hold them back she is fine and if I give them she is covered!

I have a theory (hmmmm) that she is only intol to very 'pure' forms of wheat that these 3 items are. She can have bread so it is not all wheat and is not allergic for sure.

sorry, BUT DD not nut DD, good grief, got nut allergies on the brain!!

Hi BBF that is interesting because I have realised that in the three weetabix free days before I got the oatibix, DD had toast for breakfast! She also had sandwiches during that time and still he skin improved. It is looking so much better already, I think I will try cutting it out though to see if it disappears completely. I am torn between being so happy that its a possible answer and gutted that I didn't think of it sooner!

Don't beat yourself up hun, it took me about 8 months to work it out! Also the allergist and docs told me I was wrong, you were either allergic to wheat on not but I know my own child so I have stuck by my convictions and so far we are eczema free!

My son is 20 months and eaten gluten-free almost from the time he started on solids due to eczema. It's not as bad as you think - there's loads out there for him to eat. Be prepared to pay for it though. GF bread is about $2 a loaf and not very nice unless it's toasted. He loves honey covered puffed rice for breakfast and also GF corn flakes. Sainsbury's has the best GF range out of all the supemarkets - all types of biscuits, breads, muffins, pizza bases, pasta etc. His skin is great now - it used to flare up really badly when he ate baby-grade cereals. I want to slowly ty and introduce wheat when he's two.

BBF DD had it from 3m old and it got steadily worse till it nearly covered her face by the time we saw the consulant last year. I really didn't know there was such a connection with wheat and skin problems I only knew about the dairy thing and also Dd had allergy testing aged 7m for a different reason so I thought that was that. Oh well, as you say no point beating myself up about it, I am so amazed at how well her skin looks already and thats without cutting it completely as it must still be in her system.

Wolfear thanks for the food tips, if you don't mind me asking, what made you go gluten free with your DS did he have tests done? Must say I am glad to have an excuse for still shopping in sainsburys when I know it would be cheaper elsewhere! I have been looking for one for a while!

Used - it was when we went away in the summer on holiday, I thought right, away from Nursery and everything and everyone telling me it just wasn't possible. By day 3 she was clearing and by the end of the week her skin was truly lovely. So poo to the doubting thomas'

Thats odd because when we were on holiday DDs cleared more every day, the consultant said it was because psoriasis reacts well to sea air and sunshine which it could have been too. That was also when I cut red fruits out though!

Hi - no he didn't have tests but was seeing a dermatologist when he was tiny. He had really bad eczema as a baby and it wasn't until he was weaned (I breastfed and had gluten in my diet)that she suggested going GF with his food. He ate normal cereals for about 2 months before we went GF and honestly, I've never looked back. His skin is almost perfect now. It's been a combination of finding the right creams, bath oil etc to use but he's had the odd bit of bread or bites of mine and DH's food with gluten and the eczema has always flared up.

He's also allergic to egg and nuts and i saw a consultant recently and he suggested slowly trying small amounts of wheat here and there as he's made such an improvement it might be that he's starting to grow out of it. Like many of the posters on here, I know my son so well and am happy to give wheat a go, but not until i know he's ready. Yes, a GF diet isn't as convenient as a normal diet (oh to be able to take a sandwich out with out us!), but I'm so used to it now and really isn't that bad. There's always alternative on offer, pretty much everywhere you go these days, even if it's a baked potato or something.

Some more snacky ideas are popcorn, rice cakes with all sorts of spreads and cheese etc, yoghurt, fruit, jelly, and defo check out Sainsbury's for GF crackers, rich Tea biccies etc. Good luck with it!

Thank you, and I am impressed that your dermatologist suggested it! DDs seemed fairly resistant to discussing food intolerances. I actually feel like I can't wait to go to our next appointment if DD continues to improve, I want to show her the difference as it would be good to get a professional to acknowledge it. Not sure why, it just seems a good plan!