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Original poster

Eczema in 6 month old - solids or fabric softener?

28 replies

LifeofByron · 20/04/2009 14:21

Apologies but this is a bit long. My DD of around 6 months old suddenly seems to have developed eczema and I'm anxious to stop it getting worse and of course fix it. It started with some dry red blotches/patches on her tummy and chest and she now has blotches on her legs and arms as well as her cheeks. The blotches have a rough, dry feel and the other parts of her skin (e.g her back) are also starting to feel rough and dry, although they are not reddened. I'm trying to work out what is causing it. I think there are two possibilities. One is that I started using fabric softener (Fairy) in the washing machine. I had used it for her clothes when she was much younger and there were no ill effects but perhaps I've been using too much and/or she's developed a sensitivity. The blotches are worst on the parts of her body covered by clothes (e.g. quite bad around her neck where her bib goes) which makes me think maybe it is the fabric softener. The other possible cause is something she has eaten. We are in the process of weaning. We are not doing BLW so I've been giving her purees and she's had the usual first stage things like baby rice, sweet potato, squash, pear, apple, courgette etc. No dairy, no protein. She has devoured everything and there haven't been any strange poos or vomits etc. I know these first stage foods are meant to be the least allergic foods but is it possible that any of these are causing the problem? I've starting using Oilatum in her bath and am rubbing her with E45 cream but there has been no improvement after 48 hours of that. Any thoughts/ideas would be appreciated. There's no family history of allergies etc.

OP posts:
BigBellasBeerBelly · 20/04/2009 14:34

By no means an expert but DD gets a bit of ezcema -worse in winter when the central heating is on.

We found it was def linked to washing powder - I was using fairy and no softener and her skin didn't like it. As with you it wasn't from birth it came on later.

Now we use filetti, still no softener, and I use the super rinse setting on the machine and mostly it is OK.

Definitely worth cutting out the softener IMO and seeing what happens.

Moisturiser-wise we have stuff from the GP called (forgotten will look) and when she flares up (patches the same as you) we use a bit of hydrocortisone from the GP which sorts it right out.

I am sure someone with more experience will be along soon as well.

bran · 20/04/2009 14:36

You could try changing to a different washing powder and not using fabric softener and see if it makes any difference. I use Filetti, or Ecover if I can't get that, and DS tends to have a flare up if he wears clothes washing in most other powders. I've found Aveeno cream works well to keep DS's skin soft and moisturised, but it's worth trying a few different ones for a couple of weeks at a time to see what works best.

I'm not sure about weaning as DS didn't develop eczema until he was about 18 months old.

It's probably worth seeing your GP aobut it, especially if your DD is scratching at all as it's horrible if the skin gets broken and infection sets in.

BigBellasBeerBelly · 20/04/2009 14:42

Aveeno that's the stuff.

GP gave us bath oil, cream and lotion and they are lovely, and free on prescription. Not everyones doc will prescribe for some reason.

If you are feeling lentil weavery you can DIY in the bath by running the water over a muslin bag with oatmeal (?) in it, it's basically the same stuff - there are threads about how to do it properly.

I second a visit to the GP. I know aome people don't like hydrocortisone - especially if used a lot - but to tackle the odd flare-up it is wonderful.

pointydog · 20/04/2009 14:54

an easy first step is just to cut out the softener, double rinse your washes and possibly change to surcare or something better for sensitive skin

Original poster
LifeofByron · 20/04/2009 14:55

thanks very much BigBellas and Bran. I think you're right- I will go to the GP (I had been umming and ah-ing about whether we should go but you're right, we should) and in the meantime will definitely change the washing powder and stop the softener. I like the oatmeal idea as well- I'm not usually a lentil weaver but I love oats and we have boxes of Quakers in the kitchen cupboard. Have just found some threads about how to do it without creating a porridge bath

OP posts:
flossiemay · 20/04/2009 15:20

We used Aveeno which worked for a while but then stopped working, don't know why. The doctor prescribed Epaderm (its an emollient - you can buy it over the counter too) which works a treat. The whole family uses it in the bath now!

flossiemay · 20/04/2009 15:24

BTW, we also double rinse and when ds had a flare up (it's all settled down now) it would usually take a few days to completely settle down.

belgo · 20/04/2009 15:28

agree, cut out fabric softener, my six month old also has eczema, washing powder is definitely one of the causes so I use a sensitive skin powder. He is possibly also sensitive to cow's milk protein and his skin doesn't like wool.

BigBellasBeerBelly · 20/04/2009 16:32

Good luck with your lentil weaving

bumpyboo · 20/04/2009 16:59

My daughter developed excema at six months too. We also found Aveeno cream to be very effective. By the way experts recommend that you should rub in the cream in downward motions only, not sure why. We also stopped using fabric conditioner, and my GP arranged for allergy tests at the local hospital which were very helpful even though the excema had pretty much stopped by then. Please try not to worry too much my HV told me that excema is so common now its almost unsusual for a child not to have it and it will most likely go away with time.

maxton · 20/04/2009 18:03

I have found a website that sells Dermasalve at the moment they are doing buyone get one free. Hope its the right one.

Here is the website www.personalcaresupplies.co.uk

After reading about above I thought I would order for my son as he is suffering terrible at the moment with ezcema poor little man he is only 4 had has really bad fingers only 2 one on each hand and on his arms and round his mouth. I do not know what is causing it but I have changed my poweder from fairy non bio to the liquid ones which I have now discovered has got perfume in I only did it because it was cheaper than powder tablets. I think I shall have to go back to that.

Can any one tell me what they use for washing powder.

Original poster
LifeofByron · 20/04/2009 18:04

thanks very much everyone. just got back from the chemists and am armed with Aveeno and have my lentil-woven muslin full of oats at the ready. hopefully this will clear up but I'll duck into the GP just to be sure. it's a relief to hear that this is all pretty common so thanks again all and to bumpyboo for that

OP posts:
BigBellasBeerBelly · 20/04/2009 19:38

maxton, two votes for filetti powder on this thread, and don't forget to put your machine on super rinse if your machine has a setting like that

1Maya2 · 20/04/2009 20:05

My wee boy and me both have eczema and I hadn't heard of Filetti before so I goggled it and it said Almond milk, we also both have nut allergies, so that's a shame.

Dillydaydreamer · 20/04/2009 20:16

The other thing that my HV said was that hard water areas bring it out more. I live in Dorset (DH Army) and she said it will probably clear up when we leave here.

Original poster
LifeofByron · 20/04/2009 22:58

just an update- I did the oatmeal bath tonight and that seemed to go fine. But when I rubbed DD with the Aveeno she really screamed- it's very out of character for her to bellow like that. Just wondering- is that normal?

I hadn't previously thought that the blotches were painful for her as she hasn't been protesting at being handled generally but the cream (or the feeling of having it rubbed in, which I did very very gently) really set her off. Once she was dressed in her PJs she had a feed and then straight to bed. She went to sleep straight away and seems fine now. It just gave me a shock to hear her cry like that

OP posts:
bumpyboo · 21/04/2009 11:36

I seem to remember my daughter did cry when the cream was rubbed on too. I think we used to put it down to her just not really liking to have cream rubbed on esp as it probably feels a bit cold and slimy even if you have warmed it in your hands beforehand. Maxton, we use Fairy non bio and have had no problems with that.

Original poster
LifeofByron · 21/04/2009 18:05

thanks bumpyboo. i can see improvement already so hopefully she's on the road to recovery

OP posts:
bran · 21/04/2009 19:28

If you're not sure if a particular cream is making it better or worse then try it on just one leg for a week or so, then you can compare the new cream with the previous one. Eczema seems to be a very individual condition, what works brilliantly for one child will make things worse for another, so there's a lot of trial and error.

I hope she's a lot better soon.

BigBellasBeerBelly · 21/04/2009 21:16

Definitely not the aveeno which should be making her yell - have you tried some? - it is really nice.

Maybe it was an unfamiliar feeling for her as others have said?

Let us know how it all looks tomorrow, have my fingers crossed that it all clears up quickly.

Top work with the lentil weaving as well!

Original poster
LifeofByron · 22/04/2009 09:10

yep as people suggested I think it was just the unfamiliar feeling that got her going, plus (while she doesn't seem to be itchy) I think her skin might be a bit sore and sensitive so she's not enjoying touch in the way she normally would (she's usually very cuddly and loves being stroked). but the good news is that last night was a lot better and this morning she still feels quite dry and scaley but the redness has gone away from most areas. so I think she's on the mend. thanks everyone for your help, much appreciated

OP posts:
BigBellasBeerBelly · 22/04/2009 09:52

That's brilliant news byron

Momma23 · 22/04/2009 10:15

My DD is 9 mos and has terrible eczema all over. When she has a flare up i use hydrocortisone as it is the only thing that settles it. I use Aqueous cream on a daily bases to keep her moisturised. I use nothin in her bath only plain water and bath her once a week and put on plenty of Aqueous cream after. If a wipe comes within an inch of her face she breaks out so i use cotton wool and water or kitchen towel and water to wipe her face, hands etc. I use eco friendly on her cloths.
Keep baby moisurised at all times, keep her cool as heat and layers of colths only irritates it. I also changed her milk to the SMA soya one, she eats fruit, veg, meat as normal all home made.
I used Oilatum on her once and she flared up, the oat bath is great and i would suggest when she is bad use that way to sooth her. There are ointments you can use in the bath, all over the counter in chemists.
Hope this helps..

Original poster
LifeofByron · 22/04/2009 13:40

thanks Momma. hopefully we're under control now but I've got some great tips if she starts flaring up again

OP posts:
Jojay · 25/04/2009 14:24

This thread has been really interesting - my Ds is 6 months and has dry skin with eczema patches.

I'm wondering now whether it's an allergy to fabric softener or washing powder, as it seems worse on the areas where his clothes are tight - knees , outer thighs ( he's pretty chubby ) and the back of his neck where his bib sits (he's very dribbly too so wears a bib all the time), rather than in his creases which is more usual for eczema I believe.

I think I'll try some filette and no softener for now. Isn't white vinegar supposed to be good to help things rinse properly, or have I just made that up?