Eczema - dairy free diet?

[TyotyaKlava]

My 5 yo suffers with eczema, it didn’t start until she was about 3 years old. It started mildly on her arms and now at the age of 5 she has it all over her body, with inflamed flare ups. It only gets better when we use steroids. We use very greezy ointments, don’t use soap when bathing. It’s just still bad and I’m getting overwhelmed by the state of her skin sometimes. I’m trying her dairy free now but it’s difficult to see if it’s having any impact as we are having her on steroids for a week due to a bad flare up.
the issue is having her dairy free quite restricts her diet in terms of getting enough nutrients. Plus she was never diagnosed with milk allergy so not sure how beneficial this is to her. She doesn’t like any dairy free alternatives so feels like I’ve hit a brick wall with this
does anyone else have their little ones on dairy free diet due to eczema (with no confirmed allergies)
thanks x

My dc have both food allergies and environmental allergies. He had bad eczema from a week old. And it went away once he got diagnosed with allergens and went on restricted diet. From around 3, his skin got worse again, not because of food, but because of environmental allergies, like dust mites/pollen/animal dander. Those are exposure allergies. So, if she hasn't suffered from any eczema until 3, I assume it maybe related to something like that?
Best get tested anyway, allergy clinics test for both food and environmental allergies. So ask the gp to refer your dc to allergy clinic.

I had terrible eczema as a young child and my parent was advised to cut out cows milk. She used to have to go miles on the bus to buy goats' milk in plastic bags but it worked! So, it was the cows' milk that I was sensitive to. I'm 53 now and although I'm not entirely dairy-free I can definitely feel when I've had too much and can start to get eczema-y again. It's worth sticking with dairy-free for a while I think, just to make sure. It's a lot easier to just give up cows milk than suffer pain and all the hassle of creams for however long.

We have stopped giving my daughter dairy products but seems to not make any difference. She hardly consumes any egg products, possibly in an odd cake once a week but that’s it.
not sure how to tackle environmental allergy and hence that triggering her eczema.
We now stopped her steroid treatment (after a weeks course) and her skin is back to red itchy inflamed state as it was before we started steroids
I’m in despair 😞
I have a private bupa insurance so might get them to test her at least that way we will know what’s causing it..

not sure how to tackle environmental allergy

It's simple. Get tested.

Dealing with eczema is a long term battle. It gets better with steroid cream, and come back when stopped. You need to find the cause.
My dc was on antihistamine and steroid for years. We went through immunotherapy. He is now symptom free.

Not eczema but my dd has skin issues which going dairy free has more or less solved.

she’s quite a bit older though and sees the positive effects so is self-motivated with avoiding dairy.

for eczema you could try Chinese herbal medicine. I used to work with a dr who specialised in skin issues and CHM with some amazing results. A lot of the local medical staff used him, or department used to get regular parcels! Pm if you want a referral.

I had eczema as a child. My family tried all sorts of things: goats milk, allergy testing, creams, cotton gloves so I couldn't scratch, hypnosis. I can remember the unbearable itch and feeling all hot and sweaty from the creams and irritation.

It lasted until I was at work in my twenties and a colleague suggested evening primrose oil (orally, not applied to the skin). I took a fairly hefty daily dose and it took about a month to start working. I am eczema free now and forever grateful for the recommendation.

Are you making sure you're weaning off the steroids and not stopping abruptly after a weeks course which will cause a rebound flare?

In my experience GPs will say to stop using the steroid as soon as the skin has cleared whereas dermatologists are very clear on the need to wean off x my baby needs a twice weekly maintenance dose of steroid in order to keep his skin under control in between flare ups.

Definitely request a referral for allergy testing, although the skin prick allergy testing only picks up IgE mediated allergies as opposed to non IgE mediated, so it maybe your daughter has allergies and intolerances that can't be picked up by testing, and only by eliminating (I think for around six weeks). We find it helpful to keep a food and skin diary.

Sending solidarity. Eczema is absolutely shit! X