Collagen for eczema?

[Iamtherealelsa]

DD age 8 has suffered with eczema basically forever. She was diagnosed with cows milk protein allergy at around 3 months old and put on a dairy free prescription formula but I don’t think that was ever really the problem as her skin never properly cleared up.

She’s had periods where it’s been terrible, mainly due to triggers like sun cream, chlorine, very cold weather etc. we’ve spent a fortune on a million different creams and recently found bioskin junior outbreak rescue cream, which is great at treating the flare ups but is obviously not treating the actual cause of the problem.

She gets it in the classic places like the backs of her knees, her elbows and where her earlobe meets her face, but much worse is that she also gets it all over her cheeks, round her mouth and under her eyes and on her eyelids. It’s awful for her from a discomfort and also confidence pov.

A friend’s husband who is a dermatologist has suggested we try collagen supplements. He says that there is lots of new evidence to suggest that the use of collagen in people in general (who are presumably using it for anti ageing purposes) has been found to alleviate eczema symptoms. He says there is no harm at all in giving it to children and I should try it for 3-6 months to see if it improves.

I take ancient and brave every day (for my own anti-ageing purposes!) but I feel nervous about giving it to her… ancient and brave sent me a very brief and stock answer to my email, saying that their products are ‘not marketed for children’.

Any thoughts? I desperately want to help her but obviously don’t want take any risks

I started taking collagen a few years ago because I read a very small study that said it might alleviate very dry skin (my skin was so dry my eyelids cracked when I blinked etc) it worked really well & I won't stop taking it, my eczema has basically vanished (otoh psoriasis has got worse over the years but obviously autoimmune so different).

I would have no qualms about giving to one of my kids (fortunately they all have DH's skin!) as it's a natural part of food albeit one that we eat less often now.

You could try bone broth if a more whole food option feels safer?

Which one do you take please?

I’d suggest you really need to seek proper medical help. Persistent eczema in children can be and should be treated properly by a dermatologist.

Start with your GP and be persistent, keep going back if it isn’t clearing up. Dds eczema responded well to protopic creams prescribed by the NHS dermatologist she was referred to by her GP, for example.

A consultant dermatologist will usually start with allergy testing. But if the underlying cause is genetic, like atopic eczema can be, you won’t be able to cure it, only treat it and learn how best to minimise flare ups.

For severe eczema there is also immunosuppressant treatment (which I use) but that’s for severe cases.

There are a whole range of creams, supplements etc that people swear will cure eczema, by all means try them if they’re safe but also have a solid scientifically proven back up plan.
I do sympathise, eczema can be really uncomfortable.

I buy Gold Standard Bovine Collagen Peptides Powder by Wellgard from amazon - it dissolves well & doesn't taste too strongly.