Digest Number 641

[Guest guest]

Hi Madeline,

 

My son is now 6, but he has come down with exema (or eczema) in the past. He

usually gets it on his trunk, but sometimes on his arms, legs, buttucks, and

cheeks. We found that he gets it mostly in the winter time or when his baths are

too long. The sub-zero Eastern air in the winter is extremely harsh on skin

(presuming you're in a cold place). We cut out the use of bubble bath (although

it sounds like you don't use that) and made him cut his bathtime short and that

really helped.

 

I applied a 1% hydrocortisone cream (I didn't see any harm in that), but I don't

think it made much difference anyway. I used to smooth on some nice rich lotion

before bed every night and he liked that. My son's exema wasn't extreme

though--so it didn't itch that badly. I wish I could give you some natural

alternative to stop the itching, but I don't know of one.

 

Where does the exema occur on your son's body? If it's where his clothing hits,

I would try switching out the vinegar-based laundry detergent for a while and

see if that makes a difference. Vinegar is very acidic--unless another base

ingredient, something soapy in the detergent balances it out. (I'm

curious...does your laundry smell like vinegar?) Perhaps the pH balance of his

skin is off--that could be the culprit.

 

I don't think your son's vegan diet is the culprit. My son had exema and he eats

meat half the time when at his dad's house.I've never heard of raw garlic

causing skin problems--although that could be why your little guy has been so

healthy otherwise! But have you tried increasing the oil in his diet--olive oil,

omega 3s fatty acids, vitamin E, even flax, which has been a big part of our

discussion of late? Not too much at once (which could give him diarrhea), but

just a little more oil might make a difference.

 

My son loves " aglio y olio " --sauteed garlic and olive oil on whole wheat pasta.

And this morning I sprinkled some flax seed on his grapefruit, which he said

tasted " like nothing. "

 

My advice would be to balance the vinegar with more oil--sort of like a recipe

for salad dressing, eh?

 

Best of luck!

 

Veggie Val

 

>Please help. My 3 year old (just turned) son has exema >and it is really

painful and irritating. He has had it since >he was about 18 mos. but it has

been much worse since >we moved from the West Coast to the East. I have

>tried aromatherapy oils, massage oils, over-the-counter soaks, and a hfs

natural alternative to hydra-cortisone called Florasone. The latter worked for

a bit but only to control it not to clear it up. I really want to avoid

cortisone cream but I am sick of my son being so unhappy (not to mention

unpleasant!). We are more or less vegan-the only dairy he consumes is organic

yougurt and I cut this out of our diet for a full 3 mos with no change. I use a

natural laundry detergent, mostly vinegar to clean, we have no pets. The only

thing I can't change right now is the fact that we have chlorinated

water...which I suspect is a big part of his problem. Any advice??? His daycare

has been pressuring me to use the cortisone cream. I am about to if I can't

think of a natural alternative. Otherwise, he is very healthy and active and has

not

suffered from a cold/earache/flu since he was about 1. I think it is due to all

the raw garlic I make him eat! Any help would be appreciated.

 

Madeline

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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