How we deal with childhood eczema

Some babies, particularly in families with a history of allergies such as hayfever and asthma, develop infantile eczema. They may then go on to develop asthma and other chest problems.

My son has eczema. He developed a rash at one year of age. He is now 3 and a

half. For the past 2 and a half years we have tried to deal with it. You can't cure eczema. You can only control the symptoms. It helps to know what triggers the eczema. For my son, I have noticed when he is stressed or upset he has the tendency to scratch. Which only makes the condition worse. He also drinks soy rather than milk as he has contact allergies. He is also sensitive to raw tomato and egg. I can not tell you how much stress his condition puts me under. It upset me a great deal. This I want to change as I know my stress can not be helpful to him. As worry is not productive. But I am a mum so worry is my middle name!!

This year my boy was diagnosed with asthma after a hospital stay with another chest problem. He suffers most days with this as the cold air is a trigger. He is quite docile for a boy his age. While most boys are bouncing off the walls, he complains he is tired and lays on the ground to play.

What has helped my boy more than the steroid creams he has been prescribed is two wonderful products available over the  counter. Pinetarsol - anti itch solution I add to the bath and  Dermeze - a combination of two types of parrafin which we lather on his skin to increase protection as a barrier and to retain moisture. He can't stay in the bath too long ike he would like to as his skin dries out and he gets itchy quickly.  I only buy cotton clothing and we have cotton on the beds. I would like him to have organic things but they are hard to find especially for his size, though he does sleep on organic/bamboo pillow cases.

My boy's eczema was so severe that people in the street thought he had fallen over or he had chicken pox. He was so aware of it and even as a toddler if someone asked he would tell them he had eczema. His eczema was so severe he would have blood on his sheets and clothes. We even called him DNA as he left blood, dry skin and saliva (as a teething toddler) where ever he went.  He still has patches on his face and scars on his feet  but I would now describe the eczema as less severe. I would like to think he will outgrow it. But who knows? Maybe he will have to deal with dry and itchy skin for the rest of his life. All I can do is help him deal with it. Oh how I love my boy - he is so affectionate and sweet.