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Milk Allergy Eczema
My baby has eczema, should I switch his formula?
My baby will be 5 months old in 2 weeks. He has eczema on his face, it spreads when he scratches it, he is incredibly uncomfortable and it wakes him up a lot which I heard is normal for babies with eczema. I've been putting a safe, oil based lotion on it, but it barely helps. My boyfriend and I are switching his insurance and should hear back anyday now, but until we do, we are trying to avoid taking him to the doctor (obviously if it gets worse or bad enough we'll go anyways) Its on the sides of his face and I just feel so sad for my little man. I put mittens on his hands at night so he can's scratch. What can I do to soothe him?
I do not breast feed. I heard something about switching his formula to soy-based? That maybe his eczema means he has a milk allergy? I thought he just got it from his father, who has eczema on his legs.
Eczema is an autoimmune disease. The skin problem is the only thing you see, but your baby is also sick internally, and no lotion or topical medication can help that.
I really don't know what effect switching to soy formula would have.
But I encourage you to consider not vaccinating him anymore. Vaccines have been linked to autoimmune diseases, and his health could worsen with further vaccinations.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10648110
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9115571
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17465509
Did you know vaccines are NOT required for school or daycare? Here is the exemption information.
United States: http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=953402
Canada: http://vran.org/exemptions/legal-exemption-forms/
Molecularly distilled fish oil might help clear up your baby's eczema. Here's a study that shows eating fish can protect against eczema. http://jech.bmj.com/content/64/2/124.abstract I wouldn't recommend feeding fish to a 4 month old, for various reasons, including mercury in fish. But molecularly distilled fish oil does not contain any mercury or other contaminants, and a lot of parents have found that feeding their children fish oil clears up their eczema.
I personally would not apply steroid (hydrocortisone) cream on my baby. The steroid will only suppress the problem further into his body.
Food Allergy and Its Medications
With a food allergy, the body reacts as though that particular food product is harmful. As a result, the body's immune system (which fights infection and disease) creates antibodies to fight the food allergen, the substance in the food that triggers the allergy. The next time a person comes in contact with that food by touching or eating it or inhaling its particles, the body releases chemicals, including one called histamine, to "protect" itself. These chemicals trigger allergic symptoms that can affect the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, skin, or cardiovascular system.
What Is Food Intolerance?
Food intolerance is a digestive system response rather than an immune system response. It occurs when something in a food irritates a person's digestive system or when a person is unable to properly digest or breakdown, the food. Intolerance to lactose, which is found in milk and other dairy products, is the most common food intolerance.
Common Symptoms of an Allergic Reaction to Food
· Symptoms typically appear within minutes to two hours after a person has eaten the food to which he or she is allergic.
· Tingling sensation in the mouth
· Swelling of the tongue and throat
· Difficulty breathing
· Hives
· Vomiting
· Abdominal cramps
· Diarrhea
· Drop in blood pressure
· Loss of consciousness, and death.
Who's at risk?
A lot of people avoid eating certain foods because they mistakenly believe they are allergic to them.
Actual food allergy is very rare and tends to run in families. Only 3 in 100 infants and 1 in 100 adults have a food allergy.
You are more at risk if you or any family members have other allergic diseases such as eczema, asthma and hay fever.
If you suspect that you are allergic to a type of food, you should get a diagnosis from your doctor or a qualified specialist in allergic diseases before making substantial changes to your diet.
Diagnosis
An allergist/immunologist is the best qualified professional to diagnose food allergy. Diagnosis requires a carefully organized and detailed assessment of the problem. First, the allergist/immunologist will take a thorough medical history, followed by a physical examination. The allergist will inquire about detailed contents of the foods, the frequency, seasonality, severity and nature of the symptoms, and will ask about the amount of time that elapses between eating a food and any reaction.
Medications for Treating Food Allergies
Antihistamines can treat isolated symptoms such as hives, runny nose, or abdominal pain associated with an allergic reaction.
If you have wheezing or asthma flares (also called attacks) as the result of a food allergy, a doctor will probably recommend that you take a bronchodilator such as albuterol right away. This medication is inhaled from a handheld pump device.
Food Allergies: Just the Facts
Myth Number 1: Food allergy is very common.
Myth Number 2: Most people who have food allergies are allergic to strawberries and tomatoes.
Myth Number 3: Some people are allergic to sugar.
Myth Number 4: Milk allergy is very common in adults.
Myth Number 5: People who have food allergies are allergic to many foods.
Myth Number 6: Food allergy makes people hyperactive.
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