Eczema and food allergies
Moderator: talkhealth
Re: Help with persistant eczema and allergies
I found the higher up the medical ladder the less they believed in food allergies and were even less likely to look into it.
My children have true food allergies but these have still not helped and they were both really bad with eczema when 100% breast fed, so I can see that that food is not a starting point. The world of allergy, intolerance and irritant is complex.
My children have true food allergies but these have still not helped and they were both really bad with eczema when 100% breast fed, so I can see that that food is not a starting point. The world of allergy, intolerance and irritant is complex.
AnnaB
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Re: Help with persistant eczema and allergies
Hi Rebecca, I was in a similar situation with my twin boys, their eczema started at 2 months, by 6 months it was really bad, red raw and weeping almost all over and especially on their face, we swaddled them at night to stop the scratching and it settled them really well, during the day they constantly had socks on their hand also to stop the scratching. At 6 month we saw a dermatologist and luckily they responded really well to the strong steroids and aveeno they were prescribed, the eczema did return but we have since carried on using the steroids to control it and luckily it is no longer as bad as it was. We still have persistent patches that we are constantly treating. Right from weaning we knew that food was a big factor as they would get a rash round there face where certain foods touched and occasionally puffy eyes or a full on rash from certain foods. We have had tests and we know one of the boys is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, avocado, banana and house dust mite. He has an epipen for the nut allergy as he also has asthma. We also use to find strong tomato based sauces would trigger a rash but they tolerate them now. There has been other foods we are unsure of but have not been tested. Hopefully, now you know his allergies things may start to improves as you eliminate them form his diet,I know myself what a nightmare this is, constantly checking everything! Has he been tested for house dust mite? just thinking that may explain the ball pool trigger if it has carpet under it, or maybe it a chemical they use to clean it.
I hope ive helped a little, Take care!
I hope ive helped a little, Take care!
Re: Help with persistant eczema and allergies
My sons eczema was also severe when exclusively breastfed but I believe it was the food I was eating that he was reacting to. I know people that have babies with eczema where elimination diets have worked really well. If anybody is planning this though it is obviously worth seeing a dietician to make sure you are still getting all your dietary needs from the foods you are eating.
Re: Help with persistant eczema and allergies
I forgot to add that I don't believe that all eczema is due to food allergies but I know that mys sons is. I also know other parents that have found the same thing. I just think it is an avenue worth looking at especially when the eczema is not respnding to conventional treatment.
Re: Help with persistant eczema and allergies
Hello Rebecca: I am sorry to hear your story. My son is almost 4. For the last year and a half he has had tons of eczema problems. Last week three nights he slept through the night for the first time in over a year. But then it has returned to all night scratching again. We now have the snuggle paws pajamas to help him from scratching himself raw. We have not been able to find all the triggers or elmintate them. Its a nightmare that just keeps on going and going. My poor wife is more sleep deprived than I am. Its horrible. I hope your situation improves.
I will say a prayer for you and your family.
Steve
I will say a prayer for you and your family.
Steve
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Re: Eczema and food allergies
Thank you for sharing your advice & support
Helen
Helen
Re: Eczema and food allergies
Thank you for the interesting thread.
Jody
Jody
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Re: Eczema and food allergies
If you continue to think food allergies could be causing eczema symptoms or if the skin rash continues to flare despite treatment, you may want to consult with an allergist. An allergist will help determine whether food allergy testing is needed and can properly interpret the results.
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Re: Eczema and food allergies
You worry so much about the effect this is having on your child, both because of the appearance of his skin and the harm/side effects of the treatments.
The blood test we had was Allergen-specific IgE. It would have been lovely if he was allergic to some group, as you say it would give you something to work with.
My Son have eczema from within days of birth,he had food allergic reaction and ashtma.
Mom quits job and flourishing career to manage son’s severely worsening eczema, keeping him at home full time, attending multiple doctor appointments, getting blood work done on various diseases, cooking allergy friendly foods and changing our lifestyle to a hypoallergenic one — read, read, read, track, track, track, stress, stress, and more stress. At this point son taken out of school due to infections, eczema flare-ups and basically uncontrolled eczema.
Here little about me : I’m Nav, I am runing blog with name of (EczemaLiving). This is blog an outcome of my experience in managing my son’s severe eczema, food allergies, asthma, along awesome allergy free-recipes, latest research and treatment plans that worked for us.
Thanks,
Nav
The blood test we had was Allergen-specific IgE. It would have been lovely if he was allergic to some group, as you say it would give you something to work with.
My Son have eczema from within days of birth,he had food allergic reaction and ashtma.
Mom quits job and flourishing career to manage son’s severely worsening eczema, keeping him at home full time, attending multiple doctor appointments, getting blood work done on various diseases, cooking allergy friendly foods and changing our lifestyle to a hypoallergenic one — read, read, read, track, track, track, stress, stress, and more stress. At this point son taken out of school due to infections, eczema flare-ups and basically uncontrolled eczema.
Here little about me : I’m Nav, I am runing blog with name of (EczemaLiving). This is blog an outcome of my experience in managing my son’s severe eczema, food allergies, asthma, along awesome allergy free-recipes, latest research and treatment plans that worked for us.
Thanks,
Nav
Nav Gosal
Founder and CEO - https://eczemaliving.com/
Twitter: @eczemaliving
Email Contact : eczemaliving@gmail.com
Founder and CEO - https://eczemaliving.com/
Twitter: @eczemaliving
Email Contact : eczemaliving@gmail.com
- Dr Kate Swan
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Re: Eczema and food allergies
Eczema in children can sometimes be driven by food allergens as a "delayed" or "non-IgE" allergy. In these cases the child usually has the onset of eczema under 2 years old and it is difficult to control with emollients and steroids. The most common food triggers are milk, egg, wheat and soya. It is difficult becuase there are no validated tests for non-IgE food allergies so we have to advise trial exclusion for 4-6 weeks followed by re-introduction (to account for natural fluctuations in eczema that might be unrelated to the exclusion.) This should ONLY be done under paediatric dietetic guidance to advise of substitutes etc.
Children who have eczema from an early age (under 1) are also at a higher risk of having IgE mediated allergies to foods that they may not have tried orally yet. Especially peanut and egg. These are not driving the eczema (because they are not in the diet) but the disrupted skin barrier means that peanut or egg allergen in the environment can cause sensitisation of the immune system through the broken skin barrier. Then when they eat the food at weaning they have typical IgE symptoms (hives, swelling and possible breathing problems).
The NICE guidelines state: "Healthcare professionals should consider a diagnosis of food allergy in children with atopic eczema who have reacted previously to a food with immediate symptoms, or in infants and young children with moderate or severe atopic eczema that has not been controlled by optimum management, particularly if associated with gut dysmotility (colic, vomiting, altered bowel habit) or failure to thrive." So if you fit into this category with your child, you can and should ask your GP for a referral to specialist allergy service.
Please be wary of adverts for testing for allergies in children with eczema that are not validated. "Healthcare professionals should advise children with atopic eczema and their parents or carers not to undergo high street or internet allergy tests because there is no evidence of their value in the management of atopic eczema." NICE CG57
The NICE guidelines also state who should be referred to a dermatologist:
Indications for referral
•Referral for specialist dermatological advice is recommended for children with atopic eczema if:
◦ the diagnosis is, or has become, uncertain
◦ management has not controlled the atopic eczema satisfactorily based on a subjective assessment by the child, parent or carer (for example, the child is having 1–2 weeks of flares per month or is reacting adversely to many emollients)
◦ atopic eczema on the face has not responded to appropriate treatment
◦ the child or parent/carer may benefit from specialist advice on treatment application (for example, bandaging techniques)
◦ contact allergic dermatitis is suspected (for example, persistent atopic eczema or facial, eyelid or hand atopic eczema)
◦the atopic eczema is giving rise to significant social or psychological problems for the child or parent/carer (for example, sleep disturbance, poor school attendance)
◦atopic eczema is associated with severe and recurrent infections, especially deep abscesses or pneumonia.
The NICE guidelines for eczema in childhood are available on the internet. I hope this helps.
Children who have eczema from an early age (under 1) are also at a higher risk of having IgE mediated allergies to foods that they may not have tried orally yet. Especially peanut and egg. These are not driving the eczema (because they are not in the diet) but the disrupted skin barrier means that peanut or egg allergen in the environment can cause sensitisation of the immune system through the broken skin barrier. Then when they eat the food at weaning they have typical IgE symptoms (hives, swelling and possible breathing problems).
The NICE guidelines state: "Healthcare professionals should consider a diagnosis of food allergy in children with atopic eczema who have reacted previously to a food with immediate symptoms, or in infants and young children with moderate or severe atopic eczema that has not been controlled by optimum management, particularly if associated with gut dysmotility (colic, vomiting, altered bowel habit) or failure to thrive." So if you fit into this category with your child, you can and should ask your GP for a referral to specialist allergy service.
Please be wary of adverts for testing for allergies in children with eczema that are not validated. "Healthcare professionals should advise children with atopic eczema and their parents or carers not to undergo high street or internet allergy tests because there is no evidence of their value in the management of atopic eczema." NICE CG57
The NICE guidelines also state who should be referred to a dermatologist:
Indications for referral
•Referral for specialist dermatological advice is recommended for children with atopic eczema if:
◦ the diagnosis is, or has become, uncertain
◦ management has not controlled the atopic eczema satisfactorily based on a subjective assessment by the child, parent or carer (for example, the child is having 1–2 weeks of flares per month or is reacting adversely to many emollients)
◦ atopic eczema on the face has not responded to appropriate treatment
◦ the child or parent/carer may benefit from specialist advice on treatment application (for example, bandaging techniques)
◦ contact allergic dermatitis is suspected (for example, persistent atopic eczema or facial, eyelid or hand atopic eczema)
◦the atopic eczema is giving rise to significant social or psychological problems for the child or parent/carer (for example, sleep disturbance, poor school attendance)
◦atopic eczema is associated with severe and recurrent infections, especially deep abscesses or pneumonia.
The NICE guidelines for eczema in childhood are available on the internet. I hope this helps.
Dr Kate Swan
Consultant in Paediatric Allergy
http://www.talkhealthpartnership.com/on ... e_swan.php
Consultant in Paediatric Allergy
http://www.talkhealthpartnership.com/on ... e_swan.php