So I know the answer is likely "No", but can I hear from some moms? My son is 5 months old, has dry red skin, but does not scratch or rub it at all. He had a couple days of eye goop, but now it's just teary. Doc office was not too alarmed (neither was I) and recommended using Aquaphor, using little soap (Cetaphil type better), infrequent bathing, keeping eye and hands clean, etc, and watching for more goop or sleepless nights (none, thank goodness). Now, though, the paranoia of a mom with a baby sets in, lol! Is every baby with eczema, etc, predisposed to serious food allergies, or is this just a "bad pollen year"? I had dry skin and crust on my eyes as a kid amd am allergic to nothing, but I know times have changed. Thanks!
two girls one with really bad eczema on her hands and dairy/dye intolerance and the second with no issues whatsoever. Not enough of a study to draw any conclusions but........
My son had terrible eczema as a baby , we had to use cream every day with special liquid that we put in the bath , then when it got really bad (on the backs of his knees & elbow creases and cracked) we had to use a hydrocortisone cream. Now at almost 7 yrs old he no loner has eczema and no food allergies , so no I don't think they are connected.
Absolutely not. Our daughter has had eczema since she was 12 months and has had no problems with food allergies.
Physicians/Researchers really don't know what triggers food allergies in some kids vs. others and when/why they'll occur. The American Academy of Pediatrics has changed their stance on food allergies in the past year.
It doesn't mean it's not possible, but I'd honestly ask your pediatrician. Be prepared to provide a list of known family food allergens as heredity is likely the best indicator of occurrence.
The AAP has a parenting website that's relatively new and may help many of us on here: HealthyChildren.org
It posts based upon the policies/guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics based upon the latest clinical research.
Literally every single person on my mothers side of the family suffers from eczema, including me, my sister, her children and my daughter. None of us are sensitive to ANY food items. I was extensively tested.
Atopic eczema can have many causes and people are more likely to develop asthma (which only one of my nieces has so far) and other allergies, but is really does not have to be food related.
I put a little vegetable oil in the bath water for my daughter, and no soap. Bathing only when needed (every 2-3 days is usually enough). that really helps with the dry skin.
Good luck!
I think eczema is often a symptom of food allergies, but not the other way around. You can definitely have eczema and no allergies (my daughter did - just VERY sensitive, fair skin). Aquaphor is great as is Cetaphil. Also, goop in the eyes can just be from a cold... trust your instincts to ask, but don't worry!
The problem with this is that a food allergy can go undiagnosed and be asymptomatic for your whole life. Unless you have been tested for food allergies including celiac disease, you don't necessarily know that you don't have them, just that you're asymptomatic.
Now that said, depending on your climate, dry skin is likely possible if you live in a desert or such. If the kid is drinking enough water isn't in an incredibly dry place, and has recurrence of the skin dryness, it may be worth looking into the food allergies. Unfortunately, a lot of people can say they don't have them, but most haven't actually ever been tested, so that data isn't trustworthy. They don't really know that for sure.
If you think it might be a possibility, it is probably worth trying to be sure. If it ends up being just that one incident and it cleared up on it's own, maybe it's nothing.
Nope, but he may suffer from seasonal allergies.
My pedi said that eczema, allergies and asthma tend to travel together. But that doesn't mean that one causes the other or that every kid who has one has all three. My son has very mild eczema, and asthma that we're hoping he outgrows as he gets older. But we haven't found a food he's allergic to yet. So my best advice is to not worry about it, because it won't change what's going to happen anyway, and in all likelihood, nothing's going to happen!
My daughter was dealing with the same issues and it turned out to be seasonal allergies as well as chemical allergies. We switched to all natural and organic soap, shampoo, laundry detergents, cleaning products and food. Everything cleared right up and we eat everything that could cause allergies: peanuts, shellfish, milk, etc.
It is always wise to watch for potential food allergies as they can be dangerous, so introducing one food at a time makes a big difference in catching food allergies. But I wouldn't say eczema/dry skin is an indicator of food allergies.
Nope. When we brought my son in for his one-year checkup, our pediatrician told us our son was the ONLY baby she had seen without eczema this winter. I can't imagine all of her patients will have food allergies later on - I think it's just been a really dry year.
Many of the kids I know with eczema do have food allergies. I would keep an eye, especially as he starts solids to see if there is any connection.
My brother is 23 yrs old and has had eczema for about 4 years! He never had a food allergy. The only allergy he has is to dust and pollen, but he had that from when he was very little.
My daughter had bad eczema as an infant, now at age 13 it's only mild and acts up only a few times a year. She has NO food allergies. During the fall time, she does show a few mild signs of seasonal allergies, not even enough to be treated by medication.
