Does anyone have experience with eczema?

My nephew has what the doctors are calling "eczema" on his hands. They have given him a steroid lotion as well as a hydrating lotion and it does not seem to be getting better.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

how old is he? What kind of soap does he use to bathe? What kind of soap does he use to wash his hands?

I have had anhydrous eczema on my hand, more prevalent on my right hand than left; the palms of my hands would blister (for lack of a better word), itch and peel.. My kid's pedi noticed on one of the kid's visit and advised me that it was most likely because of the soap I used to either bathe with, wash my hands or wash dishes with. I'm right handed--so, my right hand was more exposed to the "agent". Found out that I can't use Dawn dish liquid (the regular blue kind), or I have to use gloves to wash dishes.

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My daughter has it and I have always been hesitant to put the steroid cream on her. I finally found a product called Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy and it does a fantastic job clearing up her eczema.

Diet wise, your nephew might take a look at avoiding wheat for a few weeks and seeing if that helps. Have a few times about this helping. Guess there is a condition called celiac disease, where wheat causes a person difficulties, and where eczema sometimes occurs. One article with a mention about that:

"Name that food"
Name that food | The Heart Scan Blog

I'd be willing to bet it's from all those harsh anti-bacterial soaps and gels that all the kids have to use at school and even at home these days. It's pricey but Dr. Bronners is great in the baby's unscented.

If he's going to avoid wheat, he's going to have to do a lot of label reading. There is wheat in a variety of products where you would not expect to find it. Some sausages and hot dogs, some ice creams, anything that might be thickened, including gravies, sauces and soups, possibly lunch meats and the list goes on.

I'm allergic to mold and was told many years ago to avoid wheat and flour products because they contain mold, (in the form of yeast if I remember right), and after looking at the list of stuff I had to eliminate, I gave up and took allergy meds instead.

Thank you for the replies. I will pass along the information.

MarilynK, I have the same problem with Dawn dish soap in blue.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.