[livi]

Jim,

This is one of the patient groups I spend a lot of time with. Two things are important to consider with a child suffering from a severe eczema:

1. The more severe, the more likely it is provoked by an external factor/allergy. In the case of pre school children it is mostly food alllergies and the absolute majority amongh those are milk protein allergy. If your child has suffered from eczema a long time and badly, I would absolutely try eliminate milk from her diet. That means everything that contains milk protein, essentially all things that are made from cow milk.

There are of course tests, both skin and blood wise. They are however not very reliable. Elimination diet is the only certain way. You need to go at lest a couple of weeks before it is possible to verify the outcome. For that short a time you need not supplement any nutriments, like calcium.

Less frequently children also suffer from egg, fish, wheat and nut allergy (and a whole lot of other stuff) - but it is prudent to try milk first.

Do not (common mistake) mix milk protein allergy with lactose intoleranse. Two very different things. The first is very common with small children but they grow out of it. The second is rather rare in childhood in Western society. Problem is if you try low lactose food you will still get as much protein for an allergy.

Preferably, a pediatrian should monitor this task.

2. Steroid creams are base treatment with all eczema. Can not do without it. Modern treatment is very aggressive. Very often a strong steroid is necessary. Remember that a severe eczema is much worse for the skin than a steroid cream in the long run. Get a group III steroid for the body and a group I for the face. Apply and massage it in every day until the skin is all soft and totally free of eczema. Then daily moisteraiser untill the first sign of eczema comes back - out with the steroid again. Repeat.

You are very welcome to PM or e-mail me if you need assistance! Anything I can return to this great forum is a pleasure.