Eczema

Elbows, old and new. You can just barely see the rashy part near yaya's elbow.

Why is there always such conflicting information? The doctor I took yaya to said to keep her dry, and only apply moisturizer (not lotion) when she needed it. But everything else I have read says to apply moisturizer liberally because eczema is dry skin, and is caused by something missing from the makeup of the skin that allows it to retain moisture. Everything I read/heard says less fragrance is better and don't bath her using soap (but short warm baths are good) try some of the products listed here- EASE Product Directory. I had purchased Aveeno Baby Eczema therapy cream. Its strange because it has no smell but that is what I want. I'll use up the little bit of baby wash I have, since I am only using it in her neck and other creases when she starts to smell like rotting milk. In my research I've also discovered that her eczema may be caused by something I am eating. Its possible that she spits up more because of that food sensitivity. I am watching those two things to see if they get worse or better with just time (spitting up) and topical care (eczema).

Yesterday was a bad spit up day. She didn't projectile any of it, but she spit up a. lot. Thursday she had only dribbled a little. Thursday I ate spaetzle made with a lot of eggs and cheese (mmmm, cheese). But I am not sure if that was it. Possibly a half of a mild Italian sausage caused her grief, too. I need to keep a food diary to see if I can see triggers, but I am barely keeping myself afloat these days and that seems like a lot of work. I started one weeks ago and made it a whole 24 hours before it was neglected.

A couple of days ago I put yaya on the floor, and she wiggled all over. But the carpet really irritated her poor little elbows. Luckily we have some large soft blankets that we can put on the floor to lay her on. She seems to be happier that way. It also keeps her spit up off the carpet. And she can roll around to her hearts content.

This is what the National Eczema Association has to say about Atopic Dermatitis-
Atopic Dermatitis (AD)
Atopic dermatitis is the most severe and chronic (long-lasting) kind of eczema. Atopic dermatitis is a disease that causes itchy, inflamed skin. It almost always begins in childhood, usually during infancy. Physicians estimate that 65 percent of eczema patients are diagnosed in the first year of life and 90 percent of patients experience it before age five. Often the symptoms fade during childhood, though �most� will have AD for life. It is estimated that atopic dermatitis affects over 30 million Americans. It typically affects the insides of the elbows, backs of the knees, and the face but can cover most of the body. Atopic dermatitis falls into a category of diseases called atopy, a term originally used to describe the allergic conditions asthma and hay fever. Atopic dermatitis was included in the atopy category because it often affects people who either suffer from asthma and/or hay fever or have family members who do; but now have been genetically connected. Physicians often refer to these three diseases as the �atopy triad�. The disease by its very nature can be episodic. People with atopic dermatitis tend to have high staph levels on their skin, although atopic dermatitis is not infectious to other people.