Eczema & Food Intolerance part 2

We began our food elimination diet around the 17th Nov 2014.  This meant cutting out many foods with additives and preservatives, artificial colours and flavours - as per the Fed Up app.

JOLI - eczema flare up (about 2 months in)

Two weeks into we had moments of it looking like the elimination diet was making a difference then moments of flare ups.  Some flare ups coincided with an accidental intake of the wrong foods (i.e. strawberries and mangos which are high in salicylates and a chocolate he ate without asking). Other flares ups happened when he'd been eating clean for a week or two. One flare up (pictured) occurred when we had a stinking hot day, he got sweaty and boom! Major flare up.

JOLI - eczema flare up (about 2 months in)

It has always been the case that most flare ups happen after our son has gotten hot and sweaty, which is many days at school and all that running around.  His rash is confined to only where his clothes are and does not occur in the crooks of his arms or knees. Since school holidays began he's spent most of his time running around shirtless which is certainly helping soothe his eczema.  I found that applying aloe vera gel really helps too.

JOLI - eczema appearing to ease after liberal application

of aloe vera gel

We took him to the skin care specialist for his allergy testing, only she took one look at him and decided he didn't need allergy testing because eczema is pure genetics, he needed an action plan. He was prescribed two creams, one low steroidal that he's to use for 3 days then we stop, the other non steroidal that we're to continue using on him daily.  He was given a (non natural - though surprisingly not laden with bad chems) body wash, moisturiser and QV lotions (paraffinum based) and told to take antihistamine medicine daily.  She also suggested adding a dash of bleach to his bath as this kills off the bacteria around the eczema thus helping it heal (same as what aloe does).  This is the third time I've heard the bleach suggestion and I personally know of others who have tried it much to the improvement of their children's skin.  Still, I am reluctant to try it because bleach triggers asthma.
She at least told hubby I'm doing well trying to eliminate chemicals from my son's skin care products.

As soon as hubby heard the 'good' news (i.e. the doctor agreeing with him), our son doesn't need to eliminate additives and preservatives from his diet, he was wrapped.  When shopping he wanted to load the trolley with a number of additive filled foods.  I was at least able to talk him into holding off on adding bad foods to our son's diet.

JOLI - eczema appearing to ease after liberal application

of aloe vera gel

Now we're trying the plan the dermatologist has implemented for two weeks (aside from the bleach) and we're going to see what effect that has on our son's eczema.  Mean while he'll return to school where most of his flare ups occur, and he'll be eating the occasional 'bad' food because the doctor told hubby he can.

It feels like a game of chess where we make certain moves to try and improve the flare ups and wait to make the next move, waiting for that elusive check-mate.

[Part 1 and Part 3]