What is Eczema?

Eczema is a dry, itchy skin condition that affects somewhere between 15 and 20 per cent of children at some point. It usually appears for the first time before your child is two. The good news is that most children who have eczema will grow out of the condition by the time they are in their teens. Eczema can't be cured, but it can be controlled with the right treatments. 

Read more on:
http://www.babycenter.com.my/a541297/baby-eczema-causes-symptoms-treatments--creams

Audra had eczema starting from 3 months and stopped by the time she reaches 1 year old. At first I thought it was just a normal milk rash. Once in a while I put soothing cream and clean her cheeks right after feeding. Affected areas were mostly her cheeks and later her arms. I did not take any serious measures until it got worst. It got really red, dry and scaly with ringly pattern and will bleed if scratch. My SIL noticed it first and recommended us to see a local Pediatrician in Luyang. He confirmed that it was mild eczema and gave us a steroid based cream (refer pic). He advised us to apply it to the affected skin during night time and not more than 3 days. At first I was skeptical since it was a steroid based cream but at that time I had no choice since the doc assured me that it is not in high dosage. I was happy to see the fast recovery and effect.. but wasn't too long after it appeared again and I re-apply the cream, it was gone and after a while it appeared again. Of course I went on a google frenzy searching for all the information I could find on eczema. 

I went for a second opinion and this time the doc gave me a thorough explanation about the whole thing on eczema (*insert uhh..ohh..ahh). The doc informed me that most doc will recommend steroid based cream to treat eczema. She further explained that of course there are many writings mostly on the internet saying the side effects of using such cream but most of them are baseless accusation without evidence (honestly I believed those baseless accusation more hehehh). Based on her explanation I found out:

1. What triggers eczema is still unknown. Might caused by the type of formula milk/food/environment/soap/shampoo/dust etc.
2. Eczema might go away over time, but will appear once in a while (please go away!)
3. Other than steroid based cream there are other options. It might not treat eczema but will at least soothe the reddened and itchy skin. (i.e emollient lotion, natural oil,  aqueous cream) 

We went home with a new type of shampoo and soap and cream on that very same day. At home, I did more readings and research concentrating on real mom's experiences. To make things worst, Audra's condition didn't get any better. Her cheeks were red, scaly and dry and I had to resort to the steroid cream again. My heart says stop using it but since it gave us the fastest recovery I had no choice but to use it. This went on until Audra was 7 months old. I was stressed out and couldn't do anything to stop it. I rarely bring Audra out cause I know it will bring commotion, what's with her skin?, did you try this?, did you try that?, oh its just rashes?, what is eczema? 

Nurses at the government clinic though assured me that by the time Audra's 1, it will just stop and be gone. Giving high hopes on this I went back home and tried many things to stop it as early as possible. I went to the pharmacist, all drug stores I could find and ask for their opinion. I got to thank my relatives and families for giving me endless advice and suggestion. So for mommies out there if you are having the same situation the following might help you:

1. Go and see a doctor (peads) first and always go for a second even third opinion if you are not satisfied.
2. Make your own research. Know what is eczema, what might causes it and all those important facts and information. 
3. Make changes for whatever you think might trigger eczema to your baby. If you think its the shampoo change it (I used to use Johnson&Johnson but changed it to baby sebamed), keep your room and the baby's environment clean (free of dust), if you think its the formula milk you might want to change it to soya based milk (yes I did) and so many other steps. Make your own research and try to understand.. follow your motherly intuition. 
5. Try and try and try. Never stop trying to find the right solution. I would really recommend you not to depend on steroid based cream so much. Go to natural product and always look at the content. If it did not work out, take 1 or 2 days before you try new product on your baby skin. 
6. For my case, it was mild eczema and I had the chance to find my own solution. For severe ones please go and see a specialist straight away and be honest on what you think about steroid based cream. No worries if you prefer to use it as long as its under the doc's advise and instruction. 
7. Please note that your baby's skin is delicate. Natural products are much better to use.
8. Be patience. People will ask and people will surely make comments and remarks. Educate them about eczema. 

The following are the products that I've used as medication:

                       Steroid based cream (prescribed by second doc). I stopped using this one after 2 weeks of using. 
                                      source: http://thestarhill.com/product_images/uploaded_images/candacort-250x250.jpg
         DID A TREMENDOUS JOB TO THE SKIN CONDITION. The downside: makes the skin dry and chapped.
                                                                       source: http://www.shaklee.com.my/img/products/Image18754714.jpg 


By the time Audra was 9 months, her skin condition did not make any progress. Until I found this! Yes, this!


My mom planted this and I did read that aloe vera is a very good natural herbal medicine. Some mommies also share the goodness of this plant in curing (maybe not cured but stop) eczema. I cut the stalk and put it in the refrigerator to cool and applied it to Audra's affected skin twice a day. Morning after bath and before sleep. The gel work magic and you can see the changes in 24 hours! (Yes, believe me I do  not exaggerate). By the time Audra was 11 months, her skin was smooth and back to normal (I'm not sure whether it was because of the constant usage of aloe vera or because its just subside as what the nurse has informed me). Nevertheless, I was a happy mom! Please note that this might not work to your baby, a mother I knew uses this to her baby and there were no changes at all.
                                                                   source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Aloe_Vera.jpg

Conclusion:
This is my sharing and some of my recommendation to help mommies out there who are having the same situation. I hope it helps. Most importantly, you need to understand what is eczema and follow your motherly intuition. If not, please follow the doc's advise. I followed my own heart. Good luck mommies. 

Sorry for some reason I am not ready to share my baby's pic. 

Have a good day!