Even after seeing the dermatologist a couple months ago, Owen was still having really bad flare ups if his eczema. I felt horrible because we were doing everything the doctor told us to do, and that's a pretty big list!
- he's to only wear cotton
- keep him inside on high pollen days
- don't use detergents, soaps, or lotions with dyes or fragrances.
- don't use dryer sheets of any kind
- only use cetaphil to wash him with and don't use a wash cloth
- apply eucerine 4+ times a day
- use a mild steroid when he starts to get red and on his face
- use a slightly more potent steroid on his body for bad flare ups
- lukewarm baths every night and pat dry (as opposed to rubbing him with the towel!)
- and Zyrtec every night
Oh, let me mention that the detergents one is for our entire house, not just Owen!!
As you can imagine, this has taken a lot of work the past couple months, but whatever it takes! The worst was knowing it was allergy induced but not being able to figure out what the allergy was to! (I prayed it wasn't the dogs as getting rid of them would have torn the other boys apart!)
Almost immediately I figured out that just the couple hours in the church nursery at nap time would set him off, but I attributed it to the detergent used. We also figured out a couple other things as we practiced this new 'way of life.'
But, we still couldn't figure out what the trigger was- until last week! My amazing husband finally figured out the clue that gave it away. Owen was only breaking out/ getting his rash on the visible parts of his body. That takes out food allergies, the dogs, and his washing and laundry.
With such a reduced list, it became easy to run through those things that he does not wear, but comes into contact, with on a regular basis!
Will then had a second break through, it's worse after he's been playing with his black Build-A-Bear teddy that we made him. After looking at what teddy is made of, we decided to take away all items that are not cotton or organically produced.
We'll, you know where this is going- it worked! Owen has been mostly polyester free for a week now and he looks amazing!! (He still has one cheek that's bad, but that's the one he wipes/ scratches when he's tired and/or upset and hasn't given it time to heal!)
In figuring this all out we've had to weed out every plush toy we have, all his blankets except recieving blankets, and a lot of his clothes. (Especially his pjs!) Polyester is in a LOT of stuff!! So now, we've got to find a new lovey and blankets that are 100% cotton and don't cost an arm and a leg!
Not only is all that not cotton, but carpets aren't cotton, and neither is Owen's carseat!! I know that once we get unpacked I'll be making an overly large blanket/rug to go on the floor wherever we go and contacting his carseat company to see if they make, or can make, a slipcover type piece for his carseat padding that doesn't make his entire carseat 'unsafe' and void the warranty! Wish us luck on this new journey, I think we're really going to need it!
