Fighting the Eczema Beast in Singapore
My update and post on eczema has brought on many comments from parents who understand and who are going through what dealing with an eczema child is like. Through parents from various countries who share openly about the difficult situations they are coping with and finding parallel in many areas of coping and handling eczema, it brings to mind that we are not alone in this ‘fight’ against the eczema beast.
I have dedicated most of my time and effort since my last post on helping the Angel with her eczema. No effort or time is spared to ensure that we achieve eczema-free days. We keep to a daily regime of routine and attention that have brought us so far to our mostly eczema-free days. The month of April was the sweetest time of our lives since our return!
There are still bad days when our quality of life is severely affected but those have been the occassional days rather than the norm until recently!!!
Fighting the eczema beast in Singapore has been a steep learning curve at times but through love, patience and karuna (and constantly asking for more of these three qualities in my life), we have managed to bring life to a normalcy.
I throw my life out of tangent, socialise only with those who understand my constraints, do the minimal required in a day, and focus entirely on the Angel.
Having not kept up with blog reading, I recently read a post from Mel (Perspective of Life in a Different Pasture) who has very kindly dedicated a post on ‘Coping with Eczema‘ to me when I asked about how she coped with her eczema child in Singapore. Many, many thanks for such a generous gesture, Mel!
I cope with the Angel’s eczema (sans steroid, sans medication) through a few simple ways :
1) Carrot juice – the juicing continues! All I can say is that, the daily carrot juice does its own wonders on the Angel’s skin. Two sticks of carrots and an apple a day. Trust me, but they are the mainstay to eczema-free days!
2) Fish oil – the Angel is back on fish oil. According to Dr Hugo, it is in the Angel’s filggarin that is causing all that dryness. Whether or not fish oil is helping, I know that the carrot juice is doing its bit!
3) Stress-free – I see how stress brings on the onset of the itch-scratch cycle. I keep away from stressful situations (there are just some places that create a lot of stress for either of us) and plan the day carefully, especially when going out of the comfort zone of home. I learn to say ‘no’ when it is better to stay home and I learn to do less but yet achieve more (when you have eczema-free days, you have achieved loads!) in a day.
4) Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize – the Angel is kept moisturized daily (I’m currently using Aqueous Cream and QV but most moisturizer works) and I found the most effective sunscreen that works and which we use even when at home (Avene Sun Protection for Children 40 SPF)! Expensive but worth every penny of our money!
5) Time and attention – Almost all of my time and attention is dedicated to the Angel. Without the time and attention, the simple understanding of the habit of the mind of my eczema child, it will be almost impossible to achieve eczema-free days. It is also CRUCIAL that people who spend time with your eczema child knows how to handle it as well. I have seen how others can perpetuate the scratching habit and make achieving eczema-free days REALLY an arduous journey.
6) Herbal Rinse from Weeds (picked from fields in Singapore) - My parents conscientiously pluck a certain wild weed growing at open fields in Singapore and attest to everyone that it is the daily herbal rinse from this particular weed that is healing the Angel’s skin. I do agree that the weed has a cooling effect on the skin and also provide the Angel a mental deposit to overcome her scratching but I cannot ascertain that it is the reason for her beautiful skin.
While I’m writing this, the Angel’s skin has recently been quite broken and badly scratched up. The circumstances leading to her scratching really deserve another post of its own but for now, parents who are dealing with eczema children in Singapore, I’d suggest the above to achieve more eczema-free days!
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Hello again
I was just wondering if you had thought about using some cotton gloves when the itching gets bad. I bought some for Flower as she can scratch her skin to shreds sometimes. The gloves are 100% cotton and now she even asks for them if she starts to feel itchy. She can still scratch with them on but her skin does not break open or go red as the gloves are soft. Before I put them on I also cover her hands with a thick layer of epaderm or Dream Cream (her hands are often the things she scratches the most) and this seems to soothe her. The gloves seem to calm her now – when her skin hurts she tells me “I need my gloves” and when they are on she seems to calm straight away. I got the gloves from Cotton Comfort who specialise in eczema clothing. Because they have fingers she can also wear them and do things like painting, playdough, anything that would normally cause her to flare up or become itchy. They are also not hot or restrictive so she keeps them on even at night in bed. They are washable too.
Love Flowers Mom
Hi,
I happened to follow a link to your website and the ‘keyword’ eczema prompted me to read more, cos my sons and I have eczema at differing degrees, with my second son having it the worst. On days when his skins have red rashes/patches, I apply Physiogel AI cream and it works wonders, even just overnight! I recommend you to try it out if you have not. Can find it at Guardian pharmacy store. Now, the cream is known as a miracle cream in my family. It’s expensive, but I like it a lot cos it’s not a steroid.
And thanks for yours tips on carrot juice cos I didn’t know it would be good effects on eczema skins (though my sons just cannot stand the smell of it – I juiced carrot and green apples together and they refused to drink it. ) Maybe I should try juicing carrots again.
SC
Hi alternative mom, thanks for sharing your ways to cope with eczema. I’m also dealing with eczema attacks on husband and baby. and some days, especially in hot weather we cannot resist reaching for the steriod cream for fast relief. You mentioned fish oil – which brands are suitable for children and/or adults? available in S’pore?
hi
was wondering how are you guys? its been 6mths since your last update…
for me, sigh, her eczema is back again even in Canada, since summer, autumn, and now Winter…
I will be posting her eczema pictures soon after the festive season. its driving me nuts….and my baby no2, has eczema too, and its worse than jie jie while in Sg….
[...] No steroids, no chemicals, Alternative Mum successful used a wholesome combination of natural foods to fix her kid’s eczema. Her [...]
Hi there,
My baby is 3 months old and we live in Northern California where it is not hot nor humid, and in fact the weather is pretty cool. Neither myself nor my hubby have any history of eczema. However, our baby started having an insistent rash on his face a month ago and it wouldn’t go away. He itches and scratches and from taking 2 hours nap before, to not even able to sleep now. The normal over the counter moisturizer works to a certain extent but the rash is still there.
I would like to try your remedies of carrot juice etc but he’s too young to take anything other than formula. Can you let me know when you started this regime with your little Angel? What did you do when Angel was a few months old that helped?
It breaks my heart to see him suffer. He was a contented and happy baby before who smiled all the time. Now he’s fussy because of lack of sleep and the itchiness.
Even worse, although we’re living in California now, we will be moving to Singapore in December for a 2 years work assignment. Reading your post and other info on Singapore is scaring me as it seems like Singapore’s climate makes eczema worse. I’m a nervous wreck.
Will be brining baby to see a specialist in 2 weeks but right now every minute is turmoil for me and baby.
Thanks for any advice.
Hi Lis,
Thanks for dropping by and it breaks my heart to know that your happy child has become fussy and itchy. I remember the same happening to the Angel, too. All I can remember of her infant now is those days or itching, scratching, bloody nights, crying and yes, lack of quality sleep.
But there will be better time, trust me. You may be in for a long haul but start with diet (perhaps the formula that’s causing the problem?), the environment (dust mites, bedding material or clothing material unsuitable?) and by trying to identifying what aggravates the conditions will help. It won’t go away overnight but try everything you can.
I think I was a lost mom when the Angel started with the neck rash and developed full-fledged eczema. I learn through my experience and it has been a steep learning curve. I can totally identify with how it was like, from a happy child to one who’s suffering.
I didn’t offer carrot juice till later but did introduce carrot and apple boiled in water in place of water when she was weaning.
And from my experience, different conditions affect patients differently. While the Angel suffers greatly in the humid climate, I know of people who actually recovers under such climate. So, you may be surprised if your child might respond well to our tropical weather!
Nonetheless, be prepared to brave come what may and as long as we remain dogged in managing eczema for our children, we know that our children are in good hands. Don’t fret about coming. Singapore can be a lovely place, albeit hot and humid. Just stay away from anyone who tries to be nosy about our children.
Let me know if I can be of any help.
Hi,
My 1 yr old had really bad eczema from a baby, we tried everything from the doctors – Oilatum in the bath, Diprobase, Aqueous Cream, emollient, ointment, and eventually mild steroid creams. Sometimes it helped, sometimes it seemed to make things worse. We tried altering his diet, washing powder, keeping all his clothes cotton etc. One day my sister was up and shopping in Body Shop, and found a baby range there. She bought the moisturiser, which we dubiously accepted as it seemed ‘light’ rather than thick and protective. However within a couple if weeks it was hugely improved, we stopped using all the other products and stuck to body shop bath wash and moisturiser, twice a day moisturising him. His skin has been gorgeous since. His tough patches (inner elbows) took a little longer to clear up but are now perfect. Chlorine still affects his skin so we avoid that, but using the cream after swimming and the next day is back to normal. I am not saying this is a miracle cure as every case is different but it worked for him. We recommend it to everyone, and an elderly relative has found it improved his dry skin too. xx
Hi Anna,
Thanks so much for coming by and sharing about the cream! I might pop into Bodyshop someday to check out the cream. I totally agree with you that “every case is different” because what seems to work for the Angel may not work for others and vice versa. It’s always worth a try, too, when it works for someone! Many thanks for sharing! xx
hi, my 2 yrs old girl have very bad eczema too starting at 2 months old. She also have many food allergies. I brought her to see nutritionist and was told not to give her any food that is sweet including rice. She is on millet now. She was also prescribe prebiotic and flaxseed oil. No apple, only guava and kiwi. Still observing her condition now.
Just want to share my expereince of eczema with everyone here.
1) I was told that I have eczema more than 25 yrs ago and recently I was told that I might have Psoriasis 牛皮藓 instead of eczema. Both disease are similar. Most doctor will just tell you is eczema because they didn’t even know much about all those skin diseases around. So do more research about your type of skin problem.
2) My niece had some skin problem just above her mouth and the doctor just told my brother and my SIL that is eczema and prescribed steriod cream for her. But her skin problem never goes away and after sometime someone told my brother it might be the saliva that was causing the problem since my niece usually have the pacificer on during her sleep. So she stopped using pacifier and immediately her skin problem was gone for good. Please don’t use the steriod cream before trying other safer ways.
3) I was told that I have eczema more than 25 yrs ago and thru the yrs doctors give me steriod pills and shots when skin problem goes bad. There was one doctor who even give me the hightest level of steriod cream. I believe most people here know that Steriod is really hurtful for body organs and bone, but do you know that it will demage the eyes too. REcently my eye sight have some problem which shouldn’t happen to people at my age (40), my eye specialist told me is my steriod usage thru the years causes my eye problem. So please please think before using those cream on your little one.
Hi,
I have mild eczema on good days, and really severe eczema on bad days.
I exercise quite a bit but I want to take up swimming. Do you know of any non-chlorine swimming pool in Singapore?
Thank You.
I recently started using Atoregen, a new product from Korea. Comes in a combination of anti-bacteria wash, serum and moisturer. I begin to see improvements after about a week. Its works on aiding the skin to regenerate, and true enough the skin seems to be getting less bumpy and healing. Works great.
Hi,
Would like to share my experience too. My daughter is 5 and had eczema from around 2 months of age. I’ve tried everything imaginable, creams, dietary control, herbs, homeopathics, naturopathy, bio-medical you name it. Nothing helped much and several made it much much worse.
She has still not slept through a night and is almost constanty ithcy. She wears cotton socks on her hands most of the time and learnt to write, bead, play and sleep with them on. She is also bandaged most of the time during winter.
I have reached the point now where I am making my peace with steroid cream. It is a constant battle to keep her out of hospital where they use anti-biotics and high doses of cortisone. At home we can try to keep the doses a bit lower, but at least she has skin and can move her eyelids.
We still keep up the diet, fish oil, enzymes, zeolite, oils, vitamin D bandages, no swimming etc. but she can’t do without cortisone.
Recently a child in Australia died of secondary infections from eczema because her parents refused to use cortisone. One has to decide to which lengths you wil go to avoid cortisone.
So once again it is a very individual condition and it is ok to do what you see fit to help you child live a “normal” life.
i ve been suffering from eczema since my childhood.
i just started to better control it.
my life got much better when:
- get ride of alcohol and perfume.
- change the laundry
i was scratching all the time, the legs, body etc because of the perfumes and aggresive products lefts on the clothes. this is really important since even the bed sheets, pillows cover are washed with aggresive products and it took me a very long time to understand that i just cant use a regular washing powder.probably just like – almost – everyone suffering from eczema
i will move to singapore soon, the laundry ‘surcare’that im currently using is the only one not causing a bad reaction on the contact with my skin.
i would be very grateful if any of you can recommand me a skin sensitive tested laundry powder.
also here i can get advises from your experiences regarding products to wash my body with.
In UK, i get a special lotion from the doctor to wash my body with.
im also using a cream recommanded by the doctor.
in singapore, im not sure to be able to get the same prescription, and do you know if the heathcare is expensive here in SG?
many thanks
Hi,
We live in NY from past 4years. My daughter who is almost 7 did not not have eczema before we moved from Bangalore, south India.Does any body think if we go back to India she will get better? Or any other place in USA. Going through a ver bad time because of eczema. Please help.
Sukhada
Hi there! I am a 13 year-old girl suffering from severe eczema.
I am really delighted when i found your website.
Although I have not tried this before, people out there may wish to change something about the clothing detergent, try the ‘Soap Nuts’.http://www.buysoapnuts.com/
or tumeric,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turmeric .
thats all i have for sharing, regarding the diet issue, this fruit juice have actually helped many ppl, even though i am tempted to try, my parents are considering taking other ways to improve my condition
http://www.planetpapp.com/g3superfruitjuiceblend/
or maybe we should switch to 100% organic and vegetarian diet?
should you have any more advice for people with severe eczema like me pls share it.
many thanks
Hi,
Thought I will share my experience. I am late 30s, mom of 2, son with egg allergy, a med doc and
Have been battling eczema, asthma rhinitis since childhood. There are ups and downs
And eczema issueworsens with stress. Tried lots and loads of advice. Recently, used aqueous cream or rosken dry skin cream mixed with 10-12 drops of essential oil ( lavender , chamomile or rosemary or any) applied to whole body. Amazing results.,no skin issues. For my face I used kiehl midnight recovery conc ( essential oil) – superb results. Possibly my skin is lacking in that. Its been three months and I am happy. Of course stress worsens condition and currently a bit stress free cos in training in Germany ( winter but no skin problem yet) . Will know when I get back to Pg to work in hot humid climate in stressful condition.
Just sharing. Drop me an email to share.
Ciao
Regards, ms
Hi there I’m back and I’ve some really good news to share
I have tried this fruit juice call “G3″ its a fruit juice consisting of the super fruit “Gac” and 3 other super fruits which is Chinese Lycium, Siberian Pineapple and Cili fruit. I also take Reishi and Omega Marine, there are all from the company Nuskin. In addition, I also undergo FIR treatment, its like a sauna room and it heats up to 42 degree celcius, i know many people with eczema often flare up due to heat, but this is really different, its like being under the sun minus the UV rays. And after 10 treatments or so my skin looks fabulous!Eczema is actually due to the toxins in our body being unable to purge out so the toxins try to purge out through the skin which is our largest organ. Therefore the steroid cream actually suppresses it, which do not address the problem. G3 is a supplemental fruit juice, it supplements the body in no way our food does, if you are interested in knowing more or you would like to try do email me at iqiqvul@gmail.com