Little Miss Ellie has been having some pretty severe skin problems.  What began as dry skin, progressed to eczema, and then to an all out bright red rash.  Four doctors’ visits later, Ellie was diagnosed with severe eczema and a yeast infection on her skin. 

We knew she had eczema but I suspected there was something more.  The severe eczema paved the way for a yeast infection to take over on her skin.  She was covered head to toe in a bright red bumpy rash and looked utterly miserable.  I bathe her three times a day in a special bath solution, moisturize her four or more times a day with olive oil and apricot oil, and occasionally apply her eczema medicine to keep her flare-ups under control.  She’s beginning to look more human now and her dry, leathery skin is feeling a little softer.  And amazingly, she’s been sleeping through the night.  I think before now she was too miserably uncomfortable to sleep through the night.  We’re finally on the right track.

Even though we believed Ellie had eczema, we still cannot understand why hers is so very severe.  I’ve changed dryer sheets; I wash clothes and then run a rinse cycle; I was everything in scent-free natural detergent; I try to minimize any contact with any rough fabrics; I work very hard to keep her skin moisturized.  She’s still struggling.  Now, we’re turning to food allergies.  My husband and I will have some labwork done to test for food allergies and we’ll see what we find.  As a part of those labs, we’ll both be tested for dairy intolerance, casein allergy, and celiac disease.  I’m dreading the results.  If we learn that either of us have celiac disease, our entire house will be going gluten free, which is not only very difficult (and usually pretty yucky), but it is also VERY expensive.  Hopefully, the tests will help us learn why Ellie has such severe skin problems and we can help her feel better.