Milk Spots, Hormone spots or Excema
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Support
Forum Name: Reflux and Allergy Support
Forum Description: Struggling with a refluxy baby? Looking for tips to deal with allergies? Share your experiences here.
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=27361
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Topic: Milk Spots, Hormone spots or Excema
Posted By: KitKat
Subject: Milk Spots, Hormone spots or Excema
Date Posted: 07 July 2009 at 1:46pm
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The topic says it all really. What is the diff???
everyone says "Oh its hormone spots- normal" But we arent so sure. Its getting worse, and no-one has actually taken a good look, they just fob it off as hormonal. We had the wee whitehead phase- which I aggree was prob hormone spots- but this looks more like exzema to me.... any thoughts? He is also refluxy, and VERY unsettled in the day... so prob sleeps well at night (5-7hrs stints)cos he is exhausted, and feeding is very stressful for him, taking in air, too fast, struggle to stop to burp as he screams! etc etc. He is also scrabbling at his face a lot, as tho its itchy. The rash is raised, angry and spreads from his ears, round the back of his neck, all over face, some on chest/shoulders, and on forehead. It feels like sandpaper and is dry not oily. We will talk to Plunket lady this avo- but thinking bout seeing a GP/dermatologist maybe... or getting some allergy testing done. DP has very sensitive skin, and I have asthma- so hopefully we havent magnified these in Locky... poor little man. Any ideas??? Are we just worrying for nothing? or is this somthing to keep banging at to 'those who know' till we get answers we believe- I dont want to make something of nothing. Parenting is so hard- so much to worry about! ------------- 
http://www.littlegreenfruit.blogspot.com - Little Green Fruit |
Replies:
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 07 July 2009 at 3:56pm
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Hi, it does sound like either something other than hormone spots but which maybe started at the same time? or the hormone spots have got infected. I remember Spencer's on his forehead went all yellow an oozy and it was pretty gross, so I smothered his face in sudocream, he looked like an idiot but it did the trick.
As far as I am aware they cannot do allergy testing that young (or they can but the results aren't accurate until 12 months) so the doc will probably say no to that anyway, but given that he also has reflux the likelyhood of a milk protein allergy is quite high. I can't remember if it is 80% of reflux babies that have a milk allergy or 80% of those with milk allergy have reflux but either way there is a strong connection between the two. If you are breastfeeding then restrict dairy from your diet, you will need to do it for at least 2 weeks to see a difference or not, if you are formula feeding it is a bit more difficult but what I would do is firstly talk to your gp about the possibility of an allergy and then I would also swap baby onto Karicare HA which is hydrogenised (can never spell that word) and that may help a little, but it isn't as good as the prescription formulas. Unfortunately to get the prescription formulas you need to see a paed, gps can't authorize the funding for it, so you can either ask for a referal on the public system or go private. Our paed is up there in price and the first appointment cost $275 and follow ups are $160. If you do decide to go the private route ask your gp for one that specialises in allergies cos some paeds are just as clueless about them as the gps. A couple of websites that are worth looking at (sometimes helps to go armed with info so you dont' get fobbed off as a neurotic new mum) http://www.cryingoverspiltmilk.co.nz/ http://www.actagainstallergy.co.uk/aaa_couk/1734-parents-home.html ------------- 
 
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Posted By: KitKat
Date Posted: 07 July 2009 at 6:12pm
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Turns out its Excema (sp) I kew it wasnt just Hormone spots!!!
Now- cause? hmmm so many variables -------------
http://www.littlegreenfruit.blogspot.com - Little Green Fruit |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 07 July 2009 at 9:17pm
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Are you breastfeeding? And does he have frothy poohs?
If you are & he does definitely cut out dairy out of your diet. I found it took about 4 days for the pooh's to start settling down & the eczema & reflux about a week or slightly over. Cradle cap disappeared too. Had some dairy in cooking (over indulged  ) and the spilling has come back 
If you are on formula there is the option also of trying goats milk, even though it's proteins are similar to cows milk for some babies it works a treat. Other than that I don't know about formulas. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: KitKat
Date Posted: 09 July 2009 at 12:09pm
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Im not BF unfortunately- long story.
We are gonna try Lactose free... even though his poos are ok, I think that having one less protien to leak into his system will help. FIL is lactose intolerant too. I think its a milk allergy over lactose- so therefore goats milk formula is out. And I aint goin soy. I am trying to find out more about the HA formula. We started using Exmaease cream- WOW its AWESOME!!!! -------------
http://www.littlegreenfruit.blogspot.com - Little Green Fruit |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 09 July 2009 at 1:56pm
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The lactose free formulas aren't milk free. If it's an allergy to the cows milk protein (which is far more common in babies) then that is totally different.
Lactose intolerance is where you are deficient in the enzyme needed to break down lactose, which is the sugar in milk, it is actually at much higher levels in breastmilk than cows milk and normally lactose intolerance doesn't start until you are in your early 20s. Cow's milk protein allergy is where the immune system actually sees the protein as a threat and attacks it as it would any other invader. So buying formula that is lactose free probably wouldn't help. The HA or the goats is more likely to (although goats milk protein is similar to cows milk protein so the same reaction can occur). And yep I would totally avoid soy as well unless you want little one to grow boobs 
Make a note of all his symptoms etc and then if you need to see the gp about it you have something to show them, as they normally base diagnosis just on history at this age rather than testing them for it. -------------
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Posted By: KitKat
Date Posted: 13 July 2009 at 7:03pm
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We are trying Probiotics.... and Karicare HA
his poo STINKS! lol But so far so good... ie no adverse reactions... Ill keep ya'll posted on outcome. -------------
http://www.littlegreenfruit.blogspot.com - Little Green Fruit |
Posted By: busyissy
Date Posted: 17 July 2009 at 12:47pm
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Hi KitKat,
Does Lachlan need thickner for his reflux? If so you might want to look into trying HA AR formula. And I have found it is sooo much cheaper to buy formula from the wholesaler, which is Biolab. It's a phone order and they deliver to your house the next day. We were spending $200 a month on formula (Issy has De-Lact and Dom has HA & thickner for Issy) and since buying from Biolab it saves me an extra $20.00. If you still wonder about it being lactose intolerance you should have a look at this http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/lactose-intolerance.html - website because there is actually 3 different types of lactose intolerance. |
Posted By: KitKat
Date Posted: 20 July 2009 at 2:09pm
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He is lactose intollerant according to the doc.
We decided to try goats milk formula, as the HA is giving him MAJOR poos... they are sooo smelly, and explosive. They look like cow pats! So once the tin of HA is used- we start on goat. We have been told that goats milk is tolerated by a lot of lactose intollerant people, as the protiens are a different size or something. And goats milk is very similar to human milk. Thought we'd give it a go.... Then we shall try de-lact if no improvement. Not using thickened.... didnt feel the need to- his spilling isnt tooo bad now thankgod. -------------
http://www.littlegreenfruit.blogspot.com - Little Green Fruit |
Posted By: whitewave
Date Posted: 21 July 2009 at 9:35pm
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Kat, how did the doc know Lachlan was lactose intolerant? (And which doc did you go to?)
Campbell's excema on his head doesn't seem to be responding to the Xma-Ease cream. Sometimes he scratches it so bad he bleeds! I'm wondering if its an allergy of some sort? It started about a week or so before he started solids, so am thinking its possibly something in my breastmilk? But I can't think of anything new I've started eating.
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Posted By: KitKat
Date Posted: 22 July 2009 at 6:32pm
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Well the goats milk has not gone down too well AT ALL. 24hrs now and his feeds have decreased to 100ml instead of 200ml... and he screams in discomfort- a lot. his first sleep was 10 hrs! we thought- yay! but then... no.
So we are going back to the HA. Jen- eczema is an allergy. Its an immune response. So its a matter of finding out what. It could be environmental, or contact allergy so that makes it hard too. May not be food at all. washing pow, weather, etc etc. Doc said it was a lactose intolerance based on all his symptoms- but tbh- Im not so sure. I have always suspected a milk allergy...... lactose is the sugar and if Campbell was milk sensitive/lactose intollerant I would think he'd have shown signs by now (particularly when you drink milk), but deff still possible....milk allergy is to the protein....It leaks through the gut wall as it goes undigested, and causes an immune response- excema and others.. But- I am at a bit of a loss at the mo.... I think considering his response to goats milk.... it could be the milk protien.... as Ive heard a lot of lactose intolerant babes can tolerate goats. reluctant to try the lactose free if we know the HA was getting us somewhere... just have to put up with the apocolyptic nappies! lol argh allergies are sooo complicated! -------------
http://www.littlegreenfruit.blogspot.com - Little Green Fruit |
Posted By: whitewave
Date Posted: 22 July 2009 at 10:15pm
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Thanks Kat, yeah have been thinking today that a food allergy doesn't make sense. Only poss thing I can think of is that his towels get washed with ours, using Surf or Cold Power powder. The rest of his clothes and nappies get washed in Amolin Sensitive. So now everything of his is going to get washed in Amolin, and I'll see how that goes.
Otherwise I'm at at a complete loss as to what is causing it. I agree, its bloody complicated! |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 22 July 2009 at 10:30pm
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KitKat I would ask to be referred to a paed if I was you, and one that knows about allergies as well. If it is an allergy, and I'm no expert but it does sound like it, then you will need to see a paed to get the authority number for the proper script formula so you may as well get in the system now. Unless you can afford to go private which is what we did cos I kept getting no where with plunket or the gp.
I'm surprised he said lactose intolerant, there is actually more lactose in breastmilk than in cow's milk so it is very rare for babies to be lactose intolerant, it's normally a problem that occurs once people are in their late teens/early 20s (probably natures way of gently telling us we are too old for milk!). -------------
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Posted By: Spedel
Date Posted: 23 July 2009 at 9:25am
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Hi
Our daughter is 4mnths and has eczema, she first started off with major cradle cap and had dry knees. She is breast fed but is topped up with formula. We initially started on normal formula but then went to goats milk which actually seems to have made no difference. The eczema started spreading, she gets red angry raised spots and has very dry skin over most of her body. The red angy stuff is mainly on her cheeks but is also on other parts of her body. We took her to a dermatologist who sent us to get a heel prick so they could test her for some of the basic allergies. We are still awaiting these results. I also was sent to get allergy tested. We are currently using creams prescribed by the dermatoloist, the main one is cetomacrogol cream for her dry skin. We have also been prescribed 1% hydocortisone for angry spots. I would go and see someone who will be able to give you answers and can actually get to the bottom of it if possible. We don't know what is creating hers but eczema is in our family. I would get on to it ASAP. I put mittens on my daugher and have stitched on ribbons to tie them on as she was just pulling them off. For nightwear I use the gowns with mittens and have stitched up the ends she so can not scratch at night. Aqueous cream got rid of the cradle cap totally. This was the first cream prescribed by the doctor. I am looking for natural creams that work if anyone has any ideas as I do not want to continue with chemical creams. Though at this point I don't feel as though I have a choice for her comfort. Every nappy change she is attacking her legs with her hands and the other leg. I have to cream her all through the day to keep her skin from being so dry. I think ours is a bad case so don't freak out but do go and see a professional. |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 23 July 2009 at 9:56am
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I would eliminate all dairy from your and her diet, that is normally the culprit as dairy allergy is the most common, something like 10% of all babies and 30% of those have no family history of allergies (if I remember the stats right).
I think eczema ease is a natural one and also pot of gold. It's not natural but I do find it very good and that is alpha keri oil, you put it in the bath and lemnis fatty cream (I find it nicer than aqueous and it was the one the paed recommended). You could also try pinetarsol in the bath, it stinks but is suppose to be very good. -------------
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Posted By: Spedel
Date Posted: 23 July 2009 at 10:28am
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Thanks for those ideas, I will try them.
In addition to my prior blurb. Her tummy looks like it has a rash on it, she gets this around her neck and under her chin as well but not always. Her back and shoulder areas have a lesser rash on them and are not so dry. Her tummy, arms and legs are very dry without the creams. Her forehead was very dry and had the yellow cradle cap but is clear now I use the cream. We never had pussy head spots. Her legs and backs of arms do get raised red spotty areas. Her legs also get larger red spots more on her thighs. She can also get just red areas on backs of knees and elbows but not to often at the moment. This looks different to the red raised angy spots. The allergy tests are not always conclusive as someone mentioned earlier. The alternative is to cut out things one at a time eg dairy, then eggs, then wheat. When we get the allergy results back I will see if I need to do that. We have an appointment next week again so I will let you know what the results come up with and if any of the rashes are anything other than eczema. She did look at her the first time though and said eczema. |
Posted By: KitKat
Date Posted: 23 July 2009 at 9:06pm
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Wow poor wee thing... Spedel, it must be frustrating.
Im not saying stop using the creams, but perhaps dont rule out that they can sometimes irritate the situation even more. My DP has very sensitive skin, and cant use hydrocortisone etc as it makes it worse. This Exma Ease Cream is really awesome.... perhaps a patch test could work???? http://www.xmaease.co.nz/ - Xma Ease Skin reactions are an allergic response.... so tricky to find out what it is esp Id imagine, in such a severe case. Also- Try Karicare HA (for kids at risk of allergies) if you are topping up. There is another formula on prescription (prob the one cuppatea is talking about?) called Neocate, for extreme cases. Have you looked at the foods you are eating??? Nuts, eggs milk etc etc etc??? Locky was a new man today back on HA- phew!!! His cradel cap is quite stunning at the mo! Jen- good idea to avoid the cold power etc, full of perfumes and other exciting irritating things. -------------
http://www.littlegreenfruit.blogspot.com - Little Green Fruit |
Posted By: KitKat
Date Posted: 23 July 2009 at 9:09pm
Im surprised too.... she felt a bit threatened when I questioned it, I didnt want to argue. grr silly doc Funny thing is DP dad is a paed!! lol... doesnt specialise in allergies etc though. I hope we have found the solution with Karicare HA though fingers crossed! -------------
http://www.littlegreenfruit.blogspot.com - Little Green Fruit |
cuppatea wrote:Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 23 July 2009 at 9:39pm
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Which area are you in, our allergy paed is awesome, he's in CHCH, he only does private though.
And yep was neocate I'm talking about, Spencer is still on it now, he's on the toddler version. The difference when he went on it was amazing. When breastfed but particularly once he was weaned he became covered head to toe in aggressive eczema, was severely constipated, use to back arch and scream at every feed, didn't drink well or sleep well. He went on the neocate at 4.5 months and the reflux stopped, the constipation stopped, within 2 weeks he had virtually no eczema (there was just one stubborn patch behind his knee that took a while to go) he went from us struggling to get 120ml into him to him draining 180ml and best of all he started sleeping through. Oh another good thing for allergic children is to give them a probiotic. For those not on solids you can just pop a bit in on your finger before a feed (use a powdered one) and once on solids you can just mix it with the food, is good to also take a probiotic yourself if you are breastfeeding. -------------
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Posted By: Spedel
Date Posted: 24 July 2009 at 8:57am
| I've got some neocate, just trying to introduce it. She doesn't like it so I am mixing it with Goats. |
Posted By: KitKat
Date Posted: 24 July 2009 at 11:01am
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ooh good luck.
yip doin the probiotics- i mix it in his bottle. we in dunedin. -------------
http://www.littlegreenfruit.blogspot.com - Little Green Fruit |
Posted By: whitewave
Date Posted: 24 July 2009 at 10:15pm
| Okay, at the risk of this being a silly question - what are the probiotics, what do they do, and where do you get them from? |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 25 July 2009 at 8:37am
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From a health store or pharmacy, just ask for a powdered one and tell them it's for a baby. They help boost the good bacteria in the gut, a lack of good bacteria can make eczema worse. Spencer was born by c/s so the paed said that he wouldn't have been exposed to the right bacteria at birth (babies are designed to ingest some of the mums poo at birth and that combined with colostrum sets the gut up properly with the needed bacteria). Our paed had me taking probiotics during third trimester with Kyle and whilst breastfeeding and to put Kyle on it from birth as well. His eczema has only ever been mild, so hopefully it's helping. He was a VBAC as well so most likely got the right bacteria.
Probiotics are what you get in yoghurt, just in the powder or tablets they are in higher concentrates. -------------
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Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 25 July 2009 at 8:40am
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Oh and this is a good way to explain it ANTIbiotics...kill bacteria, they kill it all though even the good stuff (unfortunate but the only way to do it), whereas PRObiotics do the opposite and replace/boost that lost good bacteria.
In the US they prescribe probiotics alongside antibiotics for that reason. Although I probably haven't correctly medically explained it -------------
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Posted By: whitewave
Date Posted: 25 July 2009 at 9:42pm
| Thanks for that, that's what I thought it was! Just wasn't aware probiotics could help excema. Might be worth a try! |
Posted By: KitKat
Date Posted: 25 July 2009 at 10:03pm
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The thing with eczema (and other symptoms) is its an immune response to foreign substances in the body/blood, one example- when we ingest and digest food etc, if it isnt digested properly or we cant tolerate it, it leaks through the gut wall and the immune respose is triggered. SO- probiotics help with digestion, further aiding in minimising 'leakage' from the gut. Environmental and contact allergies enter the body other ways- but probiotics help with food allergies.
Another analogy-Babies' stomach wall is like a very 'wide mesh' (for lack of a better analogy)... in the first few weeks, the wall is strengthened, and the mesh becomes smaller. less escapes through it. Though sometimes babies (and adults) can have allergies where they cant digest the small particles that can still fit through the mesh... causing the immune response. Ussually milk proteins (or other protiens), and lactose sugars. I am not a doctor- that is my understanding of it. Always a good idea to look after the immune system...works on so many levels, not just when we are sick. I use http://innerhealth.com.au/content/product/inner-health-for-kids - this stuff but give him 1/8th teaspoon twice a day in his bottle. (cos Locky is only 2 mths) Sun Ray in the Centre City Mall are good to talk to Jen. -------------
http://www.littlegreenfruit.blogspot.com - Little Green Fruit |
Posted By: Spedel
Date Posted: 01 August 2009 at 9:01am
| Allergy results came back, she is allergic to milk, egg white, wheat, soy bean, cod and peanuts. I have to cut those out of my diet if I want to continue feeding her. Hopefully by doing this her eczema and dry skin will improve. We battle the most with the dry skin. Have to go and see paeds and dietician... |
Posted By: KitKat
Date Posted: 02 August 2009 at 3:39pm
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WOW!
how old is she???? was that all determined from a blood test??? Strange how she is allergic to cod! And SUPER bummer about the peanuts- tricky one. How are you doing>??? -------------
http://www.littlegreenfruit.blogspot.com - Little Green Fruit |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 02 August 2009 at 4:37pm
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Spencer is allergic to peanuts but only mild (or so the doc thinks from the test, he's never actually had a peanut) so it's not always a mega bad one to come up, I know I sh*t myself when his came up and the doc was like "nah, he'll just get rashy and have a sore tum, you won't need to phone 111"
Kitkat they can skin prick test (not as bad as it sounds as it's not really a prick more a small scratch, not even bad enough to leave a mark) but most docs don't do it until 12 months as it can be inaccurate under that age, I think false negatives. -------------
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Posted By: KitKat
Date Posted: 02 August 2009 at 6:39pm
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Ah right...
I remember a friend doing a scratch test on my arm a few years back- to see if I was still allergic to bananas (itd been a few years since i touched them- given that my throat swells if I do!) Anyways- we rubbed banana on the scratch on my arm- and my whole are swelled up!!! pretty freaky. My bro is allergic to most raw fruit, and carrots, and nuts, and coconut. And prawns. I cant keep up w him. Id love to get Locks tested.... do you just ask the doc??? -------------
http://www.littlegreenfruit.blogspot.com - Little Green Fruit |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 02 August 2009 at 7:07pm
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Our allergy doc did it for us but you can go to medlab and have them done, not sure if you need a referal for that though and they might not do it this young as the results aren't accurate till 12 months. -------------
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