I have been asking that question for almost 4 years now. My little girl had it since she was a few months old. It was even misdiagnosed as ringworm of all things! But we were lucky to get in touch with a great pedia-derma who also had the same complaint since she was a little girl as well, so I felt we were in good hands.
Believe it or not, just a few teaspoons of Virgin coconut oil and we were able to see marked improvement. My mother recommended we us Peter Paul because she saw it featured in a TV show and according to her their process and plant is very sanitary.
But before anything, I would just like to clarify, I am not a doctor, but like most moms, I believe we do earn our honorarium along the way especially for very stubborn ailments of our kids. It is best that you take the information below, research on it, ask your doctors and try it on yourself first before your kids, especially your babies.
But what is skin asthma? How is it different from the other skin allergies?
You know its skin asthma if it happens because the body or the liver can not properly metabolize certain proteins and these manifest into skin inflammations. This happens:
- when your child ingests any suspected allergens, for example chicken, eggs, tomato, milk, peanuts, crustaceans etc.
- inhales dustmites, cockroach droppings (yewww) etc.
- or uses things they are allergic to (ex. clothes washed in detergents they are allergic to)
- It causes the area at the back of the knees and elbows to be so itchy,
- inflammed and
- even cause wounds.
All the other areas are more associated with atopic dermatitis or contact dermatitis. Why these areas? Its associated with the lungs and as such, I was told, if not properly treated, children with skin asthma are prone to develop lung asthma.
I know it just a little blessing, but a silver-lining nonetheless that our little darlings are just dealing with skin problems rather than having to deal with the more frightening prospect of full-blown asthma.
Though our doctor was very capable and I liked her tremendously, I knew that relying on steriods almost from birth would not make for a very healthy regimen for my little girl. So slowly my quest for alternatives began. It has led us to an even deeper quest and which our whole lifestyle now evolves from, but that is another story.
And yes, I believe we will find the “cure”. Have you found your cure?
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hi tet
i have skin asthma and i’m trying out an organic lotion from planet noah. i hope it works, my baby has the condition too and if it works for me i’ll test it on him too. good luck with your cure, i hope it works!
Hi, Neva! So great to hear from you! It surprises me no end how common skin asthma is becoming, imagine that.
Good luck with your treatment, I hear Planet Noah is a good brand though I haven’t tried it yet. Let’s keep each other updated, if it works for us, it will work for others as well. Sometimes, other mommies just need to hear how it can be done to encourage them and fill them with hope that they will find the “cure” for their babies too.
Hello Tet! This is so interesting for me because I have a son with skin asthma and lung asthma. Petroleum jelly was recommended by the pedia, and it’s effective for as long as it’s on the affected skin. Problem is my son finds it so unsightly and greasy. Thanks for the tip!
We’re willing to try VCO — a less greasy alternative.
My two months old son was also diagnosed with Skin Asthma just this morning, his Mom was advised to use VCO or Petroleum Jelly. We’ve been using cetaphil for a week now but only slight improvement. We used a calamine ointment for his ears that was gravely affected and it worked.
Hi Cire. I’m glad to hear that you are able to find a treatment for your son. You are right to moisturize the area, dry skin makes them prone to itching. VCO based oils are a good alternative because its natural especially for your baby. We used cetaphil before as well, but you need to check with your doctor about it, my pedia advised caution especially for very young children, there seems to be some concerning effects for those susceptible. I just can’t remember what exactly right now but will email you when I get the chance to ask my pedia about it again.
Just for any treatment, read the label and be cautious when the ingredients get harder to pronounce, you know its chemical based and it is a good practice to start with the natural based ones first when that doesn’t work, then you can use the stronger ones. At least that way, you minimized the chemical build-up in your baby’s body. The body can still absorb the chemicals even when its applied topically.
hi and good evening. my daughter also has skin asthma and our derma prescribe elidel cream the downside is its a little pricy. we’ve been trying cetaphil but with only a very slight improvement on our daughter’s condition. will try vco next. thanks…
hi my 10 months old daughter had skin asthma too, my pedia advised to use aveeno lotion and it helps a lot.
Hi mommy,
Was the vco applied to her skin or did she also take it orally?
I’ve been desperate for a cure. My child is 10yrs old and has had skin asthmas since she’s a baby. We
Hope more mommies can post suggestions and comment re this.
Thanks
Hi Mommies,
My 7th month old son has skin asthma too. he was diagnosed as early as 2 or 3 months old. the derma told us to use dove soap for bath and the mineral oil after then apply the seba med lotion but it doesn’t help a lot. so i also use eucerin aquaphor medicated ointment (suggested by his pedia) to moisturized his skin. if it’s getting worst i apply sylenar/cortizan cream. i don’t find elidel cream effective on him and it’s to pricy also.
I want to try the peter and paul organic vco but where i can buy it?and can i just apply it to his skin instead of him taking it orally coz he’s still a baby.
my son’s skin asthma is usually found in his elbow, thigh and red spots in his face.
Mommies i hope you can help me.
Thanks