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News & Research

Eczema Research News – Do Antihistamines work?

Will Antihistamine Work for Eczema?
Will Antihistamine Work for Eczema?

This is part of a quarterly round-up of some of the recent eczema-related studies, so that we can be aware of possible treatments and their efficacy (and I can also keep myself updated with the latest eczema research!)

Today’s topic is on Antihistamines, do they Work? I’ve read in forums that some patients swear it helps with the itch, while others swear at it for being totally useless. What’s the research in this area? I’ve found a few studies online, but before we go into them, let’s get some Antihistamines’ basics.

What are Antihistamines?

Antihistamines are medication that are taken orally to block the activity of histamine at skin H1 receptor sites, thus alleviating itch. The older generation of antihistamines is sedative, usually prescribed to relieve itch and scratching at night.

Backtrack a step for some of you to understand the rationale – One of the characteristic of eczema is itch, which triggers patients and children with eczema to scratch at the inflamed skin/ lesion. Scratching worsens the skin inflammation, exacerbating the itch-scratch cycle. Scratching also thickens the skin, further breaks down the skin barrier and risks infection. Thus antihistamines are prescribed to alleviate the itch, to reduce scratching.  More on scratching here.

There are broadly two types of antihistamines,

1) the sedating types such as alimemazine, chlorphenamine, cyproheptadine, hydroxyzine and promethazine.

2) the non-sedating types such as cetirizine, levocetirizine, loratadine, desloratadine and fexofenadine. Supposedly, the non-sedating type can bind more selectively to the H1 receptors and last longer for 24 hours but many reported not effective.

How are Antihistamines supposed to help Eczema patients?

Oral H1 antihistamines have been prescribed for eczema patients, usually for their sedative effects. It appears that the sedating type is more commonly concurred to relieve itch better than the non-sedating. However, longer than 2 weeks’ use have been described to render sedating antihistamine ineffective to the patient.

Can Antihistamines be prescribed for Children with Eczema?

Yes, studies had been conducted for children from age 1, and different antihistamines have different age limits and the dosage depends on the weight of the child. Read that hydroxyzine is not recommended for below 6-month eczema baby and promethazine and alimemazine not for children under 2 years old.

Are there side-effects to Antihistamines?

Antihistamines may cause side effects such as drowsiness, headaches, constipation, dry mouth and blurred vision, and worsen condition such as glaucoma and retention of urine.

What’s the verdict on Antihistamine on Eczema?

After reviewing PubMed, it appears that it is difficult to isolate the effect of antihistamine as trials undertaken had used antihistamines as an add-on therapy (imagine which eczema patient would take part in a study that prohibit you from moisturizing and treating your eczema, insisting you consume only antihistamines!). Therefore, there is no conclusion as to whether antihistamines work. Based on a selection of antihistamines’ studies published on PubMed, cetirizine improved eczema (along with topical treatment) while chlorphenamine did not show difference in alleviating scratching at night. Hydroxyzine reported to work better than cyproheptadine in another study.

As you can see, there’s no clear conclusion on whether antihistamine is useful, neither is there clear study on whether the sedating type is more useful than the non-sedating. What is your experience? Do share in the comments, greatly appreciate!

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Last updated on 22 November, 2024 3:04 am
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Eczema Life Cartoon

Life of Eczema Girl – Shower in Preschool

Eczema Girl Cartoon - shower
Another cartoon just for laugh! Of shower in preschool, nothing to do with my daughter’s real life!

This is the 30th of my 2nd cartoon series, ‘LIFE OF AN ECZEMA GIRL’. For more cartoon in this series, check out here. For more posts on shower, check this tag.

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Eczema Devotional

Mom-E-votional : The Inside on Valentine’s Day

Eczema devotional Heart that Matters
Eczema devotional Heart that Matters

Today is Valentine’s Day and many of us have bought (or grappling to buy something!) for our spouse or partner. It is likely an evening with special plans, and for those of us who have children to care for, maybe a favorite drink or dessert or wine at home adds a spark to the meal. For singles who are dating, to dress up and look lovely for the evening with your date could be something you are looking forward to…. or not.

When moderating an eczema forum, I do frequently come across posts by adults and teenagers worried about their appearance as they have a special date or prom coming up. For ladies who apply make-up, it can also get tricky as make-up and (eczema) flare-up don’t quite get along! And not just ladies, many males worry about their eczema flare-up on the face or hands as well.

There is one person who we can ‘date’ and not worry about judging our looks – God looks at the inside. In bible verse 1 Samuel 16:7, it is written “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart”.

Can God see our eczema? I believe so, as He even knows the number of hairs we have (Matthew 10:30). But God looks at our heart and people who love us also look beyond our appearance. While we as parents of eczema children do all we can to help our child (including treating the eczema patches promptly to limit permanent scarring or discoloration), we are reminded to grow their hearts as well – so that they will be persons who focus on the heart rather than the appearance.

Bible verse:

1 Samuel 16:7: But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Dear God, I pray that we will grow our hearts and our children, and learn to look beyond appearances. I pray that our children, despite their eczema, will be able to find friends and people who love them beyond their looks. On this valentine’s day, I also pray for all dating eczema friends around the world to enjoy love and the company of the ones they adore.

Our heart matters more than our looks

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Last updated on 22 November, 2024 9:08 pm
Categories
Support Group

Loving my Eczema baby

Loving Eczema Hubby and Baby at EczemaBlues.com
Valentine’s Day – A love Poem by Eczema Mom

I love you, no matter what

No sleep so deep

A minute rest at best

Tempers, tantrums

Flare and Flare-ups

But

Learning to love

Watching us grow

Living today

Loving tomorrow

A poem to celebrate Valentine’s Day. My daughter said she’s making a valentine’s day card for me, if it’s decent, I’ll post it! Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you, and I do hope that my devotional on every friday this year is filling your family life with love. Hugs!

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Support Group

Shingles for Eczema Child

Shingles in a child with eczema
Shingles in a child with eczema

Sometime end of last year, my daughter with eczema had a case of Shingles! We didn’t think it was shingles as it is not very common that young children (age 4) get shingles. But she did – as she also had chickenpox before at about age 2. (She also likely had many times of Hand Foot Mouth Disease!)

Before we cover the basics of shingles, just want to share our experience of a 4 year old eczema child getting shingles.

First 2-3 days: She got itchier than normally, and small red bumps started appearing around her torso. We didn’t know it’s shingles, how would we when it is not very different from eczema flare-up?

Next 2 days: More pronounced bumps and blisters on one side of her torso and she complained about some of the bumps being painful. We brought her to a general practitioner who then diagnosed it as shingles and gave her medication cream to apply.

Next 2-3 days: The blisters/ rashes subsided, and she’s as good as she normally is!

On hindsight, there are certain symptoms to look out for:

  1. The rashes being painful.
  2. The rashes being only on one half of her torso.
  3. The rashes looking a little different from her normal eczema rash (but really, it’s quite hard to tell in the first 2-3 days).

What we did:

Apart from the medication cream that the doctor prescribed, we did the usual and continued with moisturizing and shower. There’s no apparent change in her diet or sleep pattern. She got it after a few of her classmates were ill, so I’m not sure if a reduced immunity assisted in the onset of shingles. Now let’s find out more about it!

What is Shingles?

Shingles is an infection caused by the chicken pox virus (varicella zoster), and only people who had chickenpox can get shingles. This is because the virus still remained dormant in the body and later reactivated and become shingles.

Obviously, don’t go to school or crowded place (7 days). Someone who had not have chickenpox may get chickenpox after contact with one with shingles.

Who can get Shingles?

Generally, people over 50 with weaker immune system are at higher risk of shingles, if they had chickenpox before. But as we know, children as young as 4 year old can get shingles!

What are the Symptoms?

Various signs are pain, tingling, burning sensation on one side of body, mostly on the torso. This can be accompanied by fever, chills and headache. Blisters will develop in the next few days, get crusted and pain may linger after the blisters are healed.

How to treat Shingles?

No treatment needed, but the pain can be soothed by pain relievers or cold compress. Anti-viral medication or cream may be prescribed.

How to prevent Shingles?

Chicken pox vaccine can be considered for those who have not had chicken pox. Keeping immune system strong helps, i.e adequate sleep (something which an eczema child lacks of!), lower stress level and healthy lifestyle.

Share your experience in the comments too, it can help other parents going through the same!

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Eczema Life Cartoon

Life of Eczema Girl – Distraction and Irritation

Eczema Itch - Distraction and Irritation cartoon
Just a fun cartoon of what may possibly be more irritating and distracting than the ITCH!

This is the 29th of my 2nd cartoon series, ‘LIFE OF AN ECZEMA GIRL’. For more cartoon in this series, check out here. For more posts on scratching and itch, check this tag.

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Eczema Devotional

Mom-E-votional : Family Reunion

Choose Forgiveness!
Choose Forgiveness!

For the past week, it is the celebration of the Chinese (Lunar) New Year, and one of the highlights of this festival is the family reunion dinner. Families, including extended families, gather under one roof for dinner on the night before the 1st of the lunar new year. It is indeed a blessing to be with family, and at times I wonder, if there are any strained relations that arose out of caring for our child with eczema. Did someone assume it was your fault for the eczema? Did someone shove a must-try miracle treatment to you?

Whatever the case, family is to be treasured and misunderstandings (of eczema and between family members!) are to be forgiven. Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is frequently misunderstood, with many confusing it with other rashes such as urticaria (hives) or contact dermatitis. I’m happy that whatever anyone said to me, I have not let it to fester in my heart. Partly, my child Marcie’s eczema is under control. I do pray for those families who are still struggling to have severe eczema under control, and continue to live with the stress of other’s comments, looks or criticism.

Bible Verse:

Mark 11:25 : And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

Dear God, You know my heart and if there is any hatred, unhappiness in me toward my family over what they have said or done about my child’s eczema, teach me to forgive. Fill my heart with happiness and love toward them because I don’t want and don’t need to have negativity in my heart, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Forgive Others just as Our Father has Forgiven

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Support Group

Eczema Support Group – Feb 2014 session on Wet Wrap

Come and Learn how to Wrap Right for Your Eczema Child size and body part size!
Come and Learn how to Wrap Right for Your Eczema Child size and body part size!

Welcome all of you back to 2014, and Gong Xi Fa Cai (translated Prosperity Blessings?)! The Eczema Support Group for Parents with Eczema Children’s first session in 2014 will be on 22 February (Sat) 930 am at NSC, so mark your calendar!

This session will be on Wet Wrap, focusing on learning how to find the Right Size for your Child and using the Right wrap for different body parts. This is a back-by-popular demand session, as many parents who have not attended the last wet wrap talk in April 2013 have been asking me how to wrap.

22 February (Saturday) – Venue, National Skin Centre Singapore Room 401, 9.30 am to 11 am

The program:

1. 9.30 am to 10 am Introducing Ourselves over BREAKFAST – A warm-up for everyone, and food to get everyone awake. Feel free to bring your child, we have puzzles, coloring, balloon sculpture to keep your little ones occupied.

2. 10 am – 10.45 am Tubifast team will share on wet wraps – Right Size and Wrap. They will give a presentation and have products available for you to see. From past sessions’ experience, it is not as easy to visualize your child and how to wrap, so you may just want to bring him/her along!

3. 10.45 – 11am Q&A time, so be prepared with your question!

Same note: No doctor present, so don’t expect to ‘Ask the Doc’. Information shared is not medical advice, please still see a doc. No selling anything or pretending to be a parent of eczema child and the session is for parents with eczema kids. Information on my blog is not pre-approved by NSC.

4. YOU MUST RSVP – It will then be possible for us to prepare breakfast and for the Tubifast team to prepare the relevant product. Our medical social worker who is helping with the Eczema Support Group will be in-charge of confirming your attendance, which isn’t confirmed till she says so! If you’re coming, please email me ([email protected]) your name, mobile and email, number of adults & kids coming, so that I can get her to contact you.

One last thing, the session would be ending on-time, so please don’t come late and expect it to drag, it won’t – simply cos I have to run! Look forward to seeing you! Mei

Categories
Doctor Q&A

Rise and Shine Feature – Parenting with Dr Sears

Dr. Bill Sears is one of America’s most renowned pediatricians, father of eight children, and author of over 40 books on childcare. He is the Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine. Dr Sears Lean has a series on this blog that covers many aspects of raising healthy kids. Dr Sears shared many tips in this Singapore workshop ‘Keeping Your Child Healthy’.

Raising healthy babies and successful children with Dr Bill Sears

Dr Sears mentioned that the number 1 reason that children grow up to be criminal is the lack of capacity to care and lack of empathy. Success is defined differently by every parent but emphasis ought to be on the character.

Dr Sears’ TEN Tools for Success

  1. Empathy and Compassion – Start in infancy with attachment parenting which lead to childhood Cs, with a lower likelihood that the child will turn out to be the school bully. Ask empathy questions like “How would you feel if…?”, raise siblings who care (role playing) and engage in empathy games.
  2. Ability to make wise choices – This refers to the ability to think through what you’re about to do, and knowing that choices have consequences. Children can be engaged in ‘replay’ scenarios, pretend choices and parents be aware of teachable moments. A career is a major decision in life, and Dr Sears believe that instead of influencing children’s career choices, it ought to be emphasized ‘whatever you do, do it well’.
  3. Good communicate skills – Teach the child to speak eye-to-eye, touch the child as you talk, speak naturally to the child and parents should pay attention to their body language and listening to the child. Always remember that the parent is the child’s cheer counsellor. On speech development, a child needs to learn to speak comfortably before speaking correctly, therefore the parent should not unduly correct the language but can speak back the correct way.
  4. Sense of responsibility – Children who depend most in the first two years turned out to be independent adults, teach responsible attitude like ‘I did it, I’ll fix it’. Children can be given jobs, responsibilities to gain that sense of responsibility.
  5. Sense of moral reasoning – Children should be taught to think before they act, and raising a successful child include working on their character, kindness and manners.
  6. Health attitude about sexuality – Always be the first resource children turn to by letting them know they can turn to you early in their life, for instance let the child know ‘if you tell me, I won’t get angry’.
  7. A love of learning–  Parents who value learning, create harmonious homes, have family meals, stretch NOT stress kids, involved in school can help children to adore learning!
  8. Confidence – Encourage your child, frame the child positively, play and observe the child to discover the talent/intelligence they have which can go beyond reading or logic, into areas like music, dance and drawing.
  9. Joyful attitude – To raise a joyful child, encourage him, help him relax, introduce music, help him/her to feel positive about own self and most importantly, let children know that they cannot control circumstances but can always control their reaction.
  10. Healthy LEAN habits – Health Lifestyle, Exercise, Attitude, Nutrition go a long way to helping to raise happy, healthy children, see here for the first of DrSearsLean series on this blog.

Dr Sears on Sibling Rivalry & Tantrums

Have the siblings do a task together, or to help one another.

Dr Bill Sears

Tantrums are common for children under two, as they have yet to be able to verbalize; however, this should be differentiated from manipulative tantrum which parents should not be pulled into. Discipline is based on right relationship than the right techniques.

I didn’t get to have Dr Sears vet through this post before publishing, any and all mistakes mine. It was a lovely day listening to Dr Sears during the Rise and Shine Expo in Singapore.

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Last updated on 12 November, 2024 5:03 am
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Eczema Life Cartoon

Life of Eczema Girl – Not MY Hands that Sweat

Sweat can trigger eczema, cartoon!
The first of eczema girl’s ‘love’ life, though she’s not into that at all! Plus, criteria for male selection? no sweaty palms for her!

This is the 28th of my 2nd cartoon series, ‘LIFE OF AN ECZEMA GIRL’. For more cartoon in this series, check out here. For more posts on trigger, check this tag.

Categories
Eczema Devotional

Mom-E-votional – You Have to Do This, That

My words have to show care and love for my family, and not just to-do list!
My words have to show care and love for my family, and not just to-do list!

Some days I worry what being a mom has turned me into – my to-do list seems to become my mantra, as I go about each day thinking about the chores that need to be done, on top of getting my child a bath, moisturized and calm (not itchy) for bedtime. My to-do list seems to take over my life on some evenings that are filled with chores, and I find myself barking commands to my husband and child ‘You have to clean up, You have to get ready for shower, You have to…’ (fill in your own list!)

Maybe there is a real need to get certain chores done, I certainly don’t want my child to go to preschool without her uniform!; or there may be some stuff that can be put off or eliminated; or they may all have to be done, but we can learn to ask for help nicely and look beyond the to-do list to remember that our family needs love and support. I do pray for all stressed out eczema families, that whatever to-do list you have, you remember to love each other. I know I have to pray loads to remember that!

Bible Verse:

Proverbs 12:25: Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

Dear God, remind me to speak always calmly and lovingly. Gosh, you know the chores to be done and help me to get them done but always remind me that having a happy and calm home is more important than a clean and spotless one, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Our Words (Heart and Love) Matter more than Our Actions

Categories
Doctor Q&A

Rise and Shine Feature – Baby Health with Dr Sears

Dr. Bill Sears is one of America’s most renowned pediatricians, father of eight children, and author of over 40 books on childcare. He is the Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine. Dr Sears Lean has a series on this blog that covers many aspects of raising healthy kids. Dr Sears shared many tips in this Singapore workshop ‘Keeping Your Child Healthy’.

Raising healthy babies and successful children with Dr Bill Sears
Listening to the esteemed Dr Sears speak on healthy child is a privilege!

What to Feed the Smart Baby

Omega 3 (seafood) is recommended as it is important for the brain’s development. Other foods recommended by Dr Sears for brain development are fruits (blueberries), greens and nuts for children over 2-year old. Smoothie can be prepared to include these foods, also salads, spice and appropriate supplements.

Rice cereal is no longer recommended as a first food as it does not contain the essential fats.

Picky Eaters

A child may not be picky, sometimes parents have to remember that children have tiny tummies and a fistful of food is sufficient portion meal size. So, instead of feeding 3 meals a day, ‘grazing’ ie giving foods for the child to nibble throughout the day is increasingly studied to improve their growth and helps with even sugar level. Dr Sears suggested leaving foods in a tray and let the ‘picky’ eater pick at it instead of insisting that they be eaten at one go.

When to Feed Your Baby

On-demand feeding is increasingly recommended versus feeding babies on four-hour schedule, which had been associated with a failure to thrive. Breast milk gets out of baby’s stomach in about 45 minutes, much shorter time than formula milk as casein takes a longer time to digest. Mothers who breastfeed will not need to worry about under or over feeding their babies.

How to Prevent Childhood Illness

Dr Sears recommended breastfeeding, feeding the child with real food (not processed, junk food), immune-boosting foods (see this Dr Sears Lean Series: Raising Healthy Kids by Boosting Immune System) and get the recommended vaccinations.

A word on Childhood Vaccinations

Dr Sears shared that vaccinations are good for the child, family and society. About 2.5 million life are saved per year but sadly, 1.5 million children die each year from vaccine-preventable disease. It is a myth that vaccinations should be put on hold till the child is holder, as the whole point of vaccination is to protect the infant who is the most vulnerable. MMR (measles) vaccine has also been disproven to cause autism through a study involving 500,000 children.

What to do with Colic Baby

Colic is mostly due to Gastroesophageal reflux which should not be ignored because continued severe reflux can damage the lining of the esophagus. Sleeping in inclined upright position, sipping rather than drinking too much at a go, antacid prescriptions can help relieve the reflux.

What to do with Fussy Baby

Again, similar to colic baby that is better termed ‘hurting baby’, fussy baby is better termed ‘high need baby’. These babies have a higher need to be touched, held, more intense, more active, therefore demanding and draining their parents more. As they can be more sensitive to separation, it is best to hold these babies in arms, closer to breast.

I didn’t get to have Dr Sears vet through this post before publishing, any and all mistakes mine. Next week, we will cover more on parenting.

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Last updated on 23 November, 2024 7:37 am
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Eczema Life Cartoon

Life of Eczema Girl – What Standing in Line Means

Life of Eczema Girl in Class
What Kids do when Standing in Line – what do you think? lol

This is the 27th of my 2nd cartoon series, ‘LIFE OF AN ECZEMA GIRL’. For more cartoon in this series, check out here.

Categories
Eczema Devotional

Mom-E-votional – I Want that Train Seat

Eczema Devotional Loving one another
Eczema Devotional Loving one another

In Singapore last year, there were many complaints about overcrowding, especially of the trains which many use to commute daily. Posters were also put up to promote graciousness, and to remind commuters to stand aside to wait for others to alight and to give up their seats to those who need them. I must confess that often I would eye a seat and hope that no one I deem needier than me will be standing around me.

One day, I was commuting with my daughter, of preschooler age and capable of standing instead of requiring to be carried. However, the heat in a crowded train got her itchy and having a seat would have given her more space and be more cooling for her. I was then reminded that she wouldn’t have been someone I deemed requiring for me to give up my seat (if I wasn’t her mom!).

Jesus has a commandment for Christians, to show love to one another. I do pray that caring for our child with eczema will also mold us to be better persons, being more aware that there are people who need more care than others and how a little help (like giving up a train seat) can go miles in warming and encouraging another’s heart.

Bible Verse:

John 13:34-35: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

Dear God, I’m sorry that sometimes I do get shortsighted and look too much into what I need versus what others need. I pray that while I care for my child with eczema, you will give me insights into how I can also help and love others, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Love One Another.

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Last updated on 7 November, 2024 3:22 pm
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Doctor Q&A

Rise and Shine Feature – Attachment Parenting with Dr Sears

Dr. Bill Sears is one of America’s most renowned pediatricians, father of eight children, and author of over 40 books on childcare. He is the Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine. Dr Sears Lean has a series on this blog that covers many aspects of raising healthy kids. Dr Sears shared many tips in this Singapore workshop ‘Keeping Your Child Healthy’.

Raising healthy babies and successful children with Dr Bill Sears
Attachment Parenting & Handling Gassy and High-Need Babies

Dr Sears shared in the workshop at Rise and Shine Expo ‘Attachment Parenting and Handling Gassy and High-Need Babies’ that during his first venture into parenthood, he decided to make a checklist of desired qualities in children who he helped in his practice and asked what the parents do. It turned out that the parents were practising attachment parenting!

To help us all understand what attachment parenting is, especially important given all the misinformation on what it is, Dr Sears shared the Baby B’s of Attachment Parenting:

Birth bonding – keep baby with the mother after birth

Breastfeeding – breast milk recommended for baby’s nutrition

Baby wearing – sling is preferred so that baby can be close to the parent (either dad or mom can baby wear)

Bed sharing – sleeping beside the baby has been studied to lead to better physiology, and the baby experienced more even breathing, better growth, less stress hormones, lower glucocorticoids neurotoxicity.

Believe Baby’s Cries – leaving the baby to cry it out alone leads to prolonged stress, which can damage the hippocampus. It risks neonatal glucocorticoid neurotoxicity which can carry over into adulthood. During infancy, a baby who is carried by parents cries less and has lower risk of this toxicity. Interestingly, babies who cry but do so in the arms of others do not suffer from this effect.

Beware of Baby Trainers – for the same reason above, methods that sought to train babies are to be wary of.

Balance – Dr Sears shared that babies whose parents practiced the above (as much as they can, need not be all if not possible), have been observed to have the Childhood Cs.

Childhood Cs

Caring kids – play better with other children

Compassionate

Communicative

Connected

Comfortable with intimacy – better lovers

Confident kids – as well as better behaved and more resilient, resourceful, respectiful and thoughtful

Confident parents – these children become confident parents who connect better to their children

Q&A on Co-Sleeping

I raised a question on how long the Baby Bs can be practised, in particular sleeping with the baby. Case in point – I’ve been sleeping with mine ever since she can’t be swaddled just to watch over the scratching of eczema at night. Marcie is now 4, and we are still sleeping together. Will there be any developmental issues associated with sleeping with a child, who is no longer a baby?

Dr Sears and Martha: Dr Sears and his wife Martha shared that they do not purposely shift their children (they have eight!) out of their bed or bedroom but let the transition comes naturally as an older child start to want to have their own bed/room. This has not been studied and the best arrangement is the one that works for the whole family.

Dr Sears also shared that given that working mothers had less time with their children, practising attachment parenting is even more important. And as an ending comment, Parenting is Giving our Children the Tools to Succeed in Life.

I didn’t get to have Dr Sears vet through this post before publishing, any and all mistakes mine; next week we will tackle more health issues, such as nutrition, colic and vaccinations.

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Last updated on 23 November, 2024 12:24 pm
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Eczema Life Cartoon

Life of Eczema Girl – Not over my BODY

Not (Moisturize) over my Eczema body!
Not over my Eczema body!

This is the 26th of my 2nd cartoon series, ‘LIFE OF AN ECZEMA GIRL’. For more cartoon in this series, check out here.

For more on moisturizing, check out the tag “moisturizer“.

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Eczema Devotional

Mom-E-votional – Not Losing Family

Our baby with eczema adds to the family and is a blessing
Our baby with eczema adds to the family and is a blessing

Taking care of our baby with eczema consumes much time and energy – from starting the day tired due to the lack of sleep, to keeping our eyes on our baby lest there’s scratching (and we know seconds are all it take for them to scratch till bleeding!), to caring for our baby who is totally dependent on us. One thought that came to me is while a baby adds to the family, it may feel like I’m losing existing family members due to less time with them, more stress and strain that comes with caring for an eczema baby.

A child is a blessing and our daughter Marcie has certainly been one. It certainly wasn’t an easy journey, with many kinks that appear in my relationships with family which take years to smoothen, and strengthen. It is a daily challenge to love the people around us, and much more challenging when we are undergoing trials. I pray that while caring for your child with eczema, the love, joy and peace in your relationships with other family members will not weaken but strengthen.

Bible Verse:

Psalm 127:3-5: Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

Dear God, I thank you for giving me this baby. You know the time and energy needed to care for her and you know how our relationships with my other family members change. I pray that you give me the wisdom and love to love my family, so that our family can grow not only in strength but in abounding love, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Children are a blessing from God to your family.

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Doctor Q&A

Rise and Shine Feature – Healthy Child with Dr Sears

Dr. Bill Sears is one of America’s most renowned pediatricians, father of eight children, and author of over 40 books on childcare. He is the Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine. Dr Sears Lean has a series on this blog that covers many aspects of raising healthy kids. Dr Sears shared many tips in this Singapore workshop ‘Keeping Your Child Healthy’.

Raising healthy babies and successful children with Dr Bill Sears

Baby Colic

Dr Sears explained that for many years, colic had not been understood by physicians and parents although recently, more causes had been known. Dr Sears also suggested replacing the term ‘colic’ which has taken on a negative connotation to the ‘hurting baby’.

Gastroesophageal reflux (also known as ‘heart burn’) – This condition is due to the lower esophageal sphincter not being closed tightly, allowing reflux and leading to colic. Symptoms include sudden crying outbursts, irritable child, sour burps and throaty noises of the baby which worsens when the baby is lying down. The reflux may be a reaction to (i) eating too fast or (ii) incorrect formula choice, including being allergic to food allergens in the breast milk or the formula, or being intolerant to cow’s milk protein. A leaky latch-on for a breast-fed baby is also a hint of intolerances to the breast milk.

Parents can help by gathering information for the doctor’s diagnosis, such as journaling the baby cries, tracking possible triggers and what works/does not. Recording videos of the baby having a reflux can also aid the doctor in his/her diagnosis.

The gastroesophageal reflux can be relieved through prescription antacids, avoidance of fuss foods (common ones are diary, wheat, caffeine and gassy foods like broccoli and onions) and having the baby eat and sleep in a more upright position. Feeding twice as often can also relieve the reflux symptoms for these babies.

Attachment parenting

Dr Sears shared that attachment parenting is simple as in it is the mother (and father) doing what they would naturally do, without wrong advice or pressures relating to ‘letting the baby cry it out’. First, let’s explore what’s wrong with the ‘let baby cry it out’ advice:

Should Baby be left to Cry it out?

NO – Dr Sears shared that training the baby to sleep, despite crying is the wrong advice. The newborn baby would naturally want to be near to the mother and intentionally leaving the baby alone and forcing the mother not to carry the crying baby has been studied to have negative effects. For one, a mother who implements this incorrect advice will overtime lose the natural sensitivity to the baby. On the other hand, the baby who has cried it out experiences slower growth, partly due to the body ‘shutting down’ due to lose of trust that care will be provided. A simple guideline for parents to know what to do or not do is ask

‘If I were my child, how would I want my parents to respond?’

Next week, we will learn more in-depth from Dr Sears on attachment parenting – what to do and its benefits. I didn’t get to have Dr Sears vet through this post before publishing, any and all mistakes mine.

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Last updated on 23 November, 2024 6:36 am
Categories
Eczema Life Cartoon

Life of Eczema Girl – Of ALL Things in Morning

Life of Eczema Girl in Morning
Anyone feels CRABBY too?!

This is the 25th of my 2nd cartoon series, ‘LIFE OF AN ECZEMA GIRL’. For more cartoon in this series, check out here.

For another crabby cartoon, only a click away!

Categories
Eczema Devotional

Mom-E-votional – Mission Sleep Impossible

Praying for good night sleep for our children with eczema
Praying for good night sleep for our children with eczema

Many parents of eczema children will attest that sleeping through the night is Mission Impossible. In fact, many of us would be happy to have few hours of uninterrupted sleep, and to wake up without finding blood on our child’s bed sheet or body. Sleep deprivation robs our children (and us, moms and dads!) of much needed rest, which have repercussion on skin healing, weight gain and concentration. While we certainly try to help our eczema child sleep better, many parents struggle every night to keep the scratching off. Some days, I almost feel like the Little Einstein’s motto “We’re On a Mission” in my quest to have decent sleep.

God intended for all of us to sleep, He certainly made us such that we NEED to sleep! God possibly want us to sleep to remind us that we can rest in Him and trust Him to take care of our life – because while we need to sleep, God does not. I do pray that God will help your child to sleep well, without feeling itchy and scratching, so that you can sleep well knowing that Someone who doesn’t slumber is watching over your child.

Bible Verse:

Psalm 121:4 He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

Dear God, you know how many nights our family have gone without proper sleep. You understand our fatigue, helplessness and the strain sleep deprivation has created in our lives. God, please relieve my child from itch at night, keep the scratching away and let my family have peaceful sleep, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

The God who loves us does not sleep.