My 18-month-old son has eczema on his ankles and has been given cream to be applied as it has recently become very sore and itchy. Is there anything else I can do regarding his diet to help his condition. A friend suggested giving him Soya products instead of dairy as this may help but he does not have a lot of milk as he was breast fed until he was a year and will not drink milk on it’s own now.

A There are many types of eczema and from your description it is possible that your son’s eczema has been caused by an irritation, sometimes known as contact dermatitis. Changing your son to soya milk may not be helpful because he does not have an established allergy to cow’s milk. If you are worried that your son is reacting to cow’s milk it is best to discuss this with your GP before making any changes to his diet. Your GP can also refer you to a Dietician for advice.
Try to establish what has caused the flare-up on the ankles by looking at the common triggers for contact eczema e.g. wool, soaps, pet fur, dust mites, perfumes and household cleaners so that contact can be avoided in the future.

• Use the creams as prescribed and they are best applied when the skin is still damp.
• Keep the nails short.
• Use cotton clothing and bedding to keep the skin cool and use cotton socks for your baby’s feet to keep them cool and prevent contact with carpets and other irritants.
• Use a simple soap that does not contain perfume and bath three or four times a week because daily bathing dries out the skin.
• Use a non-biological washing powder e.g. Persil and avoid fabric softeners.
• Vacuum your home frequently to reduce the amount of dust mites
• Restrict your pet’s movements within the house (if you have one) and wash your pet if possible or wipe the coat with a damp cloth to reduce the problem.
• If you wish to consult a Homeopath you can find a practitioner on www.trusthomeopathy.org
Good sources for information are www.eatwell.gov.uk and www.eczema.org

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