United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I know this sounds crazy and I think I may have even asked before... But, I noticed that some parents have mentioned their children having excema. Is there some type of correlation between the two? Javier has excema and no one else does in the family.

Thanks, Marlyn

I don't think there is any known correlation, but you never know!

Peggy

I think that there is a correlation with the sensitivity of the skin on the bpi arm. I have always noticed that that arm is more sensitive to bug bites, poison ivy, sunburn etc. We know that the sympathetic nerve system can also be damaged with the original injury (that system affects things that control temperature and is why some of us have arms that are too cold or too hot).

Interesting thought about the excema.

Nancy

Thank you both for your posts. I do hope that some others with excema will post. Javier's pediatrician kept telling me that it was just "baby dry skin". He has it on his back, knees, and worse behind his ears and in elbow creases. I just use Cetaphil dry skin cream all over. It's really creamy and doesn't smell.


P.S For his Primary scars, I use Mederma for kids and it IS excellent. It really works. Of course- nothing gets rid of scars, but it does lighten and smooth them.

Thanks, Marlyn

Chris (age 10, right Erb's Palsy) has eczema. It's not something cause by BPI, but as it's commonly found on the backs of arms, the nerve damage makes it more likely for a child to scratch the affected arm so much it gets worse and infected. That's what we found with Chris - he didn't realise when he was literally making himself bleed.

Hi Marlyn, When I read your earlier post about Excema, I wondered about this link.

Only my 3rd child born severe LOBPI, now 21, had Excema. At the time I just dealt with the issue....now of course I wondered, when I read your post too.

However Jill tended to get it behind her knees. And if I remember right, one more than the other. Now I wonder if it was more often behind her left knee. I do remember using a special ointment from the Doctor. Then later just using AMENS medicated powder, which seemed to work well.

About the Excema behind the ear. When Jill was in the double digit ages, she had Excema on her left ear, but I realized it was harder for her to wash that side of her ear and hair (it was also greasy underneath). So I gently reminded her to reach over better with her right hand to scrub her left side better. ANOTHER disappointing fact.....and a hard observation at the time, I remember.

Sorry to bring up another controversial topic, but excema has been linked to some vaccines. Did you notice an increase in this after a certain set of shots? I think that it could be linked to bpi not because of the injury itself, but because our children are more likely to exhibit side effects from vaccines because they already have a neurologic injury. (A few vaccines may negatively affect the nervous system.)

Just an opinion & food for thought.

Lauren (Brooke, 5 months LOBPI)

Emma (9 ROBPI) has always had sensitive skin and the eczema use to only be in her hot spots (elbows, under arms, behind the knees). This bout it's everywhere--from scalp, face (esp. around her eyes and mouth), back, torso, legs...and the very worse in the hot spots (those are the places she scratched the most and infected the skin).
It was so bad that she refused to let us take video of her for her surgeon to review because she was too embarrassed to be "seen" like that. She wore long sleeves and long pants on very hot days.
Now, after a week of antibiotics, creams, allergy meds, Aveeno oatmeal soap, Aveeno shampoo, Aveeno lotion (no dryer sheets and only breathable cotton and linen clothing) it's almost gone! It's been a solid 3 months that its been at it's worst and longer than that since this breakout started!
Now, maybe we can get the updated video done and send it!!

Peggy

Alyssa has severe atopic dermatitis/eczema and was diagnosed when she was a newborn. Her brother who will be 2 this year also has it, but his is not as severe. My 5 year old does not have it at all. Alyssa just had the triangle tilt on June 13th so I am watching her skin even more than before because it breaks down so easily wearing the splint.

My daughter's eczema seems to get bad when there is stress in the household or if she's worried about something or just had surgery. Also, she did not have any vaccines so that doesn't play into it. I wish Elidel weren't so toxic. She did well with it.