How do they test toddlers for allergies?

[Fere]

If a toddler has bad allergies, what can be done?

My sons legs turn BRIGHT RED in the grass in summer/spring.

He also has bad eczema that we cannot get cleared up. (It is on his face and arms). I don't know what else to do. We use RX's and over-the-counter stuff. I can't find anything that works.

Can anyone help me out on allergies and eczema in children?

[Susie B]

I have a child with severe eczema. The allergy testing is pretty worthless. They tell you what he's allergic to, but it doesn't matter unless you're ready to subject him to allergy shots, which are very expensive, may or may not work, are painful, and will need to be given for the rest of his life. Also, you can pretty much see that he is allergic to grass. Make him wear long socks in the grass, rinse him off when he gets inside. Singulair works best for us. I'm sure you've tried all the standard things on his face and arms...aquaphor healing ointment is the best as far as non prescription stuff goes. This is how it works for us...we use aquaphor everyday, then if our son has a 'flare up', we will use some prescription steroid ointment...if it's a really bad flare up, he may need to take some oral steroids. It has gotten better as he's gotten older, so there is some hope. When he was two, his feet got so bad that they would crack and bleed and swell. They just didn't even look like feet to me...it was terrible. Now he is 8 and he still has some bad spots, but nothing like it was when he was two. Ask me some more questions, I'm full of experience on this one.