AIBU to think that there must be something more we can do for this eczema

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Hello! Posting here for traffic.

Our two year old has always had mild eczema but over the last month it's got significantly worse... The itching all through the night is unbearable for us all.

We've tried all potions and lotions available both over the counter and prescribed and now the GP has said that he has no further solutions but that lots of children live with and then grow out of this type of eczema... We've booked to see a dermatologist privately but can't be seen until the New Year.

Does anyone have any advice?

DS was very similar, have you looked at allergies?

Poor thing. Looks really itchy. Only thing I can suggest is changing your washing powder. Out of nowhere DD started itching all throughout the night and had really bad eczema flair ups. Turned out it was the washing powder that had suddenly started affecting her - I found this odd because we had been using the same one since she was born and it was fine previously.

Switched the powder and (touch wood) haven't had a flair up since.

Eczema can be tricky as it's really just trial and error as you know. You've probably already tried but do you do oat baths? This can be soothing. We use Aveeno dermexa body cream and night balm (quite thick) keeps her skin soft and hydrated. We also use oilatum in her bath and only bath every 2 days.

And as PP said allergies too. DD is allergic to cows milk. Pushed for a referral to paediatric allergy team and was lucky to be seen quickly.

You may have tried this OP but stop using bubble bath and trying putting Sudocrem on it - the one in the tub. Do it religiously every night & morning (at least).

Change washing powder to Fairy non bio.

Cut out dairy, try lactofree

We are still trying to get DD2s eczema under control but oil's seem much better than cream. We are using coconut oil at the moment and it seems to be helping.

Have you looked at if her diet could be causing it?

Ooooh poor love.

I took my then baby son for a complete allergy skin prick test to see if anything was triggering his. Nothing much came up but I was advised to mix 1% hydrocortisone with anti fungal into an emollient (I use double base - it's by far the best I've tried).. You cut down the ratio of hydro after a week or two as the skin improves.

If worked really well for our boy and apart from the odd flare up, with regularly moisturisation he's pretty good though still scratches.

He's having a little bit of a flare at the moment so I have put hydro into his double base again to clear it.

Best of luck!

How often are you applying emollients?
They should be applied several times daily ideally.

I've thought of that but not sure what has changed, if anything in the last month to trigger it.

I've been looking at foods and stopped dairy for a couple of days but she was still flaring up.

The only thing that I've noticed is that it's worse when she's hot but otherwise I can't figure out what's the trigger or the solution!

Has the gp explored allergies?

That's allergies.

Have you tried any anti-allergy syrups for the itching? Like children's piriton or cetirizine or loratadine (kid's version)?

Oh I feel for you OP. DS had it horribly as a baby and into his toddler years. He’s four now and still gets flare ups in winter because of central heating and I’d imagine lack of sunlight but in the summer he barely ever itches. We use Surcare liquid for his clothes and bedding, I don’t know if you’ve tried that? The thick Aveeno cream helps, as does Eumovate (steroid). When our dermatologist referral came through the doc said our GP had been too steroid averse and the Eumovate really does help.

We tried everything with DS from about 18 months to three. It was radical and 25 years or so ago but my GPnsuggested a referral to a consultant at the Royal Homeopathic Hospital. He was put on Mercuris dulcis and kali mur and pulsatilla. I was very sceptical but it worked. The eczema cleared up within a few days.

Mine goes like this when I’m in contact with an irritation.

What washing powder do you use? I switched to ecover zero sensitive for my clothes and I don’t get eczema flare ups like I used to.

I use aveeno blue lid shampoo, body wash and moisturiser. They might be worth a try.

Soft eczema mittens at night to stop scratching.

I’m sorry your son is going through this.

Poor love. Looks so sore and the itch must be maddening. No personal experience of this but I wonder if the change in weather and central heating/ warmer clothes is impacting on it?

Forgot to say like PP DDs issues stopped when we switched to fairy non-bio. Persil irritates her skin.

Finding the right emollient is key.
As is hitting it sharpish with decent strength steroid cream.
Also ditch products with MI. Including shampoo and shower gel and washing liquid.

We've been there.

She needs

-antihistamines
-steroid ointment to get it under control
-wet muslin for instant relief when very itchy
-avoid warm baths as much as possible - it makes it 1000 times worse
-wet wrapping
-100% cotton clothing
-exploration of dust allergies (typical this time of year thanks to the heating
-if you suspect dairy, you need to eliminate it much longer than a couple of days

My two year old grandson has eczema that looks like that sometimes. It has been worse. He eventually got to see a dermatologist who said he'd been on the right steroid from the GP, but not nearly enough. Now he is prescribed enough to cover him properly and the advice is to clear it up properly before slackening off the application. He also takes anti histamine and baby nurofen that seems to help. He's also been tested for allergies and has a lot. An slip up in his diet can cause a flare, which is why the anti histamines help . I think.

Doudtless other parents who really know their stuff will be along soon, hope your poor little one can get some relief soon.

DO NOT cut out dairy despite how many people tell you to.

Please ask for a visit to a paediatric allergist (we saw Adam Fox in London for our DD).

You need a wash plan, emollients and proper steroid cream used appropriately under consultant guidance.

GPs aren't experts and fob you off with out of date info (usually - I'm generalising) but you need a specialist.

With correct guidance you can get this under control and change your DCs outcomes for the long term with this being really manageable.

Our DD was similar at 2 and is a teenager now with minimal problems.

*daughter!

We used aveeno and only put DS in 100% clothes when possible and i MN the night I only had 100% short sleeve and shorts as pyjamas. I found the heat made it worse so once we did this it reduced lots...he's 6 now and it's been completely gone for about a year and a half

We use Piriton for the maximum dosage every 24 hours...

I've been using coconut oil and it seems much better, but still not much improvement.

We use Fairy non-bio.

This is just her legs but it's all over, apart from face and hands.

Thanks for all advice so far! I'm noting down the things we haven't tried.

Also non bio washing powder and NO fabric conditioner- it's too perfumed and causes a lot of problems.

And keep them cooler at night.

But all this is taught to you of you see the right specialist