Argh! Eczema help please.

[prolificwillybreeder]

Long story short:
DS1 Recently diagnosed with eczema which she thought was infected so gave us:
Hydrocortisone cream
Oilartum (sp) bath stuff
Doublebase

Now, I thought I cracked it applying them all and it got better, well much improved. I stopped the steroid cream after 7 days like the packet said and now it flared up again. It's spreading like wildfire too. Help!
I don't know what to do :(
He has a cows milk protein allergy but can tolerate milk in food. I am cutting that out too. All food homemade so can replace etc. I have same allergy

Would oat bath help? DP is gluten intolerant so I worry maybe he has it too. Oats might be bad? He has oats and wheat and seems ok.
Tried aveeno before I went to the doc and it didn't help.

I can't seem to control it and bring the flare up down. Why is it spreading?
Yes I am in a state, I'm calming down. And yes he is my PFB!

I've only ever used Weleda baby on him before so this exzema has come from no where at 14 months and I haven't changed anything.

Thanks for reading

[NormanTheForeman]

Ds also had eczema when a baby and had a cow's milk allergy, although his started younger than this. Removing dairy from his diet definitely sorted the eczema, and he didn't have it at all after that. He can now tolerate small amounts of dairy (he is 10).

One thing about food - ds has always been able to eat butter (cow's milk, but hardly any protein so ok) but margarine set him off big time. It contains milk solids, which we didn't know until the nutrtrionist at the hospital told us. Don't know if this is any help.

[prolificwillybreeder]

Thanks all, will post on allergies. Didnt even think about posting there!
Interesting about dairy norm.
Seeing doc week after next as I'm not happy. Poor little chap.
He seems quite well, teething again though. Reckon that could bring it on?

[MegBusset]

Keep using the steroid cream. Hydrocortisone is safe to use long-term and vital to keep the eczema under control.

[OpinionatedMum]

Hydrocortisone is quite a weak steroid.

The emollients may not agree with him. Sometimes you can use them for a while and become sensitive to an ingredient.

I would go back to the GP. They will probably try a different emolient. Maybe a stronger steriod if that doesn't help.

Eczema seems to involve lots of trips to th GP trying different things.

[prolificwillybreeder]

Thank you, I have to say my eczema knowledge is poor. I will see what the doc says. I just can't seem to control it :(

[prolificwillybreeder]

Yes, I did find that beers, good point. I feel like I'm basting him poor thing.

[FoxyRevenger]

I've had eczema all my life (and frequently go into paroxysms thinking DD is showing signs).

All of those very heavy emollients and moisturisers never did anything for me apart from make the problem 10 times worse.

The only thing that has ever worked for me has been Burt's Bees products. They do a range for babies called Baby Bee and everything in the range is natural and so mild, very soothing.

Try here:

www.feelunique.com/brands/burts-bees/baby-bee

I would try the buttermilk soap and the nourishing lotion.

Admittedly you've no choice but to use steroids when things flare up but this might help you avoid the really bad times. Also, try mitts at night so there's no scratching!

[OpinionatedMum]

I was told to aim to moisturise them six times a day!! The emollients are key to controlling it.

Don't use soap or shampoo.

I use a epaderm ointment under a cotton sleepsuit, it is very greasy like being basted. But it does help.

Eczema is very hard to control. It's like an endless battle. Keep going back to the doctors, they won't get fed up with you. My GP knows my kids well.

It does tend to improve as they get older.My dd is five and has a few patches but as a baby she was covered.

My 2YO ds is really suffering right now.

[Jacaqueen]

Poor little chap

Centraben cream was good at keeping DS eczema under control. Flare ups were treated with Eumovate. You must put the moisturiser on first, wait about 10 mins then apply the steroid. This tip was given to me by a dermotologist and made a real difference.

[OpinionatedMum]

My post seems to contradict foxys, i didn't see it before I posted. But I think it shows different things work for different people and that it can take time to work out how to bring it under control.

Aveeno helps me but not DD for example.

[prolificwillybreeder]

Thank you everyone. Lots of tips there to try.
Opinionatedmum I agree completely different things work for different people. I have an odd patch on my ankle and aveeno works fine but doesn't touch ds1's.
Jacaqueen, I was doing steroid then doublebase. Will try otherway round with the interval.

Thank you, at least I'm not alone.

[craftyknickers]

Check the ingredients of the products you are using, if they all contain lanolin or atrixo then it is possible your DC could be allergic and its making the flare up worse.

Unfortunatley it is in most moisturizers.

I have suffered very badly all my life, apparently this allergy is a common trigger.

If your DC reacts to wearing wool its another clue.

[IreneHeron]

DS had awful eczema when he was younger, he totally gave up milk and it immediately cleared up. He still eats yoghurt and cheese but he decided he hated milk and he started refusing it of his own accord, at around the age of 2. I get eczema myself and usually it is when I'm anxious about something or a bit run down. I have never got on with the heavy moisturisers like oilatum, they make it feel inflamed and more itchy. I find a light moisturiser much better.

[Catsmamma]

With dd I cut down on bathing....the soaking seemed to make it worse, so a squoosh in the shower worked best

She was never smothered in eczema though, but the patches were very persistent and still can be.

Now she is older we use Dream Cream and Dream Wash from Lush, we have found it very effective at keeping flare ups at bay and it is not at all greasy on her skin.

[Pawsnclaws]

Sympathies, ds3 had terrible eczema as a baby. We tried about 8 different treatments from our GP and it just got worse - red, angry weeping sores all over.

We got referred privately to a doctor called David Atherton who said his eczema was amongst the worst he'd ever seen. We were already doing the standard stuff like avoiding dairy/synthetic clothing/washing clothes in soap flakes. He gave us a private prescription which amazingly started improving things within a few days.

He's been virtually eczema free now for two years. A quick dab of the steroid if it flares up, and it's gone.

Now the bad news. Dr Atherton is private only. The consultation cost us £250. The creams cost us just over £100. The NHS won't prescribe them.

If you google his name there is a website giving some general advice. Sorry I can't help further - it's infuriating isn't it?

[PercyPigPie]

My DC2 was a red-scratched-itchy mess at that age, but from the age of about 3, it cleared totally and he is fine.

I found that half the things that were meant to help just made it worse. I think it is a case of trial and error. Keep going back to the dr or try and get trial sized pots.

It is a stressful time - I remember DC2 scratching until he bled at night and getting infected. I was so worried at the time, but his skin is beautiful now .

[PercyPigPie]

PS: yes, try 'allergies' - lots of people with lots of knowledge of this stuff

[pointydog]

If the eczema was/is infected, you should have an antibiotic - either a cream like fucidin or oral abs.

Maybe the infection is spreading rather than the eczema? Ifg that's the case, there's nothing you can do without abs. You'll need to get back to the gp pronto.

There are ways of applying the creams. Steroid first, then you must leave it for a good while before applying the emollient.

[millie19]

My ds tended to flare up with eczema after his jabs or when his immune system was v low (I guess related). Ge got really bad cradle cap on his forehead and temples (like he had crusted over!) and only steroid cream (Dacktacort - sp?) worked on that. For the body skin probkems we were given all the stuff you had and I tried it all for about a month and he used to itch like crazy after bathing in the double base and oilatum stuff. In the end i completely cut it all out and started fresh with:-
Oats in a pair of tights in the bath
Barefoot Botanicals cream - completely AMAZING cream and we noticed an improvement in his skin in 24 hours!
Goats milk for his morning and evening bottles (he was just over 12 months when this all started) with a teaspoon of Hemp Oil in it (from holland & Barrett)
Also saw a homeopath who helped him too.
Hope this helps - good luck!

[pointydog]

paws, the nhs will prescibe steroid creams and protopics so I'm not sure what these special 'private' creams are. Do you know?

[millie19]

Oh and we used the steroid cream very very sparingly when we really had to on any patches that wouldn't go away but he's now clear and has been for nearly 4 months (he's 21 months now)

[pointydog]

You were fortunate not to need much steroid cream, millie.

Everyone's eczema is different. There are no miracle natural cures (or medical cures). You need to carefully find out what works for your child and not feel guilty if that happens to be stronger steroid creams.

[Jacaqueen]

Conflicting advice again.

Pointydog for years I applied the steroid first as instructed by GP. A few years later I saw a locum who just happened to specialise in paediatric dermatology. He explained that the moisturiser had to be applied first for the skin to be receptive to the steroid. If the skin is too dry the steroid won't be able to penetrate and will just sit on the surface and be diluted and rendered useless by the moisturiser.