Humidifiers, a good idea, anyone suggest a good one?

[ChocolateMouse]

Okay, am feeling desperate here

Ds,9 months, has had a rash and been extremely itchy and not eating very well since about 4 weeks ago. Went to GP three times in one week and he was diagnosed with infantile eczema and given emollient and steroid creams and told it was an 'eating phase' ds was going through. I wasn't happy with diagnosis - as ds was getting extremely distressed and wouldn't sleep.

Took ds to hospital late one evening after a lot of tears and scratching. He was diagnosed with acute bacterial tonsilitis, (swollen tonsils - no wonder he wouldn't eat ), which in turn had caused the rash scarlet fever! Given penicillin for 10 days plus antihistamine and told to carry on with emollient cream.

Antihistamine hasn't taken the edge off the itch at all however ds has started to eat properly now. His rash has gone but his skin now seems to be a large flat itchy area of red, (not raw or sore), everywhere apart from his nappy area and scalp. His scalp is very dry and itchy too. Have tried Dentinox shampoo, changed washing liquid, etc but nothing seems to calm the itchy skin which in turn means he still cannot sleep properly for waking up and scratching.

Have been doing a bit of web-surfing and came across the idea of humidifiers helping skin conditions. Has anyone had any experience of this and if so, which one would be a good one?

Thanks and sorry for the long story.

[whispywhisp]

Never heard of a humidifier helping but what are you putting in his bath water? I was told never to put standard bubble bath in cos it dries the skin even more. I used an oil prescribed by the GP and if I could remember the name of it it'd help, wouldn't it?! I also plastered my DD with E45 which I got on prescription too...a big tub with a pump on it. Have you looked at the fact he may be allergic to something which is causing the eczema? Both my kids have had scarlet fever too. That is such a dreadful illness.

I would try anything including a humidifier - if anything it may help him to atleast get some sleep.

Sorry...not a lot of help but I'm bumping this for you anyway cos I'm sure there'll be someone on MN who has experience with this. Good luck. xxx

[ChocolateMouse]

Thanks WW. Have been putting Neal's Yard baby bath stuff in his bath since he was 3 months old which doesn't lather that much. Have also been using Burt's Bees baby shampoo but that doesn't seem to help his dry, flaky, itchy scalp either.

You know, I have wondered about getting some E45 cream for him! Is that an emollient or aqueous cream? I have gone through many things in my head about what could be causing an allergic reaction and the only thing that needs to be tackled now is the food that he eats. That's going to take ages to go through and I don't know where to start off . Just the thought of it seems daunting

Maybe I'll take another look at humidifiers online; there are so many to choose from. I'm not good at making decisions at the moment

Thanks again for bumping this for me xx

[Salleroo]

DD has really bad exzema kept in check with steroid cream but we have been advised by Dermatoligist not to use anything other then aqueas cream (Diprobase on prescription)to wash her with. I used Dentinox when she had cradle cap but he advised using aqueas cream for shampoo too. We do and she is great, we wash her with it and slather it on afterwards. For itching, I would recommend you get some chickweed (Herb - neals yard sell it, about £1 for 250g. Anyway, put 2 teaspoons in a teapot and pour in water just off the boil. Brew the tea for about 15 mins and put in his bath. That should help with the itch.

I would also advise that you apply the cream every couple of hours to keep him emoliated and the itch at bay.

Good luck.

[whispywhisp]

That was it! Diprobane and Diprobalm...one is for the bath and the other was a cream...I also used something else to put in her bath which smelt absolutely foul and made the water really oily..so much so unless you remembered to wash the bath down after bathing her you'd slip up getting into it! I wish I could remember the name of it but I can't but you can get it in the shops. I might have a look on the internet in a min and if I find it I'll let you know. I always found E45 really good. It says the following on the label...

"E45 has been clinically proven to treat and soothe dry, itching, flaking, chapped, rough and calloused skin, sunburn and detergent hands. Its non greasy emollient formulation is quickly absorbed by your skin, leaving it soft, comfortable and releived. E45 cream is recommended for more serious dry skin conditions such as eczema, dermatitis, ichthyosis and certain dry cases of psoriasis. E45 cream can be used everyday by the whole family including babies"

Hope that helps! Now I'm off to find the name of the stuff I used to put in DD2's bath!

[Salleroo]

The stuff you put in the bath was probably Oilatum? I like the smell of it. But again dermatologist said not to use it and just wash her with aqueas cream. Looking at her now and her skin is just as a little nippers should be. I'm even managing to use the steroid once a day instead of twice. Fingers crossed. Good luck

[whispywhisp]

Yes, Oilatum..that was it. It certainly helped DD2. The reason she suffered so badly with eczema was because she was lactose intolerant and each time the intolerance flared up she got really bad skin. Always around her trunk (tum and back) and down the backs of her legs and arms. Because the GP didn't diagnose the intolerance for weeks (the Health Visitor suggested it) the eczema just got worse and worse. Then when the intolerance was recognised by the GP they threw loads of eczema treatment at me for her!