What to do with eczema and no GP appts

[moggle]

Just after some advice. I've been calling the doctors every day for a week and have not been able to get an appointment so wondering if there's anything else OTC I can try. DD is 2 and has had patches of dry skin / eczema since 5m or so. It's always been manageable with aveeno twice a day, epaderm or similar after a bath, and occasional hydrocortisone, and stopping using fabric softener; but at the moment she's got some red patches that won't shift around her upper arms and chest. It started under her armpit after swimming so I thought i may be thrush - after showing it to pharmacist she gave canesten but it hasn't changed after a week so think it's not that. Hydrocortisone actually made it worse.

She's not complaining or itching so I'm loathe to tell the GP it's urgent but 4 weeks since it first appeared under her arm, it is not going away. No other symptoms. I know there must be thousands of people in this position (and worse) but if I can't get a GP appointment, what do I do with her? Keep slathering on creams and hope something works? Boots is full of different eczema creams but I can't afford to try them all.

[Lake2]

Perhaps needs a stronger steroid cream than hydrocortisone, that's pretty weak. Obviously can't get it over the counter though. Your doctors sound horrendous, can't they not do a phone appointment at least?

[Hastalapasta]

Get an emergency appointment if you can, your DD will be in with the doctor for about 2 minutes. A flare up is nasty, and needs treatment before it spreads. DS has twice been prescribed antibiotics and strong hydrocortisone due to the staphylococcus infection that inevitably accompanies the eczema.

[alwayshappy101]

uk.lush.com/article/are-you-sensitive-type

I overheard some mum's in the playground the other week really reccommending lush bath bombs to another mum who's dd suffered with excema.it may be worthwhile going into a lush shop to find which ones may help your dd.

[TheWeeBabySeamus1]

Get an emergency appointment or walk in centre if there's one near you. My son had really bad eczema and at different times has had fungal and bacterial infections in the patches of dry skin. They can give steroid creams with antifungal (Daktacort) and antibacterial (Fucidin) ointments in them.

We were advised to not take DS swimming at all until his eczema was completely resolved as it does cause irritation and can cause fungal infections if the skin is broken.

[user1469632611]

I had a child that suffered from terrible eczema. I noticed a write up in the daily mail about a company called salcura and decided to give it a go. Got the bath milk and rescue cream and it worked. All natural products. Worth a try

[user09854784368]

Either lush dream wash and dream cream

Or coconut oil

Only thing I treat my kids eczema with as it works at keeps it at bay

[Orangetoffee]

Do try to get an urgent GP appointment, if the eczema is infected she will need antibiotics to clear it. In the mean time keep slathering on the cream and bathe her as little as possible.

[moggle]

Thanks all!
My DH used to have daktacort for sebhorreic dermatitis ... and we've got an unopened tube of fucidin leftover from hand foot and mouth a year ago... But I will continue trying to get an appointment before using those. Good idea about the walk in centre. I didn't think of that - have only used it previously for weekend stuff or things like broken fingers etc (DH's not DD's I might add!).

GP has always been really good but this time they are really at breaking point, I think a doc has been off sick and someone on long annual leave they are struggling. Last winter and winter before when i had a newborn / 1 year old they were very accommodating on the few occasions we really needed an appointment we always got one, not sure if it is because she is now 2. Anyway, when I ring tomorrow I will be more forthright and say i think it is infected and offer to come down and sit in the waiting room until we can be seen. Most of the past week I was told I ought to try and get an appointment with the specialist dermatology doctor. "Oh right when is she in?" "Alternate thursday mornings". FFS!!

[moggle]

At the moment she's mostly having plain water baths, once every few days. I have found that the child's farm stuff doesn't make it worse so use that on a sponge at the end of the bath as she is very into drawing on herself at the moment so does need a proper clean!!
I keep thinking it is clearing up - it goes back to being pink from red and starts to look dryer, but then a couple of days later it is back to red again. Thanks for the kick up the backside I do need to get it sorted. I don't even have an official diagnosis as have never actually been to docs with it (got GP friend to look at her, I know it is a bit naughty but when she's at my house every week anyway!)

[Orangetoffee]

Our GP prescribed some special stuff to put in the bath, it made the water oily but it also stopped the skin from drying too much. We also used in the paddling pool during the summer.

I can't remember what it was called but I'll see if I can dig up the info later.

[Orangetoffee]

Actually thinking about it, it was just a generic version of the oilatum, e45 bath emollient you can get from the chemist.

[ReallyTired]

Often parents fail to apply creams correctly and this makes treatment ineffectual. Emoilant creams are the mainstay of controlling ezcema, but you may need a steroid cream during a flare up. A common mistake is that parents put a steroid cream on their child straight after the emoilant. This dilutes the potency of the emoilant. There needs to be a half an hour gap between putting on the emoilant and the steroid. The emoilant cream needs to be put on thickly and allowed to be naturally absorbed into the body rather than rubbed in. During a flare up an emoilant needs to be used several times a day. With the steroid cream you need to follow the instructions of your doctor.

When my daughter had a bad flare up I used to put the emoilant on after her bath. Let her play and read her some stories and the put the steroid cream on before bed. In the morning I used to put the emoilant on before breakfast and the steroid after breakfast.

Ezcema is hard work.

[Whattheduck]

I use Aveeno lotion on my dd (11) prescribed by gp but you can buy it.Her skin has improved no end since using it and she uses it in the shower to wash with.She also takes Cetirizine twice a day to help with the itching.

[Lalunya85]

In my experience once you have eliminated all obvious irritants (soaps and detergents) it is more about HOW you apply treatment, than what you apply.

There are thousands of creams, and some random things will suddenly work for some but not for others. We have tried so many different things, loads of creams that various people recommended, a herbalist as well as homeopathy. None of it made any difference.

We ended up going back to the classic steroid/emollient combo, but following a really strict way of applying it. Using the right strength steroid is important. Putting it on a half hour after the emollient. And then continuing to put the steroid for a few days after all redness has disappeared, because the skin had to heal underneath too. Following ten days of applying steroids and once the redness is gone, you then apply the Steroids only on weekends for a few more weeks before you stop completely. Obviously, emollient every day, twice a day at least.

Putting on the emollient right after they come out of the bath, when their skin is still a little bit moist, is really important for example to prevent the skin from drying out.

[ReallyTired]

Emoilants are personal preference. Both my children preferred diprobase. I agree with the previous poster it's how you apply the creams and there is no magic cream.

I found with washing clothes it helped to reduce the amount of washing powder I used and add water softner. Rinsing the clothes also helps get rid of detergent residues. We live in a hard water area.