DS given Diprosalic for itchy scalp - seems a bit hardcore - any one advise pls??

[wheresmypaddle]

Took DS 2.5yo to nurse today with itchy scalp, v itchy behind ears, pea sized lumps beneath skin behind ears. Itching is really botherinh=g him and waking him up early in the morning (its def not head lice).

She said it was a type of excema and that the lumps were swollen glands due to the excema. Gave me Diprosalic scalp application. DS has not had excema but has had cradle cap since birth.

I however, do have excema and the Nurse said this stuff was a bit like the diprobase that I use on my skin. Having read the instructions it sounds nothing like diprobase which I can 'slap' on like a moisturiser and has nothing 'strong' in it.

The instructions on this Disrosalic say to use only a few drops and it seems to have all sorts of potential side effects "especially in children". It warns about not using too much and that this can cause red areas, vomiting and ringing in the ears- all sounds rather severe. None of the treatments I have had for excema have side effects this severe??!!

Am planning to give it a go but feel a bit concerned - how to I get a few drops to cover the whole scalp through his thick and rather long hair?? What about the itchy areas behind his ears- can I apply it there too (says nothing about this in insructions).

I know I should have asked more questions at the time but I was given the impression this was a simple cream and should be put behind his ears. It wasn't until I read the instructions that I realised the was not the case.

Any advise gratefully received.....

[wheresmypaddle]

Bump

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I'd be far more comfortable with a gp prescribing that. I've used a lot of steroids for my psoriasis but I would want a doctor to be very sure it was the right thing to give before using it on a child.

[alypaly]

diprosalic is a steroid mixed with salicylic acid.
the betametasone is the steroid , to calm down the itch and redness and the salicylic acid is there to help lift off any crustyness.

Is the skin peeling or not.

Is it really bad the bumpiness. Is this the first time you have been to doc with this condition for DS.

BETAMETHASONE IS A POTENT STEROID...so you should only use a few drops like it says

[wheresmypaddle]

Hi there thanks for replying- skin at top of head is a bit peely but I would say this is cradle cap which he has always had. Skin behind ears is dry and a bit flaky but not peeling.

The bumps are just one behind one ear and one at the sort of point of skull where it juts out towards jaw, they are like raised soft bumps - the nurse said these were swollen glands which is linked to the irritation in his scalp.

Have only used a three drops as per instructions but as his whole head is itching I am not sure that this is achieving much coverage.

I am wondering if I should go back to doc- don't feel very confident that I have been prescribed the best thing.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I would definitely see a doctor this time just to check. Has she ruled out a fungal infection?

[alypaly]

sounds like cradle cap..the raised area sound like sebaceous glands that are full of grease.

Ask doc if polytar would be more suitable or ketoconazole..Polytar will help stop the itch and reduce production of flaky skin.
Ketoconazole helps itching and gets rid of dermatophyte infections which may be on the scalp

Oilatum do a baby shampoo for itchy flaky scalps too

[wheresmypaddle]

Thank you for your advice I think I will go back and ask for more info, a more definite diagnosis of what excatly is going on on his scalp and mention the preparations that you have suggested.

Alypaly- what is a dermatophyte infection- have not heard this phrase before??

Also the raised areas are the size of half a grape - would sebaceous glands becone that large??

I have suffered with excema myself and so am aware of the typical things to be aware of: no perfumed products, avoid hot baths, use emolent when washing, do not allow skin to dry out, non bio powder, no feathers or wool, do not itch or remove dry skin, sunshine helps (obviously has its own dangers though).....

Is psoriasis the same in terms of these golden rules??

[Danthe4th]

I used this on my dd a few times it does work well, the doc also adviced us to use the T/gel for greasy hair as it has salicyc acid in it and she uses it regulary and no need for the stronger stuff now, she is 14 and used to have the problem quite badly and a few drops of that steroid used to get rid of it, I used to drop it directly on to the scalp and massage it in.

[Danthe4th]

ps. I also use the t/gel on ds age 4 occasionally who has always had bad cradle cap and it works well. I tried all the others polytar etc and none worked as well as the t/gel but only the one with salicyc acid in.

[alypaly]

wheresmypaddle...a dermatophyte infection is an infection like ringworm...it has different names depending on what part of the body it affects..ie.the feet is tinea pedis..groin ..tinea cruris..scalp is tinea capitis..etc

dermatophytes cause redness and alot of itching especially on the scalp.

NIZORAL shampoo kills off dermatophytes on the scalp.so can daktarin,canestan

Tgel contains coal tar..(fairly sure it doesnt contain salicylic acid unless danthe4th has got a recently released product)Coal tar slows down build up of plaques on the scalp.

Psoriasis is differnt from eczema in that the skin sheds in an irregular pattern.Normal skin is produced and shed in a 28 day cycle but in psoriasis it is highly speeded up and some areas of the skin can shed in 5 days ,others in 10 or 15 days,then you get the irregular build up of plaque.
Coal tar slows down skin shedding and salicylic acid is a peeling agent and is used at concentrations from approx 2% upwards depending on severity of psoriasis to help shed the scaly areas.

would not like to comment on the sebaceous glands as i cant see them ...so difficult to say.
Does sound odd though but you do have sebaceous glands in the scalp...which cause cradle cap.

W