Eczema? and baths

[chocolatepuff]

My dd (16months) has recently developed dry/rough patches on parts of her arms and legs. They arent itchy and dont seem to bother her. while we are waiting for our doctors appointment, i was just wondering whether it sounded like eczema, and do you think i shouldnt bath her every evening as i am doing (and using small amounts of baby bubble bath and baby soap)

its probably obvious i know i should cut down on her baths, but helps to get feedback hey!

Thanks.

[lecce]

My dc2 has had this since about 6 months (now 16 months) and I was advised to limit his baths. I bath him about twice a week, and his eczema is now under control. In the summer, when he tended to get muddy, I used to wash his legs with a flannel on my lap, but at this time of year I just wash his face and, obviously clean his nappy area thoroughly at each change. I also give him lots of nappy-free time.

I would avoid the 'normal' bath products. E45 do a good range of bubble-bath, wash and shampoo for children with eczema and I use these. Some may advise avoiding even these but they are fine for ds as his eczema is not severe. I was prescribed a cream, diprobase, and use that as a soap and the E45 stuff for some bubbles.

[ItsAHollyJollyTee]

Avoid anything with Sodium Laurel Sulphate in it. It is in most bubble baths and shampoos, so check the label on what you are using.

Until you see the GP, I would limit baths. My GP has me bathe my son daily, but in a Balneum Soya Oil followed by cortisone on the red bits and Calmurid all over.

[Guacamohohohole]

My DS has had VERY dry skin since he as born (now 8 months), it doesn't bother him or itch but my GP says it is eczema. I only bath him 3 times a week and literally only use water. Everyday I use a gentle prescribed cream called doublebase, when he has very bad flare ups I use a steroid cream.
Swimming can aggravate it, so I apply doublebase liberally before he goes in the water and after he's been rinsed of chlorine.

I've not tried it yet, because he doesn't get especially dirty, but I have been recommended a Body Shop baby wash, it's £7 a bottle!!!!! But I'll give it a go when he needs proper washing!

[mousymouse]

sounds like it, it is the typical areas.
agree with others to avoid conventional bath products. with my dc (ds has eczema) I use the weleda calendula bath stuff, which is very mild.
make sure that the water is not too warm, only soap "stragegic bits" and don't leave her in the water for too long.
plenty of moisturiser directly after the bath.

[chocolatepuff]

Thanks lecce i'll defo cut down on her baths and stop using the nice smelling/skin irritant babybath!

[chocolatepuff]

sorry am slow on the upkeep and only just seen the other posts - thanks all for the tips!
i do try to get the more natural products, the ones sold in the supermarket that is-£7 is pretty steep for bubbles but if it helps and shes bathing less i guess its worth it! and we too steer clear of sodium laurel sulphate.

have to say im pleased i now have a reason to bathe her less as im always so exhausted by that time and find it zaps my last bit of energy!

[BrigitBigKnickers]

Put some porrige oats in a sock or leg of a pair of tights.

Let the bath water run through the sock as you run the bath. The slightly slimy stuff that comes out and into the bath is very soothing for the skin.

You can also use the sock (with the oats still in)to wash her as it acts like a mild soap.

My DD had quite nasty eczema when she was tiny and found this worked really well.

[Karoleann]

We just use aqueous cream in the bath as DS1 has eczema, with that and cuttting down bathing to every other day I've not had to use steriod cream for 6 months now.
We also can't swim more than once a week as that affects his skin too.

[onceamai]

Make sure you are using non bio washing powder as well - mine both had eczema (still do a bit at 15 and 11) and the one that begins with P was the best and drop the fabric conditioner. The fabric conditioner can be a huge culprit even the sensitive ones.

[debka]

I don't know if this is eczema. My DD had eczema when v small, and now is 20mo and has rough patches on her arms and legs. I think it's just where her clothes rub. FWIW she bathes every day with Oilatum and has Doublebase rubbed in the rough bits every other day or so.

Be wary of E45- DD is allergic and apparently it's not uncommon to have a reaction to it.

[Meglet]

As soon as we cut down on baths my dc's eczema improved. None of the creams / potions worked as it was the hard water irritating their skin.

These days they have super quick baths, no playing, nothing in the water, quick hair wash and out. Sometimes they have showers with me (depending on my tolerance levels) and their skin is so much better for it.

There have been some trials using water softeners in the Portsmouth area that seem to be promising.

[LadyInaManger]

I had conflicting advice. GP told me to bath once a week and skin specialist said every day and so i compromised and bathed every other or every 2 days. I use Demol 500 as a soap substitute, Dermol 600 for bath emolient and Dermax to wash hair as other shampoos irritated her skin otherwise. I smother her after her bath with diprobase and let it all soak in and use steroids when it's infected but touch wood her skin is so soft now and eczema flareups are a thing of the past but i continue with our bath routine as don't want her skin getting dry and prone to flare ups again.

You will find what suits your DD and you may have to try several things as lanolin is another skin irritant for some.

I wish you all the best at the doctors appointment and hope you find something that suits your DC.

[Scruffyhound]

My DS had a weird shedding thing his whole body shed after he was born! Was very strange like sunburn when you peel. He did suffer with dry skin I was advised by the health visitor to bath him in aqueous cream you can get a massive tub for about 3 quid you just run a normal bath and put a handful of it in there. Also limited his baths to every other day. There was something the health visitor gave me but cant find it on the internet think it began with an o and came on a box with blue writting on it to put in the bath. Sorry tried to look.

[LadyInaManger]

Scruffy - do you mean oilatum? That stuff is marvellous and i used it when i was a child as had terrible eczema. My DD however couldn't tolerate it for some reason.

[DiscoDaisy]

We bath our son in camomile tea! It really helps keep his eczema under control. We also use Kamillosan cream.

[onlyjuststillme]

would have to support all who have said no bubble bath and aqueous cream instead of soap - brilliant stuff!!!! you can also apply to skin after a bath to keep in more moisture.

[sam12]

I suffered terribly with it when younger. Agree with limiting the baths but all of the potions seemed to make it worse even those meant for eczema treatment - very allergic to e45. A couple of drops of olive oil in bath really help, definitely agree with using non bio washing powder, getting over warm makes it worse especially in this weather with all the central heating and tight clothes make it really itchy especially tights and wool is a bad irritant.