Share your tips for how to manage children’s eczema with La Roche-Posay

[EmmaMumsnet]

This activity is now closed.

Eczema is a common skin condition amongst children and at times can be very tricky to manage and keep your child’s skin from being dry, sore, and itchy. It can be especially difficult to keep in check at night and can affect your DCs sleep. La Roche-Posay would like you to share your tips for how you handle your child’s eczema or what has helped you manage your child’s eczema in the past.

Here’s what La Roche-Posay has to say: “Here at La Roche-Posay we understand how eczema can impact quality of life for your child and the whole family. We ran a clinical study which showed that 9 out of 10 children with eczema suffer with sleep issues, spending up to ¼ of the night scratching, which can easily take its toll on day-to-day life. As we are committed to a better life for sensitive skin, we are encouraging Mumsnetters to share their top tips on looking after their children’s dry, itchy or eczema-prone skin, including bedtime hacks to reduce itchiness during the night.”

So what things have helped manage your child’s eczema? Are there any particular creams, lotions, or balms that have worked particularly well at soothing the itch? Do you keep the window open at night and make sure your child is wearing light, loose pajamas to keep them cool and stop them scratching while they sleep? Perhaps you avoid scented washing detergent to prevent your child’s skin from flaring up?

Please share your tips for coping with your child’s eczema below and you will be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 voucher of your choice (from a list).

Thanks

MNHQ

Terms and conditions apply

[BristolMum96]

Haven't really found anything to help my child relieve their eczema. None of the creams etc work for her. Only way I can stop scratching is by putting her to bed in an all in one so she can't get to her chest/belly/nappy area to scratch. Looking for a miracle cure!

[Whitelisbon]

I have 3 with eczema, eldest is 12 and now on immunosuppressants, so we've a fair bit of experience!
Moisturize. Constantly. When they flare, that means 10-12 times a day if necessary. Have emolients all over the house, so there'd always one close at hand, and, as soon as you notice an itch, cover them in it. We use heavier emolients at night (hydromol and 50/50, mainly), lighter creams during the day (diprobase and q.v. are our preferred ones).
Scratch sleeves for little ones, and onesies for bigger kids.
Keep them cool, as overheating means they'll scratch more, and try to use as much natural materials etc as possible.

[Froglette16]

My DS has had eczema since he was 3 mo. He’s now 2.5yo. We tried many different creams but Diprobase works best for us and an occasional low steroid cream for his face if it flares ( early on we had flares that became infected so early use of an antibiotic cream helped in conjunction with mild steroid ). No synthetics or wool against the skin. Cotton only. Cotton also for bedding. No tight clothes - let the skin breathe! Keep the bedroom slightly below warm because heating fuels the flare ups! Bathe in a non-soap bath cream. Same for shampoo. The GP can prescribe these and steroid creams ( the latter only for light use as long-term use can damage the skin). We were also tested for allergies. Dust mites, grasses and pollens, animal hair can all have an effect. Chlorine in pools etc. However salt water is soothing. Inc Himalayan salt in the bath. DS is now mostly eczema free but had a flare yesterday on his arms and legs so we’re straight back to the diprobase. We worked v hard in the early months to find out which creams worked best for him and it paid off but every child is different. If your child has a bad time with eczema my advice would be to persevere, keep trying different creams, return to your gp as often as necessary to get more to try and also talk to your local pharmacist, who may have more advice to offer. Eczema is awful but it can be controlled.

[Constantlurker]

We've been having a horrific time with eczema on my little girl. Tried everything. Winter has been awful with heating on everywhere. Then we tried a combination of a humidifier in her room to stop her skin drying out and the dermex aveeno cream. It's not cheap but the nighttime balm and daytime cream has cleared her skin up completely in 2 weeks. I cannot believe it some days. We used to have to change her clothes in 10 seconds flat because the minute her skin was in the open air she would scratch so hard she would bleed. Now she plays happily in the bath and we can take our time changing her.

I think it's mostly finding a combo of creams that work for you as we tried about 10 different types before this. But the change was insane.

[Constantlurker]

We also stopped using fabric conditioner which made a huge difference

[JanuarySun]

slapping moisturiser on, natural fibres, avoiding getting hot and sweaty

[itsabongthing]

I have found the type of fabric of the nightwear is important so pure cotton is better than synthetic.
My friend adapted her LOs pyjamas (his ezcema was worse than my DDs) to include mittens that he couldn’t take off.

[sarat1]

Support system from the inside using goats kefir

[munchbunch12]

Both my DC have eczema, but it seems (fingers crossed) to be improving as they get older. For us, what seemed to help was not bathing them too often, just giving them a strip wash whenever possible. Washing them with an emollient like Oilatum was less drying, and using emulsifying ointment all the time, and the steroid cream only when necessary. We also wash clothes in Persil non bio as that seems to be the best detergent for them.

[MrsFrTedCrilly]

Definitely agree with the moisturising and also keeping cool at night. Cotton bedding and lightest cotton pyjamas.

[Coffeechick]

Work on it from the inside. Probiotics to improve the gut biome

[TellMeItsNotTrue]

Keep distracted to stop them thinking about the itching and needing to scratch
Stickers for not scratching
Moisturise regularly
Don't bath them too often, it dries the skin out more
Regularly wash clothes and bedding so that there isn't old skin/moisturiser on them to create an itchy surface

[Whereareyouspot]

We have tried every single emollient going.
Some work for a bit and then seemingly stop being effective and we swop again.

When he was little we bought the special silver threaded cotton suits with inbuilt mitts.

We also have the silk tops and trousers and whilst I’m unconvinced of the benefit in terms of improving the skin he insists they feel much better so that in itself is worth the cost.

The thicker emollients like epaderm felt intuitively like a good idea to me but DS hates the sensation so we stick with diprobase on the whole and added steroid as soon as a flare occurs

He had to shower straight after swimming and apply cream which is hard at school

And he has also hated the seawater as it’s stings altho evidence suggests if you can get past the initial discomfort then salt water will heal.

[Whereareyouspot]

And for us bathing more definitely helps
Every night with added emollient in the bath and loads of cream after whilst the skin is supple.

If he doesn’t have a bath his skin is horrendous.

[biffyboom]

My eldest child suffered very badly with eczema for his first 3 years.
Ultimately, after trying numerous products and methods, with varying degrees of success, it sadly turned out it was mainly caused by our pet.

[Summergarden]

My DC have mild eczema.

I keep it under control just with QV moisturising cream most of the time, applied before bed. In the summer it sometimes flares up worse in patches so I apply a little steroid cream (prescription).

I do use biological washing powder as just don’t find non bio gets stains out, but I only use the pure/gentle fabric conditioners.

[sharond101]

We find minimal exposure to the cold shook wrapping up warm. Going in holiday to sunshine send to help too but always with a high factor sunscreen.

[GetSchwifty]

The best thing for both of mine was not to give them a bath too often. Every night just dries their skin out too much. A little bit of hydrocortisone on the creases and reddest parts used to clear their eczema up pretty quickly.

[Grapetree]

Keeping central heating low to prevent overheating
Light layers cotton clothing
Lukewarm showers no longer than 5 mins
Moisturising immediately after bathing to seal in moisture
Medical grade manuka honey bandages used on stubborn weepy patches to kill staphylococcus aureus
Using a thick cream based emollient which contains ceramides, humectants, fatty alcohols, and petroleum to reduce TEWL
Keep bedroom cool at night, lighter duvet, wash bedding once a week
Avoiding products with fragrance, SLS

[Cotswoldmama]

My sons eczema is quite bad and especially at night. Nothing much seems to help when he's having a flare up but we use gloves at night and tube bandages over his clothes on his arms and legs to try to prevent the itching from damaging his skin too much

[Asuwere]

Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise! And try to stop the scratching as much as possible (easier said than done sometimes!)

[Leannenoyce1]

My daughter had really bad eczema since she been born i tried everythink and couldnt get it down i now use moo goo natural cream its hard to get but gets it in bulk so it never runs out she been brilliant with her skin will never look back now i still carry on with it still even if not sore hope it can help others

[grebnew]

Cetaphil for face cleansing and lotion. Hydrocortisone for mild flare-ups, though not on face. Prescription for more serious flare-ups. Avoidance of heat. Mild laundry detergent. Healthy diet. Lower stress.

[Cupcakeicecream]

Childs farm works wonders. Always moisturise. Wear cool loose cotton clothing. Tight clothes irritate and rub the skin. Baths and showers warm not to hot or cold. When its windy and cold outside apple cream to hands and face and lip balm.cheeks lips and hands tend to to be worse in winter. Gently exfoliate the skin with a soft bristle brush gets the circulation and blood flowing and its soft on skin to remove dry skin. Dont use soap on face it tends to irritate and dry the skin out. To avoid scratching use a fan or blow on skin to sooth irritation. Aloe vera gel cools and soothes skin.

[Wineallthetime]

Find out the cause for starters, mines diary and sodium lurtheral sulphate whxihbis a foaming agents in shampoos, showers grow etc. Cut out both and sorry guys but Childs farm nappy rash cream is amazing!!!