Any dermatologists around please? Skin condition

Stay away from essential oils etc… they will make things ever so much worse. Increase essential fatty acids in the diet. Fish oil tablets, evening primrose, etc, but only AFTER diagnosis from doctor.

My advice is not to try anything new until you have seen a specialist and received a proper diagnosis.

Hi OP, yes to ask for a referral. Also:

Scratch mitts esp for night time. Nice silky ones.

What washing detergent being used and considering changing it. Non bio required and extra rinse cycle.

Is the house being damp dusted and hoovered enough? Are there pets?

Bathing with oats is good. Get pin head oatmeal and pop a handful into a pop sock or end of tights. Tie it up and use it like a sponge in the bath. No soap or anything like that. Not too long in water.

Common food based allergens are: dairy, egg whites, cod liver oil, nuts. Try excluding these and gradual reintroduction.

I use this on my little boys, it’s brilliant (also their bath oil). The emollient from the doc contained paraffin, which we all find drying.

Have they tried natural remedies? https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/balmonds-skin-salvation-60033955

Please don’t self-diagnose. I suspect this child has ichthyosis and steroid creams will make it worse. (It’s a genetic condition.) Please ask for a referral to the paediatric dermatologists at the hospital. Poor kid is probably itchy and uncomfortable! In the mean time, just suggest cool baths in hot weather and nice, loose clothes in breathable fabrics that don’t rub wherever possible. (If this child is at school they are probably very self-conscious too!!!) Assuming it is thesis, they will need a strict regimen of emollients and bathing products (probably NHS provided). Soaps, etc should be avoided.

I was in London and found an allergy test centre. They check 299 allergies. Mine were all clear.

I give up.

Looks like PRP.

I have it. No cure. There's a FB page on it. It's an auto-immune disease.

It's awful, OP. Sorry you are going through this. You have my full sympathy.

The emollient could be making it worse.

Dd has eczema and when her flare ups are bad she can only use 2 things on her skin or her eczema gets worse. We found that out the hard way and went through countless prescription products before finding the right ones.

I didn't even know pediatric dermatology was a thing. Not in the UK but our dermatologists just do all ages. My children just went to a "regular" dermatologist.

They can ring Noahs Ark childrens hospital who run a dermatologist clinic, ask what the referral process is, also do they take private patients, as to see a different gp and stress how much this is affecting his mental health, poor soul. They need more than hydromol and need to see a paediatrician, look to see what's available in Cardiff.

Has he had blood tests? My ex had Gilbert’s syndrome and his skin was exactly the same. They really need to push for referral to derm. I have a long family history of eczema and can tell you no two people with eczema need the same treatment. There’s a LOT of trial and error with emollients, bath products etc. A common sensitivity is SLS, which is in aqueous cream (I’m allergic to aqueous cream and it’s no longer recommended for any type of eczema). My ex had a terrible time and there was literally one product that he could use. Diet-I find omega 3 helps (I use the algal vegan stuff as it’s not really fishy).

Sorry, suspect it's such a niche area that there aren't many private doctors doing it. And those that are will mainly be based in London.

The only thing I can suggest is that his skin does look horribly dry so however much emollient they are using, it isn't enough. They should be getting through tubs very quickly and using ointment not cream or lotion. (I know they probably know this already)

Oooh, looking at Dr Clayton's fees he does video appointments for Paediatrics - might be an answer for you?

yes I have got over-invested in this

Obviously the wrong place for Cardiff (but possibly the most qualified person):

https://dermexpert.co.uk/conditions-and-treatments/paediatric-dermatology/

More sensibly for Bristol:

https://www.spirehealthcare.com/consultant-profiles/dr-lindsay-shaw-c3551619/

https://osbornedermatology.co.uk/

Where in Wales are you? Ds had great care from the paediatrics at Maelor in Wrexham

North or South Wales?

Wales does seem to be a dead zone for this so they will probably need to cross the border.

If North Wales I can find someone in Chester or Manchester, South then almost certainly someone in Bristol.

Whereabouts in Wales,

https://eczema.org

good info here

Not a professional but my son is 13 and has had excema for five years to varying degrees. Yours does look awfully dry but not that severe. My son's dermatologist had him on emollients when it looked like this with steroid creams if it became more severe. What they try to stop is the skin becoming infected which is the major problem. At one point my poor ds looked like he was covered in thousands of paper cuts, it was horrible and painful. There never seemed to be any long term plan apart from keeping his skin moisturised with a quite involved regime. It's commonly something they just grow out of, I was told and no allergy testing threw up a cause.

The gp can refer them to a NHS or private dermatologist although some private doctors will take a self referral. They could see a private gp who could refer to a private dermatologist, does he have any other medical problems.