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Original poster

Skin issues behind toddler ear - pictures included!

85 replies

pinkcow123 · 28/01/2025 20:46

My toddler has had an issue in the skin behind their ear. It is cracking, sore, crusty and weeping - along the line behind the ear.

Previously tried hydrocortisone cream.

They have reacted to Epaderm and epimax and this has caused further rash.

Another GP request has been made, but I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this? Any other creams that have worked?
Sudocreme doesn't seem to do anything other than clog it up!

Any ideas what it could be as well?

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Original poster
pinkcow123 · 07/02/2025 19:45

Just to update this thread, incase anyone looks in the future.

The antibiotics didn't fix the issue, but a stronger steroid (Evumate) seems to be sorting it out 🤞🏻.
So it looks like it is eczema!

OP posts:
ConsuelaHammock · 01/02/2025 15:33

Gp

ConsuelaHammock · 01/02/2025 15:33

My son had this when he was little. Sudocrem cleared it up. His was just really a long crack in the skin. This looks quite wet and weeping. Perhaps get the go to take a swab?

Playgroundincident · 01/02/2025 15:29

@pinkcow123 yes always both. Hydrocortisone to dry and open pores, emollient to moisturise.

Dairymilkisminging · 31/01/2025 19:53

My wee one had this and was prescribed fusidin cream (spelling?) It's an anti biotic and anti fungus. I went withing three days. We had tried everything else sudocream and emollient. Only thing that worked

TartanTrewses · 31/01/2025 18:55

My DS used to get that and it went away completely over night with a tiny little bit of hydrocortisone cream. It was eczema.

Original poster
pinkcow123 · 31/01/2025 18:52

Angrymum22 · 31/01/2025 18:35

If you use a thick layer of cream/ointment it tends to facilitate bacterial spread and growth. If you use a barrier cream in the future. Wash and dry it well then apply a very thin layer.
I used Sudocream on DS as a very young baby as a barrier. Turned out he had an allergy to one of the ingredients that caused eczema. So I stopped using it and change to an olive oil based barrier cream.
Does your toddler suck their thumb and play with their ear? Could be one of the causes of initial soreness.

They don't suck their thumbs, but they are under ENT for glue ear.
And they do pull at it / touch it a fair bit! They are also very congested generally, so could also been leaking lots of fluid right and laying in it!

OP posts:
Angrymum22 · 31/01/2025 18:35

If you use a thick layer of cream/ointment it tends to facilitate bacterial spread and growth. If you use a barrier cream in the future. Wash and dry it well then apply a very thin layer.
I used Sudocream on DS as a very young baby as a barrier. Turned out he had an allergy to one of the ingredients that caused eczema. So I stopped using it and change to an olive oil based barrier cream.
Does your toddler suck their thumb and play with their ear? Could be one of the causes of initial soreness.

kiana2015 · 31/01/2025 18:32

My DD gets this and has eczema, I got prescribed timodine when it split, after, I find if I wash, thoroughly dry twice a day it helps I think it's moisture

Crazycatlady79 · 31/01/2025 18:27

Healing really nicely. Your poor child. Hope it doesn't flare too badly again.

Needspaceforlego · 31/01/2025 18:22

Healing really well. Must have been really sore.

Well done to both the pharmacist and the GP who both get lots of flack but seem to have got it right this time

Original poster
pinkcow123 · 31/01/2025 18:20

Here it is, no cream since Tuesday and 24 hours of antibiotics!

Skin issues behind toddler ear - pictures included!
OP posts:
Original poster
pinkcow123 · 30/01/2025 13:02

Thank you for all the advice and guidance.

Just to confirm I will be leaving it with nothing but washed with water and a soft cloth until they have finished the 5 days oral antibiotics 😊.

I will then re-asses creams in the hope of minimising the risk of it happening again!

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Balloonhearts · 30/01/2025 11:52

That looks exactly what I get! Happens in my belly button too. Best thing for it is Savlon antiseptic cream. Wipe clean every morning with warm water, rinse it all out and reapply. Usually closes up within a couple of days.

Smittenkitchen · 30/01/2025 11:51

Could be impetigo. That takes ages to heal and can look quite nasty.

Thelnebriati · 30/01/2025 11:47

Although it looks like the early stages of cellulitis, it tends to spread and get worse within weeks.
Steroid cream will prevent an open wound from healing, it also won't treat bacterial or fungal infection.

Spidey66 · 30/01/2025 11:37

Ouch, sore!

Looks like needs a strong steroid cream alongside an emmiolent. While the steroids do have side effects, they work quickly so he should only need them for a short period of time.

Make sure when he's having a bath/shower that any soap/shampoo is rinsed off thoroughly (might be worth avoiding all but the mildest soaps) and make sure he's dried thoroughly.

Hooe he gets better soon, it looks so sore x

Needspaceforlego · 30/01/2025 11:31

I'd follow the GPs advice. Let it dry up. Let the air get to it.

I've had impetigo it was like tiny spots that went into blisters which then burst leaving raw skin. No idea where I picked it up from I was an adult at the time.

If memory has it right the treatment was antibiotics and to let the air get to it.

meganorks · 30/01/2025 11:05

My (older) DD had something very similar behind her ear and it turned out to be impetigo. I put cream on but only seemed to get worse. Pharmacist didn't pick up what was and suggested another cream that also didn't help. Only realised when she got a tiny spot on her nose (unrelated, just a pimple). But she was obviously picking and touching the spot and the next day it was a big blister! Realised it was whatever was behind the ear transfered then.

Original poster
pinkcow123 · 30/01/2025 11:00

Anyone know anything about cellulitis? Could it be that?

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Original poster
pinkcow123 · 30/01/2025 10:59

Playgroundincident · 29/01/2025 21:24

Tou need to out the hydrocortisone in a very thin layer on first then wait 10 minutes and add the emollient. You always need a gap.

Should they both always go on?

I was doing just hydrocortisone in the morning and emollient throughout the day.

But been told to stop all creams now for time time being anyway, but would be helpful to know for future

OP posts:
Lizzbear · 29/01/2025 21:29

I have eczema and it started weeping behind my ears. I was prescribed antibiotics. It went, but came back again. I found that using an anti fungal steroid cream really helped. Then just keeping the backs of the ears moist with baby Aveeno

Playgroundincident · 29/01/2025 21:24

Tou need to out the hydrocortisone in a very thin layer on first then wait 10 minutes and add the emollient. You always need a gap.

Commonsense22 · 29/01/2025 21:23

Baneofmyexistence · 28/01/2025 21:28

My DD gets similar to this a lot! We’ve seen a few doctors about it, some have said it’s fungal some have said it’s impetigo. Either way, we use daktacort cream and it clears it up within a few days to a week.

Edited

Yes I remember having this as a child and being told it was fungal.

OCDmama · 29/01/2025 21:21

pinkcow123 · 28/01/2025 21:07

I hope not! But they do go to nursery - could another child have pulled it?
I imagine they would have been distressed at the time?

Show quote history

Nah, this is a skin thing, not a pull injury.

My toddler had the exact same thing, but I'm afraid epaderm sorted it for us very quickly. Is there an alternative that you could try? Do you know what is in epaderm that your LO reacted to?