Talk to me about eczema

[NotSoThinLizzy]

So DS is nearly 2 has some nasty eczema on his hand and the crook of his elbow. We've been doing the steroid cream and it's not working. Diprobase every 30 mins. Also given piriton for itching. Oat baths and oilatum. Have doc appointment on the 1st. Any ideas to help hes up at night scratching. Will attach pics of flare ups. 2nd pic is after a a week healing.

Dc triggers and or allergies:

Dust mites
Grass and tree pollen
Egg
Corn
Soya protein
Indoor heating
Extreme changes in temperature and humidity.
Stress
E numbers - even legal ones
Too much refined sugar
Bio laundry detergent, sometimes non-bio (I use less than is recommended)

DC also has allergic contact and irritant dermatitis, which was discovered when patch tested.

I second moogoo. Has helped my husband's very dry skin and atopic eczema. We use the milk wash and udder cream. They also do an irritable skin balm which may be worth a go.

I find it bizarre that you can't get an appt at your GP for eczema! What not at all? What do they say? Are there any other heath conditions they are refusing to treat?

Well it's not classed as an emergency so the soonest they can fit us in is the 1st made that appointment two weeks ago. Even the chemist at our local pharmacy tried calling for us.

I'm surprised they can't fit your dc in for an appt. Is the skin oozing at all? If so, there is definitely infection, which can spread like wild fire and made worse by emollient.

Diprobase and especially E45 can make it work. I switched to Aveeno and my skin is clear. No need for steroids anymore. And if i do get a patch HC cream does the job,

Sorry WORSE not WORK!

Another scratching episode last night this is it this morning

Your poor DS. I understand, I used to scratch so badly at night I couldn’t walk the next day. With DS I found Aveeno works well as a moisturiser as its not oily, also Aveeno used to make bath sachets that were brilliant. Cut out nightly baths as the water dries the skin, piriton before bedtime. DS skin is mostly clear now. Honestly while they are young enough to get away with it avoid water!

Hes on piriton already will pick up some aveeno today. I only bath him when he really needs it otherwise it's just a wash down with a damp cloth. Hand washing is an issue as it's on his hand.

Poor little mite! That's really quite severe eczema and I second saying that you are afraid it's infected to the gp. It doesn't look infected btw. You need a referral to a dermatologist. When it's oozing you need more ointment/gel type creams as they act as a barrier and sooth the pain. Don't be afraid of the steroids. You might need some stronger ones. Keep going with the steroids until it's completely gone not just till it improves and be absolutely regular with it. A dermatologist once said to me, people worry about the thinning of the skin, but scarring is more damaging.
There's no way he's not going to scratch his wrist. Can you ask for wraps at the GP? Or create a bandage from cotton sheets.

Poor soul. Looks sore. Definitely needs a dermatologist and family member went through same thing with their little one. It was hereditary and they prescribed a stronger cream. I'll have a think on the name.

My little one is showing signs so been using steroid cream first, letting it dry then putting e45 on top. Giving piriton as prescribed. It's working quite well.

Feel for your little one though. Looks so sore.

Socks on hands at night to stop scratching. We found the urea based creams (eg balneum) WAY better than anything else at this age. BUT you need to have it totally under control before you use them as they sting sting sting on wounds.

Have you tried HC cream? Not harsh. I found any steroid ointment aggrevated it esp in the heat.

You can pick it up with the Aveeno in the chemist/supermarket

Your poor DS.

I have eczema, and second what people have said about it being so individual, and trial and error until you find what works. I was in my 20s before they found I am allergic to all milk products. I had a miserable time with eczema until then.

In my experience, keeping the skin clean helps - because dust & pollen can be irritants. But Diprobase and Oilatum I find very irritating and sticky - as with all petroleum-based products.

I have Fucidin HC for flare ups like the one your DS has - it’s a prescription cream, combining hydrocortisone and a mild antibiotic. It works miracles.

I can’t use any soap - too drying - so I use an unscented body wash that does not have sodium laureth sulphate.

Aveeno & Dream cream & unscented Childs Farm cream for moisturising.

But basically - keep cool, clean, and don’t be afraid of steroids.

And insist on a referral to a dematologist.

Good luck!

I remember having fucidin for impetigo when little. mum kept it and put it on everything 😂 spoke to chemist about putting a plaster or sock on his hand at night when it's the worse and she said she cant recomend that as itll sweat needs to be said by a gp basically. He will pull socks off so think I'll need like a bandage type thing. It's a shame its wakes him up alot.

ScratchSleeves | Stay-on Scratch Mitts for Itchy Toddlers | Cream/Oatmeal | 18-21m www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B074FX7R81/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_75xpDbEKWN64T?tag=mumsnetforu03-21 we use these for dd at night to stop her causing damage to herself. Still trial and error for us, we use oilatum which is basically Vaseline, diprobase as a soap alternative and a stronger steriod cream during flareups. Daily piriton when very itchy and have recently cut dairy which seems to be helping. For those that have managed to get allergy tests on the NHS how? They seem very reluctant to refer her to dermatologist even though we have been back and forth since 18months old.

When he's in the bath, cover him in emolient and then rinse it off with cool water. This works instead of soap and feels nice. Watch for him slipping though. You then also need to put emolient on afterwards too. Don't rub it in but just slather it on and let him wander round naked until it sinks in. After 15 mins put the steroids on. Watch if he starts scratching after the emolient, as some sting, you might need a different one. Have emolient ready to use as soap for hand washing and always put more on afterwards. Light loose cotton clothing. In fact, I'd go for no clothes at all unless that means he's scratching more because access is too easy. Be aware of high pollen counts and heat.

Dosent really make a difference if naked as the worse part is on his hand. The crook of his elbow has some but no where near has bad as his hand. Could I be an allergy to the cats? He was petting the cat yesterday

Sorry, but absolutely could be a pet allergy. When I pet an animal, I have to wash my hands immediately because if I touch my face, my eczema goes mad. Have a think how you could reduce contact with the pets. Maybe keep them out of his room and the living room when he's playing. Also ask the doctor about stronger/different antihistamines. Some are better for pets and for skin. My daughter was given fexofenadine for her allergic skin reaction. I'm not saying that's the one, I just know that there are different ones out there.

Might see if my mum can have the cats for a couple of weeks to see if there improvement.

Diprobase and hydrocortizone did nothing for me for years when I was a kid with sever eczema - it cleared up immediately with betnovate

Poor baby! I would definitely try and see what he's like without the cats. We have no carpets in the house now as the dcs have eczema/asthma and it makes a huge difference.

You can also get sleep suits that basically have sleeves with no opening for the hands. It will stop him scratching but it will leave him frustrated that he can't. You can get stronger antihistamines that will let him sleep more but they will make him v drowsy. I think it's kinder when it's this bad though.

Betnovate is v strong. They generally won't prescribe strong steroids for such young children from memory but maybe a dermatologist would! I would also be focusing on trying to find a cause as there usually is one. For us dc ended up having allergies to egg, milk, soya, tree pollen and cats/dogs. If it's focused on the hands though it does seem likely it's something being touched.

We have no carpet downstairs cats not aloud in bedrooms. I'm allergic to our cats so mabye I've passed that on?

My DD gets this behind her knees and gets into a scratch itch cycle which results in her scratching so much she opens the skin and makes it bleed.it happens overnight so her knees will be a little red and then the next morning bleeding and covered in sores.

We cover her knees at night. So wash with cool water. Pat on some diprobase, let it soak in then pat some more on. Wrap with cotton stretchy bandages or we have some bamboo socks that I cut the toes off of, they pull up over her knees and stay put.

Next morning, wash with cool water, more diprobase, let it soak in, another layer then cotton leggings.

We start seeing an improvement within 2 nights but keep up the routine till the scabs have healed.

The difficulty is catching the cycle before she scratches holes in her knees!

Maybe lizzy! Hard to know but my dcs have similar allergies to me and exh!