Eczema

[TheGingerPiglet]

This flared up the night before last on my daughter’s legs. I went to the chemist yesterday morning and showed them this photo and they have given me some emollient cream which went on last night and tonight. During the day today it’s been really sore for her at school and tonight she is sobbing as it’s really stinging after putting the cream on and has irritated it. I was given some hydrocortisone cream to put on it but only if the skin isn’t broken, and I think it is so I don’t want to use it.

Has anyone got any helpful tips please to help make her more comfortable this evening? I will try and get a GP appointment. It flares up every few months or so and I can’t work out why. We are very consistent and don’t swap washing powder or body washes etc.

Thank you.

Eczema mum here. I would put hydrocortisone on that x

Piriton also good for tonight, we have to give it as part of our regime once a flare up starts so that the skin can ‘have a break’ while he sleeps so that he doesn’t keep waking up to itch x

Ah ok, so it should be ok to put the hydrocortisone on? It’s now so sore to touch it I’m worried to make it worse! Does hydrocortisone sting when it goes on? Thank you @spideysmumma!

1000% use the hydrocortisone

Deffo put some hydrocortisone on that. It’s fine to use as long as you are using it on an area that is actually inflamed, not just dry

The poor thing. I imagine anything on it will sting a bit given that it’s so inflamed but my GP (who has a dermatology background) told me not to be frightened of hydrocortisone as that is what will bring the flare up down quickly and avoid further damage to the skin tissue x

hydrocortisone doesn’t sting. If you have an ointment it should feel a bit soothed. It’s usually only mometasone that stings.

Thanks everyone for your input. The hydrocortisone is going on!

Definitely ask for stronger steroid to take it back down if the hydrocortisone doesn't help
It's only when they scratch it and then make the skin weep/bleed they say not to put it on as it'll hurt. Usually then you can ask for Fucibet aka a steroid and antibiotic in one

I also do a very weak bleach/Milton bath. So a nice warm not boiling hot bath, cap full of Milton in. Soak and then get out
Oilatum bath additive is great too for softening when it's dry and itchy

Piriton before bed so she can sleep and loose flowy cotton trousers. The creases of arms and legs can get sweaty and sticky

Sorry, can I piggyback on here. My daughter has very similar looking eczema on her elbow creases but I have so far avoided steroid cream as she is only 6 and I am worried it’s too harsh, but from the responses here I think I might be wrong? Should I get some and if so, do I need to get it prescribed?

@BarbaraVineFan

In my opinion steroids are great for a strong, short term use. They don't thin the skin anymore unless really strong ones are used multiple times everyday. They're much more ~cosmetically elegant~ nowadays.

General best practice is to do the strongest needed to "blast" off the eczema completely then step down to something milder for smaller flare ups/maintenance so it doesn't spread and go big and sore again. And then just moisturise the skin as much as needed ie after swimming or baths or lots in winter. Trying not to let the creases get too sweaty in summer too as that causes irritation and eczema. It's a balance between too dry and too moist!

Try hydrocortisone 1% which is available on the shelf from boots etc and might be just enough if you apply a thin layer say twice a day for a week. If it isn't going down then send a message to GP saying you need something a bit stronger and perhaps a bath additive emollient. They usually prescribe emollient anyway regardless of if you ask for it as they can be used in place of body wash.

Vitamin D tablets and getting skin exposed to the sun can really help too, as well as maybe exploring allergies and triggers like washing powders, weather, diet