Weepy crusty eczema, not sure where to go from here?

[ifaistos]

ds1, 5mo, has a patch of weepy, crusty, raw eczema on his cheek. We've just done a course of steroid cream - the weakest one there is. This more or less cleaned it up whilst we were applying it every day, but as soon as we went to applying every other day, it came back - though not as bad as before.
I'm wondering:

1. where do we go from here? Back to doctors, dermatologist, etc.?
2. can use apply emollient type creams to weepy patches, does that ever clear it up, or does it do more harm than good?
3. we're going away in a week to somewhere sunny and unpolluted. I'd like to wait to see if that changes anything. Is this irresponsible, dangerous to leave a flare up?

All advice gratefully received, thanks.

back to GP

might be infected or might be impetigo

Impetigo alert!

Oooo, wishing I hadn't google imaged impetigo now. But yeah, looks like maybe it could be that. Back to doctor then. Thanks.

dd (14 months) has just had exactly that, really nasty patch of eczema infected with impetigo on her face and behind her ear, very wet and had started bleeding. doc gave her fucidin h cream which treats the eczema AND the impetigo. cleared up within less than 12 hours...

sounds like impetigo to me!

Ooops sorry just seen other posts already saying that - we've had fucidin and also oral steroids too (it was really bad at this point and also flared up asthma)

Another vote for impetigo. Be scrupulous about keeping towels separate from other members of the family as it will spread.

Sounds a bit like a fungal infection. IME putting mositurising things on weepy skin makes it worse and can be quite painful

Would it be a fungal infection or impetigo on top of the eczema then?
I'm fairly sure there is eczema, because he has patches elsewhere too - but not flare ups.
The steroid cream got rid of it temporarily. What happens if it keeps coming back? You don't just keep using steroid cream indefinitely do you?

It can be an infection on top of eczema. My daughter used to get them. I was told its because with a child who suffers from eczema you keep the skin almost too clean and as you keep having to put cream on it infections are easily passed. The doctor gave her anti-biotics but the infection came back again so i just kept it clean and covered and eventually it went but never returned. I used seudo-cream a bit as well.

With the eczema in general you obviosuly do not want to use steroid cream every day. Use it if there is a flare up. When there is no infection and its dry and crusty try neutrogina dermatological cream. Its very rich and actually seems to add moisture which is difficult to do with eczema

Don't take him out in strong sunlight after putting the steroid cream on. It can bleach the skin permanently.

Steroid creams will heal eczema but you need to use emollients continuously to prevent it recurring so keep putting something like 50/50 cream on his face twice a day when it has cleared up.