Eczema and baths

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DS2 (6mo) has eczema and I was wondering if it's ok to give him a bath every day. We were given Oilatum to use in the bath but I never asked if it should be used daily or not.

I don't do daily baths for severe eczema dd (3). Dries her skin too much. A wash in the important area daily of course

Oilatum actually made Dd worse. Just plain water for Dd now. Careful with what you use to wash with too. The halos and horns stuff we trialled on here was a rubbish shampoo but really good washing gel and it doesn't irritate her at all. We also slather on doublebase after the bath and restrict baths to every other day.

We're using Epaderm and it doesn't seem to be doing anything except make him red and scratchy. I am so new to this and really have no clue what I'm doing . We also tried Cetraben but that didn't even come close to moisturing enough. I have just started a dairy and soya exclusion diet to see if it makes a difference.

We have tried Aveeno too, and E45 and nothing helps. I am at a loss really.

I always say the same thing on these threads but it's always worth a try...

Place a handful of porridge oats in the centre of a muslin and tie it up with a hair bobble like a giant tea bag. Hold it under the running water and squeeze so the milky stuff comes out and leave it soaking in the bath with dd. you can even use it to rub her as if it was a soap. This cured dd1s eczema.

toddlerama I will definitely try that. Can I use cheap porridge or does it need to be a special one?

Any cheap old porridge

Oh, don't expect to be able to keep the porridge bag...or forget and let it hang around for too long lost down the back of a unit because it will STINK!

I've done the same toddler - works really well and cleared up dd's eczema too. I've got a chalomine cream too from GP and pop that on her if her skin gets a bit try.

I also know a lady who makes natural oat porridge bath bombs with lavender, think they were about £1.50 for one (can only use once though). Her Facebook page is here

DS has had eczema since he was two months and he's now 19 months. I spent about 6 months bouncing between the GP, eczema nurse and Internet and tried everything until eventually we decided to pay to see a paediatric dermatologist privately. Best thing I ever did.

His advice: atopic eczema (so not caused by allergy) happens when the skin's protective barrier isn't working as it should to keep it moist and to keep irritants out. So you want to protect the skin by keeping it very well moisturised. Liquid paraffin in soft paraffin (50/50) is about a fiver in boots (ask the pharmacist) and we bath DS every night (and if he has a flare up twice a day) then cover him in the stuff WHILE skin is still damp . It's like gloopy vaseline and it locks the moisture in and creates a barrier. Aim to never let their skin dry out.

To treat the eczema itself we have a mild steroid, derm prescribed it as GP wouldn't have known to and we now get repeat prescriptions from the GP.

We use nothing but water in the bath and if we wash his hair we do it last thing before he comes out do he's not sitting in shampoo and rinse his little body off with the shower head.

If your little ones eczema is bad or affects her sleep i'd seriously consider taking her to a specialist. Our dermatologist is Dr David Atherton, you can google him for clinics but I know he is at great Ormond street once a week. It was £180 to see him.

I agree with osterlymama, get a referral to a dermatologist, moisturise as many times a day as poss (we used to do 5 times a day), and bath every day if poss to avoid infection as eczema prevents skin from acting as a natural barrier. Never use any type of soap or shampoo and don't be afraid to use steroid ointments when necessary.

It definitely affects his sleep. Here I am at 1am cos we're in the process of deswaddling and of course his face itches, his hands are now free so he's scratching. He's a dreadful sleeper.

I can't afford to spend that kind of money on a dermatologist, but I will ask GP for a referral to an allergy clinic to see if that's what's causing the eczema.

Will definitely try the oat bath.

Thanks for the advice.

It's more likely to be atopic than allergic in children. Ask the GP for a referral to a paediatric dermatologist. You'll have to push for it but explain its affecting his quality of sleep and making him uncomfortable. It really does depend on how bad it is. My DS's was so bad I gave up other things to pay for the dermatologist and I'd have paid more if i had to. It is a lot but you only really need to see him or her once. The good news is he's very likely to grow out of it! Good luck

Oh and PLEASE try the 50/50 paraffin. It's made the biggest difference.

We have a dermatologist at our regular NHS hospital via referral - give it a go and good luck

osterley that's what the GP said (re:atompic rather than allergic) but when I stopped the dairy before, it did seem to clear up bar one small patch on his face which has never gone away. Once I re-introduced the dairy it all flared up again. I'm dairy and soya free again to see if it clears like the last time.

I have found that cream online and will order now. Why is it any better than Epaderm/Cetraben etc?

If things don't get better after my dairy free stint, I will definitely push for a referral or try to book in privately. David Atherton runs a clinic in a hsopital not far from me.

Thanks all for the advice - I'm disappointed that I haven't had this kind of support from the GPs I've seen. Thank goodness for MN

It's cheaper and simpler. Epaderm is the same thing but with wax, 50/50 also goes on easier in my experience. While you are trying to get on top of eczema baby should always be slightly shiny! Lash the stuff on after a daily (or twice daily) bath then decant some into a small container like a lip balm pot (I bought a few empty pots from boots for a few pounds) and carry on you so you can top up all day especially if outside in the cold or in an air conditioned or heated room. Try a bowl of water by the radiator in the room where baby sleeps if you are still using heating. At 6 months we still bought cotton pyjamas with fold over sleeves to stop him scratching at night. If I think of anything else I'll let you know!

Oh and you might be right about the milk and soya allergy if you saw an improvement when you cut them out. I quit both for a month when ebf and it made no difference so I don't know anything about allergic eczema.

Thanks for the advice. Got the 50/50 stuff at the chemist yesterday and you're right, it's much easier to apply. I'm not very good at remembering to put it on frequently, I need to get into a better routine.

Thanks for all the advice, I really appreciate it!

I would recommend reapplying at every nappy change if possible. I know it's a pain and very inconvenient but it really does make a difference. And our dermatologist also said to never have the radiator in DS's bedroom or, if really cold, only have it on for a few hours before they go to bed then switch it back off when you put them to bed. We also keep a cup of water in the bedroom (on a high shelf to avoid spillages!) to stop the air from drying out. If you don't get on with 50/50 (it's all trial and error as every child's different) then I would recommend trying Hydrous. We have both on prescription but find Hydrous better in DS's case.

freefrom Today I have been much better. Managed three applications during the day and one just now before bed. Plus one extra on his face as it was so dry. I have just now turned off the radiator in his room and put a cup of water in there. Thanks for the tips.

The last time I saw the GP they didn't seem that worried about it, which makes me think I'm making a fuss over nothing. Maybe it's not that serious? Only he does scratch all the time and his sleep is awful. Is it worth returning to the GP? They really made me feel like a neurotic mother the last few times I went

lookout I would suggest that if it's affecting his sleep and his quality of life (which it clearly is if he's scratching all the time) then you should go back to the GP and ask for a referral. Mine also made me feel like I was overreacting despite the fact that DD1 had had 'normal' baby eczema so I knew that what DS2 had was most definitely not 'normal'. I was back & forth to the GP so many times until eventually one took pity and referred us to dermatology. The specialist was horrified at the state of DS's skin. He was infected from head to foot and they were amazed that he ate or slept at all as they said he must be in constant agony. I sat there and cried. So, the moral of the story is don't let them make you feel like a neurotic mother. Most GPs are not very good when it comes to eczema (or allergies) and that's what specialists are for!

Thank you so much. I'm in tears (absolutely exhausted from 6 months of sleep deprivation). It feels good to have someone tell me I'm not overreacting. I will go back to them.