I think it's eczema, how can you tell for sure?

[Lilyofthevalley]

My dd, 9 months, had a really horrible rash, one gp said it was eczema so I bought creams, special bath stuff etc but a different gp said she had a nasty viral infection and it would go away. It did. But now it's back but less of it and different, drier and more spaced out. She sometimes pulls at her vest when I'm changing her as if she's a bit itchy but I really can't tell.

Is there anyone with eczema experience who can tell me how to know for sure? Also, is it effected by what I give her to eat? Could it be a food allergy of some kind?

Sorry but I've never seen eczema before, don't know what it looks like or in fact, anything about it! Any help would be much appriciated!

Apparently my ds2 has it. His dad did when little. It went away but has flare up of dry spots behind knees and on back. There can be triggers apparently. I would suggest that you take dd to an eczema clinic. Normally run in local health centre. We never got to go, but apparently they're really helpful. Have you been giving Hydromol on prescription. My ds2 has this and it's brilliant, both creme and bath emollient. Try and get some of this if you can. Hope this helps a bit

Hi ds2 was diagnosed with eczema at about the same age
we ahd though it was dribble rash

it looks much more like eczema now.....

also - you can get creams, bath stuff on prescriptioon
let me find a pic for you

you need aqueous cream - a couple of pounds for a huge tub - use as a cream and also in place of soap

this picture is the closest to ds2's eczema initially - the one of the baby's neck and chin

now it is more patchy

I think he reacts to tomatoes (as I do) and am holding off giving him milk as a drink (though he does have it in cereal and yohurt, cheese, etc)

oh yes (sorry for multiple posts) it really flared up when he was in hospital - starch on the sheets I think

Thanks popsycalindisguise, I think it is eczema then, my dd's looks like the 1st picture only not as bad, it's patchier but gets worse in the warmth of a bath.
I've got emulave for the bath. Is that any good?

Hi Lily,
If it's eczema you need to be careful what you use for washing clothes/bedsheets in. We use Ecover Non bio but Surcare is good too. Fabric conditioner can be bad too. It will get worse in the bath so an additive is good but we only do baths a few times a week. However some swear by daily baths for eczema....
If you search on MN you will find some good threads about treatments but the basic rule is that diff creams work for diff people. You can get everything you need on prescription and this would usually be a grease cream (we use Epaderm), bath additive (we have Oilatum), a steroid (hydrocortisone) for bad flare ups and maybe a moisturiser (we like Aveno).
Food does cause flare ups but we tend to live with this. Tilly's defs are tomatoes, kiwi, hummus and prob dairy but as a veggie it's hard to cut these things out! You can make this better by minimising skin contact, eating kiwi with a fork for example and having a flannel handy to wipe hands.
It all becomes routine in the end!
Sorry bit of a long post!

We were prescribed OIlatum for the bath - get it on prescription as it is expensive. use aqueous cream to wash and as a moisturising cream.

We use fairy non-bio to wash - the only one so far that doesnt aggrevate his skin

Still unsure it this is eczema. It's spreading and getting worse but is neither dry and scaly or wet and weepy as I've read it can be.
It's a rash of red spots all over her and is now on her face and head too.

Last night I gave her Teedex which has an antihistamine in it and she slept quite well for the first time in ages.

Poor dd! Want to help her but don't know how!