Baby eczema, sleep torture, help!

[salvadory]

My 5 month old EBF DD was diagnosed with paediatric eczema at 10 weeks and it has been an uphill struggle to get it controlled since then. We are using dermol cream and a 1% hydrocortisone cream daily (if I stop the steroid she flares the day after). Previously been using cetraban as an emollient but the paed community nurse prescribed dermol after I complained that my daughters itching was driving us all mad. She wears tubifast gloves at all time as given free reign of her hands she would tear her skin to shreds.
I'd appreciate any advice as to help her (and us) get a better nights sleep, last night was 'good' in that she only woke 5 times between 11pm-6am (I usually BF back to sleep).
I have a 2 year old DD also so sleeping when the baby naps isn't an option.
We have a referral to the dermatologist (don't know how long that will take) and have tried Piriton (1ml) to no effect.
My husband introduced a Bottle of formula at night about 3 weeks ago and it used to make her sleep from 7:30 tomidnight but not any more. Since she turned 5 months we have started weaning, just baby rice or puréed carrot, again no change seen.
Help!

[IHeartKingThistle]

yy to extra rinse, stupid dh just chose a new washing machine with no extra rinse button and he flared up within days.

[guccigirly]

I have two very young children in my family whose eczema was so severe they looked like burns victims. People gasped when we were out and about with them. I have been told by a practitioner that continual use of steroid creams can been linked to asthma, so we decided to go down the alternative route after several years of being given every cream under the sun by the doctor and seeing specialist doctors in hospitals.

We discovered that both children had an intolerance to cow's milk via a homeopath and once this was cut out the eczema subsided. Creams like Baby bottom butter by Waitrose worked wonders on their skin (google it for use with eczema) as did using olive oil in their bath water. Consider seeing a homeopath or get a referral from your GP to go down the medical route if you wish to see what food intolerances your child may have, it can often be a food that is flaring up the skin. Much better to go down the natural route if you can than using lots of steroids.

Our children have beautiful skin now, but unfortunately one of them has severe scarring to his wrist area from when his eczema was at its worst.

Good luck !

[tiredfeet]

salvadory could you tell me about the NICE guidelines re sleep disturbance? I'm still really upset how dismissive my GP's were about how ds's sleep was being affected by eczema (40 mins max, day or night, for two months! and yet still they wouldn't refer! it only improved when he had his massive allergic reaction and we got seen by a specialist immediately)

I really hope things improve for you soon. have you tried co-sleeping? that helped a little when ds was at his worst and tbh I was just so tired by then that i didn't feel safe doing anything else! also, can you get any one to give you a break so you can sleep for a few hours in a go at one point.I know too well how hard it is to cope on such little sleep

[Idreamof]

Sorry haven' t read the whole thread, but have you tried oatmeal flakes in a long bath just before beb? Very soothing to the skin, no side effects; a cup or two in the water. Worked for us.

[salvadory]

Hi tired feet, the NICE link is here www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/11901/38597/38597.pdf (sorry am on phone) and guidance re sleep is at top of page 10. Basically it says if the child or carer is suffering due to lack of sleep that a referral should be made.
My daughters skin looks a lot better due to the betnovate but she's awake now and woke at 9,10,1:30, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 so far this evening. Every time I've gone in she's scratching (wearing gloves so no skin breakage but scratching all the same).

[salvadory]

I've tried co sleeping but because I've got a diastasis recti my back is really sore and co-sleeping really exacerbates it (I sound like a right barrel of laughs to be around don't I?).

[tiredfeet]

thanks salvadory I might have a bit of a chat with my gp next time I see them as I feel unhappy they didn't refer a lot sooner, I was practically hallucinating with exhaustion.

poor little thing she must be so uncomfortable. (and poor you, its so tough!)