Eczema rant

[greencybermummy]

Just need to vent. I hate eczema. Poor DD , nearly 5. We fight to cream. She screams in bath or shower. She wakes scratching every night.
We see paed derm nurses (3hrs drive away). We have plenty steroids, garments and emollients. I just hate the constantness of the condition. Just feel like we've totally stalled at the moment as skin is so dry.

Thanks. Vent over.

My DS's eczema isn't half as bad, however, dry, itchy and sore all the same. We tried all sorts, prescribed by the GP, to no avail but found Aveeno has been the 'miracle' cream.

I bought a tube but you can get it on prescription as a cream and bath emollient. Worth a try?

HTH

Good luck, poor DC.

You can get

Aveeno is great and doesn't sting my DD, unlike the prescription stuff.

Huge sympathy OP.

poor you and pour dd.
dc has it mild and time limited (linked to hayfever) but hates the sticky feeling of cream on the skin and also the smell of some creams. I think they smell 'itchy' to them iykwim.

agree about aveeno. doesn't sting (even on open/sore skin) sinks in quickly and really makes a difference to dc skin.

We had very bad eczema with both DC. Tried every cream going nothing really helped. When we returned from a long weekend in Wales I noticed their skin was so much better. We live in London and have hard water, Wales has soft water. Bought a bath crystal ball for the bath which removes the scale etc and filters the water, saw a massive improvement on their skin immediately. I then researched hard water and we have just had a water softener installed at our home and the eczema has completely gone, even from behind their knees. Might be worth checking if you live in a hard water area.

Those of you who use aveeno do you have blue or green top to tge tube? We have tried blue top but DD says it stings, is green different?

I use green top on DS. Can't comment on the blue but baby seems happy for me to apply it to even broken skin.

we use the hand cream for everywhere.

Big hugs to the OP. and anyone who is a parent of a child with eczema. I've had severe atopic eczema now (so far) 41 years and it's a condition that dominates the life of everyone in the family. I did everything I was told to try and prevent DD developing it and I broke my heart when she started. I know the hurt and pain, aggravation, and lack of understanding of others.

One recommendation I've found is coating open areas with a good emolient before any washing or bath which stops her hurting. We use the eczemaclothing all in ones pjs which completely transformed nighttime - best clothes and investment ever. Two years on and they stretched so still fit and wash after wash they come out soft and well shaped.

It frustrates me that over 40 years, they still haven't moved forward with eczema treatment.

I get the daily moisturising lotion on prescription and its the only thing that works on my hands.

Has she ever been allergy tested? Eczema that severe can be a sign of an allergy or intolerance.

Also search online for creams. I know a fab websight I get all my dd's stuff from. Many prescribed emollients make it worse

I sympathise. My 6 year old DS has eczema and we have tried loads of different creams - both prescribed and ones I have bought on recommendations (including Aveeno). I was having to use a strong steroid cream several times a week and was worried about the effects. I recently discovered Cetaphil Restoraderm Skin Restoring Body moisturiser and I am so pleased with the results. DS's skin now feels properly moisturised, is less itchy and spotty and I only have to use the steroid cream once a week or so on small stubborn patches (mainly his fingers).

The cream is nice to apply - just like a normal body lotion, unlike the thick, gloupy Epaderm ointment we were using.

I have spent the last 5 years and loads of money trying to find a miracle cream and, fingers crossed, this is it! I highly recommend it. There is a body wash that goes with it which I also bought but that did not suit him and made his skin red and itchy. Will stick with Dermol for washing.

Oh, also recommend a water softener. We live in a hard water area and had a softener fitted a few years ago - that def helps too.