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Original poster

Does this sound like eczema?

19 replies

liquidclocks · 19/08/2006 09:43

Or just normal?

DS (22 months) has had a patch of dry skin on his left elbow crease for ages - pretty sure it's eczema as he did have it for a while when hewas very small all over but it cleared up just leaving that patch. When I think of eczema (I have little patches too) I think of like a raised area with dry flaky skin, often a bit (or a lot) red.

DS had a stay in hospital about 2 months ago and since then the patch on his arm has deifnitely flared up so I'm putting plenty of cream on. The thing is that on his upper and lower arms on both sides he's also got what look like little pimples (they're quite hard) and he seems to find them itchy - same on the back of his neck. They don't 'look' like eczema to me but not being an expert I thought I'd ask those of you with more experience before I go and bother the doctor (he's had quite enough of them recently).

Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
kiskidee · 19/08/2006 10:26

the first paragraph sounds like eczema. the second paragraph doesn't but sounds like seriously dry skin. aveeno is excellent for really dry skin and eczema. get a small tube and have a go.

Original poster
liquidclocks · 19/08/2006 10:41

Thanks kiskidee. The skin doesn't seem dry though, just these raised bumps that he obviously finds very itchy. I have been putting loads of cream (epiderm) on those bits too but they'e still very much 'there' IYSWIM?

OP posts:
kiskidee · 19/08/2006 10:51

still think it is dry skin, try aveeno. are you using 'epiderm' or 'epAderm' these are 2 different products. EpAderm is an emollient i use in the bath with my dd and though it can be used as a moisturiser after the bath, i prefer aveeno.

Original poster
liquidclocks · 19/08/2006 10:54

Yep.sorry, just checked and it is epaderm, doctor told us to put straight onto skin- is that not right then? How much do you put in the bath? Will try this aveeno stuff. Do you get it anywhere in particular or just from supermarket?

OP posts:
kiskidee · 19/08/2006 19:08

no, its not right. wet your hands, then take a tiny bit the size of a 5p piece ought to be enough and rub hands together, it 'lathers' up all creamy like a lotion. then apply. you can do the same thing in the bath and use instead of soap. warning you get a v. slippery child.

chestnutter · 19/08/2006 19:10

... or try emulsifying ointment which you can buy over the counter at the chemist. Needs a little rubbing in but it has worked a treat with our ds.

kiskidee · 19/08/2006 19:11

you can get aveeno at boots, if it works and you like it, you can get it on prescription too. or get it straight away on prescription. its fab. get the plain aveeno. those with lavender etc are not necessary.

epaderm is fantastic stuff. i never use soap on my eczema prone dd just this stuff in the bath.

Original poster
liquidclocks · 19/08/2006 19:30

Thanks for all the help - bath night's tomorrow so I'll get ready for my little eel! He's been pretty upset with it today though so aveeno is definitely on the shopping list and if it doesn't sooth it I might take him for a review to check these bumps out.

OP posts:
kiskidee · 19/08/2006 19:34

with dry skin eczema, which is what my dd has, the doctor recommended baths daily but for no longer than 10 mins. i moisturise 2x a day as i find that if i don't she is still too dry but everyone is different.

Original poster
liquidclocks · 19/08/2006 19:55

I'll tell DH! I'm 34 wks pg at mo and can't lift DS safely in/out bath but DH refuses to do it more than 3 times a week, lazy ^&*! Thanks for the excuse - DS LOVES bathtime!

OP posts:
kiskidee · 19/08/2006 20:03

heh, heh, heh. glad to be of service. [takes bow] also you may add that this was advice from a dermatologist, not any old gp.

vp01 · 21/08/2006 13:40

Hi
My little boy is 7 and a half months old and has raised red patches on his face and legs, the doctor thinks it is eczema, but I think it is an allergy to something he is eating - I have been keeping a food diary but can't pinpoint what it is.

can anyone offer any suggestions?

kiskidee · 21/08/2006 14:01

most likely eczema. i would not go down the route of eliminating any foods. too timeconsuming, hit and miss, and unreliable results - and that is coming from the paediatrician my dd saw. better to just treat and manage. your son most likely has a genetic predisposititon to eczema and there are too many environmental factors that are impossible to isolate and eliminate which are causing the problem.

Original poster
liquidclocks · 21/08/2006 20:40

VP - this being a thread I started I'm definitely not an expert but I too would caution about getting into lookong for triggers at such a young age. As I mentioned further down DS has quite a lot of eczema when he was very little - up to about 9/10 months but it eased off significantly after that. If it does carry on there are definitely avenues to go down with the help of a specialist as Kiskidee has but don't try yourself as it will just make you anxious and stressed out.

OP posts:
vp01 · 21/08/2006 21:07

I have taken him back to the doctors this morning, and they think some of the eczema is infected as it looks yellow, they have prescribed him antibiotics but I am reluctant to give them to him as he had antibiotics for an eye infection when he was about 3 and a half months old which left him with diahorrhea for 3 weeks afterwards - has anyone else used antibiotics to treat eczema and did they have any similar side effects? Also is it safe to use hydrocortisone cream on the face - I have heard that it can thin the skin?

kiskidee · 21/08/2006 21:13

eczema that is infected is weepy. you won't get rid of it till you get rid of the infection. my dd never got oral antibiotics for eczema. instead got a hydrocortisone cream with a topical antiseptic.

if the first antibiotic is different from the second one you shouldn't have the same problem. they should be at they are for different types of organ - skin vs eye tissue.

skin thinning by hydrocortisone was more of a problem earlier on in their use because dosages in the ointments were much higher and not knowing the long term side effects, used constantly.

shrub · 21/08/2006 21:22

my ds3 had something that sounds very similar - I think the heat made it worse and I found weleda calendula baby oil worked very quickly. All natural ingredients aswell

kittywits · 21/08/2006 21:44

Hi there, there was a thread like this a couple of days ago and 2 great suggestions were made that i'd like to share incase they help. The first one wqas buying the lush product dream cream which lote of mums with kids suffering badly and who'd responded to nothing really responded to. another (which I've tried over the past couple of days and really seems to be working when nothing else has) is to put 1 dropnof rose oil, 2 drops of lavender and 2 of chamomile into about 50 ml of babies usual moituriser. I have found that they have really, really softened up and moisturised my dd2's skin. Hope that's of help.

pointydog · 21/08/2006 21:55

Had to use oral antibiotics to treat eczema-related skin infections many times for dd2, starting at 5 months if not before. Her skin infections would spread like wildfire and ointments like fucidin just weren't enough. Didn't have the diarrhea side-effect, though.

We hated using hydrocortisone on dd2's face but had to to try to control the eczema. We were constantly reassured by the consultants. She's now 7 and her face (and skin generally) is lovely!

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