Papular dermatitis

[celandine]

According to the doc, ds, 8 months, has 'papular' (which just means in the form of lots of little spots) dermatitis. It's linked to his eczema which started at 7 months.

He's been covered in it for almost 3 weeks and it's just not getting any better. It's on his front, back, arms, neck and forehead. I actually thought it was chickenpox first of all (as some of you may know if you read my thread...) A man came around to do our fence yesterday and he asked if ds had the measles!

I also used to take him swimming once a week but have held back because I don't want anything to make it worse. I am thinking however, that if it's going to continue indefinitely I would rather him have the benefit of swimming.

It doesn't seem to bother him but I would love to know what's caused it and if I can hope for any respite soon. He's just got over a cold and his first teeth are just breaking through his gums now. I know they can both cause flare-ups but his cold has now gone. Could it be his teeth? Can this cause a reaction for so long? I've changed from washing powder from Persil to Fairy (because it smelt nicer) back to Persil (because his eczema then started). I don't use fabric conditioner. I've even cut out dairy (cheese and yoghurt) from his diet in the hope it might ease it slightly. Nothing is improving it.

Just really if anyone has any experience of it I'd love to hear something hopeful...
Thanks

No experience, but just wondering if this is what my dd ( 28 months) has got. She too has excema, which has flared up at the moment as she also has a nasty cold. I noticed the spots yesterday and thought the same as you that it was chickenpox, but they aren't really as raised as chickenpox spots would be, and also they are quite close together on some parts of her body ( arms mainly), yet very few elsewhere, and none on her legs.

I haven't been to the doctor yet, because as you say it doesn't seem to itch or trouble her. Did your doctor prescribe anything? I've today started putting evening primrose oil on the spots, but too early to say if it's helping or not. ( Another coincidence, I've recently changed washing powder too, from Persil to Somerfield own brand ).

Sorry to hear your daughter has eczemz too. The doctor didn't prescribe anything. He said all he could recommend was to moisturise regularly, which I am already doing 4 times a day. He mentioned steroid cream but was very relectant to use it, as am I.

I've been using aqueous cream but yesterday read a thread on cammomile or 'Calendula' cream giving wonderful results for eczema so I've switched to that on his back and left hand-side to see if it improves it more than the aqueous cream does. So far, no improvement. It just isn't looking any better. His teeth aren't quite through the gums yet so I'm hoping it's still his teething causing the flare-up and it will go when it's over.

DS started with spots on his forehead and it spread over several days and he's now been covered for a fortnight.

Washing powder? Yes, I'm wondering about that still, but I assume it's not that as it's not really on his legs. Actually, saying that, it's actually on the backs of his knees where the material would be pressed most closely against his skin so maybe.... I don't know, it seems mad to change back again. Maybe it was the initial change that brought this on. I will wait until his teeth are through and then look at other possibilities.

It's refreshing to hear that your GP is reluctant to use the steroid cream, as ours seem to dish it out immediately. I have used it and it seems to clear the excema up until you stop using it and then the excema comes back again. It may also be coincidence, but after the last time I used it dd had what they thought was an asthma attack, and I can't help but wonder if the two are linked.

I'd be interested to hear how you get on with the calendula cream, seems like it would be a good alternative.

Dd is still getting new spots, although the old ones seem to be fading slightly. How is your ds?

About the swimming- I asked my homeopath about swimming and excema and she said that it does not seem to affect most types of excema, but if you felt that it did cause a reaction then avoid it. I think bubble baths are worse.

Yes, I was pleased that he didn't jump at the chance to use steroid cream. I think it's becuase of Ds very young age so maybe it's different for your daughter.

His skin is still really spotty but I think it is slightly better on the sides I've been using the cammomile cream (or is that me lookimg for improvement?!) On the whole though, no sign of clearing.

How is your dd's skin now? Does she have dry patches of eczema as well as the spots? DS has on his arms and belly, though not on his back. The worst place is his neck where it has red raw patches, though I think perhaps this is related to his constant dribbling. I try to keep a bib on his throughout the day to absorb the moisture but it doesn't seem to help that much.

Anyway, Illl keep you posted. I'm off to Boots today to get some proper calendula cream cos at the moment we're using Kammisolin (which I think I initially bought for sore nipples!! ) ]
Hope things improve for you.

Josiejump, just to let you know that ds's skin is definitely clearning. The side I was putting the Kamillosin on was clearer than the aqueous cream side so we decided to just use the kamillosin. Now it's all definitely looking a lot less raw and angry and clearing. I'm positive this isn't coincidence. How is your dd's skin?

Kamillosan is fab stuff! DS2 used to have dry red patches and this cleared it up in record time. I only used it as I had it left over from bf-ing.

Dd's skin is also clearing up although she is still getting the odd new spot here and there. Good tip about the Kamillosan- I'll look out for some of that.

SoupDragon - I know, it says it's intended for sore nipples!!

Suprisingly though, nowhere does it mention that it can be used for eczema or dry skin, although it does say it can be used for nappyrash. It really has worked so well though and it's soooo wonderful to see DS's skin looking nice again.

In retrospect, I'm sure the aqueous cream actually was actually making his skin worse and as it was so slippery to apply I'm happy never to use it again.