ok, what can I try now to tackle eczema?

[kittywits]

I'd be really, really grateful for any tips to sooth my 2 year old dd's bad ezcema that doesn't involve steroids. Up until now I have tried:
dream cream, it stings her skin and makes her cry
Homeopathic oils in cream
oilatum
aqueous cream
It flares up occasionally, but when it does it's pretty bad, stops her from sleeping and she scratches until her body has open sores. It seems to be worse at the beginning of spring and autumn for some strange reason. I don't understand it really.
If anyone has trid something that has worked well for them I will certainly go out and get whatever it is. Thanks

[kittywits]

Thankyou so much for all the ideas
We have a water softener but haven't got round to installing, reading this I just spoke to dh and said we must fix it in.
DD doesn't have too much diary. She drinks rice milk, but loves cheese and bananas, although she doesn't eat them everyday. It's very hard to know what the triggers are. her skin can be ok for ages and suddenly flare up really badly.
I'll look into all the things you have suggested, thanks again

[kittywits]

I have also found that she complains that the creams are making her itch and that they sting, even the dream cream. I've got some Aveeno today so I'll try that.

[TOD]

keep us posted!

[Rosylily]

I was prescribed wet wrapping for ds2. It sounds awful though. I bathed him in oilatum, used a little hydrocortisone at first for bad patches, then smothered him in epaderm, then soaked special bandages and wrapped him up wet. dressed him on top of all that. He slept ok surprisingly. It really did amazing things for his skin. I did it for a few weeks just.

[twocatsonthebed]

I've had eczema all my life, and this is the most natural stuff that I've found which makes a difference - I think in some areas it's even possible to get it on prescription.

The other thing that really worked for me was homeopathy, and it's been just as effective for a friend's child too.

In terms of cutting things out, it can vary so much from person to person, but one thing that made a real difference to me was cutting out non-organic dairy (not that surprising when you think about it!).

hth

[mooshy]

vaseline.My friends husband is a dermatologist and really recommends it-its all i ever used and fabulous.

[sallyrosie]

Think that anything is going to sting when her skin is flaring and sore so maybe persevere?
Good luck with the aveeno.

[kittywits]

Really Sallyrosie? Silly me then [blush} I've stopped putting some stuff on as she tears at her skin and it seems to make it worse! I guess I just need to persevere.

Thanks for the link twocat, I've just emailed them to find out how to get it on prescription as presumably they don't do it in you average chemist?