going to see a specialist on Friday re: DS2's eczema. What is he going to say?

[poppiesinalinewithtinsel]

GP has referred us to a skin specialist re: DS2's eczema. Typically, it has cleared up a bit now but we are going to go along anyway.

Part of me can't really see the point of going. Whats he going to do that the GP can't!?

We have tried every emollient cream on the planet, steroid cream (which generally works but do not want to keep doing that).

What do you think he may suggest?

hi poppies i don't really know but i should keep the appt, as he may have heard of some treatment that your doc hasn't. hope your ds2 gets on ok x

i know when my nephew went to see the consultant about his excema they sent them to a skin clinic when they could monitor his condition better. now he goes once a month and they decide if he needs to try a different set of creams or bandages and to also look out for any infections that may occur (his excema is bad is always getting infected, he has chicken pox before and we didnt know he had it til his brother and my ds1 had it).

ds1 had an emergency referral to a consultant. They a) dxed and swabbed for eczema herpeticum b) taught us to wet wrap and c) prescribed a stronger steroid than the GP would have.

well, thats just it. Feel a bit of a fraud cos his eczema has never been that bad. It has never become infected. Its just there all the time, some days worse than others. The only time he is clear is when he is on steroid creams.

We have never done wet wrapping. Is that any good? Will he suggest diet? please tell me no, I don't want to go down that road.

Wet wrapping was excellent.

Why don't you want to try diet- (the consultant may not suggest it because it's very difficult to get decent trials on it).

Ds1 and ds3 are gluten and cows milk free- (for other reasons) it's not that difficult. Thinking about it ds3's eczema around his mouth did clear up after switching milks.

Is his skin very dry- fish oils of flax oil etc can really help if so. If he won't take it you can massage onto the skin (although flax or hemp oil might be best for that- fish a bit smelly!)

DS1 was dairy intolerant and it was nightmare. Don't really want to go there again.

Is wet wrapping a real PITA or is it ok. What do you have to do exactly?

wet wrapping takes time but was fine (although ds1 was a very passive baby/toddler and siblings hadn't arrived). Would imgaine wet wrapping ds3 would be a nightmare, so it depends on the child.

DS2 is like a slippery, energetic, maniac snake... and thats just when I am trying to put his normal cream on and dressing him! crikey!!

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Poppies - the Consultant will look at DS's skin and get a good history from yourself as to when it flares and what you've been using. Wet wraps are a really effective way of treating eczema and they help to soothe the skin so your child breaks the scratch-itch cycle and generally gets a better nights sleep (you aswell!). They are a bit fiddly at first but once you've got the hang on applying them they are easy and you can use them in just localised areas if this is easier. Do keep the appointment as they will review your DS regularly and may even give you an open appoint to come back so they can see him when he flares. You'll gain knowledge being there and depending which hopsital it is there may be a Dermatology Nurse Specialist who can help you (I used to be one). Sods law if you cancel the appoint his skin will flare and you'll have to wait ages for another appoint. Good luck

p.s- always see a doctor before staring wet wraps as you should never use them if the eczema is infected. Just a word of caution

thanks guys.

Well that was a bit of a waste of time

Just have us a different emollient and something called Tacrolimus. On googling it when I got home I am not happy - has possible cancer links Now I don't know what to do.

Hi this is my first post don'tknow if I can be of any help........I've read ovre and over that dermatologists are no use I think you need to go back to your GP and get a referral for an allergy specialist or paediatrician with an interest in allergies, they will do skin prick tests and that was how I found out my 7 month old was allergic to egg, we went private (£140) but we could go NHS if we waited 2 months. DS's sleep has really improved since (see nickname!)
We have found no emollient that helps DS and have tried 4, I didn't want to use steroids or the new creams that have links to skin cancer but I found a miracle!!!!!! ZINC OXIDE which I believe is what is in the wet wrap bandages. Well finding a zinc cream without parafin (which we think DS reacts to) took some time! but found Neal's Yard nappy cream - it is all natural, has the zinc and has beeswax which seals in the moisture. It's thick and greasy which isn't so nice but cleared up DS's excema in 2 days (smothered him in it twice a day). He didn't have weeping or bleeding bits though and I don't know if it would work for anyone else.....but might be worth a try?
There are cheaper zinc creams but be aware that the Boots zinc and castor oil cream has peanut oil in but in the ingredients list it is given its latin name.
Goodluck anyway,
Nat xxx

Can I ask who you saw privately as I know there are very few paedriatic allergy specialists even in the private sector.(Gideon Lack?)
DS has been totally breastfed (now 20 weeks) and has large area of inflammed red skin behind knees which clears up with hydrocortisone fom GP then flares up again - seems like excema - dd1 had this badly as a baby but only minor now(age 6).
DS also has had permanent snuffle/wheeze since 3 weeks which I don't think can be one cold after another.His weight gain has not been great.
I suspect an allergy (there is a history generally in my husbands family) but don't know how to go about getting the GP to refer me for further investigation.

Hi we saw Dr Adrian Morris at the Surrey allergy Clinic (if you google that he's got a website with lots of info) he's not specifically paediatrics though. He works in London, Guildford and Fareham? Farnham? not sure which and it was £140 to get LO tested.
Nat xxx