Excema, i NEED some advice please!

[Angeliz]

Hello all.
Yet more advice wanted.
DS, aged nearly 5 months has really dry skin and the Doctor said a few weeks ago it was excema. I have tried oilatum which made it an angry red. Then i tried aqueous cream which didn't help. The latesy one is a soya oil but it hadsn't worked and also it has perfume in (?)
Behing ds's knees is swollen, red and i can't get it dry, it looks very sore and makes me ache for him. Any advice whatsoever would be hugely appreciated. Can i use talc (simple one) there to dry it? I think it even smells!
I can't get an appointment till Monday!
I know nothing at all about this so any help at all would be good.

[tiredandgrumpy]

The dermatologist prescribed Eurax lotion for ds' scalp. I just put it on at night as it leaves his head a little greasy. Seemed to do the trick, although I don't think the eczema was quite as bad on his scalp as elsewhere. Can be bought over the counter.

[TartanDad]

We are currently treating our 5 mnth old with 0.5% hydrocortisone, which has worked well for the patches on his body. The current problem is his scalp itching (also eczema), the doc seemed to suggest that hydroc. should not be used on the scalp - has anyone else had this advice, any suggestions for an alternative?

I had eczema as a kid (and still occassionally). I do not think there is a single magic bullet that fixes everything but there are usually a few simple things, specific to you or your little one, that can be done which make life much more comfortable. Its trial and error to some extent, working through all the helpful suggestions on this thread and finding a good doc.

[tiredandgrumpy]

Firstly have to confess that we've gone done the whole steroid/conventional route and found it most effective (see my comments earlier), but we did have some success with Eureka cream from 'Elena's Nature Collection' when ds was very young. It's something we bought from the website, but after a really helpful phonecall to their advice line. They do completely natural products and I discovered them on a recommendation from a friend who had used the cream on her young daughter's face with great success. Maidiwa, you might like to give it a try. We did buy the tea tree oil shampoo on their recomendation, but I have to say it was probably a waste of money - the Eureka cream on its own was the best.

[maidiwa]

Hi. My son is 20 months old and has eczema on his cheeks only. It looks red and gets a bit weepy sometimes. His allergy is to house dust mites. Cleaning and mopping all the time, special bedding etc has not worked. Does anyone know of any alternative remedies homeopathic, chinese, herbal, anything? Please. Am also looking for a good dermatologist as we have moved here from South Africa and do not know anyone.

[gingermonkey]

My dermatologist says that low percentage steroids don't thin the skin and can be used as a deterrent, 0.5 or 1% hydrocortisone for example. So you use your regular higher percentage steroids until the rash has cleared and use the low percentage after that.

[tiredandgrumpy]

We were told to keep using the steroid cream until the rash cleared up and then to gradually stop its use. Stopping sudenly would just cause flare ups. I now find we only have to use it on rare occasions, usually a single application, to clear up inpending trouble.

[iwouldgoouttonight]

Just found this thread - REALLY helpful. We've been prescribed Daktacort for DS's neck and chin because it is infected. The steroid seems to be working but as soon as we stop using it the excema comes back almost immediately and gets infected again because its really difficult to get air to the skin in the folds of his neck (he's only 5 months so not yet sitting with head up).

I'll definitely try some of the suggestions here - hairdryer might be good because its impossible to get the towel under his chin without rubbing it and making it worse.

But I just wondered how long should steroid cream be used for? The GP said keep using it whenever the excema comes back, but that means we're using it almost permanently because the infected excema keeps coming back. How long is too long and am I damaging LO's skin?

[iris66]

oops -pressed too soon - We've found that oiling DS from inside (with coldpressed flaxseed oil - drizzled on toast) seems to be working

[iris66]

can I just add to everyone's fab advice that as the skin is the body's biggest excretory organ after the bowel - irritants can also occur from something in the diet (although identifying what it is can be a nightmare!)

[MerryMarigold]

sorry, we use aveeno to moisturise and balneum in the bath, like misdee. but i think different skins react differently so it may be trial and error on the moisturising/ bath stuff.

[MerryMarigold]

my 14mo ds has discoid eczema. we finally saw a dermatologist when he was 1 years old (pid to do it privately as it was getting bad)

2 main pieces of advice:

1. gp's don't know very much (as a rule). I saw 5 before seeing one who was half way decent on eczema. Seeing a consultant dermatologist helped us a lot, so try and see a specialist privately if you can.

1. don't be afraid of steroids. the consultant was not - and he should know! we tried all sorts of things...but in the end the steroids cleared it up, let him sleep properly and now we rarely have to use them for long periods. we have fairly strong steroids for his body and face (betnovate for body, trimovate for face). the eczema used to be really bad, but is so much better now.

we tried oilatum, e45, aquaeous cream, epaderm, e45 anti-itch - none worked for us.

dermatologist tips:

• leave 20 minutes between putting on the emollient/ moisturiser and the steroid cream. he said it doesn't matter which one is first or second

• get the eczema patch early with steroids (before it gets too bad), then the treatment will be for a much shorter period

• don't use loads of different things as the skin can get 'confused'. Better to have a simple routine done several times a day.

[newgirl]

Id recommend surcare washing powder day to day - not any more expensive than other brands

also sudacrem can be good too!

good news too - my dd1 had it in first year but grew out of it - never gets is now (4) and we didin't try homeopathy or anything like that - she simply matured.

[tiredandgrumpy]

kjaysmum - I can't remember the detail of ds' all over rash. I would never have thought to link it to the eczema had the doctor not explained what it was. I think it did look like quite a bad heat rash and appeared really quickly.

[mammaofthree]

I was prescribed Fucidin for my daughter, and eventually was also given a prescription for Aveeno (after asking several times) - which I found was fantastic. Her skin cleared up exactly a year after her excema started (she was 8 weeks old) and now she only has occasional flare-ups if she's ill. I recommend Aveeno cream to everyone now! Oh, forgot to say, she was also treated by a Homeopath, which I'm sure also helped her skin!

[kjaysmum]

Tiredandgrumpy, I am curious about the all over rash you mentioned. my ds is suffering from excema in the nappy region and just developed a rash which looks like heat rash with some bigger spots amongst it on his arms and tummy, he has just staring flaring up on his bottom after a clear period, but also the weather has just turned warm over here so could be the heat, it's so frustrating trying to assertain what is causing what with this condition!!
Thanks for this thread all it has really helped us to read about all this experience.

[Macdog]

I am an adult who has has excema all my life.
I would recommend plain water for bathing. I've found these de-chlorinating salts that are supposed to help excema
I would recommend using an emollient (Aveeno is excellent) everyday to moisturise the skin, as prevention is easier than cure. Other good moisturisers are Calendula cream and dream cream
Even using olive oil will moisturise the skin

Hope the advice given by everyone helps your ds

[tiredandgrumpy]

The Zeasorb has aluminium dihydroyallantoinate 0.2%, chloroxylenol BPC 0.5% as well as cellulose, talc and perfume (phew! Doesn't sound too natural, does it?). My son was 2.5 when this was recommended - worth checking that it's ok for use on a younger one. I was told to rub it in - it's very fine and doesn't seem as 'dusty' as the usual talcs. Still, does say use on children 'under supervision' so you're probably right to be wary.

We used dermol, too, but it didn't clear the eczema up. I gather it has a slight antiseptic in, so is great to prevent infection, as well as providing the moisturiser. Still, it didn't actually clear up ds's rash. (It's also expensive).

[pinkturtle]

My 4 year old godson has suffered with severe eczema since a baby. Mum had tried numerous creams from GP, pharmacist and an alternative therapist over this time until being reccommended a product called DREAM CREAM from LUSH, this along with changing from cows milk too goats milk has made a fantastic improvement too his skin. (his skin at its worse would bleed and would often wake him at night).

[belgianmama]

Hydrocortisone is a must, not are. This 5000 word assignment I'm doing is clearly getting to me!

[belgianmama]

I'm sure many mums said this before. 1
)All non-subscription creams didn't seem to be doing much for my ds. Then when he was 4(!) the practice nurse(!) prescribed an emolient cream called Dermol500. She said that lots of nurses also use it as a hand cream. I must say of all creams and potions I've used it's been the best. Even I use it for my own exzema. I've got it on my hands and it's absorbed really quickly: no slippery hands (or children for that matter)
2) Hydrocortisone for flare ups are a must. It'll stop your lo scratching himself til it bleeds when the time comes.
3) Dont assume that products labeled hypo-allergic or gentle, etc... will actually be gentle on his skin
4) Sea water was also a miracle cure for my ds
5) Brace yourself for summer. Always moisterise your lo BEFORE putting on his sunscreen. Expect an expensive trial and error search for the sunscreen that suits his skin. My advise would be to have him covered up as much as possible so you only have to put sunscreen on a minimal amount of skin
6) All the best and hopefully you'll find the perfect skincare routine for your ds soon

[mummamoo]

Apologies if I double up on what others have said.
My DD has severe excema and has done since birth, she has it particularly on her face.
The doctor initially prescribed Aqueos which is rubbish imo.

Ask the GP for Epaderm. It's fantastic. Smother your little man in it and also use it as a soap in the bath. It will help I'm sure. Although he does sound as though his excema is infected so you will need some steroid cream to calm it down. Fucidin H is very good and mild. My DD was prescribed Daktakort also (after her excema got infected and the poor lamb got impetigo). Don't worry about using the steroid cream, you shouldn't need it for very long, just when it flares up. The other good thing is Dermol for the bath. It's very good. I found plain water dried my DD out more but Dermol keeps her skin moist. Hope this helps. Good luck at the docs.

[lapsedrunner]

Aveeno cream works every time for me (& ds).

[hayleyhew]

Tiredandgrumpy - the only real area my son still gets it is behind knees - thinking about the talc - whats in it and where can you buy it? How often do you apply it?

[MissM]

we use Aveeno baby and it is wonderful. You can't buy the baby version over here but you can order it from The Soft Skin Store on the web. Her skin still itches now and then, but the bad patches are completely clear and her skin is incredibly soft now. It won't help with badly infected areas (when they get like that we use 1% steroid cream), but as an all-over moisturiser it is unbelievable.