Stupid question for eczema mums

Chandra · 2004-08-31T21:20:10+00:00

How do you dispose of the oats after using them in the bath? I'm afraid of getting the pipes blocked with so much porridge!!!

toddlerbob · 01/09/2004 01:04

Put them in the rubbish or down a kitchen waste disposal. Having seen the slime they produce I certainly wouldn't routinely put them down the plug hole, though some have escaped there sometimes.

luckymum · 01/09/2004 13:17

I put ours down the loo!

edam · 01/09/2004 13:24

we used to tie the oats up in a muslin, creating a sack, and hang that under the taps, rather than have them loose in the bath. were we doing something wrong?

Wallace · 01/09/2004 21:31

I asked my HV about using oats today - she had never heard of it (she is usually quite good, honest!)
So what exactly is it supposed to do? My dd(3) has excema which is steadily getting worse, and I am eager to find natural ways of treating it.

toddlerbob · 02/09/2004 02:31

we have a little bag too.

happymummy1 · 03/09/2004 22:18

Hi i'm keen to learn about natural methods of treating excema after we had it confirmed yesterday that my ds has got it.
Tell me more about the oats!!

minkmama · 04/09/2004 16:48

Hi Happymummy, my ds1 has had eczema for 17mths now and we've been through the worst. i was keen to keep to natural methods, but it got so bad that in the end we had to turn to steroids and then even protopic creams. now he is improving which we actually put down to his homeopathic meds. we saw one homeopath at neal's yard but then changed when nothing was happening after many months and are now seeing another and since this one his skin has almost become perfect. i would seriously suggest exploring this route as i believe topical applications merely manage the eczema and do not 'cure' it.

try using Bach Flower Rescue Remedy Cream found at Boots. not cheap but if you use it time to time on sore spots or rashes, it has for us managed to rid his skin of problems virtually the next day! Also, we've found Aveeno CREAM useful and not the lotion. V. good stuff.

Aqueous cream was used earlier on for ages and then we found out about potential reactions so stopped and now use Epaderm (similar texture to VAseline) as a soap. Gently rub some on and then bathe and rub gently again as you would do a soap. We also use oilatum plus which has antiseptic properties. Aveeno also make an oat powder which you simply pour into the bath. Eliminates disposal problems!

There is so much advice i could offer, please just ask if you need help! Hope your ds doesn't suffer too long

minkmama · 04/09/2004 16:48

Hi Happymummy, my ds1 has had eczema for 17mths now and we've been through the worst. i was keen to keep to natural methods, but it got so bad that in the end we had to turn to steroids and then even protopic creams. now he is improving which we actually put down to his homeopathic meds. we saw one homeopath at neal's yard but then changed when nothing was happening after many months and are now seeing another and since this one his skin has almost become perfect. i would seriously suggest exploring this route as i believe topical applications merely manage the eczema and do not 'cure' it.

try using Bach Flower Rescue Remedy Cream found at Boots. not cheap but if you use it time to time on sore spots or rashes, it has for us managed to rid his skin of problems virtually the next day! Also, we've found Aveeno CREAM useful and not the lotion. V. good stuff.

Aqueous cream was used earlier on for ages and then we found out about potential reactions so stopped and now use Epaderm (similar texture to VAseline) as a soap. Gently rub some on and then bathe and rub gently again as you would do a soap. We also use oilatum plus which has antiseptic properties. Aveeno also make an oat powder which you simply pour into the bath. Eliminates disposal problems!

There is so much advice i could offer, please just ask if you need help! Hope your ds doesn't suffer too long

minkmama · 04/09/2004 16:48

Oops sorry!

minkmama · 04/09/2004 16:50

oh and evening primrose oil but make sure it's the good stuff! we got ours at the Organic Pharmacy and spray into hands then mix with cream before applying. i think some people use capsules...

happymummy1 · 05/09/2004 20:14

Thankyou so much for the advice minkmama,i just hate seeing my ds all red and patchy.
I've only tried aqueous cream so far but it has made it worse!
I will give something else a go,thankyou again.

happymummy1 · 09/09/2004 22:33

Well we are now using diprobase and oilatum for the bath which the doctor prescribed.
I do'nt know what to do though as when i put this cream on his head it then started to weep!
I've been using this since monday and there is only a slight improvement but his legs are now weeping too.Instead of dring it out it seems to be making it wet and weep.
It really is starting to get me down now i do'nt know if i should stop using the cream and go back to the gp?
Does any mumsnetter had simular experience with this?

misdee · 09/09/2004 22:41

he is infected it seems. take him back to the gp to get the infection sorted out.

poor wee man.

its part of ezcema, trying to make sure the skin doesnt break as open ezcema is prone to infections. my girls got loads of infection when they where younger, but they are steadily getting better.

Original poster

Chandra · 10/09/2004 11:52

Thank you for all your responses (I got this thread lost and just found it today )

We are back to his usual bath oil, he is teething and got some eczema patches infected but anyways...

Happymummy, try to avoid aqueous cream, many of us have found that many babies react to it. Diprobase is great in broken skin as it doesn't sting. Oilatum didn't work for us but Oilatum Plus did. If he has flares maybe the hidrocortisone is the best way to stop the misery before it starts, if used as directed is safe.

Homeopathy and other natural remedies are great but because they work only if the dose is exactly the right one it is very important to find a VERY good homeopath to find the correct dose. We had a very good response with homeopathy but as our homepath had just graduated she was still monitored by her teacher so the first prescriptions worked very well but as soon as she went unsupervised we had no luck with it any more. And maybe because she was very much a naturist and had no formal training as a doctor she started prescribing things that became a disaster as those natural products, though good in some situations were not what DS's skin need it.

god luck and keep posting,

Chandra

OP posts:

minkmama · 10/09/2004 12:54

Is anyone based near croydon because ds1's homeopath is really worth a try. she's also a medical doctor so is more understanding about the need to use steroids etc. I agree with Chandra, it's VERY important to find a good one but as with all things eczema related, it's trial and error. what works for one child doesn't necessarily work for another.

Chandra, i use oilatum plus and also put sea salt in to curb the infection. might be worth a go? poor you, i really feel for you, i remember when ds1's hands were scabby all over and weeping. he had cuts so deep you could see the flesh . what does your ds wear to bed, and is it itchy then? we found that putting one of his socks on his hand helped to stop him from digging into his skin. i know it sounds hot and tight, but as soon as we put one on (and we still have to sometimes) he would stop scratching immediately!

Utka · 13/09/2004 22:25

We've had a lot of success with tubifast wet wraps (on prescription from the GP). We bath dd1 in water with oilatum (Dermol 600 for us). Then pat dry. Then apply Diprobase with downward strokes (not upward or the hair follicles get blocked and infected), so that she has a thin film over all her skin.

Then you apply one layer of damp garments (long sleeved vest, leggings and socks), then a layer of dry garments. We have also bought a multi-pack of fine cotton gloves (from cottoncomfort.com). We put a glove on each hand in between the wet and dry layers, and use micropore tape to secure the wrist edges under the sleeves of the top. This means she can't scratch during the night.

Cotton Comfort also do pyjamas with built in mittens which I believe are excellent.

happymummy1 · 17/09/2004 15:05

Hello all,i took my ds back to the doctors and yes it was infected so my gp has now prescribed fucidin which i have been using since monday,it really had started to clear up and then last night i gave him a bath with oilatum in and this morning his haed has started to weep again!
Do you think it was the oilatum?
Should i now stop using that?
Also i wanted to ask if there was any foods i should avoid which may make it worse?
He is 5 months old now and i've been weaning him for about a month.
Thankyou again for all you're advice,

luckymum · 17/09/2004 20:04

Happymummy - could be the oilatum - perhaps stop until the flare up has calmed a bit. Its really a 'suck it and see' thing.

I'm sick of it myself to be honest, dd's has flared again for no apparent reason, last night she scratched til she bled in four different places on her legs, she's very tearful and its really getting her down. She's also got some sort of dermatitis on her hands (completely different from the eczema on her arms and legs) so it looks like we'll be back at the doctor's soon too.

EvesMama · 22/09/2004 21:33

im in same boat, although not as severe as some of you, but have you tried the body shops hemp cream? i wouldnt suggest you use it on the weeping areas, but works well on dp's psoriasis and reduces bad dry patches on dd?
... by the sounds of it, you have tried everything tho'!

happymummy1 · 24/09/2004 16:07

Hello all,well his excema has started to clear up,fingers crossed,i think it was the oilatum,or maybe the fact i was using it too much!!
I don'nt know anyway it has started to heal so i hope it carrys on doing so.
It really is a nightmare though,and i think it is just a case of trial and error to see what suits best.