Can you use too many creams for eczema?

[Solveitch]

Hi again

I wondered if it's possible to use too many creams etc for eczema? We seem to use the same two for a while (recently doublebase in morning and during day and epaderm at night) however recently doublebase seems to be causing severe itching and not making dd skin any better. Can she suddenly become sensitesed to it? Between yesterday and today, I've been trying to find a suitable one so have used aloe vera propolis (until I discovered there's fragrance in it, and it was nipping), vaseline, chamomile flower water and aloe vera gel. Not all at once though.

How exactly does it work with creams? Should you continue to use the same one or two for how long? Or change after a while?

Help appreciated.
Tracey

Hello Tracey, from what I understand, unless the creams have active ingredients eg hydrocortisone, it's unlikely your DD will become sensitised (is there a doctor out there who can confirm this ?) Have you tried aqueous cream ? My nephew has excema and uses this by the bucket load - it comes in big tubs and is pretty cheap too Your local pharmacy should stock it. Alternatively, E45 do a junior range of products for skin conditions - shower mousse, moisturiser etc...Bit more expensive though. Hope this helps. Good luck. Rachel.

e45 can be dodgey as some contain lanolin.

we use lotions and ointments instead of creams as its sit betyter on dd1 skin, whereas dd2 needs heavier cream based treatment.

Hi there

I've tried aqueous cream, I have it on rpeat prescription but because it's quite cold, dd screams in frustration if she has to have it on. I've had a time as well where we were using it for ages, then suddenly she said it was nippy. Again, sometimes I wonder if it's just dd playing up or if it has suddenly become nippy.

Tracey

Tracey

I was really pleased to see your message as I am having the same problem with my son (23 months).

Recently Epaderm and Diprobase are badly affecting his skin. Went to the doctor and then got 50-50 but that doesn't seem to be any better.

He is getting urticaria and redness and scratching when we put on the emollients.

I have tried not putting on emollients but that makes his skin rough and dry.
He is also allergic to egg, dairy and currently off soya on doctors advice but no soya has had no effect - in fact seems to have made his skin worse.

I was told that emollients do not badly affect the skin and that reactions to emollients are extremely rare. The more you put on, the better protected the skin is.

Epaderm and Diprobase both have an alcohol type ingredient and the doctor prescribed 50/50 which doesn't contain this alcohol ingredient (the only one that doesn't).Also had a new bath oil called Hydromol that doesn't have this ingredient but to be honest these 2 new creams/bath olis haven't changed things.

I would like to keep in touch with you via this link on this problem. I though we were the only ones affected by it so reassuring to see we are not.

DS has been through a full catalogue of creams, sadly it's just a matter of trial and error until you find the one that works for you. Reactions to creams that previously worked well are common. Aqueous cream makes DS flare from head to toe though it was fine at the beggining.

I would try Aveeno cream or Eucerin 10% urea though if the skin is open it will sting. Vaseline is recommended by many doctors but many also think that you should avoid it like hell (it clogs the pores and can't be removed easily).

I would try to use one cream at a time before mixing them, that way if she reacts to some ingredients you would know which cream is causing it.

PS We use diprobase when the skin is cracked, I have tried it on myself and it doesn't sting, however, every person is different.

Lots of luck, how old is your DD?

Hi all

Thanks for answering. My dd is 3, has been having probs since about 1 year. Our GP seems not to think it's food related and has told me not to eliminate foods. However I did see a herbalist who said cut out dairy which I did. Done this for about 6 weeks but didn't notice any results. Not sure if I tried it long enough. I might ask for Dipobase see if that works. Zoe, I can sympathise with you with having creams not working. I will try all I can to let you know of different ones we have tried and what has worked. Tody I bought a cream called Dream Cream from Lush. I've heard a few reports of it clearing up eczema in babies as well. It contains essential oils. I've put a little on dd arm to see how we get on so will let you know. I found Aveeno cream worked for a while, but only when her skin wasn't quite as dry. It's really dry just now and again seems to nip, plus it dries in really quickly. I've recently passed an Aromatherapy diploma and was always wanting to try out a blend on dd but because of the sensitivity have not yet done this. On advice from another aromatherpist, she said to try evening primrose oil on skin with nothing else in in. It has anti-inflammatory properties which may help. I am going to stick to a cream for a while at a time now and try to work out what is best. Yesterday I had dd at a Doctors who said the new thing (research) with eczema shows that there is most often bacterial infection present so to use bath oils etc that has ant-bacterial properties. Not sure if this is true? I know at the moment dd has bacterial infection so has been prescribed antibiotics. Anyway, before I ramble on anymore I am going to use aqueuos for the moment but use Lush cream on her arms only and see how it goes. Lush has lavender, chamomile, rose, tea tree oils in it which are all soothing, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory so hoepfully it may do the trick.

Tracey

ok, can add a bit more now the dd's are asleep.

we have tried: (emoillant applied to skin)
e45 cream
aquous cream
diprobase
epaderm
emulysifying ointment
dermol 500 lotion

(bath treatments)
oilatum (blue)
oilatum plus
oilatum unfragenced
oilatum junior
balneum
whisked up aqueous cream into the bath water

(now the strong stuff)
hydrocrtisone (0.5 %, 1%, 1.5%)
fucidan H
fucibet
elocon (not sure on the spelling on that)
emuovate

god nows how many others. dd1 has also been on oral steroids and antibiotics because of her skin.

what we mainly use now is dermol 500 lotion, oilatum plus and a touch of hydrocortisone 1% on bad patches.

dd1 reacts to so may different things. it now seems the ezcema has changed from atopic (typically seen in the creases on the body) to sebhorric (rounder patches which dont folllow a set pattern). dd2 still has atopic eczema, and hasnt changed.

when you say nipping, do u mean it stings?

Yes Misdee

DD complains that the cream nips, it stings her skin. By the way last night I applied Lush Dream cream to her arms only. At first she said it nipped, but that only lasted for seconds. This morning her skin felt just as dry. Put same cream on her arms again, went to the toilet and when I came back, dd had put more on entire body - not what I was planning to do. However!! Tonight after her shower I was putting more on her arms and I really think they are softer, her spots aren't as noticeable either. I've put it on the rest of her body so will give an update tomorrow - here's hoping!!
Tracey

HI, I have wondered about sensitisation to creams, I use diprobase ointment on dd2, as well as propaderm, but often when I put just the diprobase ointment or betnovate (just for my hands!) my hands get intensely ithcy and have urticaria, (I also have developed eczema on hands, mostly under control now but a complete nightmare last yr!) My humble?!! opinion is that when skin is particularly prone, then it can react to anything, even things that may not normally agravate it. I do not find that not using the cream/ointment changes anything, it is more about the skin being unpredicatable than the use of the cream, if that makes sense? (ie, you cannot predict when it will react or not, sometimes it just does and other times it doesn't, and if you find another cream it will not necessarily make any difference.)
Sounds really defeatest, but I guess this is how I have just learnt to deal with it.

sorry, don't know the answer to your question but if it's not already been mentioned Allergenics is brilliant - completely natural, I saw it recommended by a dr in the Observer, really good stuff, you can get it from boots