Eczema newbie - can I survey your thoughts?

[NoviceKnitter]

Hi there, DD is 5 months and a small patch of red and dry skin on her temple has now spread to the front of her scalp where her cradle cap was (the cc has recently cleared up thanks to shea nut butter.) I'm fairly sure the new patch is eczema, as she's now started scratching and the skin is scaly and broken. The onset of winter seems to have been a trigger.

I've just spent an hour searching old MN posts - incredibly useful but a bit of a minefield in terms of all the creams etc out there. So thought it might be useful to do a simple survey of what's worked for you - for me and other new mums like me?

We've moved on from olive oil and shea nut butter to (today) calendula oil, oats in the bath and dead sea salts. I've also been prescribed oilatum junior for the bath and Cetraben cream.

I know it's different for every child, but which of these have worked for you what would you try next?

The shortlist (or long list) seems to be:

Aveeno Cream
SK Cream
Dream Cream from Lush
Adermo Exomega Cream
Calendula cream (not oil?)
Epaderm
Dermal 500

Am fully breastfeeding - anything I should do dietwise?

Thanks in advance for any help

I would use 0.5% hydrocortisone to stop the itching and then use a moisturising cream such as diprobase or maybe the cetraben

Dermol 500 is antimicrobial so I wouldn't necessarily bother with it unless you think it is infected

Firstly, I'd avoid nuts in your diet.
Secondly, personally speaking oats in the bath aggravated my eczema and made it much worse. However lots of people say they're great.

Aveeno seems good, although for me - and don't forget I'm an adult with long term eczema and not a tiny baby) sometimes creams don't make a difference at all if the eczema is too far gone.

As long it stays supple (I'd use plain aqueous cream without sodium laureth sulphate)throughout the day as soon as it dried out. When it does dry out, that's when the itching starts.
I might try Epaderm next - people on here seem to rave about it.Hope your dd's head clears up soon.

ps- I'd also use a non-bio washing powder on her bedsheets as when she's laying on them and getting warm, they could make it worse.

Thanks. Luciemule are you saying once dry, crispy and itchy only hc cream will work? and that i should apply emoillient cream (rather than olive oil as now) to unaffected skin as preventative measure? And re nuts - is there evidence this culd be causing it? thanks for your help!

No about the nuts evidence- I just avoided nuts whilst BF as my eczema is really bad and I read somewhere that if there's eczema in the family avoid nuts.

It was TheBlonde who mentioned HC. I personally wouldn't want to use any steroid on a baby without being prescribed it by the GP.

My eczema today is inflamed, red, itchy and raw but I'm only coping as I'm smothering my hands in aqueous cream every 30mins to keep them as supple.

The Eczema Society have lots of info about the 'itch/scratch cycle' and they recommend keeping the skin regularly moisturised so as to stop it itching. When my skin is moist, I know it itches less. Once it dries out, it's harder to control and I have to scratch it so much (normally with my teeth!) it ends up bleeding and getting infected. I'd have thought with eczema in such a small baby though, something like Aveeno would probably clear it for good.

Thanks, yes that all makes sense. We don't have eczema in family as such tho both dp and i are prone to dry skin and mine does go crispy at times - esp in cold -- just not itchy.

Aveeno worked for DS2, plus oats in bath. Oilatum seemed to make it worse. I also tried to find dietary advice (as I was also bf-ing) but there seemed to be no consensus. However, my GP stressed that bf-ing was the best thing I could do for it (and DS2 was over 2 at the time).

What we do for DS (9mo):

Hydrocortisone 0.5% / 1% on worst bits
Fucidin if it gets infected
Oliatum in the bath
Doublebase all over at least twice a day
Only cotton clothing
Wash everything in Surcare

Also watch out for possible allergies when you come to wean -- my DS has a milk allergy although he is fine with other dairy products.

Thanks. have been using fairy non-bio but just saw it slated on here so think will change. she does have a new hat which i didn't wash before she wore. maybe that could have triggered/exacerbated... anyway, all really useful posts thanks again.

We use Aveeno (although to be honest, I reckon Germoline is just as good) and the thing that has made a huge difference to ds' eczema is to take him off oats. He was off wheat already as dh is intolerant (but can tolerate oats) but it seems ds can't have either. He has virtually no eczema this winter compared to last.

Blimey oats! never heard that before. so a no to oat baths then in your house. I always have oats for breakfast (except on sundays when I have crunchy nut cornflakes ) sorry bit of a tangent there.) anyway, still bfing but will bear that in mind when we start weaning next month...

No - it even came as a surprise to us, given dh can't tolerate wheat (inc gluten-free wheat, if you know what I mean - no, you don't, but don't worry!). Tried it in desperation as we thought ds' horrible nappies were just teething related (cm was convinced it was something more) and were startled at the change.

Real shame as ds loves oats, porridge, oatibix, Four Fruits from Sains, the whole bit. Now dh has to sneak in the occasional flapjack when ds is asleep!

Anyway, you might want to consider coming off oats yourself for a week, just see what happens? You can buy oat/wheat/gluten free porridge, it is absolutely disgusting but at least if you are condemned to an oat-free life you know what you're getting into

Just had to take my DD to Dr's re her two patches on each elbow
They have given me Fucidin Cream and Oilatum for her bath.

Also if you are trying a new cream, do a patch test before slathering all over in case she has an adverse reaction . LO had a severe reaction to Aveeno and Allergenics.

Yes, DD went a bit rashy when I was given flazseed oil at baby massage. It's looking like I should give Aveeno a go. Do you think I should put it everywhere (instead of her usual olive oil basting) or just in the affected areas. Olive oil has worked well for general dryish skin. By the way, I've also noticed I've been getting some dry patches on my arms. Not red or itchy tho. Been thinking maybe not drinking enough while bfing...

flakseed?

flaxseed?

That'll be the one

start on probiotics, they have a good record for eczema and they may also help prevent the development of other allergies (not proven yet). A side dose of omega 3s (oily fish is the best source) may help too - helps me. Consider having goats milk products instead of cows milk. Different views around on whether having nuts yourself helps or not, some doctors think you should eat them not avoid them - but check all eczema creams and avoid any with nut or arachnis oil as nut allergy is higher in children who used such creams. It is also higher in children given soy milk so don't be tempted to wean with that.

I use aqueous cream myself because its cheap but if you can get aveeno on prescription that comes up most often.

ok, here's what's working for us at the moment for our 5 month old (and latest advice from consultant dermatologist):

• 1% hydrcortisone ointment (obviously only use if doctors advise it)
• Aveeno lotion
• Cetraben
• Epaderm
• Dermol 500 (use the lotion in place of soap)
• Oilatum Junior for the bath (the adult version has fragrance added)

• Medical coomunity still unsure about nuts - study currently underway re peanut consumption (look up LEAP Study on google)

• Probiotics not proven to be any use as far as I'm aware

• Maybe you should get her allergy tested re your diet?

Thanks _ Naturopath how do you get baby tested re diet?

Have been using calendula oil last 24 hours and although still very dry and would say some of the redness has reduced...

We've got the Cetraben and Oilatum junior from the HV - didn't want to bombard her skin with too much at once. Will keep going till end tomorrow then move on to teh Cetraben.

PS Naturopath do you rotate those creams? We don't use soap anyway - she's just been on water and olive oil from birth.

Just checked out the LEAP study - St T's is where I had DD!

Ah - I've heard that they're excellent on allergies etc. I had my ds allergy-tested there as part of the LEAP study - your dd would probably be eligible as well. You can get the allergy testing done privately anyway, but they do it as part of the study if you're going to take part.

Basically I have tried various creams and ointments and found Aveeno and Cetraben to be the best and the most highly recommended, so I keep one by my bed and the other by his changing mat and just use whichever is to hand at changing time / in the night. I use the hydrocodisone twice a day on bad patches and the other moisturisers a few times a day. I also have epaderm (which I used to use on his face and head and really liked, but now prefer the Cetraban and/or steroids), and have diprobase and dermol lotions around the house as well if I can't find the others. I keep aqueous cream in the nappy bag as well as I have a small tube of that. I think it is a question of what works best for you really - you might find the different textures work a bit differently. I love applying the Aveeno and my dermatologist finds Cetraben is the best consistency.

Forgot to mention - frequent baths (once or twice a day) is the current recommendation for eczema sufferers, as it clears away the bacteria on the skin (I think). I also got rid of DS's cradle cap by washing his hair once a day in the bath with the Dermol 500 lotion (comes in a pump dipenser thing).

Oh brilliant thanks. So I should wash the affected areas with the soap sub?