Urticaria and Eczema, nothing working - Advise please!!

[barmymumma]

DD1 has always suffered from eczema and until 2 months ago have managed to keep it under control using chinese medicene and various moisturisers from the GP (eg Aveeno, Diprobase, Epaderm etc), however since May she started to get Hayfever and since then we have really struggled to keep her skin good. She has Cetirizine and steroid creams from the GP but as her skin gets used to them the steroid creams get stronger and feel we're on a slippery slope. A month ago she started getting the Urticaria rash as well in patches. The itching is driving her crazy. I am a fan of alternative therapies so if anyone has any hot tips it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading

no tips, just sympathy as I have had this problem myself all my life. Swimmin gin the sea temorarily fixes it for me, but not a very useful daily fix. Hope you find something.

cold flannels.

Does she take probiotics? There is lots of evidence that some probiotics are very effective in treating eczema.

Your GP should be able to put you in touch with a dermatology nurse fairly quickly we have have one in or primary care trust so they are easily accesible. Good luck

hemp oil. I can't sing its praises enough

Thankyou for these tips. I've tried Body Shops Hemp body butter, is that as good as hemp oil if not, where do you get it from and how to you use it?

Also, I havn't tried probiotics, Bronze, do you mean like a yakult drink every day or something similar or is there another way.

I've been the the GP so many times I don't know why DD1 has never been referred to a dermatology nurse but it's got so bad again I think I'll take her back next week and ask if she can be.

Thankyou for all your helpful advise, I'll try ANYTHING!!! :-)

Sorry should just say I've changed my nick name from barmymumma to this as I saw someone else had virtually the same.

You should get a referral to a paediatric dermatologist in a hospital.
In London (not sure where you are) you can get referred to the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital too...(on the NHS)
Probiotics, Lactobacillus acidophillus is the one you should look for, I think...you can buy in health food shops but beware it is pricey. Also do some research online, I think that some of them are not refridgerated and should be...so are useless when you buy them. Sorry to be vague, it was about 4 yrs ago when I knew all about it...it comes as a powder I think. Yakult and others have milk...does dairy affect her eczema? One of my dd's loves actimel but it definitely makes the eczema worse.If you get a referral to a dermatologist they might suggest wet wrapping, which is what we are currently struggling with. My dd does not like it at all, so we just put thick layers of steroid/ diprobase and then cotton pj's ontop and she wears them at home in daytime as well as at night.
other non-invasive hints....oatmeal in bath, you can also get oatmeal sachets from aveeno which the GP might prescribe.
There was another "miracle" alternative cream that I tried once that lots of people used to say was good...trying very hard to think of her name, some older mumsnet users might remember, it began with an E I think, it was a woman who made a whole range of creams and bath stuff, oh...here it is www.elenasnaturecollection.co.uk/
it did not work for dd but the stuff smells divine...!
It ios also possible that as "summer" wears off, the hives and eczema might calm, but also that it becomes something you feel more comfortable with accepting...I still get hives after a shower, being in the garden, washing my face...etc etc and have given up on trying to find out why....
I hope that some of the above helps...and good luck!

Whqt hqve you tried in terms of chinese medicine? You need to try just one alternqtive approach at a time and find a reputable practitioner. I have had great success with chinese med for these conditions.

Heat doesn't help them, my hives are caused by a sluggish liver and weak digestion, chinese herbs and accupuncture have halted mine.

also my dd's exzema

yakult drinks will be of little use to an under 5. try babylife powder from solaray; www.positivehealthshop.com/itemdetl.php/itemprcd/SRAY-14043 it has the specific friendly bugs that under 5's have. also try SOS cream ;
www.barefoot-botanicals.com/shop/sos-skin-rescue.asp

I used UDo's choice BUT was advised by my alternative health practitioner i wouldnt self diagnose
Udo?s Choice® Infant Blend Probiotic
Containing 7 infant & toddler-specific bacterial strains at an appropriate strength, this blend is designed specifically to reflect healthy infant microflora. The specific strains used in Udo?s Choice® Infant Blend Probiotic have been specially chosen for their value to infant health and have been formulated to the viable count appropriate for infants. Provides B. infantis, the most important micro-organism in the large intestine of babies & toddlers. Powder format has been designed to be added to formula, water or other liquid after it has been heated.

This is all great advise, thank you so much I've got lots to try. It's been a while since we saw our chinese herbalist so may make a return visit as for the last 3 years it has really worked for us. I will also try the probiotics, I already have the Lactobacillus acidophillis from when DD2 was on anti biotics so can use for DD1 which is great. One last question to 'rebelmum1', where did you get UDo's Choice from? In response to your question, the chinese medicene we have used so far is sachets in the bath and a cream on particularly sore areas. I think maybe her skin has become too used to it though as it doesn't have the same results as it used to. I know they wanted her to have a tea but she was only 8 months when we started her with this and she wouldn't have it. I doubt very much she would now either.

Thanks again everyone, I'm very new to mumsnet and I can't believe what I've been missing the last 3 years!!

I am using purepotions which has worked the best for ds. It contains hemp oi. Can order from their website or available at health food shops.

Hello again, I have a question for Bronze and poshtottie. I'm going to sound like such an idiot now, but I've stocked up on Hemp oil and I'm not entirely sure what to do with it. Do I add it into the bath, rub it neat all over her or does she drink it, or all of it? Sorry to be such an idiot!

It can be put straight on the skin, maybe test patch a small area first. It can also be added to food but you can't use it for frying/heating.

Thanks poshtottie, I'll have a go this morning and see what happens.

Let us know how you get on.

Wow, I think hemp oil is really the business. It's already cleared up the milder eczema areas and I think the really sore parts have improved too. I think it'll take a bit of time for the open areas to clear up but once they do I reckon hemp oil will keep it under control. Add in the probiotics I've got on order and we should hopefully be sorted. Thanks for all the great advise!

hiya, im the one with the similar name, and problems by the sound of it!!
i just bought some hemp oil from sainsbury.... organic, virgin cold pressed... is that the right stuff????
will try it on younger ds first i think as he only has mild eczema, then ill move on to my more troubled ds when i see results with first.

please keep me posted on how you get on with it all.

oh i forgot to say, with my ds i sew up the ends of his PJ's so he cant scratch with his nails exposed. may sound silly or extream, but alot better than wet wraps, emotionally, for him and he doesnt wake up in blood bath very morning.also put them on him in the day if he just cant cope with the itching.

i have got some great idea's from the tread, thank you all x xx

sorry me again... just been looking on positve health shop web site and they sell udo's choice infant blend. its about £16.00.
think i might give this a go too.thanks for tip rebelmum1

I tried starting with Hemp Oil yesterday morning. Am putting it on 4 -5 times a day and also using the Hemp Balm from innocent oils. But my DS eczema hasn't improved at all. In fact, it looked really sore and angry tonight.
I am starting to get disheartened. I am going to give it a few more days, but might try 'Aveeno' next, as that is also supposed to be good.
My DS eczema seems worse as the day progresses - is this normal?

barmymamma, I managed to get mine in Holland and Barratt, but I'm guessing it's the same as the Sainsbury's one. I have no idea if I even have the right one but I happened to be passing so bought it. I would love to sew up the ends of DD1's pyjamas but she's 3.5 and she'd just get herself changed again. I have to just keep her nails really short but unfortunately her arms and legs are covered in broken skin.

likessleep, DD1 had an allergy test done at our chinese herbalist and they told us all the things she was allergic to and to what degree, this really helped initially (obviously things have got bad again, which is why I started this thread). DD1's eczema really kicked off when she started getting hayfever about 2 months ago so I know it's down to this allergy and anti-histamines so help a bit. Also, Aveeno is great and it's not as greasy as some other creams.