Newly developed eczema in 2 year old - how to manage?

[kw13]

My DS (just turned 2) has recently developed eczema. Any tips gratefully received. He has a tiny bit on the inside of one ankle (not going to worry about that), a rather sore patch on his groin that just catches on his nappy, and some cradle cap. I have some steroid cream that I've been using for the last 4 days but not really working. I've been putting on both patches twice a day and covering the groin area in Sudacrem the rest of the time. It's starting to look a little less red. He also has cradle cap - and I am finally doing something about this (it comes and goes of its own accord). My DS has red hair and very fair skin so no real surprise that something like this should happen. Was just wondering what else I can do to make his life easier - especially about the patch on his groin. Any tips very gratefully received! Many thanks.

It sounds like you are doing all the right things, but if the steroids aren't working after a few days it might be worth going back to the GP to either get something stronger or a different type. My DS1 had eczema as a baby and is now 6.5, he gets outbreaks occasionally and usually the steroids work straight away. Is it definitely eczema in the groin area? Could be a fungal infection, from what I remember my DCs both had soreness there and were prescribed a cream but can't remember the name I'm afraid.

Try vaseline? I've used this on my DD, she has dry patches on her legs. Also used junior E45. She's three. If it doesn't clear up get it checked by GP. HTH

When I have had the steroid cream for my dd it has cleared it up really quickly, within twenty four hours. If it isn't gone by monday I would take him back to the GP.

I would stop using all soap/bubble bath in the bath as this dries skin out. Use non perfumed baby wipes on his bum. GP can give you a waxy cream to use instead of soap in the bath, basically its a moisturiser.
That might be enough to clear it up. Good luck!

Everyone is different with their eczema and which lotions and potions we use. Here is our favourites!

• for bottoms, I used Boots Zinc and Caster Oil but now regret this as it had peanut oil in it, and my daughter later developed a peanut allergy (poss connection here. For persistant dry and red patches, I then used Morhulin ointment (over the counter or on the shelf) (zinc oxide, cod liver oil, liquid paraffin, yellow soft paraffin, lanolin (!!!), castor oil, diluted sodium hypochlorite solution) and for not so red times, Neals Yard Baby Barrier cream (sunflower oil, glycerin, zinc oxide ((I think I am a fan of zinc oxide!), beeswax, roman chamomile oil, citronellol, geraniol, limonene, linalool). Also consider the type of nappy - materials, how it fits, how hot it gets etc. One brand may be OK for now but you may need to change brand etc.

• for ankles, we found a vaseline type cream called Epaderm works well as it is quite thick (we still use it for ankles) - contains SLS !!! but is OK for us and can be used as a soap substitute. For really nasty eczema flares, we use this on her skin.

• cradle cap - continually have this - have not found magic cure. The cradle cap treatments flared the eczema for us. Before hair, the good old olive oil was best left in to soak for a few hours.

• found Dermasalve thro this website - thanks everyone - lovely non irritant cream from prescription

• Eumavate steroid cream as soon as she starts to scratch and it looks like it is going red, then off this after a few days onto hydrocortisone 1% for a bit and then gradually cutting back the frequency during the day so there is no sudden stop.

• fab cothing from Cotton Comfort for overnight

• try to keep cool, and go after the dustmites in hte bedroom!

• consider diet - my daughter had milk allergy, and I think certain foods flare eczema eg citrus, strawberries.

Good luck!

I would also consider diet. I was told to put one drop (just one drop) of pure lavender oil in DDs bath, seems to help a lot and also is smells lovely!

oops Epaderm is on prescription.

yes consider infected eczema in hte nappy area too - GP can provide suitable creams

Thank you so much. I feel loads better already about what to do next. Will go see GP again, revisit brand of nappy, hoover bedroom more often (something I should do anyway I know), keep him cool, and try some of those over the counter remedies. You've all been brilliant. Thank you!

The big daddy treatment is called Protopic cream. Increases the risk of skin cancer (to approx Aussie levels) so have to avoid exposure of area to sunlight. Also not recommended for more than a certain time. Essentially this cream slows down the skins immune response hence its effectiveness in calming ezcema.

for such small areas of ezcema I wouldnt link that to food allergies.

but, did cross my mind that the irritation might be the elastic on nappy and socks?

sudocrem does dry out the skin, and that would help if skin had a wet look to the eczema patches.
If they are dry already , I wouldnt put on the sudocrem.

The key to that is not just the steriod, but moisturser, which one did the GP prescribe , with the steriods?