babys dermatolagist app coming up - what do they do

[dubidi]

Hi,
my 5 month old is due to see the dermatoligist next week for his eczma. I am looking forward to it as it has been a very distressing time trying to manage it, its very irritable on his face.
i was wondering if anyone knew what the skin specialist do, wil they do any tests for allergies as i think he may have an allergy to dairy products. And if so does it take ages to get the results back?
Anyone ever been private for quicker reults? if so how much does it cost?
i also desperately need advice on HC creams i am constantly using them as he gets a flare up at least once a week and maybe a day or two of no eczma, how long should i use them for? GP thinks forever if need being...Sometimes they dont make a difference for days.

They may well arrange to test for allergies in case a particularly strong allergy shows up. Depends a bit on your local authority area. Some are more into the allergy route than others. I don't think the tests would be done on teh first appoitnment.

This is what happened at ours (if I remember right). The consultant will recoemmend emollients for the bath and for a body moisturiser. S/he will also recommend steroid creams, possibly different strengths for face and body and likely to be stronger ones than you have had from the GP. The consultant will also say not to worry about using the creams for 2 weeks+. They will show you how much cream to use for an application and should have some leaflets about how to use them. At ours, we also saw the eczema nurses who would go through the routine and show us what to do with dd2.

Have a note of all your questions because they will probably all go out of your head when you are there.

It also depends on just how bad your ds is, of course.