Eczema back with vengence after 10 day course of steroids!!! What now???

[thebluefoxategreensocks]

My nearly 2yo little boy has had eczema (mainly on feet & behind one knee) for the past 9+ months. Between various ordinary creams & ointments and secure cotton clothing we've managed to keep it from getting too out of hand. Two weeks ago it got seemed to be getting really bad - and on his face (where I can't keep him from scratching, since not covered by clothes). Soooo, finally went to GP for the first time about it and got Hydrocortisone cream as well as Oilatum cream & stuff for bath. The steroid cream was effective immediately and he was no longer scratching - which seemed like a miracle after so many miserable months! However, the 10 day course he was prescribed ended on Thursday last week...and now the eczema is back...and far worse than ever before! His face is getting quite nasty, his feet are horrible, and even starting to appear on one of his eyelids! He was awake at midnight and again at 4am (both times for over 1 hour of misery and scratching through his sleeping bag etc. The lack of sleep is good for neither him nor me (who's nearly 35wk preg with baby #3).

Soooo, what now??? As far as I understood, the idea of steroids was to calm down flare ups - but seems as soon as the steroids are stopped, it's back & terribly too!

The Oilatum was OK as long as he had the steroid cream - but now the Oilatum seems to be making him worse/more red/inflammed. Had similar experience with Diprobase before - so wasn't so keen on Oilatum, as similar ingredients.

Any ideas?

I have a book about vinegar and its uses which states that apple cider vinegar in the bath relieves itchiness.
It's also helpful to drink it (just a tsp), although I'm not sure how easily that could be achieved with a 2 yo!

you're meant to apply the hydrocortisone twice a day or as prescribed and then after so many days, reduce the daily amount before stopping. A gradual stop rather than all of a sudden. That might stop such a sudden repeat flare-up.

Please do not worry about hydrocirtisone on the face. It's better to use it if necessary and it won';t do any harm.

Never heard of Urea. If it;s an emollient I'm not sure why you've to use it sparingly. I'd ask again about that.

By all means try cutting out dairy, but do not be the least downhearted if you see no difference whatsoever. It doesn't help many many children.

There are 101 different theories about possible wonderful cures as you can see by this one small thread. You could spend a lot of money and time and anxiety on it all. Don't rush into anything.

Pointydog speaks all kinds of sense

You are much better off getting a referral to a specialist who will help you to go through a logical and rational process of finding what helps and doesn't, than trying every wonder 'cure' that someone swears worked for them.

The hard truth about eczema is that often there is NO cause and NO cure. It's just a case of managing symptoms as best you can, and waiting for them to grow out of it.

oh meg, I wish she would grow out of it...

I'd be really interested to know if you do cut out dairy and find it helps as it seemed so miraculous to me that something so simple could be the answer. Appreciate it's not the same for everyone tho' obviously.
The no cause and no cure argument seems illogical - surely everything is cause and effect and it's a question of discovering what. Not in an A + B = C totally obvious way - but we now know smoking causes cancer - and there must be a great deal of things we don't know we don't know...

It isn't illogical. It just means that we are no further forward with robust scientific evidence for a cause. Same goes for many other conditions. And that is why people grasp on to all sorts of alternative remedies and often-half-baked attempts at elimination diets and creams and potions.

I believe that current scientific thinking is looking into the genetic basis of eczema. We took part in the SWET (soft water eczema trial) research last year and as part of the trial DS had two specific genes tested which have been linked to eczema. One of the genes was 'faulty' which could be why he's more prone to it.

Of course environmental factors can exacerbate eczema (like eggs or dairy in some people, or dust in others) but that is not the same as causing it.

research suggests there are often several triggers for it and not just one which can be isolated and removed.

If you are going to eliminate a food, the advice I was given a few years ago now was to do so for six weeks before attempting to reintroduce.

Pointydog, if I hadn't seen the results first hand I'd prob have been sceptical such a common food could affect dd so adversely.
Feel a bit messianic about it because hopefully, even if milk is the cause for just a small minority of eczema sufferers, my posting will help someone else, and someone else's dc.
If something isn't dangerous and it's proven to help someone else with the same condition, surely it's worth a go.

yes,agree. There often seems to be a genetic predisposition. An atopic child. And the atopic child is then more likely to get rhinitis, asthma, hay fever.

At least I think it was cutting out dair. Could have been those homeopathic tablets!

Ah. Therein lies the problem with trying all the miracle cures and exclusion diets in a non-scientific, all-at-once way -- you never know which actually worked!

of course, dance. I said it was worth a go. I just said not to upset if it doesn't work, as it doesn't for many.

And if I sound a little jaded well that's because I am. After years of hearing people tell me a huge variety of wonderful one-fix cures.

oh heavnes, I'm sure it wasn't homeopathy

Pointydog glad you posted about cutting out for six weeks, agree this would be v important and you may not see difference otherwise. We noticed difference straight away as soon as we eradicated ALL milk from diet.

I am allergic to dogs. Having grown up with them and always been a bit poorly as a child, I wish my folks had realised there was a clear trigger there that they could have done something about - DM now says she'll get hypoallergenic dogs as and when the current ones pass on - but I am in my 30s so wish had happened sooner!!

We did try cutting out all cow's milk (giving him goat's milk/cheese/yoghurt). We did it for about 2 weeks - prob cutting out about 98% of it (the odd thing might have crept in) but he didn't get any better during the 2 week trial - if nothing else, worse - and was stressful as he loves ordinary dairy products. Maybe it would be worth trying lactose free stuff?

Both DC breastfed for about a year and both have suffered with eczema since weeks old.

We swear by Epaderm ointment. DD1 had a bad reaction to a couple of aqueous creams and luckily saw a great doctor who checked ingredients out and suggested Epaderm ointment. We use it as a soap subsitute and as a body moisturiser.

DD1 is 3 1/2 and still gets eczema behind her knees but this keeps it in check. It is much better compared to when she was a baby.

DS1 is 11 months and has it all over - face, scalp, back, chest, ankle, you name it! Again Epaderm keeps it in check but need to apply 3 times a day. If it gets too bad top up with hydrocortisone cream.

We have also used Fucibet cream on his face and upper arm where the skin broke and looked infected. Very quick results.

Also found Ariel sensitive washing powder casues least irritation but I think you have to find what works for you.

My mum tells me I had really bad eczema as a baby too but I only occasional have flare ups now either on my scalp or occasionally by my little finger. Many children do grow out of it.

No idea about lactose free but perhaps try a week without any dairy whatsoever, dd had a strong flare up reaction to packet ham when on her exclusion diet cos of milk powder it contains. Then again i'd hate to waste your time if you're sure it's not the cause. Good luck and i hope you find a solution soon, it must be really hard for you both.