Eczema flare-ups (2 month old) to treat or not to treat?

[Worrier28]

My 9 week old has eczema and it was confirmed last week, it is all over his back, legs, arms and face. I went to the doctors who said that he needed antibiotics and that they would send the prescription to the pharmacy. There was a mix up and the prescription wasn't there. After a few days of using diprobase on his body (dry/scaly) and aqueous cream on his face (lots of red spots) it went away. Unfortunately it seems to be coming back, so do I need to treat it or let it resolve itself?

Many thanks

Thanks for replying Alypaly, no we don't suffer from anything like that and neither does anyone in our family. Although in saying that my husband is adopted so perhaps someone from that side and we will never know.
I will ask the doctor for Aveeno as you mention but I have also heard Double Base is good but perhaps not for itching?

Kirsty77- re the mitts issue sew them onto the babygro or put socks on your dcs hands. We found as dd2 is getting older she can get out of pretty much any non scratch combo. Best night time wear at the mo is baby cotton leggings so can't scratch legs with toenails, a vest over the top so she can't itch her way out of the leggings, short socks under legging and long socks (intended for older children) on her arms.

Went to the docs this morning and she said he has a mild case of eczema so just keep up with the doublebase bath additive and moisturiser. He has a flare up on his face so I am going to see how long go away. Perhaps his eczema is not that bad, doesn't itch himself too much.

Thanks for your help AlyPaly hope you are recovering well.

Worrier28

Glad its only been classed as mild. He may grow of it

I'm back, the eczema has spread all over his face and neck, since I cannot use steriods do I just keep moisturising until it goes away? What about a mild steriod to keep it under control. The last time I used hydrocorstonise 1% on his face as it was there for ages, I know now I wasn't supposed to.

Also when are you supposed to use steriods in general?

Sorry, thought I had mastered this eczema thing.

SEWN on sock on sleep tops is a MUST OR buy THESE TOPS from Cotton Comfort.

Something for older children with eczema: dear GP has explained to DS that pinching sends the same signal to the brain as scratching so he needs to replace the scratching habit with a pinching habit. Still working on this one

Worrier28
Hydrocortisone cream should only ever be used on a flare up and for no more than 4-5days. You shud only use it on the face under the instructions from a dermatologist as you can make it flare up worse when you stop using it. Also you dont want to thin the skin on babies face as it is permanent.
If it on the face the Gp can give you ).5% hydrocortisone but please dont be tempted to us it on his face because you think it helps.You could be causing more damage.

Is it definitley eczema because to flare up on the face and neck is unusual as it is normally in the skin flexures and trunk. Is he teething?

That was meant to read 0.5 % hydrocortisone BTW

Worrier28
Is it actually spots or is it patches and does it spare the folds around his nose(ie is it clear around his nose. He isnt teething by any chance is he?
As I said before steroids lull you into a false sense of security in that they clear up the inflammation quite quickly, so it appears as if it is clearing up.They are a strong anti inflammatory but when you stop using them it all rebounds very quickly and can come back worse. His appearance is more worrying to you and you may be worrying that people are staring. Honestly let me know if it is spots or plaques or patches. I can give you my advice but i will always say to check with your gp cos I am not qualified. Will the gp not refer you to a dermatologist.... insist...it is your right.

Worrier28

Have a look at this link at the pictures of the baby not the adults. Does it look like this.dermnetnz.org/dermatitis/seborrhoeic-dermatitis.html

It's silly that I feel so upset. It looks a bit like an allergic reaction on his face and on his neck there are lots of spots but not red like the ones on his face. He has a small flare-up on his arms. Should I try aveeno products, I just feel desperate, sad and useless.

aveeno is mainly helpful for itching so if he is not itching it will only act as a moisturiser

I am guessing that he is your first baby, try not to tansmit your worries to him because if they sense stress it can exacerbate it

Have the spots got a yellow centre and how many mms big are they. Is he dribbling from teething because that can go on to his neck?

I would say yes to the pictures but slightly more raised dots. Difficult to tell as he is black. I recognise the raised dots, the spots on chin, neck look new - perhaps dribble rash, he was teething a couple of weeks back. He occasionally goes to scratch his face and rubs it hard as he wakes up.

How do I use a steriod successfullly?

No yellow centres, and kind of look like a rash on cheeks, little bit on chin, eyelids, under the eyes. He is my first baby and I'm effectively alone in all this and you're right I should calm the hell down! He is dribbling a lot.

Should I just wait it out and keep moisturising? Afraid it will get worse.

I understand about the false sense of security of steriods and I am going to be more foreful with my GP. He is sleeping, looked at his skin and he has small red dots by his ears, on his ears, behind his ears, rash on both cheeks, small dots on forehead, spots on and under eyelids, spots on chin and spots on neck and little on chest.

Nose area looks relatively clear, tiny little spots which are also present on his upper lip.

It sounds to me as if it is seborrheic eczema as he had cradle cap b4 and if he has been teething and is dribbling alot the rashes can get a really inflamed and angry rash on the cheeks and neck. Sounds as if he has got a combination of both. But please dont put hydrocortisone on his face as it gets rid of the fat layer under the skin and if you see older people with lots of small veins on their cheeks, this has normally been caused by over use of steroid creams. You can get seb eczema on eyelids and occasionally it blcks a little pore up on the eyelid and they get what looks like a stye or inflamed eyelid. Dont be alarmed at this it is commomn with seb eczema.
Try not to worry too much i am sure it will clear up in its own time. Too much grease may not help, i wud only put it on the dry areas on his bod.
He might dribble for ages so dont worry about the rash taking longer to clear,but dont smother him in cream and ointments otherwise it might cause more greasy rashy areas.
Hope this helps

To use your steroid sucessfully, bath him in oilatum emollient and then put moisturiser on the drier areas and then really sparingly put the steroid cream on...BUT DEF NOT ON FACE UNLESS DOC SAYS. But try and get doc to refer you to a specialist to get a true diagnosis. infantile eczema is dry and itchier, seborrheic eczema is greasier and not so itchy andthey are treated differently with creams

alypaly you feel like my guardian angel, you have a very calming influence! You did say it sounded like seborrheic eczema and I agreed as he is not particularly dry, I will continue my routine which is:

a) daily short bath in doublebase additive
b) moisturiser with doublebase or cetraben (body)
c) moisturise face with doublebase
d) mositurise face and body before bed.

I will hold off slapping lots of cream on his face and just do it twice a day and monitor the rash.

Perhaps if the GP doesn't want to play ball I could go private, she didn't seem interested in diagnosing the 'type' of eczema. Kids, who'd have em!

PS Don't think I need the steriod, its just a quick fix when you are lost in eczema wilderness, will avoid for the time being.

Word of warning to everyone on mumsnet. Some nasty person has just sent me the trojan virus on my laptop which has just completely screwed it up. Thanks a bunch. What mindless people these virus makers are.What kicks do they get out of it?unless they are the ones selling the package to clean it up.BAS**s

alypaly- it is such a pain. Happened to me a few years ago- very very annoying. I bought McAfee protection but Norton keeps doing a (free) scan telling me that I have 194 tracking files and that I should buy their protection. Which security package do you use?

bless you worrier for the sad and useless comment. Totally same feelings. So hard especially when it is on the baby's face. Other people feel the need to comment constantly-as if you hadn't noticed!
We were told to use steroid cream on the face as it can be awful. Worst affected area. Put the diprobase/epaderm whatever you're using on first then the steroid v sparingly half hour later. Use for a week then alternate days then every third gradually reducing. If you use every day then stop suddenly you can make it worse. Rebound excema. HTH.