Eczema and this horrible heat...

[Schulte]

Anyone else finding their child's eczema getting worse and worse in this heat? DD2 has had horrible flare-ups in the last few weeks that just get worse until the weather cools down again. I assume it's the weather... no?

I am in a hot climate, and yes, hot and humid weather exacerbates my DS's excema. We avoid going out if he's likely to get sweaty, and if things get too uncomfortable we flee to an air conditioned environment to escape. A tepid bath with bath oil is a great idea if he's getting too hot and itchy. Also watch bedding etc at night, as its easy to overheat (but also to get too cold in the wee hours if you don't get the balance right), so a fan in his bedroom (not pointed at him, but just to circulate the air) can be helpful.

Yes yes yes. Both my dds are covered in a delightful combination of prickly heat and eczema. I really feel for them.

I never know whether to use hydrocortisone or not... she's had it quite a lot recently but her legs are aggressively red all over.

Definitely - DD has been covered in eczema for about 4 weeks now. I keep putting steroid cream on it just to stop her ripping her skin off but I hate doing it. Wish there was something else we could do

I've just made an appointment at Drs for ds. We have had no flare ups for over 18 months now until last week. His skin has just dried out really quickly and his tummy and lega are covered in a really dry, sore, eczema rash.

because I honestly thought it was behind us and it looks just as bad as when he was a baby. We struggled for such a long time to get it under control.

DD is 5 and has moderate eczema since she was 6 months. Over the last couple of weeks we have been running the water for her bath through a sieve filled with oats. It actually seems to be helping and she is not as itchy after her bath or as sore. However, she needs the oats in her bath every night or the eczma flares up again.

I might try oatmeal bath... I have some Aveeno here... so it sounds like other dcs are going through the same with this heat. Can only hope it will cool down soon! DD2's skin was so good all winter

Eczema is nasty, I really feel for you, and of course your little one.

Keeping the house cool especially in the bedrooms during the night helps prevent the Eczema from itching, it is usually at night the scratching starts without you being aware you are scratching.

During the summer keep the windows open for fresh air to cool the rooms down and when it is very hot try using a cooling fan during the night. Do not use thick duvet covers during the heat, thin cotton sheets are best.

Remember to keep the skin moist at all time, even if it means moisturising four times a day, this is very important to stop eczema itching. If you have very dry skin you can moisturise before you bath and straight after the bath.

Applying vitamin E oil directly on the area affected by eczema stops itching and promotes quick healing. Evening primrose oil is an excellent remedy for eczema.

Babies sometimes develop eczema as an allergic response to everyday products like detergents and certain kinds of fabric. Avoid dressing your child in synthetics or even wool and polyester. Loose, cotton clothing is ideal for relief from eczema and other minor skin irritations. Try to use pure soap for your laundry and for baths to see if it helps the eczema diminish.

I will try the Vitamin E oil as my son has terrible eczema all the time. It has been much worse recently in the heat. Even though I cut his nails every few days (which is a trial in itself) he rips his skin to shreds when we are in the car and I can't stop him.

We use wet bandages at night to keep the skin moist. The doctor can prescibe the suit (tights and a sort of polo top) which I cut up into strips for him to wear on the back of his knees and ankles, where it is bad. You put on the steroid cream if using, then loads of moisturiser (we use Hydromol/Epaderm which is paraffin also prescribed by doc) then put the bandages on top and rub in lots more moisturiser. Looks a bit manky, and all my clothes are covered in grease but it does the job! Problem is in this heat, the bandages make him hot, so I am fighting a losing battle until the weather cools down.

I took him to the doctors last week and they suggested a blood test to see if he is allergic to our cat. Has anyone else found that eczema is caused by cats, and if so did it help to get rid of the cat? I am desperate to get his eczema under control but would rather not give away a much loved pet only to find he still has it!

Is vitamin E oil okay to use on a 14 month old?

Well, always check with your doctor first, don't ever take a strangers advice - even if you think they are great parents on such a site as this.

I really hope it clears up or subsides, you must be worried. As I said previously, avoid strong soaps, fabric conditioners, air fresheners etc. which I'm sure you already do.