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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Feeling like I am letting DD down

74 replies

Rollonbedtime7pm · 25/04/2017 21:35

DD2 is nearly 1 and is currently having a horrible eczema flare up - her trigger seems to be illness as she developed the full body rash a couple of weeks ago when she was quite run down after a spell of bugs and colds.

We seemed to be beating it and bar a couple of patches that she repeatedly scratched and kept making sore, she looked much better. She now seems to have an upset stomach as her poos are awful and the rash is back and her bum is red raw Sad

I just feel so sad when I look at her poor red blotchy skin and feel like I am failing her by not being able to help her and get rid of it for her.

OP posts:
TittyGolightly · 25/04/2017 21:36

What are you using on it?

TittyGolightly · 25/04/2017 21:36

Is she dairy free?

IrritableBitchSyndrome · 25/04/2017 21:41

Optibac probiotic powder really helped my DD when she had terrible poo and raw bum as a baby. Hydrocortisone 1% and moisturising cream on prescription kept/keeps her eczema under control.

Wolfiefan · 25/04/2017 21:42

Oh bless her. What have you tried?

llangennith · 25/04/2017 21:52

Use the steroid cream prescribed by your GP. Eczema is in our family and when it's your own child you feel it's your fault for not being able to solve the problem.
My grandson is now 9 and hasn't had a flare up for several months. His flare ups always occurred after he'd been ill whether it was flu, sickness, measles etc. As soon as the illness went the eczema flared up. We had to stop swimming in chlorinated water during the winter as his skin seemed at it's most sensitive then.
As with all family members eczema flare ups have lessened each year.
If your GP won't prescribe steroid cream ask to see a specialist. Some children have triggers like dairy or certain foods (my eldest DD had to avoid eggs as a child) but sometimes there is no discernible cause.

Original poster
Rollonbedtime7pm · 25/04/2017 21:59

All creams from the doc have been useless - we were having some success with Lush Dream Cream and a bit of steroid on the really sore bits.

We use a bath milk to soften the water and I keep reading about bathing less often but she is so covered in food at the end of the day and with her bum in a nappy all day, she seems to need a bath before bed!

Haven't changed anything she eats or products like washing powder - I do think it was the constant illness that made her flare up. My dad is prone to viral rashes and she had similar earlier in the year.

OP posts:
Funnyface1 · 25/04/2017 22:01

I would see about getting some advice about her diet. Often things like this can be massively improved by eliminating certain foods. With you mentioning the upset stomach and sore bum too it could be worth a try.

Also try not to be too hard on yourself.

JollyRodger · 25/04/2017 22:04

Try smothering her in coconut oil. The raw virgin organic one. My daughter had it dreadfully when she was little. We changed to a basic aldi non bio and smothered her in coconut oil and it went. Worth a try! Feel for you OP it's awful 😔

LittleOwl153 · 25/04/2017 22:05

Whilst she has the sore bum cut back on acidic foods like tomatoes, makes their poo more acidic and therefore more damaging to already sore skin. Hope she's feeling better soon.

LilacSpatula · 25/04/2017 22:05

Yes for coconut oil but don't feel bad, you're trying your best and we don't have all the answers Flowers

mumontherun14 · 25/04/2017 22:07

What age is she? My son was really bad with it between 1-2 but it did ease off. I changed my washing powder to Fairy Sensitive. We wen through various creams and had a referral to a dermatologist. He prescribed Dermol 500 bath emollient, Aveeno emoliant cream and fucibet (hydrocortisone). It totally cleared up and my son is pretty clear now, only rare flare ups and he still uses the Aveeno and Dermol and he is now 12. If you are not happy ask for a referral xxx

SafeWord · 25/04/2017 22:08

My dds terrible eczema cleared up once we had allergy tests to identify the trigger (dust mites for her) and eliminated them.

Meloncoley2 · 25/04/2017 22:09

Take her to the GP. Say what you have tried. There are loads of products to help, it's a question of finding the right one. Ask to be referred to a specialist if necessary.

Allthewaves · 25/04/2017 22:09

I'd cut out dairy.

IrritableBitchSyndrome · 25/04/2017 22:09

For my DD, we limit her to one bath of 10 mins a week, water not too warm, plain water with no soap, bubbles or anything else. We wash her hands and bum every day, and slather her with prescription moisturiser every day to stop her skin drying out, and this works really well. Daily baths trashed her skin, poor love.

ChocolateButton15 · 25/04/2017 22:09

Try cutting out milk/dairy. My daughter is allergic to milk and gets the runs/ eczema if she has it. Try showers rather than baths. If it's really sore might be infected? Metanium cream in yellow tube is amazing for bum rash

Allthewaves · 25/04/2017 22:10

She could have become temp dairy intolerant if she been ill. Also could she have thrush if her bums sore - antibiotics could cause this

claraschu · 25/04/2017 22:12

I had one child who got lots of nappy rashes, and I just left him naked on the bottom when we were at home. It helped a lot.

TooMinty · 25/04/2017 22:12

My DS2 was the same around that age - it's rubbish seeing them feeling so sorry for themselves isn't it? Flowers

I second the PP who said go to GP and get steroid cream plus maybe anti-fungal cream too if it has got infected. Oilatum for the bath is good, plus Aveeno moisturiser for afterwards.

purplecollar · 25/04/2017 22:14

We all in my family have a tendency to eczema/rashes. Generally we use non bio soap powder and Simple shampoo/shower gel. Surcare washing up liquid. You get used to looking at ingredients. Avoid anything with "Parfum".

BrutusMcDogface · 25/04/2017 22:14

I wouldn't cut out dairy without the advice and support of a dietician or a gp, tbh. I understand the feeling of helplessness and blame (my dd has bad eczema too) but luckily, a combination of epaderm, aveeno and hydrocortisone seems to be starting to work (fingers crossed!)

Lavender oil worked well on nappy rash when my kids were little; diluted in water, of course! I just put it on after cleaning them.

Original poster
Rollonbedtime7pm · 25/04/2017 22:16

Re. The dairy thing - the stomach and sore bum are very recent, they weren't related to the original flare up. Husband has had a dodgy tummy this week so assume she has picked it up from him.

I didn't rate Aveeno when we tried it tbh. Doctors are so useless, they just don't get it! Think I will have to ask for a referral, hope the waiting lists aren't too long!

OP posts:
stoplickingthetelly · 25/04/2017 22:17

Have you tried skin salvation from pure potions? It was made by a mum who's child had eczema but nothing worked. It's a natural balm and has been fantastic on my lo's when their eczema is bad. I buy it from the love Lula website because the delivery is free x

Creampastry · 25/04/2017 22:18

We used Elidel .... worked wonders.

stoplickingthetelly · 25/04/2017 22:18

Also ds has been having some success with dermol after trying lots of other things.