AIBU to wean off steroid cream use (for DS) entirely

[notgivingin789]

Even if it means his skin would go back to the scaly, hard, skin state ?

When my DS, who is now 8, was first diagnosed with Eczema, I didn’t think a “mere” skin condition would have an impact. But it is !! His itchy, constantly scratching, sleep is effected, his not concentrating at school, he gets insecure when people look at his skin... I mean the list is endless.

We are currently seeing a dermatologis via the NHS, but I’m thinking of just leaving that all together and going the private route. Currently, all the dermatologist is recommending is putting a high potent steroid cream called Mometasone furoate 0.1% and using some sort of bandages to cover the effected Eczema, after applying the steroid.

I felt DS needed this high potent steroid cream at the time as his skin was very bad ! Honestly ! His Eczema kept getting infected, his skin, which were effected with Eczema, was like lizard skin, hard and thick. During the period, when his skin was like this, we were in and out of doctors etc.

Back to present day, DS skin has flared up badly again . He is allergic to numerous of things but has a severe allergy to grass pollen. I have a strong sense the weather is causing his current flare up episode. So his face, arms and legs are all red and slowly turning back to that thick lizard skin (sigh). We just weaned off the steroid three weeks ago ! However , I am cautious to start applying the steroid again. We have gotten into a cycle, as soon as we slowly wean off the steroid, a day or two, the Eczema will flair up. Not only that, his skin has become very thin and is easily bruised.

A nutritionist of some sort, advised me to wean off the steroid completely (as in no steroid cream all together) and use supplements and natural stuff.

Urgh ! I don’t know what to do.

I get the same condition but it was much worse when I was a child, I used to get it badly on my face, behind ears, hands and inside elbows and back of knees. Not sure if you've tried this, but I've got friends who swear by it for their kids and since I started using it I don't even get mild flare ups any more although mine did get a lot better after puberty anyway. I also found hemp night cream from body shop really helped my face, I've been told by dermatologists that excessive steroid use damages the skin but I don't think mine was ever as bad as you describe. So I'm not saying disregard the doctor. This one is called child's farm it's completely natural.

www-independent-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.independent.co.uk/life-style/mum-baby-eczema-skin-cream-nhs-available-childs-farm-baby-moisturiser-toddler-paige-sweeney-a7814176.html?amp_js_v=a1&amp_gsa=1&amp&usqp=mq331AQGCAEYASgB#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.co.uk%2Flife-style%2Fmum-baby-eczema-skin-cream-nhs-available-childs-farm-baby-moisturiser-toddler-paige-sweeney-a7814176.html

What emollients do you use and how often?

My dd cut out dairy and that helped.

Also, we never hang laundry outdoors (pollen).

I wouldn’t replace the creams. I would take onboard (sensible) advice from a nutritionalist diet wise but I would be very cautious about advice from a “sort of” anyone tbh!

If you think dietary changes may help perhaps discuss that with his care team?

We use Hydromol ointment, every two hours.

DS is allergic to dairy, nuts, wheat, egg, soya, grass and we avoid these foods.

I would see an allergist and look at measures like dietary changes, not hanging laundry outside, keeping windows closed, showering before bed.

If he has a severe grass pollen allergy they could also do allergy shots to potentially reduce his allergies.

I'd also continue to see a dermatologist who is willing and able to talk through your reservations about steroid creams and talk about alternatives.

I think dealing with allergies and eczema is one of those things where you need multi-disciplinary help, and a lot of info, then a lot of experimentation.

Are you anywhere near London? If you could go privately and get to Harley Street to see Dr Helen Cox, I would highly recommend her. Sorted out our DS severe ezcema with a detailed routine of creams and emollients. We've never looked back. Protopic was really helpful, it is non steroid. But we did have to use steroids at first before weaning onto the Protopic.

We recently used mometasone once a day for 2 weeks to ‘turn off’ my daughter’s bad flare up and are now using a protopic. The stronger steroid was really helpful for us after years of ineffectual eumovate. 😡

Also have they done any patch testing? I am allergic to MI. It's apparently a very common allergy. In washing up liquid and liquid detergent and shampoo and shower gel.

We also were prescribed Protopic cream for DD, which was very good and is not a steroid. May be worth a shot if you've not already tried it.

My son has multiple food allergies plus pollen, grass and animal fur. The backs of his knees have been terrible this last week, coinciding with being outdoors all the time. He has been crying with pain when we put cream on. We've started wet wrapping his knees at bed time - shower, pat dry, emollient (we use Cetraben, mega tubs on prescription), water soaked tubular bandage on top, the dry tubular bandage to finish. Wow. In two days they're not crusty anymore and are on the mend. Tomorrow we're going to do his elbows too. You can buy reams of tubular bandages in kid friendly sizes online. We'd like to avoid the steroid cream unless it's infected.

I don’t get this weaning off thing. Use is in short sharp blasts, a minimum of twice a day or it is less effective. Then ointment then skinnies ( I don’t know if this is like the bandages you refer to but we do it dry not wet as recommended by derm). Go up and down the steroid ladder dependent on severity and body part. Our derm talked about weekenders. So we do for a few days/ week, then continue with emollients.

Weaning off is some sort of myth perpetuated by the “natural quacks” normally trying to get you to spend money on their concoction. You don’t get addicted to topical steroids.

Please ignore this nutritionist.

My dermatologist said he recently concluded from a study that it would take using a mild steroid twice a day non stop for 5 years to thin the skin.

Also run steroids are no good for infection. You need antibiotics for that. Or if it’s fungal something like dactacort which is a mild steroid plus antifungal.

If you are very concerned about steroids it is also worth looking at protopics especially for the face.

Have a look at skinnies. They are so much easier to use than bandages. If you convince your go to spend the money.

Haven't read full thread but have a dd 7 who has eczema and we used hydro cortisone. Could you switch to that as not as strong? I really think flare ups need the cortisone.

Your poor kid!
I have mild psoriasis /excema on my foot...

Have hydrocortisone when bad... Someone recommended the child's farm moisturising lotions (pump dispenser).. About 3-4£. I now longer use anywhere near as much steroid cream...
Suspect would be worth trying.