To ask for referral? Any dermatologists about??

[sjtalk]

Help!

I have two DS with eczema. They have the usual bad patches in knees and elbows, but they are also covered in rash and dry skin. Our routine is piriton twice a day, diprobase moisturiser twice a day (we've also tried hydroderm, epiderm and childs farm - all made it worse). Neither of them get on with bath oils. We also use steroid cream one week in four. I also use surcare laundry powder which has no irritants at all. They wash with a tiny bit of simple soap.

Trouble is nothing is working. The oldest was sobbing in frustration with itchy, sore skin last night. The youngest was awake until 10pm, itching. They both wake every night with it. I am at my wits end.

I keep asking GP for referral but I am getting a no.

Could it be food related? Or an allergy to petroleum or anything else I havent thought of?

Anyone else have any experience of this?

We had the exact same last week. We have now got a dermatology referral so fingers crossed that will help more long term. My dd has reacted well to double base - we’d previously tried Aproderm, dermal 500 and diprobase but they didn’t help this time. She also reacts to child's farm and oilatum.
Can you increase their piriton at all? We’ve gone to 3 doses a day, with the option of a 4th if absolutely needed.

And a luke warm bath every night with nothing in it. In spite of previous advice being to not bathe eczema/dry skin too frequently, our GP suggested the nightly baths to cool and reduce irritation.

Thanks for yoru reply bringemewineandcake.

They both have a cool evening shower. Sometimes it helps, mostly it just irritates though. Sigh.

Just looked up a private dermatologist £150 eeekkk

You don't say what age they are or which topical steroid you have but I would consider using it more frequently.
Have you tried dermol lotion as a moisturiser and soap substitute?

They are aged 10 and 4. They have been given 1 per cent steroid cream (highest dose) and the dr has sa to put it on one week in four, or their skin gets used to it. My ten yearold needs the daily shower because sweat makes it worse.

The rash that comes with it is quite spotty. Any one else experience this? I am thinking of asking for a patch test maybe.

Wish I had the answers :(

Thanks for the dermol tip. I haven't tried that one.

Their skin gets used to it? GP is an idiot.
1 per cent hydrocortisone is a mild potency steroid cream.
Try different emollients. And twice a day isn't enough for emollients.

Personally I’d use the steroid creams until it was under control. Allergy testing might also be appropriate?

Does the piriton help at all? Have you tried other antihistamines? For example I find Zyrtec works much better than piriton for me for anything rash related.

Therein lies the problem GlitterGlue. It is never under control.

Never thought about another antihistimine. Good idea.

Thank you everyone, your comments are reallyy helpful and, yes GP is an idiot I think

Not necessarily an idiot. They just know very little about eczema.
Is it hydrocortisone 1% if so its really very mild. You would need a much stronger steroid for a shorter period.

Might be worth looking at soothing skin salve by Mia and Dom skincare? We used in on my son and it cleared up in a few days.

all 3 of mine had it (7,4, and 2)....frotunately the older 2 grew out of it around 3 years old. with the younger 2 we went through hydrocortisone, eumovate and are now on elocon (I forget the actual steroid name) for use on weekends. The elocon does work brilliantly but I blame the potent steroid in it for giving them night terrors when they have it...

hope u find something that works.

Haven't heard of elocon. Will mention that one to gp.

Thank you!

I think you should continue to do anything you can to get an appointment with a dermatologist. Atopic eczema ( if this is what your DC have) is treated in a very specific way, which a GP may not always be an expert in. It can certainly be triggered by an allergy to food or be associated with other allergies such as hay fever and current thinking is that there is underlying inflammation, which is always present, even when the skin has healed. There may be other triggers apart from food. If your DC are so distressed by it, they need an expert.

I speak as someone who has dermatology issues (not the same as your kids) and it is absolutely miserable to have your sleep disturbed and to feel so stigmatised. I really feel for you all. People underestimate the impact that problems with your skin can have

My three have all had/have it. Ds2 was by far the worst and we found aveeno bath oil to be best with diprobase ointment not the cream. He had eumovate and fucibet creams for bad/infected patches. We were referred to a dermatologist and saw a dermatology nurse who showed us how to do wet wraps. It was pretty bad but he's now 20 and only gets small, easily treated patches now.

Excema is something a competent gp can and should manage.
If you are not controlling it then your 1% hydrocortisone is useless.
Your GP should be working up the steroid ladder until its under good control and find the right emollient.
You need to be putting emollient on four times a day minimum and using a bath emollient product too.
I am a GP and have a daughter with bad eczema so do know what I am talking about.
If I was gp I'd be asking you to use more emollient and giving you the bath /shower product too.
Then a week to 10 days of potent steroid cream. Betnovate first.
I do agree I often tell parents that they may need to use steroids every 4-6 weeks for a week or so. But you must have it under control first.
After Betnovate, there is eumovate and then elocon.
Go back, see a different gp and make sure you are slather in on emollient.
Dermatology where I live currently has 18mon wait for routine appt and would send back a referral for Excema

FigurativelyDying - I am thinking the same. I don't think this is going to be solved with lotions and antihistimines, unfortunately.

Sorry to hear you have your own issues in that department. It's really bloody crap, isn't it?

Neither of my ds's will wear shorts because they are embarrassed by their skin too. Makes my heart bleed.

Have you done a patch test with some good quality (Greek not Italian) olive oil gently applied to the skin?

I've had severe eczema since toddler age. I'm now in my 40s. Had to attend special school for it as it was so bad. It cleared up when I was pg with my youngest but is back with a vengeance now and I am currently awaiting a 're referral to dermatology via a patch test. Been told the patch test appt is in August. Have been waiting since Feb for it. At the moment I use antihistamine once a day, betnovate and diprobase. Nothing is helping. I have tried various things over the years including uvb light treatment and Chinese herbal meds. I would push for a referral. I am also going to look into bleach baths which sounds horrendous but seems to be coming more common as a treatment. There are articles about it online.

YES! ELOCON!! My youngest DS who's now 2 had horrible eczema from 4 months. We're talking weeping itchy skin, blood on the sheets. He would scratch all day and night, It was horrible. I tried everything, they referred me to a paediatrician at the hospital to do an allergy test, that was ruled out.

So a friend suggested Elocon, I went to the GP and ask for a prescription, literally within couple days it got better, he could now sleep properly, didn't itch as much. With a few weeks it cleared! I've never looked back, be aware though Elocon is a strong steroid cream, so some gps may be reluctant to prescribe it. But it helped, now I used hydrocortisone on his face and Elocon and his body when it flares up.

Our dermatologist suggested using La Roche Posay Lipikar lotion to moisturise and stop the itching. It was certainly better than anything else.

Elocon should be last resort steroid.
The OP has onky used 1 %hydrocortisone so far on her dc so really needs to be trying medium strength ones first.
The idea with steroids is use the weakest for the shortest time that gives you control.
Not jump straight to strongest

Tiredofit - there is hope for us yet!

Theredjellybean, thank you. I will make a note of those creams and get back to GP. I will start applying emollients more often.

My eldest only developed it about a year ago, aged 9. Is that indicative of an underlying allergy?

Unfortunately neither of them get on with shower wash or bath oils. We have tried so many of them I've given up because I really don't think they can handle it getting any worse.

Have you tried aveeno body wash for baths? It's oaths based, works really well.