AIBU to think that there must be something more we can do for this eczema

[namechangeforthispost123]

Hello! Posting here for traffic.

Our two year old has always had mild eczema but over the last month it's got significantly worse... The itching all through the night is unbearable for us all.

We've tried all potions and lotions available both over the counter and prescribed and now the GP has said that he has no further solutions but that lots of children live with and then grow out of this type of eczema... We've booked to see a dermatologist privately but can't be seen until the New Year.

Does anyone have any advice?

Oat baths helped my daughter massively, i only bath her twice a week as too often dries the skin even more! I also used 3 different emollients daily, a light one for bed and heavy oily one in the morning, and dermol mid afternoon. She's much better now and only gets slight flair ups, I washed her hair over the bath with baby shampoo and never use bubble bath only baby soap for pits and bits no soap on the rest of her body. For us the changing point was realising that when she got too hot it got worse so for bed was just best and pants with a cotton sheets and light duvet with a cotton cover. She has never complained of being cold and she sleeps all night now. I also found that eating berries triggered her skin. I don't give her them anymore.

Haven’t read all the comments so apologies if it’s been mentioned- I have eczema and when it’s red and inflamed I use calamine lotion to soothe it. Calms it all down and makes it less itchy. Not a cure but can help manage it.

Marking as DD2 has issues with itchy skin, not sure if it’s eczema but looking for ideas to try so thanks for the above. OP your DD’s skin looks miles better!

Glad to see it’s improving. Looks so much better. Eumovate is so much better than hydrocortisone but diprobase didn’t work for us.

Once you get that magic combo that works for your child’s skin it makes such a difference.

Glad there's been an improvement but it sounds like you're still treating symptoms rather than the underlying cause.

I haven’t seen the spots like that but you’ve definitely turned a corner. Well done, you should be really proud of yourselves.

@Mittenmob

Glad there's been an improvement but it sounds like you're still treating symptoms rather than the underlying cause.

Yes, we've changed our washing powder too, I think that is the cause 🤞🏼

Oh good! I'm glad you've seen an improvement and with such a quick fix.

DH and I stopped using all shampoo/ lotion on **ourselves, just used a natural olive oil soap nothing else. I assume it was residues in the bathtub, because that change made a big difference to DS's skin (it was lousy on my hair tho and I had to chop it short to cope with the soap). I've also ditched all perfume and makeup for the time being.
The other thing was replacing laundry detergent with soap, and food allergies.
Also he turned out to be allergic to paraffin which is in 90% of emollients, so switching off that (to cetaphil) helped

@namechangeforthispost123
So pleased you’ve had a big improvement!
I found fairy non bio liquid actually made my DS’s skin worse. I then changed to Boots laundry detergent for Sensitive Skin which suited him better than the fairy. Still get flare ups though 😞.
Which detergent are you using now?

I think I will try the Eumovate too instead of Hydrocortisone.
I also found hydromol ointment to be the best emollient.

@Cocopopsss We've changed to Surcare washing powder, I've got the softener too but haven't tried that yet. I also stopped using any strong cleaning products / carpet sprays etc at the same time but I'm pretty sure it's the washing powder.

We've stopped with the Eumovate now, after applying every night for 5 days and then every other for 4 and are just using the Diprobase / Hydromol combination and her skin is almost perfect, I'm so grateful to the advice on this thread, it saved Christmas for us! 🙂

Try Só Luxury Cocoa Oat Bath! Worked a treat for my boy.

Oh the poor little thing!
I was a childhood sufferer and I know my mum tried everything. Mine was generally in my elbows and knees and all over my face.
It floated around my life up until my late teens/early 20s when it had a MASSIVE flair up (I was hospitalised as I had scratched my nipples so much it looked like they were gone!)
Then suddenly it was gone.
I do still get patches
I have to use Surcare as none of the other washing powders etc are suitable for me.
I used loads of different moisturisers but often they felt too thick and bleugh on my skin. Aveeno is my friend these days.
I was worse it I got overheated.
(my poor mum spent a fortune on a herbalist in desperation and he said that my blood was getting 'too hot' and that I needed to not eat any sugar. Sounds like a load of hocum BUT I was better when not eating sugar.)
I couldn't use any zinc based creams.
For a long time I 'washed' with an aqueous cream instead of soap and I still can't use highly scented products.
I am allergic to house dust mite - these days it mostly makes me sneeze but as a child it made my skin worse.
Cotton clothing and thin layers rather than thick snuggly jumpers etc.
I often slept with a fan heater turned to blow cold as it helped. (I am old so fans in houses weren't really a thing people had) I still sleep with my feet out of the covers as if I get too snuggly I get itchy.

I can see from your updates that it is getting better and that you are making progress - I hope that continues.

I missed most of the thread but just wanted to say, with Eczema, maintenance is part of the plan. A consultation with a dermatologist or allergist would be great because they can help you with a lot of background knowledge, but it will be tailored to your child's age and situation. It will help you minimise use of medications. A moisturiser that your child can tolerate will probably also help - winter dryness can cause some kids to flare. You may have to try several before you find one that is ok for them. Some parents swear by a probiotic like yogurt with live cultures, kefir, things like that. It all depends on what your own child tolerates.

I haven’t read the full thread but so apologies if repetitive.
I know how ghastly eczema is and I suffered myself for a long time before I got it under control.
For me, it is not food related. I would advise against removing food groups from your child’s diet unless under the supervision of a paediatrician.
No perfumed products whatsoever. Fragrances caused my skin to go bright red immediately. I even used Soap Flakes for a while when my skin was really bad.
Bleach baths - these really calmed down my skin. I was scratching so much my skin was oozing. All these open wounds were introducing staph infections into my skin. The bleach baths took care of that.
Using steroid cream religiously and tapering the amount down instead of stopping abruptly.
Moisturising within seconds of coming out of the shower! Keep that moisture trapped in.
I haven’t had any eczema for a good few years now.
Hope your child is doing better.

It may be worth stopping use of all clothes detergents for your DD. Dermatologist told us this for our DC and using the appropriate wash, including hot wash for soiled items and the most appropriate prog. if your washing machine has options such as stain technology if the clothes require a bit more attention - clothes were always immaculate and the lack of detergent made no noticeable different in comparison to when we used Surcare. Instead of softner we would tumble dry the clothes which means they come out soft anyway.