Skin issues behind toddler ear - pictures included!

[pinkcow123]

My toddler has had an issue in the skin behind their ear. It is cracking, sore, crusty and weeping - along the line behind the ear.

Previously tried hydrocortisone cream.

They have reacted to Epaderm and epimax and this has caused further rash.

Another GP request has been made, but I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this? Any other creams that have worked?
Sudocreme doesn't seem to do anything other than clog it up!

Any ideas what it could be as well?

I used to get something that looked like this as a child, I definitely had some sort of steroid cream prescribed but the thing that was drummed into me was I had to keep it dry (I’m assuming it was fungal and dampness was keeping it going!)
I showered from the neck down, mum washed my hair tipped over the sink for weeks, the area was immediately dried and the cream applied, I slept with a dressing behind my ear to absorb any moisture with a wall of pillows to make sure I slept on my ‘good’ ear.
Fingers crossed it clears up for your little one as it was not pleasant

I get eczema like this. I must say for me hydrocortisone has never done a lot (I do have severe eczema and psoriasis though, currently well controlled). A stronger steroid cream may well be all that is needed.

I have psoriasis and it looks exactly like that. Mainly occurs behind my ears but also on my scalp. So I think you need a gp advice for him.

my son has this. It's eczema. I put coconut oil on it after a bath.

You need to get it swabbed, as it could be fungal but it could be bacterial and the treatments are different.

Could be a staph infection, or possibly fungal. Get it swabbed and then you’ll know and can treat properly.

I was also going to recommend Nizoral if all else fails!

DS had this on and off for years. The only thing that's kept it at bay is keeping a bottle of Nizoral in the shower and having him rub it behind his ears at the first sign of a flare up. He also uses a non-steroidal cream called sebclair on the area.

I also used to struggle with what I thought was perioral dermatitis and the Nizoral / Sebclair combo works on that too.

Not to drip feed, but they recently had fucibet prescribed for the top of their bum - probably came around the same time if I'm honest. Maybe ear slightly before.
Fungal cream tried for the bum area first, without success...

Could they be linked?!

Has child got wheat allergy/intolerance?

My daughter has had that a few times. It was a fungal infection. Dr prescribed some anti-fungal cream, it disappeared very quickly.

Very interesting question... they have had diarrhoea since they got an illness around March last year... and I suspect wheat makes it worse - e.g. have told nursery no weetabix and it makes it better, but still loose.

But negative on celiac blood test!

I had this as a poor diet vegi student. Needed B vitamins fruit and veg. Fixed quickly after that.

More likely it's because they don't know if it bacterial or fungal.
Hope the GP gets it sorted

My son has something like this when he was a toddler and it was impetigo. It’s really infectious, if that’s what it is, might be worth asking it they have had any cases at nursery.

My dd had an infection around her toes on one of her foot for months a couple of years ago. Iodine foot baths and antibacterial powder between the toes helped a bit but didn't shift it. Anti-fungal cream didn't help. We eventually saw a paediatric dermatologist who had a swab tested and it was staphylococcus aureus - a fucidic acid/steroid combo cream worked miracles. Like a PP above, I'd be thinking staph.

@pinkcow123 did you get him to the GP?

@Needspaceforlego still waiting for the Dr to call 😩. Was passed to the Dr this morning!

Nightmare. Hope they get back to you.soon.

That looks so sore. I hope your GP can give DC something to clear it up.

They have prescribed oral antibiotics and said not to use the steroid cream for a while. It was just a text following review pictures - any ideas as to why no cream?!

I presume they want it to dry out fully and use the antibiotic to treat any infection

i would wash in soapy or salt water ( maybe ask pharmacist what’s best). Then using dry Muslin cloth pat dry so it’s fully dry and not left damp

Once healed, use a wet face cloth with soap to clean and add weleda balm which is like a calendula based solid oil so more natural

Really helpful! Thank you!

I have been making sure it is fully dry after washing etc, but I guess it's not been enough when it's still so sore and open! Fingers crossed it'll be healing in a few days!

I'd agree they are thinking it needs to dry out. I wouldn't even put soap near it, I'd wash gently with just water on a soft sponge.

How's the kid are they fussing with it? It looks really sore to me

DD gets this sometimes, same place. A good wash in the bath and then savlon sorts it out in no time. I know you’ve heard from the dr now but just in case their fix doesn’t work!