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?

They seem to be ok, they do touch it every now and then. But not overly bothered by it...

But I notice that it is worse after they have been at nursery - and I think they smother it in sudocreme, where as I haven't been as I didn't think sudocreme was helping... so I will ask them to stop.

The photo was yesterday after nursery, but after I had washed it with a baby flannel and water in their bath, it was looking MUCH better this morning and no where near as crusty... but still open!

I get eczema there. It could be that. Hopefully you can get an appointment with a GP! They can prescribe a cream to clear it up if it does turn out to be eczema.

Moo Goo do a scalp cream with tea tree which is excellent for behind ears/ sides of noses / anything crusty.

I sometimes have this issue (obviously I'm an awful lot older than your child)

Some things that work / help for me;
Hydrocortisone cream (appreciate you've already tried this)
Hair washed daily and dried soon after, leaving damp hair to air dry can irritate
If it's been a sweaty day through exercise etc then wash and dry the area gently but thoroughly before bed

Edit to add, I'm ezecma prone and use a shampoo for sensitive scalps by kerastase. Sometimes it's just a case of trying all the different creams until you find one that works. Aquaphor is also good for when it's dry but not quite at the 'crusty' stage yet

DD had this. Sudocreme sorted it.
Sudocreme sorts everything out.

My son also had something similar, and it was also impetigo. He developed it shortly after he had gone for a hair cut. I suspect the implements may not have been properly cleaned between customers.

I think we had to apply an antibiotic ointment.

Can't remember the exact name but it could be a type of psoriasis. We're under dermatology for it. Steroid+antihistamine cream sorts it out. I also have to keep his hair really short and long hair makes it worse. The obvious psoriasis silvery scabbing didn't seem obvious until 3 or 4 years after it started though so we were treated with antifungals for years.

Could it be caused by shampoo or soap not being fully rinsed off from behind the ear? My youngest used to get something similar but only behind the ears. Once we figured out it was caused by shampoo 'sitting' in that area, we made sure to fully rinse off the shampoo. It just stopped after that. Good luck 🤞

Does he wear tight tops/jumpers. I've seen kids have what looks like a cut there from clothes with tight neck holes. Looser clothing could stop it being pulled and split

My daughter has had the same thing and only thing that clears it is fucidin (cortisoid and anti fungal). GP likened it to eczema with a fungal infection. To stop it reoccurring I put Vaseline behind her ears every day to keep the skin soft as once it sets in it’s a pain to get rid of

Nah, this is a skin thing, not a pull injury.

My toddler had the exact same thing, but I'm afraid epaderm sorted it for us very quickly. Is there an alternative that you could try? Do you know what is in epaderm that your LO reacted to?

Yes I remember having this as a child and being told it was fungal.

Tou need to out the hydrocortisone in a very thin layer on first then wait 10 minutes and add the emollient. You always need a gap.

I have eczema and it started weeping behind my ears. I was prescribed antibiotics. It went, but came back again. I found that using an anti fungal steroid cream really helped. Then just keeping the backs of the ears moist with baby Aveeno

Should they both always go on?

I was doing just hydrocortisone in the morning and emollient throughout the day.

But been told to stop all creams now for time time being anyway, but would be helpful to know for future

Anyone know anything about cellulitis? Could it be that?

My (older) DD had something very similar behind her ear and it turned out to be impetigo. I put cream on but only seemed to get worse. Pharmacist didn't pick up what was and suggested another cream that also didn't help. Only realised when she got a tiny spot on her nose (unrelated, just a pimple). But she was obviously picking and touching the spot and the next day it was a big blister! Realised it was whatever was behind the ear transfered then.

I'd follow the GPs advice. Let it dry up. Let the air get to it.

I've had impetigo it was like tiny spots that went into blisters which then burst leaving raw skin. No idea where I picked it up from I was an adult at the time.

If memory has it right the treatment was antibiotics and to let the air get to it.

Ouch, sore!

Looks like needs a strong steroid cream alongside an emmiolent. While the steroids do have side effects, they work quickly so he should only need them for a short period of time.

Make sure when he's having a bath/shower that any soap/shampoo is rinsed off thoroughly (might be worth avoiding all but the mildest soaps) and make sure he's dried thoroughly.

Hooe he gets better soon, it looks so sore x

Although it looks like the early stages of cellulitis, it tends to spread and get worse within weeks.
Steroid cream will prevent an open wound from healing, it also won't treat bacterial or fungal infection.

Could be impetigo. That takes ages to heal and can look quite nasty.

That looks exactly what I get! Happens in my belly button too. Best thing for it is Savlon antiseptic cream. Wipe clean every morning with warm water, rinse it all out and reapply. Usually closes up within a couple of days.

Thank you for all the advice and guidance.

Just to confirm I will be leaving it with nothing but washed with water and a soft cloth until they have finished the 5 days oral antibiotics 😊.

I will then re-asses creams in the hope of minimising the risk of it happening again!

Here it is, no cream since Tuesday and 24 hours of antibiotics!

Healing really well. Must have been really sore.

Well done to both the pharmacist and the GP who both get lots of flack but seem to have got it right this time