Sorry posting here for traffic but I’m desperate - photo attached

[Woopsy54]

My daughter has these rashes on her hands, elbows, back of her calves and front of knees

GP not taking seriously and saying eczema and keeps loading us up with steroid creams

Have been told 1 year wait for NHS dermatologist.

Any ideas what this rash could be??

I would wonder about some sort of molluscum (? I think?) possibly if it's not eczema. My brother had this when he was little I think.

Papular eczema with raised bumps as in your picture is very likely the problem. If the steroid creams are working keep using them. The dermatologist that we saw for ds put it those way to us when we expressed similar concerns- would you stop using a maintenence inhaler for asthma? I would really suggest paying for a private dermatologist (we paid £150) who will hopefully be able to give a regime that works with appropriate emmolient cream and bath products and more targeted advice on steroids and gradually reducing to maintenance level.

Was also thinking maybe molluscum.

Soaps were the worst culprit with my kids. We switched all the detergents out for gentle/unscented stuff, and hand soaps for sensitive skin.. .we also had to stop rinsing hair in the shower and only do it over the bath so the shampoo didn't get on their backs. (one is also allergic to suncream)

It looks like eczema, you need to use the steroid til it gets better, bath/shower with emollients, NOT SOAP, and moisturise regularly.

My disabled 18yo still gets flare ups on his hands/knee's when he's under the weather.. i swear by the Aveeno moisturiser with Shea butter in, fixes him up very quickly with regular use.

Is there a friendly chemist near you? They might help too.

You can get scabies treatment from an6 chrmist.

But everyone in the house needs treating
And wash Beeding etc- check NHS website for advice.

Then repeat treatment after a week I think

Looks like eczema to me. You may need a stronger steroid cream. Are you stopping steroids suddenly or gradually because stopping suddenly will lead to it coming back sooner.

Also, it will come back. Steroids just control the flare up.

Looks like eczema

Oh OP, that looks so sore – no wonder you’re worried with a long wait for a specialist.

I don’t think it’s psoriasis (which I have), but some tips overlap. Applying steroid cream to damp skin (right after a bath) helps it absorb better and means you can use less. After 30 minutes, follow with an emollient like Diprobase. Covering it overnight with cling film can boost absorption.

Don’t be scared of steroids – used properly, they really help, especially with itching, which is half the battle.

Hope your daughter gets relief soon 💐

Just thought I'd throw this out there OP

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/polymorphic-light-eruption/

Have you tried antihistamines?

Hope it gets sorted out.

Agree, it looks like scabies. My adult son had it recently. It took 3 lots of the treatment to get rid of it and he still has the faded rash.

Protopic is far more effective than steroids and doesn’t thin the skin like steroid creams. I was prescribed it by a private dermatologist and it changed my life.

This. I have it, and it's horrible. Really itchy raised blisters. The only consolation is mine isn't there all the time but only when I'm stressed.

You are describing contact dermitis. I have it and have all of these symptoms. I have switched from stronger steroid creams like dermovate to one which is less potent but just as effective: Elecon.

My triggers are things like soap, washing up liquid, washing powder, sun tan lotion, multiple forms of hand cream. She needs to switch to sensitive products throughout and always wear rubber gloves for anything detergenty as she gets older.

Don’t just stop the steroids or you get rebound. You need to gradually stop, so every other day for a few days then every three days etc. And find a moisturiser that works for your daughter. I use epiderm as most other creams cause the blister type of eczema. One Dd finds Cetraben best and the other uses Aveeno (Fortunately they only have it mildly) it is all about trying to find what works for you.

I have had eczema my whole life and my skin has looked like that often. Please don’t be afraid of the steroids, they really work wonders when you understand how to use them properly. And don’t underestimate how much those blisters can hurt.

Thanks for all messages/suggestions.

I’ve looked online and I’ve found a private dermatologist with an appointment available on Friday so I will give them a call tomorrow to book in

Looks like eczema to me. We got to grips with DS's by clearing it up with steroids and religiously, and I mean religiously, applying epaderm 2-3 times a day. Any flares we go back to a day or 2 of steroids.
Don't be scared of the steroids, just use them sensibly. Eczema can be miserable, if steroids help, use them.

Sometimes an allergen can be responsible. My dad always tells me about the terrible weeping eczema he had as a teen - it stopped when he stopped having dairy. Anecdotal of course, but true for some.

Hiya, good call on the private appointment. Just to say that our DS has/had bad eczema and it’s fairly normal for it to come back when you stop the steroids. They’re a treatment not a cure, iyswim. The dermatologist explained that while it’s true you shouldn’t use steroids constantly without cause, under-treated eczema is far worse for the skin’s health than long term steroid use. So we used fairly strong steroids over a six year period! As well as lots of emollients of course. And his skin was completely fine, no issues from the steroids.

My son had horrendous eczema. Back and forth to GP, steroid cream which worked but as soon as you stopped using them, it came back, various emollients etc.

I got so fed up watching him suffer that eventually we went to see a Consultant privately, She took one look, prescribed a much stronger steroid cream and a course of antibiotics. That completely knocked it on the head. He still gets little patches of eczema ,but those are manageable, and nothing like what it used to be. He has various food allergies too so its just part and parcel of "him".

If you can afford it, then as others are saying, go and see a dermatologist privately. It will be worth every penny.

The rash seems to be on her joints. Could be elastin causing irritation and aggravating eczema as it’s where the clothes are creased and tight. Could be sleeve cuffs on her hands. Or as others have said it could be washing powder. Sometimes knicker elastic can bring out eczema on my stomach. I use one a day anti histamines but not sure if children can take them - pharmacist can advise

My dd had this we went to an allergy clinic found out she’s allergic to pretty much everything in the house. Dust, cleaning products, perfume, shower gel, soap, washing powder, pollen, sweat, shell fish, biro pen, nuts, tree nuts and gawd knows what else. We carry epi pens as the nuts one is quite severe. Most allergy places will ask you to keep a diary over a month, what she’s eating, washing with and coming into contact with and then it’s kind of process of elimination.

Eczema can be something you grow out of as your body changes or until you find something else to be allergic to. I’d start with piraton with a flare up to help the itching and see if you can get a prescription for one a day loratidine to take each evening so as to ward it off. Then try and work out what’s causing it. Prevention is better than cure.

With you mentioning the vesicles (tiny blisters), it's possible it's pompholyx, but that is more usually on palms of hands/soles of feet.

If you're treating as eczema for the meantime then don't panic about steroid use. It's very rare to get complications with topical steroid use. It tends to be with very prolonged courses of higher potency steroids.

The book eczema: how to ditch the itch by Dr Amelie Seghers is incredible for identifying triggers and explaining management. A lot of people apply steroid that is not potent enough for too short a time period and it doesn't address the deeper inflammation in the skin layers, and so it will always come back.

I have this every time I touch my sons bearded dragon, I take anti histamines and some aqueous cream day time sudacream at night,then it goes

Does it itch?

I have something like this on my ankles at the moment. Am a lifelong eczema sufferer but have never had these itchy bumps on my feet that I have had this year. They do look a lot like your photo.