Eczema and sever itching in 5m old - please help!

[KatTwam]

Hi All,

My daughter, who is now 5 months old, has had bad eczema since about 2 months. I have been to the gp sooooo many times, and were given various different emolients. She appeared to take a reaction to the first few and then her skin got infected and she was on antibiotics for 3 weeks.

Finally we started using Sacura gentle dermaspray (reccommended by pharmacist) and diprobase, which improved her skin a bit, but she still has major itching.

The eczema is all over, which led the GP to believe that it's an allergy. The all over nature also means we can't use steroids as it would be too strong. Anyway, we have been referred to a consultant dermatologist but have been waiting since the mid Feb and then first apt is not until mid April! Meanwhile my daughter is going nuts at night. Her skin is less red than before, but still obviously very itchy. I gave up all nuts, which I think improved it a bit and now I am off cows milk, but here are a few questions:

1. How do I know if she is allergic to something? If I eat something for breakfast, will she react the next time I feed her? Or are we talking a few days later??
   
2. Is there anything ANYTHING that we can use to sooth her skin? We have heard that fresh camomile leaves might help, but we can't seem to find them anywhere. I tried camomile tea leaves and they were no help. Please don't say more emolient - we put it on at least 4 times a day and bathe her in either olive oil, oilatum or with aqueus cream. We have also switched to ecover non-bio liquid and do an extra rinse on all her clothes.
   

Thanks for any help!

K

[princesssmartypantss]

Just had another thought , eczema nurse suggested rather than spending lots on eczema clothing to just turn vests sleep suits and trousers inside out so the seams don't irritate the skin. Marks and Spencer vests are flat stitched. Also best to only use cotton clothing rather than synthetic fabrics as skin won't overheat so easily.

[spekulatius]

Matalan's sleep suits have these things on the sleeves that u turn over and make into mittens but stays attached so no way baby can get them off. My friends baby has got eczema, she said what helped her (not completely of course) was to reduce bath temperature to 35 degrees.

[Mopswerver]

Sympathise hugely. Both DCs had severe eczema and the short answer is that there is no way you can tell what she is allergic to. The Dermatologist explained to us that foodstuffs can affect the skin DAYS after eating. It isn't always immediate so almost impossible to tell. They also don't advise removing food groups from very small children.

The advice from the GP was "She will grow out of it eventually" .

The good news is that they both did. One by the age of 5 and the other by about 7. In the meantime here are my biggest tips:

1. Hydration. LOTS of emollient and LOTS to drink. Keep the emollient in the fridge so that it is cooling as it goes on.
   
2. These: www.eczemaclothing.com/product/comfymitt-t/
   

(You may have to reduce bedding slightly if wearing these though)
Eczema works on an itch/scratch cycle so if you can prevent the itch (as much as you can) it helps. We also bought the cotton gloves when they were older for when we were out and about as once they start itching it's difficult to stop.

1. Loose cotton clothing at all times.
   
2. Absolutely nothing perfumed. No soap. You can wash them with an emollient called 'Epaderm' (ask GP).
   
3. We used an anti-histamine called 'Chloraphenamine' which seemed to help with sleep but your DD is too young for that yet and of course these medications are a personal issue. It was a godsend for us though.
   

6.We noticed that the itching became worse in the late afternoon/Evening to be prepared. Anticipate it and have everything ready.

1. Keep nails v short.
   

All the best.

[KatTwam]

Hi All,
Just thought I would update a year later, in case any of you interested. I really appreciated all your advice and help. We had such a difficult time, and it was great to have others and to give their own advice and perspective.
I gave up dairy and it didn't seem to make much difference (later I learned it takes around 6 weeks to leave your system) and then one day my husband gave her formula milk, at around 7 months and she had a severe reaction and had to be hospitalised. Turned out she was allergic to dairy, nuts, soya and egg. She was given lots of steroids, antihistamines and more emollient. We found, as many attested to above, that Epaderm was the best cream. We also found (and still find) the scratch mittens to be a GOD SEND. Once all of the allergies were out of her system she really improved. She is still dry and itchy, but nothing like before. And mercifully we no longer need to hold her hands at night and she pretty much sleeps through the night and naps during the day!. Hurrah!

So anyway, thanks again and good luck to all the other parents dealing with eczema.

K xx

[cakehappy]

Thanks so much for the update!! Glad she's feeling better :)