Calling all eczema mums!! help!?!

[MrsRV]

oh god. totally failing!!! 9mo has always had dry skin & prone to rashes etc. i had been using myown double base on her as i thought it was harmless. apparently i shouldn't have been doing this :-(

after the little patch of eczema on her chest & around her neck didn't go i went to drs. nurse gave us oilatum & e45. one or both caused a massive flare up all over her tummy/chest/neck/back so stopped using.

went back to using very little doublebase, improved a bit but not much & flare up didn't appear to be as bad but still very much there. should have gone back to drs but i returned to work after mat leave & lack of sleep led to irresponsible decision of "it'll be ok".

used a fair old whack of doublebase lastnight & another massive flare up so inmy sleep deprived & desperate state i used a little betnovate on her this morning which of course has had instant results but i know i shouldn't have done this and i'm really worrying about it.

so now i'm trying to get something lanolin free to put on her - is there any thing i can buy today (as opposed to Internet purchase!) that anyone can recommend for babies? ??

feeling awful.

Aveeno worked wonders for dd when she was small. Oilatum made her eczema much worse. Porridge oats in the bath also helped a lot.

She currently uses epiderm, which is good. I find we have to keep changing from time to time, as they become less effective after a while.

Yes, Aveeno here too.you can get it in Boots. DS has a paraffin allergy that meant that a lot of stuff just made him worse,but Aveeno keeps it at bay.

Came on to recimend aveeno and porridge oats!

They've cleared up DDs skin lovely

I've dealt with many kids with Eczema (ex-nanny) and had serverly on my hands to the point they bleed every day. I've spent a fortune and used every cream avalible on prescription and over the counter.
Only thing that has ever worked coconut oil the improvement has been amazing. It actually seems to treat my skin rather than just help me a age it for a while.
Its expensive but the £15 tub I've bought has lasted me a year so you get very good value.

I would also cut dairy from her diet and seem if that helps too. Along with using gentle soaps like Simple.

I should add my hands bleed every day for 5 years. Within 2 days of using the coconut oil my hands improved (not completely at that point you need to be consistent it. It doesn't cure you) and stopped bleeding.

off to boots to purchase aveeno & cocunut oil... i also suffer with it on my hands and my fingers crack & bleed everyday!!

Also came on to suggest Aveeno and porridge oats Hope it helps.

porridge oats in the bath??? confused.... how does this drain?? hair? my 3 year old also shares her bath & i use simple top to toe wash!

oilatum is terrible-it contains lanolin which many people can be allergic to-it caused my child to flare up massively. i don't rate e45 either

please don't use betnovate on her-it's FAR too strong for a wee baby

you need a bottle of emulsiderm to put in the bath and a tub of emulsifying ointment. It is like a tub of lard and will make your bath really slippy but it will help. use that instead soap.

once the flare up is under control then aveeno is superb.

you put the oats in a bag-like the leg off a pair of tights or something

If you have a Neals Yard near you it's worth trying their "create your own" ointment - it's a really basic cream (body butter consistency) with no essential oils added - i've used it on my son since 3 months and if keeps the skin nice and soft.

My ds has bad eczema on his face he's only 4 months. We have been using diprobase 4x a day and 0.5% hydrocortisone for flare ups. Also has had a course of antibiotics for underlying infection. All of these are on prescription.

I've heard aveeno is very good.

Please don't use anything on babies without doctor or pharmacist say so.

Ask your gp for a referral to see a dermatologist who specialises in eczema in children
My grandson was eventually referred to Birmingham Childrens Hospital and they have been amazing ( he has now been discharged from there)
They recommended Aveeno cream rather than the lotion as the cream is much thicker consistency, along with a hydrocortisone cream and instructions on how it should all be applied
He has a cows milk allergy as well and they are now gradually adding milk into his diet and checking for any reactions.
All seems to be going well at the moment

Sorry, forgot to add, if you can get a gp referral to the dermatologist then all creams and lotions and potions will be available on free prescription for your little one

E45 is a soap substitute, nothing else.
Aveeno cream, rather than lotion.

Google moogoo skincare, quite expensive and you might have to order from Australia if there is no distributed near you, but it is the best ever.

salcura works well for us. also, I've cut out dairy/soy (still ebf) and that has helped. found that the eczema flared up whenever I had the two unfortunately.

I second getting a referral to a paediatric dermatologist.

One visit to Birmingham Children's Hospital at which we also saw their specialist eczema nurse make an enormous difference to DD1. I came away with several samples of emollients to try, advice about washing and a good understanding of when to use just emollients and when and exactly how to apply steroid creams.

I really wish we'd gone earlier and saved her five years of pain and itching and other children not wanting to hold her hand.

The first time she could eat crisps from a packet without it hurting I cried

Epaderm and a weak hydrocortizone.

My doctor prescribed Doublebase Gel for my 18 month old who has eczema, was that wrong? Who said you shouldn't have been using doublebase if it was helping?

I second an oat bath. No other advice apart from to look at her diet. Are the flare ups worse after eating certain things? I've just found out that my DS's could be a cows milk intolerance, for example.

Hydromol ointment is great. Consistency of Vaseline. And Aveeno for less bad bits.

Also consider going to fragrance free washing powder/liquid and doing an extra rinse on the end of the wash her clothes are in. Avoid fabric softeners too.

I used doublebase on both my children as babies/ toddlers on prescription. It's only an emolliant and doesn't have any active incredible like a steroid.
When the emolliants were not enough our gp prescribed hydrodrazone cream. It's such a mild steroid adults can buy it over the counter for use on themselves. However the pharmacist will not sell it to you if you tell him you plan to use it on a child. Understandably they want a prescription from a gp.

www.nhs.uk/medicine-guides/pages/medicineoverview.aspx?condition=inflammatory+skin+conditions&medicine=hydrocortisone&preparation=hydrocortisone+0.1%25+cream

Lots of adults buy hydrocortisone cream rather than get a prescription as it's cheaper.

Is there any reason you can't get to your gp?

Hi

My 9month's eczema is playing up a lot recently... Is this the aveeno cream you recommend or is there one specific for babies?
m.boots.com/h5/cat_hub?path=%2Fen%2FAveeno-Cream-300ml_1189253%2F&unCountry=uk
TIA

i just needed a moisteriser that would get us through the weekend until i can take her to the drs. thanks everyone. i know i know i know i shouldn't have used the betnovate & i feel so awful about it. i haven't slept properly for 9 months so my decision making in the middle of the night when face with a red angry screaming itching baby wasn't one of my finest.

used Aveeno lastnight & not a single itch or scratch while i was giving her her last bottle & usually she claws at herself! so i shall be using again this morning as she's looking a bit dry again already. but not surprising really given the huge flare up :-( just need to get that under control. roll on monday!!

and btw, the aveeno was just in the skincare section of boots. i would never have bought it from just looking at it! pharmacist had to show me, said stick with cream, & baby one us licensed in us but not uk but is exactly the same but just packaged differently! !!