Eczema: is my HV right?

[mrsgordonfreeman]

Went to the HV yesterday, dd was tired from Rhyme Time and complaining when I dressed her. She tends to scratch herself when stressed and needed her nails cutting.

The HV immediately declared that dd had eczema and what was I doing about it.

I showed the HV dd's actual eczema patches, two tiny ones behind her knee. I said that I had had eczema from birth and that since these seemed very minor,and were not bothering her, I was just washing her in aqueous cream and using vaseline.

I was told that dd needed steroid cream and that I must go to the GP for Diprobase. I tried to say that I've never been impressed with Diprobase myself but this would not do: DD is not me, and so I should try everything.

Thing is: when I was small, my parents tried everything on me. It was very upsetting for all of us and I can't imagine what a nightmare it must have been for my parents. Eventually I learned to live with eczema. It gets bad now and then, I use a bit of Eumovate, it goes away and of course I never have a good scratch, oh no.

I could understand if dd was covered in it, because it would upset her and of course there is an infection risk which is serious in a 10 month old baby.

However, she seems fine. She isn't trying to scratch the patches through her clothes, for instance, and they come and go.

I always told myself I'd be relaxed about it if she did develop it but am I too relaxed?

She is bf and blw, avoiding nuts because I have a peanut allergy too.

I don't have a child yet, but have eczema and have had it all my life. You're right and your HV is talking rubbish. 2 small patches behind one ear is not a steroid cream requirement and GPs are very reluctant to prescribe steroid creams when they do not have to becaus eof the potential side effect in thinning skin. In any case, they would not recommend putting a steroid cream on sensitive areas such as face and neck. You're right to use aqueous cream and vaseline.

Another good option is an oatmeal bath. A handful of pinhead oatmeal in the foot of a stocking, and hang it from the bath tap- the gloop is great for sensitive skin.

I don't think you sound too relaxed, you sound like a fab mum.

Diprobase is an emollient not a steriod. If you do use an emmollient i would recommend Epaderm- its thich & horrible to put on but is really good at keeping the skin soft. My 2 DS's both have severe eczema & tell me that Diprobase stings their skin so would not recommend it.

Both my DDs (6&2) have eczema and my oldest DD had it really bad as a baby, thankfully it's not so bad now but her skin is still verrrrrry dry and sensitive (as is mine). I tried several different creams/bath products that were prescribed by the doctor and nothing really worked. A friend then recommended trying L'Occitane Shea Butter products and they work wonders!! The only thing I use now that is prescribed is Cetraben emollient cream but I always use L'Occitane Shea Butter soap and bath foam (which is a little expensive, but totally worth it to see healthy skin )

Agree totally, steroid creams are the last resort not the first.