antibiotics for eczema

[eyebrowqueen]

My 5 month DD has eczema sores on arms, legs, back and all over face. I took her to the GP about a month ago and she gave us dermal cream and fucidin. Since then it got slightly better then plateaued and now worse and today I took her bac to the GP who gave us hydracortesone 1 and .5% AND oral antibiotics.

Does anyone else have experience of this? This is the second lot of antibiotics she'll have had. I am already finding it difficult giving her the steroids alone. I mean I will do it but do I have to do that AND antibiotics? That is a sort of rhetorical question BTW!

She has also referred us to the eczema clinics so thats good.

DS had to have antibiotics a couple of times. The second time the doctor also prescribed Dermol bath emollient which is antibacterial and we have used that ever since. I don't in general approve of antibacterial products but this did/does really help and we haven't had antibiotics for skin since.

An added bonus is that it stops the bath toys going black and manky!

Good luck at the eczema clinic.

that's funny Flumpetty, perhaps I should wash the dishes in the dermal too - stop the cloth going manky!

I like the fact that the dermol doesnt have a strong smell too

My DD had to have this a few times and it did clear up the infected eczema (she had eczema top to toe until about 7 months). We used to be a bit wary of using the steriod cream, especially the eaker one on her face and I think that is why her skin's recovery used to plateau. It really is better to really keep to the dosage and routine to get completely clear and then it is much easier to maintain the skin. Good luck - I know it is worrying.

We've just been referred to a dermtology clinic after a bad bout of scratching and poorly eczema. The nurse there gave us lots of creams and advice.
They really mean it when they say put the emollient creams on twice a day. Wash them using the thick stuff instead of soap, slather it on day and night.
Use the strongest hydrocortizone you can and when the eczema calms down step it down to the less strong stuff. Don't go cold turkey. She also said the 0.5% stuff was useless and they never prescribed it at their clinic. I've also turned the central heating off during the day as being too warm makes it worse - that room thermometer you've been ignoring because 18 degrees is far too cold......(that's how it's been at mine).... well start paying attention and make sure they don't get too hot.
It's a pain but it's working on my (not so) little one.
HTH

The only reason for antibiotics is when the skin becomes infected. The abs are to clear up the infection, not to subdue the eczema.

SKin infections can spread rapidly in a child with eczema and can be pretty unpleasant.

thats interesting radiohelen

we are waiting to go to that clinic but - she has been prescribed the .5 on her face and it ( as you say) has made no difference whatsoever whereas the 1% for her body IS clearing it up. Seems pointless using .5 especially as the fucidin we used before is also 1% and that was supposed to go on 3 times a day.

Definitely emolientising (!) 3 times a day helps too

how often do you bath your LO?

Pointy, yes I see what you mean but I still dont think ther was an infection and also DD will not take the anti bs - she spits it out (vile pink stuff that tastes acrid)

I'd be very surprised if a doctor prescribed abs just for eczema, with no infection. You should ask.

I only bath mine twice a week tops unless he's proper grubby. I may be barking up the wrong tree but I figure his skin might enjoy the opportunity to produce its own oils without me dunking him in it.
He also goes swimming once a week which requires proper greasing up.

Nowhere in all this do they say what to do with my poor hands!! The steroid creams are playing havoc with them. Unless we wear gloves I can't see a way round it.