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Original poster

Help, awful eczema on 4 month DS

30 replies

Rinnyx · 15/03/2011 11:24

Any advise would be much appreciate thanks

My 4 month old DS has very bad eczema on his face, hes had it for a month or 2 now but its gotten worse and worse and has spread to all of his cheeks but was just behind his ears to start with
Its even got to the point were its always weeping and even bleeds if hes gotten at it really bad, we now have scratch gloves on him 24/7

I've been to the GP many times and tried lots of diff creams and even stuff to put in the bath (If anyone wants a list of what we have tried I will post it up)

The GP has finally forwarded a request to the hospital for him to be seen by a specialist in the dermatology department but even tho he listed it as urgent and I have called up the soonest they can see him is May 12th and they only have 1 person working

Can anyone offer any advise on what we could do to help ease this nasty eczema while we wait for what feels like forever to be seen

OP posts:
vintageteacups · 15/03/2011 13:00

Is it anywhere else at all on his body?

Do you smoke? Not judging just wondering? (I'm allergic to cigarette smoke and my face comes out in horrific eczeam if I'm anywhere in the vicinity of it. Within a minute or two, my lips will be bright red and itchy and I'll get welts start to appear on my face.

Strange if it's only on his face.
I wouldn't put anything else on it - just vaseline and see if it calms down. This is not medical advice; just that's what I use on my eczema on my hands/face/feet when I get flare ups. Just smooth a think layer over his skin at bedtime and see what it's like in the morning.

Wash his cot sheets again, using only water through the machine and then put them back on. See if that helps - it may be the perfume in the powder or softener and with a warm, damp mouth/face, it could aggravate his face more.

If it's only on his face though, I'd have guessed it was an allgery to something or milk possibly rather than eczema.

Secondly, if it's as severe as you say, then My is way too long for him to be seen. Can you call the hospital and ask if they can bring the date forward; give his age/how traumatic it is for him etc or if not, try and change the hospital (you don't have to go to your nearest anymore).

OrangeBernard · 15/03/2011 13:04

Do you bath him everyday? Bathing less helps

Chaotica · 15/03/2011 13:10

Don't bathe him with anything but water. (Some people are allergic to many hypo-allergenic products.) Also don't use bio washing powder.

Could be a milk allergy or (if he has any solids) a wheat allergy.

covkimbo · 15/03/2011 13:14

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted

vintageteacups · 15/03/2011 13:36

Not sure how expensive it is but if they can't change your app at the hospital, you could pay to have him assessed by a dermatologist privately or privately through the NHS. Ask you GP for details and go for it if it's not too much.

Galena · 15/03/2011 19:21

Have you seen these?

My friend's DD had terrible eczema (later found to be a result of various allergies) and she found them a godsend - really stopped the scratching, and easier to keep on than scratch mitts.

She found that once they'd done allergy testing and she knew what to avoid, her DD's skin cleared right up.

crunchbag · 15/03/2011 19:32

Are you using any air fresheners or perfume? do you have flowers around? Any of these things would set off DS eczema.

I bought mitten eczema pyjamas for him which helped.

Also agree with washing the sheets/clothes in plain water (60 degree if you can) or otherwise double/triple rinse them to get rid of the detergent.

Original poster
Rinnyx · 15/03/2011 19:54

I almost finished typing everything up then the power went off so lost everything so here I go again

First off thank you all for your advise, it has been greatly appreciated and noted :)
Thankfully I did get good news today, after my never ending calling of the GP and 2 hospitals I got a call from one today and said they have moved DS up to be seen this Thursday so hopefully we will get to the bottom of it, fingers crossed

In reply to your comments, I dont smoke.
Have used the same no bio I have used since before he was born.
The eczema first started off behind his ears and has slowly spread across all his cheeks, these are the only areas that are affected the rest of his body is fine
The eczema was present before he started solids and didnt show up for quite a while after I stopped BF and moved on to FF so I dont think it was that, or I hope not :(
We dont have any air fresheners or perfume (well I have not changed the perfume I have used for a long time) and we dont have any flowers
I was bathing him every other day in a special lotion the GP gave me but have since stopped and only bath him in water every 3 to 4 days

covkimbo do you know were I could buy this Aleppo soap, I might give that a try

OP posts:
tiredfeet · 15/03/2011 20:08

We are struggling with ds eczema also, those scratch sleeves look good thanks for the link.

Ecoballs have helped a little, as even non-bio powder definitely makes his worse.

vintageteacups · 15/03/2011 20:13

Have you put a new hood/fleece hood/hat/scarf etc on him recently?

crunchbag · 15/03/2011 20:32

I am glad you have your appointment this Thursday.

It seems strange that only his face is affected that's why I was thinking of airborne things and washing products.

For DS it turned out to be a dairy allergy (found out after an extensive exclusion diet as he tested positive for many more food allergies)and his eczema is now well controlled. Hopefully they can pinpoint it to something specific with your little one too, it's horrible to see them so itchy and there isn't really anything you can do to help.

Original poster
Rinnyx · 15/03/2011 22:28

Thats whats so confusing vintageteacups we have not doing anything new, I mean he is still in 0-3 clothes so he is in nothing new

Heres hoping they can pinpoint what it is and fast
It doesnt help when you get people look at him and pull a face when they see his skin :( and DP is worried he will end up scared cause its all so red raw, poor baby

OP posts:
vintageteacups · 16/03/2011 09:08

If his little face is red raw at such a young age, then it's good that they're seeing you Thursday - you were right to keep on at them. You don't want his little face to get infected. I hope they give you some proper answers tomorrow Smile

Let us know how you get on.

Forgot to say - is he BF or FF? Again - just interested, not judging!!

Original poster
Rinnyx · 16/03/2011 10:57

Thank you and I will let you know how it went :)

He was BF for the first 7 weeks but is now FF but his eczema didnt show up for a while after he was FF

OP posts:
vintageteacups · 16/03/2011 11:05

Could you change the formula and see if it makes a difference? It could be an ingredient in the formula rather than simply any formula.

vintageteacups · 16/03/2011 11:06

Also, if you have any breast milk left - could you squeeze out a few drops onto his skin and gently rub in - it's great for healing and calming lots of things.

when DD and DS had sticky eyes, I used to use my soaked breast pads to clean their eyes - worked a treat and needed no meds.

Original poster
Rinnyx · 16/03/2011 11:14

Sadly its all gone now

He was on SMA then we moved on to cow and gate but no change :(

OP posts:
vintageteacups · 16/03/2011 11:21

Have you tried HiPP Organic or Aptimil? I used Hipp once DS was weaned from the breast and it seemed to have no adverse effect.

vintageteacups · 16/03/2011 11:22

Or you could try a soya formula if he's lactose intolerant.

Original poster
Rinnyx · 16/03/2011 11:49

I might give them a try thanks
I'm up for trying anything.

He is not so red raw today but super flakey and dry, his top is covered :(

I cant wait for tommorrow lunch time to get here!

OP posts:
bubbleymummy · 16/03/2011 12:10

Don't try soya formula unless recommended by your GP. You could have allergy testing done to see if it is a milk allergy - it's actually a very common cause of eczema. Could also possibly be the early introduction of solids causing it too. Agree with the bath advise - don't bath him too often and only in water. Hope your appt goes well.

vintageteacups · 16/03/2011 12:27

Yeah - I meant after his app tomorrw Smile

Kbear · 16/03/2011 23:12

My DS was the same and he was allergic to bananas. Cut them out of his diet and see if it helps. Within 2 weeks the eczema was almost gone and previously his face would crack and bleed and scab over and was angry and red. He's now 9, eczema free.

vintageteacups · 16/03/2011 23:16

OP's DS is only 4 months old so won't be eating solids yet (I should think)

Kbear · 17/03/2011 11:41

ah, forgot that bit - OP if you're breastfeeding cut bananas out of your diet! I was feeding my DS until 6 months and ate loads of bananas during that time. Might be some connection. Worth a try. :)