My son's skin is so bad :-(

[Youcanringmybell]

We are up again - everytime the doctors prescribe a new cream my son is in agony. Is 4 years old and for 6 months been suffering with a blistering rash over 30% of his back/ stomach.

We are waiting on skin sample tests - docs keep telling me they 'think' it must be fungal but ALL anti fungal creams exacerbate it within hours and we end up awake all night with new blisters. I cannot stand it anymore. Only very potent steroids takes away the symptoms but not the rash.
Will have to ring hospital again in the morning.

I just cannot see it getting better as consyltants don't know what's wrong

you could try seven cream...not cheap but we found excellent. ..or if open to it find a homeopath?

So they've sent off skin swabs and not found anything?

Maybe go a&e since its been going on so long. I would somehow things seem to get done quicker. If you have a sick kids hospital in your city go there instead of a&e.

I pray things improve for your little boy it's agony seeing them ill and feeling helpless to do anything hang in there.

You sure it isn't a an allergic reaction? That been ruled out? Only my nephew has something similar like blisters rash it slowly spread across his body. Never found out what caused it but mum suspects it was new detergent.

thanks everyone. Awaiting results of swabs and scrapings trying to rule out each thing. He is already under a consultant at a hospital with specialty dermatology dept. Just feel so helpless. We cannot rule out allergies or viral yet. Just got him into bed.

He finally went to sleep at 1.30am but was awake again for half an hour at 4.30am itching and sore.

I am so tired I need match sticks!! I feel more positive in the day - just felt tearful last night as I was so tired.
Thanks

Hopefully consultant can squeeze him in for appointment tomorrow.

We had a consultant appointment yesterday and now have another combination of creams. Feeling more positive again and hope these make a difference.

All swabs and scraping came back inconclusive for fungal infection and so they have repeated the tests again x

Ok I didn't realise I put a 'x' on the end there

Just a thought - could he be allergic / sensitive to the carrier part of the cream medication. I'm sensitive to most emollients especially the water based ones but can use the ointment version ok. I've had eczema and fungal dermatitis intermittently for my whole life and found patch testing inconclusive as I only react when my skin is already inflamed and irritated.

Thank you fled - that is interesting.

My ds has been using a very potent steroid cream which is now being applied 20 mins before the antifungal.

It has stopped the terrible flare up but I am can already see the blistering coming back. His skin reacts to the steroid well for a few days and then it all goes wrong.

She is very reluctant to try oral medication. Any ideas why?

Try using the cream on only half for a while and see which side is better or worse. That will give you an idea if the cream is responsible for the flare up or not.

Op - who is reluctant to prescribe oral meds? I've had oral steroids at times when my skin has broken down to the extent it's so inflamed that topical medication isn't being absorbed. I've reacted to double base & epiderm when my skin is inflamed yet can use them for maintenance when I'm not in the middle of a flare up.

Also look at food intolerances - I find preservatives used in dairy products (ice cream, processed cheese, yogurts) cause inflammatory response which is seen through my skin

^beautiful girls - we did that and it seems that he can ow tolerate the anti-fungals with the potent steroid being applied twenty mins before.

fled - The consultant will not prescribe oral steroids or anti-fungals for a child unless we exhaust the topical applications.

He skin has improved again as it always does when we try a new steroid. But I believe it is only the steroid that is improving the skin temporarily and the the fungal cream.

Skins scrapings have come back clear again but consultant is adamant it is fungal infection

Thanks for all your replies everyone