Bad eczema on babys face

[Knackeredmum13]

My 4 month old has a terrible eczema rash on his face and has done for a month now. I think it may be teething related.

We have had several different prescribed emollients, fucidin cream, steroid cream etc. every time it starts to clear DS rubs it and makes it flare up again. It's clearly itching him as he has been at it all night. It's red raw and weeping to the point its too wet for his face cream to stay on.

Is there anything else I can try? I'm tempted to put a plaster on his face to cover it so that it can heal without him rubbing at it. He has just had some piriton to ease the itching.

At my wits end. My poor baby looks like he has been beaten or had his face dragged across gravel.

I'd take him back to gps to make sure he doesn't need antibiotics and a stronger steroid cream.

The creams are trial and error really what works for one doesn't work for all.

Whatever you do don't use aqueous cream!!

If the creams you have aren't working you need to ask to try another. But he will need a stronger/longer dose if the steroid I expect so do see the dr first.

We used scratch sleeves on my DS for this problem, they're like a shrug with mitts covered in silk so that even when they scratch it doesn't hurt as much and give the skin a chance to heal, baby can't take them off and you can even put on under clothes. They were a life saver for us!

pure potions worked for us

Scratch Sleeves - here

I would get straight back to g.p or ask to be referred to dermatology at the hospital x

Thanks I will try the scratch sleeves.

The creams have worked to a degree but then he rubs his face and causes it to flare up again. I think its teething pain related. He also rubs his face when tired. It was almost completely gone last week.

My son had it quite bad when he was younger he would look like he's blushing people would comment how gorgeous he looked lool. Ok it's not funny I know especially when it's weeping or releasing blood.

apply the cream 3-4 times a day or more

Keep the baby cool heat exacerbates it

Cotton is more comfy on the baby's skin especially if it's sore. Leave off pretty silks, brocades or any stiff materials I.e denim.

Only use steroid cream sparingly when it looks like the baby's skin will crack and bleed.

Steroid creams thin the skin so use as last resort.

Daily bathing helps the emollients to absorb better. Quick swish is all that's needed.

don't use soap or baby bubble baths top to toe washes it will increase the problem. Plain water is fine for a baby or oilatum bath additive get it from the gp . I used that for a few years.

In my experience ointments (greasy like clarified butter) are better than creams (I.e lotion watery white consistency) when it comes to steroid products.

Same with emollient creams for daily use the ointment types seem to do better for me, I guess it's because they create more of a greasy barrier.

The worst cream I got was aqueous water lotion felt dry after a few seconds didn't work. May for you GPS always give that first because it's the cheapest.

Then hydrous cream that worked for my son for a year then started failing.

Finally hydromol ointment looks like clarified butter. It's more expensive I wonder if that's why it's better? Who knows it works. I've used it on 3 of my kids works like a charm I don't need steroid creams since I apply them very frequently.

I used Hydrocortisone ointment I can't remember which brand, I know one brand works better than another don't know why but gp said there must be a difference in ingredients.

I would say try and get the hydromol ointment not cream. It's solid form. It will work I'm sure, and apply religiously. And continue with different steroid creams if the one you have is useless.

I'm afraid there will be a lot of trips to the gp I remember it all too well.

Good luck I'm sure it will settle down, it does as they get older.

Thanks are those creams all available without prescription?

We currently bathe daily in Dermol 600 which is an anti microbial emollient. Then twice daily he has Epaderm applied to his face ( used to be Diprobase but it wasn't moisturising enough).

I've also taken to putting Lansinoh on several times a day which is 100% lanolin. It is safe for him to eat if he gets it on his hands and it forms a barrier when he rubs his skin. It helped a lot but DH forgot to put anything on the other day when I was out and its flared up terribly again.

When it looks really sore I've been putting aloe Vera gel on to soothe.

I've ordered the scratch sleeves to try. Ordinary cotton nuts don't help as material rubbing against his rash creates more friction than his skin I think.

Yes but it's expensive, a few years back when I needed a repeat prescription that was taking too long I asked at pharmacy the hydromol was £20 then I'm sure it's more now. Can't you get free prescription for kids or is it based on parents income I'm thick you see?

Oilatum is not as expensive it's not prescription only boots and other pharmacies stock it in baby section.p, I'm sure supermarkets do too. I'd look online I'm sure it would be cheaper.

I'm not sure how much the steroid ointment is but it's tiny so I doubt it would be more than £10

I've never heard of those products but continue using what works.

Same with me if I forget to apply it regular child's skin looks worse. get tiny tubs and keep a stash with u in nappy bag or car so wherever you go you have some. Babies are a problem because they will not listen to do not scratch poor things.

maybe ask gp if they have a skin specialist when it's really bad they usually have someone come in for further treatments gp is unaware of. Ie my husbands nephew had to wear wet bandages for a while to prevent itching. His was very very severe