Eczema flaring every time I step down steroid cream

[Swannykazoo]

At my wits end! LO is 7 months, eczema flared just before 4 mo. EBF, now weaning. Some improvement stopping cows milk and soya but still intermittently insanely itchy and I'm not sure why. Been to the GPs lots - upped to eumovate, then betnovate. He's fab after 2 days betnovate, I do a few more days then wean to eumovate and the eczema is back within 48hrs so he's back to betnovate. Its now been about a month of betnovate. Epaderm for emollient about 4/day, left to soak in before steroid and only bathed when a bit whiffy.
Last GP I saw was referring us to paed dermatology nurse but still waiting...And no belief in an allergy testing -just keep hearing its unreliable in babies. Really hoping someone else has cracked it.

I'd get him allergy tested if I was you.
I've had eczema all my life and only now diagnosed with a egg white allergy. Now all eczema is gone!

Ask for a referral to a paediatrican. Get them to do allergy tests.

I'd get a dermatology referral to be honest. My DS had eczema at four months and we saw a dermatologist and an allergy consultant and they sorted his skin out.

Ho hum -thanks ladies. Going to need to grit my teeth as GPs are nice but I'm not getting anywhere...

Some colleagues of mine have produced a video clip, in which a Torbay Health Visitor who is an eczema specialist, gives lots of handy tips for parents/carers of children with eczema. Take a look and feel free to share.

vimeo.com/hiblio/review/98316738/7cf734ca8c

Hope you find it helpful.

Really helpful thanks. Sound doesn't work on my Firefox but that may be my crappy computer

Yes,dermatology referral definitely the thing to push for -ideally with a consultant and not with a nurse. Allergy testing in children may not be as reliable in children as adults but this does not mean it is useless. Best to get someones attention now so that at least you get some support and a logical approach to lo's case

Yes,dermatology referral definitely the thing to push for -ideally with a consultant and not with a nurse. Allergy testing in children may not be as reliable in children as adults but this does not mean it is useless. Best to get someones attention now so that at least you get some support and a logical approach to lo's case

Yes,dermatology referral definitely the thing to push for -ideally with a consultant and not with a nurse. Allergy testing in children may not be as reliable in children as adults but this does not mean it is useless. Best to get someones attention now so that at least you get some support and a logical approach to lo's case

Get an allergy referral. Have you removed all traces of soya and dairy? If I were you, I would remove egg, wheat and nuts too for two weeks, and see if it makes a difference.

When you bath him do you use any soaps/shampoos/liquid soaps etc?

I have eczema and am allergic to loads of that stuff. Even theoretically 'baby' stuff that's supposed to be kind to skin etc. Also what washing powder do you use to wash his clothes.....some of them can turn me from fine to scratching scaly wreck within a couple of days.

My DS doesn't seem to agree with eumovate and it seemed to make his skin worse so we just went from Betnovate to nothing rather than stepping down to it, which seemed to help but it is a constant battle. Also, we've found that more baths not less have improved matters. But unfortunately eczema is so different between individuals that I agree with others that a referral is the way forward.

Ime what has helped- no fabric conditioners, stain removers or wash boosters, and only use non-bio powders.

Organic toiletries (like Dr.Organic from Holland and Barrett) as they don't have SLS, parabens, synthetic perfumes etc which even special baby toiletries are usually full of.

No antibacterial soaps or wipes (triclosan is awful in particular). Tesco unscented wipes seem to be ok on all of us but some big brands are awful.

Citric acid, half a small teaspoon, added to bath water will neutralise all the chlorine in the water.

I agree with pp, push for referral too.

And also - 2 of our DC, we eventually worked out, reacted to the Lanolin that's in quite a few recommended skin creams, iirc I think e45 cream has it in, but the lotion doesn't for example so you need to read all labels!

Thanks everyone - so we've used non-bio from birth, reusable wipes just with water and have practically given up on baths as he just claws himself. He's only ever had prescription type stuff in the bath. I've been off dairy + soya for 3 nearly 4 months now - initial improvement especially in other symptoms but skin has never cleared. Currently trying no wheat/egg/nuts -boo! Think I might try phoning the dermatology dept. Trying hard not to be pushy but really feel I'm getting fobbed off

You have to push puggle. Just get into a pushy mindset and don't take no for an answer.

Make a list of the day's problems, like him clawing himself in the bath, poor sleep, lesions open to infection, limiting lifestyle etc etc.

Good luck.

Btw I also use dr organic stuff, and have found rotating from aveno to Vaseline to moo goo made a difference. BUT by far the biggest difference was finding out I have an albumen allergy and avoiding that.

I have a nickel allergy as well, so wear gloves around and about (can't handle keys or coins) and I don't shake hands, or touch anything like lift buttons, or handrails.

My son has had eczema for 12yrs now and they refused to allergy test him. Just kept saying he'll grow out of it. He hasn't. It has got better but through me ruling things out. We worked out his skin in worse in the summer when hay fever is rife. The first grass cut of the year has him itching. We dry his clothes and bedding inside with windows shut or in the dryer. Chlorine and sun cream also make him really sore. From about April until late sept we have him on an allergy tablet which has worked wonders as well as creaming him in morning and evening.

Even non-bio washing powder can flare up eczema - the worst eczema I've ever had was when I stupidly switched to Persil Non Bio when it was on offer. Method is almost as bad, for all its eco credentials. Equally many prescription bath things can still cause problems - I am irritated by petrochemicals so most moisturising things, even via prescription, irritate my skin.

I would contemplate washing all his stuff with something really really mild like soap nuts. It can take a while to see the effect as sometimes you need a couple of washes to get rid of all traces of prior washing stuff., and you have to make sure you get everything including all bedding. And then just water for baths. It's a pain but easier than cutting out lots of food groups imo.

Most prescription creams contain soap- sodium laureth sulphate- which will irritate and aggruvate eczema.this happened to me and my son and we were permanently itchy and flaring up for months until I just stopped using them altogether.

We use porridge oats in the bath, no soap,and sweet almond oil on wet skin with essential oils of lavendar and roman chamomile, both have excellent soothing properties for eczema and psoriasis. We moisturise with a homemade salve of shea butter, medical grade beeswax, sweet almond oil and the same essential oils.

I know it sounds hippy dippy and believe me at first I wondered if I was doing the right thing but it's been two years now and to look at our skin you'd never know we had suffered so badly before. No trace of eczema at all, no itching, no flare ups.

Good luck puggle, I hope youfind something that works xx