On going skin problems + new spots

[Lambster]

My DS has suffered with eczema since he was a baby (6m+), it periodically flares up and we've been given 1% steroid creams and a general moisturiser for years from GP (just turned 5y).

We've never really questioned the diagnosis as my DH also has eczema flare ups and has since he was a child. However, the last few months the flare ups have got a lot worse - if that's what they are.. He seems to have huge areas / patches of skin on his chest/shoulders/arms covered in tiny red itchy dots. And then about a month ago, he started to develop bigger red spots, that burst, bleed then scab over and take ages to heal up. He has more spots on his arms and a couple on his face. He says they aren't itchy, but he is scratching them when he's asleep and his PJ's are covered in little blood stains each morning :(:(

What's the general moisturiser?

For reference - we have an appt at the GP on Friday to get it looked at, but I wondered if anyone has had the same.

Pictures below:

They give us Doublebase on prescription, which we use as a back up. We also buy Aveeno and have been using that on/off for a couple of years now. But since the bigger spots have started, he screams if we try and apply any moisturiser as it stings where the scabs are. The steroids also do nothing to help any of this now.

More pics of the bigger spots..

I took these 2 days ago, and there are now newer big spots on his legs and a couple on forearms.

We don't see bigger spots on his tummy or chest - this is where the tiny red spots in huge patches are instead.

Poor thing :(

I my gosh, your poor DS.

There is a lot of eczema in my family (not me though). Things that seem to help are frequent baths/showers with specialist products (don't even think of using supermarket personal hygiene products), daily changing of clothes and lots of moisturizing and sitting around in a bathrobe while moisturizer sinks in. Please ask for a referral to a dermatologist or, if you can, pay for one.

Have you ruled out contact with fabrics? Used something like eco balls to wash with for a month, to be sure? If you change the powder remember to do the bedsheets and do the clothes/sheets in the wardrobe too.

In the past we've noticed that any rough fabric make his skin worse, so it's always been worse in winter due to the amount of clothing rubbing on skin.

I've not changed washing liquid in 5 years (Fairy) and don't use fabric conditioner. Nor do we use products in the bath.

However, the bigger red spots are new and don't respond to steroids or moisturiser :(

Sorry Picklemepopcorn! I think I just accidentally reported your reply instead of hitting reply :( I am super tired and have flu this week, being a total moron!

If they don't respond to steroids I would go back to GP. Ask for referral to dermatologist if they can't help.
If it's eczema you may need stronger steroids. You may need to change your moisturiser. (Doublebase makes my skin worse!) You may need guidance about how much cream to use, how often and in what order/timings.

we found the Doublebase pretty grim stuff, so we only have it as an emergency back up now. Had been using Aveeno colloidal oatmeal cream until recently, but these large spots seem to sting with ANY creams :(

Echoing the call for you to ask for a referal to dermatology. There are other steriod creams they can prescribe and may teach you to use bandages at night to keep the emolients on and stop scratching.

I'd say he fits the criteria from the nice guidelines for referal. I'm not sure if this link will work but if not just google management of eczema in children nice guidelines.

pathways.nice.org.uk/pathways/eczema/eczema-overview#content=view-node%3Anodes-when-to-refer

Allergy testing

Hi that look like infected eczema. You'll need a steroid combined with an antibiotic cream - fucidin h or fucibet - but may need a dermatology referral as gp may not prescribe it. My dd5 had very similar which just would not clear up with steroid or emollient alone for about 4 months. We started on fucidin h as it's lower strength but then increased it to fucibet which is a stronger steroid and it cleared it up in about 2 weeks.

Also just saw your post about stinging. You need ointments rather than creams as ointments have less water content so will sting less. I would say you definitely need a derm referral to get your treatment plan updated and in order. We have a very clear plan of what to use and when and when it needs stepped up and stepped down depending on DDs skin and how good / bad it is.