Eczema help!

[Interestedinknowing]

Hi,

My four year old has eczema, they’ve had it since very little. We’ve had various creams and things to put in the bath. We’ve also had a few courses of steroid cream. It helps for a while.

The hot weather often results in a flair up but they also have it in winter due to the heating changes!

The latest flare up looks like yellow heads, some of these are pretty big. We went back to the doctor and got two new creams and steroids. They’ve helped in some places but not others. I don’t know what else to do, but I don’t want them to have more and more steroids. Does anyone have any experience or advice on how to manage children’s eczema, sunscreen recommendations etc?

Thank you

The absolute best thing you can do for your child is to get a referral to a paediatric allergist or good dermatologist. I did this with my DD when she was 4 and she's 15 now with no eczema. It's about re-teaching your skin how to behave.

I can give you a run down of what we did if you'd like but please don't listen to those who come along and say stop dairy.

Or those who say not to bathe them that much.

Ive found even the expensive ‘sensitive’ chemical absorbtion sunscreens cause an eczema reaction so this year we’re trying the physical barrier kind with zinc oxide in. Sorry, nothing else to add! We’ve not cracked it yet

I’d love to hear more - my eldest gets patches (currently on her feet) that just won’t clear - we know what aggravates it (getting too hot in shoes) but that’s quite hard to limit at school etc. So any suggestions would be really good.

@HavfrueDenizKisi thanks for the post. I intend to push for a referral when I go back this week - we just finished the last round of steroid so want to see what happens when they’ve been off them a week.

If you’re happy to share what you were told, that would be great. Thank you

@Wasywasydoodah I’m going to Google that type of suncream!

@WhatWillGeorgeDo that sounds tough as they need to wear shoes!

Ok. Usually I don't post here about eczema because people give you shit advice and get cross when I mention aspects.

DD had eczema very early, prior to 12 months. It got bad mostly in her wrists and hands until her skin cracked and it thickened so we managed a referral to see Adam Fox and one of his nurses talked me though what to do in detail.

So as their immune system is fighting off the eczema they will run hot - make sure they don't get overheated especially in bed. Sleep in pants when it's warm and not heavy duvets etc. make sure nothing is stored under the bed so you can hoover under it.

You should give them a bath daily but for no longer than 10 mins. You can add oilatum etc. Before getting into the bath cover them in emollient (we used diprobase) top to bottom so running your hands down shoulders to hands and not rubbing upwards. Plop them in the bath and no soap. This rehydrates their skin but more than 10 mins you lose the benefit.

Remove from bath and pat with towel - do not rub their skin. Add extra emollient top to bottom again. Leave this to soak in for 20-30 mins. Then...

Use steroid cream and don't be shy with it. We had eumovate. Not hydrocortisone 1% like your GP probably tries to fob you off with. 1cm of steroid cream per area (we did this for each wrist and hand for DD). Use the steroid cream for 2-3 weeks (morning and night if needed). When the skin has healed you must wean off the cream slowly: so one week apply nights only; next week every other night; third week every third day. The reason the eczema returns is we stop the cream too quickly and go cold turkey. If you use the cream like this it should knock the outbreak on the head so you're not constantly using it for months (which is where side effects can occur).

I stopped using fabric softener in my wash too. Generally highly scented products are the culprit.

If there is eczema on the face you need to use protopic on it instead of steroid cream. It's safer.

Do not cut out dairy if your friend's cousin's son's dog tells you they did and it was the answer they are most likely wrong. Kids need dairy for calcium to grow. Plus if someone is allergic to milk it's usually the protein and this protein is in all animal milk.

Ditto the not washing daily. You need to bath them to remove allergens from their skin (dust mites or pollen etc) and rehydrate their skin. Just ditch the actual soap.

Be prepared for pjs to become sodden with creams/emollients - it never seems to wash out. Sorry.

Also when hair washing do it and rinse it out then get them out of the bath. Don't let them
sit in the suds.

Anyway if you follow this routine (yes it's a ball ache) their skin can relearn how to behave. It really does work especially if you start young. DD was eczema free by 8/9.

Also I used sunsense sun cream as that was recommended by the eczema team.

Really hope that helps.

@HavfrueDenizKisi I really appreciate you taking the time to post that. I will look into this and make changes based on this while we push for a referral/go private. Thank you.

I’m pleased your little one no longer had to deal with eczema 😊

No worries. Hope it helps but it was honestly the best thing actually speaking to the right medical people. GPs often don't really understand what to do.

We did actually go private to Adam Fox as had healthcare through DH's work. DD went for a penicillin challenge as we thought she was allergic to that but the eczema training was perfect. We started treating when DD was 4 actually and went back once when she had further issues once at 9 years old.

She's a teenage pain in the bum now though! All that work I put in 😩

My youngest dd has had eczema since she was a tiny baby, by the time she was four it was awful. Various steroid creams would work for a little while but then lose effectiveness. Moisturising religiously did nothing.

The thing that has helped her the most is having piriton every night before bed. It has broken the itch/scratch cycle and her flare ups have massively reduced. She would previously wake up about 5 times a night scratching and crying, her sheets were always covered in blood. Now she sleeps till around 3/4am every night.

Mine was born with eczema. Initially I used stuff from Dr but now I manage it now without steroids. But I have to do all of the following:

Laundry detergent is fragrance free (not Fairy!) and use extra rinse on washing machine.

We have a water softener system for the whole house (you could maybe get something for the tap/shower you use for bathing otherwise).

Natural fabrics. Polyester feels smooth but actually is irritant for skin. (found that out at the allergy clinic)

Probiotic and omega supplement.

Luke warm bath or shower. We don’t use soap. Use a natural unscented shampoo occasionally.

I use whipped Shea butter straight out of shower/bath.

Hand soap I use Avalon Organics from Waitrose as it doesn’t dry out skin.

Sunscreen use a mineral block for children with sensitive skin. We use Green People or Badger.

Find out any allergies that could be triggering.

Surcare washing powder
Green People sun cream
Dermol hand wash and bath emollient
Don't overheat them
Vaccum a LOT
Anti histemines help

The post above is excellent, especially with the weaning of steroid cream.

Never use 'normal' washing powder, hand soap, washing up liquid etc.

Also cotton clothes, not polyester

Wow, there is a lot I need to change! I’ve never changed any of the products I’ve used as the advice wasn’t not to- I use fairy, no condition, dove hand soap. I had just started using Child’s Farm soap when we were prescribed the new treatment so I’ve stopped that (apart from once a week for a quick shower after swimming).

I’ve just purchased some of the recommended suncream so fingers crossed. Off to spend more on many of the items listed above!

I think I am potentially overheating as I’m covering them up otherwise they scratch if only in short sleeves.

We’ve got private healthcare so I will contact them on Monday and skip the GP!

I really do appreciate the advice shared.

@HavfrueDenizKisi I’ll be back in a few years to ask how to manage the teenage years!

I started a thread in December and got lots of helpful advice x I'm not sure how to link but if you search 'eczema mums-please help' you should be able to find it xxx

Try a watersoftener. It was the miracle cure for my little girl and boy.

How are you getting on OP?