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Original poster

Suitable emollient for a bad eczema flare up

28 replies

ThisCalmRoseWriter · 19/02/2024 13:15

My DD5 is suffering with a really bad eczema flare up and I’m struggling to find a cream or emollient suitable for her. She hates having it applied, says it stings and gets upset. The GP said I need
to apply cream twice a day but its getting us both down and usually ends up with minimal cream actually on the area.
Please, can anyone give any advice?

OP posts:
CCLCECSC · 19/02/2024 13:34

Is that a prescribed emollient which is causing that reaction? I'd go back to the GP for alternative product.

In the meantime we've found child's Farm fragrance free moisturiser really good for our daughter who suffers from bad eczema.

princessrapunzel · 19/02/2024 13:36

Hiya, ive recently discovered zoe bee beauty. She makes natural handmade creams so i ordered for my 1 year olds eczema and were only a week in using it twice a day and one arms already cleared up,
Its the charcoal and oatmeal cream and because its natural theres no stinging. She has loads of amazing reviews on the webiste and on instagram, she just sells out mega fast.
I hope this helps as i know how relentless applying cream is, especially if its uncomfortable for your dd

minisoksmakehardwork · 19/02/2024 13:36

I'm having flare at the moment. It doesn't matter what cream I use, even emollient, it stings like buggery!

I'm waiting on a dermatologist referral.

My suggestions are to apply to damp skin as it seems to sting less. And avoid rubbing sore areas dry - pat dry instead - as that also helps as you're not aggravating the skin too much first.

stayathomer · 19/02/2024 13:40

We use lrp as the only shower gel that doesn’t sting, and then moogoo, but it’s a minefield, I recommended it to my friend and her daughter found it very sore and so they went back to dermexa which makes my son cry. Unfortunately all trial and error, most things recommended by pharmacists or gp haven’t worked for us

Sunshinedahlias · 19/02/2024 13:53

Cetraben, but the lotion rather than the cream. Can be used on dry skin and in the shower as a replacement for soap

Suzi7979 · 19/02/2024 14:17

Astral

HannahEB88 · 19/02/2024 14:48

Hello

So sorry to read this. I felt the need to post as we are going through almost identical. My DD (17 months) has awful flare ups especially in the colder weather. The GP prescribed us Hydromol emollient which did help but my god the application of it was so difficult. She would scream and kick and I felt so awful. It got to the point where she would start the crying when she saw the tub. I’ve recently found a spray/aerosol emollient which seems to be the same stuff but you just literally spray it on the skin and don’t rub it in. It’s been such a relief in terms of getting the stuff on her. It’s called emollin. Aside from that we keep baths as short as possible, get the emollient on when she’s still damp after bath and avoid any fragranced products. Also push for a referral to your eczema team. Good luck!

Precipice · 19/02/2024 15:00

I get on with epaderm cream as a moistuirising emollinet. But if by flare-up you mean rashes, then emollient cream isn't sufficient for me and wasn't in childhood either. Can you ask your GP about prescribing a steroid cream?

MoiraMoira · 19/02/2024 15:00

Epaderm only. It ruins all clothes and soft furnishings, stains walls, and clogs drains but it is all DD can tolerate. Vaseline when epaderm was scarce.

At the worst, we needed a referral to the paediatric dermatologist. The GP was reluctant (and reluctant is a nice word for refused) to prescribe anything but 1% hydrocortisone. I only got the dermatologist appointment by crying, but once we were in the system we got help. We have two serious steroid creams we alternate during a flare up and only bath her once a week. The emollient is preventive but doesn’t treat. She’s 7 and (knock wood) we’ve had a great winter.

MumMumMumMumMumMumMum · 19/02/2024 15:04

Best advice is to get back for the GP and get a referral to a dermatologist. Our GP just prescribed 10s of different products to keep trying and the dermatologist actually gave us a clear plan with which different products were given for different areas of the body and had far more knowledge on cause and treatment.

MoiraMoira · 19/02/2024 15:05

Durning lockdown we had a telehealth appointment with a private pediatric dermatologist.

As with busses, this happened to be around the same time we made it off the NHS waitlist and I found the care to be identical. If you can’t get on the NHS list and can afford it, I recommend you go private. Getting good steroid creams is life changing.

IVFendomum · 19/02/2024 15:07

Doublebase xx

MumMumMumMumMumMumMum · 19/02/2024 15:07

MumMumMumMumMumMumMum · 19/02/2024 15:04

Best advice is to get back for the GP and get a referral to a dermatologist. Our GP just prescribed 10s of different products to keep trying and the dermatologist actually gave us a clear plan with which different products were given for different areas of the body and had far more knowledge on cause and treatment.

But to answer your question we have hydromol ointment, which is very different to the emollient, super thick and greasy, hard to apply but amazing. We also have Betamethasone valerate, and Tacrolimus for different areas, emollin spray (for when DD is resisting layers of cream) and demo 500 to use as soap. All of this came from the dermatologist.

Original poster
ThisCalmRoseWriter · 21/02/2024 12:35

CCLCECSC · 19/02/2024 13:34

Is that a prescribed emollient which is causing that reaction? I'd go back to the GP for alternative product.

In the meantime we've found child's Farm fragrance free moisturiser really good for our daughter who suffers from bad eczema.

Hello, yes, she was prescribed aproderm. We also tried childs farm before going to GP which didnt work :(

OP posts:
Original poster
ThisCalmRoseWriter · 21/02/2024 12:40

princessrapunzel · 19/02/2024 13:36

Hiya, ive recently discovered zoe bee beauty. She makes natural handmade creams so i ordered for my 1 year olds eczema and were only a week in using it twice a day and one arms already cleared up,
Its the charcoal and oatmeal cream and because its natural theres no stinging. She has loads of amazing reviews on the webiste and on instagram, she just sells out mega fast.
I hope this helps as i know how relentless applying cream is, especially if its uncomfortable for your dd

Thank you!! I've never heard of zoe bee beauty so I will go and have a look.
Aww I know :( its such a shame on them isn't it!? Thanks again

OP posts:
Original poster
ThisCalmRoseWriter · 22/02/2024 10:10

minisoksmakehardwork · 19/02/2024 13:36

I'm having flare at the moment. It doesn't matter what cream I use, even emollient, it stings like buggery!

I'm waiting on a dermatologist referral.

My suggestions are to apply to damp skin as it seems to sting less. And avoid rubbing sore areas dry - pat dry instead - as that also helps as you're not aggravating the skin too much first.

Hello, Its not nice at all is it, especially when its stinging :(!!
Thanks for your suggestions, I'm going to speak to GP about dermatologist.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThisCalmRoseWriter · 22/02/2024 10:12

stayathomer · 19/02/2024 13:40

We use lrp as the only shower gel that doesn’t sting, and then moogoo, but it’s a minefield, I recommended it to my friend and her daughter found it very sore and so they went back to dermexa which makes my son cry. Unfortunately all trial and error, most things recommended by pharmacists or gp haven’t worked for us

Hello, thank you, yes, we've tried so many different things, so hard trying to find something.
what is Irp?

OP posts:
Original poster
ThisCalmRoseWriter · 22/02/2024 10:13

Sunshinedahlias · 19/02/2024 13:53

Cetraben, but the lotion rather than the cream. Can be used on dry skin and in the shower as a replacement for soap

Thank you, will give this a try :)

OP posts:
Original poster
ThisCalmRoseWriter · 22/02/2024 10:16

HannahEB88 · 19/02/2024 14:48

Hello

So sorry to read this. I felt the need to post as we are going through almost identical. My DD (17 months) has awful flare ups especially in the colder weather. The GP prescribed us Hydromol emollient which did help but my god the application of it was so difficult. She would scream and kick and I felt so awful. It got to the point where she would start the crying when she saw the tub. I’ve recently found a spray/aerosol emollient which seems to be the same stuff but you just literally spray it on the skin and don’t rub it in. It’s been such a relief in terms of getting the stuff on her. It’s called emollin. Aside from that we keep baths as short as possible, get the emollient on when she’s still damp after bath and avoid any fragranced products. Also push for a referral to your eczema team. Good luck!

Thank you! Awww :( Its rubbish isn't it!?
The spray sounds good, especially when she's been scratching I think her skin is quite sore when applying cream. I'll ask the dr about the spray and referral.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThisCalmRoseWriter · 22/02/2024 10:19

Precipice · 19/02/2024 15:00

I get on with epaderm cream as a moistuirising emollinet. But if by flare-up you mean rashes, then emollient cream isn't sufficient for me and wasn't in childhood either. Can you ask your GP about prescribing a steroid cream?

Hello, thanks for your reply.
yes, we have used steroid in past , think it was hydrocortisone? & have managed to get a gp app on Friday to get more steroids.. We've just been trying to get on top with creams in the meantime.

OP posts:
MamaMode · 22/02/2024 10:19

Aveeno oatmeal cream worked very well with my sons eczema flair ups. Its no longer available on prescription though, but it's widely available to buy now

Original poster
ThisCalmRoseWriter · 22/02/2024 10:21

MumMumMumMumMumMumMum · 19/02/2024 15:07

But to answer your question we have hydromol ointment, which is very different to the emollient, super thick and greasy, hard to apply but amazing. We also have Betamethasone valerate, and Tacrolimus for different areas, emollin spray (for when DD is resisting layers of cream) and demo 500 to use as soap. All of this came from the dermatologist.

Show quote history

Helloo, does sound like going to the dermatologist is the way to go as they've given you lots of different options there havent they.
someone else further up also mentioned hydromol & Emollin, thank you will look into both!

OP posts:
rainyrainydays · 22/02/2024 10:26

@MamaMode I agree, aveeno has worked like a miracle for my dc and several people I know.

stayathomer · 22/02/2024 11:55

ThisCalmRoseWriter
Sorry lrp is le Roche posay! We get the lipikar wash, bought first because it said suitable for babies and people with eczema. It’s our absolute life saver, pricy (about 20 euro now I think unfortunately but they might have a sample/ smaller bottle to try first) but lasts a long time

PigglesPops · 23/02/2024 06:28

Luckily my daughter is under a consultant (for something else) but recently she had a huge eczema flare. She was covered from head to toe, the consultant contacted our local childrens hospital and prescribed a very strong steroid cream, bath stuff etc. I only had to apply the steroid cream twice and it cleared the eczema up. Little bits pop up and the steroid seems to stop it in it tracks pretty quick.