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Four month old, is this eczema?

7 replies

Rose8419 · 16/04/2025 21:40

Hello! So my poor four month old began with lots of raised little bumps on scalp a few days ago. They have spread to her whole head and hairline and behind her ears and were very itchy it seemed as she was rubbing and scratching at her ears a lot. We visited the gp theee days ago who said it’s dry skin, it might be eczema but wasn’t sure it was and that she has some dry skin in her ears too. She prescribed hydromol. Unfortunately, since then, with many applications of the ointment, hadn't improved, perhaps worsened in that the bumps had continued spreading. This morning she woke with a red under eye as if she’d been rubbing it in the night. She’s seemed quite itchy until this afternoon when it seriously ramped up. She has been frantically itching her ears and temples and eyes all evening and so I’ve I covered her hands but nothing has settled her, she’s been so restless and itchy. It almost seems like an allergic reaction based on the sudden severity of the symptoms and escalation and the worsening all of a sudden today. We have since phoned 111 and they have advised some piriton and organised a dr to call tomorrow. Could this be eczema? I have attached some pictures as I’m so unsure. We haven’t changed anything in our routine such as washing powder. And it’s not in her body, just head and itchiness on face. I’m constantly trying to work out what may have irritated her so much to start this off. Any thoughts on what it could be or ideas form photos would be so reassuring! Thank-you!

Just an fyi, she does have some cradle cap but has done since about a month old and it’s mild and is only in a limited area on the very top of her head. This has never caused her to itch and hasn’t presented as spots, just waxy flakes. In case anyone spots that in the pic!

Four month old, is this eczema?
Four month old, is this eczema?
Four month old, is this eczema?
OP posts:
JaninaDuszejko · 17/04/2025 05:49

Have you started weaning her or introduced formula recently? Doesn't really look like an allergic response though, you tend not to get blisters. How has she responded to the piriton? It completely knocked out DS if he'd had an allergic reaction but if taken when well as a preventative it doesn't make him sleepy in the same way.

It could possibly be the start of impetigo or another infection? GP will be able to tell you.

SapporoBaby · 17/04/2025 05:53

It could be eczema but that doesn’t also mean it’s not an allergy. There are several types of what we call eczema - contact dermatitis, allergic eczema and chronic eczema (caused by genetics more than anything).

The eye looks like the eczema I get on my eyes when I’ve touched an irritant (or drank beer but I assume this isn’t the case for baby lol). The scalp doesn’t look like my eczema but again there are many presentations such as discoid, sebbhoric.

See what the second doctor says. Keep on with the cream and make sure you’re applying it within 3 minutes of bathing baby - that’s important as emollients don’t ADD moisture they only lock in what’s already there. A common misunderstanding.

letsnotIRL · 17/04/2025 06:00

Are you or anyone holding DD wearing any perfume, body sprays, deodorants etc? Looks like a small reaction to a contact irritant to me, that's what happens to my skin. One of the worst for me is febreeze fabric spray. It's only through trial and error you'll find the issue 🙏

Rose8419 · 17/04/2025 07:36

Ah thanks so much for your responses! So great to have some input. I can’t think of anything such as perfumes and no one other than myself and husband are holding her really. Especially over the weekend went his started. We’ve rewashed all the clothes (we use fairy non bio) and done an extra rinse so maybe that’ll help!

It’s worse again this morning unfortunately. Seems maybe the itching is creating new patches of irritation which I assume are then itchy themselves!

No weaning and she’s had the odd bit of formula in her life as I’m BFing and my milk was slow to come in but not for about two months now.

Hopefully GP will be able to shed some light. Are they likely to give some sort of hydrocortisone?

thanks again for the help!

OP posts:
JaninaDuszejko · 17/04/2025 18:59

You can add the hydromol to her bath, you need to put it on your handsand rub them together under the water to get it to mix but it helps a lot rather than putting on afterwards (although DS puts it on any areas that are bad after his bath as well).

If they think it's an allergic reaction yes, they are likely to suggest hydrocortisone cream. It's not something that should be applied every day, just for a few days when there is a flare up, if it doesn't have an impact then go back to the GP and get something else rather than continuing with hydrocortisone for longer.

If she's scratching do any of her sleepsuits have built in scratch mittens? Use any that do to stop her scratching herself. If it's an ongoing problem Scratch Sleeves are great andcan be used with everything she sleeps in.

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Rose8419 · 17/04/2025 21:41

JaninaDuszejko · 17/04/2025 18:59

You can add the hydromol to her bath, you need to put it on your handsand rub them together under the water to get it to mix but it helps a lot rather than putting on afterwards (although DS puts it on any areas that are bad after his bath as well).

If they think it's an allergic reaction yes, they are likely to suggest hydrocortisone cream. It's not something that should be applied every day, just for a few days when there is a flare up, if it doesn't have an impact then go back to the GP and get something else rather than continuing with hydrocortisone for longer.

If she's scratching do any of her sleepsuits have built in scratch mittens? Use any that do to stop her scratching herself. If it's an ongoing problem Scratch Sleeves are great andcan be used with everything she sleeps in.

So kind! Thanks for the response and ideas!
we went back to another gp today and he said it’s def looking like a reaction to something and has prescribed some hydrocortisone and piriton which has made me feel much better. I feel like maybe this might help to break the cycle a little! Piriton has helped a bit with itch and inflammation I’d say and she’s settled much better this evening. Really hoping the hydrocortisone will work some magic overnight. I’m guessing it’d take a few days?

In terms of a trigger, GP was pretty adamant it’s hard to ever work out and hoped ot was a one off. Interestingly though my friend today said it looked so much like a heat rash and I have to agree now she’s said it! And from my experience of the sheer uncomfortableness of heat rash, it’s behaving like one too; very itchy, raised tiny bumps and hot to touch when she’s warmer and calms when she’s cool. I walked home from surgery and she was much better after the cool air. It wasn’t until I breastfed her and cuddled her close that it pretty instantly started aggravating her again & she was scratching like mad. Perhaps the warmth? The heating was on in the house too so it did make me think. I wonder if she got a heat rash in the warm weather last week as that’s when it began and it’s been exacerbated by all the emollient I’ve applied as I know it’s caused by blocked pores? Am I way off?

As a side, I’m a little worried now about applying emoilient as the pharmacist suggested maybe it doesn’t agree with her as this worsened after we began using it. Said it’s rare but possible because it contains paraffin. Is there something else I should try or assume that’s unlikely and keep using it? Hard to know what to stop and what to keep the same at this point!

thanks again 😊

OP posts:
Rose8419 · 17/04/2025 21:48

Oh sorry, yes luckily she’s in size 1-3 months pj sleepsuits which still have mitts! We’ve been in pjs all day as a result 😂poor love still thinking she can grab things and most confused!

OP posts:
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