Red and weeping behind ears - help! how to manage DDs seborrheic dermatitis?

[bibbidybobbedyboop]

My DD (8yrs) has suffered with seb derm behind her ears for years. We have tried lots of things but are continually struggling to get it to clear.

She currently has clotrimazole (canesten) cream to put on it daily, but it doesn’t seem to be helping. And I’m not sure if can be used long term?

She showers every morning and gently cleans there with Head & Shoulders when she shampoos and then dries it. She washes behind her ears before bed too, when she washes her face.

Prior to the canesten cream we’ve tried Cetraben and fucidin H cream but neither seemed to do much either.

She used to have eczema and cradle cap for a long time but both gone now.

It still flares up from time to time and gets crusty and weepy and hurts her. I don’t think it’s hygiene related as she is very particular about her routine these days.

In the grand scheme it’s relatively minor, but I’m wondering whether to go back to the GP again… or if there’s something we haven’t tried!

If the treatment isn’t working then yes to back to the GP.

Back to gp and insist on seeing a skin specialist if they can’t offer you anything that works

Yes go back to GP. Wouldn't wash the area with head and shoulders. Try a soap substitute like derm500. Get a new cream prescribed.

I created a thread on this a while ago, I got some helpful responses:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5262956-skin-issues-behind-toddler-ear-pictures-included?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

Flipslop

Back to gp and insist on seeing a skin specialist if they can’t offer you anything that works
another who says this, the difference between a gp and a really good skin specialist is huge

Definitely take her back to the GP, but the shampoo is probably irritating it more. See about getting some Nizoral instead, I had it all in my hair line and it's the only thing that cleared it permanently

I used to get this and it’s was exacerbated by me
nor rinsing my hair properly. Then I’d pick it when asleep and it was all a bit of a mess.

Head and shoulders is harsh. Can you switch to another brand? I’d also stop the washing and washing at night and give it a chance to heal.

My 3 year old son suffers with this. He gets bad patches on his scalp little patches regularly pop up on his face and neck. We’ve found Daktarin cream the most effective for flare ups, and an emollient wax to keep his skin moisturised more generally. We had Daktarin prescribed last time but apparently you can get it over the counter.

I just went to the gp again about his scalp as the creams and wax make his hair all greasy so was hoping for a special shampoo but she just said to use a gentle baby shampoo like Johnson’s and keep going with the creams. I’ve accepted this for now but as he gets older, going into school issues with terribly greasy hair will be more of an so we’ll have to see.

My son had this as a baby in a tiny area on the ear. Steroid cream prescribed by GP cleared it up after a couple of applications

I used to get this and it was diagnosed as excema. Got steroid cream from the doctor and it disappeared. I would get a second opinion from a different doctor if your current one doesn’t think this is excema as it sounds like classic excema to me.

Thanks all, back to the GP it is. Good to know about other creams that have helped.

I was prescribed Betnovate which works so well on excema.

However I know some doctors are a bit reluctant to prescribe it because it’s quite a strong steroid. You have to use it sparingly.

my partner has the same and we have now gone down the completely natural route. Natural Elements are brilliant and try using a more natural cream, all the ones the doctors give you thin the skin and make it more delicate. His skin has cleared up completely That’s speaking from personal experience

Red and weeping doesn't sound like sebeherroic dermatitis to me - have you checked photos for other scalp conditions like psoriasis? A GP ought to be able to help with that too.

Coal tar shampoo is worth a try if you haven't already. So is ketoconazole if it's really sebeherroic dermatitis.

I wouldn't use Head and Shoulders - it's not actually a specialist anti dandruff shampoo compared with the active ingredients found in eg. Sebco, Capasal.

Don't wash too often. Water may be irritating the red and weeping skin. Consider a separate hair washing shampoo (focus the specialist one on her scalp rather than her hair).

A pharmacist may be able to help.

have you tried Sudocreme Op?

Moo Goo Scalp Cream and shampoo
has been excellent for us.

@independentfriend I was going to say the same, I was initially diagnosed with seb wotsit but it was actually psoriasis and everything prescribed made it worse. I can still remember the burning from Betnovate 😭

This is the boots version of a brAnd I cany remember but got rid of my patches completely
www.boots.com/boots-dermacare-psoriasis-treatment-cream-10279257

I've suffered with this for years, it absolutely can be red and weeping at times, it's horrible. Head and shoulders has actually been very good for me, for keeping it under control on my scalp. Better than the tar shampoo and it works really well on my greasy hair.
I use a steroid cream (Elocon) for my face, but trying to come off it so it's interesting to hear all the suggestions.
Good luck OP, I hope you find a solution 🤞