Horrible pic attached, eczema?

[FancyMauveDreamer]

My 11-year-old daughter has had occasional mild eczema since she was a baby but never needed steroids etc.

A couple of months ago she suddenly developed severe itchy rashes on her arms and legs. Blood on clothes and bedsheets cos of the itching. I’ve never seen anything like it.

The doctors say it’s eczema. So far we’ve tried:

• 2 rounds of steroids,
• 2 rounds of antibiotics,
• prescription creams and emollients,
• replaced soap with emollient,
• Calm Balm from Wild Mint,
• eczema bedtime clothing,
• new pillow, duvet and 100% cotton bedding,
• cotton or viscose clothes only.

I don’t know what else to do. Surely if it was eczema it would’ve improved by now!

She’s starting secondary school next week and feeling self-conscious about her skin.

Has she seen a dermatologist?

She needs a dermatologist, this shouldn’t be under GP if no improvement. Ask for a referral (or for them to at least do an Advice and Guidance with derm).

No, the GP has referred her to the eczema clinic, appointment in 2 weeks.

I presume you've tried some dietary alterations.

I get patches of very itchy eczema if I eat too much soft cheese, milk, bagels or lemon flavoured things. (real lemon juice is fine though for some reason)

It's taken me 30 years to work out the culprits. Bodies are a mystery.

Poor thing though, I hope you find help soon. It's a horribly frustrating condition.

If it's any consolation - my nephew had it terribly throughout his adolescence but now he has beautiful clear skin. He's totally avoided dairy since he was 16.

Do you actually see her scratching without thinking, because it’s itchy??

Ah the poor girl, that looks so sore! I was similarly plagued by eczema at that age, and felt so self-conscious. Two weeks will feel like an awfully long wait for the assessment.

When you say prescription creams, do you mean corticosteroids? A strong steroid ointment might help?

Aveeno products are the best shampoos and body washes I've found. Their emollients are also excellent, if you haven't tried these. I've struggled with severe eczema over the years, and using these has made more difference than anything else I've tried. The products used together really do seem to protect the skin barrier. The Dermexa range is particularly gentle, but all of them are great!

The pattern of her skin eruptions makes me wonder if some external factor might be contributing - like, say, cat fleas or midge bites? Is anything like that a possibility?

There's also evidence for bacteria such as Streptococcus contributing to flares of eczema - products like Dermol 500 (cream or lotion; can be used as an emollient or soap substitute) are antimicrobial for this reason. You may well have tried these already, just mentioning in case not!

I hope you can get to the bottom of this and that she is soon feeling more comfortable and confident.

I hope it gets better soon for her. I would try:

• minimal bathing of the area until healed.
• during showers use oilatum wash (defo no baths)
• change washing to fairy non - bio and don't use any fabric conditioners etc
• Epiderm cream
• daily anti allergy tablet
• minimise dairy
• check nothing is biting her
• try not to cover the affected areas up

Oh gosh, poor dd

I have eczema and had it so badly as a child.

I remember once, I went through a bit of a stressful period, losing my nan and some upheaval at home

My skin got really bad. I had skin falling off at random, couldn't walk for the agony, I was only 8 or 9

Could it be stress that has caused this flare up? Anxiety about big school?

One thing that helped was never being hot. A fan on me at all times.

Wish her well, i know what agony it is 💔❤️

If you can possibly afford it, get her to a private dermatologist. I was under GP with my eczema (who didn't even recognise that it actually was eczema), and nothing they suggested worked. In the end I was so worn down by it, I booked to see a private dermatologist and had 1 consultation. They prescribed 3 different creams, plus overhauled my bathing and skincare products and I am not exaggerating when I say that within 48 hours it had completely cleared up.
If you're anywhere near the South coast I can recommend my dermatologist?

Hard to tell from the photo but could it be prurigo nodularis (or nodular prurigo)? I have had this and the itching is excruciating. People who have eczema are more susceptible to it. All to do with the itch-scratch cycle. Mine is now under control (touch wood) through us of antihistamines and steroids. The main thing is preventing scratching, which is easier said than done - my GP prescribed strong sedative anti-histamines to prevent me from scratching at night. I know that you’ve tried lots of lotions and creams but this one helped me and was soothing - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Skin-Stuff-Soothing-Body-150ml/dp/B0BHWGFNQH/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.R02KC5UoTNfwZdL_ZgqUFHv_Rp0Ejgtbn9gBD6KyPbfE5V5fVeVgoqXjY787cgdeA80NP3LRD9rzyh5MhCcKRIJiSNAF-E2XU-71t8BCBhwpUZVcc34ujOBAT37tvrmx2NGSgLHSzywbdDYMZ0PYWXEftLBGB4cdvrW1zF7CangCbL8VFsxCtox_zoVBGF0g5AR5U2bFj_xaqNPLGs0neg.0q5BM0hcZ5S-_S_p4csK_v9zyOM4mGLlKmB6Ytqe7LE&dib_tag=se&keywords=skin+stuff+by+stinky+stuff+for+humans&qid=1756246011&sr=8-3

I just looked that up. It certainly looks rather similar!

I was wondering about the odd pattern, it doesn't look like typical eczema.

www.campus.sanofi/campus-sanofi-se/artiklar/dermatologi/prurigo-nodularis/clinical-presentation-pathophysiology-pn

Honestly if there’s any way you can find the money, a consultation with a private dermatologist (approx £200) would be worth it.

Thank you all for your replies. I’ve just sent a message to the GP for a dermatologist referral but if they agree, it’ll probably take long.

I want to book her in with a private dermatologist asap. Does anyone have advice on how to find a good one? Or recommendations in London?

I’ll also look into the products you guys recommend.

Would it be wrong to take her to A&E…? I wonder if she’ll get seen by a dermatologist there.

You won’t get to a dermatologist through A&E. The typical wait is apparently 12 weeks but I’ve been waiting for 23 so far. It’s worth discussing antihistamines with your GP as per my post above.

Good shout.

get her in the sun, UV light is good for eczema (my derm told me)

Could you take a closer up picture, could it be something else, the circles look like ringworm, but not saying it's that just doesn't look typical of eczema. Could you try a different dr at the surgery. Is she taking antihistamine and try wearing cotton gloves at night. Poor girl. X

Dr Emma craythorbe has a tv show and is based in london

It doesn’t look like typical eczema to me, you need to see a dermatologist.
I can recommend Dr Verity Blackwell at The Spire in Harpenden, if that is not too far away. Dr Dawe there is also supposed to be good. They usually have appointments very quickly.

She was prescribed periton to take before bed but still itchy. She’s taking it every night.

I’ll try and get her to sit in the garden with her legs out, anything is worth a try at this point.

She’s got eczema tops with mittens as gloves come off in the night.

I’m not sure it is eczema tbh, surely it would’ve responded to treatment by now if it was eczema.

I’ll look into the dermatologists mentioned, thank you.

Another BIG vote here for Dr Verity Blackwell at the Spire, Harpenden.

One of my children was in truly dire straits physically and mentally with eczema, endless antibiotics and different creams from GPs.

She listened and she sorted it out. It was worth every penny and I am a minimum wage worker.

I’ve made enquiries at a couple of private dermatologists. One of them offered appointment for 5 Sep but I want her to be seen sooner.

What have your experience been with private dermatology? How long of a wait for appointments? What actually happens at the appointment? Did they resolve it at the initial appointment or book follow-ups?

Waiting for a call back from them. What did the doctor do? How many appointments did you need?

I’m not medical but my son caught scabies when he was 9 and we and the doctors thought it was eczema for several weeks (it presents as excema as the body is allergic to the droppings of the mites under the skin). He was very unhappy and very itchy, particularly at night (and because he was so distressed he used to come into my bed, so then I caught it from him which is how it was eventually discovered and treated). If you’ve not had this ruled out it might be worth mentioning.
Hope you get it sorted soon.