Toddlers eczema progressing and extending

[Deedee333]

Hello everyone, desperate mama here.
My 3.5 year old son has a bad flare up that started 3 weeks ago, it started on the legs (back of the legs to be exact) itching constantly, especially at night.
Sadly, its progressing to his under arms, belly, slowly and surely extending over all his body. Red, inflammated, itchy skin.
I went to the GP and they gave me 1% hydrocortisone cream, that's all. But even with this, they said to put it on the affected areas...however, it seems the visible affected areas aren't the only ones that are itching, it's spreading and I wouldn't know which area will itch next, so it would still itch him at night.

I have tried E45, Aveeno eczema, bioderma, child's farm, avene spring water, cetraben, la roche-posay. Bathing daily, not bathing daily. Moisturise within 3 minutes after the bath. Only cotton bedding, only cotton clothing. No pets in the house.

Tried giving Piriton at nighttime a period, and Loratadine a different period, doesn't seem to work.

Please can someone whose gone private help me with a paediatric allergy specialist in London, or even the UK. As GP is not much help, I will borrow money from the bank if needed just to see him eczema free.

Or any other suggestions of what to do or where to go with him, please?😭😭😭

Have you tried bleach baths? It’s the next best thing after steroid cream for my son.

But most likely prescription steroids will be needed to reduce the inflammation. How awful they didn’t prescribe them, I'm sorry. We use Eleuphrat, very sparingly and only to reduce inflammation. Then we use other creams for prevention.

Since my DD has been dairy free (on recommendation from dermatologist) her eczema has pretty much cleared up! You have to do it for a min of 8 weeks to see any result as dairy takes about 5 weeks to leave their system. She’s also been prescribed tacrolimis protopic for flare ups which works much better than steroids. Hope your little one finds some relief soon.

Have you tried going dairy free? Worth a go.

Call the GP back and say it isn't working and you need something stronger as it's spreading and he's extremely uncomfortable.
You need a stronger steroid like betnovate or emuvate
If it looks weepy or red it may be infected so ask for fucibet
Slap it on loads daily until it shrinks and then keep up with a lower % steroid like the 1% hydrocortisone and aveeno
Capful of Milton in the bath definitely
Loose pj's at night
Porridge oats in the bath for soothing

You will need stronger steroids if 1% hydrocortisone isn't doing its job. You need to tell the GP the hydrocortisone isn't working and she needed stronger steroids. I believe GP can prescribe Eumovate.

If you need stronger stuff, your GP can refer him to a dermatologist. That's what we did for DD. Try asking on your local facebook group etc for a recommendation. Also, if you have private insurance BUPA has a list of consultants they'll pay so that could also give you names. We paid for the dermatologist via BUPA but all prescription is via the NHS afterwards.

DC was prescribed both Emuovate, Elocon and two different strengths of protopic. The difference from the stronger steroids is very noticeable. The flare comes down quickly and become manegable.

As for elimination diet, the dermatologist recommended against it. She looked at DD skin and said her eczema is atopic and not allergen based. She said DD has skin that has weaker skin barrier and more prone to irritatation and flare ups.

Definitely go back and ask for stronger steroids and if GP can't prescribe anything stronger, ask for a referal to a dermatologist.

This is the BUPA consultant finder page https://www.finder.bupa.co.uk/

If your DS is at nursery, ask there too as they may know some other child who suffer from eczema.

Push your GP for a dermatology referral if they are reluctant to prescribe anything stronger.

I agree that you need a stronger steroid to get the inflammation under control. The advice from dermatology for DD2 was that we needed to use it for a couple of days after the redness went so that the irritation under the skin had a chance to settle as well. For the initial getting it under control phase, we had a stepped plan of hitting it hard with the steroid, then gradually reducing the amount we used the steroid to get things really, properly settled and also avoid any reaction to suddenly cutting out the steroids.

Does he have an emollient that works for him (or at least helps) ordinarily? How often are you using the emollient?