Eczema - cotton gloves are really helping my 5yo ds

[isaidno]

Just wanted to share, in case there are other mummies who haven't tried gloves.

DS1 had pretty bad eczema, controlled to some degree by steroid creams and emollients. One of the main problems we've been having is him scratching until he bleeds, resulting in scabs, which itch, etc etc. The scabs often get infected.

I got some tubifast gloves from Boots - I had to specially order the child size small - they cost £9.25 (although Boots said they were prob available on prescription.)

DS1 has been wearing them to bed for a few nights now and they are really helping - scabs / sores look better and less blood on sheets / pyjamas.

Hope this info helps someone else

thats good isaidno, your pharmacist is right too, they come under medical devices or something like that and I have known GP's to prescribe them to kids before

Can I ask questions -
Does he mind wearing them. Can he get them off by himself.
I take it, he can still scratch but just can't do so much damage.

When my eczema plays up, I always wear cotton gloves to bed - a bit like wet wrapping, I have a bath with emolliant, then a really thick layer of aqueous cream, then the gloves.

For my legs where I scratch in my sleep (will rub them on the bed frame), I bandage with crepe bandage over the top of the cream to keep it all in place. Its really amazingly effective.

maretta - he is quite happy to wear them, although the first night he did take them off in his sleep, then woke up crying because he was itchy. I think a year ago he would not have been so receptive, but he understands now that they will help him get better.
Yes, although he still scratches he can't break the skin so easily.