my toddler has bright red eczema on his cheeks and nobody seems to care

[kissmummy]

he has it most of the time though occasionally it goes away for a day, then it flares up again. it's fairly bright red and causes people to say "look at his cute rosy cheeks" but it must be horrible for him. or doesn't it actually matter? because the GPs dont seem bothered . But it's so red and uncomfy looking....
the last GP appointment was a particular waste of time as they simply prescribed more of what hasn't worked before - diprobase and oilatum and some hydrocortisone cream. none of it makes a jot of difference. it may even make it worse. unfortunately it was my DH who took DS to that appointment and he's not as switched on about it all as me so he didn't realise we were being given more of the same....does anyone have any suggestions? is this aveeno cream mentioned on another thread, suitable for small patches of eczema? he doesn't have it elsewhere on his body, thank goodness.

My ds1 used to get really bad eczema on his cheeks when he was 2/3. The stupid doctor treated it as impetigo for weeks and as a result ds1 had some scaring on his cheeks. By chance I saw a different doctor when it wasn't clearing, and was told it was eczema and got steroid cream to clear it an minimise scaring.

If the creams you have been given don't work, please ask for steroid cream.

Sorry been a while since he had them, and I'm crap at remembering medicine names.

Have you contacted the National Eczema Society? My DS seems to have thankfully grown out of his eczema now (he's 7) although he still has mega-dry skin. I found them very helpful and supportive.

Oh my DD has exactly the same! People often comment to the extent that she has begun to touch her cheeks when they mention it. It seems to have a mind of its own it flares up and down just when I think I have sorted it(tried cutting various foods out and been convinced that was the answer several times then it flares up again) She has never had a day without it since it started as a small round dry patch on eac cheek when she was three months but after being referred to a dermatologist it is much more under control. I had been so many times before I got the referral. She had anti biotics for a bit then strong steroid cream then pro topic and now that it is a bit better we y=use dactacort and epiderm plus oilatum in the bath. It is still there but most days no where near as bad as it was when we first saw the dermatologist.

DS1 had terrible cheek patches of eczema at about 5-6 months. He would scratch it and it would bleed and get infected. We had to sew mittens into his babygros at one point.

Aveeno cream was excellent for moisturising the skin, easing the discomfort(less scratching) and preventing cracks. What really cleared up the mess was fucidin cream, an antibiotic cream that allows the skin to heal.

We also used Dermol in the bath rather than any soap products.

And when using shampoo on baby's hair, make sure it doesn't come into contact with the cheeks because even the no-tears stuff really stings and dries out the skin.
(All the above we got on prescription)

DS1 has beautiful skin now, no scars at all and even won a beautiful baby contest at the age of 1!

DS2 has eczema on his body, none on his face.
We use a drop of lavender oil in his bath and smother him in Aveeno twice a day.
Use fucidin when he gets weepy patches behind knees and in arm pits.