baby excema - worsening on face

[belindarose]

We're treating the excema on DD's (nearly 5mo) body with doublebase, with hydrocortisone on small patches when they get bad. The doublebase has, until now, generally kept her face okay, but this week her cheeks and chin are getting worse. It might be weather related - her face is obviously the only bit that I don't cover up outside! Any ideas about what might help, and has anyone used steroid cream on baby's face? GP said it was 'so mild you could eat it', but I'm not so sure. Thanks.

[chopstheduck]

I had to with dd at about 4-5 months. Hers was over one side of her forehead and spreading downwards.
I tried no end of natural remedies, but only the hydrocortisone actually got rid of it and it was so quick acting I really did wish I had used it earlier.

[chopstheduck]

we were also advised to wash her in aqueous cream rather than soap too. She never gets excema any more, but does have sensitive skin still.

[drosophila]

Well you can use it on their face. Having had a baby with horendous excema we had to use lots on his face. The one thing I learnt was to hit the eczema quickly before it had a chance to get worse as this reduced the liklihood of using stronger steroids. Also ointment is much better than cream.

Eczema is different for different people but for my baby water irritated it. Some peopel swear by Aveeno and I think you can get it on prescription.

[drosophila]

Also I found teething caused flare ups.

remember if you use steroids you can't simply stop all of a sudden you have to gradually reduce. This is quite important as to stop suddenly can cause a rebound reaction resulting in worse eczema. I was afraid of steroids but like the poster below it was the only thing that worked. I also tried everything from Chinese medicine to acupuncture to homeopathy. I was desperate though as at one point the only place that did not have weeping skin was his nappy area.

He is 10 now and perfect skin.

[belindarose]

Thanks for prompt replies. I didn't know about the gradual reduction of steroids. Thanks. So should I reduce cream from twice a day to once, then maybe alternate days, once it's cleared up? Water does irritate her skin (mine too) so we only bath twice a week (she adores it though!) and use aqueous cream as soap substitute. Tooth arrived 'unannounced' a few days ago, coinciding with the flare up, interestingly.

[drosophila]

I would reduce as you suggest. Advice may be different now so do a google as steroids may be different although I doubt it.

[alypaly]

belinda,dont use steroid on the face as it thins the skin. Keep up with the heavy moisturising. I have no doubt the cold is making it worse. windscreen creams for skiers are often very good. Is she teething

[alypaly]

steroids should only be used on the face under doctors supervision and with such a young one i would be extremely wary. It can cause telengectasia if used too often.

[belindarose]

Thanks again. I'll look into the steroid thing a bit more before I decide whether to use them. Our GP prescribed completely the wrong treatment for thrush, so not overly confident in him right now.