eczema - support thread

[conkertree]

Ds1 has fairly bad eczema and it has been flaring up recently. Came on to see if there was a support group at all, but can't see one - if there is could somebody please point me in the right direction, and if not - anyone interested in being on one?

Ds1 has had eczema since he was about 8 weeks old, and is now 2.9 - flared up a few weeks ago and was referred to dermatologist and is now wearing bandages and has been for a couple of weeks. Think the novelty of being Spiderman is wearing off and he's now trying to avoid having them on, but I can't get him to stop scratching. I don't think he needs to be scratching - his skin feels softer than it ever really has and he has only a few active patches but it seems to be such a habit that I'm running out of distraction techniques, holding his hands etc etc

Anybody got any tips on how to stop the habit scratching?

Hello I don't think there is a support thread as such. 2 of my dd's have eczema, which is very seasonally affected, so bad in spring and autumn. I was fed up with using steroid creams. So started making my own calendula and comfrey salves. I would put it on at night and bought tubi grip from ebay which I would roll over it and this has worked. The salve is very moisturising, soothing and skin healing and I'm not using steroids.
I found it stopped the scratching as it soothed the skin. At night I would put it on angry red skin, often bleeding. In the morning it would be almost clear.
This wasn't an over night success, it took time, but I feel happier doing it the natural way, old hippie that I am

conker sorry to hear about your poor DS.

Has he been tested for allergies? My DS has severe eczema and is in flare at the moment.
The pollen count has been high recently and he is allergic to most types of pollen.

Because we know this we have stratagies i.e. change clothes when he comes in from school. Shower to get rid of pollen, close windows (pretty much follow the rules for hayfever sufferers).

My son is 7 and a real scratcher. He will scratch as soon as he gets angy, upset, excited etc.

I think its complex, a mix of physical and emotional.

Not making much sense - its too late for me!

Hi would definitely be up for being on a support thread. We have the same problem with trying to stop DS's scratching - he's only 9 months but we can't trust him with any bare limbs I feel so sorry for your DS - it must be so much harder when they're more aware of what's going on and that other children don't suffer like him.

We use ScratchSleeves here - I hope that works as it's my first every MN link!
The sleeves are amazing and tbh ds is now so used to having them on for sleeping I think he likes them now! I suppose it might be a bit more difficult to get your ds used to them as he is older, but might be worth a try although I think the biggest size they make is 2-3.

It hasn't stopped the habit scratching though - if you pick him up his hands will keep on scratching whether it's his arm or yours! Would love to know how to break the habit.