Bad eczema on ds genitals, advice?

[RoystonVaseySmegHead]

Ds (3) has bad eczema on his bits like in the pics on this website ( vgrd.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/atypical-diaper-dermatitis.html?m=1 ) the doctor prescribed cetroben cream and 1% hydrocortisone to use, so far I've not used the hydrocortisone on him because it says not to use on broken skin and when I put it on for my eczema it stings like a bitch.. plus I know it thins the skin so don't really want to use it unless as a last resort as it's such a sensitive area. does anyone have any advice or anything to help manage or clear it up without having to use the hydrocortisone? Going to make an appointment at docs again tomorrow because I don't want it getting infected and he's so sore with it, but really don't know if there's anything else they can do for it :( (also can someone tell me how to do a clicky link plz?)

Did the doctor see the eczema before prescribing the hydrocortisone? If they thought the skin was too raw to use it then presumably they wouldn't have prescribed it?

It got seen on a good day... nearly 3 weeks after I first tried getting it seen because there's never an appointment in the same week

Haven't seen the pics but my little DS has the same. We've found that putting 1tbsp neat bleach per gallon of water in his bath, every other night, PLUS slathering with cetraben after each bath and every morning, works. The cetraben is totally harmless, use it liberally.

The bleach doesn't sting (it's basically like a swimming pool in terms of chlorine concentration). It's preventative (prevents flare ups) and curative (cleans out broken skin to stop infections). The cetraben used daily is a really good emollient.

1% hydrocortisone is okay in terms of skin thinning. It can go on genitals (avoid the tip of the penis). Use it twice a day for a week, then once a day for a week, then every other day for a week, then twice a week. Do the bleach/cetraben at the same time. Should fix the problem. Good luck!

I use Aveeno cream (with the oat extract, not the cocoa butter) on both DS. It's the only cream apart from hydrocortisone to do anything to their skins. It might clear things up enough to let you eventually use the cetroben?

Will try aveeno, even the cetroben moisturiser is making it worse I could cry for him he was up 3 times last night screaming because of it :( waiting for a call back from the doctors to get him in today, so yet another day off school:(

Aveeno is the only thing I can use,all the other so called bland creams string like mad.

Use the steroid cream,it's prolonged use that thins the skin and surely short term use is better than him being miserable?

Knock fabric conditioner on the head and use a really gentle detergent of you don't already and no harsh soaps or shower gel.

Dame there's no way I could use the hydrocortisone on him with the way it is now, its red raw and weeping

If the doctor has prescribed a steroid, then it's probably needed. 1% hydrocortisone is a very mild steroid. I imagine the doctor would be very vary of prescribing anything more potent on a young child gentials.

Emoilant are the mainstay of ezcema treatment. I suggest you apply the emoliant several times a day. Apply the steroid according to the doctor's instructions. It is important to allow at least twenty minutes between applying the emoilant and the steroid. When dd was little I used to apply the steroid last thing at night.

Is your child out of nappies? I suggest that you have as much bare bottom time as possible. Ammonia from urine can make ezcema worse. Your health visitor might be able to advise if bare bottom tine is too messy.

If what I have written sounds like gobbygook then I suggest you talk to a pharmacist. As it says at the top mumsnet is not a source if medical advice.

I've always used hydrocortisone on raw skin. When the eczema is at its worst it needs the strongest stuff. I'd never been told not to use it on broken skin.
I'd try it or go back to the dr urgently. You can't leave it like that.
Or how about checking with the pharmacist? They might reassure you.

If it's red raw and weeping then it might be worth going back to the GP incase it's a fungal infection. There is another steroid that can help.

Tired I know that mn isn't a GO... and I'm waiting for a call back from our surgery for an appt... but I asked for advice on managing the eczema, and as I've already said I've not been able to use the hydrocortisone because it's been red raw or broken skin since it was prescribed. If anything, by using the emollient it's got worse as it's like all the rough skins sloughed off leaving the really sore parts exposed and the moisture from the cream is stopping it cracking but it's also not healing it.

You need to really plaster the emoilant on really thickly as if it was a face mask. Don't rub the emoilant in as rubbing the skin might break the surface. The skin will absorb the emoilant even if you plaster it on. If the skin is not cracking it sounds like the emoliant is doing its job. Provided your son can tolerate the pain, I think you need to carry on with the emoliant. It may well be that you need a stronger steroid or an anti fungal cream. Only a doctor can give you an answer.

I've put hydrocortisone on my own red raw skin when I've had a bad eczema flair up. It is not particularly sting-y I find.

Some people find the emollients cause their own issues. I use an ointment called PURE papaya ointment on my own eczema instead of an emollient. You can use it for all manner of things as well so I find it quite handy to have in stock.

I hope you get an appt today and some further medical advice.

Moisturiser alone will not rid this. The hydrocortisone should be applied 4-6 times a day. Even on open skin.

Hope the gp helps and maybe prescribes a stronger steroid for a short while.

Can your ds be underpants free for a bit? Let the skin breathe?

I know how to put the cream on, I've been doing it for my own eczema for a long as I can remember, but ds is so sore that he screams when it touches him and he doesn't understand why it's hurting.

Or rather that it's got to sting for it to get better

This might sound odd- but could you put the hydrocortisone on the inside of his underpants so you're not actually touching his skin?

I know it will feel a bit odd for him but at least he'd have a bit of cream on

Bless him, that sounds awful! You must be at your wits' end. Have you tried more natural oils? I'm not anti medication AT ALL, but some people find things like diprobase make their eczema worse. The prescribed creams can have stuff in them which is irritating, strangely enough.

Things like olive oil, almond oil, can help soothe the irritation, and won't sting. They will also protect from chafing, drying and sweat/wee.

Lairy not really as it's all over his bits and it's really sore broken skin so it'd sting too badly to put on until it's healed a bit. got an appointment for half 11 though so will see what they say 👍🏻

The emollient will sting more than the steroid as its moisturising the skin- it needs to be applied as often as you can until it stops hurting. The steroid cream isn't there as a moisturiser but an eczema preventative. If the skin isn't bleeding or weeping then you can put the steroid on, even if it's red - new skin looks red but isn't necessarily raw or broken. You must ask for a referral to a dermatologist and not put up with a gp's limited knowledge. You may even get stronger steroid creams to use and you'll have to use it. The amounts required to cause skin thinning are more than you're likely to apply over the years.

Mix the steroid cream in with the moisturiser before applying?

Have you tried Epaderm? DS has eczema and you can use it to wash instead of soap. We have the emollient (pump dispenser) and the ointment (tub). We wash with the emollient and then apply the ointment as it acts like a barrier. It's very thick like Vaseline but definitely helps. I was told not to apply creams and steroids at the same time as the cream dilutes the steroid.

glue I'll ask about that, the skin is weeping :(

"Mix the steroid cream in with the moisturiser before applying?"

Definately NOT. That would dilute the potency of the steroid. That is why there needs to be twenty minutes between applying the emoliant and the steroid.

Such ignorant comments shows how vital it is to go to a GP who knows what they are doing. Better still get referred to the hospital where a proper ezcema nurse will instruct you on how to apply the creams properly. A pharmacist might be able to help you in the short term.

"This might sound odd- but could you put the hydrocortisone on the inside of his underpants so you're not actually touching his skin?"

That advice is so stupid I don't know where to start. What Lairy has written is at best ineffectual and could be pretty dangerous. Steroid creams must only be applied SPARINGLY to the affected areas. Putting the cream on the underpants means the cream would go everywhere. It would damage healthy skin, get on the child's hands and gawd knows where else. Steroids must be applied following medical instructions.

The other thing I remembered is putting the emollient on BEFORE showering as well as after. A consultant told us that and it seems to help the skin not get so stripped, it protects it.