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Original poster

Diagnosis of excema in a 2 yr old

34 replies

Cashncarry · 24/03/2007 23:01

My 2 yr old DD has today been diagnosed by the emergency doctor with excema. She's come up in a rash this week which started as a big ugly red patch behind her knee and has spread to lots of little bumps all over her legs and arms. They started red and angry looking - now they're purple and appear to be going down.
I'm a bit miffed with the Dr as he was unhelpful to say the least. However, am relieved it's nothing more serious. I have no experience in this area but know from "lurking" that a lot of kids of MNers have excema.
I have no idea how to treat this long term. She's been prescribed with a hydrocortisone cream which I'm applying x2 a day. Should I be eliminating things from her diet to figure out the cause? Should I stop using her cream (E45 currently) and bath stuff (Mr Men!)?
I'm off to bed now but would appreciate any help from the more experienced among you with any pearls of wisdom

OP posts:
Monkeybar · 24/03/2007 23:06

Haven't really got any pearls of wisdom, but my ds has had excema since he was tiny (now 20 months). I was given potent steroid cream by my GP, but I'm not that happy using it. It's behind his knees, under his armpits and in his elbow creases, adn he has lots of patches about 50p size all over his body. Doesn't seem to worry him too much, and a different GP said that changing his diet at this stage probably wouldn;t acheive much and that maybe he'd grow out of it. Neither me or dh have excema, so a bit of a mystery.
We use Oilatum in the bath, never any soap, and I but doublebase cream, which is just a moisturiser, on every day at least once
HTH

luciemule · 24/03/2007 23:11

Would definitely stop the Mr Men bath stuff and possibly change from E45 to double base/aqueous cream. E45 used to 'burn' my skin although once a flare up occurs, anything applied to the skin, no matter how 'pure' often ffels the same until the skin calms down. I'm having a terrible flare up at the moment and nothing helps, except that Vaseline doesn't sting or burn and does give a protective layer and reduce itching. I certainly wouldn't want to use any steroid on such a small child for long and you can't use on face (he probably told you that).

Original poster
Cashncarry · 24/03/2007 23:16

No Luciemule - he didn't tell me I couldn't use it on her face. In fact, it doesn't look at all suitable for children. He was such a plank

Good to hear that it's not that serious monkeybar - I was being a typical paranoid mum and worrying that I wasn't worrying enough

Thanks for the tips guys - will try the Oilatum and the vaseline and see how it goes...

Sorry to hear it's flaring up luciemule. It does seem like excema is one of those things doctors just shrug their shoulders at and expect you to get on with it

OP posts:
kiskidee · 24/03/2007 23:20

moisturise, moisturise is the key. make an appt with her gp. ask for epaderm and aveeno (lotion and cream) on prescription. Epaderm is a bath emollient you use in place of soap. (Mr Men or any other thing) Here is my dd's routine: wet your hands and rub them together to make the epaderm 'lather' then rub on skin as you would soap. rinse off. My dd never uses soap and she is now 2. You can bath everyday but no longer than 10 mins. Under 10 mins, water moisturises, over 10 mins, it starts to dry out the skin and don't make the water too hot. blood temp is enough.

once out of the bath, put aveeno lotion 2x daily. I try to save the cream for smaller localised use, esp face, hands elbows and knees if they are too dry.

always moisturise then put hydrocortisone on top. With hydrocortisone, keep applying a few days after the redness has gone as if you stop too early, it comes right back.

Original poster
Cashncarry · 25/03/2007 21:31

Kiskidee (brilliant name by the way - is it West Indian inspired?) - thanks so much for the great advice. The redness is done now - just left with nasty dry brown patches. I'm making an appt with her GP tomorrow to get the prescription. Thanks again

OP posts:
kiskidee · 26/03/2007 20:20

yes it is west indian inspired.

when you google it, one of these turn up

Original poster
Cashncarry · 26/03/2007 21:17

aaaaw - how cute Brings back sweet memories of my childhood [nostalgic emoticon]!!

OP posts:
kiskidee · 26/03/2007 21:32

oooh, where did you grow up?

Original poster
Cashncarry · 26/03/2007 22:23

T&T

OP posts:
MerryMarigold · 26/03/2007 22:32

I certainly wouldn't want to use any steroid on such a small child for long and you can't use on face (he probably told you that).

Cashncarry, I'm glad your dd's eczema is clearing up. Yes, definitely cutting the bath stuff and moisturising a lot would help.

I would just beware of some of the advice given (people often feel free to offer it), for example the advice I have quoted above. My ds has eczema and has been seen by a consultant dermatologist. He has used stronger steroids than hydrocortisone on his face (for more than 3 months 2 x per day), and is now on something even stronger in order to control it. People have different opinions on this, and some prefer more natural methods if they have the choice, but I would always go with the medical opinion above general 'advice'. It has worked so far for us!

TooTicky · 26/03/2007 22:35

homoeopathy is much better

MerryMarigold · 26/03/2007 22:39

Hi Tooticky. Don't whisper on my account!! I don't mind people recommending stuff that has worked for them but I do object when people make statements such as 'hydrocortisone cannot be used on the face'!!! I mean, where did that come from?! It is confusing to someone who has a brand new diagnosis (and it wasn't even on the face).

The good thing about homeopathy is that (I believe) it can be done in conjunction with more traditional treatments, so you can gradually 'wean' off the medication if it starts working.

mollymawk · 26/03/2007 22:40

Just another vote for Epaderm. You can use it neat as a moisturiser as well as a soap substitute.

TooTicky · 26/03/2007 22:41

It bothers me particularly that many children who receive conventional medical treatment for eczema go on to develop asthma - the symptoms are repressed and so go deeper into the body.

MerryMarigold · 26/03/2007 22:50

I thought eczema and asthma went hand in hand because of similar immune 'thingys'. Are you a homeopath? My ds has discoid eczema which is a specific type - can it work on this? I did phone one and she never got back to me, so I gave up rather quickly as it was out of control at the time, but now we have it under control with the medication, it is probably a better time to have a go.

TooTicky · 26/03/2007 22:52

I'm not a homoeopath but would like to be one. Yes, your ds could be treated. Whereabouts are you? I can recommend some excellent classical homoeopaths.

BallsOfChocolate · 26/03/2007 22:57

E45 has lanoline in it which can actually aggravate eczema as some people are sensitive to it (inc me!). You need to use the simplest emollients like aqueous cream or some thicker ones which you can get via the pharmacy. Eczema can be triggered by a physical stress (eg a virus or allergen) and made worse by stress, so once you have this episode under control it may actually subside substantially. Some people are more sensitive. Wait and see.. but it doesn't have to be all bad, really.

MerryMarigold · 26/03/2007 23:04

I am in East London, E7, near Stratford. This is not too far from Romford and other Essex locations or Central London. The person I tried was in Wanstead. Please recommend and if it works I will be forever singing its praises on mumsnet!

rowan1971 · 26/03/2007 23:08

Sorry to hujack a bit, but my 2-yr-old ds has just been diagnosed with mild eczema. I'm thankful it's mild, but nothing the GP has prescribed (aqueous cream, Oilatum and 1% hydrocortisone cream) seems to be making much difference. How long should one persist with medication before returning to the GP? Is it reasonable to expect the rash to disappear completely with treatment?

TooTicky · 26/03/2007 23:09

Ah, okay. There are a couple in London. Can I get back to you tomorrow as I don't have details but they are part of the same group as my homoeopath. I'll give him a ring tomorrow

MerryMarigold · 26/03/2007 23:10

Yes, when we got the medication 'right' it went totally and only comes back in tiny patches (and it was REALLY bad before). Aveeno and Balneum worked for us as well as stronger steroids than hydrocortisone (I am about to try homeopathy as well!),

MerryMarigold · 26/03/2007 23:10

That would be lovely, thanks Tooticky.

saadia · 26/03/2007 23:12

The thing that really helps with ds2's exczema is to wet it with water and apply Vaseline immediately to seal in the water. I was using Aveeno and it helped for a while but doesn't seem to have the same effect anymore. We use Aveeno soap in his bath as well.

BallsOfChocolate · 26/03/2007 23:23

Check Oilatum for lanolin too - sorry, but loads of GPs prescribe stuff with lanolin in and should not in my opinion! It can make you really itch.

rowan1971 · 26/03/2007 23:24

Ta for advice. Will go and shake fist at GP.