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Original poster

Blood all over sheets, gro bag, pj's, teddy bears, hands, face... its getting ridiculous!

32 replies

Nip · 03/07/2007 08:47

My DS (15mo) has always had a problem with his wrists, elbow creases and under his chin/neck. He itches until they bleed - we have been prescribed many different potions and lotions.
The suggestion is that its excema but i really dont think it is now... last night he was put to bed at 8am as normal, his skin was perfect not a single blemish... however at 11.30 he woke crying uncontrollably - it was then that we noticed the blood everywhere... he had scratched himself terribly. The blood had totally soaked his gro-bag & pj's, and there was large areas of blood over his bed sheets.

I cut his nails as much as possible, and we constantly put cream on his neck to calm it down - but i'm just getting more and more down about it.
This morning he has gone to nursery without any skin under his neck.
Whenever i book an appointment at the dr's it either clears up totally or they give me yet more cream....But the cream works - they all work, yet nothing stops him itching... i guess it must be a habit - but does ANYONE have some suggestions, its really upsetting me and people stare at him thinking he's been scalded or something

OP posts:
BabiesEverywhere · 03/07/2007 08:54

You can get cotton gloves for excema suffers to wear over creamed hands for nighttime. Even if it isn't excema the gloves would reduce the scatching. Worth a try.

CantSleepWontSleep · 03/07/2007 08:56

Sounds horrible. Have you considered a possible food intolerance, or allergy to the washing powder on his bedding?

thehairybabysmum · 03/07/2007 09:00

Poor little thing...

Can you ask your dr or HV if there is a specialist eczema clinic in your area that you could be referred to, failing that you could ask to be referred to dermalologist at teh hospital.

I would go to docs anyway and describe the problem even if it has temporarily cleared up...i would expect the doc to be sympathetic with such a little one.

Also could you try sleep suits with inbuilt fold over cuffs that act as mittens..i think next sell them. Might stop him scratching it quite as raw??

Tentiebug · 03/07/2007 09:04

My friends lo has excema and scratches terribly. She buys clothes a size bigger and sews up the sleeves as he kept taking the gloves off.

hippipotami · 03/07/2007 09:07

Is he getting too hot and clammy in bed? I only ask because my dd gets very hot, even under the thinnest of blankets, and when she gets hot and sweaty she starts to itch. Creases and under the neck sounds like they could be areas where your ds gets a bit sweaty and thus itchy.

I suggest trying the mitted sleepsuits so he cannot do a lot of damage, and of course see the gp.

Hope you can get this relolved asap, for both your and your ds's sake.
xx

SSSandy2 · 03/07/2007 09:09

Be careful what you use to wash his bedclothes and sleepwear. I imagine you're not using fabric softener anyway but perhaps you could try a different washing powder too. You can also get anti-allergenic covers for the mattress.

Hope something helps. Sounds horrible for you and for him

Original poster
Nip · 03/07/2007 09:09

Oh thank you - i've just found a website that do suits with mittens in - I'll perhaps have a try.. the worry is though that he HATES his hands been covered up.
For example if you put his shirt on and his fingers get caught in the sleeve he gets really frustrated! But ANYTHING is worth a try now.

I dont think its a food intolerance or washing powder as nothing has changed - we are very careful of that.

I'm feeling like i've done something wrong as no-one elses children have this...

Just booked an appointment at the dr's.

OP posts:
Original poster
Nip · 03/07/2007 09:14

hippi - perhaps he is getting too hot - our house is cool, but maybe this is it... He goes to bed with some thin pj's on and a very low tog gro bag... but when its been warm and we've taken his grobag off he always wakes up crying because he's cold...

What do you put your DC"s in? I always make sure he has a long sleeved PJ top and grobag - oh is it me causing this?

OP posts:
mistlethrush · 03/07/2007 09:14

If it tends to clear up by the time you get to the Drs, get a digital camera and take photos - I did this for one rash just in case and it was very helpful. Dr thought it was a good thing. No need to process - just take camera along to show on screen.

themildmanneredjanitor · 03/07/2007 09:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Nip · 03/07/2007 09:22

fairy cubes

OP posts:
thehairybabysmum · 03/07/2007 10:40

doesnt sound like he has that many layers on...my ds tends to sleep in a vest pj top and grobag at the mo.

You could try turning the cuffs over once he is asleep if it will bother him having it done when he is awake...depends how heavy a sleeper he is i guess. (Be prepared that it does look a bit freaky like they've got no hands though!)

Good luck at the docs...let us know how you get on.

hippipotami · 03/07/2007 14:42

Oh Nip, I did not in any way mean to imply that it was you causing this - sorry sorry sorry...

It does not sound like he has too many layers on, all I meant to say is that some children just seem to be 'hot'sleepers. My dd, even with minimal layers and a thin blanket will sleep so 'fast/deeply' that she sweats. She always wakes up with damp hair from sweating. (and that is with the window open)

Sorry, you are not causing this, I never meant to imply that

KrustyTheClown · 03/07/2007 14:46

I would also take a picture as mistlethrush suggests (we have done this before).

Could you ask the doctor for an antihistamine for the night time? You could try Piriton (as he's over 1) but there are other stronger ones if that doesn't work.

FWIW, I get very itchy skin at night and cannot stop myself scratching. I have to take an antihistamine.

3littlefrogs · 03/07/2007 16:12

You can sew socks onto the cuffs and legs of pjs and sleep suits. This can be cheaper than going out and buying new ones with mittens and feet.

Ds2 was terribly allergic to persil, (and all fabric softners). I once had to use it to wash his clothes when we were away from home. He after less than an hour he had a red raw underwear shaped rash on his body and was screaming his head off.

It can take 2 or 3 washes with different stuff to get all the traces of the previous washing powder out. Different children are allergic to different things and it is a process of trial and error.

Keeping a food and product usage diary is the way to go, that way you can flag up anything that causes a reaction.

So sorry you are having to deal with this - it is miserable.

Danae · 03/07/2007 18:42

Message withdrawn

Danae · 03/07/2007 18:45

Message withdrawn

Danae · 03/07/2007 18:47

Message withdrawn

AllieJubJub · 03/07/2007 18:55

my dd does this, and she only has mild eczema. is he too young for piriton?

edam · 03/07/2007 18:56

ditch the Fairy, I've heard lots of people say it makes their children's eczema worse.

bewilderbeast · 03/07/2007 19:00

I do this, have all my life, I have excema I scratch in my sleep just can't help it. It sounds like he's itching the bits that get hot and sweaty - the creases - maybe try cooling his room down a bit or reducing the number of layers of clothes he has on. Possibly try long sleeves but less layers to protect elbows and wrists. Think about gloves to protect the neck. It doesn't matter how short his nails are he will find a way to scratch - I use my knuckles to scratch my other hand with. Avoid acidic foods like tomatoes if you can.

callmeovercautious · 03/07/2007 19:23

Hi Nip

He could be having a reaction to dustmites in his bed. Sounds horrible but we all have them (you would be horrified if you knew how many!). One good way of reducing them is to hoover the matress weekly and wash all bedclothes several times a week. I use surcare which I find better than Fairy (although each excema sufferer reacts ti different things). Also put his cuddly toys in a sealed plastic bag in the freezer for a few hours (it kills the buggers!).

My excema and allergies are made much worse by dustmites so have lived my life avoiding carpets and lots of soft furnishing. DD has the same so am looking into getting rid of the carpet in her room.

HTH

funnypeculiar · 03/07/2007 19:27

poor you & him.
Another vote for surcare rather than Fairy here - helped ds' excema...

Meggymoose · 03/07/2007 19:34

Nip - not sure where you're based, but the dermatologists at my local hospital in Shropshire offer a drop in service. Whenever we are booked to see them DD's skin is good, so we have a number to call for a quick appt when her skin flares up so they can see it at its worst. Also we took some photos to the last out-patient appt which whilst not much use diagnosticly (?sp) at least demonstrated there was a problem. They kept the photos for the notes. Hope this is of help.

BTW - have you discussed trying piriton with your GP?

Chrissee · 03/07/2007 19:48

Hi Nip
My dd1 has exzema (now 9yo) did same things from 6m - 3y - skin scratched off her hands normally. We found Persil the best for her, also used super rinse cycle and washed everything at 60degree. Have found the gloves very useful, could try giving some cod liver oil or other oils. Goodluck!

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