How to ease the pain of eczema for DD

[MrsOnTheMove]

DD1 has suffered with eczema since being 3 months(now age 5)it comes in 'waves' and over the years we have realised that 'stress' often triggers it - starting school, moving house etc.

We have used steroid creams in the past when it is particularly bad, but generally try to keep to emollients and Epaderm, Oilatum etc. Just lately the itchiness has been particularly bad she has patches on the backs of her legs from the cheeks of her bum to ankles which are dry and red. She hates having a bath as the water 'itches' her. She says the emollients and creams sting when we apply them.

Does anyone know of anything that might ease the itchiness or anything in her diet that I might need to look at. There seems to be nothing worrying her at the moment and she is settled and doing well at school.

Any thoughts would be appreciated

Use hydrocortisone?
Ask your GP for piriton?

ohh, poor little one. There are alot of products for eczema availiable on prescription. I think you should go back to your GP and ask him for something else to try or for a referral to a dermatologist.

My niece (5 next week) has had horrendous eczema for years, after seeing a dermatologist and dietician she has been on a diary,wheat and egg free diet for 12 months and the difference is amazing. It may be worth asking your GP if you can have referal.

A referral for allergy testing might be useful - that's how I discovered it was nickel that caused my exzema. DS had bad excema and grew out of it - cream, cream and more cream. Also, put a layer of vaseline over any prescribed cream to stop it being rubbed off. Poor you - it's horrible.

Omega 3 tablets seemed to help my son. And eating lots of salmon.

Thank you for the suggestions - I have wondered about asking for a referral for her. I did ask our previous G.P who told me it was nothing to do with diet and she would grow out of it! Hopefully our new G.P might be more sympathetic.

I have given her Piriton in the past, but it seems to send her 'wild'!!

In the meantime maybe it is back to the hydrocortisone.

Any ideas on water - would it be worse to not have the emollient in the bath, ie would the water on its own dry out the skin even more. I feel cruel every time I tell her its bath time and she cries

change the temp of the water maybe?
might be worth trying a diff emollient in the bath too

this really helped our son

porridge oats in a sock in the bath. Produces a lovely creamy nectar which is good for itchy skin. Also, make sure the water isn't too hot, lots of moisuriser all the time. I don't have eczema but sensitive skin and creams sting my skin when particularly sensitive, ointments don't seem to have the same effect so maybe it's the preservatives or soemthing in the cream.

Keep emollients in the fridge so that they are nice and cooling (not stingy) when applied.

Don't use any soap for washing,use big dollops of emollient instead then wash it off with warm water.