Eczema or however you spell it - please someone tell me about it.

[Boco]

dd2 is three, she's just been diagnosed with asthma - and has quite suddenly developed really bad eczema to go with it.

Started just in the usual arm creases, but since a couple of days ago is everywhere and keeps having sudden flare ups - put her to bed sobbing as her whole back was bright red and raw and she couldn't stop scratching.

The eczema on her arms was infected and weeping so dr has given us fucillin H, plus hydrocortisone for the rest, plus an aqueous bath wash.

Is there anything to avoid or anything that might help, is really nasty - today on her face too, round her eyes and I feel horrid as don't know how to relieve the itching.

If she's really bad in the night, suggest a dose of calpol (as suggested by bran), then a lukewarm bath with oilatum or something similar, then moisturise, then clean cotton nighty and sheets.

Sudocreme is good too - on top of the moisturiser.

Gloves are a good suggestion too. My dermatologist talked to me about 'scratch-itch syndrome'. The more you scratch, the worse it gets etc.

At one point, I was given antihistimine tablets which made me sleep for twenty hours a day. They're the only ones that would stop the itching. My Mum wouldwake me up for twice dailybaths/moisturising/steroid cream.

I was in my teens then. Your DD is much more likely to grow out of it, as she has childhood eczema.

Thanks for all the suggestions, feel much more prepared for this now and have made a list.

Like the look of that SOS cream, may get some of that for myself too!

I have the NICE guidance on treating excema if you want it Boco. Long story.

re. swimming - we also cover the dc in simple moisturiser, whatever-is-handy and Vaseline works best on the LO. It makes her more slippery than a fish when she's in the pool, but soooo much better than itching afterwards.
Whilst there's such a wealth of info going on here, has anyone tried the anti-chlorine stuff for when they come out of the baths, or are there too many nasties in it for it to be useful?

This is great. Really helpful. DD2 has eczema and she's only just about to turn 1. She's had a red patch on her neck from clothing labels for a while and then, whilst on holiday it flared up during a couple of really hot days and she was literally covered across her whole back sides and front. Basically her entire torso. GP prescribed Aveeno and a topical steroid like hydrocortizone and told us to keep her skin really well moisturised with the Aveeno (we put it on at least twice a day and if it's bad then as often as we can - 5, 6 times maybe). It has, thankfully, worked like a charm and she's back to having the little red patch on the back of her neck and wee bit in her elbow and knee creases.

I found these two sites very helpful [http://dermnetnz.org/] [http://www.eczema.org/]

I've had eczema my whole life and my boys also have it.

Avoid detergents with dyes and perfumes.

Avoid using too much bleach.

Avoid long baths, and make sure it's on the cooler side of warm.

Moisturizers like Aveeno are great.

Wool really irritates mine.

Use a moisturizing soap, and again avoid anything with perfumes.

Eczema sucks, but I've managed my whole life and rarely get flare ups, but the winter is particularly bad for me. Dry air really makes it bad.