Excema - how should I treat it?

[AngieL]

My 15 mo daughter has got quite a lot of excema at the moment. She has got a large patch on the side of her face near her eye and it has become infected. She has an immune deficiency and the doctor has now given her oral antibiotics.

He hasn't really told me how I should be treating the excema though and it is weeping and bleeding. Do I put any cream or anything on - I can't use the hydrocortisone at the moment. Should I cover it up, to stop dd scratching it?

Any advice would be great. TIA.

[bunny2]

Donnie, we use cotton comfort sleepwear for ds and it is brilliant. He cannot pull up the legs to scratch and has a better night sleep.

SJL, our son is also in a poor way right now. I'm a bit weepy about it all today. When buying a new mattress last week, our salesman told us he was covered in eczema from head to toe last year and the only thing that worked was cyclospurin or whatever it is called. Hope it works for your daughter. Please let me know what happens. Good luck

[Cha]

AngieL - what has happened to your dd? Picked up this thread today as my 17 month old has just developed the 'sandpaper skin' that batey talked about along with patches behind her knees and in the crooks of her elbows. Was really touched by your story and how everyone has helped. I really hope she is better or that you have found some kind of working solution. Thinking of you.

[Angiel]

Hello Cha

Well I'm still battling with it really. The infection seems to have cleared up now but she still has a lot of eczema on her face and body that is bleeding and looking very sore.

Because of my dd's immune deficiency, our GP has referred us back to the hospital, to see if they can offer any help. At the moment I am still using the Aveeno cream and some steroid cream called Vio Form.

It is such a shame that it is her face that is the most affected, someone asked me what was wrong with her the other day and several people just keep staring. I can feel the mums at the school taking a quick look when they get the chance.

I am also considering changing our bedding to some hypoallergenic stuff and found this site the other day.

www.westons.com/cgi/ss000247.pl

I feel like I'm floundering a bit really but other people have noticed an improvement so maybe I just can't see it.

Thanks for thinking of dd, I'm most grateful.

[Lukesmummy]

Hi all, ds does not have eczema but I do and swear by using South Africa Rooibos Tea (I think its sold in UK under RedBush Tea). Do yourselves a favour and check out www.Annique.com . It's all about the allergies (of which ezcema is one) and how to treat it. She has won several international awards because of her discovery. Hope you find this useful, good luck.

[robinw]

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[Luna]

Have just read CER's entry of a few days ago and am really encouraged to persevere with Elena's collection on ds - he got really upset after applying it yesterday and today which almost had me in tears too. Hopefully his eczema too will improve soon too.

[Joe1]

We have been using Elanas Collection for just over a week now and I am really pleased with the results. It was a hard first few days but we have had a couple of itch free days and nights are getting better and better. All his normal itchy patches he hasnt touched and we have had no open patches for at least a week. I am happily telling others about it. Cant see us changing to anything else

[Lukesmummy]

Hi robinw, sorry about the link here it is and the whole story behind the tea and it's links with allergies and ezcema. Hope you find it useful. www.rooibos.com/

[Lukesmummy]

Hi robinw, sorry about the link here it is and the whole story behind the tea and it's links with allergies and ezcema. Hope you find it useful. www.rooibos.com/

[robinw]

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[bunny2]

Debenhams do a range of anti-dustmite bedding, including duvets, pillows and mattress covers. The mattress covers are quilted and absolutely tot sticky sweaty ones like some we have tried.

[Angiel]

As you know, I'm still struggling with my dds eczema at the moment. She has got several patches on the backs of her hands but I have noticed today that the palms of her hands seem funny. They don't seem to be dry but they do look shrivelled, like she has been in the bath too long. Do you think that this is the start of her hands becoming affected, or could it be something else? TIA

[CER]

Glad you are persevering Luna. I often find that new ointments sting or burn my eczema a bit , especially if there's broken skin so maybe that's what upset your son. Resorted to using some eureka cream on my wrist on the middle of the night last night (don't usually use elenas stuff on myself as it is too expensive!) It burnt initially but the result has been amazing, no itching for almost 24hours and the skin is healing really quickly.

How is your dd Angiel? Have you had any luck finding out what is affecting the palms of her hands? Are you putting the emollients on all over, not just on the patches with eczema? Questions, questions - sorry!

[SJL]

Just read Joe1's message, I too have been using Elenas creams for nearly 2 weeks now and initially it helped, but we had lots and lots of flaking skin but that I am pleased to say has calmed down, but her legs, arms and hands are very very itchy and very red, I am using the Eureka cream on them at the moment to see, but sometimes it is so disheartening, but would be interested to know anybody elses reactions to her creams, as sometimes I think my DS eczema is too severe for this.... Also has anybody been able to get this on perscription?

[Joe1]

SJL I have today been to the doctor and have got everything on prescription, so carrying on. We have seen a great improvement. Ds has a slight flare up at the moment but I think this is down to helping his dad do some decorating. I have about half an hour ago put on the Eureka cream and some more day cream and itching has stopped. Have you phoned Elena and asked them for advice?

[SJL]

joe1, yes I have called previously, but will call again shortly just to check that it is helping!
I went to the GP today and asked about getting this put on perscription but she said that they wouldn't be able to do it. But I didn't have my daughter with me and so I just spoke to her about it and I really would like to see some improvement before I push for it. How did you get it perscribed by your GP?

[Joe1]

I just told him I was fed up of trying everything else, going back and forth to the hospital trying the same old thing over and over again and fed up of using steriod cream. He was really interested and is going to look at the website tonight. He was a locom, and an older doctor and was lovely, he just asked what I needed. No trouble at the chemist, will be able to pick it all up tomorrow. Why did your GP say she wouldnt do it?

[SJL]

joe1, she just said that we wouldn't perscribe it here. But I did not have my daughter with me at the time and so didn't really push it. But we are going to see the consultant next week and I really just want to see an improvement then I am definately going to push for it..as the NHS has already spent hundreds of pounds on treatment for my DS so far! But it is encouraging that you have got it on perscription, how long was it before you saw a big improvement on the eczema whilst using Elenas collection? As for us it has only been 2 weeks..so just need to play the waiting game I think

[Luna]

Lisalisa - sorry not to have replied sooner but I only just saw your message. The SK cream is used for flare ups. It comes in a small jar and only a small amount is applied to the affected area.

[jasper]

My knowledge of excema could be written on a postage stamp and still leave room for the Lord's prayer. However I caught the tail end of a feature on This Morning (today) where the good doc said a brand new and very effective non steroidal cream had just come out THIS WEEK and was available by presciption only. He was very positive about its efficacy.I did not catch its name .

[Joe1]

SJL I suppose it has been about 2 weeks to see it really working, although we have had alot less itching for a good week or so. He still has a couple of patches that are abit stubborn, mainly around his ears and he is still itching his head sometimes, although I do think that some is still habit and will eventually all just disappear.

Been to the chemist today and all my creams etc should be there tomorrow.

[Angiel]

I was really interested to see that so many of you are getting on well with Elena's Collection. I sent off for the free sample a couple of days ago but I'm doubtful there will be enough there, for me to get a good idea of whether it will work or not.

It is expensive isn't it? Whilst I don't mind spending the money if it will work, I can't really afford to make a costly mistake.

My dd is actually looking much better at the moment. I have been resisting the urge to put on the steroid cream and have been slapping on the Aveeno.

Does being outside etc have any affect on eczema? Dd has been playing outside most of this week and her skin is improving each day.

[bunny2]

AngieL, I firmly beleive being outside is hugely beneficial. It is generally cooler and the air is fresher. Also the outside air is free of common triggers such as housedustmite. We have always spent alot of time outside - even in the rain and in the middle of the night we have carried ds round the garden to cool him down, it always helps.

[Luna]

I think the cream the dr on This Morning mentioned was called ELIDEL (prescription only). If anyone tries this can they report back please.

AngieL - I have been using Elena's collection on my son iso the hydrocortisone and do think he is improving. He had quite a sore nappy area (the first time since birth) and it cleared up in a couple of days after massaging the area with the bath and body oil. Like many others experience the skin did peel off very gently. HTH.

Someone asked how to get hold of cetomacragol and I was told from a chemist (I have not got any yet; the chemist I tried did not have it). I have noticed that it is one of the ingredients in DiproBase ointment, which I us iso soap for washing my hands and sometimes in ds bath.

[Rhiannon]

I saw the bit about Elidel apparently it's non steroid and the first new cream on the market for years and Dr whatsit was raving about it.