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Original poster

Excema - how should I treat it?

196 replies

AngieL · 30/01/2003 22:09

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.

OP posts:
robinw · 30/05/2003 22:22

message withdrawn

Hughsie · 01/06/2003 10:14

My son who is 2 has not suffered from ecxema for very long but has been prescribed a hydrocortisone cream for a flare up on his bottom - when I read the motes it says not to cover with a nappy so presume that it should not be used on his bottom. We use diprobase as well but have not seen much improvement - any ideas for treating the bottom - it seems to be the arae that bothers him and he scratches a lot and ocassionally cuts his skin - we change him more regularly to avoid irritaion but would love to rid him from it!

susanb · 01/06/2003 16:17

Hi Hughsie

We had similar problems with our son - he gets really itchy at night under his nappy but he's dry during the day so thats not a problem. We've tried a load of creams, bath preparations, etc and we're now onto herbal medicine but its too early to say whether its working.

The best advice I can give is to let the air get to your son as often as possible, this will really help the healing process.

whymummy · 01/06/2003 16:53

hughsie you can try this
1 tbspoon of milk
1 tbspoon of honey
1 teaspoon of olive oil
mix it together and rub it on affected area then let him wear cotton pants for a while until the mixture is absorb into the skin

Hughsie · 01/06/2003 17:57

Thank you - I'll give it a try!

Hughsie · 01/06/2003 18:03

Sorry if this has already been asked but the thread is so long I cant see it

Are there any foods/drinks that are prime culprits for ecxema? DH is now saying to cut out grapes (ds1 favourite) and juice and to avoid any clothes that are not 100% cotton - is this too extreme?

bunny2 · 01/06/2003 21:01

Hughsie, some say foods are the biggest culprit in causing eczema. One paediatrician put ds on a very restricted diet. After three months we saw another paed (same hospital) who said changing the diet wouldnt make any difference to his eczema at all! Go figure!! Eggs, dairy and wheat are all thought to be common culprits but the only way to find out is to try excluding certain foods under medical supervision. Some foods (often fruits) can cause immediate reaction on contact. Tomatoes can irritate the skin, as can citrus. With our son melon really makes his skin itchy and sore. Pity because he loves to eat it with his fingers. If the reaction on your sons skin is immediate and localised to where the grapes have touched the skin then I'd say it is probably a reaction to the acid in the fruit.
HTH and makes sense! It's a bit rambly cos I'm tired.

janh · 01/06/2003 21:06

Hughsie, do you use normal laundry products? It might be worth trying sensitive skin products if you do. (I'm assuming he gets eczema in other places than under his nappy?)

You can get Surcare laundry liquid and fabric rinse from Tesco. Doesn't wash as well as the bio's but is much better for sensitive skin.

It is a good idea to use cotton where you can - it seems to be kinder.

Trying to isolate a food cause is almost impossible on your own - there are so many potential allergens. I didn't think grapes were a problem food - dairy, peanuts (and p butter), strawberries, citrus and spices are common ones. But if it is food it could be anything.

You could try Nelson's Calendula (homeopathic, from Boots) on his bottom, or Sudocrem, or aqueous cream which a lot of people use on eczema (but it can cause a reaction itself.) And let him have time without a nappy when you can.

janh · 01/06/2003 21:24

susanb - I just read this in your message below:

Hughsie · 01/06/2003 21:40

I'm not sure grapes have come into contact with his skin - I thought it may be to do with eating them or dh did anyway. I'm reluctant to exclude as he loves them and has done for ages even prior to ecxema. realise it will be hard to isolate causes alone.

Use non bio and comfort pure in washing.

Will try sudocrem on his bottom tomorrow

He had a nasty bout of shingles which resulted in hospitalisation in March and the excema seems to have been worse since then - he is on Zovirax medicine at the moment as we were worried about a reoccurence due to a spot bay his eye - this has since faded but the excema flare up could be due to him been run down because of this I suppose.

I really appreciate the advice - thank you

janh · 01/06/2003 21:52

Hughsie, do try Surcare - non-bio and Comfort Pure still have perfume in as well as other possibly dodgy stuff!

robinw · 01/06/2003 22:08

message withdrawn

Boe · 02/06/2003 08:51

There was an article in the Times last week - (I think it was last week anyway) it mentioned that pro-biotic stuff, like yakult and such like has really good results on childhood excema (Sorry spelt wrongly!!)- you can but yogurts that are probiotic I think - and I think you have to get the kids to eat them - my partner thought it meant you had to rub it on the poor kids when I pointed it out to him - mind you this is the man that didn't know that you used both breasts when you were breast feeding and thought game (as in pheasant etc.) was the name of an actual animal - he is not a complete wally though - he somehow got a degree and plays around with everyone else's money all day - just glad he did not become a doctor or a vet!!!

oliveoil · 02/06/2003 13:02

Sorry, not read all messages but see someone mentions Sudacrem - has any one used this on the face? It says on the pack it is for infections ezcema etc but not sure. My daughter (8month) has had a red rash on her face on and off for a few months and nothing seems to help, had 7 different creams from HV.

poopsy · 02/06/2003 14:22

Hi all,
i have started wetwrapping now. it seems to be helping a bit although my girl still manages to scratch through. i am also using diprobase, i noticed that she has since shed off a lot of old skin and her bed is not so messy in the mornings. her skin is getting softer now although still gets dry too fast. i have been using piriton for a while now frankly i don't think its effective anymore. is there anything else that can help with the itching? i also intend to try the salt in the bath water as has been suggested and will do so cautiously.

bunny2 · 02/06/2003 19:24

Poopsy, get a prescription for Vallergen or Vallergen Forte (sp?). This is a different but IMO more effective sedative than Piriton. Phenergan (sp???) is available over the counter and is also very sedating so helps with those itchy night times. Good luck withthe wraps.

poopsy · 05/06/2003 18:57

Bunny2
thanks for the advice i need it so.i will keep you posted.

misdee · 05/06/2003 22:52

hiya

dd1 ezcema is still out of control. we are on out 3rd tube of fuciden h (which i'm not happy about), 3rd tub of aqueous cream, 2nd bottle of oilatum, 2nd bottle of dermol 500, and have also aquired a pot of emulsifying ointment at our doctors appointment yesterday, all this in the last 3/4 weeks.
add to that the fact dd1 also had an allergic reaction to an insect bite yesterday near her eye and she looks like she has 10 rounds with frank bruno, and is dosed up on piriton to bring the swelling down, u could say i'm getting stressed. i just want her referred back to the consultant quickly. i think i should just make weekly appointments at the surgery for now, seems a lot easier than getting her seen at emergency appointments every week.

argh!!!
sarah.

Original poster
Angiel · 05/06/2003 23:21

Hi everyone

Sorry to hear that so many of your little ones are still plagued by eczema. When I first started this thread by dd looked awful, she had eczema all over her face that was infected and she looked like she had been in some kind of accident.

I'm glad to say that it has now near enough all disappeared. I'm not sure what really made the difference but I stopped using the hydrocortisone and just used aveeno as an emollient. Our consultant at the hospital recommended that we saw a dietician as he suspected that allergies probably played a part. He told us to avoid dairy, egg and dark fish. When we saw the dietician she suggested we try a milk and lactose free diet and it seems to have worked for us.

I was also giving my daughter probiotic yoghurts etc as she was taking lots of antibiotics due to an immune deficiency. Unfortunately you can't get probiotic soya yoghurts, but there is a probiotic juice drink called Proviva. I can't seem to find it anywhere, anyone got any suggestions.

Hope your little ones find some relief soon.

OP posts:
misdee · 06/06/2003 22:54

got a letter today, saying they have recieved dd1 referral at hertford hospital to see the specialist and should hear soon. whoop!!

bunny2 · 07/06/2003 08:20

Angiel, have you searched on the internet for PRoviva? You should be able to find a list of stockists.

joshsmum · 20/04/2004 14:44

Hello everyone

am now proud mum to josh aged 8 1/2 weeks. He is good at sleeping through the night - generally from around 7pm to 7am waking once for a feed. He has been doing this since i have put him in his own room with a blackout blind!

the only problem i have is trying to get him to have a nap in the day - some days he doesnt sleep at all. I have tried to taking him for walks which sometimes works or putting the hairdryer on (which he will sleep for about 10 mins to). If i put him in his cot he just crys and i dont think it fair to leave him for more than 5 mins, he gets very irritable.

but everyday it is different - some days he will sleep for 2-3 hours in the day. should i be trying to get him into a routine of certain naptimes??

please help if anyone has had the same problem
sarah

joshsmum · 20/04/2004 14:45

sorry i meant to start a new conversation!!!!

biglips · 30/12/2004 13:04

angiel - ya baba wont sleep during the day cos he had enough sleep between 7pm -7am (which is alot) as my baba is now 11 wks and she sleeps for 9 hrs and then have 2 hours nap in the afternoon and then on and off (baba's only needs 16 hrs sleep of that age). Once my baba slept for 12 hrs and it was a bad mistake as she was wide awake all that day and wouldnt go asleep until 4am the following morning - it took me 3 weeks to get back into that rountine and it kills me

biglips · 30/12/2004 13:05

sorry not angiel this is for joshsmum

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