Eczema and scratching

[whensmynexthol1day]

Just thinking ahead a bit for the summer. My daughter (18 months) developed eczema this winter which we're treating with oilatum and occasionally hydrocortisone. She scratches every time any skin is exposed and can make herself bleed eg when we are changing her nappy. She wears scratch sleeves at night and when sleeping which has helped.
At the moment she can wear leggings/tights/long sleeved tops etc, but when it's hot she'll want less clothing! But then will want to scratch. Any ideas? I'm sure we can find some long sleeved lightweight tops, but less sure about bottoms. Do we need to go back to the dr if she can't help but scratch?

you could try harem trousers, which are very lightweight but would cover her legs. there are some here and here. as for tops, you could try here. all the best x

Oh yes! They look good! Thanks!

is there mould in your house?
just thinking because the eczema started in winter - prime season for mould.

no help on the clothes front, but my dc had a scratch teddy when eczema was bad. it was just a normal teddy with a vest made out of a piece of window leather which feels a lot like skin and dc liked scratching that instead of own skin.

No definitely no mould. I think it's just in the genes as her brother has it too although not nearly as bad and his is triggered in summer and gets better in the winter.

A scratch teddy sounds like a good idea thanks. She's just started to become interested in carrying teddies around so maybe will try and actively foster a relationship with one! Anything to keep her distracted!

Have you thought about getting a prescription for a stronger steroid from your GP? Hydrocortisone is very mild and only suitable really for thin skin like on the face. Eumovate or betnovate RD would probably clear it up on her body. Are you using emollient regularly, 2/3 times a day? Our dermatologist is a fan of daily baths in oilatum and they've worked wonders for my 2 year old but had to be combined with steroids and liberal emollient use. Any change in the seasons causes flare ups for her, summertime we try to keep her cool as possible, especially in bed, cotton clothes and no fabric conditioner

Thanks funky.
We've had a stronger steroid (and antibiotics) when her back got really infected which cleared it up but we've been told not to use that one again and to go back to the hydrocortisone. I just feel a bit like we're fighting a losing battle!
We use the oilatum at every nappy change so 5-6 times a day. I've heard the bath every day advice but the gp said as little as possible so we only bath 2-3 times with the oilatum oil.
I'd quite like to get a referral to see a dermatologist as we've seen 3 different gps over a few months who all have differing views and it would be good to have the views of the expert, but I'm never sure whether it's bad enough!

Definitely push for a referral to dermatology, GPs tend to be very conservative about treatment. Our derm believes in hitting it hard with steroids, use until the itch and inflammation are gone then for a full week after. We do a full steroid application each weekend for maintenance, used to be Saturday and Sunday but we've been able to drop it to once a week now. Our consultant believes if you hit it hard and get it under control you use less steroids over the lifetime of the patient and they're also more likely to grow out of it. It's been life changing, we've been treating it since she was 5 months and the difference in her has been amazing. It's so distressing caring for them when they're so uncomfortable. I'm based in Ireland and follow the advice on the irish skin foundation website but I think there's a uk based charity too, eczema UK maybe. You're doing all the right things with the tools you've been given but no amount of moisturising will work when her skin is dry and inflamed

I should have said my little ones eczema was from her scalp to her toes, they only area unaffected was her nappy area but I felt a fraud getting a referral because I thought it wasn't severe enough. I was so wrong, they took it very seriously and from a holistic point of view, how it was affecting her sleep, her development, us, her sister

Thanks for your advice- think I will push for a referral then.

Try the Childs Farm moisturiser - it's very good - looks like they also do bath products which may help as well - always worth changing products every so often I think for eczema esp if it doesn't improve
I think the sun is better for eczema prone skin personally so you may find the sun helps it - the itch is annoying though (I have hand eczema and it's infuriating!)

This worked for us.