My 4 month old's skin - pic attached

[fee1234]

Hi, I'm worried about my 4 months old DD's skin, I showed the nurse earlier this week when she was getting her jags and they think it's eczema and prescribed zeroveen emollient which I've been using every couple of hours but it seems to be getting worse. Clothes are washed in small amount of non bio, and she's formula fed. It's only really on her front and small amount on back.

Does this look like typical eczema and does anyone know how else I can treat it? She itches it at any chance she gets. Thanks

[HappyThursdays]

Poor thing - glad you saw the doctor. Don't wait too long for going back if it doesn't work. They always start you on the lowest dose and sometimes you need something stronger.

But fingers crossed this regime works and she's more comfortable soon. Let us know how you get on!

[gamerchick]

Allergies can develop at any time in our lives. Ideally she should have testing if possible. Just because she wasn't allergic to something before, doesnt mean she isn't now.

Poor thing, that looks sore.

[GrumpyHoonMain]

@Nefelibata86

Looks like my son after an eczema flare up but worries me that he has only been diagnosed based on photos. His was presumed triggered by a virus. Can’t comment on treatment as only just starting.

DS had something similar suddenly appear on his face. Initially dismissed as ezcema then a week later the high fevers started and he was diagnosed with two bacterial problems at the same time and needed 2 courses of antibiotics. Keep a close eye on her

[fee1234]

Thanks I will keep an eye on her, I've to get back in touch by the end of next week if there's no improvement.

[RubaiyatOfAnyone]

Meant to add that finding a moisturiser that works for your child is a trial and (pricey) error process - i tried several that friends in similar positions had highly recommended (child’s farm, lush, a solid waxy one prescribed by our GP) before finding Dermol500 worked best for dd. Some did nothing, and some actively seemed to make it worse.

I would also say that the steroid cream should start to work pretty quickly. When i went back to our gp initially and said it wasn’t clearing up after approx 8 days, he said it needed a stronger steroid (1% not 0.5%) because it should work more quickly and reduce the time it is needed for. With 1% it cleared the majority in 2-3 days.

[sherrystrull]

Op I haven't read the full thread but my ds looked just the same so I'll share my advice and sorry if it's repeated
The doctor prescribed us aqueous cream. Don't ever use it. It makes eczema worse.
My ds had a milk allergy. I had to cut out milk in my diet and bf solely. I would be inquiring about dairy free formula too.
Only bath once a week and pat dry. Use oats in a sock in the water.
Use steroid cream to battle it for a week. It's the only thing that worked for us.
Don't use it after emollient as it dilutes if it comes in contact with the emollient.
Other than that. Use the emollient (not aqueous cream)
Seeing the photo brings back so many memories. We also used antihistamine as soon as we could.
Good luck! Feel free to pm me if I can help in any other way

[Nefelibata86]

Thanks @GrumpyHoonMain good point. The blood test to check for allergies showed low white blood cells so we are having to be extra vigilant.

[Suzi888]

Hope it clears up soon, definitely go back for different emollients if it doesn’t! I don’t like the aqueous cream either, makes me itch more.

[GreyishDays]

Aqueous cream is meant to be a soap substitute. It shouldn’t be prescribed as an emollient but often is.

[fee1234]

Thanks we are getting there I think. I used the 1% steroid cream last night and have been using Aveeno cream every hour or so. Hopefully we are getting on top of it, the scratches on her belly are from her itching but I think the antihistamine has helped with that today too.

[Raindancer411]

I am a bit late to the post and was going to say aveeno. It's brilliant stuff!

[HappyThursdays]

yes it certainly looks less red doesn't it but you can still see the rash is there - I'd say that was a good result for day 1 well done.

you can get sleepsuits with mittens so that she can't scratch herself too (they are a bit expensive though so keep it wrapped up probably works just as well)

[Peach1886]

that looks much better, well done for persisting with the doc.

[mocktail]

My daughter was exactly the same and it turned out to be milk and egg allergy. Definitely something to bear in mind...

[UniversalHadIt]

Definitely better. It sounds daft but keep on with the Aveeno after the rash has gone, and the double-rinsing of clothes etc. It’s easy to get complacent (I speak from experience) and stop after a while.

If you do (and you’re only human so at some point, with no flare up in sight, you will) the. At the FIRST sign of any redness etc. get on it with the cream.

Often the first sign will be very blotchy red skin after a bath- it will fade - and you’ll feel relieved- but that’s often when a flare up is imminent.

Just my experience- others may say different.

Well done for doing so well with it so quickly.

[fee1234]

Thank you, it's looking so much better I'm glad I didn't leave it until after the weekend to get it sorted. I might stop using the hydrocortisone soon and just continue with Aveeno.

[HappyThursdays]

phew! I am so pleased for you and for her. Well done for being so persistent and following it up - maybe one of the washing powder changes has also helped, it's hard to know isn't it. Fingers crossed the improvement continues and it isn't related to diet (just because it's a pain if it is!).

[coldspaghettio]

Wean down the steroid. Otherwise it'll flare straight back up. Keep her very moisturised and make sure her nails are really short. You have to stop the itch scratch cycle, try some bamboo pj's with hand cuffs.

[YouCantBeSadHoldingACupcake]

It looks so much better. I never found the aveeno much good on its own though. Some people get on well with child's farm moisturiser. I like this one, definitely seems to help more than any other moisturiser I tried for dd

[SoddingWeddings]

It looks a lot better.

Just an FYI, I'm allergic to Fairy washing products - I used to be able to use their pods, but they changed the scent and I looked like your first photo in a day.... The itching is horrific.

If it flares up for her again, check all regular products for tiny writing of "new" anything - I only found the 3mm high letters after someone on here had a thread about the new scent by which time I was bleeding all over my legs. Grrrr.

[UniversalHadIt]

@YouCantBeSadHoldingACupcake

Yes! And the calendula cream that fixes absolutely ANYTHING! Spots. Grazes. Nappy rash. Steroid inhaler rash. Dry skin...
eyes up broken phone screen speculatively

[HappyThursdays]

How's she doing now @fee1234 ?

[Rollerboots]

My son had very similar skin at that age. Please push for a dermatology referral if you don't have one already, my GP tried various creams, with no help, when we finally got to dermatology he was really sore . They pretty much diagnosed a milk allergy straight away as he hadn't responded to any treatments. His skin got 80% better when we went milk free. He also has eczema so long term it's been good to have specialist input. GPs will not prescribe the creams you may need . Good luck.

[fee1234]

@HappyThursdays she's doing much better thank you, her skin has improved a lot and she doesn't scratch anymore. I just need to keep on top of everything because it's so easy to think it's getting better and I don't need to moisturise 24/7, but If I miss one moisturising session I notice it start to dry out very quickly again.

Still using Aveeno, and I bought the child's farm one to give it a try next. Can't believe how quickly we seem to be going through them.

I need to find a washing detergent because I've just been washing her clothes separately with nothing added at the moment. I've bought an eco egg so was thinking of trying it out. Just very wary of introducing any chemicals to her clothes.

[KEG05]

Oh her skin has really improved. My Lo has a flare up when she was about 6 months old and we found that aveeno relief ( the one with the dark blue band) was really the best. Once her skin had settled we were able to go from caking her in it at every nappy change to just morning and evening ans it keeps her skin nice and moisturised ☺️.