Steroid cream - eczema

[Laurappo]

Been prescribed this by the GP. Its a bit of a last resort but we have tried evething for a few months now and hos eczema is pretty bad. Actually no, it's really bad and inflamed now.

It's 1%

I'm going to give it a try as the GP told me to so please don't hound this post telling me not to. My question is any good experiences to share from anyone regarding using steroid cream?

I'm really nervous and need a bit of good experience stories from people (if possible....)

You put the steroid straight on your skin, otherwise it’s pointless. I’ve used steroid creams for near on 60 years and never moisturised beforehand and my consultant dermatologist has never told me to either. 40 years as a qualified nurse and worked briefly on a dermatology ward too

If you're LO needs it then use it!;you're their mum;you wouldn't use if there were other options;I only get eczema on my hands so can't imagine what it's like to have it everywhere or suffer as a baby.

I've used steroid cream for my little boys excema since he was very small, he's growing out of it as he gets older. You're doing the right thing, hope your boy feels better soon.

Been using Betnovate ointment for nearly twenty years. It's extremely effective. Mostly for my hands. I use adex gel throughout the day too.

Bad eczema is miserable. There's a lot of scaremongering about steroids.

My youngest had excema when she was a baby - she had it mainly on her neck. At its worst but looked like someone had tried to hang her....it was awful. We tried all the usual topical creams which were a bit 'meh' and ended up with a steroid cream which worked wonders.

We were lucky that she grew out of it although her skin tends to be on sensitive side with certain makeups/face paints/ bubble baths etc (she's 10)

It's sometimes the only thing that gets it under control. It sorted my psoriasis out. However I did see a consultant dermatologist who was brilliant. That might be a plan for you, because my experience of GPs and dermatology has been very negative.

Please research Topical steroid addiction. Look at ITSAN website. My two children had to go through steroid withdrawal - dark days. Their eczema wasn’t worsening - it was steroid addiction. Steroid creams slow down adrenal glands so you no longer produce as much natural steroid leading to re bound in between treatments. Once healed from withdrawal they were clear had outgrown their eczema , just wished I’d never used it on them.

I had to use it when my kids were small. I found I could keep excema at bay with emollient creams but if I didn't stay on top of it and had a flare up, they only thing that cured it was 1% steroid cream.
Big strapping pre teens now, never been an issue

I used it once last night (the tiniest amount humanly possible) and once today and can already see a difference. He has been happier, managed to actually sleep and far less scratching.

@liverpoolgal82 - thanks for the warning. I did want to avoid these on this post because I do feel bad about having to use it already and have done a lot of research which put me off massively but it's getting to the point his skin Is bleeding and very near getting infected (GPs words) thank you for the advice though. Sorry your children went through that.

We were at the point of steroid cream or probably antibiotics for infected skin or worse so I've made the decision to try and avoid the latter and do all I can.

Thank you all again for your words. It helps tremendously. I'm going to look into private dermatologists if it gets worse or flares up again (not even going to bother getting on an NHS waiting list)

Yes just to reiterate OP, be aware when weaning especially if you’ve used Aveeno. My DD also has eczema and multiple allergies - one of which is oat we strongly suspect was caused by Aveeno before weaning. Her allergist was really frustrated, it’s now widely known professionally but not enough amongst normal people!

And a brief course of v strong steroid has turned her skin into almost normal fir almost 18 months now. Please use. Brief use to get under control is much better than long term use of ones that are too weak.

Day 3 update. It is 1000 times better already. I've only used the smallest drop (not even made a dent in the tube yet) once a day. I can actually see his face again. Much less scratching, much less crying, much more sleeping and waking peacefully.
We axtually managed to play today and got giggles - that was impossible without Jim screaming and scratching in pain a few days ago

Im actually crying . I've been moisturising like crazy still and will continue to do so even once it's cleared as I was before. I cannot believe the difference 1% has made.

I know it will probably come back, but I am so glad I made this post and used it.

1% what? How old is child?

For context, I've used various steroid creams to control the eczema on my hands for about 35 years now. It's worsened by not wearing barrier cream and gloves, by the weather etc (It was soooooo much better on holiday in Caribbean for example) but there will be times when only adding steroid cream helps.

Just to give you context, 1% hydrocortisone cream is one of the least potent steroid cream (see www.psoriasis.org/potency-chart/)

This chart is useful to have, given your child condition that yes it is likely to come back and yes there will be times you will need to use stronger steroid cream. But as I said, treat it quickly, don't be afraid of using stronger ones in case low potent ones fail to get it settled as soon as it comes out. The longer skin is inflammmed, the harder it will be to calm it down and you end up using more steroids in the long run.