Eczema - what else can we do?

[BabaganooToo]

DS is nearly 2 and has horrific eczema in his elbow and knee creases and no matter what I try it just isn't getting better. It has only really developed in the past 3/4 months. It used to come on worse when he was poorly and then clear up - now it's persistent.

We've been using hydrocortisone cream for nearly 3 weeks, morning and night. This used to work but seems to no longer have much of an effect.

On top of the steroid cream we put vaseline-type cream (hydromol) 4 times a day. Both creams prescribed by the doctor.

We do oat baths every 2-3 days, cotton pyjamas, don't use fabric softener, try to keep him cool... it's really bothering him and he scratches loads, particularly at bedtime.

Nursery suggested baby powder but I don't think it's advised, plus the skin is clearly dry and needs moisture. I just don't know what else to try for him! Any suggestions would be appreciated!

What worked for us eventually was Eumovate (prescribed by a dermatologist) + bathing every day with Dermol + apply Epaderm a few times a day and antihistamine at night when it was really bad. The course of Eumovate got rid of the eczema and the rest kept it away.

Oh and I remember we used these scratch sleeves to help stop the scratching.

https://scratchsleeves.co.uk/

My little one is four and has what is termed moderate eczema- for us that means it covers pretty much all of their body and has major flairs. They have hydramol 4 times a time, eumovate (daily, then every other day and then start again) an even stronger cream for the next level flares. It is constant and we have seen allergist consultants (no cause) and a paediatric dermatologist every 3/4 months.
we have just started using the same spray and cream as @NoItsStillNighttimeDarling it has been a game changer. We are also using one cap of oilatum in the bath. You need to bath every day in luke warm water for no more than 10 mins. Don’t let them sit in the bath once you’ve washed their hair. Their skin is so much better after 3 weeks. Small flares on arms but not on the whole body.
sorry this is long(!) but I wanted to set the scene. And say I feel your pain. Big hug.

Agree with a PP that you need to get him to a dermatologist. DD had horrendous eczema starting from a few months old. We tried so many creams and ointments - what works for one, won't work for another so be prepared to try different. With DD, creams made it worse and ointments worked. Her sister was the opposite.

Things that worked for us:
Wet wraps
Special pyjamas so she couldn't scratch.
Anti histamine at night
Milton baths to keep infections at bay

We were lucky that we found a brilliant dermatologist who was always open to try new things. Your average GP just won't know enough and they are very cautious about steroids.

I had eczema as a baby and no creams really worked. Through trial and error my mum worked out it was diet related - in my case caused by cow's milk. She switched to goat milk and it cleared up.

Not saying this is the case for your little one but it's something to consider.

I hear that Aveeno cream is the shizzle these days!

No keep the bathing and you need something better than hydrocortisone- like eumovate or elocon. You need a moisture routine (we used diprobase). You need to stop using things like scented fabric conditioner and use washing powder rather than gel/liquid.

But absolutely, the most important thing you can do, is get a referral to a paediatric allergist. They will teach you how to do everything. If you do what they say then you re-educate the skin and your child will be fine growing up. Trust me - I had the exact same with my DD from about 12 months of age. She's 16 now and we knocked the eczema on the head by end of primary.

If you can afford it we saw Adam Fox in London privately to sort this.

www.allergylondon.com

Do not stop daily bathing
Do not cut out dairy.
(Most people with limited experience will suggest one of these).

Hi @BabaganooToo

Mum of 10 year old dd with horrific chronic atopic eczema, urticaria and a hyperactive immune system so you absolutely have my sympathy. Her's has never been fully controlled regardless of lotions/potions etc and she now takes a low level chemo drug to help.

I would avoid oat baths, I know some people swear by them but for dd they were a massive trigger.

Few tips that have helped with dd over the years;

Bin all wet wipes/wet ones etc use water and cotton wool or a muslin cloth.

When washing his clothes, wash separately to everyone elses and do at least 1 additional rinse cycle before removing from machine. Never line and try to avoid using an airer as allergens can land on clothes and trigger.

Cool baths with no bubbles, lotions/potions even if they say they are hypoallergenic (unless sanex) and try to limit to no more than twice a week.

Do not use johnsons products they are renowned for causing eczema

Ask the GP to swap from the petroleum based emollients like hydramol and switch to the creamy ones, hydramol intensive is a great one, or imuderm is amazing. The petroleum based ones don't let the skin breath and can often cause an increase in histamine production.

Get online and order cotton gloves or what they call second skin suits. Baste ds in cream and then pop him in them as they help to promote absorption into the skin rather than fabric of his clothes. Amazon sell them.

From what you describe it sounds like ds has and urticaria reaction to histamine, check with your gp or pharmaciat, but ceterizine at 10mg once a day is usually considered safe for kids if he can swallow a pill otherwise get some piriton liquid although give at night as it is a drowsy one (dd is on 40mg-60mg these days and was on 20mg at 2).

If it persists then insist on a paediatric dermatology referral. If you are Midlands based feel free to dm me and I can signpost you!

We used to have mometasone and it was amazing.

Unfortunately dd is now immune to it so we have been bumped up to a steroid cream beginning with D now. But I agree for severe eczema hydrocortisone is rubbish. It is basically like spitting on a raging fire and expecting it to go out.

What washing powder do you use? I have to use non bio for my dd and even then many brands still set her skin off. Fairy being the worst, persil non bio works for us and agree with the pp who mentioned additional rinsing.

We also had to try a range of emollients, diprobase doesn't work but doublebase does. Oilatum bath oil helps too.

The following cleared up my DS’s skin and we still stick to most of these rules:
ecover wash liquid
no fabric conditioner
child’s farm moisturising cream applied 4-6 times per day (the Vaseline like creams were too heavy and made him more itchy)
cut out eggs (he can now eat them)
cut out tomatoes (he can now eat them)
plain water baths
child’s farm shampoo
A lot of trial and error but we managed to clear it up. It still returns occasionally but I can get rid of it again within a week or so.

Try using Aleppo soap made of laurel and olive oil instead of what you currently use. The laurel oil appears to have a positive effect on eczema and the glycerine is moisturising. Don't get in the eyes as it can sting (just rinse with water if it happens)

Zoe Bee Beauty charcoal and oat cream worked absolute miracles for my DD, delivery takes a while as it's kind of the face cream equivalent of slow fashion. Lots of reviews on her insta showing crazy before and afters for ezcema. I know I sound like their PR but I just can't speak highly enough about it!!

Aveeno cream was the miracle cure for my DD's eczema.

Stop all the gp meds, change to child's farm. You'll quickly see a difference.

try and aloe Vera plant - use one leaf 3 times a day and keep it in the fridge -

When clear use Superdrug cream - I’ll see if I can find out what is called - it’s £2 a tube.

Use aloe Vera sun cream works wonders find it in Holland and Barrett.

Bad advice.

Your child might not need GP meds but you are unqualified to diagnose and treat.

CF is crap and does nothing for more severe eczema. It could even make it worse.

OP, please just try and get your child referred to a dermotologist.
A lot of the stuff mentioned on here can have an adverse effect and make it worse.
Everyone will tell you to use different things and I've been there. The only one who can help are the professionals. Even many GPs don't really know what to use.

I'm 47 and I've had eczema my whole life, antihistamine can help with the itching, I've been through multiple different creams/ potions / lotions prescribed by the doctor, anything gel or ointment based makes me want to scratch my skin off, cream based for me is so much better. Be ready for the change of seasons, autumn to winter is worst for me (when the Central heating comes on, makes my skin soooo bad!). The one thing that has been an absolute game changer for me is child's farm, tea tree and grapefruit baby moisturiser, works wonders, also smells amazing (I should be on commission given how much I talk about it!), you can get it from most supermarkets (if it works buy in bulk from the website, they do good discounts)

Yes more than likely the difference will be a child covered in painful, weeping, bleeding eczema.

Thanks all. We ended up seeing a consultant at hospital at the weekend and he's told the GP we need a referral which is great. So just maintaining the best we can for now until we get seen

My DC had eczema like this, we went through every prescription and protocol. It was miserable. We cut egg from his diet and the sores that had been there for years were cleared in a week or so. I would very seriously consider dietary causes. It might not be dairy or egg, it can be anything and the eczema will appear up to week after the allergen is ingested so you have to be very systematic about cutting food groups and evidencing symptoms