Child Eczema

[baby2xx]

My 4 year old son has had eczema since he was born. It flares on and off. However recently even though his skin doesn't look too irritated he is getting up 4-5 times a night scratching. And needs someone to help him get back to sleep just to wake up again after an hour or so.

It's affecting his behaviour as he is absolutely shattered. Myself and my partner are tired every day from being up and down.

He takes an antihistamine before bed every night (instructed by dermatologist) we also use steroid creams on bad patches. The only thing I'm not great at keeping up is the emollients which (when remembered) I put in his bath as he refuses to get it directly on his skin.

Any advice on how to help him sleep from any mums who experience eczema themselves or whose children do would be greatly appreciated.

Is he too warm at night? I need to be cool at night or i overheat and then my skin starts itching, so short pjs, no flannel sheets or high tog duvets, windows open. The emollients (twice a day if possible) will also really help as when skin is dry it also itches. Eczema is such a pain - sorry for you all and hope it calms down soon 🤞

Thank you for your reply!

Can I ask even if the skin doesn't look inflamed or irritated is it possible for him still be feel itchy and for sleep to be disturbed?

In my personal experience, yes my skin itches when it’s dry even though it’s not obvious to the eye. I had a massive flare up about a year ago and the only thing that improved it was religious use of soap free emollient wash, followed by liberal application of Diprobase , all over.

It’s horrible for wee ones, especially if they do not like the feel of the creams, but if there is any way you can gradually get your child to accept that, please try it.

Maybe a little on an area he cannot feel, like his back , to start with, and build acceptance.

As pp said, too much heat makes it worse, and if you can, give extra rinses to his laundry to get all detergent residue out.

Thanks for your reply. This is helpful.

Hopefully get it back under control soon. His skin is all broken from the scratching too 😔 it's hard to understand how it feels when you don't suffer yourself. X

We have found that those itching without visible eczema episodes often proceed a virus, and nothing really helps.

We’ve done nearly everything. Generally what works for DD is limiting baths to once a week, a daily antihistamine, aggressive treatment with powerful steroids at the first sign of an outbreak. We needed a referral to the paediatric dermatologist to get the prescription.

Beat wishes, OP. It is such a puzzle. Our DD sheets and pyjamas have blood stains. It is horrible and we often feel helpless. She’s 7 now and we’ve had a good autumn despite lots of illness so I am becoming optimistic she’s outgrowing it.