dd (10) Severe eczema - refusing treatment - any advice?

[pinkorkid]

Not strictly a SN question as dd has no sn diagnosis but she frequently rivals her older brother (who has ASD/ADD) on the challenging behaviour front so I hoped I might get some advice here.

DD (10) has severe eczema, multiple allergies and, despite nasty flare-up, she is refusing to comply with having creams applied. It's taking at least an hour of tantrums and countering delaying tactics to get any emollients on her and she refuses the fucibet steroid cream point blank as she insists it will sting even more than the emollients do. Also refuses to get in the bath/shower for the same reason. Have given calpol and anti-histamines in advance to no great effect. Tried withdrawing tv access and offering rewards for compliance but she is very stubborn. Sleep is also very disrupted and she was missing a lot of school last term. The prospect of her going back to school next week seems very unlikely.

I'm feeling a bit of compassion fatigue at the moment - I know the discomfort, pain, intense itching are genuine but I feel there is quite a lot of manipulation going on as well and I find it very frustrating that she won't put up with the short term discomfort of the creams/baths stinging for the sake of the longer term benefits. Also find it hard to be sympathetic to the crying/moaning when it goes with along with shouting and aggressive behaviour.

I would be very grateful for any advice if anyone has experienced similar behaviour with older dcs.

My sympathies! DD1 (14) has AS and point blank refuses to have her eczema treated. Fortunately in the past few months it has improved dramatically of its own accord. It isn't just about the pain, the sensory experience of the slippery sticky cream is far worse for her. She prefer the feeling of dry skin.

I have resorted to putting the creams on when she's asleep in the past. It's amazing how much you can get on with a little patience.

If the stinging is a big issues you could try 50/50 cream. I find it doesn't sting at all and it's a very effective emollient if your ok with petrochemical bases.

"if you're ok" I meant!

thanks Al1son,

DD is also of the opinion that every cream is completely disgusting gunk - although she does think some sting more than others. I will give the cream while asleep a cautious try although I would anticipate major resentment if she wakes up while I'm doing it. I'll ask the eczema nurse about trying 50/50 cream, I'm not sure if it is one we've tried yet.

my DD (7) has started refusing to get her creams on also. i have left her a week before and she has begged for creams then. i often have her screaming in the bath, or being held down to get creams on. my mam phoned every night (through a bad patch) to make sure she had her creams on or she wasnt allowed to visit her. i have bribed with money and sweets too

hi janetsplanet, thanks for replying. Sorry to hear you have a screamer too though makes me feel better dd is not the only one who reacts like this. Unfortunately as our dd gets older she is becoming even more determined to have her own way about the creams etc. It's physically v. difficult to make her keep still and it feels horrible to force treatment on her that she insists hurts while it's obvious that doing nothing is just making her skin worse and worse. In our case bribes don't seem to work - but maybe need to up our offers. I'll let you know how we get on.

oh, one thing that worked with DD. make it fun.....i bet you cant get into this postion and stay there while i do your left leg. then change for the right etc. DD enjoyed that
(one leg on sofa, one hand on floor trying to balance) then change

I suffer with excema on my hands and your dd is right it does hurt to apply the creams. If I scratched dh would always say go and put cream on but that was the worst time to do it. That made the itching so bad I wanted to pull my skin off. With me I find heat makes my skin itch worse so the best time for me to apply any cream is when my hands are cool- even hold a covered ice block just to achieve this and then put the cream on. Not sure if that would help your dd at all.

Can you do it while they are asleep? That's what I do with DS who doesn't seem to stir if you leave it until he is well away!

thanks everyone for your replies.

janetsplanet, I will give that a go I think it's a great idea to try and shift the focus away from the creams - less likely to become a battle of wills that way.

littlemissgreen, thank you for sharing your experience. I have had eczema myself - though not on my hands - and had always found the cream soothing so was finding it hard to know how much of dd's fussing was genuine and how much down to just not wanting to cooperate. We have had some success with frozen peas wrapped in a cloth for contolling the itching before so I will try that again - thanks for the reminder.

cornwallia, I had intended to give this a go last night but by the time dd finally got to sleep I was exhausted myself and didn't stay awake long enough to try - will have another go tonight.