NOW CLOSED Do you have a child with eczema? Do you/does your dp/h have eczema? Share your top tips on managing eczema and you could win a sample of Cetraben® lotion!

[AnnMumsnet]

We have been asked by the team at Genus Pharmaceuticals (Genus) to find out how you currently manage your child's eczema on a daily basis. Or if you have or your dp/h has eczema, how you/they cope with it. Please share on this thread advice you might give to other parents/people to help manage the condition effectively and keep skin free from eczema.

Genus says "we have recently launched our new Cetraben® lotion, which offers an effective and cosmetically acceptable leave-on emollient for everyday use to manage dry skin or eczema and prevent redness or flares".

Share your thoughts and advice on this discussion thread and 50 MNers will receive FREE samples of Cetraben® lotion, worth £9.64 (RRP).

~ What types of eczema emollients do you use? For example, creams, lotions, bath shower products, soap substitutes?

~ What is your child’s/your treatment regimen and how often do they/you use eczema emollients? How much emollient do they/you tend to use/need?

~ Do you feel you are/your child is prescribed enough eczema emollient, in-line with what is needed? If no, why is there a gap here?

~ Has the doctor/nurse/pharmacist spoken with you about the importance of complete emollient therapy?

~ What guidance/education have you been offered to support the eczema treatment?

~ For example, how to and how often to apply, how much treatment to use, when to increase/decrease amount of treatment, how to recognise and treat bacterial infection/flare-ups

~ If your child has eczema, what advice would you give to other parents with a child with eczema?

Find out more about Genus's full Cetraben® range at www.cetraben.co.uk.

Add your comment to this thread and MN will select 50 posters at random to receive a free 500ml and 200ml pump dispenser of Cetraben® lotion. If you are selected you will be messaged by MNHQ and asked to provide your details.

Thanks for getting involved!

MNHQ

I have eczema. My tips would be:

• avoid contact with irritants at all costs, but you don't have to let it rule your life, so using gloves to handle things that set you off etc, rather than avoiding them altogether.
• keep stress levels low;
• sunlight is a wonderful healer;
• steroid cream is good, but avoiding the thing you're allergic to is better.
• avoid harsh handwash/soap - baby stuff is good, or the soap-free alternatives.
• if it's not going away, keep looking for possible irritants. Is it the soap/soap-free you're using? Has the cream started to irritate? Is it related to the clothing/bandages? Could it be related to a food you are eating?

I avoid my diagnosed allergies (inc grass!) by being careful, and by avoiding shorts etc in the summer if I want to sit down with my friends. I also react to cotton clothing, carex hand soap, nivea cream, any washing powder except for Persil Non-Bio, and various other things. With the irritants avoided, it rarely flares up.

DS1 (2.5) and I both have eczema. I also have egg and nut allergies and had asthma as a child so there's plenty of atopic history from my side.

DS1s eczema is fairly mild (now) with occasional flare ups on his shoulders, behind his elbows, knees and on his neck. I use oilatum in his bath (twice or three times a week) and then use dermol cream twice a day to keep him moisturised. On the stubborn bits/flare ups I use betnovate ointment. When he was younger I'd put waterproof scratchsleeves on him in the bath and he had special leggings and long sleeved vest made out of breathable silk for when the eczema had flared up.

I was referred to a dermatologist quite quickly by my gp and I've had plenty of advice to manage DSs skin. When I was younger my eczema was much worse than DSs and needed wet wrapping.

Advice I'd give is - try to buy cotton/mostly cotton clothes. Moisturise a lot. Keep nails short and distract scratchy hands when changing/bathing with toys or buy scratch sleeves/gros with fold over most (scratch mitts are useless). Also keep an eye out for dietary triggers.

Oh and use non bio washing powder. DS had a terrible flare up when I bought a different brand to our usual. (It was an emergency, we ran out and I just picked up whatever was in the corner shop)

I had terrible eczema as a child and my youngest son has it too.

Essentials for keeping it calm and at bay:-

Low salt diet, avoid processed foods.

Mild, or even baby pure hypoallergenic washing powder for clothes, bed linen and towels

keeping the skin clean is very important, as the broken skin can get easily infected

sensitive bath cream and shampoos

And rinse. rinse and rinse again after washing, or swimming.

And then the drying, pat dry don't rub and make sure completely dry before applying even prescribed lotions

I've had eczema all my life (though it pretty much behaves these days as I jump on it as soon as it starts, and know the triggers), and my mum has had severe eczema all her life.

My best tip (apart from learning what annoys your skin as its not the same for everyone by any means) is wet wrapping - soak in the bath with emollient or another product that really gets moisture into your skin (I have an aromatherapy bath oil with rose essential oil that is amazing for me), then plaster on a thick layer of moisturiser, then wet tubigrip, then dry crepe bandage (or cotton gloves/socks for hands and feet).

Worn overnight, this does wonders ime

~ What types of eczema emollients do you use? For example, creams, lotions, bath shower products, soap substitutes?

I get small random patches of eczema my face. I tend to use oils on my skin instead of moisturisers as they are less irritating. I use Liz Earle Clean and Polish on my face, but just water or oil on the eczema.

~ What is your child’s/your treatment regimen and how often do they/you use eczema emollients? How much emollient do they/you tend to use/need?

N/A

~ Do you feel you are/your child is prescribed enough eczema emollient, in-line with what is needed? If no, why is there a gap here?

Nothing I have been given on prescription apart from steroid ointments (creams don't work, has to be ointment) have worked. Even aqueous cream stings when I put it on.

~ Has the doctor/nurse/pharmacist spoken with you about the importance of complete emollient therapy?

No.

~ What guidance/education have you been offered to support the eczema treatment?

None.

~ For example, how to and how often to apply, how much treatment to use, when to increase/decrease amount of treatment, how to recognise and treat bacterial infection/flare-ups

None.

~ If your child has eczema, what advice would you give to other parents with a child with eczema?

My children luckily don't have it, but I have found the best thing for me is Argan oil.

What types of eczema emollients do you use? For example, creams, lotions, bath shower products, soap substitutes?

I think we must have tried most things over the years but have found the Aveeno products to be the best.

What is your child’s/your treatment regimen and how often do they/you use eczema emollients? How much emollient do they/you tend to use/need?

Ds2 used to wear wet wraps. He was bathed day and night in Aveeno bath oil, had diprobase ointment applied followed by eumovate or fucibet for infected bits and then his wet wraps.

I shower with Aveeno oil and use Aveeno cream or occasionally oilatum cream.

Do you feel you are/your child is prescribed enough eczema emollient, in-line with what is needed? If no, why is there a gap here?

Ds2 has always had enough prescribed. I have always bought my own.

Has the doctor/nurse/pharmacist spoken with you about the importance of complete emollient therapy?

Yes

What guidance/education have you been offered to support the eczema treatment?

We have been lucky enough to have the involvement of a dermatology nurse specialist. She originally gave me the Aveeno samples to try and they worked so well that I asked the GP to prescribe it.

For example, how to and how often to apply, how much treatment to use, when to increase/decrease amount of treatment, how to recognise and treat bacterial infection/flare-ups

We have had a lot of support and open access to the nurse specialist

If your child has eczema, what advice would you give to other parents with a child with eczema?

I would say keep looking, there are things out there that can help. Ds2 had terrible eczema as a baby and toddler and yet it is really mild now so don't despair. Ask your GP to be referred to a nurse specialist.

What types of eczema emollients do you use? For example, creams, lotions, bath shower products, soap substitutes?

We use Diprobase and Oilitum for the bath.

What is your child’s/your treatment regimen and how often do they/you use eczema emollients? How much emollient do they/you tend to use/need?

I cover her head to toe after her bath, and for her face, I have to cream it at least four times a day just to keep it under control.

Do you feel you are/your child is prescribed enough eczema emollient, in-line with what is needed? If no, why is there a gap here?

Yes, DD gets what she needs with what the doc wants to give her - however I asked for Baby Aveeno on prescription (as this was recommended) and i was denied.

Has the doctor/nurse/pharmacist spoken with you about the importance of complete emollient therapy?

No

What guidance/education have you been offered to support the eczema treatment?

Not a lot really.

For example, how to and how often to apply, how much treatment to use, when to increase/decrease amount of treatment, how to recognise and treat bacterial infection/flare-ups

Very little.

If your child has eczema, what advice would you give to other parents with a child with eczema?

Keep trying different products. You will find one that works eventually.

~ What types of eczema emollients do you use? For example, creams, lotions, bath shower products, soap substitutes?

It is my DS who has eczema, although it is so much better now he is older (almost 12yo) When he was a pre-schooler we had to wet bandage his arms and legs and use fucibet on the infected areas. He used to scratch until it was really sore. It was a nightmare and I never thought that it would ever end :(
Currently we use E45 just to keep his skin soft. We are very careful with any suncream/shower gel etc.

~ What is your child’s/your treatment regimen and how often do they/you use eczema emollients? How much emollient do they/you tend to use/need?

See ablove.

~ Do you feel you are/your child is prescribed enough eczema emollient, in-line with what is needed? If no, why is there a gap here?

Yes.

~ Has the doctor/nurse/pharmacist spoken with you about the importance of complete emollient therapy?

No.

~ What guidance/education have you been offered to support the eczema treatment?

We see the Dermatologist and they told us to examine DSs diet, and gave me some leaflets.

~ For example, how to and how often to apply, how much treatment to use, when to increase/decrease amount of treatment, how to recognise and treat bacterial infection/flare-ups

Yes, the hospital were very helpful. If anything we have returned from there with him looking like a 'mummy' because they had wrapped him so well. I should have taken photos - you would not have believed it!

~ If your child has eczema, what advice would you give to other parents with a child with eczema?

Keep trying different creams/ointments and return to your GP. One day the cream will work for you, it is definitely trial and error with eczema in our case.

I get eczema and dermatitis. I have 2 prescription creams (a steroid and non steroid one) but am not prescribed an emollient although do buy these sometimes.

I have flare ups every now and again and I find nipping it in the bud really important. If I leave it even a couple of days to use creams/washes then it has time to build up and get back and then it takes alot longer to keep under control.

My DD is prescribed cream and bath wash for her eczema but I have never been informed about complete emollient therapy.

I find I have to stay away from perfumed skin things, and have trouble with hand washes. Put emollient cream or aqueous cream on as much as you can as often as you can to keep the area hydrated and to minimise flair ups. Avoid stress [hollow laugh] as much as possible. I know some people find it can get better if they avoid dairy, but I've never found this personally.

I have eczema and have had it all my life. It's miserable and I was upset to see my daughter has it too. I got so fed up I went to see a dermatologist who essentially told me I just had to learn to manage it.

I use oilatum bath oil and aveeno cream regularly. If my eczema gets really bad I will get some steroids prescribed from the doctor and some horrible greasy claggy paraffin based stuff to put on it .

I basically use heaps of moisturiser on both of us. My doctor once said to me eczema is essentially just dry skin and so I use loads. I don't always get it on prescription as it can be as cheap to buy it. I do feel there is a lack of understanding about how upsetting the condition can be and I have ended up crying at the doctor to get strong enough steroids to resolve a particularly bad flare up. I have had very little useful advice about management and it has been a matter of trial and error.

I know stress is a trigger for me so it can be hard to manage properly. My advice to parents would be to not stop moisturizing even if it looks like it has gone away as that can help prevent some of the more minor flare ups.

DS1 has it

He currently has an emollient and a steroid based cream. We try to only use the steroid based cream when it really flares up as it clears it really quickly, the emollient cream doesn't seem to do much and he doesn't like that he can see it (very funny about things being on his skin) so we tend to only be able to put it on him at night anyway.

He doesn't bath everyday as it irritates him more...the dr actually suggested this to us so he baths every other day unless he been swimming/playing outdoors/feet painting etc

We use L'occitane milk soap, the best one we've come across that doesn't irritate him.

We have to ensure that he dries his hands properly as his wrists are one of his worse areas, when he's been at nursery its often worse in this area.

If anyone can recommend a 50spf sun cream thats gentle on the skin let me know... the best we;ve found so far is the nivea kids sensitive but its not good enough =(

My 6 month old has really bad eczema and I have found using Aveeno oil in the bath and then smothering her skin in Aveeno lotion works well. As we are just starting weaning I am keeping a very close eye on any foods that may cause her eczema to flare up :-(

To be honest I found that the GP and pharmacists I have spoken to haven't really been interested, maybe because it is such a common problem?

Keep away from any known allergens, but avoiding dairy and stress help me. I use soaps free from sodium laurate sulphate, ammonium laurate sulphate, parabens etc where possible and keep area well-moisturised with E45, Eucerin or Coconut Oil.

My DH suffers from Excema on his hands quite badly. He has he strongest steroid cream and diprobase and nothing seems to improve it for long.
Haven't received much care or advice from health professionals, he has jut been told it's something he has to put up with so any help would be appreciated!

~ What types of eczema emollients do you use? For example, creams, lotions, bath shower products, soap substitutes?

we use dermol 600 and oiltum for bathtimes.

~ What is your child’s/your treatment regimen and how often do they/you use eczema emollients? How much emollient do they/you tend to use/need?

we use moisturises daily, however the stronger creams are used as and when
~ Do you feel you are/your child is prescribed enough eczema emollient, in-line with what is needed? If no, why is there a gap here?

yes, we always get a good amount and our doctor is very good with trying different creams to find one that suits our little one

~ Has the doctor/nurse/pharmacist spoken with you about the importance of complete emollient therapy?

yes, always
~ What guidance/education have you been offered to support the eczema treatment?
we saw a dermatologists when our daughter was baby. we found them patronising.. making out that we werent applying creams and moisturisers.

~ For example, how to and how often to apply, how much treatment to use, when to increase/decrease amount of treatment, how to recognise and treat bacterial infection/flare-ups

no, we were just 'shown' how to apply steroid cream. we werent told how to recongise diff levels of eczema.. we've self taught ourselves to be honest

~ If your child has eczema, what advice would you give to other parents with a child with eczema?

if your finding one cream/moisturiser isnt working go back to your doctor and try something else.. something that works for one person doesnt always work for another

DD (17mo) has dry skin that tips into eczema. DH has eczema that seems to be stress related. We have only ever seen a GP, and I have used my own common sense, but DD's eczema is not severe. DH could do with seeing a specialist probably. I have never heard of 'complete emollient therapy' nor been given advice or guidance beyond a prescription.

For DD: cream after her bath, so just once a day at the moment (as she is doing well and eczema free), mixing up Aveeno (which seems to really improve the texture) and a heavier emollient. The doctors we have seen are generally sympathetic and generous, and happy to follow my lead on what is working for us. I like Cetroben better than Epaderm and their ilk, as it has a similar effect and is less greasy. In fact after a successful period of using Epaderm very frequently, it now seems to leave her skin more dry. I've learned to treat the slightest flare up immediately with a steroid cream - I like Timodine as it's 3 in 1, steroid, anti bacterial and anti fungal. I think people are afraid of steroid creams, because of skin thinning and weakening - that is of course a concern , but should be balanced against skin thickening, scarring and infection. DD got a few stubborn patches of fungal stuff that took an age to shift, so I'd rather avoid this. But prevention really is the watchword and is working well at the moment.

I'm also careful with washing her/our clothes - I use Ecover or Surcare liquid - and cleaning products, I use Ecover in general, or Method non toxic cleaners. I would do this even if she didn't have skin problems, I hate stuff like bleach for every day cleaning. So toxic. Rare to have bubbles in the bath, occasionally E45. Dermol in the bath if she's having a flare up. I'm still washing her hair with Dentinox for cradle cap.

DH: of course this is more up to him than me. He's what is ime a typical man, and will go far longer before seeking treatment than I think is wise. He had a horrible flare up on his arms a few winters ago that really shocked me when I saw it. I asked him how long it had been that way and he said it had been bothering him for weeks! When we met he didn't use moisturiser at all, but he does now. I've bought him a big pump bottle of a fragrance free, natural, shea based moisturiser, and left it in the bathroom. It's up to him to use it. But the eczema on his hands particularly seems very stubborn. I encourage him to use Timodine during a flare up. He has had secondary infections and antibiotics in the past, which we are both keen to avoid.

Advice: mix it up in terms of creams and treatments, you'll need a mix of things, and probably to change them. Don't be afraid of sparing use of steroids. Drink plenty of water and cut out harsh household chemicals. And apply the lotions and creams much more often than you thought - this can be up to 8 or 10 times a day. Really!

'What types of eczema emollients do you use? For example, creams, lotions, bath shower products, soap substitutes?'

I use Dermol 500 in the bath, Dermol 600 as a body wash, Cetraben cream and Hydramol / Epaderm ointment as emollient, on my 2 yo twins.

'What is your child’s/your treatment regimen and how often do they/you use eczema emollients? How much emollient do they/you tend to use/need?'

Bathed every other day -Dermatologist recommended daily but dd scratches so much in the bath even when it's cool. V thick layer of cream / ointment am and pm during a flare up. Steroids as required.

'Do you feel you are/your child is prescribed enough eczema emollient, in-line with what is needed? If no, why is there a gap here?'

Always have enough - we have large tubs on repeat prescription.

'Has the doctor/nurse/pharmacist spoken with you about the importance of complete emollient therapy?'

Yes, we saw a eczema nurse who was great, following a referral to a dermatologist.

'What guidance/education have you been offered to support the eczema treatment?

For example, how to and how often to apply, how much treatment to use, when to increase/decrease amount of treatment, how to recognise and treat bacterial infection/flare-ups'

The eczema nurse was great. We had a 45 minute appt, covered everything inc wet wrapping and came away with samples to try.

'If your child has eczema, what advice would you give to other parents with a child with eczema?'

Try and work out the triggers. Allergy testing has hugely helped identify triggers in my two.

Don't be afraid of steroid creams. Sometimes you need to hit it hard to break the cycle and allow skin to heal.

Use twice as much emollient than you think.

Make baths cooler than you think

DS2 (age 3) has eczema. It's worst on his hands and inside elbow because he scratches it. We keep him moisturised with twice daily Diprobase all over and then use hydrocortisone on the worst bits.

What types of eczema emollients do you use? For example, creams, lotions, bath shower products, soap substitutes?

We have used and using a variety our nurse at our Practice has given us Protopic to be used my sons eczema has falred up again recently so will be going back

~ What is your child’s/your treatment regimen and how often do they/you use eczema emollients? How much emollient do they/you tend to use/need?

Once twice a day with an emollient and once a day with Protopic

~ Do you feel you are/your child is prescribed enough eczema emollient, in-line with what is needed? If no, why is there a gap here?

We have been given a lot but not found a perfect one yet

~ Has the doctor/nurse/pharmacist spoken with you about the importance of complete emollient therapy?

Yes

~ What guidance/education have you been offered to support the eczema treatment?

Only a nurse ( skin specialist ) no referrals to outside agency

~ For example, how to and how often to apply, how much treatment to use, when to increase/decrease amount of treatment, how to recognise and treat bacterial infection/flare-ups

I'm not sure , my sons seems to get flare ups for regularly now and we are trying to find out why

~ If your child has eczema, what advice would you give to other parents with a child with eczema?

Advoid any bath products unless given by the Dr, try and keep the area clean and a seek advice if unsure

My DD2 has eczema and I need to have her wash with aqueous cream or something similar. NO soap or bubble bath, even for dry/sensitive/baby/eczema prone skin. I also put cream on her after her bath and the best stuff I've found is Vaseline Intensive Rescue Moisture Locking Lotion. As long as I use it regularly she doesn't seem to have a problem. It's worked since she was an infant. Without it she gets what I like to call "crocodile skin", along with bumps, redness and severe itching, poor kid. ;)

~ What types of eczema emollients do you use? For example, creams, lotions, bath shower products, soap substitutes?

Aqeous cream, diprobase cream,

~ What is your child’s/your treatment regimen and how often do they/you use eczema emollients? How much emollient do they/you tend to use/need?

bathw only once a week with aqeous cream, followed by full body diprobase cream. Handful of aqeous, 10 squirts of diprobase. We also use non-bio washing powder and avoid dairy foods.

~ Do you feel you are/your child is prescribed enough eczema emollient, in-line with what is needed? If no, why is there a gap here?

No prescription, have been told by GP that emoillents are not available on the NHS for babies/toddlers - which I suspect is a fib! Would be really useful as we get tax credits exemption.

~ Has the doctor/nurse/pharmacist spoken with you about the importance of complete emollient therapy?

No - we were told to use aqeous cream as a mositurizer - but I then found out that it thins the skin! Think our gp is a bit clueless.

~ What guidance/education have you been offered to support the eczema treatment?

~ For example, how to and how often to apply, how much treatment to use, when to increase/decrease amount of treatment, how to recognise and treat bacterial infection/flare-ups

None, I'm making it up as I go along and see how dd's skin reacts.

~ If your child has eczema, what advice would you give to other parents with a child with eczema?

Read for advice on mumsnet - gps tend to be useless!

DS2, 17mo, has mild eczema. For the most part, using an emollient once a day after his bath seems to keep it under control, and I think teething has been his main trigger, so hopefully now most of his teeth are through, we're over the worst of it. The GP prescribed an emollient cream and a steroid to deal with the initial flare up. I probably could've done with more advice, or signposting to more advice, at that initial contact. For example when he had a flare up on his face, I wasn't sure whether it was ok to use the steroid cream there. Fortunately it cleared up anyway. One of the other things that seemed to help, although I can't know for sure, was switching from the (already non bio) washing liquid we were using, to Ecover zero.

Best thing I've found is to put on a barrier cream, such as E45, on top of any steroid cream at about20 minutes after applying the steroid.

What types of eczema emollients do you use? For example, creams, lotions, bath shower products, soap substitutes?

I have eczema. I use Oilatum Emollient in the bath and used to use Oilatum Emollient shower gel. However, there was a problem with supply and I swapped to Doublebase Gel in the shower which is much less messy (less cleaning) and more effective. I use Aveno Lotion all over my body every morning. My face is becoming more of a problem as I age and I use a combination of Eucerin and La Roche Posay products. I also use Oilatum Intense for my hair sometimes as this clears scalp eczema well.

~ What is your treatment regimen and how often do they/you use eczema emollients? How much emollient do they/you tend to use/need?

I bathe about twice a week. I shower daily with Doublebase Gel and moisturise afterwards. I was my hair daily, using the Oilatum shampoo about twice a week. I have to moisturise my face morning and evening and use gloopier products in the evening.

~ Do you feel you are prescribed enough eczema emollient, in-line with what is needed? If no, why is there a gap here?

Yes, I get plenty and can order as much as I want on repeat prescription which we don't pay for in Scotland.

~ Has the doctor/nurse/pharmacist spoken with you about the importance of complete emollient therapy?

Yes although I think I probably know far more about my skin than they do and can often advise them about what to do.

~ What guidance/education have you been offered to support the eczema treatment?

I know a fair amount as I have been at this a long time. I have years of accumulated wisdom and am considered a bit of a know all by friends with children with eczema. However, I learned about La Roche Posay on here and I discovered that Bicarbonate of Soda relieves itching when I had chicken pox in my early thirties - so always more to learn.

~ If your child has eczema, what advice would you give to other parents with a child with eczema?

Moisturise. Non-biological washing tablets. Dress in layers so they keep cool. Cool(ish) baths or showers. And then moisturise some more. Avoid wool. Oh, and then moisturise again.