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

don't was everyday unless you really really need to use doublebase before washing and after try alternative creams if the ones from the doctors dont work my son has forever living creams his skin is wonderful

The strangest thing. Dd's eczema was dry and scaly (and red on the smaller patches), but then she ran a temperature for several days up to 104'f and the eczema has completely disappeared. Not sure if this is a coincidence, but we are very pleased about it anyway! I just hope it lasts.

My 3 yr old DD has eczema, and I have the odd patch flare up myself.

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

She has oilatum in the bath, epaderm and various steroid creams. I find a smear of her epaderm really helps me too.

~ 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 use the epaderm every day and steroid creams when needed - she only has a bath every other day and this regime seems to keep it all in check.

~ 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 - my dr is very good and approachable - I feel I could always go back to discuss. I didn't find the treatment options that useful when a small patch got infected - think there might be 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

yes to all apart from the bacterial infection bit

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

I had to always make sure my little girl had leggings on so she couldn't get to the bit of her skin that was particularly affected so easily.

I also think it is worth checking the washing powder used if you go away if possible - in october we stayed somewhere where they had used bio powder for the sheets, and I have only just got the resultant rash cleared up.

DH, DS and DD all have eczema

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

Lots - E45 shower cream and wash, cetraben cream (50g) size for shaving and Diprobase as general emollient. Have also used Oilatum cream and DH has found that Oilatum natural repair face cream is a brilliant moisturizer in the winter months.

~ 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?

All of them use steroid creams with flares although as DS and DD get older tend to use less - can't remember last time we applied them. All use daily emollients morning and night plus in between although was tricky at school. DH has had to use less steroids this winter as less snow and ice - again daily emollients - some on prescription as the cost would be too prohibited. Have a pre-pay.

~ 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?

With 3 sufferers it's difficult to get enough on prescription as have to keep ordering repeats, it's rare that they will double up on emollients especially as can easily use 500g a week.

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

No but we have researched it ourselves. Anything which limits steroid use is good on the children.

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

None save DH when he saw a dermatologist when face and eyes were really bad. He's no longer worried about steroid use.

~ 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

Dermatologist was great about this no one else has ever advised.

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

It's trial and error. Find an emollient that works and use plenty of it. Consider using soft cotton products - there's a clothing company that was great when they were small. Regular bathing with an emollient. Consider changing clothes washing liquid, we found Surcare to be better than others. See if there's a pattern to flare ups and be prepared to use more emollients at this time. Go to the GP to get items on prescription and get repeats. Educate children as they get older to help manage their condition. Try not to scratch!

If applying cream for eczema to a toddler/small person, make it into a game or get them to help if they resist having the cream applied. I let my 18mo rub a handful of cream into his tummy (although he doesn't have any eczema there!) while I can concentrate on his knees and elbows without protest. His belly button is never going to go rusty at this rate...

DD has very mild eczema on her hands/wrists and the main problem is her washing her hands after using the toilet as she doesn't dry them properly. This seems to aggravate it making it very red and itchy.

We tried a few over the counter creams (including other E45 products) but the best one for us is the E45 body lotion. Rubs in really quickly and seems to keep it under control. I think my only tip is to try different creams until you find one that works for you.

We're only a few months in and DD isn't majorly affected so it doesn't have a big impact on her but I try to stop her scratching it as it makes it worse.

It's just me that has eczema in our house and my knowledge about it is pretty bad. I've always had a little behind the knees but mostly in winter and it goes away quite quickly.

I got a really bad skin infection while still breastfeeding over two years ago and since then I have suffered from eczema on my chest. It is itchy, embarrassing, annoying. I ended up being prescribed fucibet to make the skin infection go away which worked, but have been offered little-to-no advice since.

I have been referred to a dermatologist twice. Unfortunately because I can't live long in pain and use steroid creams when needed, my skin has always looked fine when I've seen him. Double unfortunately he has just told me to 'use vaseline' and I'll be fine. Not so.

Since then I've also developed random patches here and there - the most annoying was on my eyelid when the skin reacted to some gentle facecream, then remained as eczema for weeks. I'm especially wary of using steroid cream on eyes but nothing except a tiny tiny tiny bit of eumovate would work.

I have tried a load of different lotions and potions but the stuff on my chest never goes away for more than a week or two, and then doesn't go away again without steroid cream. I've said to my GP is this it then, I have to use steroid creams forever? And he had no answer.

What annoys me is the advice on the packets vs what most people with eczema have to do - ie use it with every flare up.

I'm aware I need to educate myself more and try more things. I'll try the oats in a sock thing next, I think.

~ What types of eczema emollients do you use? For example, creams, lotions, bath shower products, soap substitutes?
DS just diagnosed. Been given epaderm and hydrocortisone.

~ 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?
Just started using today so no idea. Trying twice a day for now.

~ 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 were given huge tub so 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?
Apply steroid sparingly for 5-7 dys then stop using. Use barrier cream all the time.

~ 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
Start ASAP with steroil.

~ If your child has eczema, what advice would you give to other parents with a child with eczema?
Go to the Dr as soon as the skin looks red to get early diagnosis.

Hello - thanks for all the comments.
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Please add your details on the form linked to on my pm!

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:)

Have replied. Thank you.

Thank you MN

Done & thank you

Thank you MN - haven't received yet but maybe I'm a bit impatient? And itchy

Thank you, looking forward to receiving them

Ours arrived today so as soon as dd has had her bath she is going to slather it all over her dry parts and report back to me. She has very dry patches on her elbows, behind her knees, her hands and on her neck. Here's hoping that it does the job

I've just received mine and it is all over the inside of the package! there is/was an envelope in there too, but it is torn and wet and completely useless. Not sure what to do with the mess! I almost feel inclined to just bin it! not sure, but it looks like the lid of the big tub has come loose. Not impressed!!! smells ok though.

:( Solo My cream was all over the inside of the jiffy bag too! The lid of the large tub was not on properly but mine was only a bit of cream.

Love the product though!

Lush Dream Cream, Dream Wash and Helping Hands are all fantastic for my eczema.

I've received mine, in good condition thank you very much.

It's a very nice, fairly absorbable lotion. Previously I'd only used the cream. The drawback is (if you can call it that) I wouldn't bother using it on eczema as its not heavy enough, but it is very good indeed on my dry skin. I doubt a doctor would prescribe it though, it is just a lotion.

Both myself and my daughter have used the lotion. We both like it. I have put it on my dry skin on my knees and elbows and it has made a difference. My daughter has eczema and the lotion has helped but isn't thick or rich enough for her to really rub it in. When she puts a dollop of E45 on it takes her ages to rub it in and makes a difference quickly. It might be better to maintain healthy skin rather than trying to tackle dry cracked skin. We will continue to use the rest of the bottles but not sure if we would buy again. My daughter isn't keen on the smell but I haven't really noticed it

Is yours usable aristocat? I think it was the small one that opened up. It was too much mess to deal with :(

Yes Solo I had cream inside the bag and the lid was half off the big tub but I wiped the excess and forced the lid back on. Not ideal, I know but definitely still ok to use.

:( that yours was such a mess, they will obviously need to re-think their packaging if doing something similar again!