Q&A with La Roche Posay - Ask your questions about eczema in babies and children to our expert Dr Catherine - 3x £100 vouchers to be won

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We're going to have Dr Catherine Borysiewicz, Consultant Dermatologist online on Friday 20th September from 1-2pm to answer your questions on eczema in babies and children. Everyone's experience with eczema is different, and it can be especially difficult if your child suffers with eczema to know how best to help them.
This Q&A will work a little like our Live Webchats if any of you have taken part in one before - just ask a question below for our La Roche Posay expert Dr Catherine Borysiewicz to answer.

Here’s some more information on Dr Catherine Borysiewicz: “Dr Catherine Borysiewicz studied medicine at Cambridge University and clinical medicine at University College London. She carried out medical and surgical training at a number of prestigious central London teaching hospitals. Today, Catherine is an experienced Consultant Dermatologist working within the NHS and consults privately in central London at Imperial and The Cadogan Clinic, where she manages inflammatory skin diseases including eczema, acne and psoriasis and sun damage and skin cancers.”

Here’s what La Roche-Posay has to say: ‘We’re delighted to give MNers the opportunity to ask all their burning questions about eczema to Consultant Dermatologist Dr Catherine during National Eczema Week. As the mother of a little boy who suffers from eczema, Dr Catherine will be able to provide you with expert advice as well as practical tips on how to keep your little one’s skin under control, for the whole family to enjoy a happier life.’

Post your question for Dr Catherine and she will be online to answer them on Friday 20th September.
Everyone who posts a question will be entered into a prize draw where 3 MNers will win a £100 voucher each of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw.

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply
Webchat guidelines - one question each (follow-ups allowed if there’s time)

Is there any link between diet and eczema? Or any other environmental factors, pollution, hard water areas or climate? Thanks

What is the best thing to put between the babies 'creases' between bathing and at night to help with the itching ? I use scratch mits at night, is this a good thing to do, if not what do you recommend ?

I eliminated dairy from my daughters diet after visiting an intolerance clinic

Her eczema cleared up within two weeks and never came back. It's been amazing and life changing for her!

Why don't doctors routinely investigate diet / allergies relating to eczema and just prescribe steroids for years on end?

What is the best products to use in the bath for a child with eczema?

Is there much risk of skin damage using mild steroids frequently?

Is it best to keep the affected areas covered or give them exposure to the air? My son is 14 months and his worst patches are on his ankles. I tend to put socks on him to keep him from scratching but wondering if this is the best approach?

I want to second the question about how to deal with eczema around the eyes and what creams are safe and suitable. The eczema also seems to be stress-related, so it would be interesting to get some thoughts about that too. Is it common for eczema on the eye lids to be caused by stress? It seems such a strange place for it, compared with more obvious areas where there's chafing, for instance.

Is there a genetic part to eczema, so if one child/parent has it are others more likely to be affected?

Are GPs aware of the implications of formally diagnosing eczema in children?
Our eldest DS has failed an army medical because of childhood eczema and asthma.
He may have had a rash and a chest infection at some time but it was in no way severe enough to warrant ref to a consultant.
He will appeal but had the GP not written this in his notes he wouldn't have to.

If my child has eczema now (age 5) will it likely continue into adulthood? My husband still has very bad eczema which is easily irritated. Is she more likely to have it in adulthood considered my husband still has it?

Gosh, plenty of people on here commenting on diet and eczema. My experience is that dermatologist laughed at me for suggesting it, but once I looked at NICE guidelines, it confirmed that if there are no digestive problems then dietary sensitivities are unlikely. Do you agree with this?
My child has eczema on her face and exposed areas, which is said to be exacerbated by environmental allergens. Is it still worth investigating dietary allergens?

What are the side effects of Tacrolimus versus steroids?

Eczema in tricky places: eyelids ( 'don't use on eyes' is common), genital area ( ditto) and on scalp. Any ideas?

My daughter has eczema on the back of her knees and on parts of her thighs. She’s also had molluscum in the same areas for the past year. We tried a steroids cream at one point because the eczema was getting bad. It made her eczema better but her molluscum worse. In theory the molluscum spots need to dry up to clear but her skin needs to be moisturised as the eczema makes really itchy and uncomfortable.

What would you advise so that improving one condition doesn’t make the other one worse?

Thank you....

Also, is Lipikar going to be available on prescription by the nhs?
If not, is it because the formula is not evidence - based?

Is camomile lotion still recommended or was that an old wives tale?

My ds has had eczema since he was weeks old. He is 4 years old now. He gets 3 different steroid creams as well as 2 moisturisers. My question is that when I ask the doctor for the eumovate and fucident he wouldnt give me both even though the dermatologist nurse says that he has to use them plus hydrocortisone and his moisturisers at the same time when he has a flare up and I have to hit it fast and hard. How can I do that if I don't get the creams for him when he flares up for day and even then they wont give me all the creams

Linda, make sure that the dermatology department send you a copy of their letter to the go detailing your child’s treatment plan. Then you can wave it at the go and they can’t argue as you have hard copy.

*letter to the gp

*Wave it at the gp

Hello everyone! Thank you for all the questions posted so far, looking forward to sharing some advice on how to look after your child's eczema-prone skin.

@BristolMum96

What do I do when no creams etc work? My daughter has had every cream going from the drs, the pharmacy, online, shops, etc. We were chosen for La Roche product test but it didn't help her at all. Nothing works. I have tried everything I can think of and online!

Hi BristolMum96 I know it can feel very frustrating when this happens. Remember that concentrating on skin barrier is very important- so avoid soaps and apply regular emollients. If the eczema remains a problem its likely your daughter needs a treatment cream from your GP or dermatologist such as a steroid cream to remove the inflammation and calm her skin. Good luck!

@JayaNubian

Is it ok to use the same cream on two different children which eczema? One with mild eczema flaring up every now and then and the other with more severe eczema which is present more often and more severely? Thank you

Hi JayaNubian it is completely safe to use the same moisturiser and soap substitute on your children- its often much easier this way at bath time. Make sure the packaging minimises product contamination with bacteria so look for squeezy bottles or pump bottles.

@FlowerTink

Can you advise on what is best for bathing a child with eczema please?

Hello FlowerTink, all children with eczema need to avoid soaps- so use a soap substitue or 'syndet' (synthetic detergent) to prevent stripping of the natural oils from the skin surface. Some children may also benefit from a bath emollient. You can try La Roche-Posay's LIPIKAR Syndet AP+.

@sharond101

Has there been any link to diet found and if so what should we avoid?

Hi sharond101, great question! The link between food allergy and eczema is complex. We now think the first problem lies with the skin barrier function, and a breakdown of this can lead to allergen exposure in children in an inappropriate way which can lead to allergies. Certainly some children with failure to thrive- poor weight gain and bowel symptoms may benefit from involvement of an allergist to see if there may be a dietary trigger to their eczema.