Baby eczema - tips on how to treat

[reren]

My four month old has just been diagnosed with eczema and we've been prescribed some cream which i hope will help. I wondered if anyone has experience with other things worth trying to stop it? He is exclusively breastfed and i plan to wait to introduce solids until 6 months (particuarly now after this diagnosis). I think the ezema first appeared after taking him swimming - does baby eczema mean he wont be able to go in chlorinated pools? Are there foods i should eat / avoid? I noticed on another thread about adult eczma that cutting out alcohol and dairy can help - should i be avoiding too? I eat a lot of dairy and drink the odd glass of wine.. Any advice would be great!

[civilservant]

Really sorry to hear that your baby has eczema.

I know how distressing it is when you first get the diagnosis, but don't worry, you'll learn how to manage the condition successfully quite soon. Here's a Forum thread where baby eczema was discussed - I hope that there's something on there that you'll find helpful http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,448163,458563#msg-458563 and also this one about adult eczema http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,586206,590176#msg-590176

[ClareC]

My partner has had eczema from 6 mths and I have very sensitive skin. Our daughter hasn't been diagnosed with it but I have been very aware she is likely to have it and been really careful. She is susceptible to getting dry skin. I always bath her immediately after swimming and then rub lots of diprobase cream into her skin. If her skin looks a little dry I reduce baths to every other day and use oilatum junior. Has so far done the trick....... The other avenue is to be tested for allergies as these can be a trigger. My partner won't eat eggs and hasn't since 6 mths when the Dr said to his parents to exclude them!

[Ko]

ah the poor thing. some tips:

bathe much less frequently and use something like oilatum in te bath - can get on prescription

keep nails short to stop it getting worse thru scratching

wear pure cotton - synthetics itch, as does wool

moisterise loads and loads - best way to prevent it but still impossible to prevent. xxx

[reren]

Thank you all with posts so far and the link to the other threads. I have private health insurance thru work for the baby - would those who've been through it recommend going immediately to a dermatologist? It looks uncomfortable but he doesnt seem too disturbed by it yet - or should i try the cream from the gp first before rushing to dermatologist? Dont want to over react but also dont want him to suffer if we can help him - and dont want to try hundreds of different creams for weeks only to find nothing works and it gets worse...

[ClareC]

From my own personal experience it wasn't until I saw a dermatologist that I got the problem sorted! Ie prevention instead of continually treating! If you have it covered privately you have nothing to lose!! Def go and see one x

[KatsuQueen]

HI reren, have you got a referral to a dermatology nurse / specialist yet? We saw one in Herne Hill who really helped, she put my mind at ease about using hydrocortisone creams, which I had been avoiding.I still feel guilty about avoiding them, because as soon as we started using them (1% cream and 0.5% for face) his eczema cleared up really quickly and he was so much happier.

We tried Epaderm (waste of time and horrible disgusting stuff), aqeous cream (also waste of time), Hydromol (OK) and Doublebase (also OK). Hydromol and Doublebase were just moisturisers really, if he got a flare-up they only thing that would make it go away was hydrocortisone.

On a happier note, he has just turned 2 and hardly ever needs hydrocortisone anymore although we still moisturise religiously. I heard about Aveeno cream from the EDF and that has been the best cream so far. (get the cream, the lotion just doesn;t cut it)

[KatsuQueen]

oops sorry just seen that you haven;t seen a dermatologist yet. WOuld definitely recommend seeing the nurse in Herne Hill (burbage road) she was v. good. We got a referral from our GP.

[Knomester]

Hi Reren

I think it's important to remember that what works for one baby's eczema might not work for another. I wouldn't rush to discount treatments because they didn't work for someone else. The Oilatum products didn't do anything for Baby Knomester but Epaderm keeps his (not severe) eczema mostly under control if we apply regularly.

If you are concerned definitely ask for a referral to a dermatologist as they will be much better placed to advise and treat Baby Reren than a GP.

[embo71]

My 16 month old daughter started getting eczema in the autumn, and like you we had a private referral possibility through a work scheme. Just as the refferal letters form the doctor were ready to be collected, her eczema cleared up (this happened over about 12 weeks, and during the Christmas break, hence the delays). So we have actually seen the dermatologist because i would feel like a fraud presenting my daughter's clear skin to be examined!

It didnt clear up on its own as the doctor had prescribed various things such as:

Epaderm (seems to be a nice creamy cleanser, moisturiser)

Oilatum (makes the bath oily and her skin very soft)

Hydracortisone 0.5% (was a bot worried about using this but was fine)

However I also think that possibly the reason for her skin to make such a recovery is the fact that I stopped using fabric conditioner in the washing and also changed to a washing liquid rather then powder (Ecover instead of Fairy i think)?

These changes all were implememnted at the same time and so I really dont know what worked and what didnt (sorry if thats a bit confusing)! We ahve stopped using the Hydracortisone cream but still use the other bits from time to time but the change in washing powder I have stuck to as everyone I spoke to said they had problems with fabric conditioner etc etc...?

Anyway good luck,

Em

[Jennymay]

Hi, I have had it all my life and have been frustrated at always being given hydrocorizone but it does clear up break outs and gets them under control for me (eyelids and hands mainly) however other things to try to help prevent breakouts that I have found good.

Aveeno range is good. Body wash and cream (lotion not strong enough) really nice and I don't react to it.

Definately use non bio washing powder, one for sensitive skin, no fabric softener. this really iritates my skin especially if used in bed sheets.

almond oil in the bath, has helped a bit with my son's very dry skin.

E45 hand wash instead of soap, avoids transferring soap onto baby's skin.

good luck

Jenny

[anna_r]

Resurrecting an old thread as my baby (9 months) has bad eczema on her face and has had for over 2 months now. We've been using hydrocortisone 0.5% for quite a long time and although it does get a bit better some times it never goes completely and sometimes flares up badly again. I've just read all the comments about washing powder/conditioner so am going to switch to ecover liquid and stop fabric conditioner. Double base and epaderm nice for moisturising but not getting rid of it. I'm worried her skin will be permanently scarred as it's on her face, all round her mouth and chin. She sleeps on her front so maybe the bedding is to blame.

My main question is about cutting out dairy. I've been to gp twice about it and this was mentioned as something I could try (without much guidance). She is still breastfed so this means cutting out for both of us. How strict do I have to be? I've switched to soya milk and yoghurts but am wondering if am negating my efforts by continuing to have butter? And do eggs count? Are they the worst culprit? Any thoughts appreciated.

[littlemissindulgence]

Hi,

my little girl suffered from very itchy (excema) sore cheeks. Doctor prescribed cortisone cream, which helped temporarily. BUT I cut out cows' milk and this solved the problem overnight!!! We switched to goats' milk / yoghurt which she has no problem with. Likes the taste and it does not affect her at all!! No more excema!

May I suggest you cut cows milk out of your diet as you are still breastfeeding and see if this helps? Or even switch to goats milk formula?

Good luck!

[bodsier]

Hi Anna-r

My child has had eczema since he was 6 weeks old. I have resorted to hydrocortisone 0.5% when it was really bad, but my doc advised not to use it all the time, as his skin would become dependent on it. It thins the skin out. Anyway that's just my experience. Other things you could try is:

porridge oats wrapped in muslin, tie the ends or put an elastic round it, put in the bath whilst the water is running. This should moisten the skin.

if you are still breast feeding, apparently breast milk on the face helps (I never tried that, always forgot)

I was told that certain foods could trigger eczema, so if you are breast feeding may be worth avoiding dairy altogether and maybe slowly reintroducing each one over a course of 3 days, this will help you to ascertain which dairy products in particular may affect your child.

Moisturise, moisturise moisturise, never let the skin get dry.

funny thing is that my sons eczema cleared on his body years ago, but still remained on his face.

I then cut out gluten which helped, then I also recently changed soap power as it was still on his cheeks. I found ecover was a problem as it has essential oils in it, i now use eco laundry from a shop in brixton which is a concentrated liquid. Also fabric conditioners are a no no. His face looks soooo much better now, but I still watch his diet.

Food allergies are often a problem for children with eczema, so perhaps a prick test would help to determine what foods could be a problem.

The usual ones are: dairy, eggs, sugar, soya, nuts, some fish. Wine has egg white in it for tannin purposes, as well as a lot of chemicals, so if he is allergic to the wine, perhaps this is why, also suphites, which can be a skin irritant.

I noticed my sons ezcema really cleared up when he was poorly and didn't eat anything but fruit..... have you noticed anything similar.

Your doctor should be able to refer you to get a prick test, which will help you to ascertain problem/trigger foods.

good luck with it all, it usually clears up after a time.

hope this helps.

[anna_r]

Thank you to everyone for your advice. I will ask the gp for a referral tomorrow and speak to a dermatologist about diet as well.