Eczema

From the NHS website, on Betnovate:

'if Betnovate is used in large amounts or for a long period of time, it may have some effects on the skin such as thinning, striae or telangiectasia'

This Mumsnet eczema support thread might come in handy, Speldnan.

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/allergies/a1447816-Eczema-support-thread

Tegan

Yes it is well known the Dead Sea benefits from having a rich mineral source that is said to relieve the itching caused by eczema and psoriasis. Sadly I cannot afford to go there to bathe but I find the soap a little help.

Speldnan. Look it up. It is a reputable product I assure you and it was a doctor who mentioned it to me as another patient had reported it was worth a try. That was a few years ago now. It is NOT A CURE but it relieves my itching. It does mention it is safe for children too.

It lists the following:-
Vegetable Oils
Antiseptic Qualities
No detergents or Animal Fats
Free from Chemicals
Includes Dead Sea Minerals
Herbal Oils

Should have blue'd it

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/allergies/a1447816-Eczema-support-thread

I have had it from six months old to a greater or lesser extent. Dairy makes no difference at all, though I know it does for some. Swimming in the sea made a difference to me as a child. I use Aveeno or A-derma now and only rarely hydrocortisone.
I think Mumsnet will be a very good source of information, with the usual caveats. I would push hard for a referral; is there any chance of a private appointment?

DH's family have all had eczema all their lives (as did his mother ) and while dairy makes no difference to him, the sisters in law found cutting out dairy did help. It is a common "irritant".
DH would also agree about Betnovate only being used vary sparingly and certainly not on a 2 year-old. Steroid use has definitely thinned his skin over the years and it cracks and bleed very easily. Sometimes doctors can be too ready to prescribe steroids as they do work in the short term, but at a price.
BTW the emollients DD uses to wash Toby in are Aqueous cream or Emulsifying ointment.
As I see it, it needs a 2 pronged reaction -
1) find out if possible what has provoked the current outbreak and remove if possible at source and
2) look for what will soothe and ease the itching (because that is when there is risk of infection) and calm it down. It may last a life time or a child can grow out of it, the main thing is not to provoke an outbreak by some of the (modern) products curently in general use .

Aqueous cream is not generally recommended now GM. There was some research fairly recently that showed it was not good for the skin as it contained sodium lauryl sulphate. I used to use it, but my eczema is much better with the oat based creams.
I think all you can say about eczema is that everyone is different and you have to find what works for you. Apparently I started it when I first started teething and had a seven year cycle of very bad attacks until my late twenties. Now just on my face and hands especially in winter.

O dear! I do wish people would not say "free from chemicals." Nothing is free from chemicals.

It doesn't exist if it does not have chemicals in it.
Beware of H2O it is a chemical.

DD3 started to suffer from eczema in her teens - came on when she started Uni. She tried all kinds and types of remedies including flaxseed oil (internally not topically!) which helped with the dry skin. Worth a try. A friend puts a couple of drops in her dog's food for his skin problems

I've just heard that my DGS is going to be referred to a dermatologist. In the meantime my DD is doing all she can to cut out irritants and to find a cream that helps. I'll definitely mention the Dead Sea thing to her. The doc actually gave her some weak hydrocortisone to use- it works up to a point but as soon as you stop the eczema returns worse than ever.

POGS Thanks for the tip about Dead Sea Salts. I use these myself but didn't know of it being used to relieve eczema. I buy the salts in Holland and Barrett and I noticed they also sell a shower cream and bath oil too.

The one thing I hear repeatedly is how important it is to keep the skin moisturised.

That makes sense Gally as what you take internally has a better effect on skin condition as opposed to topical application.

ps. Have a great time in OZ.

My GS is still very bad and itching at night most terribly! My DD has now made a private appointment with the top dermatologist at Gt Ormond St Hospital as she has become so desperate. I have made him some dinosaur mitts to wear when he has his bath as he tears his skin so badly and some to wear at night in bed. It's in January so she may get the NHS referral by then but you have to wait so long always ...