Eczema

DS developed Eczema at a year old, I prayed he would outgrow it but it was not to be, he is 42 now and suffers badly. He has tried just about everything in the way of treatment with only temporary respite. No help to you Speldnan, I hope you find something that works.

Speldnan

I have mentioned this before but I will say it again. I suffer from psoriasis and I find a comfort from Malfki Dead Sea Soap (Boots/Amazon).
I use it in conjunction with Asda 'Little Angels' Cream'. It will NOT cure it but I do not itch so much, which is a joy believe me.

Bless your dear little soul, I know you will try anything, give it a try, it will cost little but give it a fair crack. As I said it will not cure it but it may give some relief to him. Lovely nanna for trying to help him.

That shoudl have read DH, BIL etc - too tired.

Oh forgot to add, Diprobase (ask the GP for it) is good. We have a lot of experience of eczema in DH's family as he, SIL and both Sis-in-laws suffer, Our 3 DDs have been luckier but DGS1 showed some signs and now especially little DG2 (2)

If anybody has a DGC who is breast fed and gets eczema, it can help if Mum cuts out dairy as well. I know this is not the case here, but my Singaporean niece suffered as a baby every time her mother had any sort of dairy produce.

DGS 2 - our "ginger-top" suffers and DD has got pretty clued up on what does/doesn't work for him. Look for: PJs with non-scratch mitts(or separate mitts), no dairy, Fairy or even milder washing liquid for clothes, absolutely no fabric softener. Watch the baby bath/shampoo - not Johnsons, E45 baby wash is good but if it is very severe even that can set it off, washing by spreading emollient ointment then rinsing it off, vaseline on sore bits - cheeks, arms etc, check for contact or near presence of pets - that can trigger allergies, check out the Eczema Society's website. In my BIL's day he used to be anointed with tar paste and bandaged like a mummy every night - I think modern medicine has moved on, but you need to consiut the people who know. DD uses anti-histamines to calm things down when it flares up (Baby Piriton) but has also found that a product can be fine one week and not the next. Trial and error I am afraid.

The poor little lad. It must be so uncomfortable. Has anything in his diet or washing powders etc etc changed at all?

Aveeno bath and moisturising products contain colloidal oatmeal and a milky oatmeal bath in Aveeno is very soothing.

Yes I used goat's milk phoenix but it did involve buying a goat

I remember someone suggesting adding oats to the bathwater and changing to goats milk.

Speldnan I sympathise.My son suffered at this age and now his baby daughter seems to have it too.All I can suggest, other than smothering him in emollient, is to cut out cow's milk, wear cotton next to the skin and don't use biological washing powders or fabric conditioners.

I know she sells it but a friend of mine advised drinking Aloe Vera juice, the stuff that has to be kept in the fridge. She suffered from it very badly herself and now the whole family use it [including all of their pets and horses]. I'm not saying it works but if you're really desperate it could be worth trying [it's the Forever Living brand I'm talking about]. I was also looking at silk pyjamas for my grandson [who suffers from it but not all the time]. The problem with that being silk isn't too practical if you're using lots of emollient. If my grandsons eczema got worse I'd try try the juice.