Eczema

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 ...

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 .

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?

Should have blue'd it

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

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

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

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'

I don't think my sister will agree with that, as she has been left with this problem on her fingers, after years of Betnovate use.

Actually the eczema society refute the skin thinning thing, a side effect which is now thought not to be the case. The main danger is that prolonged use causes the body to absorb too much steroid which is particularly dangerous for babies and toddlers.

Thanks for mentioning that eumovate is indeed a corticosteroid with side effects as you say When.

I have this ridiculous trait that people can actually read my mind and know exactly what I am talking about [Grin]

My sister has had eczema for 62 years and was not aware until a few years ago that corticosteroid ointments like Betnovate and Eumovate can cause skin thinning and many other side-effects. They are very effective in calming eczema right down, but to be used very cautiously. Her son developed eczema as a toddler and was put on soya milk. He avoids dairy foods and showers with Aveeno, and is able to keep it under control with this.

POGS; that's interesting because I'm sure I read once that a cure for psoriasis is swimming in the Dead Sea.

GD2 has slight eczema and like most of you we have tried various remedies. She is bathed in water only, nothing added to the bath water. We also use Sure washing powder and vinegar as a softener. Diprobase and eumovate creams do calm it down. Also no cows milk.

I recently spoke to someone who had a stall with products containing only natural ingredients and she recommended Nettle Cream/Soap for treating eczema. We have used this and been pleased with the results.

Also, look out for a preservative named MI (methyllisothiazolinone). A recent survey has shown this to be an extremely nasty skin irritant and will be found in many cosmetic and household items. (worth googling) .

Thanks Mishap- she's asked for him to be referred but it still hasn't been done

I do think that an allergy should be properly diagnosed. It is not a good idea to start removing random foods in the hope that one will prove to be the culprit. It is important that he gets proper nutrition at this age to develop his bones and teeth etc. and he needs referral for allergy testing and dietician advice if a critical foodstuff is the problem.

I was told not to have dairy in order to minimise my IBS. The result is that I have osteoporosis. It is very easy to enjoy a short term gain without realising what might be brewing up for the future.

I suppose I am saying that there is a lot of amateur diagnosis and treatment based on anecdote in the field of allergy and if it were me I would be looking for something more scientific.

I do hope that the doc can come up with something to help the poor little chap.

'Lives' in NZ though he does also 'love' as he has a wife and little daughter!

Btw Harrigran my DS is in the same position as yours. He developed it at 6 weeks and he's in his 30s now and still suffering. He loves in New Zealand now and the climate there has made it particularly bad. When I talk to him on skype he is constantly scratching which is so upsetting to see.

Thanks so much for everyone's suggestions. My DD actually is still Bfeeding and my GS eats v little other dairy and no cows milk. She has recently bought her son a whole new set of organic cotton clothes, sheets towels etc and uses soap nuts to wash with ( I'd never heard of them before!) she has a variety of creams, ointments and steroid creams from the doc and none really help. It seemed to come on badly when the warm weather ended but apart from that I don't think any other changes had been made. She is taking him once again to the doctor today as she says he was awake 8 times in the night scratching. It's a complete nightmare which we never really expected, it seems to be all too common as well which is so sad as there seems to be no cure for it.

My GD 2 is very allergic to dairy and grasses and possibly wheat. Lately my daughter has been bathing her with a mixture of 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 1/4 cup of bicarbonate of soda and 1/2 cup of finely ground oats. Swish around in the bath water and let him soak for around twenty minutes. It is very soothing and makes my GD's skin soft and relieves the itching.

The only way GD's rash goes away is a change of environment and no dairy. Also her hair is shampooed over the basin so there is no soap in the bath.