Baby Eczema

GlasweJen

newmoneysaver wrote: »

I think an antihistamine can only be used on over 1's.

I've seen doctors prescribe it to kids over 6 months if they are causing themselves to bleed by scratching their eczema. Doctors can prescribe whatever they like within their competency but you can't buy it over the counter for kids under 6 years unless the child has chicken pox in which case you can sell when they are over 2 years (we ask for the child to be physically present and refer to the pharmacist to do them a script on minor ailments so we can monitor it but i realise this scheme is non existant in england).

Savvy_Sue

pupsicola wrote: »

The younger they are when they get it the more likely they are to be clear of it early.

sadly, I'm married to a man whose eczema started at 3 months and is still flaring up 50+ years later!

**curlywurly** wrote: »

And contact the Eczema Society, they have a lot of useful info and support available.

National Eczema Society - they are ace!

BritRael

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

sadly, I'm married to a man whose eczema started at 3 months and is still flaring up 50+ years later!

Me too.

Lots of good advice so far. Definitely use loads of un-perfumed moisturiser; I've used loads over the years and have now settled on Vaseline Intensive Care. On really dry skin (actually, I'm dry all over, so I mean really really dry skin ) I use Vaseline Petroleum Jelly. Don't allow the little fella to overheat, particularly in bed, which is the time when he will scratch most. Lastly, put cotton mittens on him, and keep his finger nails short. He will try and scratch if he needs to, but this will minimise the damage.

Good luck.

elf06

I'm going to echo some of what has been said already. My son had it so bad as a baby (just a few months old) he would scratch his chest until he blead. The HV's and docs prescribed 6 different things before we got to the 7th that worked FOR US. We got a hydrocortisone (sp??) cream that I only applied in the worst areas and when I did I thoroughy mixed it into a moisturiser I got from a local health shop. It had natural ingredients and no smellies in it. It was also very thin so allowed the prescription to be applied in a thin layer (I had issues about using it ). This did help and along with changing to a non bio washing powder (and I also found using washing liquid a tiny bit at a time helped) and stopping using fabric conditioner, keeping his room cool, bathing him once/twice a week at most and being careful about what he ate. He is now clear from it (apart from the odd flare up but nothing like he was - just little dry red patches behind his knee etc). If you want any info on what I was told about food send me a PM and I'll try and remember it all :rotfl:

newmoneysaver_2

GlasweJen wrote: »

I've seen doctors prescribe it to kids over 6 months if they are causing themselves to bleed by scratching their eczema. Doctors can prescribe whatever they like within their competency but you can't buy it over the counter for kids under 6 years unless the child has chicken pox in which case you can sell when they are over 2 years (we ask for the child to be physically present and refer to the pharmacist to do them a script on minor ailments so we can monitor it but i realise this scheme is non existant in england).

I agree a doctor may be able to prescribe to under 1 year old, but piriton liquid for children is available OTC for 1yr+

Lots of good advise given above. I echo it all. I will also add we have these on prescription:
http://www.dermasilk.co.uk/infants.htm
Not only do they stop DS getting to his feet/wrists/legs to scratch they also help to regulate body temp to stop him getting to hot and itchy.

rosie383

I have tried everything over the years with my kids, and now I have discovered coconut oil. For the first time ever, my 11yr old and 3 yr old have smooth, moisturised skin with no redness. I can't believe it.
Different things work for different kids. I used to get desperate when my eldest was red raw, and the creams only seemed to be making her worse. I stopped using any creams at all, bathed them when dirty, used only Fairy on their clothes.
I agree with Pupsicola about introducing foods slowly.
The difference between my kids eczema was amazing because I followed the 4 day rule with my second child. When weaning, introduce a new food maximum every four days. So if, for example, you give pear on Monday, don't introduce anything else new until Friday. That way, if they get eczema, you know immediately what foods irritate them and you cut that food from the diet for at least a couple of months and then try to introduce it again. I did this with my youngest and it was great.
But please, give pure coconut oil a try. You can run it under the water into the bath, rub it on the skin (first winter I haven't had cracked, bleeding red hands), cook with it, put it on your hair. Oh, the other thing that is good is oats. I tie some into a J cloth, and let the bath water run through it. Makes the bath water nice and milky and really helps to soothe irritated skin.

faithcecilia

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

sadly, I'm married to a man whose eczema started at 3 months and is still flaring up 50+ years later!

National Eczema Society - they are ace!

My brother is now 27, and while his eczema was manageable from age 7-20ish, it is now worse than ever. At his worst he was on strong antibiotics, antihisthamines and sedatives, and told to take another sedative as soon as he woke up to try and break the infection/itch cycle - had he been a child or older adult he would have been in hospital but consultant believed the stress would actually make it worse in this case.

He has had every single available treatment, including being pushed to the top of the list for UV treatment, where he turned out to be in the small % who are UV sensitive and his skin blistered before their eyes.

He cannot work because he cannot move without bleeding, and a week before his wedding it seemed he would need to marry in a t-shirt (thankfully his skin cleared enough to allow him to wear an old, soft, 2 size too big shirt) and mum relined his suit in cotton so the lining wouldn't cause irritation.

Diet has no effect on him, although keeping it lowish in sugar keeps his body temperature slightly lower so slightly less itchy. For him, eczema is a real disibility, not just an inconvenience.

mrs_marty

My eldest has had it since she was about a month old and finally it is showing signs of disappearing, I swear by diprobase when her skin is showing the first sign of dryness, if I dont catch it in time then it is a mega strong steriod cream. Unfortunately my newborn is showing signs but have found that johnsons natural baby soothing naturals intense moisture cream seems to be working (touchwood) in between the prescribed bath oil and diprobase x

beverleyhills

http://www.natural-skin-care.com Goats milk range

MaryMusker

Hiya, sorry if this has been asked before but are you breastfeeding or bottle feeding? If the latter, this might help - my DD had horrible skin problems as a baby, but when we switched her to goat's milk formula it went away. Could be worth a try.