How to handle bad eczema on a baby?

stormCat99

Hi,

My SIL has a nearly 6 month old baby. Over the last few months, he has suffered badly from eczema, very badly. It's all over his face and head, down his arms, backs of his knees.

Obviously he keeps trying to scratch it, and they have scratch mitts on him, but he still rubs which makes it worse.

They've tried the stuff from the doctor (sorry I don't know what it is called) but it doesn't help much.

Is there anything that anyone can recommend? Either to help with stopping him scratching so much, or any herbal treatments which may be stronger, but still suitable for a baby?

Thanks for any help, she doesn't like seeing him so uncomfortable so I thought it worth a quick ask on here.

clare64

Have you thought about aromatherapy?
I am a qualified Aromatherapist and have treated clients with skin conditions including eczema with very good results.
Even though you have a dignose of eczema, without having a fiull medical history of your relative I can't recomend anything, however, I would advise that you look in your area for a VTCT or ITEC qualified Aromatherapist. It may cost you about £30.00 but it should be worth it.
Hope this helps

stormCat99

Not something I had thought of at all no, but sounds like a great suggestion. So thank you :-)

I will pass the info re qualifications onto my SIL and see what she thinks. I think it must be worth at least a go.

blueye

i had eczema from birth till i was 17 i only got rid of it after a teacher who suffered with it all over her body told me to use sunbeds, she used to go to hospital to use a kind of sunbed there as treatment, i think it has something to do with vitamin D, obviously you cant take a baby on the sunbeds but maybe there is a cream for babys with it in, i was also told flaxseed oil was good at soothing, keep clothing off as much as possible dont apply too much cream and if the doctor suggested wrapping cling film on affected areas after applying cream (like they did with me on my arms and legs) DONT it just makes it a whole lot worse infact i wouldnt recomend any cream the doctors give i think they are far too greasy also it is thought eczema flare-ups are caused by diet so try looking into that. eg: its thought to be better to have goats milk/cheese than cows

stormCat99

Thanks for all your suggestions blueye. I will make sure to pass them all on. Only one which won't help just yet is the food one - he was premature and is on a special prescription milk formula. Although I imagine he'll be starting solids soon.

I don't think they've been told to wrap with clingfilm so that's ok.

I had eczema myself when I was little, but thankfully grew out of it eventually, maybe around 15/16. Although I do still get the odd patch.

louise3965

Porridge oats, in a popsock hung under the tap as the bath runs. It makes the water go milky and it really made a difference to my dd2's condition. She has grown out of it now but when young, it was a real problem. Poor baby.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Friend's son was like that - a bundle of scabs.

Turned out he was lactose intolerant, wheat intolerant and had a severe nut allergy. As soon as the hospital helped her eliminate these foods (and a few others), the eczema disappeared.

Sublime_2

Bathing in just water, or with aqueous cream. Smothering with cream at night, and applying nappy rash cream in the morning helped clear my sons up.

fran-o

Lots of good resources on here- http://www.eczema.org/

Alton_Towers

My sisters daughter has bad eczema although is getting better now shes over a year old but I got her a block of shea butter and it helped to clear it up brilliantly.

NEH

I thought id' grown out of it but now in my 30's I have a couple of small patches, i have started using Aveeno lotion which has oatmeal in it and it is the only thing that doesn't "burn" when putting on....Apparently they use Aveeno for a lot of babies when nothing else works. You can get it on prescription sometimes as well....Also what used to help me in my teenage years with it when it was worse was wrapping me up in a soft duvet cover.....Obviosuly with a baby a duvet cover would be too big but perhaps a pillowcase put in the fridge and then wrapped around baby for a little while whilst being held might help to soothe and cool it down...