Baby has bad Eczema, don't know what else to try?

[hollystar]

Hi

I'm new to this site and would like to ask for some help / advice -

My Little one in now 19 weeks and has had bad eczema for about 4-5 weeks now, during the first few days of it flaring up I bought E45 cream and bath product to use, but it just got worse.

After our first visit to the doctors we were given Cetraben Emollient Cream and told to use it 4 times a day, I did this and there was little or no change so back we went this time was were given Double Base, and told to use it as needed, I contuined to use it 4 times a day and still no change, some days it much worse than others.

We went back again and have now been given Double Base to use in the day, Epaderm to use at night and wrap her in clingfilm after applying it and then Clotrimazole for her neck area and hip / bum area under her nappy, and still not much change.

Some days I think it getting better then it just seems to flare up again, even when I following the same application routine.

She has the eczema from head to toe, everywhere. Her neck and hip / bum area are just so sore, they are bright red, weeping and to me look like a burn, her nappy has got stuck to her overnight on a few occasions. The Dr said there was an infection in these areas and gave us Clotrimazole.

Some days when I applying the Doublebase creams she is screaming and crying when I'm touching her which as you can imagine is not only very distressing for her but also for me.

She's now wearing scratch mitts as she was making her ears and shoulders very sore and bleed slightly from itching over night.

Today we have decided to apply just the Epaderm every 2-3 hrs to see if this makes any difference as we just don't know what to do to help her, but not using it on her face, last night I did and within 30 mins her was all red and blotchy (first time we used it on her forehead)

I've also been washing her clothes in just fairy gel, no fabric conditioner to see if that helps, but it doesn't seem to make any difference.

I understand that it is trial and error to find what works. How long should a new cream take to work if it is going to? Can I asked to be refered? Will we need to apply the cream this often forever?
I feel so helpless and beginning to question are we doing the right thing, should we be doing more, but what I don't know.

Thanks for any help

[Andrea]

Hello there

Welcome, Just a quick question or 2  - can I ask what kind of nappys you are using?  Has she started weaning?  What milk dose she have?

[hollystar]

We are not weaning her yet, she's on C&G hungry baby milk and has been on that for a while now. As for nappies she's been wearing huggies for sometime.

The rash around her bum/hip and neck area has improved a lot in the last 24hrs, turning more dry, her skin is still very dry everywhere else.

[Andrea]

Sorry for the late reply your poor little girl sounds so sore.

Are you waiting on a referral to a specialist, my feeling would be if the GP feels her skin is so bad you need to wrap her in Clingfilm to help, then she surely warrants a referral to a dermatologist.

Do you feel the emollients you’re using on her help?  It's just making me think how we have a few little ones on here who seem to react to practically everything the Dr prescribes. 
One parent with such a baby is trying Dermasalve  It may not be right for your little one, but if you have a look at the site you can get an idea of all the things that are in normal emollients that can cause the skin to become worse rather than better.

The fact that she gets upset when you apply the cream may well be a sign it's not right for her and the skin is reddening in areas the cream has been newly applied too is concerning too. When you get the right cream it should sooth the skin, and they will welcome the coolness of it being applied. 

This age frequently seems to be when the skin is at its worst, though I know that is probably little consolation to you now
 
What can sometimes help is to stop thinking of your little one as 'having eczema' and start thinking of them as being sensitive.
Although atopic conditions like eczema are often inherited there are still usually triggers making the skin flare up.
 
In question to how long do you need to use creams for - you get better at dealing with your little ones skin 
I wasn't prepared to accept that my son's skin was 'ill or diseased’ when I started thinking of him as just extremely sensitive I started questioning everything that he came into contact with, or consumed, I was able slowly to spot all the things that cause his skin to become red, itchy and inflamed and by removing them returning his skin to normal.
We still moisturise the skin, to help it and he still has the odd flare ups.

Do you have any feelings about her eczema?  What may be causing it? Or making it worse or better?  If you have time to look in the Your Storeys section there are storeys from other parents and how they help there little ones cope with there sensitive skin.  It may help you spot potential triggers for your little girl.

Let us know how your getting on 

[EmmaCole]

Just wanting to let you know that you are not alone and you have found a good site now where hopefully you will find some advice that works for your baby.
Its hard to know how to start with a new cream - you are always slightly fearful that it might make it worse.
I definitely think you should be pushing for a referral to a specialist - your baby sounds to be worse than my dd. I tried cranial osteopathy to help with baby, only 1 session so far but things seemed to improve after that. It can be expensive but I went along to a college of osteopaths so it didn't cost too much. I know there are free colleges one in Clerkenwell and one in manchester - not sure where you are based.
I also sought help from a homeopath and feel that it certainly helped Lucie cope with the itchiness, even if it didn't improve it.

A friend also recommended witch hazel for the very weepy areas on Lucie' face. I thought it would sting, but she had used it on her post pregnancy stitches and said it was really soothing. It worked on Lucie by drying out the weepy areas but obviously I then had to moisturise them.

Keep your chin up - it will get better

[hollystar]

Thank you for your support.

She has now been referred so hopfully not long to wait.

Has anyone had eczema flare up when using Huggies Nappies?

[jmima]

Your poor little one!!! She sounds like how my DD2 was and it was heart-breaking. In the end, what sorted my DD was hydrocortizone cream, leave on for 30mins; then Epaderm absolutely caked on and tubifast top and leggings over the top of that. It helped the skin absorb the skin and now that we know she is allergic t house dust mites, we know they also work by protecting her skin. If you're getting refered, ask for wet wraps and allergy testing. 10 months down the line, I wish I had known about it back then as it would have saved us all from a lot of pain and frustration.

[Waveridersgirl]

Sounds like my son. Went on holiday and he was getting towards how your little one is, saw a dr who was upto date on dermatology. Also back home got a referal to allergy clinic. Turned out he was allergic to eggs and milk.... and being on holiday all the foods had these in them.
 I cut them out of my diet and this helped. also had a really strong steroid to "dry up" weepy patches (eumovate) after 4 days we stopped and haven't needed it since. We use epaderm ointment (not cream) spread it on thickly but dont rub in then put his clothes on we do this at every nappy change. we also use a hydrocortisone 1% steroid on any "bad" areas of skin. Use for 7 days then have 4 days off. Since we've started this routine his eczema has really calmed down. Best thing we did was getting an allergy test done.