Severe eczema

[halfpint]

M seems to have really bad eczema - he's always had dry patches and cradle cap, but a few weeks ago, he got a spotty rash on his face and torso. It seems like it's just gotten worse, and now his whole torso is red and inflamed - almost like a bad sunburn. 
We saw his doctor - "generalized dermatitis or eczema" - and I've been using Mustela's eczema lotion, which honestly seems to be making it worse. I have been avoiding dairy to see if that helps, I switched to free & clear laundry detergent, we've been bathing more often in lukewarm water. I switched today to Vanicream since I'm worried the Mustela is harming him further (he screams when you put lotion on him, which is effing tragic). 

Any other advice? He's 5 months. 

[momin2013]

When DS' eczema started to be more frequent, his pedi gave him an Rx for hydrocortisone, which worked like a charm. I'd call and ask his doc for that if possible. In fact, I think it's a bit odd that his doctor gave that diagnosis without offering a prescription for him...

[vtdiamond]

Apr 30, 2018 13:49:07 GMT -5 momin2013 said:

When DS' eczema started to be more frequent, his pedi gave him an Rx for hydrocortisone, which worked like a charm. I'd call and ask his doc for that if possible. In fact, I think it's a bit odd that his doctor gave that diagnosis without offering a prescription for him...

Ditto this, the only thing that cleared up my DSs eczema was prescription strength hydrocortisone.

[puppylove64]

Just don’t put hydrocortisone on his face. Also bathing more often might be drying out his skin worse. Don’t use water that is too hot or it can dry his skin out. I really like aveeno eczema relief lotion. When it gets really bad and irritated is the worse! If it doesn’t look too bad, you still need lotions to keep it from flaring up and being miserable again 🙁

[halfpint]

Re: bathing, we were doing once/week or so, but most recommendations are to bathe more often with lukewarm water and seal in moisture with lotion after bath.

[halfpint]

Apr 30, 2018 13:49:07 GMT -5 momin2013 said:

When DS' eczema started to be more frequent, his pedi gave him an Rx for hydrocortisone, which worked like a charm. I'd call and ask his doc for that if possible. In fact, I think it's a bit odd that his doctor gave that diagnosis without offering a prescription for him...

It wasn't as severe when we went in - just kind of a smattering of red spots on his face and torso. Now it looks horrible

[momin2013]

Apr 30, 2018 14:24:11 GMT -5 halfpint said:

Apr 30, 2018 13:49:07 GMT -5 momin2013 said:

When DS' eczema started to be more frequent, his pedi gave him an Rx for hydrocortisone, which worked like a charm. I'd call and ask his doc for that if possible. In fact, I think it's a bit odd that his doctor gave that diagnosis without offering a prescription for him...

It wasn't as severe when we went in - just kind of a smattering of red spots on his face and torso. Now it looks horrible

I think it's worth giving the pedi's office a call to see if they'll phone in an Rx for him. Since it's already been diagnosed as eczema, hopefully they'll be able to do that...

[catbear]

Can you get a referral for a pediatric dermatologist? They can prescribe the right medication and give a better diagnosis.

We got a prescription steroid for my daughter because she had terrible eczema around 6-7 months. Cleared things up.

[BeagleMama]

Apr 30, 2018 14:31:47 GMT -5 catbear said:

Can you get a referral for a pediatric dermatologist? They can prescribe the right medication and give a better diagnosis.

We got a prescription steroid for my daughter because she had terrible eczema around 6-7 months. Cleared things up.

This definitely was the key in helping DD. She ended up with a spectrum of RX creams/ointments (face vs. body etc.) which provided a great toolbox for continued maintenance.  

[Ashley&Scott]

M has eczema too. He used to get angry red patches. I've had success with Aveeno Baby Eczema, I noticed an improvement within 24 hours. Now we apply lotion after every bath, if he has a flare up then we do it more often. 

[halfpint]

I called the nurse, we're going back in tomorrow. Poor kid, it seems like it hurts just to gently put lotion on him

[oswin]

Apr 30, 2018 14:20:55 GMT -5 halfpint said:

Re: bathing, we were doing once/week or so, but most recommendations are to bathe more often with lukewarm water and seal in moisture with lotion after bath.

When I had horrible eczema as a teenager, recommendation was to not use soap, since soap is drying (stripping away skin's natural oils). Also the whole no hot water thing. I was supposed to not shower every day, but that wasn't an option because I did sports.

When my kids have weird patches of dry skin we mostly use the Aveeno eczema lotion.

[lessel]

We used an Aveeno oatmeal bath and the Aveeno baby eczema balm stuff (almost the consistency of aquaphor) when DS’s got really bad as a baby. He just has a couple of spots now and we can keep them at bay with the regular Aveeno lotion and aquaphor.

[joy]

Our pediatrician recommend Cerave, free and clear detergent for laundry and mild dove soap in the bath. She said to ditch literally everything else. Then do infrequent baths and to put Cerave on multiple times a day. When that didn’t work, we had hydrocortisone cream.

I was like “damn.” But her eczema cleared up.

[expectantsteelerfan]

If they don't give you an rx eczema cream, ask for a referral to a dermatologist. Has he shown any sign of allergies?
My ds had HORRIBLE eczema as a baby. We did the free and clear detergent, aveeno baby wash, cera ve lotion when it was under control, but when it was out of control we needed an rx for sure. And his were closely related to allergies...he had a bunch of food allergies that he outgrew luckily, but still has tree nut allergy and seasonal allergies, so he's been on allergy meds since he was 6 months old.

[iheartbanjos]

DD2 has horrible eczema and allergies and now st almost 5, she is finally coming out of it. Elidel Cream works the best for DD as her face was almost always open and raw, and we could only treat with steroids 1-2 days at a time (you’re really not supposed to be steroids on a face at all, but she was repeatedly getting impetigo as a result of the open skin.)

She had to take a bath at least 1x a day and be coated in Vaseline or Aquophor afterwards. Some derms are anti-Aquophor because it has lanolin in it, and some people are allergic to that, but DD seemed to do fine with.

Even with a whole house humidifier, we ran an additional one in her room, and still do now.

I know how frustrating it can be. We got second and third opinions, which was good for peace of mind.

[aprilsails]

I have pretty bad eczema and also a host of other dermatitis reactions and I swear by La Roche Posay Lipikar Baume AP. It is a very thick cream and generally feels cool to the skin (I find it soothing on my skin). The Lipikar range also has a cream wash that is good, but also a cleansing oil that is even better during a flare up (called Huile Lavant).

Hot tip- the cleansing oil also makes an amazing stand in for shaving cream. I haven’t been able to use shaving cream in over a decade since I’m allergic to it and this stuff has changed my life (and also moisturizes!)

[sunflower17]

www.cetaphil.com/gentle-skin-cleanser?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=GOOGLE&utm_campaign=Brand+-+Cleanser+-+Core&utm_keyword=cetaphil+gentle+skin+cleanser&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-pa_4b_j2gIVQpyzCh0_nw4cEAAYASABEgJS6fD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CJ2ayO6_49oCFc5GDAod8-kEYw
Many dermatologists rec washing body with this during bad eczema flares. It doesn’t have suds and is extremely gentle.

[mbcdefg]

Bag Balm helped my kid brother when even prescriptions weren’t working: www.target.com/p/vermont-s-original-bag-balm-skin-salve-8-oz/-/A-50325531?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Health+Beauty+Shopping&adgroup=SC_Health+Beauty&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=m&location=9003505&gclid=CjwKCAjwoKDXBRAAEiwA4xnqv02yYvymtm7I5ERkAPKX08aYVSDNn2e5L0D8_HQJC6MkJIFoml3hPBoCg1gQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[halfpint]

You guys, I feel horrible - as I mentioned above, I've been using Mustela Stelatopia eczema lotion, and he would just scream when I put it on. I didn't even connect - I thought it was just the friction or touching his tender skin that hurt. I stopped using it yesterday, and replaced it with Vanicream - and it's like night and day in just 24 hours. It's still red and dry, but SO MUCH BETTER. I feel like I was giving my kid chemical burns with that shit.

[pennylane]

halfpint That eczema cream made my DS screech too! I felt terrible.

We do daily allergy meds, cetaphil wash, and aquaphor for DS.