New User with 2 years old and severe eczema!!

[worriedmum2410]

OH MY GOD!!!!

Skintoskin.... Amazing stuff...

The baby grow sleep suit and socks turned up Friday, the day after I ordered, great!

I can't believe it!!! Friday, Saturday, Sunday and last night... She SLEPT!!!! all the way through, she looked Comfortable and relaxed all night!

I really cant' believe it. Ordered some more from there range, Love it.

Thank you....

[LouiseBird]

I am another new comer to the site. JimBob please could you forward the details of the specailist at the Manchester's children's hospital I am desparate for help with my little one.

I'll try and keep this short but my daughter developed ezcema when she was a few months old, she is now 2.5years old. We tried various creams but managed to keep it under control (just about)with Epaderm ointment 4 times daily and tubifast suits 24hrs a day, QV soap substitute for her hands, baths twice a week in doublebase and hydromol intensive and hydrocortisone every few months to control flare ups. I have also done the obvious stuff, switch to ecover cleaning products, surcare laundry products, wash at 60 degrees and recently started her on ProVen probiotics.

However this summer she developed a flare up which I still haven't got under control. Now using skinnies suits which my toddler seems to prefer although she does pull them up to scratch, dermol in daily paths and the trusting epaderm. Under the supervision of the ezcema clinic I have been using more and hydrocortisone 14days on 7days off. It just seems to come back each time worse and has spread to parts of her body which previously weren't bad (head, face, eyelids). ALong with the help of an eczema diary and photos for her skin I have finally found a GP that takes me seriously and agrees she needs to progress up the NHS pathway but I am worried what this means. I have read some scary things online about hydrocortisone use and would rather have some allergy tests done before trying stronger creams, although this is contray to the NHS pathway. I would be willing to pay for them. Getting frustrated by the time it takes for anything to progress and how difficult it is to get a repeat prescription. Meanwhile little one is scratching herslef raw and crying to me at night that it hurts:(

[Marcie Mom]

Hi LouiseBird,

Sorry to hear of the scratching raw... Always painful and stressful for the whole family when that happens.

As for steroid use, hydrocortisone is mild, I do think personally it's better to treat eczema with the right potency steroid cream, rather than delay doing so and lead to more scratching, infection and inflammation. I know that's a whole lot of scary stuff you can read about it.. but under doc's supervision, some educating yourself on strength and potency, I do think parents can get a comfort level on how much steroid to use to treat eczema.

Take care,
Mei

[Jimbob]

I have sent you a private message with the name of the specialist. I hope you can get your gp to refer your daughter and that you find him as good as we have.

Kelly

[LouiseBird]

Thanks for the info. Feeling a lot better after my gp visit today. In the past I have had contradictory advice from GPs and the nurses at the ezcema clinic which has fuelled my hydrocortisone fears but after having a long chat with the new gp I feel more comfortable with it. I think I was just in a cycle of using cream that wasn't strong enough and really the nurses should have referred me back to the doctor a lot quicker. After a few days of eumovate her skin looked normal except for a few scars unfortunately it is flaring up again now i have stopped but not as quickly as it was and the doc has reassured me I am fine using it for longer this time to try and get this flare up under control. He is also going to find out what dietary support is available although he has adviced against allergy testing at this stage. Feel like I am making some progress but thanks for the contact the doc says he wants to try a couple more things before referring me.

[Marcie Mom]

Hi

Yes, the steroid cream does have to be applied a little longer, even after rash subsided.. It's due to there being some further inflammation under the skin, extract of Dr Bridgett's interview on my blog below relating to this.
"Can you explain what this means, and why it is important to continue steroid treatment after epidermis healing (‘2-stage in steroid effect’)?

Dr Bridgett:

It seems the steroid anti-inflammatory effect is partly achieved by reducing over-activity in the skin, allowing natural healing then to lay down healthy skin again. By the time the seems good to look at, the healing is not complete through and through – there is more that is needed under the surface, so we recommend continuing with the topical steroid, beyond The Look Good Point: do not stop too soon. See http://atopicskindisease.com/articles/TT7"

Take care dear,
Mei

[Jimbob]

I am so glad the appointment with the gp went so much better. My son started off being treated by the gp but was referred to a specialist at just 3 months old the first time and then referred to a different hospital at our request at 10 months old. James has been seen by many specialists but we have only been happy with his current specialist who he has been seeing for 2 years now. Our gp openly admits that he does not know enough about eczema to treat James as his case is too severe. I like the fact that he is willing to admit that and actually admire him for it. If you get to the point where you feel your little girl needs to be referred don't be afraid to push for it I know many parents have had to in the past. I hope your little girl continues to improve and that the gp is able to manage her eczema and if not will refer her to a specialist.

Kelly x

[Marcie Mom]

Thanks Kelly, love it that you're sharing a patient doctor communication tip! My experience in Singapore is that it's best best to see a doctor specializing in allergy/dermatology/immunology and children. GPs usually stock steroid of much higher potency, as they prescribe for adults who may not really have severe eczema, but a quick fix for their rashes. Not suitable for kids to use such high potency, without doc's supervision. Also at hospitals, you can do all the tests you like, blood test is something that a GP cannot do.

And it's a happy note to a Black Friday that your kid is doing better!
Mei

[LouiseBird]

I am really trying not to be anti hydrocortisone but have been using tubes of the 1% stuff over the last few months. I was originally doing 14 days on 7days off as instructed by the ezcema clinic. The one week of eumovate ointment (0.05%) didn't work so we are now doing one week of that followed by one week of 1% hydrocortisone. The GP reassures me they are very weak and you can use them for months with no side effects but this does seem contray to NICE guidelines and the general guidelines you see. The eumovate worked brillant first time and I used it for 48hours after the inflammation disappeared but her skin flared up after 2 days off it. This week the Eumovate isn't working as well. Skin is better but still bad around wrists. I would be very surprised if the inflammation has gone after a weeks use. Due back at the docs in two weeks not sure how long I should go on trying longer hc periods before requesting a referral. What do you think?

[Jimbob]

Personally I would ask for a referral at your next appointment. It can take a while to get the appointment for the consultation which means you can continue trying the things you're go suggests until then. A gp also does not have the right to refuse to refer your child to a specialist.

What it ultimately comes down to though is wether you are happy or not with the treatment plan your gp is offering.

Kelly