Eczema Help

TrulyBlessed22

Hello!  So DD has had eczema for about half a year now.  At first it was just the dry patches and now that she's older those dry patches have turned into a scratching pad   The good news is it's not terrible - she mostly gets it on the inner part of her elbow area and on her underarms but she just won't stop scratching, which obviously is making it worse.  I keep her nails short to lessen the damage. 

Currently I am bathing her daily with luke warm water (everything I've read said you should do a daily bath to moisturize the skin).  I only use soap on her private areas, feet and hands and the bath isn't long.  The soap I use is Aveeno Eczema Therapy one.  I lotion her quickly after the bath to with Eucerin Eczema Crème mixed with some dark Jojoba Oil.  During the day when she's really going at it with the scratching I use the Cortizone 1%  stick applicator but I really try to limit how often I use this on her.  Most times I try to stick with ProVent non-steroidal spray for the itching, inflammation etc.  it's 100% natural and does help but unfortunately not as effective as the Cortizone. 

In the past I have tried the Aveeno Eczema Lotion, Shea Moisture Eczema Therapy and one other brand I can't think of right now.  I'm thinking of trying Weleda Products next because the face stuff I used on her in the winter was amazing!

Anyway, I know there is no cure and I am thankful that it's not terrible but she just looks so uncomfortable and I can't help but think I'm missing something to help her with.  I am open to all recs on soaps, crèmes, and oils.  Thank you!!!!!           

ETA - I just went on nationaleczema.org and went through the list of recommended products.  The following are all rated 5 stars (everything else was 4 stars).  Has anyone had any luck with any of the following:  Mustella, Vanicream, Theraplex, Glaxal or Exederm?

MOMama987

We use Exederm wash and lotion, and they help a lot. LO has excema, though it's relatively mild and doesn't bother him - it's more like dry skin, though occasionally he has red splotches that pop up. Exederm is relatively inexpensive, and I found it at CVS, but I think they only had the wash, lotion and maybe a thicker cream... I think they make other products, too.

TrulyBlessed22

@MOMama987‌ yes, I was just reading up on Exederm and it does have great reviews. I see my local Walgreens carries the Intensive Moisture Cream. Thank You!

Boo0512

DD only had mild eczema but I was using the Aveeno Baby Eczema Soothing Bath Treatment (dry packets, purchased at Target). I used those for a few weeks in every bath and she no longer has any patches. I'm not sure if that was a coincidence but I will definitely use it again if any future babies have eczema.

nortiz03

Has your pedi recommended anything?  LO has eczema in the inside of her elbows too.  Our pedi suggested just keeping it moisturized with lotion.  That worked for a while and then it got worse.  I used Aveeno Eczema Therapy and that did not seem to work at all,  I actually feel like that made it worse.  Pedi ended up prescribing some steroid cream (at this point it was pretty bad she was scratching so much it looked raw inside her elbows) but only to use for 5-6 days.  That helped clear it up. That was a week ago and since then I have been applying Aquaphor daily.  I also just grabbed some all natural bath wash and lotion (Johnson and Johnson) at the pharmacy when I picked up her steroid cream.  We were using Aveeno bath and lotion already but pedi recommended non-scented so I just grabbed the only unscented stuff at the pharmacy.

This is what worked for us as far as treatment.  I feel like I was maybe irritating more it by trying to many things in such a short time period.

TrulyBlessed22

@Boo0512‌ thank you, didn't know there were packets for the water.

@nortiz03‌ yes and my pedi said the same, keep her very moisturized. She too got blisters and blood one time and I had to treat and keep her arm bandaged until it healed :-(. Pedi won't prescribe steroids yet. I too noticed certain products make it worse. It looks like Exederm is free of many chemicals...will likely try that and maybe the packets Boo suggested. Aquaphor is a great idea too for those specific areas. Thank you!

mommatotwo2

We use aquaphor. You could also try A&D

kelseyhh

We used the Aveeno oatmeal bath packets as well. It seemed to help. I would give it a try!

Boo0512

I hope it helps your LO!

MOMama987

We also use hydrocortisone cream (1%, I think?) and then "seal" the hydrocortisone onto his skin with Burts Bees ointment (which is essentially like aquafor or petroleum jelly, just more natural)

TrulyBlessed22

Thank you Ladies, this is all very helpful! I knew I could count on you :-)

flyliceandcoffee

S has pretty bad eczema that flares up every so often. Our pedi told us to use hydrocortisone a couple times a day until the redness dissipates (seal it in with bag balm) and then use aquafor to keep it moist. We also give her baths with coconut oil in it to help keep her skin moisturized as a preventative. Basically we were told if the areas are red, no amount of moisturizing is going to help until the inflammation goes away so use hydrocortisone generously to help get rid of the inflammation and then once that starts to clear up, moisturize the hell out of it.

TheFutureMrs.O

We love the exederm line. We use the shampoo, wash, lotion, and flare control cream. I get it from buy buy baby and use their coupons. We also have a rx for hydrocortizone but the exederm has had it under control for months and months now.

MAdams728

DD has some dry patches. I use Aquaphor after baths and at night, and Babyganics Eczema Care in the mornings.

MamaMD

mtnmomma13 said:

Also had good luck with aquaphor and our pedi even suggested using a bit vasoline if really dry.

I second the vasoline.  It is greasy but I use it on LO after bath and before bed (anywhere she has dry/red patches) and it's not greasy anymore by the morning.  The Target brand for babies comes in a tube and is less gooey than the vasoline in the tub, more like a very thick lotion.

Lolalipsy

I haven't tried it yet but Optibac (probiotic) was recommended to me for eczema. I am going to try them so I will let you know if they are any good.

TrulyBlessed22

Thanks again Everyone! All of your advice and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Yesterday I purchased the Exederm Intensive Moisturizer and gave her a bath with bath oil. I also used Aquaphor on top of the moisturizer where she had a flare up. Already saw a difference by morning.

I didn't know about locking in the hydrocortisone with a balm so thank you @MOMama987‌ and @crazycoffeegirl‌, I will def do that when she's going to town scratching cause if the inflammation!