If you're battling eczema....come in!

kristinromero · May 2011

My DS is 13 weeks old and we've been fighting his eczema for about a week and a half now. The doctor originally prescribed Eletone cream. (At that time, he only had a few spots on the leg and was what they considered "very mild"). We used that Rx for about 3 days and his eczema got so much worse and spread all over his body.

I called the pedi back and told them what happened and they told me to stop using that cream and prescribed Hylatopic Foam. We've been using that for 1 week now and there is no improvement. So, I called the pedi again today to see what they want me to do.

They advised for me to alternate days with the foam and the original cream (pedi thinks I may not have used it long enough for it to work) and call them back on Tuesday. If it's not improved, they'll likely have me bring him in or refer me to a dermatologist.

In addition to the medicine, we have switched him to soy formula (in case he has a milk allergy that's causing it - recommended by the pedi). He is still 95% breastfed and we just supplement with formula. We've also started using a very mild soap from Cetaphil at bath time - only when necessary and using Eucerin lotion before each medicine application to keep him moisturized.

I know a lot of babies get eczema and it's totally normal, but we have some very dear friends who went through hell with their DS's eczema. It turned out that he had fatal allergies to eggs and peanuts, among other things. So, of course, the worrying mommy in me is automatically jumping to the worst case scenario.

If you have or are battling eczema, can you share what's working for you. I'm willing to try anything to make LO's skin get better. the good news is that it doesn't seem to bother him....he's not scratching, it doesn't weep, etc. So thank goodness for small blessings! Thanks!

g8orell · May 2011

I'm a pediatric dermatology PA at a children's hospital, just FYI but both Eletone and Hylatopic are just emollients...they are good, but htey are not medicated. Your LO needs a steroid cream in order to get rid of the patches, and you can use one of those emollients as a moisturizer for maintenance.

kristinromero · May 2011

Why on earth would my pedi have prescribed both of those if they're not medicated? Can you give me a recommendation of a steroid medication that I can specifically ask about? Thanks!

g8orell · May 2011

Also, Eucerin is not very good and never use lotions...always creams. Lotions contain alcohol and will make eczema worse. We recommend CeraVe or Cetaphil Restoraderm creams and soaps. You can try using OTC hydrocortisone cream 2x day to the rashes and on top of that, apply either Eletone, Hylatopic, CeraVe or Cetaphil. That will help lock in the steroid cream. Also, moisturize head to to at least 3-4 times a day. Use Dreft, All Free, Tide Free or Cheer Free (or any dye/perfume free laundry detergent for the WHOLE FAMILY b/c LO comes into contact with your clothes when you him. Here is some info I wrote up for new mommy blog about eczema: As you can imagine, newborns and babies have very sensitive skin. After all, they were essentially living in a bubble covered with thick, nutrient rich vernix for several months before birth, which was either absorbed or wiped off shortly after. Everyday their delicate skin comes into contact with harsh chemicals, detergents, and soaps. These chemicals can eventually lead to the breakdown of the skin barrier (known as the stratum corneum), which subsequently leads to itchy rashes. The best way we can protect our baby?s skin, is to moisturize daily with gentle creams and avoid fragranced soaps and detergents. There are hundreds of brands of lotions, creams and soaps. Many are household names that we grew up with, such as Johnson & Johnson, Aveeno, and Dove. Just because these products have been around for many years, does not mean that they are good products. In fact, most of these products have ingredients that further irritate delicate skin?even those that claim to be hypoallergenic and for sensitive skin. For example, Aveeno adds citric acid to their products, and all of Johnson & Johnson products have ?fragrance mixture? as one of their ingredients. If you read the labels of most over-the-counter creams and lotions, you will find alcohols, acids, parabens, and other irritating agents that you would never normally put on your skin. So which products are good? Our practice recommends CeraVe (www.cerave.com) or Cetaphil (www.restoraderm.cetaphil.com) creams and cleansers. CeraVe was the first OTC line to add ceramides to its products. Ceramides are lipids (fats) that retain water in the skin, thus healing and restoring the skin barrier. Before CeraVe, ceramides were only found in prescription creams, such as Epicerum, which are expensive and not covered by most health insurance plans. Cetaphil is a little more known than CeraVe and has recently marketed a new line with ceramides called ?Restoraderm?. Both brands can be found at several neighborhood pharmacies, such as CVS, Walgreens and Walmart. Both brands also include soaps / cleansers, sunscreens, and lotions. It is important to note that you always want to buy creams, NOT lotions! The difference between the two is that creams are thicker and last longer, whereas lotions are thinner and usually contain an alcohol, which will further dry out and irritate the skin. In general, lotions are sold as bottles with pumps, whereas creams come in round jars with lids to unscrew. Both products also have cleansers (liquid soaps) that do not contain detergent. Detergent is what causes bubbles and bubbles dry out the skin, therefore no detergent is a good thing! A lot of moms complain that their children are not clean because the cleansers are not creating suds, but that?s okay?they are clean! Eczema / Atopic Dermatitis It seems that more and more kids are diagnosed with eczema these days! In fact, recent studies have shown that 15-20% of kids in the U.S. suffer from eczema during their lifetime, as compared to 7% in the 1960?s (Rady Children?s Hospital ? San Diego, 2010). Eczema, also known as Atopic Dermatitis, is a hereditary, chronic skin condition that causes mild to severe rashes and itching in children. Most children outgrow eczema around puberty, but a small percentage of those suffering with it will continue to experience some degree of it throughout life. There are many types of eczema, but most of the rashes look like pink or red, rough, dry patches, most common behind the knees and the inner elbows of children, and on the backs and bellies of babies. However, these patches can develop anywhere, including the face and neck. One way to identify eczema from another type of skin rash is to simply push on it. Eczema does not blanch, meaning, when you press on it, it does not disappear. There is no cure for eczema, but fortunately there are treatments and ways to reduce outbreaks or flares: ? Moisturize at least 3 times daily with a sensitive perfume/dye free cream (not lotion) head-to-toe ? Use a perfume/dye/detergent free cleanser for baths; it is okay to bathe your child daily, just keep baths short (3-5 minutes) and use luke-warm water (hot water breaks down the skin barrier faster) ? Use a perfume/dye free laundry detergent such as Ivory Snow, Dreft, All Free, Tide Free, Cheer Free, Seventh Generation, etc. Do not use bleach with cloths or fabric softener (including dryer sheets) **We recommend that the entire family use a perfume/dye free laundry detergent, particularly those with babies and young children because when you hold your child, he/she comes into direct contact with your clothes ? Dress your child in 100% cotton, loose clothing, as overheating can make eczema worse ? Limit carpets, curtains, stuffed animals, etc. because these items harbor dust, which can further irritate sensitive skin ? After swimming in a pool, lake, or ocean, rinse your child immediately with fresh water (or bathe if you can) and apply a moisturizing cream ? Use insect repellent if you live in an area where mosquitos are prevalent, as most kids with eczema tend to have more of a reaction to insect bites. We recommend Avon Skin-so-Soft, Skintastic or Skedaddle. If you do not feel comfortable spraying these on your child?s skin, spray on your child?s clothes ? For stubborn patches, use OTC 1% hydrocortisone cream twice daily to the patches for about 2-3 weeks. If this does not work, see your pediatrician or dermatologist for a stronger, prescription strength steroid cream ? Flares can occur at anytime are usually caused by stress, change in weather (usually extreme heat or cold), viruses / illnesses, teething, etc. ? An excellent website for more information: www.eczemacenter.org

g8orell · May 2011

kromero01:
Why on earth would my pedi have prescribed both of those if they're not medicated? Can you give me a recommendation of a steroid medication that I can specifically ask about? Thanks!

Sorry, I don't know what's going on with the Bump...the info I sent you is organized and bulletted. Not sure what's going on with the format. I can email you the info if you'd like. The creams your pedi sent are good...just not medicated. Most pedi's are scared to treat babies for eczema. Not sure why, it's not a big deal. For babies under 1 year, I usually prescribe Alclometasone 0.05% cream or Desonide 0.05% cream, so you can ask your pedi for one of those or try the OTC hydrocortisone first.

LoCarb · May 2011

Wow! Thanks for the info. I have been using Aquafor on my L.O.

AlyGibbons · May 2011

My daughter has eczema. It can be difficult, especially if they are scratching even in thier sleep. Aveno oatmeal bodywash helped her. They make little packets to add to the bath water. You also need a steriod cream. Sweating irritated her skin, I dont know if that helps. I hope it does.

mgh2008 · May 2011

I am so glad you posted this. My 7 week old has a terrible rash which his pedi diagnosed as eczema. I have tried using the cetaphil wash, hydrocordisone cream, eucerin, aveeno baby for eczema and was even prescribed a steroid called nystatin and nothing is working. It is so upsetting!! He is ebf, but I am attempting to try to start him on alimentum formula, in case it is a food allergy. Unfortunately, he hates it and won't drink it.

Thank you for all this good info!!

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