Eczema help!

Colada584 · December 2013

Hi everyone! I just brought LO to the dermatologist yesterday and she has eczema. It's only on her face right now. I was given some creams and ointments to try. Yesterday when we got home I applied the cream. Then at bedtime I applied the ointment and swaddled her so she couldn't rub at it. This morning it looks quite a bit worse. Does it get worse before it gets better? DH and I have never had eczema so we don't really know what we're dealing with here. Any help would be appreciated!

Mom38673 · December 2013

Do you BF? I'm not sure if it's suppose to get worse before it gets better... I would think not, but! I have heard that BM helps eczema. Just soak a cottonball in BM, and pat the inflamed area. If not, I would call the Dr. back.

Colada584 · December 2013

I do BF. Thanks I will try that!

EmR22 · December 2013

We have dealt with severe eczema with my DD2 and mild with my DD3 and DS. What type of creams/ointments did they give you? We had been instructed to give soaker baths (you lay them in a lukewarm bath for about 20 minutes with towels covering their body -- this keeps them warm and re-hydrates their skin. Then after we were told to immediately apply the creams. We've used a variety from steroid creams when it was severe to others when it wasn't so bad, to even now we use just lotion (Vanicream) on DS.

I would follow-up with the dr. Even with our severe case immediately after applying creams it would look bad but once it soaked in it would look better temporarily.

Did they refer you to an allergist for testing? Having eczema is highly correlated with food allergies. So while the creams could be making it better, your LO could continue to have it if you are BF and eating something they are allergic to.

Colada584 · December 2013

They gave us some aveeno eczema and eletone cream (which is prescription) samples. The eletone seemed to make it worse this morning. It got more red when I put it on and didn't change after it soaked in. They also gave us vaniply ointment sample which I put on last night before bed and this morning it seemed to have spread more on her face. I just patted the area and applied the aveeno. It seems to have taken some of the redness away so maybe I will just stick with that and see what it looks like tomorrow. They did not refer us to an allergist. I'm going to call and find out about that. Thank you @emr22

Soph13F · December 2013

The only cream I have found to work good on my child is Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Moisture Cream. With my first son the Aveeno Baby Eczema worked, but not this time. He gets bad eczema on his face. I take a warm wet baby wash rag, wipe down his face and then apply the cream 2-3 times a day and it within a day or two it clears it right up. If he spits up and it gets on his face, wipe it with a wet rag instead of just a dry burp rag. With my son, his spit up would irritate his eczema and it'd flare right back up.

JaysonandKristin · December 2013

Do the soaking baths as outlined by PP, and then apply Vaseline. No lotions, just Vaseline, not Aquafor... plain ol' Vaseline.

Use the Rx creams as directed after the soaking bath and before the pet jelly.

Look into coordinating care between the Derm and the Allergist. There's a chance there's a correlation, and eliminating the allergen COULD help tremendously.

And, NO, it doesn't get worse before it gets better. Talk to the doc immediately.

AppleMuffins · December 2013

I use aquaphor on dd. When she has a flare up I apply it at every diaper change pretty much, otherwise 2 or 3 times a day. I use the Averno eczema lotion twice a day or so when she's having a flare up then I put squalor on top of that. I also make sure to wipe her face once or twice a day if she isn't taking a both that night. It has never gotten worse once I would try her. It clears up pretty well within a day or two of really being on top of it. She also has it on her face only. I swaddle or do mittens at night so she doesn't rub or scratch it.

jensriot · December 2013

DS' eczema started around 6 mo and it has taken a while to figure out what triggers his flare ups. For him it's fragrances (in detergent, lotion, soap, etc), dry air, and drool. The pedi prescribed a steroid cream that never seemed to help. Instead we've been able to keep it somewhat under control using humidifiers in the main part of the house and his room. I use hydrocortisone on red itchy spots, then Aquaphor on top of that. I use Eucerin eczema cream on his legs and Aveeno baby eczema cream everywhere else two to three times a day. Of course we use free and clear everything and Dove soap since fragrances are a problem. Good luck! It is a frustrating experience. I always feel like we're on the verge of a nasty flare up.

JMU_Bride09 · December 2013

I use Hydrocortisone cream once a day and aquaphor at diaper changes during a breakout or just morning/evening otherwise. And definitely use the aquaphor after a bath.

Also, dont bathe your LO every day or even every other day. I try to wait five days in between baths for DS2 if I can.

JaysonandKristin · December 2013

JMU_Bride09 said:

I use Hydrocortisone cream once a day and aquaphor at diaper changes during a breakout or just morning/evening otherwise. And definitely use the aquaphor after a bath. Also, dont bathe your LO every day or even every other day. I try to wait five days in between baths for DS2 if I can.

If it's triggered by environmental allergens, LO should be bathed every day.

Colada584 · December 2013

Thanks everyone! It's cleared up now. I just used the Aveeno eczema cream. I didn't try aquafor but everytime I put Vaseline or ointment it seemed to make it worse...

daniann333 · December 2013

DS is just about 5 weeks old and he had it so bad on his face and legs. We used avenno cream and bath wash. It looks so much better. Also when you wash LO clothes, make sure you double rinse them. Keep a blanket covering ur clothes when holding LO.

chinablack55 · December 2013

My son had it bad....we changed his formula used free and clear detergent and also dove hypoallergenic soap....the doctor prescribed a cream called triamcinolone not sure of the spelling....but it cleared his skin immediately and was the strongest cream and the last resort if the eczema did not clear up afterwards then the doctor said he will refer us to a seen but it worked you will never know he ever had eczema.....

Want a personalized experience?

Eczema help!

Re: Eczema help!

Choose Another Board

Search Boards