I had an appt at the eczema clinic today for DS and we are starting 4 weeks of aggressive treatment to try to get things under control. DS is 2 and very active, and i think i need to stock up on more bribery if i am going to be able to fulfill the treatment plan. I did my first lot of wet bandages on his arms and legs tonight. He didn't fight them too much, just wasn't so keen to stay still for so long for all the creams etc.
I use antiallergy meds and moisturising creams. He hates cream, but if we play "wobbles" it's ok. That's me rubbing both arms or legs and him lying limp so he wobbles around. Works for him.
It's interesting that you have all mentioned diet triggers. I believe dairy is a trigger here (for eczema and gut issues), but think there is something else that i haven't worked out yet. I was surprised at how little diet was mentioned today, and the nurse seemed a little dismissive of the idea of diet triggers. My newborn is also a hot baby like DS was, and i am hoping she doesn't have this in her future. At least i know now how to get on to things earlier.
Has anybody else been to the RCH eczema clinic?
DS also has quite bad molluscum (a viral skin infection), which has made it difficult to treat the eczema and vice versa. The eczema made his skin more susceptible to getting the molluscum, and the scratching from the eczema also helped the other spread. We have had multiple rounds of poor advice from our GP, so i am glad to finally get in to the eczema clinic to get all the information from the people in the know, and they discussed that their advice was based on research findings.
DS was trying to get the bandages off, so i cuddled him and distracted him to get to sleep. Hopefully, he finds they help and becomes used to them. Realised that i was supposed to put a wet singlet on him too, but forgot. Will have to do that tomorrow.
DS has also been on zyrtec (an antihistamine) for a few months, and it really helped with his nighttime itching.
when i was bfing DS and cut out dairy, i saw big differences too. Over time, i was able to have small amounts of dairy without too much effect on DS, as long as his diet was dairy free. And then over time, he could have small amounts without immediate effects. There seems to be a threshold effect. Yogurt today might be fine as long as he hasn't had a lot of dairy in last few days. Yogurt 3 days in a row would result in a flare up. I don't know whether this will show up in allergy testing, or whether elimination diet is better way to assess diet intolerances.
Yep my son also had eczema. It's mostly fine now though. Dairy and soy were massive triggers. I couldn't have any of either while breastfeeding but now he can eat them both fine and even in fairly large amounts. The only thing we've found is he still reacts to more processed dairy foods. So packaged ice cream will always give him a rash or whipped cream from a can. But fresh ice cream or if we whip our own fresh cream he's fine. I'm starting to wonder about what they add to these and if we can isolate exactly what the problem is. He had an allergy test but it didn't turn up anything. At the moment we're quite happy just avoiding known triggers.
That's interesting nyigi, I wonder what is in the processed dairy that gives the reaction?
After a week of wet bandages over night, ds' skin looks great! Its so soft, no active eczema except for his face. We are back to just mega moisturising and see if we can keep it looking good.
DS had terrible ezcema, we cut out wheat and it improved marginally. Its not so bad in summer though, winter is our biggest battle. He also has dust mite allergy which our allergist said would attribute to both his ezcema and asthma. We wet wrap his inner elbows in winter. He is 5 now and he will actually ask for me to wet wrap them as he feels almost instant relief from the scratching, even just for a moment. He will scratch until he bleeds in his sleep. His inner elbows, eye lids and behind his knees are his major problems, he also has split ear lobes most of the time from where the eczema is .
We have follow up appt on Friday. Had to do wet bandages for 3 or 4 days every 2nd week. It would clear up, look good and then flare up again. Have been doing wet bandages again last few days. He isn't really keen on putting them on, but is ok once they are on. He still doesn't like the 'cold' moisturising cream. I worry a bit about the wet bandages as we get into colder weather. How do your kids go with them during Winter?
He has been sleeping very poorly again, and it has been at same time as eczema flare up. not sure if its coincidence or the cause.
does anybody receive carers allowance or the health care card for a child with eczema? I was told it is possible, but didn't find specific info on the centrelink website. The hcc would help with meds.
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