The best moisturiser for super dry skin

[Ying]

Becky's eczema is out of control I'm still considering taking her to a GP but they won't do anything but prescribing cortisone for her so I don't know...

We've been using Dermaid cream with 1% cortisone in it because nothing else has worked. I only need to do that for a day or so then stop but the eczema will come back in a day or so later In the meantime I slather her with lots of calendula cream and Gaia moisturiser, the result isn't the best but I have no idea what else to do.

The worst area is her bum. She has never had it there before until a couple of months ago and I can't think of anything that triggers it. The cortisone dries up that area badly, the skin even peels off the poor girl feels so itchy.

I've been rubbing Gaia soothing cream all over her tush hopefully it will get better tomorrow. What kind of moisturiser should I be using with her? And please if anyone knows how I can keep the eczema under control without resorting to cortisone, I'd really appreciate that

AFAIK she's not allergic to dustmite (not sure about wool now), isn't asthmatic, doesn't react to food. DH doesn't think she need an allergy test because he had a very bad experience with it (he has eczema as well).

[kirrily]

Originally Posted by Ying

doesn't react to food.

How did you come to that conclusion? I was going to suggest you look at food... I get excema from eating wheat and I think it's quite a common reaction to different foods.

[tikki]

Her eczema could very well be a reaction to food. DH's certainly is a reaction to food. It doesn't necessarily make him wheeze or create an anaphylactic reaction, but I can tell if he's consumed certain food and drink about 12 -24 hours later. I think you may find that most eczema sufferers do react to dustmites

Seriously, I'd see a naturopath, seek one who will investigate and treat the cause, and not just prescribe a cream or ointment. Perhaps get a referral to a dermatologist, they will be able to judge if allergy testing is worthwhile

What do you wash her clothes/nappies in?

[Nicole_M]

I love Gaia products but none of the creams helped with DS's eczema. I've just switched to Dermaveen's new Eczema Cream and once the Dermaid got it under control, we've had no more outbreaks. My sister's DS2 has shocking eczema and she swears by Lucas' Papaw ointment...having said that, I put it on my DS and his skin was worse than ever.

This is the thing with eczema, it's different for every sufferer and what works for one child will not necessarily work for yours. Soooooo frustrating.

My DS's is definitely related to food as well as skin stress (windburn/dryness etc).

If your DH has it, doesn't that make it more likely that it's the same or similar triggers for Becky? there is a genetic link isn't there?

Poor Becky.

[mollymouse]

Hi i have this cream from WA called Caroline's Cream DS1 used to get eczema when he was little and didnt want to keep going to the doctors the pharmacies stock it but here's the website
Caroline's Skin Care : Introduction and my cousin uses it for her little boy

[MadMel]

My son used to get it very badly. I did an elimination diet and found out that yeast (tomato sauce, vegemite, bread) was causing the bad reactions but he was also sensitive to cows milk and wheat.
Also sodium Laureth/Lauryl sulphate which is found in most soaps and shampoos (its the foaming agent).
We did wet bandages when he was really bad and it made a really big difference.
As for moisturiser, QV have one with cartoons on it, which you get from the pharmacy, I can't remember what it is called because we haven't used it in ages. It is about 400ml and I think it was about $8 but it was THE best one I found and trust me when I say I used everything they sold at the pharmacy! (they used to make up sample packs for me too because I was THAT regular lol)
After cutting out the foods, using special soaps and shampoos and washing powder, and moisturising EVERY day without fail, his eczema is much better.

[Ying]

I wash her clothes & nappies with Omo Sensitive, have been doing that since she's born and never had problems with it so I don't think this is the cause. Her eczema only appears on her legs, a bit on the arms but the worst is her bum That's why I think this is probably something new that triggers it because she has never had it on her bum before, unlike the legs & arms areas.

I don't know how I'm going to check her diet and eliminate certain foods. To be honest, she doesn't eat anything much these days so I'm quite reluctant to cut off some foods... I probably can't do it right this second because I need to get the eczema under control first. Her bum is still very red and she said it's sore where the skin peels off I'm not surprised..it looks very sore and itchy to me too.

I'm not sure if I should see a traditional dermatologist or opt for a naturopath. DH said I need to go to one way or another otherwise it will mess it up. He doesn't know what triggers him and he has permanent eczema which doesn't go away at all so we have no idea what to do with his either.

[milasmum]

I dont have experience here Ying, sorry

but I had to get dermaid the other day for Mila (she had really sore red dry cracked areas around her mouth) and the pharmacist said to mix it with sorbolene. This might help with it not drying the skin out so much

[mum2one]

How long ago did your DH have his skin prick tests done Ying? It's pretty simple and will give you some good answers. It's medicared so doesn't cost anything. If there is any danger of anaphylaxis they will do it as a daystay admission.

I'd probably ask your GP for a referral to a dermatologist. Not sure of any good ones in Sydney though.

My SIL has uncontrolled eczema and has done since she was a child. She alternates all her treatments to gain a bit of control and some different creams she uses is chickpea ointment from a healthfood shop, a new one she likes is called invisible glove but thats pretty exy at $20 a tube but you don't use heaps and she says it is comparable to a steroid result so she tends to use this on her non steroid cream days, you can get it at a chemist. Otherwise she uses a steroid cream with QV moisturiser over the top. As a child when she was really bad and even still now she will use her creams on then wet bandages on then dry bandages over the top. You can get elasticised tubes now called tubifast at the chemist which makes it easier now for wet dressings they come in sizes for different parts of the body.

When she is really bad she moisturises three times a day.

I'd also consider a naturopath but in conjunction with a dermatologists opinion. Let me tell you from experience that an elimination diet is a BIG deal and i'd only do it if I needed to. Especially for a toddler. It's not always related to food.

HTH Ying, I'll try and come back and write more as I think of it...

[Ying]

Thanks for your input Trish
I was just reading Failsafe diet and I'm so overwhelmed...to say the least LOL That's why I don't want to commit to it just yet. Becky doesn't have any other symptoms that I can really say related to food allergy/intolerance. Her behaviours are very normal, no signs of illness, no irritable bowels (slightly constipate but that what most toddlers are anyway). The only problem we have is eczema which she developed at around 3 months old but it's been very mild. It had been under control until 2 months ago where I noticed her rash appeared a lot more on her legs. I figured it caused by wearing fleece sleep suits to bedso I stopped using them and avoid using wool longies or soakers as well. It seemed to get better a little bit and then out of no where the rash appears on her bum and I haven't been able to get it under control since

Dh had skin prick test when he was a kid so it's been over 20 years or so. He's really against it so I don't think I can talk him into having an allergy test. I don't think there will be any danger of anaphylaxis, we don't really have a serious running in the family.

I guess I'll have to get a referral to see a dermatologist, I just don't like that what they usually do is giving a prescribtion for a cortisone cream.