Eczema?????

Question

I was wondering if there were any good ways to help eczema for an infant? We have a 5 month old son that has a severe case of eczema; the doctor gave us some medicine for him but it isn't working. It gets so bad at nights that he doesn't sleep and I always trying to itch himself. Is there anything that we can do to alleviate the itching? Any information will by much appreciated.

Answer 1

Bathing can actually relieve the itching, but not with soap. Soap can act as an irritant to the eczema.

When my daughter was younger she suffered badly with eczema and would average at least 8 hospital stays per year because of infections. We were told about Aloe Vera, that the gel inside the leaves gives relief from the itchiness.

We bought several plants and would apply the gel to her eczema daily. Yes, it did help her.

Another idea is at night, put gloves or mittens on his hands, so that even though he may get itchy, he can't actually 'scratch'. I found that my daughter would somehow get the mittens off through the night, so I used to bandage her hands so that she couldn't scratch.

When you bathe your son, put tea tree oil into the water. This will also help the eczema and soothe the itch.

Please do be careful what creams you put on your sons eczema as some tend to 'feed' it and make it worse.

Answer 2

My little boy had eczema on his cheeks. I was not sure what method to use but I didn't want to make my boy go through any surgery treatments at this young age. Some suggested a plastic surgeon since it was in a very visible location but our family doctor recommend this natural guide.

Best Eczema Treatment?

Answer 3

Try not washing your baby every night. I use Aveeno lightly scented wash and shampoo for babies which i find helps alot, make sure the water is not to warm as it can make the skin dry and itchy. When my dd's eczema flairs i use Aquaphor baby wash which is over the counter and I rub the Aquaphor baby ointment of the patch areas twice a day until it disappears.

Answer 4

I found out my son had eczema when he was only a few months old. I do know eczema is in the same family as allergys. When my son was a baby they gave me 1% hydrocortizone you should also use mild detergents on his clothes and mild soaps on his skin, My son now uses Aveeno soap and lotion (he now 14 yrs old). Here is some info on eczema....• Try to keep your baby's skin from becoming too dry. Talk with your child's doctor about how often to bathe him. Many experts now believe that daily bathing can be helpful for babies with eczema. Just don't make the water too warm, because very warm water dehydrates the skin faster than lukewarm water. Use mild soaps, and wash and shampoo your baby at the end of bath time so he isn't sitting in soapy water. As soon as you get your baby out of the tub, pat his skin dry and then apply plenty of moisturizing ointment, cream, or lotion right away (within two to three minutes).

• Allow your baby's skin to breathe (and not overheat) by dressing him in natural fabrics like cotton. Avoid wool and other scratchy materials, though, because these can irritate his very sensitive skin.

• Switch to mild, fragrance-free soaps and shampoos, or those made for sensitive skin. Use mild, fragrance-free detergents for sensitive skin when laundering your baby's clothes and bedding, too.

• Rapid changes in temperature can make eczema worse, so try not to let your baby get too hot and then cool quickly, or vice versa.

• Pollen, dust mites, and animal dander can also trigger or worsen eczema. You might want to consult an allergist, who can provide tips on how to reduce allergens in your home. These tips may include more efficient ways of vacuuming and dusting, using air filters, and possibly getting rid of carpets and upholstered furniture.

• Help your baby avoid scratching. He may try to get relief by scratching with his hands or by rubbing his face against his crib sheet when he sleeps. But scratching or rubbing can further irritate or inflame his skin and make matters much worse. Use the softest sheet possible in his crib, and keep his nails short. Put him to bed with cotton mittens or socks on his hands. If your baby has a lot of trouble sleeping because of eczema, talk with his doctor. She may suggest a baby dose of an antihistamine that will cut down on the itchy feeling and make your baby more drowsy, too.

Answer 5

Go to Meijer or and grocery and look for eczema medication you can put in the path water it should be next to the other body washes put that in his bath water but don't let his get his month any where near the water.

Answer 6

Less frequent bathing, like 2-3 times a week is fine, my kid has it too and his Dr recommended Dove Deep Moistorizing body wash instead of soap. It seems to have helped. And Aveeno lotion after the bath works well too.

You may want to try changing laundry detergent or even using "baby" detergent like Dreft, and make sure that whatever detergent you use, give the baby's clothes a second rinse cycle to make sure all the soap is out.

If none of this helps, see the Dr again.

Answer 7

You've gotten some really good answers so far. Last year, my son had a patch on his chin. I used Noxema a couple of times a day and with in about 3-4 days, it was gone and hasn't returned since. My daughter also had some on her arm and we did the same thing with the same results. We just rubbed it in like hand lotion - no rinsing. Was a relatively cheap solution compared to some of the other meds out there.

Answer 8

My 6 month old has eczema. The doctor prescribed steroid cream, and changed her formula. It cleared up after only a few days. He also suggested I take her to a dermatologist to find out what the underlying cause was. Maybe you should take your son to the dermatologist also.

Answer 9

Call the doctor. They have some stronger medications. They usually start off with the lightest treatment then work their way to heavier treatments. If the one they gave you is not working ask for something better. Good luck

Answer 10

Get some aquaphor in the lotion section. It is expensive, but you could try to get some sample from the doctor. It was the only thing that worked for my daughter. Once you get it under control you can then use the vaseline intensive lotion.