Weeping Excema
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34920
Printed Date: 26 August 2025 at 11:08pm
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Topic: Weeping Excema
Posted By: yermasyada
Subject: Weeping Excema
Date Posted: 27 July 2010 at 11:47am
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Hey ladies,
At what point would you take your bubba to the doctor re: excema? Just when I thought Roo's skin was clearing up (and it has on his body) his face has totally flared up and is now weeping 
I don't use soap, but do use Eco Store shampoo (trialed not using this and made no difference). I've tried aqueous cream which made his skin bright red, I've had some success with Eco Store bum cream (this is what cleared up the excema on his body) and now I've just bought a new cream which is suppose to be for sensitive skin and cost $$$  but isn't making any obvious improvements just yet.
Just wondering at what point we should try a mild hydrocortisone cream
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Replies:
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 27 July 2010 at 12:07pm
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I would go to the doctors, ours never got that bad but I've been given the same cream for any nasty red patches... And was told to only put it on the nasty red patches, just a tiny bit as it can thin the skin!
You might need to let it dry out a bit then continue to moisturise it, etc. We have Emulsifying ointment that we put on Lily at everynappy change and before and after a bath. Doc has us using it as a soap substitute so we put it on before her bath and when she is in the bath we rub it in and wash it off. We use absolutely no other products jic. Poor wee fella, hope you find the right solution soon!! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 27 July 2010 at 12:15pm
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I would definitely go to the doc. Best cream we've had is cetomacrogol with 10%glycerine. The chemist will have to make it up, but it's awesome! DD reacted to aqueous cream, and the fatty lemnis cream got all over her clothes too - that one was so greasy! If it's weepeing, you may also need to use a mild hydrocortisone (as you suggested - there is nothing wrong with using it to clear up the worst of it and 'break the cycle'), and also something antibacterial to make sure the skin doesn't get infected. Try a couple drops of tea tree oil in the bath? Our specialist would have put DD on antibiotics had her eczema been weeping, as the last thing you need is a secondary bacterial infection.
The big question is what is causing the eczema? I would also suggest starting to think about the process of figuring out if it's a food allergy etc. It is far far easier once you know what is causing it (if you can!), rather than having to deal with the end result! Not sure if GP's can request skin prick or RAST blood tests directly, or if that has to go through a specialist (as we went directly through the allergy specialist). Best of luck, eczema is a PITA! -------------  
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Posted By: yermasyada
Date Posted: 27 July 2010 at 12:31pm
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Thanks for the tea-tree tip, will start adding that to his bath.
Yup, it's a right royal PITA  It's the not knowing what causes it to flare up and what works best to help sooth it, that's so frustrating
I did try cutting out dairy, but it made no difference (tried of 6 weeks) and I'm praying it's not a gluten/wheat thing. TBH, I think it's just one of those things. OH had baby excema, and I still get mild flare ups every now and again. I've been keeping a very close eye out for infection, especially around the back of his ears, where it goes a bit crusty
*sigh* |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 27 July 2010 at 12:36pm
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Get your GP to request the skin pricks or the RAST. That is how I got mine done. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: nathansmummy
Date Posted: 27 July 2010 at 2:29pm
| Definitely before it's got to this state!! You need to treat eczema before it gets so itchy that it gets infected and at this point it sounds infected... so definitely go. The Dr will treat the eczema and the infection. |
Posted By: yermasyada
Date Posted: 27 July 2010 at 2:47pm
This is the frustrating thing.... it was clearing up and has gone from almost clear to all crusty and weeping in 48hrs! 
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Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 27 July 2010 at 4:01pm
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DS suffers badly with eczema and we had tried everything under the sun with no improvement. We were then referred to a GP who specialises in skin conditions. PM me if your in Auckland and ill give you his details.
We now use sunlight soap in the bath and gaia lotion. We also got a cream made up which we use on the bad patches. He is 1000 times better than he was and it much happier. He is still BF and we are holding off solids at the moment until we get to see the paed and get allergy tests done. I also had to cut out heaps from my diet. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Mum_me
Date Posted: 27 July 2010 at 4:06pm
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Poor thing!
As others have said, take him to your GP and request allergy tests. Some GPs will do them, others won't. If yous won't, ask to be referred to a specialist. Our allergy specialist told me that eczema on the face in the first 6 months is almost always a food allergy. It is less likely to be wheat/gluten and more likely to be something like nuts or eggs if not dairy (although many Mums disagree, apparently wheat and gluten do not go through BM). Good luck! |
Posted By: noodle
Date Posted: 27 July 2010 at 4:24pm
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eeek poor thing! its horrible how quickly it flares up! my DS gets it...not overly bad but enough to annoy him something cronic, our doc just gave us a 1% hydrocortozone cream to use on the bad bits which I have used only 3 times but it's enough to take the worst out of it.
My mum was reading an article on a product called moo goo which helped a wee guy when nothing else would, I think i might get some for DS and give it a go. the website is http://www.moogoo.com.au/ - here or I have just seen you can get it on trade me http://www.trademe.co.nz/Health-beauty/Naturopathy/Other/auction-306423688.htm - here I hope you get something that works for him soon  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: yermasyada
Date Posted: 27 July 2010 at 5:27pm
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OK just back from the doctor and he said it's very unlikely to be an allergy. He said I'm doing everything right and it'll clear up eventually. He's given me some antiseptic type cream to apply 2x a day on the nasty bits.
That MooGoo looks interesting  $30 though!
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Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 27 July 2010 at 5:35pm
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Milliemoo - hopefully it does clear up soon! And before we figured out what DD's issues were, we spent hundreds trying every cream under the sun! Another really good one is xmaease (sp?), but that's also $30 a tube!
Just from experience, if it doesn't clear up, don't take your GP's word for it not being caused by an allergy......we had about 3 months of horrible eczema and rhinitis which my GP said was "just one of those things", but once we saw the specialist, did the tests and found out what her food allergies were (and they were moderate to severe), everything totally cleared up within 3 weeks of me cutting out the food triggers. I also had eczema as a baby/child, so also wrote DD's eczema off as a normal childhood thing  -------------
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Posted By: yermasyada
Date Posted: 27 July 2010 at 6:08pm
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Fingers crossed this cream helps the nasty bits.... just checked and it's called Foban.
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 27 July 2010 at 6:37pm
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Millie my doc said the same thing pretty much, wants us to wait until we start solids before she looks at allergy testing etc.
Her eczema definitely improves when I cut out certain foods from my diet, I am currently looking at getting calcium supplements as doc told me off for cutting stuff from my diet that I need. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: AuntieSarah
Date Posted: 28 July 2010 at 7:59pm
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poor baby and poor you!
I have to agree with blondy and wouldn't necessarily take your GPs word for it. Lots of GPs don't seem to acknowledge a link between food allergies and eczema
Don't know if it's bad to link to another forum on here but there is a great allergy forum on everybody.co.nz - the parents there have been so helpful answering all my questions about allergies & eczema. Hope you manage to get it sorted - we had 7 months of a miserably itchy baby being up for hours in the night every night before we got it under control. |
Posted By: yermasyada
Date Posted: 28 July 2010 at 10:05pm
| I wish I could remember what my doc said re: allergies. It did make sense to me, but I'm rubbish at remembering things. I think it might have been something to do with the fact it's mainly his face ie: not all over. |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 28 July 2010 at 10:28pm
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Cooper gets really bad ezcema on his cheeks from wheat. Dairy & soy are on other parts. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com">
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: Kimnthekids
Date Posted: 28 July 2010 at 10:48pm
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I'm also doing the mission with ezcema and trying to work out the cause, We had a weepy jaw the other day, but its now clear thank goodness.
We're on early days, tried almond oil as a moisturizor, aqueous, lemnis, aveeno and one other - whats weird is one day somethign will seem to work, then not 2 days later argh. I'm keeping a food/skin etc diary at the moment so i can hope to pinpoint why. C has it mainly on her face but she does get the elbows, knees and chest too. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: kiwi2
Date Posted: 28 July 2010 at 11:55pm
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As an adult who suffered from excema as a kid I can tell you how it affected me. Mine was dairy allergy. I would start to itch within 1/2 an hour from eating cheese or yogurt. Longer with other dairy. Within a few hours it was weeping and gross. I also had patches. Back of neck, inside creases of elbows and knees and eyelids. As an adult I can now eat dairy but I have to keep myself moisterised. If I have a flare up I cut out dairy until it is under control again and then reintroduce.
I second what others say about getting allergy tests done. You can waste so much time and energy not to say money on trying things that in the end are only treating symptoms and not the main cause. It took 9 years back in the early 80's to figure out it was dairy and in this day and age drs should at least rule out allergy and be sure when the tests are available rather than make broad general statements. I would be getting a second opinion. The fact that it has gone to weeping so quickly reminds me of my allergy excema. ETA not trying to belittle your doctor as he has a medical degree and has been practising medicine. Just giving my uneducated opinion after having excema myself. |
Posted By: Kimnthekids
Date Posted: 29 July 2010 at 8:34pm
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Is there any way to "convince" a doctor to do these? I've asked last time i was there, but was recommended trying another cream first, and that they would really rather not do it rah rah rah.
Or do you just have to visit a new doctor ? ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 29 July 2010 at 8:39pm
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Kim - in the end I simply asked for a referral to see an allergy specialist, as I felt I wasn't being listened to It did mean we had to pay to go private, but you could also be referred to go on the public list, but would have to wait.
You can insist for a referral, and if your GP doesn't want to do it, then go see another GP. GP's can order the tests, but might need some convincing I think the trick is going in confident, having done your homework, and being clear about what you want to happen  -------------
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Posted By: AuntieSarah
Date Posted: 30 July 2010 at 4:27pm
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Kim we've seen a specialist too which was great - because even though I have an awesome GP who is really onto it she could only order a few blood tests, whereas the specialist ordered a whole heap of them. (they cost lots so the GP didn't feel she could order too many without getting told off lol). If you have health insurance that covers your bub that should cover the specialist - our Southern Cross policy does
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Posted By: Kimnthekids
Date Posted: 30 July 2010 at 7:55pm
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Ah we do have health insurance, might drag out the policy tomorrow and have a read, never thought of that! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 30 July 2010 at 8:23pm
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This may be blunt, I don't know !
If your child has ezcema. They ARE having a reaction to SOMETHING. What that something is, is up to you to figure out. Drs aren't that great on food intolerances. Firstly cut out dairy. Maybe then cut out Soy & wheat. Introduce back in those things and see if there is a reaction. If this makes no difference you then have something to go to your Dr with. You can make your childs life easier than what you had. You have the knowledge that was lacking 15-20 year ago. It is not normal for your child to have eczema, it is not easy to work out what is wrong. I'm still trying to figure it out myself. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com">
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 31 July 2010 at 10:33am
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I finally got a specialist referral by demanding my GP make a referral. He knows I work in the health field too, so doesnt usually muck me around. We had been quite a few times before that though.
I was sick of people saying the childhood ezcema is common blah blah blah. Hopefully we will get our appointment soon. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: MamaT
Date Posted: 31 July 2010 at 2:18pm
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DS excema is not improving any at all and its starting to bother him, he's constantly scratching at his head and back and anywhere else he can reach. I have decided to cut wheat out of diet and see what (if any) difference that makes and will then see my doc. Last time I saw him about it he gave me the "normal baby excema" line too, I tend to find with my Doctor that if I do all the research first and go in telling him what I think he usually agrees. Now to find dairy and wheat free foods -------------  
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Posted By: yermasyada
Date Posted: 01 August 2010 at 9:31am
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Poor wee Roo's face is really bad this morning Weeping all over the place
I think I'm going to try going gluten free for a week to see if that make any difference. Is a week long enough to be able to see any change? I know with dairy you've got to give it at least 6 weeks. Is it the same with gluten? |
Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 01 August 2010 at 3:29pm
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Milliemoo - I don't think one week would probably be enough, I know it took 3 weeks for the dairy/egg to get out of my system with Nat. By 6 weeks, you could have gone to a specialist and got the testing done, and know for sure whether it is gluten or not. I hope that doesn't sound too mean! It really is worth pushing your GP a bit further to get testing done, or refer you.....otherwise you could be doing a huge diet change for no reason.....and then if it's not dairy or gluten, it could be egg, soy etc etc.
Once again, JM2C and hope I don't sound too harsh, but trying to cut things out without really knowing if it will make a difference might only make life harder for you all! Big hugs though, it's such a drama to go through regardless. -------------
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Posted By: yermasyada
Date Posted: 01 August 2010 at 5:24pm
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TBH, I'm still pretty much with the school of thought that it's just one of those things he'll grow out of It's just this morning it looked so bad I felt I should try something else.
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Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 01 August 2010 at 8:10pm
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When we cut wheat out with C, I noticed within a day or two that his rash wasn't increasing. It took around a week to start healing. 3 weeks later he's still not right but man is his skin far far better.
The problem with tests, is that they might show nothing. C has skin pricks and nothing showed up yet by removing the main allergens he improved. This means it's either non Ig-E allergy or Food intolerances. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com">
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 01 August 2010 at 8:12pm
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Also if you want to get the gluten testing done, gluten needs to be in the diet. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com">
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 01 August 2010 at 9:21pm
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fair call about the testing I guess we were lucky in that it was relatively 'simple' that her allergies were related to dairy and egg, and within 3 weeks of me cutting those out, the eczema and everything else had gone.
The only reason I was pushing the testing so much is that we spent months with no answers (and the gp fobbing us off with creams etc), and had I gone to the specialist and got testing done earlier, for Nat that would have been an 'easy' answer so much sooner.... but I do know that the answers aren't always that easy. -------------
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Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 01 August 2010 at 10:32pm
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It was weird Blondy I tried pushing for testing with the Paed & I was fobbed off. Mind you at that point I'd mostly "Fixed" him, until we started to introduce more solids which brought on another round of reactions.
Best thing to do Milliemoo, what ever way you go. Take in evidence of research. Then they can't fob you off. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com">
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: AuntieSarah
Date Posted: 02 August 2010 at 12:43pm
| Ooh also, a great tip I got was to take photos of the eczema and any other reactions so that you can show the doctor/specialist. (especially if it's cleared a bit by the time you get to the specialist!) |
Posted By: yermasyada
Date Posted: 02 August 2010 at 1:10pm
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ooohhhh good idea about taking photos
OK, so I've decided not to bother with the gluten free thing just yet. His skin was sooooooooo much better this morning. It's just so random. Anyhooo I've picked up some new cream from the chemist and I'm really hopeful. It's the first cream that I've tried on him where *my* hands have felt super soft afterwards (I have skin like cheese graters ) So fingers crossed 
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Posted By: yermasyada
Date Posted: 03 August 2010 at 9:39am
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OK, I woke the boy this morning and I nearly burst into tears his skin was so bad I just don't understand it. Yesterday it was really clearing up and I was convinced that this morning it would look great I've got a new theory I'm testing today, which seems completely mad to me, but also makes sense I'm wondering if it's the organic muslins that I use ? I say this because he's gotten a lot worse since sleeping in his cot, which is when I started to put a muslin under his head to sleep. So he has contact with the muslin for min 16hrs per day if we're at home. On top of that, I use the muslins as a wee cushion when he's feeding, so again more direct contact. Yesterday, we we're out all morning, so very little contact with the muslin, and thinking about it, his skin does always seem a lot better on days when we've been out and about in the pram ie: not sleeping on the muslin.
So I'm trialling not using the muslins to see if that helps. If it doesn't, I'm going straight back to the docs and demanding some allergy tests |
Posted By: Anonymous55
Date Posted: 03 August 2010 at 9:47am
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Mmoo, even tho it is totally not the same but Nina has her constant bum rash and it's soooo random as well. I really can't work it out.
It's different each nappy change! And it doesn't seem to matter how much fresh air, what cream etc It's quite eczma-yish as well. I know it's not ideal but have you been offered a hydrocortison cream by the doc? It's not really a solution especially as you're unsure what's causing it. It might give him a bit off a break tho if he's bothered by it at all?? |
Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 03 August 2010 at 9:49am
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You poor thing (and poor wee boy too!) Could it be the type of washing powder etc used on the muslins? The face tends to be more sensitive to these things, so may be reacting when the rest of his body doesn't (assuming clothes etc washed the same way). -------------
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