SEVERE eczema - Children's Health Message Board

RedHead86 · 05-20-2003, 03:31 PM

my neice morghan is 3 1/2 years old. and she has eczmema SEVERELY! her older sister madisyn (5) had it too when she was first born but it went away b4 she was 1. morghy however didn't develop eczema til she was about 18 months old. and she has it so bad that she scrathes the skin off of her little fingers, toes, wrists, knees,belly, etc. we have done absolutly everything to help her, seen specialists left and right, got tests, but nothing seems to work. she is on zyrtec and singulair right now, and it is helping a little bit, but she still wakes up in the middle of the night itchingand screaming. we have tried ellidel, and she gets infantigo everytime we put her on it. does anybody have any tips to help her scratching?we already had allergy tests done and elliminated all that she is allergic to, but she still itches! it is tearing me apart not being able to help her. (i live with her and help care for her)and she is getting scarred from it. any ideas please? thanks!
~meggie~

Sarah68 · 05-22-2003, 03:32 AM

I really think that you should take her to see an ND (Naturopathic Doctor) and try the alternatives in this case. They practice homepathy, herbal medicine and acupuncture.

At this age, kid are very responsive to homepathy and it can really work very well in eliminating cases of eczema. I think you have nothing at all to lose by trying it and especially if the conventional meds that you have tried really do not seem to be working.

You can find an ND by looking in the phone book or on the Internet.

Good luck

kippy6 · 05-22-2003, 05:39 AM

Have you tried prescription strength steroid cream?

Also, if the problem is that bad, maybe you could try liquid prescription prednisone (or a derivative). I know it won't solve the problem permanantly, but it might give her and you guys a little break. Then maybe you could apply the high-strength steroid cream before she starts getting too bad??

Also, if you bug the same doctor over and over again, surely he/she will let you try something else. It's not right to let her go on like this if anything can be done. I'm sure you've told the docs about her waking up in the middle of the night crying, and scratching her skin off, scarring, etc...

My daughter used to have excema too. Hope she gets better soon. Sounds like hers is really a bad case.

Sarah68 · 05-22-2003, 05:52 AM

Unfortunately, as you said yourself, steroid creams and steroids are not the answer to treating eczema.

Steroids suppress symptoms and stop them coming out on the skin, but they DO NOT CURE. They will suppress and in later life a child with eczema that has been suppressed could end up with asthma. This happens because steroids suppress and send the disease deeper into the system. When the steroid cream is applied it will disappear from the skin but will go much deeper down and asthma is more of a threat to life than eczema is. Eczema maybe unsightly and irritating at times, but it is not life threatening.

Go and see an ND and get it treated with the alternatives which will cure rather than just suppressing it. Kids are very responsive to alternatives at this age and it works very effectively with them.

Good luck

princessputter · 05-22-2003, 04:33 PM

my son has the same issues ..altho its not as severe.... i use eucerin lotion when its not flared up to prevent it and the steroid cream when his rashes are bad...is this child on milk?? if so u mite wanna try subbing soy for a while and see if that clears it.. i heard milk and excema dont mix... good luck!