Eczema

[joanne]

Hi everyone,
I haven't been here for a while,this site looks great!
Anyway, My 5 year old has at times bad eczema, mainly in the creases of the elbow,behind the knees,on the knees,on the elbows, around his eyes. Has anyone heard about it being on their privates? Does anyone know of anything I could use on it?

Thanks
Joanne

[RCT]

dd is very dry, not eczema, but aligator skin, we use aquaphore, and eurerin Cream not lotion....I know you can use this on your entire body, I would be really careful around your sons genitals....asking the Ped. about that would be a good idea I say that because of the scented oils and stuff...I personally don't think it would hurt him because my ds used to get a terrible diaper rash on his genitals when he was young and I used the A & D onintment, and it never bothered him, so as long as its not scented...I would try it...I haven't heard of eczema being on the gentitala before but anything is possible......hope this helps....

[Diane]

Your dermatologist can prescribe external medications such as corticosteroids (cortisone) creams or ointments or tar creams, and internal medications such as antihistamines to control the itching. Oral antibiotics will be prescribed if there is also a secondary infection. For severe cases, your dermatologist may recommend ultraviolet light therapy.

Internally administered cortisone should be avoided if possible. However, when other measures have failed, your physician may prescribe systemic

[JeannieOR]

I've never heard of a child having eczema in that area before. What does his doctor say?

I have eczema and when it gets really bad, the only thing that works to releive the pain and itching is good 'ol calimine lotion.

I used to have it real bad but I read that an increased amount of omgega 3 & 6 fatty acids can help. Those are found in nuts and fish. I started out taking fish oil tables about 5 times a week and in about 6 weeks I noticed a major diffance. (I can wear my wedding ring now and I couldn't for the first 10 years of my marriage.) Now I try to eat fish at least 3 times a week and if I don't I take the fish oil pills. I'd check with a doctor or nutritonist about how much fish oil to give a five year old though. I think too much will give someone diarrhia.

[JeannieOR]

My neighbor has a 14 mo with bad eczema. The baby's ped was no help at all. He prescribed hydrocortisone cream which I know from my own experience, does nothing and makes it hurt even worse. The poor baby was scratching himself something awful but the ped wouldn't refer him to the dermatologist because he didn't think the HMO would cover it. My neighbor wrote the Ped a formal letter because she was afraid her son was going to be perminantly scared and finally got the referral a few weeks later. The dermatologist gave him some pills and with in days his skin was noticeably better, and he looked so much happier. Unfortunately, It looks like his legs may have scaring.