Eczema

Yeah, that's definitely tough, especially if he's not soothable. Gotta say he's got a pretty strong personality already. When he's hungry, he needs the bottle right away. If he doesn't get it, he'll make sure you notice it clearly by screaming and pulling at his dad's hair. Think so, lol.

So finally, after almost 2 months of GP visits, I got a referral to the dermatologist. Yesterday, on the second day of Christmas, I wanted to change his clothes and his whole body was covered in eczema outbreaks. Overnight, his cheek also broke open from the eczema. Unfortunately, there's a waiting time of 36 days. Until then, we'll get a stronger hormone cream, a vaseline cream, and a cooling cream.

My little boy just turned 5 months old today. He's covered from head to toe in it. He's in a good mood today though, but it's so sad. It feels like sandpaper. I called the dermatologist, and we can go on January 10th. Luckily, a bit earlier! And about allergies: my dad is allergic to ibuprofen, my brother has a plaster allergy, and I have a heat allergy. Also, I've been giving him Nutrilion for two weeks instead of Kruidvat Extra Care, which they took off the market due to salmonella. We got tested for it last week, luckily nothing was found.

I currently use: light hormone cream for arms, legs, and belly. 2x per day max. Heavy hormone cream for the face. Also 2x max. Cooling cream for everywhere, apply twice a day, and thick prescribed Vaseline as often as needed. Since yesterday he's started scratching everywhere. Luckily, I have scratch mittens, but he loves sucking his thumb so much that I already had to cut a hole somewhere for his thumb.

Hi, just an update. Today we went to the dermatologist and got a stronger hormone cream and a different type of Vaseline—this is the 4th time already lol. Also got drops to help him sleep better and a jar of tar. The routine is: apply the hormone cream once a day for 4 days, then stop for 3 days, and repeat this cycle 8 times. Use the Vaseline 8 times a day and the tar twice a day. With the tar, we both have to wear gloves because it stains and must not come into contact with the face—it smells awful. He also needs special bandages or special clothes for when he has the tar on.

We have to go back every 4 weeks. If there's no improvement next month, they'll admit him for a day.

Now, for me: I just went to the Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen and asked if they could do a cow's milk allergy test because he has so many complaints, not just eczema. Namely: reflux (with meds for that too), diarrhea and constipation alternating, still having stomach cramps despite almost 6 months of unexplained and inconsolable crying spells, and sleeping worse. All these are symptoms of a cow's milk allergy. They didn't want to do it because they don't support it, thinking that a cow's milk-free diet lacks nutrients... But I really want to rule this out, so I have to go back to the consultation bureau and the GP.

Does anyone have experience with this or advice for me? Or experience with tar? They said they are the only ones in the Netherlands prescribing tar because there are so many stories about tar being carcinogenic, but I absolutely shouldn't worry because that's not true and big studies have been done etc etc. I know several people who had long-term tar treatments and didn't get anything. Still, it's not very nice to hear. Hopefully, someone will reply to my oh-so-long story by now.

Thanks for the replies! I did some sniffing around, and even a big study shows there's no link between tar ointment and cancer. People with eczema and such might actually have a higher risk of cancer. Oh well, where don't you hear about it these days... I've also had several calls from family to rule out cow's milk allergy with the GP. So we'll just do that again.

Oh my, my little boy is really suffering from it. In just two weeks, he's started scratching obsessively all day long, so I have to keep little gloves on him. It's so sad because he loves using his hands so much.

Hi sweetheart, that's so sad that your little one has it now too. Is he still sleeping like usual? Here it's still a disaster, restless sleep, lots of crying, and when the three stop days of the hormone cream come, the eczema flares up again. I've been using the tar cream for two weeks now, no result yet, but it's supposed to take 4 weeks to see results... I really hope it works. I don't want to think about hospital admission; I don't think anyone wants that. Vaseline was told to me that it doesn't let the skin breathe. Is coconut oil fragrance-free? I'd definitely try it. The fatty cream I use can't do any harm anyway; we apply it 8 times a day. I think you can also buy it at the pharmacy yourself. It stays fatty, which is really nice.

Yeah, it's really terrible, and then I call the GP who says he's been crying for three days again, which is super cheerful to hear. Do you have no babysitter? Really annoying to catch the flu again, so sad. Next week there's a consultation, I'm curious what they'll say. On good days, there's often a loud laugh and Hy is so cheerful, but for several days he's inconsolable. Teething is also coming through, so it's a bit of a sum for him.

Still the same, yes, no transport, no cars, no buses anymore since the new year. It's just totally impractical. Another practice Pff, I really need a break, I'm spending another hour and a half getting him to bed, but no, he just keeps scratching I'm a bit low on energy from all the comforting today, and then those reactions like "nice, he and baby, you wanted a kid so badly, now you're getting one." It really gets under my skin (sorry, I just needed to get it off my chest).