eczema sucks itches

Tis the season for eczema...or so I am told. And my poor little girl has it...bad!

(Warning: This may not be real interesting reading. I just want to put it all down here so I can go back & look at this once she is better.)

Rachel's eczema is out of control. I hate it. And I know she hates it. I even took her to the Dr yesterday morning hoping they would refer her to a dermatologist that could maybe give her some relief. However, they want to try a few more "at home" treatments before they go the prescription steroid route. Since they don't know what truly causes eczema, its really just a crap-shoot on how to treat. What we need to do is make her comfortable. And at the time being, I can safely say, she isn't all that comfortable. At least, that is the sum of what I got out of the appointment yesterday. I feel pulled in 2 directions about this.


#1) I want to be her advocate in this. After all, I am the one putting creams/lotions/ointments/salves on her raw scratched up legs every single day. I am the one who gives her a bath only to have her scream & say "no Mama" repeatedly. I want the Dr's to just "fix" her. I don't want her to continue to have this problem every single year. I want her to have that soft, smooth baby skin again. But now it's all rough & tough. Sometimes it doesn't even feel like skin, it feels like shoe leather. I know she is in pain & I know it really really bothers her. I want it to just go away. I want to tell the Drs "I think we have tried it all (even though I know we haven't literally tried it all) can you just give us something to make it stop altogether."

#2) I want to trust the Dr's judgement. They have gone to medical school & all. I have not. They have treated several patients in their careers. I have not. They think "at home" treatment by changing soaps/creams etc...will make this more managable. I just want it to go away.

In a nutshell, here is the game plan:

* Concoct our own cream by mixing Aquaphor ointment & Aveeno lotion. This needs to be applied 10 times a day.

* Luke-warm baths for no longer than 10 minutes at a time & only every other day. As soon as she is out of the bath, pat dry & immediately apply the cream. Use a soap substitute; put this powdery stuff on her before the bath & only have her in there long enough to get the stuff lathered up & rinsed off. Wash her hair in the sink so the shampoo doesn't cause more irritation. (ummm...not so sure if this will work on a squirmy little 2 year old, but I will give it a go.)

* Avoid clothes that will make her too hot or warm because that will cause a "flare up".

* Use Hydrocortisone cream 1 time a day (already tried that & it made it worse).

* Keep her fingernails trimmed diligently. This I have been doing for some time & I will definitely keep up with that.

I did my best yesteday. I applied said cream at least 4 times yesterday. And I gave Day Care a supply to be slathered on after each diaper changing. However, I feel like I may have set her back some. I put her in her flannel jammies to sleep. It was cold last night & I felt chilly in our house. But, I think she got too hot in the night because she woke up crying & scratching like crazy. (Note to self: don't put her in flannel jammies to sleep.)

So, we will continue Rachel's battle with eczema. And I want to be able to say "I have full confidence this is going to do the trick" but I am cynical. We did however get some good news. Most eczema in babies/toddlers will go away with time. Most out grow it by the time they are 5 or 6. I will keep my fingers crossed.