Eczema Treatment Plan

Eczema Treatment Plan for Moses, Frances and Grace

Steroid Arsenal:

Triamcinolone acetonide ointment 0.1% (via Rx) – see if doc can write an Rx for a full tub of the ointment

Hydrocortisone 2.5% (via Rx)

Hydrocortisone 1% (over the counter)

Antihistamine:

Hydroxyzine (via Rx) ½ tsp at night, only as needed.

Bathing, Lotioning and 'Roiding

1. Bath daily! Use warm, not hot, water. Keep baths short, no longer than 3-5 minutes. 
2. Remove baby from tub and refrain from toweling completely dry, just a little dabbing of excess water.
3. Immediately apply vasoline (or lotion of choice – such as Aveeno, CeraVe, etc.). Lotion should be applied WITHIN 3 MINUTES of removing baby from bathtub so as to lock in that moisture. 
4. Now you can apply your steroid creams (yes, they should be strong enough to penetrate through the lotion!). And you can apply them all daily, even to places baby may suck or chew on, including hands and arms.
• Apply the triamcinolone to all problem areas (except face) – extra rough patches, joints, wherever the eczema seems extra aggressive. 
• Apply the hyrdcortisone 2.5% to the less affected areas (except face). 
• And the hydrocortisone 1% is for face, if needed. Skin on the face is the thinnest, that’s why we use the lowest steroid there. Steroids thin the skin even further.

Bleach Bath

A couple times a week, take a quick trip to the pool or do a bleach bath in-house. For baby bathtub use 1 tsp to 1/8 cup of bleach to a baby bathtub full of water (depends on the size of the tub and the amount of water you use!!!!). Soak body (as best as is possible) for 5 minutes (not the face!). And continue lotion/steroid treatment outlined above. If baby seems uncomfortable with the concentration, use less bleach. It should be equivalent to the concentration of a swimming pool.

Antihistamines 

Dr. Wood said over the counter antihistamines are unproductive in countering the itchiness of severe eczema (including Zyrtec, Claritin, etc.). He prescribed Hydroxyzine for Moses. We can give him a ½ tsp at night IF NEEDED.

Allergy Testing?

Allergy testing can be hit or miss in children so young but if a child is suffering and diets have been monitored with no help – then by all means go and get the tests!! We did blood tests for Moses as they are a bit more accurate than the skin tests.