Hello everyone, I hope you are all enjoying your cup of coffee and the paper this morning. I don't know if you noticed, but there are a ton of pictures of me in there today! Me, Callie and Nicole next door. If you don't get the paper you can get it online here. Callie and I have had a good week at our new daycare. Our new friends are getting used to working with me and all my extra rules. Yesterday we spent most of the day doing chores, daddy mowed the lawn, was cleaning up the front of the house where we took out some old bushes that were prickly and did some laundry. Late afternoon I got to goto my friend Allie's 3rd birthday party. Daddy got me cotton candy to have when everyone else had cake. It was fun, Callie and I were tired when we got home. Matt went to something called a bonfire for church after we got home and he was back after we went to bed. Those high school kids sure do stay up late. He comes home after football practice each night and is very sweaty. Things are good at my house, keep in touch.
Lynda Dee
5 comments:
I read you story in the paper today which was wonderful! I'm so glad that your daughter is doing so much better.
My daughters have eczema, so I have a couple of questions that you may be able to answer. We go to the Pediatric Center as well, and they said you were told to use Lever 2000 for soap. Which particular Lever 2000--I wasn't sure if it was the body wash or soap. I noticed it contains fragrance, so I am a little uneasy about using it on my daughters.
Secondly, I am interested in the soak and seal method you learned at the hospital. Could you describe it for me?
Thanks so much for the info, and congratulations on your daughter doing so much better. It truly is a blessing!
We use Lever 2000 Original. I use both the bar and the body wash. The reason this was recommended is because of the anti-bacterial ingredients that it has. As you know all people have bacteria that lives on our skin, but with eczema the skin is broken and this allows the bacteria to find a home and then the skin could become infected.
I am posting Lynda's Soak and Seal Method, it does list specific topical steroid creams that we are to apply, this does not mean that you need to apply them to your daughters skin.
Severe Atopic Dermatitis
Management should be approached in a step-wise fashion depending on the severity of dermatitis. Keep in mind that different parts of the body may require different levels of skin care. Always make an attempt to taper to the next lower treatment level every few days as tolerated. If your child has a flare in eczema she should go up in the next level of skin care for another few days before tapering again. Avoidance of the use of oral/systemic steroids for the treatment of eczema is strongly recommended. Any type of irritation to the skin, including scratching, can be aggravating to eczema. Keeping the skin well hydrated with daily baths and moisturizers will help keep the itching/scratching down.
Always apply sunscreen before going outdoors. Allow 1-2 hours after applying medicated ointments/creams BEFORE applying sunscreen and going out in the sun. Sunscreen should be applied to the skin frequently while out in the sun.
A. Severe Atopic Dermatitis:
1. Baths three times daily for 20 minutes each in warm, not hot, water, occurring morning, mid-day, and at bedtime. Wet face cloth (with eyes/mouth cut out) for rash involving face. Apply a wet washcloth to wrap around neck.
2. Soaps should be avoided except in areas where they are needed. A mild cleanser, such as Vanicream cleansing bar, unscented Dove or Oil of Olay Sensitive Skin Formula should be used as needed. Shower with the cleanser before taking a soaking bath.
3. Gently pat away and immediately apply a moisturizer or skin medication to damp skin. Applying topicals in this manner will seal the water in and make the skin less dry and itchy. Moisturizers or sealers, such as Vanicream, Eucerin, or Aquaphor, should not be applied on top of or under the topical steroids as this dilutes the effectiveness of the medicated ointments.
4. Desonide ointment, 0.05% applied to the affected areas on the face, groin and underarms after the morning and bedtime baths.
5. Triamcinalone ointment 0.1% to eczemas involvement on trunk, arms and legs after the morning and bedtime bath.
6. Vanicream, Eucerin, or Aquaphor should be applied to the unaffected areas after morning, and bedtime baths, and to ENTIRE body after midday bath.
7. Wet pajamas or wet underwear followed by dry pajamas after each bath leave on for two hours. The wet clothing should then be removed, an application of Vanicream or Aquaphor should be applied to the entire body and dry cloths put on.
8. Wet socks followed by dry socks to hands and feet after each bathing leaving on for two hours. Remove the wet socks, apply Vanicream or Aquaphor and dry socks can be worn for barrier purposes.
9. Use sedating antihistamines such as Benadryl or Hydroxyzine (Atarax) at bedtime or during the day for severe itching.
10. Use T/Sal or other medicated shampoo daily for scale involvement. May need to use topical steroids (desonide) for severe scalp involvement.
B. Moderate Atopic Dermatitis:
1. Bathe twice daily for 20 minutes each in warm water morning and evening.
2. Protopic Ointment 0.03% to affected areas after bath in the morning and to affected areas on face after evening baths.
3. Triamcinalone ointment 0.1% to affected arms, hands, feet and legs.
4. Vanicream, Eucerin, or Aquaphor should be applied to the unaffected areas after bath and to ENTIRE body after midday bath.
5. Selected wet wraps to affected areas twice daily after baths. Wet wraps can be removed after 2 hours and Vanicream or Aquaphor should be applied to the entire body before putting on dry clothes.
6. Do no apply wet wraps over Protopic.
7. Frequency of wet wraps can be decreased every couple of days as the skin heals and becomes soft.
C. Mild to Moderate Atopic Dermatitis:
1. Bathe once or twice each day using warm, but not hot, water for at least 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Soaps should be avoided except in areas where they are needed. A mild cleanser, such as Vanicream cleansing bar, unscented Dove or Oil of Olay Sensitive Skin Formula should be used as needed. Shower with the cleanser before taking a soaking bath.
3. Gently pat away and immediately apply a moisturizer or skin medication to damp skin. Applying topicals in this manner will seal the water in and make the skin less dry and itchy. Moisturizers or sealers, such as Vanicream, Eucerin, or Aquaphor, should not be applied on top of or under the topical steroids as this dilutes the effectiveness of the medicated ointments.
4. Protopic Ointment 0.03% or Elidel Cream to affected areas anywhere on the body twice daily after baths. Do not apply wet wraps over the Protopic. Traimcinalone Ointment 0.1% may need to be applied to areas of eczema that are more significant (lower legs) after the evening bath.
5. Vanicream should be applied to all non-affected areas after baths and applications of Protopic and throughout the day as needed, after all hand washings.
6. Dry socks to the hands and feet may be worn for barrier purposes.
D. Mild Atopic Dermatitis and Maintenance:
1. Bathe once or twice each day using warm, but not hot, water for at least 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Soaps should be avoided except in areas where they are needed. A mild cleanser, such as Vanicream cleansing bar, unscented Dove or Oil of Olay Sensitive Skin Formula should be used as needed. Shower with the cleanser before taking a soaking bath.
3. Gently pat away and immediately apply a moisturizer or skin medication to damp skin. Applying topicals in this manner will seal the water in and make the skin less dry and itchy. Moisturizers or sealers, such as Vanicream, Eucerin, or Aquaphor, should not be applied on top of or under the topical steroids as this dilutes the effectiveness of the medicated ointments.
4. Protopic Ointment 0.03% or Elidel Cream to affected areas anywhere on the body twice daily after baths. After several days, the frequency of Protopic ointment or Elidel cream can be tapered to once daily for a few more days then tapered further to twice weekly use, (such as Saturdays and Sundays) to the areas more likely to flare. This may be considered Lynda's maintenance skin care for several months.
5. Moisturizers, such as Aquaphor, Eucerin or Vanicream should be applied generously to clear areas immediately after the bath, any showers, and all hand washings. They may be applied anywhere on the body and should be used at least twice daily. Moisturizers should not be applied over topical steroids.
6. T/Sal or other medicated shampoos should be used minimally twice a week to control flaking in the hair.
If you need anything else please let me know. I am here to help. No one should have to suffer they way Lynda has for so many years.
Thanks for the info. We switched to Cetaphil creme this summer from Eucherin, and it has made a world of difference. Our daughters always woke up in the morning with their skin feeling dry, but that is no longer the case with the Cetaphil. Our pharmacy also used the Cetaphil creme as a base for the steroid which really seemed to help.
We also add about 2 cups of vinegar to the nightly bath--this was the suggestion of our dermatologist. It seems to help.
Thanks again to the information. Good luck to you and your family.
We have used the Cetaphil cleanser and we have put vinegar in her bath water too. If their eczema starts to weep or ooze put Zinc Oxide on it and it will dry it up really quick. Take care and good luck.
wow! Lynda looks beautiful! Not that she didn't always. I am so excited for you guys. You are always in our thoughts and prayers.
Love always,
Jessica and your other Mercy nurses
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