Eczema, how I hate thee!

LordSplodge said:
Be careful with steroid creams. They thin the skin. I know as my skin is paper thin in places. I need to take immune suppressant tablets to keep my eczema under control and moistuising oinment that ruins clothes (E45 would be as much use as swadust) Yeah I got it bad. :)

Took me years to learn to live with how horrible it makes me feel. Now I just go out in shorts and a T-shirt. I try not to let it bother me.



Hot weather, specifically humidity isn't good for eczema sufferers.
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Hey! You seem to be in the exact same position I am! Similar creams and probably the same drug too.

I also echo your e45 thoughts, works for some but not for me! OpdI'd make sure the e45 doesn't make yiu worse, it contains something that lots of people have reactions to.
 
I've had it for as long as I can remember. I'd always try and hide my arms and hands when I was younger but these days I don't care at all.

This is the antecubital space (other side of my elbow) at the moment:

eczema.jpg


I get it on my arms, wrists, hands, fingers, legs and sometimes neck.

I've seen several different doctors and tried many different creams, even African sausage tree cream, but nothing seems to work. All I can do is moisturise it and put steroid cream on it during flare ups (which seems to be almost all the time for me)

I hate having to shake someone's hand. My hands are either covered in moisturiser or covered in ezcema.
 
I get it on my face and head , I have been using anti fungal cream and this works very well . My 3 year old is covered but try telling a toddler not to scratch :(
 
Pah! I see your eczema and I raise you vitiligo!

Never "flares up" or goes away. It's always there, spreading sporadically and unpredictably, but inexorably.

And it means sunlight is always the enemy since de-pigmented skin burns just like an albino's. Unprotected sunlight exposure for any length of time risks third-degree burns, and that's without considering the weird "leopard" or "giraffe" mottled effect of tanned and de-pigmented skin.

Oh, and on the scalp and face it makes hair/facial hair white, and there's always the on-going worry - will it eventually de-pigment my irises and leave my eyes weirdly white and hyper-sensitive to sunlight too? It's a joy.

Wait... we weren't playing skin diseases top trumps? ;)
 
:( for years the tips of my fingers split, heal then split again its a constant cycle of pain and incurable misery, i have to wear silly plastic gloves at work so i dont get cream all over stuff. there is no cure just a way to slightly slow it down and make the cycle a bit longer
 
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I have it on the palm of my right hand. I've had it in a couple of different areas in the past, but have been able to get rid of it with creams etc..

Palm of the hand though is pretty much impossible to treat due to its usage. I use diprobase every couple of hours which helps, but its still a pain.
Looks terrible as well, as my palm is basically just cracked skin, open wounds (which never heal properly as I have to type and hold things) and scar tissue.

Best thing I've found is that when it starts itching crazily is to run it under cold water, the numbing helps relieve the itch, and allows me to clean it properly (doctor prescribed soap) before re-creaming.
Apparently I can itch it in my sleep too :mad:
 
Out of interest, do any of you folks that have it use bandages? I know this only applies to those that has it in places that a bandage can be used on, however when I was younger (almost 30yrs ago) the doctor made me keep the bandages on for 2 weeks without taking them off and when I did after 2 weeks it was cleared up and doesn't bother me any more. It's more will power than anything as that thing can itch like hell but you just have to persevere.

As I said in an earlier post if it does appear, usually on the inside of elbow as pic above shows I find a bandage works brilliantly as it prevents me scratching it. I know this post sounds a bit medical but it reality it's no worse than telling someone to stick a plaster on something. If you can prevent scratching it, it works wonders.
 
Just recently started getting this problem. Had it pretty bad towards the end of last year but then it cleared up. It came back around April time with a tiny itch here and there that would turn into a big itch.

I've found that replacing soap with baby wash really helps. If you must use shower gel, make sure it does not contain Sodium Laureth Sulphate as it is known to aggravate eczema in a big way. Stress is also a big factor, at least it is for me.
 
I struggle with my hands, tried everything and never really got anywhere including steroid creams...my boss at work gave me a pot of this:

http://www.botanica.ie/products/botanica-natural-herbal-creams/125ml-herbal-cream/

No word of a lie...after 4 days my hands are itch free, dry skin free, cracks free, sore free. It is a miracle cream!

Just bought a 125mm pot for extended trials...a guy at work has acne on his forehead, used this and within a day it was noticabally better.

I am amazed!
 
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Tachyon said:
Out of interest, do any of you folks that have it use bandages?
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Works for some but isn't for everyone. As does wearing cotton mittens at night to stop scratching. The later doesn't work for me, the former was good when I was younger.

CLAWS said:
I've found that replacing soap with baby wash really helps.
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Soap is terrible for eczema. It dries the skin badly. Using Diprobase or some other emollient is much better.

GinG said:
http://www.botanica.ie/products/botanica-natural-herbal-creams/125ml-herbal-cream/

No word of a lie...after 4 days my hands are itch free, dry skin free, cracks free, sore free. It is a miracle cream!


I am amazed!
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Good that it worked for you. Be wary of recommending treatments to others. Eczema is varied and this cream could cause agony for others.
 
wazza300 said:
get out in the sunshine,that'll cure it,ohh and rub the inside of a banana skin on it
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Sunshine as in UVB can be beneficial but, as above, it depends on the individual. I have to avoid UVB exposure due to the medication treating my eczema.

As for the banana skin. I don't recommend that.

gothic_hobbit said:
Steroid cream is known to thin the skin though.
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Lesser of two evils though. Also, for most eczema suffers it is used infrequently enough not to cause damage. Alas not for me. I have bad skin thinning in places. :(
 
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