Anyone have eczema advice?

[*JillD*]

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Originally Posted by ~Andrea~ I thought I would throw this topic out there and see if anyone could provide some advice about treating eczema. I developed eczema about 3 years ago or at least that's what my doctor calls it. It seems like the term "eczema" covers any unknown skin condition. It comes and goes and is worse during colder months. I only have it in a few areas thank goodness. When it flares up my skin turns red and white, swells, and itches to the point where cutting my skin with a knife sounds good to give me relief. Crazy, I know! I've been to the doctor several times and also a dermatologist (who I didn't care for). I tried the creams and ointments they prescribed to no avail. I've also tried the Aveeno eczema cream and Egyptian Magic. Does anyone have a product or treatment they would recommend? I'm getting married in about 9 weeks and would LOVE to get rid of this before the big day. It's currently on my right hand (fingers) and left toes. Thanks for your input!!!!

You described my situation perfectly! I too developed it about a year ago, I had this insanely itchy patch on my arm and finally went to the derm and he said, looks like eczema. He told me there were lots of things that could cause it, one of them being stress. I am stressed a lot, that's one of the reasons I point this out as a culprit.

You know what else is strange about it, is that so far I've gotten it in different spots each time. Right now it's on my right hand in between my little finger, it's so disgustingly dry. I used the prescription lotion they gave me at night (I put a glove over it) and it starts to go away, but I have yet to get rid of it completely, I think because its so cold and dry right now anyway, that's not helping.

Oh, another thing, I use a lot of the no water antibacterial hand stuff, and I find when I'm using that more frequently, my hands are even worse than normal.

I wish I had a great product to recommend, but hopefully someone else will chime in with our miracle cure!

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Originally Posted by nathanielthompsonphoto Not sure if I'm allowed to post in the "ladies lounge", but I saw this post in my unread posts section... ...anyways my wife has had eczema since I've known her - she's been through many different creams that either didn't work at all, or worked for a short time. Then, she cut wheat and gluten from her diet and it went away. Not sure if its coincidence or not...

I really hope that I don't have to cut out wheat and gluten, although it would probably really help with my dieting

[Kat81]

I just remembered another thing my doctor told me. Try to take the coolest shower possible. Hot water makes it worse. I know it's hard in the winter but just don't take HOT HOT HOT showers.

[**TIFFANY**]

Yeah I've heard to take luke warm showers and limit them to less then 10 minutes. This is super difficult in the winter when all you want to do is stand there and keep warm:) Especially in the mornings!

 

My Dr prescribed me an ointment, can't remember the name off hand but the ointments work better because they stay on longer. Of course it gets greasy so I just use it at night but it works really well. Ask your Dr.'s if they can prescribe you and ointment instead of a cream.

[DallasAshli]

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Originally Posted by Kat81 I just remembered another thing my doctor told me. Try to take the coolest shower possible. Hot water makes it worse. I know it's hard in the winter but just don't take HOT HOT HOT showers.

Hey Kat! I havent seen you lately - maybe we've been on different threads?

Anyway, HOT HOT HOT showers aren't really good for your hair or skin. I turned mine down and have noticed a difference with my hair too.

I dont think its a cure - but it is just one more thing you can do to help!

[Ayita]

Hi Andrea,

 

I've always been very prone to exczema, like everyone in my family. I thought I was done with it when I discovered I'm actually allergic to detergent (ie, I cannot use real soap. I have to use body wash with no soap and the lowest chemicals possible).

 

I've been Ok for years but it started all again about two months ago - approximately 2 weeks before I got engaged. It first developped on my pubis, then eyelids (ouch), then arm pits, then inner thighs, then inner arms... red patches that itch like crazy, specially after a shower Nice really.

 

I've done the following and it really helped :

- first I eliminated from my diet all the stuff I had started to take recently (principally soy yogurts), in case I would develop an allergy, plus milk and dairy that I know I have a hard time with.

- I also eliminated those of my cosmetics that had chemicals or fragrance in them. I'm using Weleda for body wash (it's all natural even the perfume that is essential oils) (they sell it at Walgreens), and another organic brand (I don't remember) containing aloe, but with absolutely no fragrance, for lotion. It's super hydrating, with no side effect. Pay particular attention to everything that is made with petroleum (they are moisturizing but can be very irritant)

- went to see an acupuncturist. I thought if it had any internal cause (like stress or some organs or energy), it would help. And it did ! At first he did not act on the right root cause but then he identified it and the herbs he gave me really relieved me (specially the itching part).

- I'm taking Evening Primrose Oil. It's really recommended for eczema (hydrating you from the inside and giving some needed nutrients to your skin). 3 capsules, 3 times a day. You can find some at whole foods, their house brand is not too expensive and good quality.

- I'm also taking some supplements that support liver function

- If you can find some, calendula creams are also usually great on eczema, to soothe the rash and help healing. You can find them in the baby section, or in Whole Foods or similar stores. I'm using a Boiron one.

 

Something that I know also really works is cortisone creams (helps against rashes), but I could never resolve myself to use some... although I know there are some that are pretty safe :

 

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/bro...h/rash%20cream

 

More advise here :

natural organic make-up - Eczema: Getting the facts

(it carries more links)

 

My eczema is almost gone. The acupuncturist said it was stress. Honestly, I think it was both stress and the water... it started about a week after Ike, when they added so many chemicals to the water to keep it safe to drink... and my eczema really receded since I got to France on a business trip. It actually stopped to itch after the shower right away when I got there. So either getting to France got me less stressed, or the primrose oil worked tremendously (I had started only 2 days before), or it's the water...

 

Good luck anyway !!

[Kat81]

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Originally Posted by DallasAshli Hey Kat! I havent seen you lately - maybe we've been on different threads? Anyway, HOT HOT HOT showers aren't really good for your hair or skin. I turned mine down and have noticed a difference with my hair too. I dont think its a cure - but it is just one more thing you can do to help!

Hi Ashli! I have been really busy lately. I'm trying to be a better BDWer lol. I'm getting excited for our get together!

[Ayita]

After getting back to Houston with skin starting to itch again after shower, I think it's confirmed : it's the water...

 

I'm getting a shower filter. You might also want to try this, it could hep ?

 

Here are the major brands compared :

 

Comparing Shower Filters

[laybar]

Sorry, if I missed it in the posts above, but where is your rash? I have eczema on the back of my neck & use Psorcan.. it works WONDERS!!!! it runs in my family & we have all been using this for years.. i can just use it for a couple of days & it will go away.. ask your dermatologist about it.. but they will only prescribe it for certain areas.. like rough areas of your body.. back of neck, elbows, knees, etc, bc its really strong, but it works!! Good luck!

[BlissfulMsMiranda]

I wonder if the term "eczema" even encompasses psoriasis? Maybe I'm way in left field here ... but what my fiance has and what I seem to have (I've never seen a dermatologist) is a form of psoriasis.

 

He gets it in small patches on his elbows, fingers, lower back and thighs. It's like little red areas that eventually flake and turn white and they itch like mad.

 

I started to get red blotches on my arms after a hot shower (which I now realize was probably making it a hell of a lot worse!) in high school. I thought it was hives. I have VERY sensitive skin.

 

Since then it's been reduced to a few patches on my shoulders (which I need to get rid of before the big day) and every now and then one will creep up on my face which is why I think it's psoriasis.

 

Stress is directly linked to psoriasis .... if you're stressed patches will come up. Sooo, I try my best to de-stress however possible when I have a bad flare up: yoga, lukewarm bath, relaxing at home etc. Sounds silly, but it seems to work.

 

Also, the fiance has a cortizone-based cream (sorry, don't know the name of it and I'm at work) that works wonders as well.

 

As for bodywashes, I go for the milk-based ones as they seem to be the best on my skin and the perfume-y ones make it even worse.

 

Unfortunately, it seems that the TWO things that get rid of the psoriasis for me are the ocean and the sun!!! And living in eastern Canada doesn't really help much in that area ... So I can only hope that my few days before the wedding will help the patches disappear completely.

 

Sorry if this wasn't helpful ... but you might want to consider psoriasis ... while I think it's very similar it might have a few different properties and treatments ... so talk to a new dermatologist about that possibility.

[becks]

I've got mild to mid-grade eczema on my fingers and elbows - occasionally my knees. Arbonne makes a skin conditioning oil that seems to work really well on clearing up my patches. You can buy it online.