Over the years you learn to cope with eczema. You know you’ll never be quite free but once you can get a handle on keeping your skin moisturised and avoiding the things that trigger flare ups it gets easier.
Some people do grow out of it but sadly that is not the fate for all of us. Some people have cyclical flare ups which seems to be the route I’m taking. I have no idea what happens to trigger the flare up. It isn’t always bad diet, late nights and over indulging, as you might imagine. Sometimes it’s just time. It’s time your skin gave you a good kicking.
I’ll try to explain to you what an eczema flare up is like. It starts slowly. You get a few dry itchy patches so you moisturise.
Night time is always the worst for eczema
Night time is the worst. The pattern begins… you try not to scratch, give in, scratch, wake yourself up, scratch some more, get up to put on more moisturiser, itch more, scratch more, wake up finally dead to the world and feeling disgusting, slimy and gross. Tight, sore itchy skin that needs a soak in an oil bath but there is never time. So a shower and then more oily horrible ointment so you can move the sore skin. Sometimes it splits when you move. You can’t wear nice clothes or white clothes because the blood will show through. So then you get scabs the colour of your latest top. Purple today. Where the weeping sores pick up fibres from the clothes and a scab forms. Your hair is permanently greasy where your hands have pushed it back with greasy ointment traces. Nice!
What else can help support your skin?
It’s not nice. It’s painful, frustrating and stressful. I get by on a concoction of pain killers, antihistamines, vitamins and minerals and omega oil supplements in the vain hope that my skin will realise it’s getting some goodness. I drink plenty of water and try to get plenty of sleep, keep the eczema clean and moisturised but sometimes it decides it’s here to stay for longer than I planned for!
Don’t forget our eczema carers
It’s easy to forget our partners and family when eczema strikes. When I’m good I’m very very good, but when I’m bad I’m horrid! If I’m not sleeping, neither is he. If I’m in pain and upset, he is usually the one who gets the brunt of my sharp tongue. Through thick and thin they are there for me though. My ex rarely complained and supported me as much as he could, short of organising a skin transplant. When he asked me, “What can I do to help?” and I demand, “New skin please, NOW! Like yours please but minus the bristles.” He will laugh, hug me and it is a bit better, but I know no one can change my atopic skin.
Often a hug from a loved one can really help, but not everyone has hugs readily available.
Rebound flares every six months
These flare-ups seem to come to visit every six months or so and I just cannot cope without the intervention of steroid ointments. Winter does seem to be a common time when eczema gets worse. Whether that’s the cold weather, central heating or just pure coincidence, doesn’t really matter, but the dreary weather never helps the dark moods that come with it.
Ed: I am now 3.5 years into Topical Steroid Withdrawal and no longer use any topical steroids or paraffin emollients. Please read my TSW Frequently asked questions if you also get regular rebound flare ups.
Get help when you need it
Well today I came home with a stern lecture from the doctor that my skin is far too dry, not to leave it so long before getting treatment, and a potential referral for further help. What I’m really pleased with though is the big paper bag of emollients and antihistamines and whether it’s the placebo effect or just some sympathy from someone who was shocked at how bad my skin was and how raw, red, tight and sore – who cares! One application of steroids and I already feel ten times more positive, calmer and less in pain. Could just one application really start to make a difference that fast? Or is 50% of this battle that I am not making a fuss, this is really bad and that I only have to ask for some help…
Ed: this was a regular battle for me of rebounding and needing topical steroids again. i would go months without using them and then deteriorate so much I’d have to give in yet again. Is this you? Might you have Topical Steroid Addiction? Read Topical Steroid Addiction, Withdrawal and what it means.
Struggling to find what causes flare ups
I am telling myself I won’t let my skin get so ravaged and damaged again before seeking help. I’m pretty sure I will though, it seems the memory fades and living with eczema you get used to ignoring the itch and using natural things to try to keep it at bay. Allergies too don’t help. Often a mild reaction to a trace of an allergen will cause itchy skin and hives. If I can ignore it sometimes the lumps will recede fairly quickly without too much discomfort. Sometimes though it’s not allergies, it’s just eczema, an unwelcome guest who never announces his arrival, nor books to stay, just turns up unannounced and always outstays his welcome. Sorry boys but eczema is a man!
Sometimes oil baths, tea tree oil and aloe vera are just not quite enough. I have no idea why the flare-ups take hold, when at other times they fade and heal.
Sadness, shame, guilt and anxiety don’t help
So I thought I’d share my sad little story. I talk about the allergies easily and a lot since they are so often life threatening and frightening, but I rarely talk about the eczema. Eczema is not life threatening. It’s just common old boring eczema. It’s not exciting and scary like allergies. It doesn’t need to be taken so seriously… or does it?
I find the eczema is pretty disgusting. It repulses me. I hate it. I’m ashamed of it. I feel dirty, the emollients make this worse. I feel in some way I am to blame that it comes, and it looks so horrid and it feels pretty awful. I get eczema all over too. I can’t hide it, though I can hide some of it. The worst of it gets my forehead, cheeks and neck. The eyelids take a bit of a battering too. I look pretty dreadful and generally become a bit of a recluse when these hard times hit. This just compounds the general feeling of depression and frustration. Add to this that I cannot exercise because this on bad eczema is like pouring acid into the sores. Sweat and eczema do not mix. But with no exercise you just feel worse, more isolated and more grumpy. If you can get yourself moving, even just for a walk it will help, exercise is so important but also, for the person with eczema, can be so painful.
I become paranoid that some allergen is invading my house. I am frightened to touch anything. Don’t want to eat anything in case it’s food making me so sore. I even cringe from be hugged because it hurts to be touched when really, a hug is just what I need, even if it’s a gentle one and not a painful bear hug.
20 tips for coping with your latest eczema flare up
Today eczema is packing its bags and let’s hope it’s gone for some time because quite frankly me and my husband could do with a good nights sleep.
So for now the rant is over and I thought I’d share a few eczema tips, though after reading this I wouldn’t blame for not taking them seriously! Clearly I’m not quite on top of this baby! But I’ll try anyway. I have learned quite a few things that both soothe and help heal and cheer me up.
- Get it checked out – Don’t wait till it’s too late, till you’re not sleeping and in agony. It’s not worth it. People go to the doctors with a tiny blemish so never feel bad about going with painful eczema, especially if you think it might be infected. There are many conditions like eczema herpeticum, impetigo, staph infections etc. that may need extra treatment.
- Keep moisturised! – This is so key. Once the skin is dry it’s so much more easier for eczema to get worse. The eczema you can see actually goes much deeper into the skin. It’s not just on the surface. Twice a day is imperative but if you change clothes or have the time and space, more often will help if it’s really bad.
- Try wet wrapping after moisturising to aid healing. Read Wet wrap therapy for eczema but please be careful of any advice to use topical steroids with you do this. Seek advice and use for short periods of time only.
- Try dry wrapping if moisturising just feels wrong, irritates you more etc. Read How to Dry wrap
- Treat eczema immediately – If you have some areas that you notice are flaring, apply your favourite natural emollient. Use something healing if it’s really sore such as tea tree, aloe vera, witch hazel or calamine lotion. I have some favourites including Balmonds and Lyonsleaf natural balms. Check my discounts page for links and promo codes for money off. They also do tester pots so you can try before investing.
- Does scratching cause thickened skin? – Doctors have always told me that continued scratching can cause thickening of the skin. Perhaps it can, but that just makes us feel guilty. If you need a scratch, have a scratch, and try to use something that won’t break the surface of the skin, like a blunt end of your tweezers, a ruler or the end of a teaspoon. Once you’ve had a scratch, soothe by gently smoothing and tickling the skin to break the cycle. But never feel guilty about scratching.
- Get plenty of rest – early nights will work wonders. Once your skin starts to heal getting enough sleep will really help the rejuvenation process. Rest can just mean sitting quietly, wrapped up and warm and reading. it doesn’t have to mean sleep. Make sure you are getting proper rest!
- Have a warm oil bath – Too hot is not supposed to be good, but sometimes I find just the opposite. I use dead sea salts, colloidal oats, apple cider vinegar and bicard of soda with a few drops of healing tea tree oil. When you get out of the bath, put baby oil onto your wet skin. This will seal in even more moisture. Check out this blog – Seven natural bath treatments for eczema for guidance.
- Stay hydrated – Drink plenty of water and herbal tea, especially green, rooibosh, dandelion and fennel. Check out Ten best herbal teas for reducing inflammation, allergies and eczema.
- Try not to touch your skin – This is very easy to say, but it’s key. The itch is persistent but if you can sit on your hands, wear cotton gloves, anything to try to break that habit. The less you touch your skin the better. I often find mine improves when I spend a day gardening for instance, when my hands are filthy or clad in filthy gloves, I don’t touch my skin because of this and as long as I always wash after gardening it can really help. I MUST leap in the shower straight away because otherwise stuff from the garden seems to irritate me when I DO start touching my skin and then you’re off again with another reaction. Get the book, The Eczema Solution by Sue Armstong-Brown, it didn’t cure mine but it DID help me realise just how often I scratch and that many times it’s a habit and not an easy one to break.
- Oily fish and omega 3 – supplements such as fish oil, evening primrose and borage can only help restore the elasticity to your skin. Make sure your diet is full of vitamins and minerals. Zinc, calcium, vitamin E and selenium are also good for your skin.
- Stay positive – keep smiling. Not easy in the face of an attack on your skin. Remember there is always someone worse off. Eczema is pretty horrible but there are far worse things you can have. Imagine your skin healthy, smooth and fresh. Wish hard enough and click your heals. Together, after three? One, two, three… see! I made you smile.
- Tell people how you feel – don’t suffer in silence. Explain how you feel to your family and friends, tell them you’re suffering and need some slack, help, just a cuddle. Explain to your boss at work and colleagues, most people will see you are struggling and be compassionate and understanding. If they don’t then they’re not worth bothering with.
- Demand help from your doctor – Never just accept eczema as the norm. It’s not normal and it’s not something anyone should have to live with. If yours is really bad you need to nag your doctor till you’re blue in the face, make them refer you to a specialist dermatologist or allergy specialist if you think allergies may be playing a part. Don’t settle for pain, suffering and isolation. Fight for your health so you can get on with life. I believe there are always things you can do to help your situation – just being told you have eczema and probably will never grow out of it now does not help. Don’t let your doctor fob you off just because he doesn’t understand. It’s not good enough. I have been in tears begging before mine has referred me but I got there in the end.
- Join forums like the Talk Health eczema forum and the Eczema society – Remember, you’re not alone. Having a moan on a forum or better still, helping someone else out, will really make you feel more positive. Click here to find out more about The Eczema Society.
- Finger nails can do untold damage – One last thing that has just struck me that I forgot to mention is that I try to keep my nails short and filed smooth with no sharp edges when my skin isn’t that healthy. It’s shocking what finger nails can do in the night. It only takes one second to create great gouges trying to get to the itch which is never satiated. Horribly the pain of torn skin can be better than the itch, but only till it starts healing and itching, and so the cycle continues… Find safe ways to scratch. Some swear by acrylic nails but that can expensive. I use a teaspoon handle, a ruler or the blunt end of my tweezers for instant deep relief. If you gotta scratch you gotta scratch.
- Be kind to yourself – If you are really struggling, take some time out. Don’t fight on, saying yes, going out, doing this and that and trying to keep going. If you really feel rough, exhausted and at the end of your tether you need some time out. Do something you really enjoy, sit in the sun (when there is any) for ten to twenty minutes, then seek shade, read a book, go for a walk, ring a friend, watch a good film. Be good to yourself and take time to recover.
- Stay cool – heat can really irritate eczema. Make sure you bed especially is cool, not hot and stuffy. Ventilate the room, put the sheets and bedding back to air them in the morning to hinder dust mite growth. Make sure you have the right kind of bedding for your skin, especially if dust is a skin irritant. Think about mattress, duvet and pillow covers to keep dust mites away from your skin and wash bedding at 60 degrees to kill all dust mites.
- Skin care and cosmetics – be aware of what you put onto eczematous skin, many skin care and cosmetic products can contain skin irritants which can in turn trigger eczema in people with sensitive skin. Always read labels and stick to simple, natural products that are for sensitive skin and test on a small area before slathering on all over. Avoid all makeup and products you’re not sure of when you’re having an eczema flare up, allow skin to heal and calm before trying new products or irritating it further.
- Know your triggers – Keeping your skin healthy is really important when air borne triggers can also play a part. If you have hay fever or a dust allergy for instance, this can affect the skin far more severely if eczema is not under control, and it can also trigger hives, itching and so, a flare up. Understand what triggers your skin to ‘wake up’ and start itching, keep it healthy and you also protect it from some of the hay fever onslaught. (Special thanks for LRollins on Twitter for this tip)
- Cotton and natural fibres are best – avoid man made synthetic clothing on your skin when it’s bad. Wear 100% cotton, silk thermals, tencel and pure merino wool in winter. Some people find removing itchy labels and wearing clothes inside out so the seams don’t rub also help.
- Tubular bandages – You know the ones people wear for a sprain? They are tight, elasticated tubes of fabric that feel so good when worn over a flaring patch. The pressure on the skin feels just amazing.
Well, this was a fairly miserable, sad, ranty blog post. But sometimes things get hard. If you ever want a moan or have a question, come along to what allergy and we’ll do our best to either help, find someone who can, or make you laugh.
How’s your eczema? Good? Bad? Gone for good? What do you find some useful tips on here to help keep yours at bay?
You may also find the following interesting
- The Shape of Skin eczema poetry book – a great therapeutic aid and would really help you through a flare up!
- Do you need help? Are you distressed?
- 20 reasons to get a Harvey Water Softener
- 7 natural bath treatments for eczema
Photo by CREATIVE HUSSAIN:
Hi Ruth – Anther brilliant post…. I don’t think that those of us who are lucky enough not to have skin problems have the faintest idea how unpleasant and miserable it is to live with eczema so thank you for opening a little window into your experience. And for the useful tips. And get better soon!!
Meanwhile, I am going to put links to your blog from all over our sites!!
Michelle
Thanks Michelle. The steroids are really doing the trick. Two blissful nights’ sleep (despite seeing ‘The Woman in Black’ at the cinema – felt sure nightmares would follow that!) and I’m healing fast. A long walk in the snow yesterday heralded a definite improvement. Almost better now. Thanks for the kind words and the links! That means more people will see my sad face with the flare-up! Hope it will help someone though. very lonely eczema can be.
Sorry for hijacking someone elseās comment but Albeit, this being an old post. Iāve had eczema my whole life and these past 6-8 months my skin has been hell. Everything you have said resonated with me completely…. the sleepless nites the incessant itch scratch cycle etc etc. I tell my partner she donāt understand how Iām feeling and wish to god I had her skin at times. Iām told I should have a bath in luke warm water but for me… the hotter it is the better my skin feels I feel relief….. I told her to read your post because you have an uncanny ability to put that reader in your shoes… to feel your pain and frustration at THAT itch, that no matter what you do you cannot help but sharpen them finger nails for the relief it brings….. thanks for sharing.
Thank you Steve! I’ve been really itchy today too. I feel your itch! and hope your partner can find some empathy and sympathy inside. Eczema is a horrible condition. I’m off for a HOT BATH!
Hi, I have had success with emu oil (make sure that itās Australian)
Also try filling a cheese cloth with oats and running it under the hot water tap as you run the bath. It is wonderfully soothing.
Never tried the oats thing… I must do this. Sounds right up my street. Never heard of emu oil either so thank you. I will check it out.
Hi Ruth,
just found your article and needed some advice.
Im new to exzema, and was diagnosed last month (at the age of 49!!!), after a month of a very painful mystery outbreak, all over body and limbs.
I was given a shot (of something), steroid ointment and antihistimes. The outbreak eased and has practically left apart from a few marks.
But little spots and rashes still keep appearing, thankfully not as bad as first initial outbreak, is this normal after a shot?
thank you for any advice
jo
I don’t know, I’ve never had a shot like that. Maybe speak to your doctor. However, you’ll just need to work out how to manage your skin. So pleased it cleared up so quickly for you.
Hi Ruth
Thought as a nutritionist I would add my experience too. You are right that often the effects of feeling constantly sore, itchy, hot and irritable are overlooked and yet can be devastating to some many sufferers. One area is its effect on sleep and the stress it causes can have a profound effect on the health of our adrenal glands too
Whenever I see a client with eczema there are a variety of factors I would consider – many of them involving the health of the gut and whether there is evidence of a compromised gut lining. Often we look at in addition to food intolerances the following
ā¢ Nutrient insufficiency including zinc, fatty acids
ā¢ Malabsorption
ā¢ Maldigestion even without the more obvious symptoms of wind and bowel irregularities.
ā¢ Poor balance of liver detox pathways, including female hormone detox (often menstruation issues)
ā¢ Adrenal stress (perhaps not enough cortisol now to cope with the inflammation)
ā¢ Viral infection
From a functional nutrition point of view even if there were imbalances within the liver detox pathways, one would still look to reduce the burden from the gut. So, gut lining support is vital, along with specific anti-inflammatory agents if possible, and fatty acids too. Omega 6 fats are more helpful for eczema than omega 3 fatty acids, so choose products with GLA / Evening Primrose Oil. I use a range of products some of them practitioner brands
Gut Lining Support
I use again formulas such as Perm A Vite Powder or Arthred Powder a collagen powder. The latter may help skin healing process more than Perm A Vite
Anti-Inflammatory Help
Collagen again may help. Otherwise consider formulas with a range of anti-inflammatories such as turmeric, green tea, quercetin, bromelain etc. There are also formulas containing larch arabinogalactans.
Saccharomyes Boulardii a probiotic yeast may be helpful to reduce inflammation by promoting SIgA, at a dose of 1 with each meal. It is possible that some people have too much yeast and this would be something to consider. I have seen some chronic eczema cases that have turned out to be manifestations of chronic candida without the obvious symptoms and in other cases the result of chronic herpes viral infections.
In one study I have just found to support this, the researchers state this:
āThe diagnosis of eczema herpeticum can be confirmed or supported by demonstration of multinucleated epithelial giant cells in Tzanck cytological smears prepared from vesicular lesions; by demonstration of herpes simplex virus (HSV) particles by electron microscopy in phosphotungstic acid-stained material obtained from vesicle contents and base scrapings; by demonstration of multinucleated epithelial giant cells with eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions in biopsy specimen sections processed for light microscopy; by demonstration of HSV particles in biopsy specimen sections of vesicular lesions prepared for electron microscopy; by demonstration of direct culture of HSV from the lesions; by demonstration of HSV antigen in biopsy specimen sections by means of fluorescent antibody; or by demonstration of a rise in titer of HSV-specific antibody in the blood.ā
Medenica M & Steinberg T. Demonstration of Herpes Virus by Electron Microscopy in the Crust of a Healing Lesion of Eczema Herpeticum. Chicago. Arch Dermatol. 1977; 113(4): 523.
So, perhaps an investigation into the presence of HSV may be worthwhile.
Stress may weaken immunity further, quite apart from its negative impact on gut healing etc,. and thereby prevent the body overcoming the viral infection by itself.
Other probiotics to reduce inflammation may be of great value too.
Some of my clients find relief with epsom salt baths – magnesium and sulphur are nutrients often low in the body. Rubbing in natural oils such as flaxseed oil, borage oil, hemp seed oil etc can all be helpful. Don’t forget too the importance of vitamin A and D for skin health
More information on my nutrition work can be found on my website http://www.advancenutrition.co.uk plus allergy free recipes of course
Speak soon Ruth
Christine
Christine, thank you for such a lovely wordy and lengthy response. I found that really useful. I do get my Omega’s mixed up, but I do take Evening primrose oil. Perhaps I should take more! Definitely going in search of Epsom Salt bath stuff. There are so many different thinks that can help and hinder skin and gut health. Finding the right balance is a big challenge. Would be great to meet up some time soon. I am often but not always mobile, we share a car… Thanks again. Ruth
Great post and I understand about night time even though it’s my baby who has eczema. As her mom, I co-sleep with her to hold her hands through the night.
Hi Marcie. I couldn’t get your link to work. My computer really didn’t like it at all so I haven’t seen the picture/cartoon. would love to see it. Can you check the link and repost by any chance? You deserve a medal too. I have thankfully vague memores of childhood nights when my skin was really bad. I would manage to pull off gloves, bandages, anything to get to that itch.
I know that different people have different triggers for their eczema but we seem to have beat it in our household. My little one used to have eczema really bad but it has now all gone. It started around 9 months old with a small patch and just kept spreading. Nothing seemed to touch it, then I chanced upon an American lady on the Internet, whose son was severely allergic to detergents (he could even get flare ups from materials that were washed in detergent, through his clothing). I realised my daughter’s nappy area was clear and decided to do what this lady had done – I changed to liquid soap flakes. It was like a miracle. She is now completely clear. Everything in our machine has to be washed with the same stuff (residues of detergent can remain in the machine for up to ten washes) otherwise her eczema returns. I hope you can find and eliminate what causes yours. You have my sympathy.
WOW that is truly a miraculous discovery. Washing powders definitely effect me. I can only use non-bio. Often a problem when staying away so I often take my own sheets/sleeping bag liner. Can you use soap flakes in a washing machine then? I’ve only used for hand washing…
Hi Ruth,
Just wanted to say thank you for writing this article. You’re very eloquent and I’m going to signpost my Allergy students to your site to gain some insight into living with eczema.
You’ve been given some great advice and recommendations here but just wanted to mention Vitamin D. Several papers coming through showing that people with allergies are often Vitmain D deficient.
What you need is a good holiday in the sun, failing that a Vit D supplement wouldn’t hurt.
Hi Sue. You are dead right. My skin is always heaps better from Spring onwards when I’m outside and my skin is getting proper sun on it. I try to get some unprotected exposure every day before covering up. I’m allergic to most sunscreens which is a bit of a nightmare. I do take a multi-vit supplement but never just Vit D. It could really help I think so thank you. I shall look into this and make sure I’m getting enough through the year. Sadly holiday’s in the sun tend to come hand in hand with skin flare-ups and allergic reactions but I do love sunny holidays. One day, I’ll get the balance right and have a summer sun holiday free from my orrible skin which rules my life.
Hi Ruth, that’s nasty. I get a bit of eczema but only a tiny bit (for a change with my body!) but nothing like yours. I hope it is better now. I get relief from using antihistamine cream and taking Quercetin when it is bad.
Couple of thoughts I had when reading this in case they help:
Read about Vitamin D and how much you actually need at:
http://mickirose.wordpress.com/2011/06/27/new-vitamin-d-guidelines/
– most test results I am seeing are woefully low and you need a certain amount to pull it back up and keep it there.
Make sure the creams are not actually making it worse – see my article for Michelle: Eczema Creams: A Barrier to Health?
And also think about what allergens may be in them.
Some of my patients are swearing by Seven Cream to help prevent flares and calm them down so might be worth a look. http://mickirose.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/7-cream-for-eczema/
I am actually trying currently to write a barrier repair plan, which is designed to help any barrier breakdown, be that skin, gut, blood brain, lung etc etc, so keep your eyes peeled. Or not. You don’t need any more eye soreness!
Sorry about the links btw; don’t know how to do links within the text on your blog. Doh.
Micki
Hi Micky, I just found you in the spam comnments, which I rarely look at since they are normally people like ‘porn star babes’ or ‘hot and horny’. Imagine my surprise on finding you there! Great comments. I am going to look into Vitamin D and check out that cream, AND read your article about eczema creams. I a lot of them aren’t great. I think mine contains SLS but I find nearly everything else will irritate my skin, I’m so sensitive. Aloe vera is great but not moisturising enough. Thank you so much for sharing and so glad I found this! You are doing great with the links too. Blogs are all about sharing so keep em coming. Thanks again Micki. Ruth. PS. I am much better. A few stubborn patches but I’m sleeping again (what a relief) and much less itchy and stressed out.
Not surprising I was there: I AM a hot babe, of course! Glad you found me and the links worked. And even more glad it is calmer for you. Itching drives ya ruddy mad, I know. Why is it always at night? Must be temperature-related, I spose.
Hi Ruth. Thank you for your wonderful post. I’ve never read such an honest and heartfelt piece on eczema before. Despite my understanding and support (I have a cousin and an aunt who painfully grew up, and still suffer with it) your post transported me into the mind and the experience and how very uncontrollable it can be. I hope you’re doing better and that science (natural or medical) can finally figure out how to kick eczema’s butt!
Oh yeah baby – I am really kicking eczema’s butt! For me it’s very food related. I should have been born about a hundred years ago before polutions, chemicals, processed food etc. However, maybe it would have still have got me. I will never know, but it’s all under control, pretty much. Just getting over a bit of a christmas flare up but nothing too bad. Thanks Santa!
Hi Guys
Not quite sure if you are interested, but I manage an online shop specialized in Eczema Cure and Management: http://www.theallergyshop.com.au
It is unique and leading store for all people affected by eczema.
We sell worldwide.
It is not only commercial but also educational, based on my long experience in dealing with Atopic Dermatitis.
Thanks
Christian
Hi Ruth,
It is reassuring to hear that I’m not just moaning about nothing; my flareups tend to be every 4-6 weeks, leading me to become very well acquainted with my doctor what with regular requests for steroids and antihistamines. My family are supportive but they don’t quite understand just how painful the eczema can make moving around (due to cracking and tightness) and the resulting effects it can have on your mental health – thank you for reassuring me that it’s not just me being weak, and that there are others out there š
I am having a bad flareup at the moment but your post has succeeded in making me smile so thank you once again š
Hi Amanda. Thanks for the kind comments. I’ve just got over a really horrid bout that I think was triggered after my allergic reaction at the Allergy Show. I probably get a flare up every two months. It feels like just as I’m getting back into my running and feeling better, healed and happy, another attack of eczema gets me. No idea why. I am so careful about what I eat. The only thing that seems to work for me at the moment, and I hate admitting it, is steroids. I hate using them but they work. But why? Why can’t we cope without them? What’s doing this? I refuse to accept that as my doctor tells me, “You will always have eczema, there is nothing more we can do for you…” I asked for a referral to the dermatology hospital near where I live and they’ve just written back to say, sorry, but no can do. GREAT! So it seems the medical profession have washed their hands of me. I strongly believe something causes mine, I just can’t work out what. Good luck getting over your bout. Keep smiling. Be kind to yourself. I’m trying shea butter on my skin at the moment too. Seems better that the gloopy ointments I have from the docs.
Hi Ruth,
Found your blog while I was looking for answers to facial flare ups of eczema. I feel your pain…I live your pain! I’m in some kind of cycle at the moment myself, and just when it looks like everything’s calming down, the redness, itch, flaking, and outright pain start rearing their ugly heads once again. At the moment my face, neck, and ears are what is flaring up. The only way to describe it is that it feels like someone has thrown battery acid into your face. It burns, and flakes/peels and nothing seems to calm it down.
I thought I had found a miracle in a jar…coconut oil. I’m not giving up just yet. After using it topically for a week all over my neck and face, the eczema all but disappeared. Then I started taking a tablespoon of it 3x a day after reading about all the wonderful things it does for overall health. Sad to say, this latest flare up is proving tougher to get rid of. I have tried avocado oil, Vitamin E oil, shea butter, aloe vera, Aveeno baby eczema cream, but nothing has proven to be a cure-all.
Did not want to make this into a tome; just wanted to thank you and all the respondents who shared their experiences. It helps to know that there are others who know what we go through…Oh how I wish we didn’t have to. Good luck on your quest to find answers. I am seeing an immunologist/allergist as I have totally given up on dermatologist’s lack of knowledge and thinking everything can be cured by slathering on expensive ointments and creams.
Thanks for the forum to vent.
My skin goes like this too, when I have an allergic reaction to something. I find you just have to wait for that reaction to subside, which can take a few days, and during that time even steroids can’t shift it. First the battery acid red burnt look and pain, then the dryness and copious flaking and then some brief respite before the next flare up. I find eating only food I cook myself, not eating processed foods, being very careful when eating out etc. really help me to say flare up free but again, it’s not fool proof. Stress, anxiety and lack of sleep also play a huge part. I like shea butter and have tried coconut oil recently too. Have you tried a few drops of tea tree oil in your bath water? Works wonders. Am also about to try salt baths so watch this space.
Hi Ruth,
Thanks for your reply. To update since my last post…I have been taking allergy shots; for dust mites, a tree allergy, and dust in general. After contact allergy testing for products I use for bathing, shampooing, makeup, etc., one of the contact allergens was to Balsam of Peru. I asked my allergist if there might be a vaccine that has the same chemical structure as the BoP that might be added to my other injections to build up tolerance over time. He found red clover which matched most closely and I started my build-up almost a year ago.
About a month ago I noticed that within 48 hours after my weekly injection, my skin would start to itch, then my face would begin to redden in the the same spots as prior episodes. It finally dawned on me that it had to be the vaccine injections (which the allergist had been increasing the dosage on the red clover portion, since that one had begun a full year after the tree/dust vaccine) that were at the source of this latest round of flare-ups. So, I have stopped all injections for now. It has been two weeks now.
My skin is almost normal, thank goodness. I have continued with the coconut oil regimen, along with Protopic .01% ointment sparingly on the stubborn spots. The Protopic ointment is an immunosuppressant that slows the rapid turn-over of skin cells, but it has a “black box” warning that comes with it, so it must be used for short periods of time, with the least amount that will cover the affected areas.
I think I am finally in a remission period for which I am eternally grateful. I do so agree with your advice about diet, stress, sleep, as these all affect the severity of each flare. The irony is that during each flare the itching, burning, and discomfort affect your ability to sleep, which leads to more stress about how you look and how lousy you feel that something you’ve eaten or applied to your skin has set this episode in motion once again. So it’s a never-ending cycle. I’m keeping my fingers crossed, eating carefully, trying to get a good nights’ sleep, sticking with my coconut oil regimen, avoiding allergy shots for the time being, and praying that I am on the right track.
Good luck to all my fellow sufferers….keep the faith, and never give up the quest for the answers that work for you. Thanks Ruth, for putting yourself out there, and giving people like me the opportunity to share my experience. Knowledge is power.
Connie
Hi Ruth
I realise this is an old post but I hadn’t read it before.
I followed you here from Twitter where I noticed your posts, we have a few friends on common. Your blog post was amazing, it will help people to know that they aren’t alone in their feelings which can in itself be a great help when having to deal with eczema – and some great tips at the end there. One of the most important things with an eczema sufferer is to not stop moisturising after its calming down. Keep that skin moisturised at all times.
We are actually at the allergy show at the BT Convention Centre Liverpool on the 27-28 of October 2012 if anyone is interested we would be happy to answer any questions about our natural skin care products – that are really helping people. Say you saw this post and we might be able to give out some samples.
I am going to the show so will pop by your stand and say Hi!
Great, we will look forward to it, I think its stand 51 š See you there
Hi Ruth,
Found this blog post again & commenting again š Was looking up on moisturizers š
You’d the chance to check out my cartoons? Tweeted you a few times, are u still checking your tweets?
Your cartoons are fab Marcie, they really get across the anguish and pain and the preparation and huge amounts of stuff that an eczema person needs to travel with.
Hi! Im currently experiencing one of the worst flare up of my life. I have had eczema since 2006.since then I will have a yearly flare up.it usually starts on a healing bruise where a few rash will grow and eventually worsen.
I am currently residing in a country where winter season is about to begin. Im from asia btw and to make things worse my current ointment won’t do it’s job. Yes this skin disorder is gross and im ashamed of it.. Oh well, im hoping to sort things out to have some better med shipped to me from my country. Still im keeping my hopes high….
Hi Angela, I feel your pain and am really sad to hear you’re struggling right now. I too tend to get the odd flare up, probably three or four times a year, so not so bad in the scheme of things. What meds do you normally use? It’s a shame you can’t ge them where you are now. What country are you in? I find you have to really beg and fight for something that helps. I have finally found something that heals my really bad flares and that’s Elocon. None of the others touch it. I have heard of Protopic which is supposed to be REALLY but is REALLY expensive so I’m unable to get it. My eczema is not deemed to be bad enough. Huh! Keep trying to smile. It’s amazing how much that can help. I find keeping busy helps too, if you can distract those busy hands from scratching even for a short time it’ll give a bit of healing and calming time. Hope you get better soon š
Hi ruth! It is so nice for you to reply.it feels good somehow that someone understands and deeply knows the struggle I am in… Thank u so much! I am currently in finland.the cost of the transpo fare is just too high,so I cant imagine how much more when it comes to medicinal items. I admit that im quite a delinquet eczema sufferer,coz everytime my bruises and rashes heal,i will automtically forget the meds that worked. Worst of all is losing the doctor’s prescription along the way.so I guess,this is the price I pay! Haha on a more positive note, ialready have my mom sort thngs out with regards to the ointment and oral med that my derma last gave. It’s also cheaper to buy it from the philippines, (where I came from).yes,lets keep a positive point of u amidst this! After all its not d end of the worldfor us.we may be restricted with the food we eat but let’s just celebrate the liFe that we have.each of us has their own struggle and this might may or may not be the ultimate,but nevertheless, let’s own this fight!
Ruth,thank you for being an inspiration and for giving me and all the other here to do likewise. More power and God bless!!!
Thank you for writing this. It gives me an inkling into how my poor son feels. However, I would say that you really must listen to your dear husband. He will be the rational one here and wants you to feel better as soon as you can. Look after yourself and let yourself be looked after. Virtual hugs.
Thanks for the comment and thinking of your poor itchy boy. I know, I know, He is always right. Did I just say that? Don’t tell him. He is though, where this is concerned. I am good at trying to ignore the itch and I think often ignore the problem too. But asking early and fast really helps to reduce the impace of flare ups. Am on top form at the moment. Copious moisturising and apart from a slight flare up frome soemthing I eat last night I’m fine! Onwards and upwards and scratch free!
I have got a flare.up right no…i know exactly what you mean š being atopic
is so annoying and i to just end up.crying someimes. Cus im annoyed
that i have. These.things. It makea.me.feel.bad about my.sself…
I.always try to cope with it and just. Go.along.with it and keep.it.to.myself whenever
I have.a.flare up.imbgetting better now.tho,i always tell.my mum.and ahe helps.me…
I hate havng athsma too as it limits nebfrom.doingbthe stuff i like to do..
But yej x thanks forbthe info
Never feel bad and always ask for help. Try to have a stock in the cupboard of steroids and catch it early. Yeah like I do! Yeah rigth! I’m as bad as you, but I’m learning, slowly. The key is to really really really moisturise LOADS. Sometimes it feels too much, but keep doing it. and good luck.
Ruth, this was really helpful. I hope your condition has alleviated to the point where restlessness is no longer an issue. Thank you.
Much better thanks Russel – I am learning to live with, accept and cope with it. I will never be free of it but I can understand it better, avoid the triggers and do the right things when it flares up. Am getting there.
Thanks for the share!
I also suffer from pretty bad eczema, however yours does seem worse. Mine does not weep, however it is pretty consistently red. In the summer time I find that it is a lot less frequent and not as bad. right now it’s getting pretty bad. It hits mostly on my face (most red is my forehead, slightly better around my cheeks, and it’s pretty consistent that above my top lip stays red). For the most part it’s not too painful, but there are definitely those days where it feels like it’s burning and extremely itchy. I absolutely hate it. I also get it pretty bad on the joints of my legs and on my neck, chest and back. On the really bad flare ups it also migrates down my chest a bit and I will get small bumps and dryness on my stomach. I try not to use steroid cream but I always go back to it when the flare ups get real bad. The moisturizer I use is called CeraVe. Both facial wash and facial lotion. They work pretty good because they are pretty mild and contain ceramides which help restore your skins barrier. And I also seem to be pretty prone to pimple/acne. So when my skin isn’t really dry, it’s really oily. I definitely understand how you feel about crying. I don’t really cry, but I’m definitely not happy about it. Sometimes it’s just easier to be depressed about my skin than it is for me to have my usual happiness. I have started to really accept that I’m probably gonna be stuck with this for a long time if not for a life time. I’m 21 now and accepting that has made things a little bit easier. I try not to stress because the stress will make it all worse. The picture of your face on here looks pretty akin to how my forehead gets. The only thing I can say to you is that you shouldn’t beat yourself up too much. You have a husband that clearly loves you despite the issue and that’s amazing. I live in Canada so the winters can get really dry and brutal as well. I want to go florida or Cali and just bask in the sun and swim in the ocean. Have you ever tried taking salt water baths? It would probably be a bit painful at first because of the rawness, but I find that when I do it at home it seems to help. I suggest trying it out, but maybe try it on a small scale first. Just fill up your sink and dissolve some in there and maybe wash an area with that water, or wash your face with it and see how it is.
Long comment, but thanks for you story. I’ve recently found some solace in these forums.
Ryan P.
Hi Ryan, thanks for such a lovely long comment. It does get much easier and yes, I totally agree. Learning to live with your skin does help. It’s not good thinking, “Why me?” although I do occasionally have a wallow, as long as that involves a lovely oil bath with tea tree oil and some relaxation I know I’m on the way to crawling out of the end of the tunnel. I’ve learnt that whilst stress can play a large part, mine is most definitely triggered by air borne allergens such as dust and pollen and also certain foods. Leaning how to minimise this has helped enormously. And having a lovely caring husband really does help. I am very lucky. I love the idea of salt baths, I did buy some epsom salt bath stuff and never got around to using it yet, I know I get better when I am on holiday, in the sun and getting salt water on my skin. Thanks for the comment! Have you tried shea butter? I think it’s amazing. But not everso easy to get hold of in its organic and pure form. My forehead can get just a kind of egg of raised, swollen red skin. Looks nasty but I get used to it most of the time. Epsom salt baths here we come! Have a fab Christmas without too much itching and scratching!
Dear Ruth,
I am having eczema since 2 to 3 weeks back and i have consulted one doctor the same has been detected as eczema, as he has given me some medicine but the i am not getting expected result out of it and effected part has become more worsen and it is spreading to the near part. Hey Ruth can you suggest me some suitable remedies. Thanks, Rohit.
I suggest you go back to your doctor. Often they prescribe the cheapest solution first and often these can have ingredients which can make the skin worse. I’ve had this before and had to keep asking until I find something which doesn’t irritate further and actually helps heal. Ointments are generally better than creams as they contain less water and so need less preservatives, which aren’t always good for eczematous skin. I find Epaderm is the best for moisurising my skin, or you could try pure shea butter which is just one ingredient and really moisurising. I also have aloe vera, tea trea, vitamin e oil and generally find that these can get rid of most of my flare ups. You could mix a few drops in your bath water to aid healing. I finf this helps me. Sometimes I have to resort to steroids, and always see if you can get them in ointment form – I find they work much faster and better. If you are using steroids, apply a little and sparingly onto the affected area. Then wait a few minutes if you can for it to soak in and them apply your chosen moisturiser. Keep using them until after it seems to have gone away so you really get the flare-up healed. When you say medicine, is this an oral medicein? Really the key to treating eczema and any dry skin condition is to moisturise, moisturise and then moisturise again! Hope this helps.
I’ve been introduced to a product the past few months, Skincerity, that has worked wonders on my skin for acne and acne scarring..As well, on my son for eczema. It’s a roll on breathable barrier, that you use at night and wash off in the morning (or in my son’s case, of eczema behind his legs, I would wash off in the tub and reapply) It seals in the moisture, while the barrier allows oxygen to pass back and forth, helping the skin repair from the inside out!! It has been a God sent for my family and friends and highly recommend for anyone with a skin condition to do some research on this product!!
Thank you for sharing your story. I also have eczema all over my body, although not as bad as yours. My eczema is still quite bad and is a source of misery all season long. During the summer it flares up and all I do all day is sit in front of the fan applying moisturiser and steroid, trying to avoid sweating out the moisturiser and steroid. During the winter it gets super dry and splits everywhere if I forget to moisturise. Every year I get at least one skin infection, which makes my skin feel like its peeling off by itself. I try very hard not to scratch but it always feels like I’m in contact with poison ivy. I try to moisturise but I’m an easy sweater and even in winter I just sweat the moisturiser off and end up feeling so yucky.
I’m absolutely ecstatic that you wrote this article and I show this article to my mum, sister and friends so the can relate what it is like to have eczema
Thanks for commenting Agnes and thanks for your kind words. The moisturising is a pain, I know what you mean. I often feel all slimey and horrid when I have to keep on putting on the gloopy moisturiser all the time. I have found merino wool to be really helpful in the winter. I slather on the nasty stuff and then wear merino wool thermals, legs and tops, and they keep my clothes a bit less slimey from the creams and ointments and keep my warm. We just got to get on and moisturise all the time, it’s the only way. It does get easier adn better though. My hands are soooo much better since I started taking better care of them. It is worth looking at whether certain foods trigger your eczema, because mine is definitely triggered off by foods: dairy, celery and coriander. Everyone is different though and the only way to really tell is to keep a food and sypmtoms diary. Good luck!
Wow you’ve described it so well! This is really well written and I feel your pain although after what you wrote and seeing your pictures, I suppose mine isn’t all that bad anymore but it just never seems to go away…
Naomi, thanks for commenting. It is frustrating. The key is to moisturise enough. It’s boring and makes you feel slimey and gross sometimes but it helps soooo much, especially in winter. Take oil baths, use shea butter and aloe vera and tea tree in your bath and be kind to your skin. There are also loads of supplements which help eczematous skin like vitamin D3, evening primrose, vitamin e, zinc, calcium, selennium. Make sure you’re getting a balanced diet with these nutrients incluced and keep that eczema in its place.
Hi Ruth,
I am so glad to have found this article although mid flare up! Having suffered excezma all my life i was hoping to have grown out of it in my teens. I am only 22 but feel a thin chance of it leaving me when the flare ups still keep coming. I am mainly affected on my face neck and upper back and feel extremely sel conscious whenever it is bad.
I can relate to everything you have said during this post and I too try to pin point the cause of a flare up on something new every time. I am sure washing detergent/softener plays a definate part in the really bad ones. After rushing to the dr on Christmas Eve for some saviour steroids it has eventually began to calm down – I just wish i could pin point a reason. I am looking to be referred to a dermatologist armed with photos of my recent flare up to see if they can pin point a trigger although am not holding out much hope.
Steroids (elecon and hydrocortisone especially), rest and water always seem to do the trick for me I just wish it never came to the point of tears during a flare up to make me go an get help!!
Thanks again for your article am glad I am not alone
We are all the same, well some of exczematous types. My Dr always says, why did you let it get so bad? I use Hydrocortisone and Elecon too. Elecon is the only thing that helps sometimes. I also use Epaderm on my skin to moisturise and I put on loads. And when I can afford it I use shea butter instead. Aloe vera too on sore bits can really help to heal when it’s a mild reaction. Tea tree when it’s a bit worse. Rest is so underated. That’s when your skin heals and replenishes itself.
My eczema seems to also be mainly on my face, neck, scalp, torso etc. Awful for a woman as covering with make-up really isn’t an option when it’s really bad. I hate it when people stare and worse of all, comment on it! But stay prepared. Make sure you have a stash of steroids, especially when you go on holiday. Eczema can ruin a good holiday!
Cut down on the alcohol which causes dehydtration and depeletes the bodies minerals and don’t cry! I hate to think of other people feeling like this but thanks so much for your comments. Now I know I’m not alone either so these comments really mean so much. Happy New Year!
Hi i have these lumps on my heald up eczema places anyone got any idea of what it is? they are like goosebumps but it always there even when i not cold
Hi James, yes I get this too. I think it could be not quite healed yet, or just thickened skin from the healing process. Continue to moisturise the area, maybe try some oil like BioOil which is supposed to promote the healing of scars, though test first to check you don’t get an allergic reaction. I get this too, but over time they do slowly become less prominent and will eventually go back to normal skin. If the lumps are itchy it could just be hives, which are also very common but also very itchy and annoying. Aloe vera can be soothing. Keep mostsurising and it should get better. But if you are at all worried go back and consult your doctor.
haha thanks, i was just kinda worried…since i am not a grown up like most of you here so i might sometimes go abit off topic š thanks Ruth!!
u have a nice blog. thanks. reading this makes me feel i am not alone.. it was this time at the age of 24 that i had my skin problem at its worst. I remember during my childhood having skin problems and just thought that my skin was just to sensitive that i started avoiding harsh soaps and other skin products and started using those that are gentle and mild to skin.. preferably those that can moisturize. In my teenager years.. this skin problem only occurs during cold season and i just thought it was only brought by the cold weather.. to my surprise upon reading articles that this can be hereditary and no one in our family has this except me.. :'( poor girl.. this will be for a lifetime. what could be other options that would work without using steroids? i am using cetaphil restoraderm body wash and moisturizing lotion but it seems wasnt good enough for me so far… i am also taking at times antihistamine like claritin for me to avoid the scratching.. i would really really appreciate advices and any other info i could get for me to manage what i will be having for a lifetime. thanks!
Hi Jute, yes, having eczema is no fun but don’t give up hope. I find emollients are better for my skin than creams. They generally contain less preservatitives and are more greasy, so help restore dry skin to normal quicker. I use Epaderm but it depends which country you are in. I also use aloe vera if it’s really sore – it can really sothe sore skin but it’s not that moisturising so I then apply epaderm over the top once the aloe vera has dried. If you need steroids apply a small amount about 15 mins before applying the emollient. It give the steroid a chance to soak in better. Go to see your doctor as they should be able to prescribe soem stronger antihistamines if you’re really itchy. Try to avoid stress, keep moisurtised, eat a balanced healthy diet and keep a food diary for a few weeks to see if you think certain foods may be triggering your eczema flare ups. Then you can take this to your doctor and be armed with evidence that may help get you a referral to a specialist dermatologist of allergy clinic. Don’t give up hope though – you are not alone! Keep smiling and good luck.
I suddenly had eczema like symptoms on my face and the face wash / cleanser I had been using for years started agitating it even more. I tried several other brands meant for sensitive, eczema prone skin, everything would worsen it. Finally I came to know of Made from Earth products. None of their products agitate my skin. Started using the Aloe & Jojoba Therapy and the Green Tea Cleanser. My face is completely clear and healthy now. I have seen a major improvements. It reduced redness, itchiness and breakouts.
WOW thanks maggie. If anyone is interested it looks like the products Maggie mentions are available in the USA only online at http://www.madefromearth.com/ – worth a try if you’re in the USA. Thanks again. Aloe is always good for the skin. I use 99% aloe vera gell and it works really well.
I’m only 20 and has suffered eczema most my life but for years it didn’t bother me at all until about VCE! I tried everything to get reduce it to how it used to be. my doctors would just give me cortisone tablets and creams and send me on my way!! Last year this time I moved to lindeman island to work partly for the different work choice as I was bored of the usual hospitality job and standing on my feet for hours on end but I also moved because I was told the humidity would help my eczema a lot so I thought great!! Within a week of being there my legs where crystal clear, I still had the night scratching but I get gel nails to make them blunt, it works so much!! I hate the cost but te second a corner snaps off I wake up in the morning looking mauled! Followed by an agonizing shower as I’m so raw!! My job over there came down to a crashing halt on one of my days off where I fell asleep in te sun for no longer than 2 hours but some doctors say because of all the steroid creams and tablets I was on my skin had thinned so much I got so badly burnt it kept burning over night and I woke up the next morning with second degree burns all over my chest and arms needing to be airlifted to hospital and there for 3 days before I could return back home!! Since then I’ve had the worst year of my life with eczema its always itchy, swallon, red painful, and I just don’t know what to do anymore! There has been many times I have needed to do wet treatments and for those who don’t know what it is pray to god you don’t have to do it, what you do is put 1 thick thick thick layer of moisturizer then another thick layer of steroid cream then soak a long sleeve top and pants has to be cotton, into a bucket of warm water and appropriate bath oils for eczema and then squeeze them out as much as possible put them on and lie there wet until there completely dry!! It’s the most disgusting feeling and I’m so sick of it and I’m sick I bein told to just do another wet treatment and stop scratching, I can’t live on doing wet treatments for the rest of my life as hours a day is spent sitting there wet! I want to live my life to the fullest!! An for all those people who say don’t scratch, just if they knew that little itch you get on your foot when wearing tights or boots so u can’t itch it and u get all angry, imagine that consuming you head to toe all at once!! It’s unbearable, I almost think my friends and family think I enjoy scratching!! I just don’t know what to do anymore! I’m the worst at night in my sleep no matter how many gel nails I have on and gloves and creams I am just so itchy!! When my eczema is at its worst it effects me in every way as I get terrible headaches and the chills but at the same time sweating cause my skin is so hot to a very fast pulse! I just want to w able to go out and go to uni and work like a normal 20 year old!! Another thing with those steroid creams, I have got severe stretch marks from both my shoulda to my wrists and under my arms and across my chests and from my waist to half way down my calves because of all the topical creams I was given which is so frustrating as I didn’t have a single scar from my burns but now these hideous thick purple zebra like stripes down my body which obviously effects my confidence and clothes I can chose as wear! I have to get a special light treatment for them but still I am given topical creams cause my eczema is so bad I can’t go without it! I’m in a vicious cycle!! Can someone give me advice to end this horrible itchy, raw driving me crazy cycle?
Gosh eczema sufferer, this sounds horrid I hear you. I’ve been there. I don’t know what to suggest really. I’m not a doctor, just a humble blogger. But what helped me was to keep a food and symptoms diary. Write down EXACTLY what you eat every day and also how your skin is. it is more itchy? Did you sleep badly? Did you get hives on your skin? A migraine? There are quite a foods known to trigger eczema and it would be a good idea to rule that out. If you don’t already, try to find an allergy doctor to get referred to. I know that dairy exacerbates my eczema. You could try avoiding it for a week or so to see if that helps but you shoudl really seek medical help when cutting foods out of your diet. Please don’t give up hope. There is light at the end of the tunnel, you just need to find what it is that’s causing your pain. I don’t believe anyone shoudl have to live with eczema. It’s so painful and soul destroying. You are not alone. Just remember that and there is hope.
Hello my friend, this sounds ridiculously awful. Shame on your GP for not doing something to help you. Have you not been referred to a dermatologist yet? I know exactly how you feel and it’s something that it indescribable to the non eczema sufferer. Are you 100% sure that it is eczema and not something different? Im not sure which country you are in but Cetraben Emollient and Eucerin have helped me in the past – You shouldnt be using steroid creams on a long term basis; only for flare ups. It’s very damaging for the skin as you’ve found out. I would absolutely demand to see your doctor again and get some answers…..Change your GP if you can, burst into tears, threaten to become suicidal… that’s what seems to work in the UK at least!! Keep us updated my friend.
Ash
x
You poor thing!! you described it perfectly: my boyfriend can hardly stand to be around me when I have a flare up…..which has been ongoing for almost EIGHT MONTHS. I am ready to rip my skin off….almost literally. My doctors office is the worst: have to wait at least 3 months to get an appointment, even if you state that it’s an emergency. (I get it especially bad on my left ring finger, and it gets so bad sometimes that I can’t move it, and when it finally does move it cracks and bleeds.) Can’t wash my hands regularly because water, soap, air, everything makes it worse. I hate it and it makes me the most miserable person ever. Hope that you are feeling better, and I hope you continue to heal!
I to have the same eczema case on my leg. Iv found bab goldbond in the green lotion type Works wonders. It has an itch serpresent in it that takes away the itch. It also has cooling action in it that helps keep the red flare up down. It’s also a healing lotion for chaped or realy dry skins so it helps keep your skin moist for atleast 24 hrs. Iv seen results eith in a couple days. Hope this helps
Hi Kyle, I’ve never head of Goldbond before. Just googled them and found their website. Where do you buy yours from? http://www.goldbond.com/
This is a great article that details the issues people with Eczema experience. I had my first flare up about two years ago and find that every winter January/February it’s the worst. Besides the lotioning (Palmer’s Coco Butter every day or vasoline when it’s bad) but best thing I have found is to use Grandpa’s Pine Tar soap. I know, I wrinkled my nose at this at first too but my doctor recommended it because he had patients use it and found it worked. The soap smells like Tar, as to be expected, but when you rinse it off you don’t still smell. I tried other gentle, non scented soaps and still had flare ups. The pine tar soap really works for me. I hope others find this informaiton useful!
Hi Stephanie, thanks for this comment. I haven’t heard of pine tar but I have used Wrights coal tar soap on the past which does help. I think it might be because people with eczema do tend to have higher number of the staph bacteria on their skin, so that when skin gets broken, chapped and sore it can get very easily infected. This kind of medicated soap will help with that problem I guess. I find tea tree oil, just a few drops, in the bath water really helps too. I used to have a fantastic shamppo with coal tar too but can’t find that now. Thanks for reminding me about this soap, I must find some and fast!
i hate my eczema its so annoying i only get at least 6 hours sleep a night and its worse when i go for sleepovers and to famliys to stay the night because they dont know what treatment i need. i wish i cound die and come back alive with no eczema, i wish eczema didnt excist AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!i have eczema EVERY-WHERE and i mean EVERY-WHERE (do you ?) i cant sleep at night and my nannny and daddy make fun of me when i cry the mimic me and i feel so ugly and think im going to die alone im in year 7 i was born 6 weeks eaarly so that means i am tiny and i have hardly any friends in my old old school i got looked after by my friends more than my dad in school if i even rubbed my hands together my teacher would take me to do my creams. my mum has always been there for me if it wasnt for her i would proberly be in hospital by now, oh that reminds me a coulpe of years ago i was put in wraps if you dont know what wraps are then i will tell you, bassicaly they are these wraps that go on your bodyi put cream on the inside that means when i put them on th go to bed the cream sinks into my body. the hot weather is very very very bad for me because i sweat ALOT and because i have lots of cream on i have broen icky sweat. if you want to stop iching then put cream on gtake tablets and watch a good film with some healthy food. if that dosnt work out then get in a nice oily bath it my hurt but not be scared when i was 11 my mumbathed and showed me i screamed so much i nearly dehidrated (i didnt accualy dehidrate it just means i screamed ALOT) its like 10:40 now at night i went to bed at 7:00 and im going to my anties on tuesday because its PANCAKE DAY woo hoo but im sleeping there for 4 days wich is bad. i have 3 bros and no sisters im the oldest (12) my brother tyler (11)is very supportive he used to think i was gross but now hes really nice about it and hardly dpeaks of it somtimes he even helps me with my creams with is rather nice as any other boy wouldnt even touch eczema so thank you tyler for doing that and helping me throug bad time love you (i havnt seen tyler since april 2012 now its febuary 2013 i miss you tyler waaaaaaaaaaaaa) i have another brother called brooklyn hes 4 and doesnt understand what eczema is but hes very possitvie towards it when ever i scratch and he see’s he says somthing like this ‘ chloe you shouldnt do that its not good for your eczema’ i have another bro called ronnie hes 3 months old and has eczema on his face but its very faint if you looked at him you wouldnt even thik he has it we do his creams twice a day 3 times when he has a bath. i missed out that tyler had really really bad eczema when he was young but then he grew out of it my antie has very bad eczema, eczema and asma runs through our famliy i have eczema and asma so does my antie my bros got asma i love my famliy because there so nice to me even if im on my brakking piont they alwasy have a way of calming me down. if you have bad flare ups you should ask for a fan in your room or see a docter 2 times as month i have a fan i want it on in the night but my mum says it wasts electric she says open a window but im scared well get robbed so im kinnda stuck any ways thanks for readiny and tell me about any =think you like i dont come on this website alot so i cant repliy that much so by also one more thing i watched this thing and it saide say i love as much as possiple because they may be the last words yoy say them so that means i probilys say love you about 60 times a day ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Hi Chloe, thank you for lovely long comment. It is so heart warming to hear from other people and know that they have read this and found just a little comfort from it. You are never alone, even when it feels like you are. And yes, I get eczema EVERYWHERE too, but at the moment, most often on my face, which I HATE! My parents struggled with it too, my mum would say, “stop scratching” a lot and once, in desparation, my dad smacked me one night when I was sobbing and scratching and keeping him awake. Not nice memories to have but they were at their wits end with it too. It’s a nasty thing to have to live with. I also suffer in hot weather, the sweat is like having acid poured into your scabs, I know, I know. I have found an ice pack thing that is like a face mask, and i keep it in the freezer. It stays cold for quite a long time and usually helps me nod off to sleep, I can hold it on certain hot angry bits of skin and it dulls the itch and pain. I have had it years and think I had to get it from overseas somewhere. It’s what they use for people with burns on their face I think. It looks scary if you look in the mirror when you have it on. Google for ice pack face masks and some come up. Any ice pack think would help though. I am looking forward to pancakes later too! Yee Har. I can’t have milk so sometimes mine turn out a disaster but today I have a good feeling. I have a new, shiny frying pan so they shouldn’t stick and I am going to have just pancakes for my tea. What do you have on yours? I love lemon and sugar. I am glad it sounds like you have a supporting an loving family to help you through this. the key is keeping your skin moisturised, even though it makes you feel sticky and gross, keeping on smiling and if you think it’s triggered by anything, keep on searching for answers. You have to learn to live with it, but it does get easier.
if eczema was a person i would murder it and then cut it up and put it in my blender and berry it in a sanwich bag ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Ha Ha, Chloe, you really made me laugh. Thank you! I think we might need to burn eczema too so that there is no chance it could ever come back!
I also have really bad ezcema , did out grow it when I was 18 but got it back 4 times worse after having a baby. Reading ur post , I felt like letting you know , that the use of steroid creams or pills might help a lot but they also very bad for u the creams makes your skin finer . Meaning ur skin will look older then it should be and most times with the pills as soon as u stop drinking them it comes back . This is only from my own experience , every person might have it differently
Hi Liezel, I am not using steriods and currently reducing the dose and it is getting slowly better, but I am also realising that if I eat certain foods, they bring me out in horrible hard lumps that itch so bad and then lead to eczema that takes ages to heal and leaves huge thickened lumps. I’m getting there and am pretty clear on the eczema front right now. I hate using them but in the long run it’s better than sleepless nights and endless tearing at sore skin. Generally though, once I stop using the steroids it comes back. Hoping this time it’ll stay off for a bit longer.
Hi Ruth,
This post was frighteningly similiar to my experience! Im 24 and when I was 19, I all of sudden (and pretty much overnight) developed a patch of dry skin just left of my spine in the middle of my back. I never thought anything of it so just moisturised as normal (something I have always done since I was 13). It did go but then I noticed another patch on my right elbow. Again, that went, then I started getting patched on my neck. And so on and so forth. It genuinely felt like there was a living creature underneath my skin moving around to various parts of my body causing havoc, then shifting again.
For the past year or so, I’ve suffered from eczema in the following areas:
Eyelids
Mouth area
Ears (lobes and behind)
All around the neck
Back (Which when inflamed, from afar looks like the world map!)
Right elbow
Left inner elbow
Left wrist
Chest (and sometimes nipples!)
Various patches on the stomach
It’s got so bad sometimes where infection has occurred – and led to impetigo around my mouth and eyelids. I feel the same as you when I get flare ups, I feel like such an ugly duckling that I don’t want to stay out. As women, we like to put some make up on, do our hair etc but its just impossible when eczema is around.
Im having a huge flare up at the minute and I expect it EVERY winter now. I’m trying to keep away from steroid creams and just use emollients etc but sometimes the medicinal aspect of prescriptions are the only thing to get rid of it. I’ve moisturised so much before that I’ve clogged my pores up which has led to spots so it’s literally a catch 22 – what the hell do you do!?
My GP if I’m honest, is bloody useless. I’ve seen numerous GP’s at my practise and probably spent over Ā£200 in prescriptions over the past couple of years. They just throw the same old stuff (moisturise, drink plenty, keep a food diary, less stress etc). I want a referral to a skin specialist but they wont do it – they follow their guidelines and I apparently, don’t fall within the category.
Just for the record, I have no allergies, never been asthmatic, never had childhood eczema and like you, have very unpredictable flare ups.
I do hope you find something that helps you for good. It’s such a horrid disease that really needs to be treated more seriously. The effect that it has on a person’s mental wellbeing is much more important than tickboxing.
Wishing you good hydration.
All the best,
Ash
Ash you need to really push your doctor to refer you. I had to literally break down in tears for mine to take my seriously. This stuff really affects our lives and it certainly makes relationships and work tough – when you are suffering with itchy sore excema you just want to rip of the heads of all the smug clear skinned people who cross your path. How do they do it? It just doesn’t seem fair. So really push, it’s a post code lottery, some areas just really resists referring people and it makes me really cross. Apparently doctors have to pay for every referral – that’s why they are reluctant to do it… how does that work?
Also I suggest you keep a food and mood diary and record your symptoms. It could just be that food is playing a part but it’s often hard to pinpoint what it might be. And you have to be REALLY strict when you do this, check all ingredients and avoid processed foods. It’s not fair that you should have to live with this. It’s not right how little importance it’s given by doctors as it can be really debilitating, depressing, painful and when it’s happening often it really grinds you down. Keep trying and good luck. Where do you live by the way?
I stumbled across your posting while I was surfing. Just lately I had a relapse and my Aczema came back. Apparently mine triggers by severe stress. I have been so down and depressed as the rashes is not subsiding but spreading. I feel completely disabled as I could not do my normal things like training for marathon, or just brin active. As soon as I get up and active my skin just go itchy and the rashes flare up. If I scratch it, well u know what will happen, it feels s good and next it spreads so fast’
I am using received cream and trying to have cool shower as soon as my skin starts to feel itchy. I has been more than 2 weeks and I and getting really depressed. I an active man but now I have to sit at home like a Buddha. I have to deal with this alone as I have recently moved to Sydney and I know no one and just me to deal with this alone. It has taken its toll on me. I read that sea water can help with Aczema. I have been going to beach almost everyday to soak my skin in sea water and hopefully it will helps. It probably does. My skins feels very nice and less itchy after soaking in sea water. But that does not subside the rashes. I am getting really fed up and just dunno what else to do. I am now sitting at clinic trying get second opinion..
Hi Nicholas, I know what you’re saying, it’s exactly how you feel. It’s a vicious circle. You are not alone though, just look at all these comments here and you’ll see how many other eczema people are out there feeling just the same as you. It’s OK to feel down sometimes. Do you have a doctor since moving out to Aus? I suggest going to the doctor and speaking to them, see if you can be referred to a specialist dermatologist and also keep a diary of everything you eat and put on your skin, evening cleaning products. Is there any connection between food or shampoo or your shower gel or washing powder? I find that certain goods trigger my skin problems but it’s a delayed reaction so would only show up the following day. Good luck and I hope you get some relief and stop feeling like such a buddha. Get outside, even if it’s just for a walk. You’ll feel better and it’ll take your mind off the itch.
I am suffering from a flare-up at the moment. Most of the time I manage with my moisturisers but occasionally I get a patch on my body which changes on each flare up – last year it was my leg, and have had them on my wrists previously and now it’s the back of my neck. I get small flare ups on my face too.
I got hydrocortisone cream from the chemist (as I didn’t want to disturb the doctor) which helped and was ALMOST away when I stopped using it (after the prescribed 7 days) and now my neck is hot, red and very itchy today. So I googled eczema flare ups and found your article which felt like you were talking to me and now, after reading your article I am phoning to make an appointment with the doctor.
Thank you and good luck with managing your skin š
Good luck to you too! I hope you get the help you need at the docs. Mine is prettty good at the moment, apart from a few little bits on my neck that I keep bothering and picking. If only I could leave them alone. Hope you find some relief from the annoying itch.
Hi I also meant to say that when using steroid creams and the effect they have on our skin, thinning it etc, our skin is dry and wrinkly and looks older than it is anyway, so what difference does really it make? ….
Hi Katie, I agree, and thickened and angry sore skin is now fun, sometimes you just need steroids to claw back control. Don’t ever feel bad about using them. The damage we do by scratching is also not good for the skin either.
I hate my eczema I have learned the hard way were I meed to keep ,y skin cleaned moistured:-)
Moisturising is so important but it is also a pain. I always feel so slimy and want to wash again and bed sheets get all horrid. Hope you have learned to tame yours in some way… It doesn’t need to take over your life but it needs constant attention and care
Hi Ruth,
I read this and felt a wave of relief because now I know that someone feels exactly how I feel. Thank you so much.
I’m a post-college student, still kind of living the college life (not quite organized and struggling to find a job). I’m living with graduate students who have very strange and disagreeable lifestyles in a ratty house (for cheap rent) — and am trying to fight it all to control my eczema. It’s hard to control everything to help mediate your pain when living in a co-op situation with people who like to live “on the edge”.
Anyway, I loved your article. But if I could add one more thing, it would be to engage in exercise! It boosts your confidence in yourself, relieves stress, and leads to better sleep at night!
Love,
Jeni
Thanks Jenni, yes eczema is a pain but I totally agree about the exercise, even though sometimes sweat makes mine burn it ALWAYS makes everything easier. Very good advice. Check out the latest blog about 7 Replies to stupid questions about your eczema face, which should be on the home page now.
Hi Ruth,
I’m reading your post trying to get myself in to the head of someone with eczema and try my hardest to understand how it feels as I want to support my girlfriend when she has attacks. They come mostly at night, effecting her arms, neck and knees, when it’s really bad it spreads across her stomach and ribs, the only thing I can do to sooth it for her is to tickle her itching skin or to lightly scratch it for her as it is much better than her doing it herself. It’s incredibly stressful and frustrating to watch her in pain and not being able to do anything for her, as someone who knows how it feels what would you say would be the best thing to do for her? I know it’s a personal thing but I’m looking for anything to help really.
Thanks, it’s a very touching post,
Katie
First of all Katie, your girlfriend is very lucky to have such an understanding partner. Sounds like you are doing the right things already. All you can really do is be there for her, cuddles and stroking or gentle scratching really do soothe me. Never ever say “stop scratching” as she just can’t. But it is just as distracting for the person sleeping with a scratcher. you also get less sleep and it can be frustrating. You could help her put on emollients. Make sure the room is cool, getting hot can really trigger off eczema. Make sure all sheets and bedding is 100% cotton and maybe think about dust protective covers if she is sensitive to dust. There can be thousands of dust mites in your bed, pretty gross but you can’t really get rid of them, just minimise their effect. Hope her skin improves and it gets easier.
Ah yes, I’ve made the mistake of telling her to stop scratching before it didn’t go down very well. Thank you so much for the advice, I wish I could put it into practice but we split up and I just hope she finds someone that will help her, thanks again for replying
Sorry to hear that! At least you can get a good night’s sleep now. I know my husband gets very frustrated and sometimes he will just take my hand, place his over the big I’m scratching and hold me. It drives me insane, I soooo want to get to that itch but I can’t. What helps me more is gently touching or stroking the area. Anyway, if you ever meet another scratcher you may feel better able to supporr them and meanwhile, look after your own skin. Moisturising loads is the key, so encourage them to always keep putting on emollients and help them do it. That really helps me and also helps me not to feel like my skin is really disgusting, if someone else will touch the eczema and put on my creams without being repulsed maybe it’s not so ugly. Blood on the sheets is also a thing I find really disgusting and treating the stains and washing them often is a chore – never complain about that either. Mine isn’t bad at the moment, oh apart from the really bad bits on my hand and arms… no it’s not great actually but it’s under control. Thanks for the comments – I love getting questions and comments from people who don’t have allergies and eczema as well as those who do. Makes for a better discussion and we all learn and understand the others point of view.
Hi, this is really unfair. I’m allergic to basically everything (preservatives, animals, oats, etc.) and I really can’t cope anymore. My lips are so dry, and the dryness goes way back into my mouth and I can’t stop licking. Above my mouth is always, ALWAYS red, and my cheeks are tough and thick, and so is my eyelid, neck, arms and legs. I don’t know what to do.
Nothing is working.
Hi Killie, I know how you feel. I would urge you to speak to your doctor, and if they won’t help, find a local dietician or nutritionist. The only way I could find relief was to go on a short elimination diet, the diet is very restrictive, but if your skin improves on this diet then chances are you will find solutions. Then you reintroduce foods one by one and if you react, you know it’s a problem food. I have to stress you should not do this without some specialist advice as cutting out foods for no good reason could be very bad for your health. I am also allergic to loads of things. I can’t eat nuts, dairy, soya, tomatos or celery. I have a wheat intolerance and sometimes an egg intolerance though I try to eat eggs and wheat when I can, in small doses. I am allergic to animals, latex, nickel, dust. Sometimes the list seems endless and I can’t eat any processed foods. But I CAN eat meat, all other veggies, fruit, seeds, LOADS of things. What I had to do was learn to love real clean fresh food. Learn to cook. Learn to enjoy new flavours. I had to totally change my diet. My skin is sometimes just like you describe but that’s when I’ve had processed foods, eaten out, or drunk alcohol. It’s tough but to have nice, clear skin, I have to be VERY strict. I’ve had a bit of lapse lately and have prurigo all over my neck, arms and face. Totally my fault but I had a processed M&S gluten free crumpet and it triggered this – I suspect it’s the baking powder which is now on my watch list. It’s not easy but try to find the solutions to your triggers, I knew mine were caused by something because you can almost feel stuff burning out through your skin. It’s awful. I use Eparderm and diprobase. Elocon when it’s bad, eumovate ointment and hydrocortsions ointment. Avoid creams because they have preservatives in them, ointments have far less and better for my skin anyway. When I can afford it I buy shea butter pure and coconut oil – these really soothe. Also aloe vera and tea tree help, when it’s infected. Please, please seek help, push your doctor to refer you to someone who can help. The nutritionist I saw really helped me but now it’s a continual battle and the list of foods I react to is growing. And I know it seems unfair, it is really, but it’s what we’ve got to work with. In time i realised that this MADE me be healthier. I have been forced to treat my body as temple – and when I stick to this my skin improves amazingly. I hope this helps a bit. Stay positive. Get some help. Speak to someone. Try the forums. Just chatting to like minded people can help. Check out the National Eczema Society as they have local help and support groups, if you join you can attend these. Worth looking into. None near me though.
Hi
How come when I wake up my skin is good but then after I wash my face and put cream it goes red?
Hi Sarah, I get the same thing. It could be just that this ‘wakes up’ the skin, or something you ate that gives you a delayed reaction. I get this often if I’ve had any alcohol, looks fine, wash and whoomph. However could it be your face cream? Read the ingredients, check whether it is when you put the cream onto you get the problem. It’s so hard to pinpoint causes like this. Always wash with warm water and don’t use soap as this can irritate, find something kinder for your skin. I wash my face using the eczema emollient that I have, but still happens sometimes if I’ve had any processed food or eaten out. Hope this helps, even if only I to share it happens to me too!
Thanks for your blog post. It’s good to know I’m not the only one going through horrible eczema. I literally teared up reading your post. It’s just like what I’m going through. Going through a flare up at the moment and I just feel like giving up. I don’t know how much longer I can stand it. It is so frustrating and the people around me don’t seem to understand how much pain and suffering I’m going through everyday. Sigh…
Thanks Slim and so sad to hear your suffering. I’m having a minor burn on my face today but I think that was either from wine (might contain dairy) or an egg I had for lunch yesterday. Mine is so completely linked with food and though stress is a factor, food is what makes it skin tearingly unbearable, like my skin is bubbling. Please try to speak to those around you about how you feel. Maybe they don’t understand so try to explain it to them. I’m sure if they are good friends they will listen, sympathise and cut you a bit of slack. Also speak to your doctor. It’s so not OK that you should be suffering like this. I strongly believe that most cases of eczema can be relieved if triggers can be understood, the problem is we are all so different that there can be so many triggers it’s hard to work out what it is with you. MAKE your doctor take you seriously and if you feel you are not getting referred to a specialist try your local PALS service. I’ve heard they’re very good… Moisturising is the key. I used to be very lazy about using emollients cos it’s boring and makes you feel slimy and dirty already but it really does help. Get an emollient which has fewer preservatives and use LOADS. Good luck!
Hi Ruth,
Thank you for your reply. Just wanted to let you know my flare is under control at the moment. Yes, moisturiser helps loads. Happy to say that now I can live more “normally”. Just went ice skating yesterday š
Looking forward to normal skin soon *fingers crossed*
Cheers!
I’m right in the middle of a flare-up at the moment, especially around my chest and stomach, and on my hands which is a huge pain since I work in healthcare and have to use alcogel on them all the time which stings like hell! This post has made me feel much less isolated though, it’s nice to know there are others out there and I’m not just being totally pathetic, it is actually a big problem! Personally stress is the biggest factor for my flare-ups, doing exams a few years ago I couldn’t wear anything with sleeves because my arms would bleed so much, luckily it was summer! Some good tips and support here and you did make me laugh, so thank you x
Eczema for me has been ongoing for 6 years. Cortisone 1% for body, and .5% on face. It really is the only thing that has worked for me. I’ve also tried everything alternative you can think of without much success. Always had to go back to the cortisone. I’ve also tried gluten (when I had eczema for 1 year, after giving up gluten I completely healed within several days…did not work this time around), dairy, soy, citrus, egg and nut free diets over the years. Nothing really helped. I’ve currently been on a nightshade free diet (along with the ones listed above) for the past 3 weeks and have noticed some interesting changes – not as itchy, when I do scratch the itch subsides and doesn’t return (always had a terrible, burning itch return after scratching and just couldn’t stop). Yesterday I had a bad flareup, but am better today – without cortisone use! That would never have been possible before. I have a long way to go still, but feel hopeful. Skin still extremely dry. I think food allergies can play a huge role (often a delayed reaction so hard to pinpoint which food it is) – my allergist said I reacted to tomatoes, and I get an itchy throat when I eat eggplant (oral allergy syndrome). Also my hands react when peeling potatoes…all nightshades. I also reacted to hazelnuts so avoiding all nuts as well. I have a huge allergy to tobacco and believe it or not nightshades contain small amounts of nicotine. I also have asthma, but not nearly the burden that eczema is. It’s a struggle everyday, but I do wonder how I was fine for so many years and then it hit me and no real lasting relief for 6 years. Knowing this gives me hope – I don’t think a doctor is going to help me get to the bottom of it. If you can’t get to the bottom of it and you need a semblance of a quality of life then I’m all for the steroid cream, but my dream is to wake up in the morning and feel normal…smooth, itch-free skin. No more pain. Can’t hurt to dream!
Would love to know if anyone else has tried a nightshade free diet? Google “John Torode” a UK celebrity chef who suffered for 20 years with eczema, and was healed after 4 weeks on a nightshade free diet. Inspired me to try it.
Hi Fraser, well I sort of do, I find tomatoes especially really trigger red, nasty, angry rash on mainly my face, neck and back. I seem to be OK with peppers but keep my potato intake to a minimum also. The only way I found of working out what were my triggers was to keep a food diary, and you have to be really strict. Keep all the packers from processed packaged goods you ate and record everything and also record the symptoms and any skin or stomach problems. In this way I found out celery and tomato were total no goes for me, as well as dairy which really mucks up my skin in a massive way. It usually happens in the night or I wake with the bad skin. With tomatoes my skin kind of feels like it’s splitting open and a clear liquid oozes out – nasty… thought I was bleeding first time it happened. Really painful as the skin does break open around my neck and forehead.
Ruth, I do keep a diary but need to be more diligent! I don’t eat any processed food whatsoever – except maybe puffed rice cereal, but it’s only rice. The only problem I had over the years was with eggplant, because I’d get an itchy throat right away. The link you posted listed okra as a nightshade…first I’ve heard of that. Goji berries are another one. Tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, etc. didn’t seem to cause an immediate reaction, so for me I think they were mostly a delayed reaction. Just read another article about how giving up nightshades, if you’re sensitive, can heal your gut which can result in less sensitivity to the big culprits – wheat and dairy. Interesting how we always blame wheat and dairy, when it could be something else entirely. Oh yes, and I’m completely off alcohol for 3 weeks now. Here’s the article on John Torode:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1165509/My-cure-eczema-cutting-deadly-nightshade-says-MasterChef-judge-John-Torode.html
One more thing! All lotions/creams cause me to itch more…even Vaseline. My doctor confirms that because my skin is so inflamed everything is going to sting. Since being on this diet I can use creams with minimal itching…maybe my skin is slowly healing? (That’s me just trying to be positive!). It is strange how my skin is tolerating things better now. Pure lanolin (100%) is amazing for dry skin…breastfeeding mother’s use it! Most lanolin used in creams is not pure and allergic reactions are common. It’s closest to the ph of our skin. Also “Mayan Magic” balm (by La Vigne) has an extract called Tepezcohuite in it – my skin is also not going crazy when I put it on and is helping with the itching. Just wish I could find out when on the initial few weeks of the diet, if it’s common to have flareups, or if it’s going to work is it more common to see things get gradually better without the flareups??? Hoping it’s normal. So sorry Ruth, to hear of your struggles – it’s so hard for others to truly understand how debilitating it is. Most people hear “eczema” and think it’s only a little dry skin. It really can rob you of your quality of life. I guess we all must just soldier on and keep trying new things. All the best.
I’m glad to have found this post. Not too many people write about the shame and emotions behind the eczema. I had extremely severe eczema covering almost my entire body while growing up. Luckily, I outgrew most of it but now, when it does flare up it causes me such intense anxiety and depression. I don’t want to be seen, I don’t want to go out,I don’t want to be touched or looked at, and I can’t even feel comfortable in my own skin because of the ointments and itching.
Eczema sucks – might get some tshirts with that on them – haha
“This morning when I found myself in tears, a hug from my husband helped, and he tells me to ring the doctor and make an appointment. Strange that I canāt get to that solution on my own. I never want to give in, think I can cope on my own and donāt want to worry the doctors.”
When i read this part, i teared up a little, sometimes i feel i need to let my body fight the battle, and i feel so powerless and always exhausted. Thank you for sharing your story, it makes me feel a little stronger to be able to carry on.
I know I’m a little late joining the conversation here, but I just couldn’t help posting a comment!
I absolutely LOVED reading this! I am in the middle of an eczema flare up and reading that made me feel so much like I’m not alone in this constant battle. I can completely understand the sleepless nights and feeling as though no amount of moisturiser will ever make a difference. At the moment I am feeling like i have tried absolutely everything out there! I’ve tried steriods (both creams and tablets!), oils, vitamin suppliments, outrageous amounts of moisturisers, diet changes (even though I eat fairly healthy), you name it I’ve probably tried it…
Hopefully it all starts to settle down soon, and my friends and family can go back to dealing with normal happy me rather than the raging eczema me!
hi Ruth,
Sorry I didn’t reply so soon. any way took your advice it worked a treat. I use cetraban do you?? if not what creams do you use????? also fun fact my BEST FRIEND is called Ruth too!!!!is your eczema bad or good Id say mine is medium.
Hello Chloe, ha ha. well all Ruth’s are fabulous of course! I am glad you are feeling better. I don’t use cetraban no, but I do use Epaderm and Diprobase because I can get large quanities from the doctors. I love Spiezia ointment though and also Gentle Green Ecz-tend soothing cream – these two are far more natural and contain natural plant healing ingredients. I also like Pure Potions but at the moment it’s hard to afford buying the nicer products as I use so much of it. They say though, that because they heal so well you will need less. We shall see as I’m trying them now. When it’s bad though I need the cheaper horrible pertroleum stuff. I will check out cetraban though but I think it’s another petroleum based product. Something doesn’t seem right to me you know, to use something with such weird ingredients. I’m looking into using more natural stuff on my skin now as quite a bit of what you put on your skin is absorbed into your body. Ewww.
Ah and in answer to your final question my eczema is up and down, at the moment fairly medium but sometimes it’s mild. Sometimes though it’s awful!!! About 2-3 times a year it bites me really bad.
I had skin problems for the last year, including weeping legs because of kidney and liver problems. What I have found that works really well is useing Royal Jelly, diluted with a very small amount of distilled water, mix together to form a more fluid solution and then spreae it all over healing pads. I then cover my skin with those healing pads and wrap them all around my legs. I do this every day and in just a few days, my skin i healed with brand new tiue all over. I get the Royal Jelly in paste form that has Royal Jelly, Propolis and Bee Pollen along with Siberian and Korean Ginseng, which is why I mix the pate with a little bit of distilled water so that I can spread it in the healing pads. This works better than any other herb or dreug that I have ever run across. Good luck to all.
My keyboard needs cleaning.
So does mine! Not sure where to begin but since I am allergic to dust I really should do this more often. Needs taking apart and proper clear out. yuk! Now you’ve mentioned mine is awful… covered in skin dust!
I’ve never used Royal Jelly on my skin before but I think this is a great idea. I just tried a biopropolis ointment on a coldsore and I think it healed so much quicker than normal and I felt hardly any of the pain that I normally get from a cold sore. Thanks so much for sharing. This might really help some people and I’m going to look out for some of this. Thanks Bogdan.
I went on the candida diet for 9 weeks and found no trace of eczema….3 weeks back on a normal diet with prosecco filled evenings and eczema is back in full glory.
Worth checking out! It’s hardcore but you get used to it and is easier to live with than the eczema!
Oh no! I have tried that years ago and it’s a very healthy diet. I wonder how many people’s eczema is caused by candida?
My daughter has severe eczema since she was born, she is now 15 and it gets so bad on her face, tonight she is flaring and peeling. Not a fun thing when you are a teen girl. We have used every ointment known to man, nothing really helps. She takes allergy medicine, has all sorts of steroids but really nothing helps her face. She actually had to take a sulfur antibiotic this fall to kill skin bacteria on her body. It’s terribly painful and you are right, it’s not taken as seriously as other health problems. The face is the first thing people see and lets face it, people get nasty and paranoid when someone has open weeping skin wrongly assuming it’s contagious. She has gotten so sick of people asking ‘ew, are you contagious’ or ‘ew are you scarred’ Eczema sucks, and her dad had asthma as a child so there is a link… I just wish skin conditions were taken seriously and something could be done beyond throwing steroids at us š unfortunately oils of every sort make her eczema worse. Right now only an 80 dollar cream called acid mantle Amantle, is all that she can use that doesn’t make her feel she is on fire. But nothing absorbs enough.
I have had the same problem as your daughter since I was born.
It went away for a bit during late twenties, until I got married had my baby and during my pregnancy…..it came back. Now my daughter (Thank goodness she does not have eczema) is two and I still have bad flareups on my face.
I used basically everything and know it doesnt really help.
Now I am just using Aquaphor on my face right after I get out of a shower. I hope this helps.
Hi Krystal, I feel for you, mine is worst on my face too. The last place you ever want a flare up because everyone can see it and you imagine it looks far worse than it ever does in reality. I have not use Aquaphor but I’ll check that out. I wonder if eczema is hormone related, with regards to why it came back during pregnancy. I’ve heard of this happening, my sister had very bad skin during her pregnancies. Hoping it improves with time. Make sure you’re getting the nutients and minerals your skin needs and boost your omegas ie. oily fish, green leafy veg. Good luck. Sending clear skinned thoughts your way.
Hi I am Samantha from Malaysia. I am currently 17 years old now. And have been suffering from eczema since I am a baby. I agree with you eczema really sucks. I can seriously say eczema have ruin the half of my life. It’s getting worst and worst even I take doctor’s prescription and medication daily without fail. Its true that having eczema makes you couldn’t sleep at night and when you wake up, there is skin flakes everywhere and what’s more worst is your whole body skin hurts like hell until I couldn’t even get up or walk. Worst still is coping with Malaysia’s weather which is so hot everyday, it makes me so uncomfortable in school and this really affects my studies so badly. Going out with friends I have to go with jeans and a long sleeve shirt and my friends they get to wear cute dresses or skirts and shorts which makes me feel really really sad. My family don’t understand how I feel and suffer. Especially when I get my monthly bad flare ups, I often get very emotional and I always sinks into depression. My mum will starts nagging and scolding me saying that this is what I deserve which I don’t understand why. Eczema just hurts so bad until sometimes I attempt to suicide but I stopped because I was too scared. It get worst and worst until even I shower my whole body skin hurts like hell. It makes so afraid of water. Life is just so miserable when you have eczema. :'(
I know how you feel , I’m in constant pain with mine too sometimes I can’t move because of it. But lucky eczema isn’t for life I guess I’ll just have I wait *sighs*
Think again. I have had eczema since I was a baby, and I am now 46 years old and undergoing a “flare up”. It certainly can last for life.
You’re right, you can’t cure eczema but you can learn to live with it and cope with it better and avoid certain triggers. Mine gets easier to cope with but it’s never quite gone for good. Hope yours clears up soon.
Hello. I’m Sophie and i’m ten. Right now, eczema is ruining my life and at ten. It’s awful. many times I try to kill myself but it doesn’t work. I just keep thinking” God it doing this for a reason. My sister’s say sometimes I go crazy and say weird things but I never remember them. Everybody but my dad are unsympathetic. They say ” it’s your fault you itched. now you have pay the consequences.” NO one understands. I have never told anyone this before. I keep praying and praying it will go away but it never dose. Life is miserable.
Sophie I know what it is like. i have had eczema all my life. All I can say is that it does get easier to cope with. I grew out of mine a bit and learned which things were triggering my flareups but you really need to get an appointment or referral to a proper dermatologist. It is a horrible thing to have and people don’t understand if they have not had the dreadful itch themselves. You can come and chat here any time and share how you feel. Please don’t feel alone. There are lots of us out there with this nasty skin problem. Are you able to join the National Eczema Society? and see you doctor, kick up a fuss, make sure they take you seriously.
I am 15 with eczema. The worst part about it is when u get those flare ups and feel like your dying no one else understands. My mom always says that the only reason i get these flare ups is because i only change my bed sheets weekly, or something else dumb like that. It’s so hard to deal with it because I have no where to go. I wish I could die most of the times while I’m going through a flare up. I don’t know how I will be able to handle this for the rest of my life.
I’m 15 and my eczemas everywhere I can’t cope with it nomore , sometimes I just feel like dying and sometimes I feel ok. It’s changed me so much I’m usually cheerful and happy but now I’m just stressed and anti social around my friends I like being alone more but I’m trying some herbal Chinese remedies and hopefully it’ll work but for now I’m just in tears as usual.
Hi Chelsea, I tried a Chinese herbal remedy in capsules which I got from Canada. It did work but it took months and the biggest thing I found was that I also cut out wheat, dairy, sugar, yeast and alcohol.
Might try that too & how many months did it take for your skin to clear up?
It was horrible as it did take and while and felt almost like it was getting worse at times. It was probably about 3-4 months and then suddenly I woke up not feeling tight, like my skin was cracking open and peeling in great sheets. I didn’t need the oil bath each morning and it just got better and better. I now still avoid dairy (I get anaphylaxis to that now) and wheat (intolerance) but do have sugar and yeast in small amounts. It worked for me but was really hard work. You have to be really strict about the cutting out to see if it makes a difference. Can you speak to your doctor and ask to be referred to a dietician so you can get some help on what to eat instead of the wheat and dairy?
I’ve been an ezcema sufferer for 10 years, I’m 25 now. Countless steroid creams and it gave me dermatitis cos it thinned my skin. Seen a dermatologist, natropath, tried natural and unnatural treatments and only helps much. Like yourself I get it on my five, near the cheeks and around eyes, can look like a million bees stung my eyes and puffed it all up. For the last 8 months its been great, not a single flare up, Til this morning, but it’s also the day before I leave for a 5 week holiday to Europe. Stress, excitement, weather and dust all played a role in bringing this enemy back!!
Great post. I used to get chronic, painful and extremely itchy eczema, I also have allergies and had mild asthma as a child. There is definitely a connection between these conditions. Using trial and error over the years I have found that I have triggering foods that can really exacerbate the eczema. Dairy is the main one, followed by refined wheat and sugar. My skin completely clears up without these foods. I cannot urge strongly enough how important it is to work out which foods might be causing you trouble, it can improve the quality of your life dramatically.
FYI baby oil is an exfolliant… Better would be sweet almond oil, or avocado oil…
thanks for that ruth ill see if my mum will ask the docter for that. do you use elecon its a very strong cream and it clears up my eczema right away you should try it and I have diprobase I ust to use it but now don’t. my eczema is flaring up again now it is summer wich is bad cause I love getting wet but I don’t when my eczemas bad cause I dry out clothes stick to me and I cant sleep at all its hot and we only have 1 fan for 5 people waaaaaaa, what about you . (your soo helpful thanks)
Omg yes I’m using that right now it’s totally amazing my arms are back to normal however once you stop using there’s a chance it’ll come back but I’m hoping it won’t *prays*
Omg yes I’m using that right now it’s totally amazing my arms are back to normal however once you stop using there’s a chance it’ll come back but I’m hoping it won’t *prays*!
Really coool. I need to buy some more. Can u sleep at night cause its so hot i cant i have o take sleeping tablets. But ts gettibg colder where i live wich is good. What about you
Please, everyone who suffers with eczema, and has used topical steroids look up this website:
itsan.org
If you see yourself with these symptoms you could be suffering from RRS (Red Skin Syndrome) or topical steroid addiction. I never thought it could happen to me. Six long years of suffering, and the only thing that could control my eczema flares was cortisone. This website will give you the support you need to start the withdrawal process, which can be a long and painful road to recovery, but the most important thing is there is hope and healing in your future!
God bless you all!
So I guess I have always had a form of perioral dermatitis as I have always had little bumps around my nose, spotty eczema on my hands, and dry patches. I found that it has improved by going completely GLUTEN FREE. it is starting to flare up around my eyes. I think the next step is that I need to eliminate chocolate!!
For the flare ups, I put on some Organic EV COCONUT OIL!! Super moisturizing, and soaks in well! PLUS eat 3 tbsp./day for internal immune support!
Elimination diet would be the course to take, and kick all of the chemical creams and such to the curb!! Too bad Dr.’s are not leaning towards DIET first before prescribing MORE meds! What you eat has SOO much to do with how your body is reacting!! More greens, water and LESS if not going completely FREE of sugar/wheat/gluten/caffeine. These have worked for me, and yes I can say I am going to have a funeral for my chocolate, as I am partially addicted, BUT if that means I won’t have this horrible dry, itchy, oozy junk around my eyes & mouth, then BYE BYE chocolate!
hi im asking for advice here..my boyfriend has severe eczema and very very often has flare ups..as far as i know his using the same ointments and cream for the past two years..its time for change..any advice on helping with these sever flare ups? and i thought oils were bad for eczema or so we all believe. please please help. monique
Hi Monique, I find tea tree in bath water helps. I have also found salt baths really helpful. I use epaderm and diprobase on my skin to moisturise but have also used pure coconut oil on really dry areas. If it’s a severe flare up he may need to visit his doctor for some topical steroid ointments. Ointments are generaly better as they contain less preservatives and are purer but this may not always be the case. I also use a dab of tea tree oil if it looks infected and also 99% aloe vera gel to help heal bad bits. The key is moisturise, moisturise and moisturise.
And for me, food can trigger really bad eczema. Has he ever kept a food and symptoms diary and recorded what he eats? For me it’s dairy, tomato and celery which trigger eczema. It’s worth thinking about if he hasn’t done so before. But it can just be stress. So hard to work out. Good luck and hope he can find some relief.
I’m almost 24 years old, live in the UK and was born with eczema from head to toe. Right now it’s localised to only my hands (back and front) and behind the knees. Still takes over my life. Washing the hands is such a burden, it flares up every night like raw flesh, with an unbearable itch that makes you want to hack your own limbs off for some relief. I’m sure you all know the feeling.
Anyway, after years of using Elecon and every other steroid cream in the book, which only work for a week till it comes back, i am now trying Homoepathic treatment. I’ve been specifically prescribed a very diluted concoction of Sulphur in ethanol, which i have to dilute even further and drink every day, and is supposed to ‘bring out’ the eczema. I’ve also been told to take daily lukewarm baths in E45 oil to keep it clean helping stave of infection, and only use Unguentum M Cream (love the stuff).
I was a little skeptical at first at how a bit of Sulphur is going to CURE my eczema for good- his words. But it’s with a strict diet of no dairy, berries, tap water (only mineral), sugar, sea food, meat, poultry, toothpaste, makeup(struggling with this!) and many more restrictions. It isn’t easy. This medicine and diet is supposed to bring out all of the eczema that’s been suppressed by steroids for 23 years, and can take up to 4 years to have it all out and gone. ‘Cure time’ dependent on a number of individual factors. My eczema is certainly saying hello right now, i just hope within 4 years it says goodbye!
Maybe i’ll post up my progress on this treatment if this page is still here, i’m staying hopeful. You should too š
Thank you for this platform to share feelings with those who actually understand!
Hi,
I was recently diagnosed with atopic dermitisis and while browsing happen to come to this site… I’ve read stories about people who stopped having dairy and added goat milk in their deit to have found significant relief from eczema… also found great reviews about goat milk soap which is available on many online sites… please do try them and i hope you find lasting relief from your conditions… Thnx
Hi Nithya, Thanks for the comment. I’m glad you found some relief by avoiding cow’s milk and using goat milk. Good luck and hope the flare ups don’t come back.
My name is Luke Deane and I’m a 23 year old composer from England and I have managed to manage my eczema (and my anaphylaxis but that’s another story). I have written about acupuncture first, then films and tea and life second. My mum is responsible for helping me through all of these things, so I will mention her here at the beginning, with the view that it’s thanks to her that all of this happened. Everyone has their own fascinating stories about this, and I was very moved reading the honesty of Ruth’s. So here is mine:
At one of my all-time-despairing-low moments (when i was sitting outside after dark for the chilling wind on my eczema covered face) I decided to have acupuncture, not knowing what else to do. It took around 6 months, but amazingly my eczema went, and my whole life changed.
I had an acupuncture doctor called Dr Wen. I was very surprised to find that I fell asleep every session, whilst covered in needles. It was actually very deeply relaxing, as every muscle in my body needed to relax totally. My doctor taught me a very basic qi-gung walk that you can do before bed, to help calm the mind and body. Thinking about it, I was a very highly strung person all my life until I met that doctor. I can’t say what the needles did, but he taught me to be methodical in life, less scatty. Every week when I came to him, he looked me up and down and said “You think too much”. Every night I did the qi gung walk, in a circle, with my arms slightly lifted, slowly and smoothly. At first my mind was a whir with thoughts, but eventually, I learnt to listen to my feet moving against the floor, and my gentle breathing, and I found a kind of methodical calm.
My eczema really started to diminish when I exposed myself more to the elements. I live in the UK but seem to thrive in other climates. Perhaps it was just more stable weather but I found that my skin liked dry places like Turkey. I stayed in England to study in Birmingham and I stopped treating my eczema with anything other than vaseline. Rather than ‘rubbing’ in cream, I just placed in gently onto my skin and let it sink in. I learnt important things: creams and ointments mask the pores and cause heat, so only put on a little and don’t rub, just place it on. I put a tiny tiny bit over my eczema before i went in the shower/bath too, and discovered that I could make my eczema waterproof with vaseline so it wouldn’t be dry afterwards.
I never went to a Steiner school, but I do know that Steiner wrote about eczema. He recommended that parents ‘pat’ their children dry instead of rubbing after a shower. This is golden advise.
So I tried not to treat it really. There was a time in my life when I wore cotton gloves to bed every night and even tied up my hands so I couldn’t itch. But honestly what it came down to was 1000 times more psychological than I could ever have imagined. My recovery was so much to do with a kind of relaxed living. I suppose it is a lot like Zen, although I never really studied that. Perhaps watch the film “The Big Lebowski” if you have time, and try to live more like The Dude in that film.
I still have eczema, and I am typing this during a flare up which is stopping me sleeping a little, but I am not worried about it really. It’s so much more relieving for me to just accept it all, if I can. It’s not always that easy I know, but I am quite good at it now.
As for my diet, I tried many many things, but eventually discovered that if I didn’t have milk+cereal in the morning, and didn’t buy breadish things, then I was largely fine. I eat lots of Bolognese and tuna with vegetables and rice. I don’t eat enough fruit, but writing this I think I will try and improve that. I don’t really drink (alcohol) either, because my skin gets hot, but mostly that’s to save money.
Also, I am very allergic to cigarette smoke, in every way. My skin, my lungs, all of it. I am quite an amiable person these days, so I just gently disappear if people light up around me, but I think I can predict an age where smokers are more conscious of their impact on others. Now that there are e-cigarettes, it seems that smoking is not quite as cool as it used to be. Perhaps I am wrong, but it hurts my body so much to be around my own friends, that I will hope for that.
So my advise would be, give yourself a break. Go on long walks for no reason. Drink different teas and enjoy their subtle flavours. Take up something creative that you can do to take your mind of things. Could be anything, pottery, fine dining, crosswords, hoolahooping, backgammon, playing the oboe, anything at all. Don’t worry about achievements. You are a great person and you can do the things you’re best at in your own sweet time.
Oh and one more thing: cut your nails!
Luke, thank you so much for sharing your story. I think you are right about the effect of stress and mental health on eczema. And I love ‘go for long walks for no reason’. That is where I am failing just a little. I need to get up an hour earlier and do yoga and fit in walks if I can every other day. I love walking but don’t make the time to do it. Exercise helps both my skin and my asthma so what’s not to like? Our busy lives just get in the day don’t they?
The best advice I have probably ever read! And I’ve read lots on eczema. I’m a very up tight person and find it difficult to express myself when upset or stressed so end up scratching. The acupuncture is something I will have to look into.
I can’t believe reading this how it is exactly the same as I feel. My work don’t understand the pain I’m in and I get told off for being slow doing certain things. My clothes stick to me when my skin is at its worst. I have bad flare ups at least once a month especially around my time of the month. I’m currently sat here cursing myself for not having bath oil. I have steroid cream but it stings without having a moisturising bath first š I’m even thinking about putting vegetable oil in there haha
Sorry to hear you are having a flare-up Nikki. Eczema can be truly awful and I wish people did understand the sheer effort to get up, which hurts, to wash – which also hurts. To move and be and work – which hurts. Oil bath tonight please? I have some epsom salts which I find really help. Have you tried that? I put a bit of teatree oil in the bath too. Olive oil might be best oil, or coconut oil. Hope yours gets better and get to your doctor if it doesn’t.
The oil worked so well, it frees my skin enough for me to bare putting cream on it (the only cream that works stings). It seems to be getting better but as the eczema was all very open wounds it’s very sore while it’s healing. I’ve been coping with eczema my whole life and yesterday I finally had the confidence to pass an interview for a new job with flying colours! I want to thank you for that, you’re advice and knowing I’m not on my own has helped me tonnes. My doctor is a dermatologist and is pretty useless, so were the hospital.
Oh my god it is like you have been spying on me and retold my life. It makes me less alone that others are going through the same as me. Currently going through a roller coaster flare up and have become obsessed with google-ing eczema. My partner is my rock and been so supportive I still don’t know how he fancies me though when I’m red bumpy and flake off gross amounts of skin. I feel exactly the same I think eczema is so disgusting! And I get self conscious if people think I’m gross flakey girl. But you can so easily forgot that people don’t care that much and are more understanding than you think.
I’ve noticed I scratch a lot even when I’m not itchy and it has become force of habit. Or if I’m irritated by something my coping mechanism is to scratch. I wish I could have hypno therapy or something as this would help my skin sooo much !
Hi Gina, I have been spying on you… mwah ha ha ha ha. Only joking honest. It was really hard to write that actually and it upsets me just to read it. I’ve had a flare up too so maybe it’s that time of year? Your husband can cleary see through your eczema to the real you, and it never ever looks as bad as we think it does. Last week I had a red eczema face and went out. Immediately I arrived at meeting there was a comment about “Had I run there because my face was so red?” I just kind of ignored the comment and sat down and said something lame like, “I’ve been walking fast and it’s cold out there…” but it was just eczema. I often have it and the guy looked awkward and probably knew it was insensitive. Then the next night I plastered on the cover up to dull the redness. It was sore but I didn’t want to miss out on my writing group. Now I knew it looked like I had way too much makeup on but it didn’t look red anymore just way too made up but you know what? Sometimes that easier because noone would ever, ever say… “My you’ve caked on the foundation today!” would they? Noone stares because it’s just someone with makeup. I felt less of a leper and a freak but it’s a shame because I wore a mask to hide behind and some days it’s too bad for any makeup to be applied. I’d have rubbed it off or it would irritate me. It was an interesting observation. I’ve never tried any hypnotherapy but you never know. I too scratch when I’m cross, under stress etc. Weird? Good on your partner. He sounds just like my lovely husband who is so kind and gentle and has stuck with me for over 20 years so I can’t be all that bad!
I get it really bad on my face always have done even when my skin is good. I also find it hard to find a good moisturiser for the face as most prescribed stuff is for your body. I have recently got some oilatum face moisturiser from boots and its pretty good going to see if I can get prescribed with dermo next week. If my face gets really sore I use Germolene on it as it has anaesthetic in so numbs the skin. Unfortunately I get so bad dry skin if I cake on the make up it gets up the flakes and shows them up worse (ewww). The best make up I got was the Clinque CC cream really moisterising and makes less red with no flakey bits! I highly recommend to any lady with face eczema. Face eczema is the worse as you can wear long sleeve tops and trousers but nothing on your face, I always joke that im going to become a Muslim so I can wear a burka.
I too sometimes wish I had burka to hind behind. Noone would know at all! Blissful thought. I have use Origins skin concealer and it doesn’t irritate me, but you’re right, if skin is flaky it can look worse. I try to really exfoliate the skin, then moisturise really well before applying – then sometimes I can go out and people don’t see the red skin, even compliment me sometimes and I’m thinking… if only you knew what it looked like underneath. Usually though facial eczema is best left makeup free. But I’m sure this concealer helps to actually bring down the redness. It’s always 10 time better the day after I use it. Must look into that.
ok, cheer people and your self. my little experience i had it and it is gone except one place in the center of my leg but not “weeping” just pumps about the size of 3 inches and which is staid with me for 3 years. all gone for very long time “behind the ear and weeping” in arms etc… all gone except that little place in my leg, and one day i read about the sunshine benefit in the “RIGHT DOSE” i started sitting in early sun at 9 or 10 when it is mild not hot.. for 10 to 15 min almost naked all around , and the last stubborn spot is now disappearing, at last after 3 years of being there. other spot goes and come back except that one it was there all the time, now it is vanishing after 10 days or 12 days of taking 10 min sunlight directly on it, i used not expose my skin to sun fearing it would make it worse, and then i read a good little dose of sun is actually great for vitamin D which help develop special protein produced by the skin etc etc…
i use ole vera , oat , olive oil , sometimes sesame oil and gave up almond which was good but needed to be mixed cause it did not give long moisturizing effect as olive oil or Vaseline yes vasline. (for lasting dehydration yet i believe it does not give any helpful nutrition cause it is from petroleum) so alternate oat , oil, ole vera, or mix sesame and olive oil , another day oat (Quaker type with little warm water in a little bottle shake and get the milk ) the oat fight well new spot if you catch them on time, believe me, but this only work to stop and erase spot when they are just starting . if you apply it on old flare which is already there it wont help a lot just a bit. the best is when it is just starting, a spoon of oat in a little bottle and little water and shake to get the milk and apply it on the new spot, after follow it with ole vera or oil. it will go for sure.
warning to everyone: long use of steroid is bad doctor says it and it make skin thinning, it give immediate effect but “temporary” effect, but flare comes back. careful please correct that in your article, and warn people about that, thanks i hope you get the best.
Note: i read from a German doctor in web page that mixing ole vera and bee glue (not wax) is great after seeing a mother giving it to her son (a patient who was lost case with strong eczema flares) he asked the mom when she came to him 6 months after: how did you manage to cure your son, she said olevera and bee glue (it is kind of glue that bee makes from resin of trees) i cant find it here were i live, but thank God i already have no eczema at all now , every 2 months a new spot comes (cause i get lezy to oil my skin) and right there i apply ole vera alone (fresh i have the plant), and or oat milk , and oil (olive oil) and it is gone, in no time.
please warn people about the effect of steroid (so much of it and skin get very thin and to dangerous consequences) no wonder they dont give it unless with prescription. i used it for 2 months then 3 doctors told me stop it and just deal with oil etc…… hope you will be ok… wish you all the best,
adios bye salam
sorry i wrote it in rush, plus English is not my native lang.
summary:
1-eczema (there are so many type ) a cure may work for one person but not another..
2-definitly in my case oat milk (a spoon of oat flakes and 2 spoon of water and shake it ) and get the milk and apply it on flare is the best (when flare is just starting) then once dry apply olive oil just a bit cause oat although is great make skin dry once it is absorbed.
2- use plant oil not commercial cream i heard that mineral oil which is in the commercial creams is great but tend to block skin porous which is bad especially for people with eczema, so it is better oil from plants, i haven’t tried all the oil out there, but i started with almond oil (which is recommended by doctors all over) it is good but does not give lasting moisturizing effect. for me olive oil is better (extra virgin), many time i mix a bit of sesame oil, olive oil, and almond oil to get benefit from all of them, and some times i added in that mix fresh aloe Vera juice from the plant … that was the best and give long effect. (this last one i have not read it anywhere, my experience but it was great for me) .. i keep all these oils in fridge to maximize there freshness. i use them in food (i buy oil for food) to make sure there is no chemical in it, if you can eat it then for sure it is safe for your skin, the opposite is not true)
— ole vera alone: it is great i used it for 2 or 3 years.. .. it is great but i noticed that after application , say 3 or 4 hours when i wash that part of my skin it become a bit slimy (from ole vera for sure ) meaning it may block the porous, so what i learned is this: apply ole Vera on the effected area after 30 mn or an hour , with a wet napkin or soft towel i clean that part of my skin ,i got better result. maybe because if i left the ole Vera there it blocked the porous of the skin. i know vera dried fast on the skin but i keep it there for an hour just to make sure that the skin had absorbed big part of it, but once i passed a wet towel or with little water on it i see and feel the slimy part of that access of ole vera on my skin still which i believe block the porous of the skin, since i started that method i get even better result. but it has no scientific founding just my experience,
ole vera should be extracted from the plant and applied right away before it is oxidized, 1% of it is the good part the rest is really water 99% but that part is really good for skin i feel it ..
— i notice that it is best to apply oat every other day or 2 or 3 days , same with ole vera , it seems that your body takes it better in the long run i really feel it and can a test for that. if you do it every day the body get used to it. i felt and learned that by experience after having eczema for 3 years.. if i apply it for 4 or 5 times a day it actually seems or feel worse.
or body does not respond, it is good for oat or ole vera to be used every other day or 3 times a weak. not every day.
in the case of olive oil or good cream, it is great every day , twice a day even better.
I like to take 2 showers a day and it is bad.
every other day is good, i exercise in way that i dont sweat .. 10 min at a time. plus my body is used to exercise so even if i run 20 min straight i dont sweat (when body is used to something it become efficient sport people knows that well) again changing sport is better for your body to give it new challenge, that is what i mean about the oat application if you stop and apply again after 2 or 3 days you feel it better on your skin…. the right dosage is an art and science . I hope this well help. best wish
Exercising is really important so I’m glad you are able to do that. I find the fitter I am the better all my skin, eczeme and allergy symptoms are. There must be something in that. Thanks for sharing. I am using coconut oil at the moment but it doesn’t say moistirused for as long as Epaderm and is also much more expensive. Now where are my running shoes?
exactly Ruth5,
I noticed improvement when i do exercises , plus my intution tells me that if sweating comes from skin pours, and that means pours “breath” and not closed which is the reason that somes advice not use miniral based cream cause they tend to close the pours, plants oils are better, like olive, almond, etc.. three doctors told me (and I read that all over the web too) that in particular almond oil, …plus dont you notice that your cutis and skin are cleaner after sauna or after sweating from sport, that mean “pours have gotten rid of what ever that blocked them to breath” sort of.
SUN SUN SUN ihelped me to rid me of eczema. i was afraid to expose the affected area (the leg part fearing it well leave it permanantly dark) but it is not the case, if you are judicious in that. 10 minutes or so in early son (not hot time) , and 20 min (for the other healthy part of your body) for my dosage of vitamin D , have helped me. Plus Sun time when heat is mild early morning has suthing effect and bring peace that envelope your being, while i watch birds eating some of bread crumbs that i smash for them, now they are almost 40 birds: laughing doves, mourning doves, balck cheek bulbul (a bit bigger than a canary) which has great tweet,, ocasional hipoo , and regular pigeons blue and gray stripes, life offer many surprises if it is contemplated by apprciative mind and thankful soul.
all this help reducing the stress (another reason that could flare the eczema) although i do that for pure pleasure , not to reduce eczema.
I hope you get rid of eczema …once and for all, i understand your feeling, it is terrible, by the way i hope you are not using cortisone based medication a lot, it is really bad in the long run. Have a great day and best wishes
I forgot one thing: after sun bathe for 10 or 15 min, i put oil on my skin i heard and read about that to calm the skin, also i almost always oil my skin with olive oil or almond /olive oil after taking showers, they say skin become very vulnerable after the bath especially if it hot bath cause it strips it from its natural oil. luck, if you need me i will be here for awhile not that i am an expert, but trying to help …
PS:hoopoe i meant not hippo the big animal rather the bird
bye
as for cocanut oil have used it 2 times only so i dont know, i made my oil by myself cause i could not find organic or at least unfiltered coconut oil. the regular one smell bad and double filtered. so I extracted the oil and cream from the coconut my self for pleasure one day it smell really great, i ate the cream š could not resist . and applied the oil smelled great but the third day the little cream i left started to smell a bit acid, that is what i know about it. but my guess unfiltered cocnut oil should be better cause it has the nutritional value un changed. plus smell great and unlike my homemade one wont go rancid in 3 daysl
Hi!
My name is Cecilia, I came across your blog online and I just wanted to say I feel so much better from reading it. I too suffer from eczema and I get really frustrated and sad just like how you get. I enjoyed reading this because it made me feel like I wasn’t alone in my suffering from this annoying disease. I was glad to read that some of the bad habits you have with eczema, I do too. ALWAYS. Thanks for posting this and everytime I feel sad or frustrated with my eczema, I’ll always read this blog to remind myself that it will get better and that I do have th power to keep my symptoms at bay. Thanks you. You are so awesome!
Thank you so very much for your lovely comment. This makes writing my blog so much more enjoyable and it also helps me to know I am not the only one! From one secret scratcher to another :o)
Hi. I really used to struggle with eczema and was offered some swiss skin care products to try which actually worked wonders. So much so I am now a consultant for the company now!! it is called Arbonne and I used the baby body was with the skin conditioning oil. if you are interested in hearing about the products then feel free to email me, I am happy to chat to anyone because I defiantly know how you are feeling
rick.p.g@hotmail.com
Wow I read this article with such enthusiasm while at work.. i truly know exactly what your going through, wow your article was amazing, i have the most supportive GF and all I do is moan.. It is starting the be a negative spiral. I wear cloths and all i get is flare ups, etc etc, it comes and goes, i found going to the gym and becoming really healthy worked wonders, but due to my old spirit i stopped going and started indulging and its back, my curse.
I cant even enjoy sex anymore as i feel that gives me flare ups, i am constantly worried about flare ups, e.g. foods, cloths, quit smoking, quite recreational drugs, quit amazing wonders of vallium and still i am cursed with my illness.. I truly feel like ending my life at times, but since i have read this wonderful article i truly feel inspired. If I could send you cream and the biggest box of emollients i truly would.. i know your struggle, my daily intake which i found works is drink as much mineral water as possible. and a multi vitamin, if you can go balls deep, take milk thistle, omega oil, morning primrose, but the reality is taking all these supplements every day is more hinder than help, my suggestion is water, and cloths inside out.. sounds silly but works for me, and most of all take a minute to thank your family and loved ones for loving you and always touching your hands and hugging you when clearly every outsider, e.g. shop assistant thinks you have contagious skin condition when you pay for stuff and your wrist and fingers are all blistered and covered in eczema.. I truly can feel everyones pain, I truly hope everyone who reads this womans bio takes a minute to pray for her, she has given me support and she doesn’t even know me.. i will seriously apologies to the love of my life today for being so difficult and bitter.. she is an angel and i can be such a monster at times.
if you feel you could so with some support i am happy to do so as believe me i have gone through everything this world has to offer, believe me i have seen a lot and experienced a lot but nothing can compare my skin daemons. . I have had a horrendous journey in life at times, but finally getting my life together, its been an up hill struggle and a constant battle, believe me your local GP will do nothing to help and neither will a skin specialist, reading this womans article is all the medicine you need, and perhaps one trip to your GP š Thank you Ruth š
WOW! Just WOW. What an amazing comment. Thank you John. Give your long suffering wife a big hug if she has to go through anything like what my other half has to put up with. Good luck, get back down the gym and sock it to those skin demons! I really need to take my own advice at the moment and get fit – I have let that side of my life slide with stupid excuses but it really helps me too. Good luck and thanks for the truly lovely comment.
Nice to have a reply so quickly, thanks again for your detailed story really made me see the brighter side of living..
You will no doubt be rewarded for your help. I don’t believe in God but I believe in Kama and you helping the thousands who read this article will reward you.
Good things come to those who wait.
Thank you….I am feeling so rubbish right now with my eczema but just reading this has helped me know I’m not alone.
Hi I’m Andy, 25. I was born in Hong Kong but lived in New Zealand for almost 2/3 of my life. Never had any skin trouble till I turn 16-17is while in NZ. I remember I started with two patches of itchy areas on my arms then all of a sudden, during a very cold winter in NZ, ezcema invaded my whole body. The experience was very very very horrible. My entire body was weeping with fluid and had some kind of tinkling and painful sensation. I’m sure you all know what I mean. I was prescribed oral steroid and the dermatologist said I can only take one dose every 3 years and any more will be fatal. I took the dose, it went away for a complete 6 months. Then from that time till now it’s always coming back and going away.
Moisturising doesn’t help, steroid cream does help but once you stop using them ezcema comes back right on the day of withdrawal.
Recently I have moved back to Hong Kong, embarked on a very challenging postgraduate course and my ezcema gets really bad again. I found it worse in winter and in summer so I am sure the temperature has something to do with it. For more than 2 months now I have not been able to sleep at night and would fall asleep only at about 10-11am in the morning and wake up at about 6-7pm in the evening (on a day when I don’t have class). I would not sleep on a day when I have class.
Have just tried taking Chinese medicine I hope it will help…
Hello, I’m Victoria. I’m 20 years old and have been dealing with eczema basically my whole life. When I was a child it was food allergies that caused my eczema and my mom would make sure I didn’t eat things that would make it worse so it was bearable. As I got older however more things would cause it like heat or stress etc. after my mom passed away and I moved out of my house I found it harder to follow the diet I grew up with, and it seemed as though food allergies weren’t really a problem anymore, so what was causing my eczema? Only everything else! I make sure to use fragrant free soaps and such and I try to moisturize every day but eczema is relentless unfortunately. Anyway, I just wanted to comment on this page because it was so ironically funny in the way that it describes exactly how eczema makes you feel; the frustration, the pain, and not to mention the feeling embarrassed and disgusted about it too. No matter how many times someone tells you “oh it doesn’t look so bad” it’s like… yeah… it really does look that bad. Eczema takes a huge toll on self-confidence and it really hinders how I am able to look at myself, but I’m working on that. I stay positive 95% of the time, but then there’s those moments where it just really hurts and you’re at the end of your rope. This post was great because it also made me feel less alone in my struggle, not that I would wish eczema on my worst enemy but it’s nice to remember hey, I’m not alone even though it feels like I am all the time. Actually I would say eczema IS my worst enemy haha, that’s not even funny… Anyway. Yes. This page was a nice find and I’ll try my best to follow all the tips you gave.
Amen to that – it’s a weirdly satisfying feeling to know someone else understands your pain!
I too am normally positive 90% of the time I’m in a happy bubble… But when my eczema is really bad, there is nothing I can do to pick myself up… Except as per the article (a gentle painless hug) and some snuggles watching a movie (knowing my luck covered from head to toe in wet dressings) normally does the trick š
What you are suffering from is topical steroid withdrawal. Please research it and you will see that the previous eczema you had has now become topical steroid withdrawal. Watch videos on YouTube and blogs please guys you can heal!
Hi Parmin, thanks for this. Topical steroids aren’t nice really are they and I have heard of this so I will definitely look into it. Thank you. At the moment, when I get a flare up it’s the only thing that helps so you could be right. Doesn’t sound nice… so my skin is going cold turkey?
If anyone has eczema, it’s me. I’ve had since I was born. Most people have when the are older but the worst thing is that I’m 10. I get tired of the look, sleepless nights, gross feeling and not being able to wear pretty, short-sleeved clothes, but the worst thing is the pain. awful, terrible pain that I am experiencing right this second. And to make things worse, I am a little pretty besides my eczema. I can’t even stretch my arms. MY sister’s say that there are point’s when i go crazy and say weird things, but never remember it. I hope it will go away. Please pray for me.
Sophie
Lately iv been using this small tube of cream call
elocon and its really good and strong also I use
demertroll in the shower well I thinks thats its name its green and has a hook as a lid someone should ask for it its really good xxxxxx
Hi Chloe, I use Elocon too and I find it works the best but I use it sparingly and only when I have a flare-up. But I love the idea of shower gell with a hook. I will definitely be looking out for this. I’m using Sanex in the shower at the moment.
Hi
I have “manageable” eczema which flares up now and then, but on the whole does not cause too much discomfort (compared to some sufferers).
Recently I read an article about oatmeal and its benefits to the skin. Now I know it’s great as a topical remedy, but this article mentioned eating it (in the roughest form possible), and I have not realised the connection before.
2 years ago my eczema was patchy on my legs and never seemed to really disappear, no matter what lotions and potions I used/consumed. Then last year I started running and eating oats with milk or yoghurt (uncooked as I don’t like hot porridge) for breakfast and my eczema all but disappeared (unless I was run down). At the start of this year I have not been running so much (but trying other forms of exercise) and have been eating other cereals instead, and my eczema has flared up.
So… after reading the article I ate oats for breakfast and literally overnight, the red, itchiness disappeared! I have only been monitoring it for a couple of weeks, but I have been making sure I eat oatmeal at least every other day. This week I have been a busy so my skin has flared up a little, but to the same, red, weeping, itchy it was.
Coincidence or not, I will be continuing to eat the oats regularly for general body health.
These tips look like they could really help. I’m 18 and have had eczema all my life but it’s only really began to flare up badly so to hurts now, I’ll try and take your tips on and get back to you with the results š
Good luck! My must have flare-up helpers are pain killers, anti-histamines to try to dull that incessant itch, my ice pack face mask and a quiet room to rest and chill. Tell people you’re struggling and be kind to yourself. Eczema can be so painful. It’s a deep inside never satisfied hurt. Sending you calm, clear pain free smooth skin thoughts. Hope it gets better soon.
Hey guys my skins been good for about a month but its suddenly got bad REALLY BAD
Iv been to docters for allergy test and everything I havnt told my family but iv had enough im feeling suicidle its ruining my life
I walk around school with my hands covering my face and I cant do much sports has I cant move my body cause im so dry and scappy also I chang in yhe bathrooms for pe my friends will probs think im gross because there pretty and perfect iv acually started saving up money for laser treatment again my mum dont know ill probs never get any where with my skin please help me give me suggestion I will just one day have enough I fell sorry for my mum she dont want a ugly child she didnt do anything wrong she’s lovely same for my friends they pretty pals not ugly pals and for my bros and rest of people who know me I cant go on like this I need help quik
Hi Chloe, mine has been awful lately too but it is just beginning to heal now. I have resorted to steroids and eating a very basic diet. Have you thought about foods that might be causing your eczema? Mine is triggered by dairy, tomato and celery. Please check this out if you haven’t already. I know what you’re going through. I have had a few months where I had a few days a week thinking it was healing before it all flared up again. It is so hard to live with, it hurts and it is so visible. Mine is also all over my face and hands. Am thinking of you. Be kind to yourself and DEMAND your doctor refers you to a specialist dermatologist or allergy specialist. I don’t know anything about laser treatment or whether that would help. PS. Your friends will not think you are gross. Most of my friends say they don’t think my skin is so bad, even then I’m really feeling down about it. If they are real friends they will see through the red skin to the person hiding underneath. And please don’t think that you are ugly. The eczema is a mean ugly disease but you are not ugly. Speak to your mum and tell her down you feel. I am pretty sure she will give a cuddle and help you find some help so you can get on with your life. Good luck!
Hi and thank you for your fabulous blog. You sit here sometimes and think you’re the only one feeling so rubbish. I had eczema as a child and then it changed to hayfever which lasted until I went through the change 10 years ago and the eczema decided to come back. I now have asthma too so like many other sufferers, these conditions often go hand in hand. I had skin patch testing carried out early last year and was amazed at how my allergies had changed since childhood. As I am a potter and ceramicist, it was with great relief I was told that none of the products I work with were causing the eczema but I had developed a rubber allergy and now have to wear special gloves.
It’s all these hormones I am very sure, and as we grow and our bodies change so do our allergies. I even found that drying my clothes in the glorious sunshine on the line would cause my eczema to flare up as pollen had lovingly fluttered down and landed on my towels and so after a lovely hot shower I was then rubbing all these allergens into my skin. My hands are my biggest problem this week with a complete covering of eczema and I have no idea why. It’s on either side of my neck and my usual large patch on either side of my shoulders. Eczema likes to come in twos have you noticed? Too scared to go it alone!!!!!! If you have a flare up on one side of your back it will oblige by flaring up on the opposite side of the back and so on! To the best of my knowledge I haven’t used anything different or been in contact with anything so just wondering if I’ve eaten something and as there was a bit of irritable eczema on my fingers, it just took hold. I am afraid I am the hot tap woman who stands with her hands under hot water and for a few seconds that euphoric feeling just takes everything else away. I then spend at least 3 minutes under freezing water and then apply the “creams”. The people who constantly say to you “don’t scratch” need a good thump as they have almost certainly never experienced the raging itch which feels like millions of tiny insects crawling all over your skin. When you try to describe it to them, they look at you in total disbelief and you almost wish for a moment that they would fall prey to your own condition. No, I would never wish this on anyone. It has enough victims! š
Keep calm all you fellow eczema, asthma, allergy sufferers and remember, you’re not alone and thanks so much Ruth for your blog.
Best wishes
Thank you so much Jenny for your fabulous comment and I’m very glad to hear you haven’t got any allergies to the raw products you work with. That would be a nightmare. My hands are terrible at the moment. I am standing watching the farmer spray his crops and wonder whether these chemicals have any part to play? and the golf course behind my house often liberally sprays its fairways. Who knows what causes it. Sometimes it flares up for no reason whatsoever and mine too is symetrical. Very interesting. Last night my husbad was telling to stop scratching and holding my hands down. It makes my so hysterical with the unitched itch I could actually swing for him sometimes. I fight free and tear my skin worse than I would have if left to my own devices. I too find hot water helps. Though specialist will say this is the worst thing to do. I also love a burst of really cold water at the end of my shower. If I stay in too long I start scratching and get very itchy in the shower. Short showers and a cold shock helps a lot. Good luck! I’ve just ordered some coconut oil and Pure Potions ointment from Amazon and can’t wait. These both really help my skin, but are too expensive to use all the of the time. I am an Epaderm girl though I loathe that oiled up slick dirty feeling o my skin. Urgh!
Thanks Ruth. During my patch testing I took all my usual hypoallergenic products with me and not one was any good. I had allergies to them all. I now use Manuka honey body cream, rescue cream and hand and foot cream and these have all tested negative and are really good. They rehydrate and keep you going without that wretched oily feeling. I get it from Holland and Barrett and use the manuka honey shampoo and body wash as well. Not sure if anyone else had given them a try. The consultant told me to steer clear of hypoallergenic products and to check closely for fragrance I and II and parfum! I can no longer have massages with essential oils but am OK with a base oil only. My husband just “suggested” I stop touching my hands. He was up the ladder and it was very tempting!!! š
I actually burst Into tears reading this (shortly after Ingesting a prednisolone tablet to calm the firey demon that’s erupted across my body)
Having had chronic eczema since I was 7 (now 23) I can thoroughly appreciate every element of this blog post & i think I actually cried because I was so empathetic to read that someone feels exactly the same way….
As I said – though this made me cry, I actually feel better having read it *breaks into song – you are not alone – Michael Jackson*
Thanks š
Hey Julz, sorry I made you cry but glad you are feeling better now. Hope you get over your flare up soon. It’s not easy for anyone who doesn’t have eczema to understand how all consuming and exhausting and completely overwhelming the pain, itch, desperation feels. Hang on in there. You are certainly not alone.!
Hi Everyone,
I found some good info on eczema treatment at http://www.eczema-natural-healing.com/index.html. Wanted to share it here so that it may help someone change their lives forever.. š all the very best !!
Thank you so much for this, as I’m currently struggling with eczema and feeling really depressed about it, especially considering all the horror stories you see online! Finding your practical tips and also recognition of the effect this can have on mental health made me feel more reassured.
I use purebodyscent facial moisturizers which are absolutely awesome, affordable, oil-free, all natural and long-lasting. They don’t contain ANY toxic ingredients at all. The best part is this… I have the most sensitive skin ever, like I cannot use anything without breaking out. I tried purebodyscent for the first time and never broke out. The moisturizer seems oily but it is completely oil free. I applied some in the morning and that evening at 11pm, I swear this stuff was still on my face as if I just applied it. The products are amazing … no hydrogenated oils either BTW ~ oh yeah and they have natural deodorants that smell awesome and work extremely well. I know several people with eczema and rosecea and they swear by this product.
Hello it was really good for me to read your post. Im 19 years old and ive had eczema all my life. At this age, i thought i would have had my skin under control and cleared up. Actually, it seems that my eczema is far more worse now than it was a few years ago. Reading what you had to say gave me one of those “omg yes! I can absolutely relate” type of moments i didnt even know existed with other people. I can try to explain to my mom what it’s like to wake up scratching my skin off or how i dont even know if the medicine is really working or it’s the placebo effect and how my prescriptions always run out at the worst of it but i dont think other people really understand. I really hate short nails but lately ive been having to cut my nails completely off. Sometimes i find myself scratching just out if habit, or when im irritated or anxious. Now that i’m finished my freshman year of college i am back home and there is a lot of things im allergic to and shouldnt be around that i am dealing with like dust, grass, trees, plants, pets and my arms are so sore and bruised. It is so hard to keep getting refills on my prescriptions (which seem to be coming in smaller tubes now) so i started using over the counter products. With taking zyrtec everyday, i am also using cortizone 10 cream to replace my topical steroids and eucerine lotion as a calming cream and everyday moisturizer. Hopefull our battle against this horrid skin will soon be achieved.
Please, please, please, all you eczema sufferers, look up: ITSAN.org
Have any of you considered topical steroid addiction? This website will help you discover if your eczema is actually rebound from the steroid cream. I thought I’d be trapped for life on the cortisone cream. Please see if you fit the description. It’s an amazing website with lots of support to help you end the eczema cycle once and for all. Not easy, but there is freedom from this horrible skin affliction (Red Skin Syndrome). Every cream would burn and sting and cause more itching, only to leave you using more potent creams – those then stop working so you need prednisone and steroid shots. Doctors no little about this and just keep prescribing the creams. If you put the cream on, only needing to reapply because your skin starts flaring and won’t settle without it, it’s probably rebound. It’s a tough withdrawal, but you will heal. Please check it out!!!!!
Ruth, I read your article in an attempt of healing my feeling on my eczema. Same like uoyou, my eczema spread to my face. I’ve been going to dermatologists, 7 doctors until today. To make things worse for me, in Jakarta, Indonesia, it’s easier to find dermatologists specialized in anti aging/botox/rejuvenation etc etc than find the REAL dermatologist who will help us fight eczema thoroughly. Not that I against dermatologists who specialized imn aesthetics but I need real help here!!! To makr things worse for me, I am an academicianl and fulltime Ph.D students who have to meet a tons and tons of students and fellow colleagues . Have tried steroids, emollient which very rare in Indonesia and quite pricey. Help me give me some tips, so I can face people.
HI there Desideriaa, Thanks for the comment. At the moment my eczema is awful too. it is touch coping with it. Really hard. Finding a good specialist if you can will help you. Have you tried coconut oil? It might also be pricey but is a great emollient. I also use aloe vera and tea tree oil neat on really nasty infected patches but I do have to resort to streroids sometimes. For me it’s all the little things like drinking enough water, getting enough sleep, avoiding too much stress, not getting too hot, wearing natural clothing, staying well hydrated, eating a healthy diet, lots of oil fish, leafy greens, vitamin D, E, zinc, calcium. Learning to avoid habitual scratching. Finding out what triggers your eczema, is it an allergy? food or contact dermatitus? It’s so hard because it’s so different for everyone. I have found Origins cover up can cover up patches if I want to go out and pretend my face is not red but it doesn’t always work. If the skin is too sore i can’t use it. I don’t know how to help really. Is there a local support group for people with eczema? Can you join a society for people with eczema? Good luck. Thinking of you and scratching my leg at the same time.
Like most, I have suffered with eczema since birth, I am now 35. I am typing on this keyboard in a lot of pain barely able to move because all my skin is painful and stiff and moving makes the pain almost unbearable. Sometimes when I get up to do something i wince because of how bad it gets. With the heat creeping in at night as we head for the summer I find trying to stay cool really hard. At present covered head to foot in scabs, blood and fleshy bits where the scabs have come off. I have tried numerous amounts of things the doctor hands me from steroid creams to bath emolients and find that nothing works, to me I think this is related to my stress amongst other things, as when I get worried and nervous about things going on my eczema flares up. For some apparent reason I just can’t get grips on it like I once was able to.
Thanks for posting up all of this, it’s literally exactly how I feel! – I’ve had eczema since I was a baby and it disrupts pretty much every part of my life! I still am yet to find the trigger of mine. It’s unbelievable how much of an effect it can have – I’m 20 years old and I’m too scared to show off my arms or legs when wearing dresses or going out because I feel so self conscious. It doesn’t help either when someone turns around and disgustingly asks you if it’s contagious (yes, this has happened to me)! It annoys me how a lot of people play it down. The worst part about it I find is that it feels so much worse than it looks! Its so hard to explain to someone the feeling of eczema – they don’t have it so how on earth could they understand. It’s like you can never turn it off. I know it’s not life threatening, but it can be seriously damaging to your confidence. I feel like doctors don’t take it seriously either (or know what they’re talking about!)- I go to my GP religiously and the amount of times they simply flick through a book of medicines picking creams at random for my eczema is a joke. There have been so many times where they have prescribed me the wrong thing! It’s an absolute joke! I have now got to the point where I have abandoned advice from the GP and look online – you get such better advice from people like you, people who actually have it and are finding new ways to tackle it. Thanks again for putting up this page š
Thank you for taking the time to comment. It can be lonely trying to live through the pain and mask of eczema. I would suggest you speak to your doctor and ask for a referral to a specialist Dermatologist. They might not help you but it doesn’t sound like you’ve seen one yet from your comment. I really think there must be more we can all do to make living with eczema easier. It is not taken seriously at all but it’s horrible to live with. Keep smiling.
I am now free of eczema. Nothing worked – no creams, dietā¦nothing (and I spent a fortune on creams and pills that promised to cure my eczema!). The eczema just kept spreading, and everything I used just burned. The only thing that settled my skin was cortisone, but soon I needed more potent creams. Most doctors have never seen true eczema – they are seeing steroid induced eczema. I use to read about it and ignore it, thinking it couldn’t be me because I was an atopic allergy sufferer. You have to stop the creams cold turkey. PLEASE READ THE INFO ON THIS SITE:
ITSAN.org
It has changed my life. After 1 year in withdrawal my skin is 90% healed, but still have a little way to go. You can end a lifetime of misery and pain. Topical steroids mess with you internally tooā¦your adrenals glands. I read these posts and feel determined to help get the word out. Your doctor is not helping you, only prescribing more potent creams. The longer you stay on them the worse the withdrawal. It’s an extremely painful withdrawal, but being on the creams was horrible too. Steroid creams cause addiction (they are heroin for the skin!), leading to something called Red Skin Syndrome. Check out ITSAN and see if you fit the description. Do you put the cortisone on, feel OK for a few hours/days, only to have to reapply again, and again, and again? That’s addiction.
ITSAN.org saved my life!!!!
Here’s the doctor talking about cortisone addiction:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JNVj6eAHDs
Just watched the video, very encouraging. Hopefully some people will see this and find that stopping the steroid use cures them. However I hardly use any steroids and almost never on my face. For a start it doesn’t apear to help. Would taking asthma steroids cause this? How the hell do I get off those? I have to take a preventative inhaler every day.
Hi all,
I’ve been following this post for about 7 months now and wanted to share somethings that I found out during this time.
What worked for me was to relax, take some time off for yourself to do yoga/ stretching or meditation on a regular basis, watch your food.. I stopped using microwave for cooking/heating food, stopped taking coffee and eggplant for a very long time, switched to goat milk, reduced cheese and dairy intake, drink butter milk instead of yogurt, try to eat more veggies and fruits, avoid processed food and try to eat freshly cooked food, drink lots of water through out the day.. some useful information can be found at
http://www.eczema-natural-healing.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/organicsusainc
I hope somebody can benefit out of these. I’ll post more as I found out more.
Hi Ruth, You can’t always stop the inhaled steroids. I have never had to use them dailyā¦only if around cats, mould or a lot of dust. Now I have asthma ongoing. Might have been triggered by the adrenal suppression I experience due to the cortisone cream. Not much choice if you have to breathe! There is another Japanese doctor who believes cortisone addiction is realā¦he says that inhaled steroids for asthma shouldn’t affect the skin or withdrawal. Have you tried any elimination diets? My friend’s son had chronic asthma and was on inhalers constantly. She took him off dairy and hardly has to use it now. Also, have your hormones checked. My doctor started me on oral natural progesterone and my skin has calmed down. I’m still in cortisone withdrawal so not perfect but slowly healing. If you use cortisone consistently, even if it isn’t everyday but have to keep applying it you could be addicted. I only used it once a week but still got addicted. Couldn’t get past the one week mark without it.
TOTOROā¦I hope you see this post! You are likely addicted to the steroids. When you went off them you were flaring and what you have is Red Skin Syndrome. When you say it got so bad you went back on them. That is what you have to go through. It is hellish but you have to stay the course. It’s a very painful process – topical steroids are known as “heroin for the skin”. You went back on them because you didn’t know what you were experiencing and got scared and couldn’t go on. I understand that, but once you are armed with the information about addiction and withdrawal you’ll then known that it’s part of the process. When you use the creams again you make the withdrawal worse the next time. Oral steroids also make the withdrawal more difficult. PLEASE GO TO:
Itsan.org
You must get off the steroids in order for your skin to heal. It could take a few years but there is light at the end of the tunnel. I’m at 15 months off steroids and I still struggle but not like before. The cortisone was ruining my life but the doctors will just tell you that you have terrible eczema and will give you a stronger cream – all of this makes withdrawal harder. Many have healed. Cortisone destroys the skin barrier and damages the blood vessels. I hope you see this post! All the best!!
Thanks Fraser – I am not using much steroid cream at all now, trying to weanb myself off but the ashma meds, now I’d love to kick those into touch. I’ll check out the links you suggest and yes done all the elimination diets. Think I’ve pretty much nailed my trigger foods – of which there are many. I am now using protopic which is an immune suppresant. Slowly reducing dosse of that all seems well. Thanks for the comment.
This is a perfect description! I have had eczema since I was 6 months old (I am now 26 years old). I am sat here in tears, in so much pain, difficult to type, waiting for a doctor to call me (they said I had to wait until next Thursday for an appointment until I kept pushing for something today, no way I can cope like this for a week). I’ve had so many bad flare ups lately, it has interrupted my life and I am depressed now. Most people don’t realise just how bad it is to live with. I am having to stay with family as it is too difficult for me to do regular things like cleaning as it is too sore and just makes it worse. I feel like a burden to my family and I just want it to end or at least improve to a point where I can go back home and manage it, do regular things etc. I have tried literally everything from diet change to finding out what I’m allergic to (patch testing was a great help as I didn’t realise just how much I was allergic to and that I thought I was doing good by using all natural cleaning and shower products but actually I am severely allergic to limonene which is natural and in pretty much all of those products. It is very difficult to find things without it in and they are usually more expensive too. I finally found an all purpose cleaner then the shop stopped selling it! I now have to order most things online, costing me much more and making it more difficult if I run out as I can’t just pop to the shop for it) and cutting it out (very difficult), avoiding animals which is also hard as I’m a big animal lover! I’ve tried so many different treatments, natural to prescribed. I’ve been hospitalised and covered in wet bandages, cut out dairy for a few years (I am very healthy, don’t eat much junk food and mostly drink water and tea). I am very careful with trying not to scratch, keeping moisturised and hydrated (but still my skin is dry and covered in cracks). And even after everything, it is now at it’s worst. I am fed up, what else am I supposed to do?! I’ve been to the doctors 3 times this week and they just keep giving me stronger steroids as they are not working (I did hear about becoming ‘addicted’ so I even cut these creams out for a few months but it got so bad, I had to use them again). Apparently, nothing else can be done!? I can’t live like this :/ I also have asthma and hayfever. It is just constant allergies of some form or another no matter what I do and people look at you like you’re diseased or something. It is miserable š
Totoro I feel your pain. There is such a think as steroid withdrawal which can be awful, going cold turkey. To to youtube and search. There are also some comments in the comment thread about this subject. Have you tried immune suppressant oitments? I’m trying Protopic now. It’s kind of burning but it says it does that to start. Will share how I get on with it soon. Sounds like your GP is not helping and you deserve better. Can you ask him to refer you to a local dermatologist? YOu don’t mention what country you live in but there may be local support groups or a charity you could join just for some morale support. They may also be able help with finding a specialist doctor who can help you. I know how depressing it can be because I live it too. Mine is not as bad as yours I don’t think, but mine is triggered by certain foods, especially processed food. Nodular prurigo is my current bain but current batch slowly healing. Keep smiling and please don’t feel alone. Ruth
Totoro I feel for you so very much. I am on holiday at the moment down in Somerset and my hands are dreadful. I have managed to keep my back under control and have been doing the steroid withdrawal but like you, my hands were so bad at the beginning of the week that I felt I was going crazy. When mine gets very bad and infected, the doctor prescribes potassium permanganate and I have just managed to get some from the pharmacy here in the village to give my hands a good soaking. It hurts at first but it definitely stops the itching and gets rid of the bacteria causing the problem. Like you I suffer with asthma and hayfever and I have tried everything diet wise from stopping sugar, dairy, wheat and nothing seems to help it. I know when I am stressed the eczema is at it’s worse and I have recently lost a very dear friend and that hasn’t helped. This very hot weather is also a major factor and I feel so irritating to others when we are all in the garden and I have to go inside because the heat is making my hands itch beyond control. They have no idea and no one does if they haven’t experienced it for themselves. My husband is very good and has just passed by the computer and given me a hug as he knows how difficult it is for me to type at the moment. I am also using Manuka honey raw on my hands and it seems to be helping with the bacteria control. It is painful when it first goes on but when you take your gloves off, the stain is black so it must be drawing something out. I am sorry to be one of those who moans about the weather but role on the cooler weather. Sending you all good wishes and hoping that your eczema improves very soon for you. Best wishes, Jenny
I use to have itchy dry skin which was very embarrassing as always scratching my scalp.
I was then introduced to a unique product that uses a special ingredient Sapropel. This natural ingredient has had a lot of success with eczema and psoriasis as well as other dry skin conditions. There are lots of testimonials on the website from clients who have had great results. I recommend that you give them a go.
Hi Jo, so tell me, why does sapropel work so well to heal eczema? I just checked out the website, it looks good. However I get through so much emollient. Would I be able to afford it?
I was so glad I read this. I’m having a nasty flare-up at the moment, and really empathised with you (even down to the manky tube of steroid cream). I know it’ll clear up eventually, but it’s right depressing until it does. I hate eczema. š
I hate eczema too! It’s rotten. I am having a mild flare at the moment so I’m driving my self crazy with too short finger nails which are useless but hopefully doing less damage. Picking up the steroids tomorrow though my problem is nodular prurigo mostly and steroids don’t seem to work so well on this as they do for bog standard eczema. I am cutting out processed foods again too. That is the root cause for me sadly. Makes me healthy but means I slip up when I want some freeform cake etc. Keep smiling ;o)
Great article! I’m able to cover all my eczema so I can see a positive in that (haha a positive in having eczema on my groin – who would have thought!) but I’ve been struggling with it for a couple weeks now and today (fathers day) it was particularly bad! Nothing like catching up with my family and having a niece trying to climb all over you when all I want to do is go home and have a bath with some QV bath oil which seems to give some relief even if staying in for too long or having it too hot makes it worse when I get out…damn it feels good right now (I have made it through the day!) like everyone, I only look for a solution on the internet when my usual actions failed. I’m big into finding my triggers but it’s so difficult to pin point!
Is it the new (but old and run down) apartment I’ve just moved into? The apartments communal washing machine that might not run long enough to get out all the washing powder (for sensitive skin)? Maybe it’s the new shower pressure? The fact I’ve swapped from skim milk to regular? I haven’t exercised in two months due to an injury…I swapped sheets too because this place is freezing…that’s the best problem, warmer sheets make it worse and the cold makes it worse…haha finding a trigger is hard but assuming they all are trigger, that’s what I’m going to do, I’ll change what I can and hope it helps.
Advice to the younger people looking for a solution – hang in there! Many people don’t understand what’s it’s like. like today my sister said “oh, I thought you were sick, you’re just itchy.” (She says after grabbing an antihistamine from the shops for me. Just itchy! Give me sickness any day! Damn, if a cold took away eczema give me the cold!
We understand. jump on and have a whinge like we all have, it’ll make you feel a little better.
I posted on here a while ago and have seen lots of interesting comments and ideas come through. I had a question for everyone out there. Has anyone experienced different success with different water sources and how it impacts your eczema? I ask because I recently went on holiday. My eczema has been good for a few months enough for me to think that maybe it’s only bad in winter (I’m still looking for a pattern!).
Anyway, away I go up north to Queensland, Aus (I’m Sydney based). No issues, lots of different foods (gf is Italian and they eat lots and lots with all kinds of ingredients I wouldn’t usually use). No problems so far, water has large amounts of chlorine so much so that you noticeably taste it, and we’re camping or should I say, Glamping. With this, I’m not showering as I usually do, no baths which I may take if I think anything is coming on and most of my eczema creams and moisturizers are at home. The beach too – can’t work out if that’s good or bad… But no problems.
From there we visit my girlfriends family who live on a farm. Dam water for everything but drinking and showering, you can smell the difference (although gf claims no difference). I start getting itchy at night, start getting uncomfortable after I have a shower and get dress. Around 14 days away out of any runtime I may have had and the last 3 days at a farm destroy whatever barriers I thought I had. Got home today and it’s like the eczema never left.
Anyone noticed water types impact their eczema?
I’ve noticed mine gets worse when I visit the family farm but I can’t work out if it’s their water, the temp, constant air con they have going, change in diet or something else. Frustrating!!!
Hi
I think this last couple of months have been the worst I have known in a very long time. Whether it’s a combination of the temperatures, stress or whatever it is, it has been a really miserable time and at times, like so many other eczema sufferers, it can get just too much. I am really fed up of people who have never experienced eczema to tell me to either stop scratching or stop exaggerating how very uncomfortable this condition is. Still, we soldier on and try and ignore their ignorance! Ok. Getting down to the positive stuff. I have been trying my hardest to keep off the steroid creams for quite a few months now and was doing well until I used someone’s hand wash thinking it was OK for me and a couple of days later, boom! My hands were showing the tell tale signs of an eczema flare up and boy did it go to town. I have really bad allergies to fragrance I and fragrance II and all parfum so have to be so careful. I do read the labels but this said “hypoallergenic, free from parabens and so forth and so forth!!!!!!. Yeah! I tried so hard to keep the flare up under control with soothing creams I use but it became infected and I have had to go back on Fucibet for a couple of weeks as it was so bad. It is now calming down on my hands but other areas have appeared all over my body and having to be treated with the Fucibet. I use Surcare for my washing liquid and surcare washing up liquid always with lined sensitive gloves. Does anyone know of any other wash powder or liquid which is better than the Surcare. I have also found that using Cetomacrogol combined with glycerine and pure olive oil makes for a wonderful soothing cream and there is nothing in there that I am not sure about. Best wishes to you all. I am sure it’s because we are all very sensitive people and sensitive people make for a better world! š
You could try soap nuts and a really natural hemp stain remover? Bit harder work but it works for me. I do use vanish on blood stains – oh yes the blood on the sheets! Try this company: http://www.naturalspasupplies.co.uk/ but I do use nonbio if it’s a particularly dirty wash.
Hi Ruth, thanks for that.I’ll have a look at the soap nuts. It always amazes me when you scratch in the night such a small area seems to bleed like a main artery!!!!! I wonder why that is. š
Thank you for this post ! I think only people with eczema will get how funny it is, especially the part about the manky dried up steroid cream ! Haha !! I have had eczema all my life and am going through a flare up right now on my face and eyes (not good considering I work on a beauty counter ) I have a week off and have not worn make up for a few days now and my eczema is worse !! I can’t stop itching my eyes and my under eyes are all cracked. I just can’t get my head around it! Will definitely be trying some of your tips. I think keeping your fingernails short and filed is probably the most important one ! Anyway thank you for posting this ! X
Hi Marilyn, so glad I could bring some humour into your flare-up. I wonder what could be causing yours? Is it any kind of allergen? Have you been allergy tested? I have to share also that if you have facial eczema you should speak to your doctor about Protopic, it’s just amazing. My facial eczema has now almost gone after using it for a few months. Miracle cure, really. Hope you find some relief. Sometimes it just flares for no reason though and you just have to ride that flare till it goes. Thinking of you š
Ahh maybe I will have to give in and go to the doctors then ! I was thinking it could be a pet allergy as I’ve been at home with my dogs more and they are very fluffy (and cute) ?? Although I’ve had them for over 2 years and they’ve never made my skin worse before, but you know what eczema is like, could be anything ! I have just bought a new cream by dr organics that I read has been a ‘miracle cure’ for many so I’ll see how that goes !
If it is indoor allergies they are often worse in winter when the weather gets worse and you and pet are inside more.. Must write about this and yes very worth getting a referral and tests done. Easier said than done though. Are you near an allergy centre?
Just wanted to say thanks fro the great article. it cheered me up and made me stop wondering what I am doing wrong. I have had my eczema under control for 10 years but recently it has come back and I can’t work out why. This has cheered me up though. Thanks.
Thanks so much for this article. Did make me feel better as sometimes you can feel so alone with this problem – surrounded by people with normal healthy skin who do not have to put up with annoyance of eczema. Today is a bad day for me, red and itchy, particularly my face and neck, wouldn’t mind so much if I could hide it. Anyway enough moaning! I have skin read the ebook, does anyone know who this has been written by i.e any credentials in knowing about eczema? The advice does seem quite sound and plausible. Anyway had any luck following the advice in the ebook?
Hi Elizabeth, I am so sorry to hear your skin is bad. I hope it gets better soon. Have you ever heard or Protopic? Read my blog about how it changed my eczema face – literally it has changed my life! No really it has. Search Protopic at the top and you’ll find it. RE the ebook, do you mean Top 10 eczema secrets? Well I vetted it pretty thoroughly before sharing. The guy who wrote it contacted me to ask if I would share it on my blog and I refused to unless he sent me a free copy to review, which he did and I was impressed. I know a lot about eczema and I thought it was well written, not misleading and had some really useful stuff in it. I will see if I can dig out the emails from the guy who wrote the book as we did have lengthy convo before I agreed to share it. You’ll notice my blog is not stuffed with adverts as I think it detracts from the experience, unless they are really worth having. I think this one is one of the good ones. Hope that helps š
I have found that applying a heavy coating of Noxzema helps a lot. It sort of numbs the skin and takes away the itch. I hope it helps someone else. Eczema is really bad news.
I suffer terribly with mine too -primarily arms and chest, but I used to have the EXACT same problem with it on my face as in your photo – it felt like someone had got the skin at the sides of my face at the ears and was just pulling as hard as they could.
My face flare ups occurred every 3-4 months and only steroid tablets would kick it. The original face flare up was caused by make up, and then seemed to coincide with home stress but now seems to have calmed since moving into my own home.
I’ve tried to link mine to any allergies to no avail – I am a coeliac but have found no link between any sort of food I eat and how my skin is. My dad is almost 60 and he suffers terribly with eczema all over his hands and arms and has done from a baby, so I expect I’ll have mine for always too, but it does make me feel better knowing others feel exactly the same.
I just wish people/the public would stop saying ‘don’t scratch’ – this gets me so angry, they just don’t understand!
Thanks so much for the comment. It makes sharing my experiences on here so worth it if I just help one person not to feel so alone. I look at my friends and family and no one has this problem, it does often feel like it’s just me. So… the scratching. I think it’s good to have a good ol scratch. The torment of always trying not to is just horrendous.
Has anyone had a good look at their diet? I’ve heard that essentially a paleo diet (well, diet is a bad way to put it) but basically cutting out all processed foods, grains and dairy might help. I love dairy so that might be a bit rough for me. Anyone got certain trigger foods?
I have a diagnosed allergy to dairy so that is definitely out but also it’s a particularly bad trigger for my eczema. But you’re right, I get nodular prurigo too and this is definitely exacerbated by eating processed foods. I usually eat very simple but tasty meals cooked from scratch so not quite paleo but no processed nasties. I go by the five and clean ingredients rule. So simple things like plant milks, oat cakes, plain crisps and wine (thank goodness) are allowed. Not too much alcohol though as this does trigger my eczema but you can’t be perfect all the time. There a few brands I trust like Nairns, Frank Foods, ilumi, plamil to name just a few. There are quite a lot who do healthy processed foods which don’t have unnecessary stuff in them. It’s a great point them, anyone with eczema should look at their diet and try cutting out foods they think might cause problems. Celery and tomato give me eczema too… weird?
Does anyone else notice the flare ups seem to come more often and worse when you are under more stress.
Stress has a huge effect on eczema skin, I don’t know why, but you cannot avoid stress. Knowing this can the cause does help though, if you can then moderate and limit stressful situations and learn to cope better or avoid them you are a better man than me. heh heh.
Informative post! I’m 25 years old and just had my first eczema breakout. Have no idea what triggered it and didn’t know what it was til I went to the Dr. By that time it was a scaley red itchy rash out of hell on my inner elbow and forearm that had gotten infected and the infection was in my joint. Taking levaquin and using bactroban but the itching is horrid and seems to get worse at night :/ I’m lotioning and moisturizing but now its cropping up in small patches on my other arm and legs. Hoping this is a one time deal and it goes away but from the sounds of it that isn’t likely š
Hi there!
Just read your article and there’s a lot of quite interesting things I didn’t know about my eczema. Im currently 20 and have had eczema ever since I was roughly 4-5 years so sort of used to feeling like you did (insecure, scared of human touch and so on), but recently Ive noticed its getting worse and worse… Currently Ive got a rash flare up that hasnt gone down in about a month now, even with the use of natural ingredients like aloe vera and antihistamines as well! Im drinking lots of water and Ive even got a humidifer in my bedroom, but it seems to do no good š
Any tips on what to do to make this flare up go away once and for all? Ive considered detoxifying my body since Ive heard thats a large cause to the flare ups.. But dont know what to do other than drink water and green tea.
Also, do the Evening Primrose tablets make a significant difference? And Im also allergic to fragrance and parfum but one of the largest problems im dealing with is the medicine odour on my skin. I shower twice a day but as soon as I apply a moisturiser, or any medicine or even olive oil, it starts smelling and I dont like that.. any sort of perfume that I could use which would make me smell nice and not irritate my skin?
I need to write another blog about how to keep eczema away I think. What do you put on your eczema? Have a look at Pure Potions skin salvation, I love it. I also have Epaderm for my skin and Diprobase for when it’s not so bad. Worth seeing if any foods trigger yours, mine is made awful by dairy products, celery and tomato and I also now get anaphylaxis to dairy so worth seeking medical advice on this one. Any herbal tea will be good, Redbush tea is lovely and nicer than green tea in my opinion. Alcohol may make it worse so if you can have a period off drinking for a bit it might help, not easy with xmas coming up. Can you visit your doctor and ask to be referred to a good nutritionist? They should be able to help you plan an elimination diet, and also what order to reintroduce each food to see what may be causing your problems. It might not be food but it was for me. I’m not sure if Evening primrose helps but if you search on this blog I have a case study of a friend of mine who was cured by taking EPA. Worth trying. As are fish oils, borage oil, eating oily fish, anything to replace those omega fatty acids that us eczema types seem to lack. Do you like the smell of coconut oil? I use that on my skin but it’s expensive, and also shea butter works for me, just as good as epaderm but also not cheap. I put tea tree oil in when a bathe too which helps my skin, which can get infected. Sending big hugs. Not nice at all, but when you mention the medicine odour, there might be something you can use without a fragrance?
Hi Haroon
I have a bad eczema flare up at the moment and in my early 60’s so it has no respect for age!!!! I am not sure what started me off again 10 years ago having had eczema as a child and nothing inbetween, but doctor said it was hormonal and I just kept slapping on the old steroids and occasionally it would settle down but generally it’s been on and off now for the last 10 years. At the moment it is particularly bad on the fronts of my legs and my abdomen and my hands and I read with interest that you shower twice a day. Ooooooo, no, no, no. I know that the nicest thing to do is to step into a warm shower and wash all the horrid bits away after creaming and crusting etc but if you could try not to shower quite so often then the skin won’t lose so much moisture and the cracking and dryness and itching and infections won’t occur so often. I try not to shower everyday and that doesn’t mean that you can’t have a “proper” wash but it is true that the less you shower and bath, the better the skin is and when you do shower, come out of the shower damp and apply the cream all over so that the pores are open and the moisture left on the skin can take the cream into the skin layers. Does all that make sense? Also I am now in my 5th month of having no sterioids and I am determined to keep at it. My body has been craving them and sending me extra bits of eczema to fool me into thinking that the cream will make it all better but I am not going to give in as eventually when the body has rid itself of the toxins of the steroid creams, hopefully the skin will start to repair itself. I have also been told to keep off sugar, chocolate, anything sugary which aids and abets the growth of the eczema problem. I am currently off dairy and wheat and trying to keep off as much sugar as possible and I have to say that on the weeks I am totally clear of sugar, I am generally almost clear of the eczema too. I do wonder if there is something in the water we drink and wash ourselves in that causes some of our problems or additives in certain foods we eat. Diprobase is excellent. I’ve tried lots of recommended brands of emollients and like you have allergies to parfum and fragrances so have to be particularly careful with anything new as manufacturers seem to want to put smelly stuff in just to sell the stuff. It’s a real nuisance. Good look Haroon. Best wishes Jenny
You know what this is exactly what I was looking for to read. I have run out of steroid cream about 2 weeks ago and thought I’d just try and go all natural. Boy was that a bad decision. At the moment I basically have a full body rash from the top of my head down to my ankles. My face has been especially suffering this past week. I’m running low on my special dermatoligists prescribed creams for face, and I’m really remembering how I was before I got them. All in all, I wish I could use Aloe Vera, but for me just reading or thinking of that word makes me cringe. I’m pretty much allergic to anything and everything natural, and not to mention anything scented. The winter is really reminding me why it’s so bad for eczema, but then again so are all the rest of the seasons. I’ve tried and done everything, and not much has really worked. Well I haven’t tried but 1 thing…and that would be something I read in a book, but never really finished it. What it said really is starting to make complete sense to me. The book is called “Eat Right for your Blood Type”. I personally am an A+ blood type and it says that my body can really only digest anything vegetarian or natural food, and some meats. I’m really thinking that just by reading what all our blood types are and what we can eat, and if we follow it, we could be on to something. Believe me, I’m not one to eat healthy, well this past month at least. Before December I was eating a mostly vegetarian diet and saw that my skin was, dare I say “beautiful”. But since I stopped, I’ve really noticed the complete opposite affect. But hey, just a penny for your thoughts, I’m just a 19 kid trying to kick the thing that has been absolutely making me mostly miserable my whole life.
I have heard of the blood groups diet but never tried it. It’s worth a try but I would check with a dietician or nutritionist to make sure you are getting the nutrients and minerals etc. that your body needs. Also, have you tried to find out if any foods trigger your skin reactions? food is a big trigger for me. Good luck!
I itch for you, my dear! I’ve always had some eczema, even as a child but nothing like the flare up I’ve had that’s lasted over a year. My mother used to tell me that when she was a kid, they had to bandage her legs as the eczema was so bad, and I couldn’t fathom that till I got this outbreak! I just moved to the country from the city about 3 years ago and that along with other stressors probably has caused this. I think it’s mainly environmental and food allergies, and probably the curse of the Pharoahs thrown in. At first lavish use of Aveeno (has anyone commented on the COST of eczema! – the ointments, bandages, tapes, creams, sterile pads, supplements, etc), controlled it. But then I ended up with these large patches on my legs, hand, arm, back (the worst), bosom, etc. What I found that finally has helped me with healing the skin is to applly a thin amount of steroid ointment and cover that with a goodly amount of petroleum jelly. Liberal amounts of petroleum jelly. Then I put a sterile pad over that and tape it all down. It’s a fashion statement! And if anyone asks, I burned myself making my latest gourmet meal! Anyway, it seems to be healing the skin, which was in terrible, oozing, cracking, flaking horror before I started. I am finally HOPEFUL!!! The maddening itch is still there, but that can sometimes be controlled by using ice or cold packs to deaden the nerve. Works at home at least but kind of hard to carry around…. Good luck fellow sufferers, and don’t give up! Spring is coming!
Hi Joan, damn those Pharaohs… I do hope you get some healing soon. Have you tried epsom salt baths? I put in a few teaspoons of tea tree oil but careful with that as some people cannot tolerate it. Soak in warm bath for 20 minutes. (I actually find a really hot bath more helpful but this is apparently not the done thing for eczema… I think it kind of scalds the pain and maybe even kills some of the germs which make it get so horrible. Good luck. PS. I am also cutting out processed foods – works wonders for my skin.
I’d say find the things that trigger it , I found that eggs and dairy foods trigger mine so I’ve tries to eliminate them. It is hard but it’s worth it , hopefully I’ll be eczema free soon
Dairy, celery and tomatoes all trigger mine along with other worse reactions. I used to have terrible eczema as a child, which I now know was caused by dairy.
Great article, some really useful stuff in there and I really sympathise as I have very similar symptoms. Thanks so much for sharing.
Everybody is different in their triggers but in case it’s useful, one thing which sets me off without fail are herbal or green teas. These are often promoted by new age marketting as being the answer to every ailment on existence, where as to allergy sufferers they really can be an absolute minefield in terms of ingredients. Green tea in particular surprisingly has a relatively high caffeine content. For me it will without fail cause hives within 24 hours, whereas plain tea often causes slow but noticeable onset itching. Contrary to expectations espresso doesn’t affect me too much, surprisingly often having a lot less caffeine in than regular instant coffee which will set me off. Caffeine or other more subtle ingredients the cause I don’t know, but that’s just speaking from experience.
Other things I’ve found that dramatically improved eczema were cutting out Alcohol, red wine and lager in particular along with any form of chilli or spice. Bread, sugar and eggs also make symptoms worse so try to keep those to a minimum.
Loads of water is good, although definitely noticed a hives reaction to certain brands of bottled still mineral water – whether that is increased metal content or something in the processing I can only speculate.
In the terms of moisturisers, most I’ve found do more harm than good, particularly with facial eczema.
For me no gos are standard E45, Aqueous cream, 50/50 paraffin. They always end up either making the skin itch more or flake worse after use. I’ve given up on ointments completely as they seem to aggravate more than help.
One thing that does seem to work well is E45 Intense recovery lotion (red top) which is hypoallergenic. Occasionally I’ll mix that with a little Elecon cream and spread that very thinly on affected patches or use it generally as a moisturiser. It’s cleared up really dry patches over 2 weeks usage.
Fucibet good in small doses on infected areas.
Antihistamines I try to moderate as conversely although they slow the itch, I’ve found loratadine in particular also noticeablely slows the eczema healing process by around three days or so. Whether that is because it’s interupring the skin’s over-reaction I couldn’t say.
This is just what works for me (35 years of eczema having tried everything on offer), but hopefully helpful to someone.
Long story short (call me a funster), but ideally no booze, no caffeine, no whacky teas, no spice, less sugar, less wheat, lots of water, lots of sleep, minimal steroids. Short warm showers, dermal 600 baths to clear infected spots. Elvitrex/Nizoral shampoo for scalp flares, hypoallergenic moisturiser. A little sun now and then, and saltwater seems beneficial.
I suffered with eczema as a child, it went away and came back about 2 years ago when I lost my older brother in a motorcycle accident, I’m only 18 now, was 16 at the time and stressed beyond belief, I’ve had so many different eczema creams, my skin almost builds up a resistance to them after prolonged use. I have no idea what causes the flare ups but winter is always an issue because of the constant temperature changes. I found that using Nivea Cream helps a LOT, I used to have it just on my inner elbows and I luckily only get dry, red inflamed skin, no cracking or blisters but it spread to my knee, inner thighs, further up and down my arms, my back, front and back of my neck and my face. This Nivea Cream is perfect, I’d suggest using a wide or wetting and dabbing your skin before applying so it spreds easier and it’s not exactly the cheapest but it works, had no irritants in it and does a good job, I also heard extra virgin coconut oil works well, I’ll have to try it out even though I hate coconut!
Hi- Thank you so much for this post! Until I read this, I thought no one had ever experienced what I go through. Everything you posted pertains to me including the wrists, eyelids, etc and the whole deal about sweat during exercise causing too much pain. I found myself in a major flare today, my 1st in over 6 months and I am so depressed. Not even sure when I will be able to get in to see my Derm at Yale.
No you are never alone, it just seems like everyone else you see has normal skin doesn’t it? One of the hardest things to live with as a woman I think. Not that men don’t find it hard too, but women are judged far more on their appearance. Sending you soothing thoughts. Hope it clears soon. Ruth
Very interesting article. Its always comforting to read about others going through similar issues. Im currently going through the worst period of eczema i’ve ever had in my life. For the past 14 months i’ve had a thick, red, uncomfortable rash from my neck down to my feet. It’s extremely itchy and sore and its affecting everything in my day to day routine. Im not able to play with my 2 young boys like i usually would and i’ve had to sleep on the couch for the past year as i don’t want to disrupt my wife’s sleep (we have a 9 month old baby so its disrupted enough as it is). Today is particularly bad as i fell asleep in my thick dressing gown which caused me to sweat a lot and made me scratch. It literally like i’ve been mauled by a tiger on my back and shoulders and the back of my knees are that painful i’m having to walk without bending my legs (actually looks quite funny to passers by).
At least once a month my face, mainly eyelids, will swell up as well. It doesn’t get particularly dry or painful, just swollen and uncomfortable.
In the past year i’ve had about 7 courses of prednisone which gives me about 5 days of relief but the day after i stop the steroids it comes right back. Steroid creams barely do anything anymore and my skin is permanently damaged from all the steroids and might never heal properly again.
Pink salt baths at the end of each day provide some relief combined with doublebase gel or QV intensive moisturizer. These leave my skin feeling quite greasy / sticky tho and really gets to me in work.
Im convinced mine is caused by an allergy / intolerance to something as i’d been eczema free for around 10 years. One morning i just woke up with a small rash on my arm and a slightly puffy eye. Since then its just got worse and worse.
At the moment i’ve been dairy and Gluton free for 4 weeks with no change. I have a decent diet and drink fresh fruit / veg juices every morning with various other health supplements. For all the good these things do it only takes one bad night (like last night) to bring it back to its worst.
Im 30 years old now and should be enjoying my time with the kids but instead i feel like i have a disability. If i wasn’t surrounded by people in work i could quite easily burst out into tears…
Hi Simon, sorry to hear your eczema is getting worse. Have you looked into topical steroid addiction and withdrawal? It doesn’t make for very nice reading but it does give me hope. I’m looking into this too myself and may be trying it. Not an easy ride, but the steroids CAN produce a reaction every time you stop using them that is similar to eczema, but it will never stop as long as we keep using the steroids. It’s a vicious cycle of destruction. Watch out for future blogs on this. I’m not looking forward to it but it could be the answer… Google ITSAN and topical steroid withdrawal and sit down – it can take months or even years to detox from these nasty steroids. I wish I’d never had any now. Makes me very cross. They seemed like a miracle cure, until the stop working and you get a stronger one, and a stronger one. Now we’re all hooked!
Thanks for the reply Ruth, after much research i’m convinced i’m going through TSW right now. Since my last post i’ve stopped all steroids / steroid creams and i’ve pretty much got every symptom associated with TSW. The worst part is the shaking / muscle spasms and the constant too hot / cold feeling. Right now i’m sat in work (the office is bang on room temp 22.5 deg) and i’m shaking uncontrollably. Ive also got deep red skin all over my body and what seems to be swelling in my lower legs. This is definitely one of the worst things i’ve ever been through. Once again thank you for the nudge to the ITSAN site. At least i know now what the issue is.
I’m 30 years old. My eczema started when I was 15 years old as a small rash on my shin. Eventually it grew and the itching gotten worse. Today I have eczema all over my body except for my face. It’s very hard to live with it. It gets very itchy. I hope there will be a cure someday
Eczema sucks doesn’t it. You might like to check out the two ebooks that are available on the site, both can be found in the side menu bar on the right of any page on the website. One is called 10 Eczema secrets your doctor won’t tell you and the other is a guy in America’s story about how he worked out what was causing his. The problem with eczema is that we are all different, so what triggers yours will be totally different to what triggers mine, but eczema can become very sensitive to lots of things like harsh skin care products, soap, fragrances, allergens etc. It’s a life long journey I think. But thank goodness you don’t have any on your face. Hope I am not tempting fate and hope you find something to help soon. There are loads of blogs here about eczema so keep following and subscribe to the newsletter.
Tom,
Check out ITSAN.org
If you’ve been using topical steroids you could be addicted. Would account for the spreading rash – cortisone is a therapy that can leave you with full body eczema. The only way to heal is by discontinuing the topical steroids. I’m 2 1/2 years off steroids and almost 100% healed, but would not have happened if I had not found ITSAN and found out the real reason for my suffering. There is nothing being sold hereā¦no gimmicks, just stopping steroid creams!
I found this information the best ive found in a while. I’ve had eczema for two years and I’m 26 . I think it stemmed from severe stress and never went . Since then I would say I was 95% covered in eczema- this was the case until the only parts of my body not affected ( hands and feet) came up in small blisters – another form of eczema . However the hands and feet seem to be getting better – but the rest of my body not – I’m sick of the Ararax to help me sleep but just knocks me out for the morning – I wake nearly every hour in the night. I scratch constantly at night I’ve tried sleeping wth the windows open . I’ve tried everything and nothing works – nothing triggers my eczema its always just there . Epiderm and steroid creams also tricloderms as well keep the bad flare ups away but I can never but moisture back in the skin and it’s always painfully painfully dry. They are sending me for light therapy but that’s only a possibility . But that’s 3 months away just for the consultation .
I can’t cope
It’s the lack of sleep
I feel like im failing – I’m so so sad and I just don’t know what to do anymore . It’s not living
Alice, I feel sorry for you. Compared to you my eczema is nothing. My only suggestion is when I get really bad patches where the itching drives my crazy I put a lot Noxzema on it and whit in minutes the itching is gone or much better. The last time I got a haircut from a barber my scalp was itching so bad I smeared Noxzema all over my scalp and it really helped. Most people don’t know Noxzema was named to mean “No Eczema”. Neither my Doctor or my Dermatologist knew that Noxzema helps.
Best of luck.
Gary
Alice,
Your story is one of Topical Steroid Addiction. Steroid creams will keep you dry, and the rash will spread. Doctors will tell you that you have “terrible eczema skin” so you have to keep using their creams. You won’t be able to put moisture back in the skinā¦it felt like my skin was tearing apart. PLEASE check out ITSAN.org
It saved my life and I am now on the road to recovery. It is all about stopping the creams, because it’s the cortisone that is destroying your skin. The doctors will not support you, but the ITSAN community will. Thousands of people around the world are being healed. The cortisone is keeping you in an endless cycle, and eventually they stop working. The withdrawal is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but now I’m at 2 1/2 years into withdrawal and am almost completely healed.
They aren’t selling anything – just help to get off the creams. You will get your life back, but the road isn’t easy. Please check it outā¦.ITSAN.org
Hi Ruth, im 17 years old and am currently going through a terrible flare up of my eczema. I’ve struggled with this my entire life and as a teenager I feel like this condition does have a constant negative drain on self image and confidence, this isn’t something you can hide with makeup. Eczema has always been my biggest health battle as it’s ruined my hands with constant cuts and sores, I have patches of cuts or dry skin dotted all over my body, especially my face, and it’s even crept it’s way on to my scalp, forbidding me from using any nice hair products or colouring my hair. Despaired by this today trying to find some new information online, I came across your words and I just wanted to say this article’s helpful advice and your positive outlook has truly inspired me and given me some hope and comfort in knowing that I’m not the only one that struggles and is repulsed by this horrible irritation, listening and reading your perspective on this I hope I can find some way of not letting it control how I feel, thank you so much!!
I sympathise with you all. I have had severe eczema since birth and am going through a particularly bad flare up right now – swollen eyes, which don’t open properly and feel very uncomfortable and red, sticky neck. My hands are lichenified and look like the hands of a 360 year old rather than the 36 year old that I am! I feel so sorry for everyone who has posted here. On a positive note, it’s comforting to know that it’s not just you. Those lucky people with ‘normal’ skin don’t realise how eczema rules your life and your emotions!
Thank you so much for this. I’ve had my HORRIBLE childhood-through-mid-twenties excema under control for the last 15 years. This was due to me finally breaking down, going to the doctor and discovering steroid ointments and lac hydrin lotion. But, inexplicably, in the last month, I have been hit with the angriest, most persistent, most sensitive outbreak of my life. What used to be a small relief scratch of an ordinary itch when taking off my sock, or bra, or prosthetic leg, now turns into an inflamed weeping rash by the morning. It is as if I sleep-scratch all night long with no recollection. But dealing with my amputation is the worst it has ever been. During this outbreak, my entire stump has becoming covered in blisters, and I have no choice but to suffer in a plastic socket for 15-18 hours a day. Removable of the socket at the end of the day is a smelly, sweating, fluffed-off-dead-skin horror show. And if I want any chance of walking with just irritation tomorrow, and not irritation plus painful swelling and raw rubbing, I must actually tie my hands in mittens, and fight the urge to relieve the worst itching you can imagine. So while I’m suffering, literally head to stump, it is good to know someone out there can relate. Keep up the good fight!
Just wanted to say i feel for you all. I have had eczema my whole life on and off i get it from neck down to my toes. Its been really bad since having kids hormonal i think. When i was pregnant with my second my eczema was the worst it had ever been in my 35yrs it took away what should of been happy pregnancy instead i felt beside my self with the itching,tears because it was so bad and decided i couldnt go through that again so no more kids for me. How ever it took me 4 months to get apt at hospital for light treatment but it was worth 3 months of treatment. It was the best thing ever to be cleared for a while it does flare up still but good thing is im on the books now and can go for top up. I hope this helps.
Just an FYI: baby oil is an exfoliant. Might be useful for removing dead skin but not useful for keeping moisture in.
Hi Ruth, your blog is very interesting. My 24 year old husband just came out with a big eczema flare up and we can’t seem to work out what’s caused it š
I’m due to have a baby in 2 months and so desperate want it to be gone before then. It’s his forehead , eyes, chest, arms and legs. He’s been on lots of antibiotics and creams. Is there anything in particular you can suggest?
I’m really not sure because it can just be stress, both good and bad stress. I find that if I eat a diet with NO processed foods at all my skin is so much better. It’s a constant battle to keep inflammation down in the body. Look at the skin care and cleaning products he uses on his skin. Look for natural products without chemicals and parabens etc. The skin takes in a huge percentage of what’s put onto it. Ask him to look into protopic too, it’s really changed my life. It has only really made a big difference on my face and neck but it really works. Lots of early nights, epsom salt baths, vitamin D and maybe cut back on alcohol. I know it affects my skin. Good luck.
The gut flora may be off due lots of antibiotic use. Ensure he is using lots of probiotics and fermented foods, and there’s some Yop type stuff called BioK that has/is both. At least eczema isn’t contagious. My brother and his wife wouldn’t let me touch their newborn because of my newfound flareup, and believe me when i tell you that hurt. Best of luck to him. I’ve tried it all, and all i can think of is hormones because nothing i did made it better or worse. Calamine lotion and peppermint essential oil helped the itch the most. I’m in a weird remission now, which i’m both thrilled and terrified about. What did i do? What am i going to do to bring it all back? It came on sudden and strong, and seems to be leaving the same way. Here’s hoping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rebecca,
Diets and creams will not work if your skin is addicted to cortisone. PLEASE check out
the “International Topical Steroid Awareness Network”. It saved my life and I am finally healing.
ITSAN.org
It’s hard sometimes. Especially when the flare up is really bad and you cant lie down in bed because everything hurts and it itches. Sometimes I just want to cry and I feel ugly and miserable.
I’m going through another flare up. Usually a lot of stress induces this and I was under a bucket load of tension these past twp months. I’m scared of marriage. I’m scared of disgusting my future husband to be. Because men aren’t always so accepting of this situation.
My family tells me to take less stress and I don’t understand how to tell them that it’s part of me. My nature is such that I focus too much, I obsess over whatever I do. I’m a perfectionist of sorts.
Moisturizing, for me, during a flareup makes the itching worse and I have learnt this the hard way. Right now, I can;t wear a bra, I’ve been roaming around the house in a loose shirt and everything sucks and I just want to eat because food is a source of comofrt in this sort of phase.
I know I’m rambling, but I’m the only person I know in my circle with this allergy and talking to my family or friends never helps because they just don’t understand. And reading your article just brought tears to my eyes because your words rang so true. They felt like somebody had taken them from my own mouth and put them there. So thank you for writing this.
Sorry to hear how much your skin hurts. I’m sure you have really tried lots of skincare products already. I just wanted to let u know about Syrinxza skin care products which are specifically designed for problem itchy skin. They are natural and are the skin care products that won gold award in the problem skin category of the ‘free from’ awards this year 2015.
Yes I work for Syrinxza but before I had really bad itchy scalp and had used their products with amazing results. I am no longer embarrassed talking to people and now I share their wonderful products which has a unique ingredient called Sapropel which comes from the reeds in lakes of Eastern Europe and full of minerals to help soothe and clean itchy skin sufferers. Please have a look at our testimonials. What I would recommend is the Therapy bar use every day in the shower which is a special soap that helps clean and detox the skin and the emollient cream which is really soothing. Good luck jo xx
Thank you for this article. I’ve had eczema since I was a baby, and it’s always come in waves. Everyone who knows me, know I have it, and that it often flares up and I just try to get on with it. This time however I’m at my wits end. I’ve had a pretty hard time of it over the past couple of months. It started with being put on a contraceptive pill, which completely flared me up and I came off it right away, went on some steroid creams and it almost vanished instantly. Then I had to get a coil inserted, which was OK for my skin, didn’t have too much of an effect – brilliant. But uh oh, a few months later I have to get abnormal cells removed, bye bye coil; hello sore skin… Then; Winter strikes. Winter is always a bad time for my skin. Cold outside, too warm inside. Since the beginning of December my skin has been very patchy and red, very red and inflamed. Mainly on my face, (around eyes, top lip, cheeks) neck, (and collarbones) and my arms. The cracks in my arms always have some noticeable patches, that’s where I’ve always had it. But it’s started stretching down my arms lately, and I have a very sore patch on my right wrist. Which funnily enough, according to my Mum is where I first ever started getting eczema as a baby. Anyway, almost a month now since my body became run down and my skin started hurting. Back to work this week after Christmas break. Vowing to try and eat better and not drink for a while (know it can’t help my eczema, but being run down and eating /drinking can’t be good!) Definitely a little trip to the doctors tomorrow for some new steroid creams, since the ones I’ve been using aren’t’ helping, and have subsequently run out. Wish me luck!
Hi Amie. I really feel for you. I am so sorry you are having a bad flare up. Which steroids are you using? I find Elocon and protopic work best forme. It’s so hard to give anyone with excema advice but eating better and cutting down on alcohol will help. Try to get lots of sleep, get regular exercise, drink plenty of water… You know all this. One thing I find really helps is Epsom salt baths. It really heals my skin. I moisturise a lot too, dry tight skin is so much harder to heal. And this is a weird one but I wrote a while ago about kissing and allergies. Search on the blog to find it. On my iPad so can’t easily share the link. Good luck at the docs.
Hi Ruth, thanks for replying. The steroids I’ve been using are eumovate 0.05% for my arms and neck, and hydrocortisone 1% on my face, and I use epaderm cream as a moisturiser. When I was put on these creams after coming off the pill back in July, my eczema cleared away really quickly, but now these creams aren’t even helping a little bit! I’ve been reading about RSS, and fear I may now have this. I have a doc appt tonight so will ask my doctor more about it. I’m also going to ask about protopic. How do you know if it’s definitely RSS you have? Do you have to cease using ALL creams? Or just steroids? Thanks.
I really worry about topical steroid addiction or RSS and yes, I think I may have it. But when you read about withdrawal and actually coming off steroids it looks and is horrendous for sometimes 6-12 months or longer. I just cannot comprehend coping with that and functioning in society and going to work. I’ve got a blog pending on this so watch out for it. For the time being I’m using Elocon, not so bad at thinning the skin but still a steroid. It works well for me. But I’m trying to wean myself off slowly. I can’t think going cold turkey would ever be good for any addiction. We’ll see. I’m terrified about that continued use of steroids means but can’t face the alternative of coming off them. My doctor is also not worried and says keep using the steroids. I need to find a specialist to support me through coming off steroids for me to ever consider doing it. Keep reading for more on this and good luck at the docs. PS. I use Epaderm too for moisturising though I hate how gloopy and sticky it is. I do love Pure Potions skin salvation when I can afford it.
In the middle of a serious flare up at the moment (face, neck, chest and arms) and whilst reading this article I actually started to giggle for the first time in about a week. The manky tube of steroid cream, the greasy hair, the husband telling me to book a doctors apt? check! check! check! I know other people suffer but knowing other people are feeling the exact same way as I am made me feel slightly better, so thankyou!
I think the worst thing is the not being able to cover it up, and then having people look at you like you have some contagious disease! (someone at work actually asked if I should be there!)
I use aqueous cream like its going out of fashion, but have recently been told that its the worst thing to put on my skin (too many doctors telling me different things!) Im currently using Aveeno which seems to have taken the burning away but just wish id find that fail safe answer to this awful ‘thing’
I am so glad I helped. Thanks fro the comment. It’s crap innit. Eczema sucks. First thing… get something else instead of Aqueous. I found it really didn’t help me. See if you can Get Diprobase, DoubleBase, or Epaderm. I use Epaderm and Diprobase and find they work much better. Also get some Epsom Salts and try to have at least one bath a week. Really makes a difference for me. Good luck! Oh and kiss and hug lovely lovely husband. Kissing helps apparently. I wrote a blog about that a while back. Have a search for it and have fun ;o)
I am 39 years old and my eczema started on my head only, like a head band. It was HORRIBLE!! It happened when I was about 26 or older! I have always been able to control it on my head with a prescription strength steroid. However, a couple months ago, out of no where, my eczema flared up (not on my head) but all over my hands & then it just creeping up and is now all the way up to my shoulders. It also spread to my legs from my ankle to my hips. Yes, night seems to be the worse. Although in the morning when I am laying in bed it feels ok. As soon as I stand up/ get up, my arms start itching and going crazy!! My hands are not getting better & I even went on 5% prescription strength steroid. I am at my whits end!! I have blisters that pop, Raw skin feeling everywhere on top of that, the extreme itch!! My blister pop, seep & then it goes into the cycle of blotchy spots & skin peeling!! I have never had it this bad, EVER!! I have no idea what triggered it, nor have I identified why it is still bothering me and still soooo bad!! I have done EVERYTHING that my dermotologist told me and I lather my skin with aquaphor and other lotions. NOTHING seems to help me. I’ve even been taking a palithera of Zyrtec, which was helping, but now I feel like I have to take more and more, just like the steroids!! I am soooo sick and tired of being itchy, sore and everything else with this disease!! It sucks!! I am a massage therapist that uses all natural products. Even spent $180 on a gallon of jojoba oil!! Apricot oil & even just plain ol’ coconut oil. NOTHING has made a difference!! I have to keep cancelling clients Bcuz of how bad it is on my arms and hands. I can’t touch people when I am this sore, nor with open seeping wounds! YUK! It is dwfinitlwt affecting me mentally! I feel like I am going crazy!! I do not know what to do anymore. I am beyond exhausted!! I just want it to let up and give me my body back!
I could deal with the eczema on my head, but now it’s all over my forearms and hands and legs so bad, I just want to hide from everyone!!
That’s sums up my sob story!! ;(
Hi Beach Gal, I really for you. This sounds horrible. Have you looked at getting allergy tested? You could have patch tests to see if anything you are putting on your skin is irritating you AND look at food too. Keep a food, mood and symptoms diary. Write down everything and I mean everything you eat. Can your dermo refer you to an allergy specialist? My eczema is 80% caused by external allergens, triggers and things I do, like drink too much, eat processed foods and nuts, dairy, eggs, soya, wheat, celery and tomato all cause my skin problems. I also get anaphylaxis from some of them but that’s another story…
Oh man. This is the first time I have ever replied to an article in my life but I just had to. I’ve had eczema since I was two months old. It’s all over my body and everything in your article was so relate-able. Down to the patch of eczema the color of your clothes because of the fibers. I didn’t realize so many people had eczema as bad as me and lately I’ve been having a really bad flare up. It’s made me so self conscious more than I’ve ever been in my life. It’s made me kind of depressed but after reading this it’s made me feel a lot better.
I even read through everyone’s comments and it’s cool to see so many people I can relate to. Even the whole different types of waters thing and if the weather is too hot or too cold it makes eczema worse.
It’s been so bad that I feel ashamed of people staring at me. Even today someone asked me if it was contagious and it made me feel really bad and stressed out. And it’s like a cycle because stress makes my eczema worse.
After reading this it just made me feel ALOT better. So a big thanks to everyone who posted and to Ruth for the article.
Hey Linh I am so sorry your eczema is bad too. I’ve had a few flare ups too. Eczema sucks. And people can be very unthoughtful. Just ignore them. It’s easy to say I know. Just last week someone said, “You look like you’ve had a bit from a vampire on your neck!” Well hey, thanks. Another person said, “Ha ha ha, you’ve got sunburnt.”. Nope. This is just how I wake up sometimes but thanks for bringing my swollen burning face to everyone’s attention… š Keep on smiling and keep on fighting. I am convinced we can control eczema if we can figure out what our own triggers are. Have you looked into Protopic? it’s really helped me. Search the blog for Protopic to find out more.
Have you eve thought that maybe your steroid creams & ointments may be causing your eczema to be worse? You could easily become addicted to them. Actually mine made my eczema worse & I quit using them earlier this year & my eczema is practically all gone. Please check out ITSAN.org or google TSW Topical steroid withdrawal. It’s a painful process but most people healed their eczema by going through it. It helped with mine anyway & in July will be my 5th month of not using steroids They’re poison & toxic!!!!! There’s also this drug called Zeljanz that’s not a steroid. It’s really for arthritis but it’s for people who suffer from Atopic Dermatitis. Just wanted to warn you it is very expensive but if it works then it’s worth it right? Just please quit using the steroids. They do more damage than good & if you over moisturize your skin it won’t help it. Only use it
Have you eve thought that maybe your steroid creams & ointments may be causing your eczema to be worse? You could easily become addicted to them. Actually mine made my eczema worse & I quit using them earlier this year & my eczema is practically all gone. Please check out ITSAN.org or google TSW Topical steroid withdrawal. It’s a painful process but most people healed their eczema by going through it. It helped with mine anyway & in July will be my 5th month of not using steroids They’re poison & toxic!!!!! There’s also this drug called Zeljanz that’s not a steroid. It’s really for arthritis but it’s for people who suffer from Atopic Dermatitis. Just wanted to warn you it is very expensive but if it works then it’s worth it right? Just please quit using the steroids. They do more damage than good & if you over moisturize your skin it won’t help it. Only use it
WOW! You have summed up perfectly how many things can affect your eczema. For my son who has had it since he was very small it has been a journey to help him heal. I found trying an elimination diet really helped. It helped figure out his food triggers. I wrote about my elimination diet journey here: https://itchylittleworld.com/2013/01/08/our-eczema-trials-elimination-diet-how-you-can-do-it-too/
I found diet was a huge factor. For my son trying an elimination diet was really helpful in figuring out what was triggering him. I wrote about how I did it here: https://itchylittleworld.com/2013/01/08/our-eczema-trials-elimination-diet-how-you-can-do-it-too/
I have lived with chronic eczema for over 20 years, and although it has got a little better as I’ve gotten older, I still get quite bad flare ups occasionally. I usually find my triggers are heat and stress, thing I can’t really avoid. Over the years I’ve found as much as doing extra things is important (regular moisturising and use of steroids), avoiding certain things can be just as, if not more important. I would say my main points of advice for eczema sufferers are:
– Do not have hot showers or baths, hot water aggravates eczema so badly
– Do not use soap, and when I say soap I mean any body cleansing product you buy from boots or superdrug. These strip you skin of its natural oils and good bacteria, leaving it vulnerable to infections from bad bacteria. I use sodium laureth sulphate free alternatives such as Jasƶn.
– Cut your nails!!! Long nails mean when you scratch at night you make the damage so much worse.
– Find your trigger foods. Eczema is a condition caused by problems that are internal. Quite often certain foods trigger flare ups, for me and I’m sure many others, acidic foods are the worst kind. I try my best to avoid tomato (which is not always possible!), citrus fruits (orange, lemon, grapefruit etc), peppers, and beef (which is apparently an acidic meat).
Completely agree with everything you say here Holly. Great advice. I would also add cutting out processed foods where I can helps me, alcohol doesn’t help but it is my weakness and cutting down on sugar. Thanks for sharing.
I’m having an extreme eczema flare up right now. Everyone around me thinks they know how I feel, but they really have no idea. I literally feel like my skin is crawling every minute of everyday and I’m embarrassed by my skin.I can’t wear shorts and when I wear shorts sleeves, I have to take a jacket with me to cover it up. I’ve literally tried every cream, ointment, steroid, treatment, etc that I can to calm the flare up down, but nothing is working. The last bad flare up I had was when I was 12 and I’m now 24. Back then, my skin was so raw it would bleed constantly. The dermatologist I went to prescribed me something back them, an ointment and a cream, and those really helped. I want them again ha. This all started around the time our computers crashed at work, so I’m guessing the stress of that mixed with the 90+ degree days (with a lot of humidity) are not helping. My arms are starting to crack open when they itch and my legs are terrible….the back of them are already bleeding and raw. I’m fed up with this condition and I want it to go away but I know it won’t. I have an appointment with a dermatologist next week, but I don’t know how I’m gong to cope until then.
Note: I’ve lived with this since the day I was born as well, so 24 years I’ve dealt with eczema
Oh Kara, eczema is so very horrible. No one understands if they haven’t been through it themselves. I really hope your dermatologist can help. Have you tried Epsom salt baths? And have you looked at whether food is a trigger? I know stress can be a huge thing when eczema but it’s all about working out what your triggers are. Ask your dermo to refer you for some tests for food and contact allergies. I so hope you find some relief.
Hi Ruth. I think you might be suffering from “Red skin syndrome” / “Cortisone induced eczema”. The more cortisone you use the worse the eczema becomes over time. Please STOP using cortisone! Your making it worse. Have a look at http://www.itsan.org – it’s an organisation dedicated to this condition. Google the symptoms associated with Red skin syndrome and you’ll see what I’m talking about. I’ve walked the same path that you did for 30 years until my whole body was covered with eczema and I developed allergies to almost everything. As soon as you stop the cortisone your eczema becomes worse. I had to go through cortisone withdrawal (for 2 years) and it changed my life. I have very little eczema on my body (if any) and most of my allergies have disappeared. Cortisone damages the epidermal and dermal layer of the skin and therefore you become more sensitised to food and contact allergies. It also damages adrenal glands and your liver – therefore you become prone to developing inflammation and the histamine levels in your body becomes heightened. Your skin stops producing enough cortisone which fights of inflammation and therefore you constantly need to apply topical cortisone (or take it in orally) in order to fight it. You’re not suppose to use cortisone for longer than 14 days but doctors seem to perscribe it for chronical purposes. Try taking some Quercetin supplements. It’s a natural mast cell stabiliser. It prevents your mast cells from over reacting and consequently producing high levels of histamine and inflammatory chemicals that causes and aggravates eczema.
Thanks so much. I am terrified of going through the withdrawal. I think it would mean giving up my job… just not sure I could cope, looking a the pictures of some people. I am looking into it though and will contact the guys at ITSAN.
Hi Ruth and everyone on this forum, I’ve never posted on a forum or talk back website but i am relating to everyone here so i just had to.
Is everyone ready for this un-answerable life rant, here goes.
I am a 22 year old male I’ve had eczema my whole life on and off and I am at breaking point. At age 19 my eczema was so bad i would have extremely hot showers every few hours because this was the only way to numb the pain of my burning skin and I’ve found myself falling back into this habit lately, i feel like my skin is eating me alive, I’ve paid thousands of dollars at private hospitals to get allergy tests done and I’m not allergic to anything. Im a cabinet maker by trade and I’ve even had the saw dust i work with everyday tested and im not allergic to the dust. Ive used every moisturiser i can find and as soon as i moisturise my skin i become irritated and scratch all the cream off because of extreme body heat from the cream, I’ve used creams in the past such as QV extreme body moisturiser, epaderm, demaveen, cetaphil, dermeze and the list goes on. I cannot do the sports i love because it causes extreme pain to do them, i cannot skateboard because the sweat feels like acid on my skin and makes me scratch uncontrollably and also i cannot surf because the salt water feels like i am being stung by every insect or marine stinger all at once and is literally unbearable. I sweat at work and the saw dust irritates my skin and everywhere i have worked the owners cannot understand why i need so many sick days because of my skin condition so i am changing careers as we speak. I chose to make the extreme change in my diet 1 year ago to try and rid my body of eczema so i stopped eating dairy and meat which i don’t think has helped. I can never be comfortable because my skin is always irritated wearing clothes is a nightmare for me and sleeping is the worst because i cannot be comfortable in bed i feel like i am forever lying down on a bed of grass. My bed sheets are covered in blood as are my clothes, my partner is done with it she says my scratching fits are sad and depressing to watch and I’ve been said to look like a drug user the way i breakout and go into scratching fits in public, my whole family and all of my friends know me as the person who is scratching 24/7 my mum and close friends are always saying please stop scratching because it is all i ever do. Here is the twist, i find when i am not in a relationship my skin is not irritated and my body basically has no eczema but when i am in a relationship my eczema is out of control and ruins my life. Ive been in and out of a few relationships over the years and I’m not sure why my skin changes when my life does, i know it sounds silly but its the truth. feel free to contact me via Facebook or reply on here I’m open to any suggestions as living my life with eczema is a painful drag and opening my eyes moving my arm or leaving the house is a painful experience and I’m over it. I’ve had my fair share of steroid creams and i take a long list of vitamins daily and nothing is helping.
I was really struggling with Eczema. Had it on my arms, chest and armpits. Tried many things but nothing worked. I went to a Dermatologist and said to use foderma serum. Within 2 to 3 weeks it was totally gone! It worked great for me. Hope it does the same for you.
I have a feeling you could be addicted to steroids creams. This happened to me. Eventually I became so addicted that as soon as I stopped the steroids the next day my body would just start breaking out in painful hot rashes…. this is steroids induced eczema… it happens when your body becomes dependent on the cortisone from the creams and slows down production of it’s own cortisone in the adrenal glands after using steroids for some time. I withdrawed from the creams. It was insanely brutal. Too over 3 years but I am good now and have occasional eczema on my inner elbows and neck at times like when I was a kid. It’s called Red skin syndrome if you decide to look it up.
I had a rash on my belly I think it’s eczema but foderma serum is so helpful the rash calmed down and it’s going away slowly. I would highly recommend foderma serum to anyone who has a rash. You’re getting a great product.
Thanks Sandra! Thank you for sharing. I’ve not tried this one.
This blog has just cheered me up from a lot of misery I’m feeling today. I’ve had a rant bad flare up to the point where I’ve been lying in the same position for hours because every time I move my skin cracks. Excema truly is the Bain of my life. I don’t want to go out I don’t want to put clothes on, I can’t look at myself in the mirror and I’ll admit I’m finding it really hard at times like this so thankyou for that little bit of positivity and to know people out there are going through the same thing xx
My son had a major eczema flair up all over his legs, arms, and torso. We slathered him with foderma serum twice a day (morning and night) and started seeing results within 48 hours. A week later his skin is soft and supple. Barely a sign of eczema on his body. Amazing! We struggle with eczema all winter long and foderma serum gives me hope that this serum can be used as a maintanence plan for the winter months!
I really must get hold of some! Where did you buy it? Never seen it anywhere or heard of it before.
This is exactly how it is. The thing is people cant see mine which I know I should be grateful for but on the other hand no one can see how hard it is to walk, how you cant stretch your limbs, how your skin sticks to your clothes. Yes you should moisturise but in practice its so hard to moisturuse at work to the levels your skin needs. It really gets your mood down. It becomes your life from waking up in a bed of skin to baths and moisturising rituals, trying to find something cotton and comfortable that covers it up to wear, to completing a full on evening cycle pretty much the same. Its so consuming.
Have you tried epsom salt baths? And I just visit the bathroom at work and apply more when it’s bad… just do it. Don’t worry about what people think, just nourish your skin.
I have had eczema flareups on my face for years and have had many issues finding something that not only worked, but worked quickly. Itās really hard finding a product that is both safe and effective to use on your face (especially around the eye area), but foderma serum is a miracle worker. There is a very noticeable difference in the skin just within 24 hours of using it. Iāve put it directly on the eyelids without any irritation or negative effects. If you struggle with eczema on your face Iād strongly recommend using this. Save yourself the trip to the dermatologist!
thank you – pleased to find & discover you tonight – surprised with a sudden “flare up” of what may be eczema or dermatitis — after years of basically ok, but a slight patch recently, from extreme stress . I’m questioning what could have brought about such an extreme increase tonight – could be the Dove, but that hasn’t been a problem before – SO , THIS QUESTION: DOES ANYONE KNOW IF NIGHTSHADES (today, tomato paste added to a vegetabe stew – & with beets?) aggravate eczema , especially when adding the Dove soap even ten hours later? If this is of interest or of help to your community, and I’d certainly be interested and helped by any feedback information.
They aggravate mine, especially tomato
Tomato is a histamine released, that’s why!
Try hemp lotion for the skin and CBD or hemp seeds for Prurigo Nodularis.
Foderma serum works quickly to clear up eczema flare ups and winter dry skin patches. Our 1yo gets eczema flare ups on his cheeks and foderma is the only thing that works.
Watch out for any creams/lotions/etc with lanolin. Even many Vitamin D3 pills are lanolin. I am very allergic to wool alcohols and never put wool alcohols/lanolin together. I hope by eliminating Aquaphor (has lanolin) and finding new D vitamins, my eczema may subsided a bit.
Vitamin D pills contains Lanolin? Really? I’ll have to check mine.
I have eczema on my face (primarily eye brow area) and have often felt like hiding my face.
Like the other commenter recommended, you should be using the Made from Earth Pure Aloe Skin Treatment. I admit I felt like an IDIOT spending so much for other medications and having spent much money at a dermatologists for no good results. I used the Made from Earth Aloe for a few days and have a slow steady improvement.
Hi, I know it’s an old article but I just came across it. It’s almost reassuring when you read accounts of other people who suffer from what you do. (Unfortunately)
I’ve had eczema in different areas all my life. During high school was when it was at it’s worst. Looked like a double for Freddie Kruger!
That eventually calmed down considerably after having an IV steroid – which is no longer on the NHS due to side effects (at the time happy accept damaged hips!)
It’s slowly started coming back all these years later, but in new places :(…very visible places at that.
You’re right about exercise, does not help at all to sweat.
Not shown to be allergic to anything in particular which is annoying.
Quite worrying how many more cases of eczema are coming up, especially in babies
Good luck to everyone with this condition, it’s not easy!
Thanks Yasmin, and no it’s not easy. Thanks for your comment. My eczema is stress related as well as triggered by allergens. It’s on my feet now for the first time ever!
Hello I am Lilly
OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG at work crying as I read your story. EVERYTHING you have stated is exactly what I go thru. I’ve had eczema all my life but it has never been as bad or severe as it is right now!! I have never been depressed about my eczema until now. I can’t wear shorts at all , I have big dark blotches on the skin on the back of my legs and patches all over the rest , my arms are 80% covered , I have some under my eye so of course looks like have a black eye with bags, my neck is completely covered , its EVERYWHERE… I can’t sleep, my skin burns and stings everyday, I take a shower twice a day, constantly trying to moisturize.. I can’t take it , I never cried about my eczema until now, I go on vacation in July (back home havent been there in 14 years) and I refuse to wear shorts.. Summer time I’ll be in pants , capris and long sleeve shirts.. smh Its unbearable , I thought of the other day “just cut the top layer of my skin off it will heal back” .. I think what really makes me sad ismy 9 month old has it too but no wear near as bad as me and when she scratches all I can say to her is “I’m so sorry baby , I know it itches, Momma is soooo sorry but don’t scratch”. At night I hold her while holding her hands in mine so she doesn’t scratch. I can’t even help myself let alone my old child š TEAR TEAR … One day I will heal us I promise I will … Thank You for this post
Hi Ruth,
Fascinated to come across your blog today (I was going to write “pleased”, but somehow that doesn’t seem appropriate). If I may, I’d like to reproduce here a lengthy post I made on my Facebook page a couple of days ago…
“Background is, Iām someone who has never suffered from allergies of any kind. Not even as a kid. No hayfever, no eczema, no asthma. I could eat anything I wanted and then roll around in mud all day with no problem whatsoever. In fact, I could do that until quite recentlyā¦
“A few months ago, I started developing strange itchy sore patches on various parts of my body. Saw various doctors but none of them could come up with a firm diagnosis. Could be shinglesā¦ maybe pityriasis roseaā¦ perhaps eczemaā¦ This went on for a few weeks while the patches got worse and worse and I was eventually referred to a dermatologist who again couldnāt say what was going on. By this stage I had angry red rashes over both arms, both legs, back and abdomen. The only thing that was helping was liberal use of prescribed steroid cream, which would knock the symptoms back a bit. But as soon as I stopped using the cream, the symptoms would come back with a vengeance.
“Things had now got so bad that I couldnāt train any more. If you know me from the gym youāll know how bad that must have been. Life had become a constant battle against the urge to scratch, which just makes it worse, and any activity which involved sweating was simply out of the question. Saw another dermatologist: no help, but did make sympathetic noises. Thanks for the help, doc.
“Three months on, no help from the medical profession, and things starting to look desperate. Canāt live like this.
“Enter my saviour. I wonāt name the person, but if they read this theyāll know who they are. Could it be, this angel of mercy suggested, a reaction to my washing powder? I had previously dismissed this possibility because all the powders say ādermatologically testedā and ākind to skinā on the box! Surely they canāt lie? What about Trades Descriptions? Anyway, as I said, I was desperate and not being one to do things by halves, everything in the house got rewashed in āEcoverā (which is purely organic, no nasty chemicals). Clothing, towels, bedding, soft furnishings, the bloody lot. If there was the remotest possibility of it coming into contact with my skin then it got thoroughly rinsed and rewashed. I actually broke my washing machine during this episode and had to buy another.
“So did it work? Yes. Massive improvement within a couple of days, but the story doesnāt end there. Turns out Iād developed ācontact dermatitisā ā my diagnosis, eventually and reluctantly agreed to by the medical profession ā but not just to washing powder. By painful trial and error I worked out that Iād also become allergic to washing up liquid, deodorants, shampoo, most soaps, āFlashā-type surface cleanersā¦ the list goes on and is still being added to. Exposure to any of these would result in a āflare-upā starting with blistering of the skin, bursting of the blisters, oozing (just *so* attractive!) and scabbing over leaving an itchy red patch which eventually fades over a period of weeks.
“To complicate matters, some of the products which are supposed to help with allergies actually caused their own flare-ups! One example is āDermol 500ā, an emollient cream which I was given on prescription, which caused what I can only describe as burns on my skin. Similarly, some of the most expensive moisturizers that Iāve tried also did far more harm than good. Iām now pretty much restricted to the āAveeno Babyā range of cleansers and moisturisers which, thank God, donāt cause me any problems, although some of the other Aveeno products have also caused flare-ups.
“So nowā¦ I wouldnāt say Iāve won the battle, but at least Iāve got the measure of the enemy. No-one can explain *why* Iām experiencing these reactions to such a wide range of substances, and even despite being super careful about the things I touch, I still get caught out from time to time. For example, one of my most severe flare-ups came from using an exercise mat at the gym. I can only assume it had been washed in some kind of detergent, which had transferred to my skin. That flare-up took me out of action for two weeks. Iām resigned to the fact that, no matter how careful I am, things like that are going to happen from time to time. Every time I have a flare-up now, I have to think hard and try to work out what could have caused it.
“I understand that this is just āone of those thingsā and nobody is to blame, but I do feel badly let down by the medical profession. In the past few months I have seen six different doctors, two nurse practitioners and two dermatologists and not once ā NOT ONCE ā did any of them even suggest trying to find the root cause. If it hadnāt been for my good friend and saviour giving me the clue about contact allergies then I really donāt know where Iād be now.
…
“I’ve tried to approach this like an engineering problem: there’s an effect (the flare-ups) and so there must be a cause or causes. Fortunately the flare-ups follow a predictable pattern and timing so pinpointing root causes is becoming progressively easier as my environment becomes freer of known allergens. A lot off detective work and definitely working to the principle of “trust nothing until proven trustworthy”. I recently came across a database of 100+ known allergens that appear in everyday products and are known to cause bad reactions. Am now trying to correlate the constituents of the things that cause me problems with the database to see if there is any commonality.
Best regards,
Chris.
Ruth, I was stunned to read your description of what an eczema flare up is like. I thought I was the only one feeling the shame of blood spots on my clothes and greasy hair! As I read your blog entry yesterday I was wearing a dark shirt specifically chosen to hide potential blood spots as I am going through a particularly bad episode from head to ankles. I’ve never had it on my face before now. Unfortunately, I don’t know the trigger. I have been on chemo for several months so my immune system is not what it should be. Thank you for the information. It may be dated, but it is timeless in my opinion.
Hi John, sorry to hear you’re having a hard time with your skin. I used to have nodular prurigo which was these hard lumps that bled like a bloody volcano erupting. Since cutting out topical steroids a year ago that has practically disappeared now. My skin doesn’t bleed any more, it just oozes and weeps. Delightful! But I’ve started to bleed again and I see that is a good sign back towards just normal crap skin rather than TSW hell. Have you ever done a food, mood symtpoms diary? I’ve just shared that on a recent blog post. it might help you pinpoint potential food triggers. I find they are a big worry for my skin. But chemo is surely going to put a strain on your whole body. How long are you on chemo for? and really sorry to hear that.