Eczema Sufferers

[reirei702]

I was browsing the forum and I noticed there were other members who have the same skin condition that I do, Eczema, so I started this thread for help and to help others.

I've been to dermatoligsts forever and there has been very little help in this skin condition. There is no cure at the moment for this and is related to allergies as well as auto immune disorders. I've been frustrated and I know many others must be as well. It's depressing and can make you feel helpless at times but I think any amount of information is better than none.

Signs you have Eczema:
Skin is Itchy
Skin is VERY dry and sometimes flaky
Skin is rashy looking and in patches
Skin is raised in areas and red (this is usually called a Flareup, the time before it gets even drier and itchier)

Medicines that help Eczema:
Benedryl is my NUMBER 1 Eczema fighter. I SWEAR BY THIS. When your skin is FLARING, take 1 or 2 tablets of Benedryl IMMEDIATELY. Within a couple hours you might feel tired and sleepy because of the Benedrul but your skin won't be so red anymore. I've realized that layers of foundation and concealer don't work with embarassing Eczema Flareups. It just makes your skin look drier and flakier than it is. If you don't want to take benedryl because of it's sleepy side effects, I suggest finding other ANTI Histamines at your drug store that don't make u feel like so.

Medications prescribed by doctors:
Cortisone Creams, sometimes you can buy this over the counter but other doctors can give you ones with a higher dosage. I particularly don't use this so much because it isn't strong enough for my eczema.

Triamcinolone, this has steroids in it and is only suggested for use on the body NOT the face

Elidel, you can use this on your face and does not contain steroids.

My Suggestions

I suggest when using Cortisone, Triamcinolone or Elidel to ask your doctor for OINTMENTS and not creams because Ointments absorb better in your skin

One other thing I tried is attaching a very good shower head filter in my shower. People don't realize what's in their TAP water. Chlorine is one of them and Chlorine DRIES skin and to others cause skin irritations.

Applying Eucerin Cream thickly on my face before bed and right after showers help a lot. I sometimes put this cream on 10-20 minutes before applying my makeup so my skin isn't so dry. People with eczema KNOW that most makeup moisturizers barely do the trick, so I suggest this along with a new moisturizer. I mostly put this around around my eyes because thats where it's the driest.

Don't use perfume or lotions with perfume, even my doctor said that fragrant things can cause skin irritation.

Hope this Helps! Feel Free to add more tips

 

[ben]

i am currently using an ointment which called tacrolimus, it's a newer treatment and has offered me more releaf than any others i have tried.

here's some info which i cut & copied from netdoctor:

Tacrolimus

Tacrolimus was originally developed as an immunosuppressant medicine used for dampening down the immune system after organ transplants. It is still given both by mouth and by injection to people who have had a kidney or liver transplant to prevent their immune systems rejecting the transplant.

Tacrolimus ointment is a further development of this active ingredient for the local treatment of eczema.

Tacrolimus ointment is known scientifically as a topical immunomodulator. While it is not fully understood how it works in eczema, its effect in the skin is similar to pimecrolimus.

It has been shown to prevent the production of cytokines by T-cells in the skin. It is also known to prevent the release of inflammatory chemicals called basophils and eosinophils from mast cells and white blood cells.

Like pimecrolimus, it suppresses inflammatory reactions in the skin.


These new non-steroid medicines are not regular treatments, but are used to control flare-ups of atopic eczema as and when they occur.

They have been shown to be very effective at reducing inflammation in atopic eczema, with most people experiencing greatly reduced itching after the first three days of treatment.


i ended up paying around $80 for a 30 gram tube but i feel it is totally worth it. as long as i apply it everyday, 2 times a day it does help to reduce the redness and flare-ups. the only downside is that i cannot go out into the sun if i have applied this ointment unless i am covered up, and in the summer that is a big pain.

i have also found that AVEENO SKin Relief Moisturizing Lotion works to combat the itch. i apply to my skin after the tacrolimus.

 

[ben]

another product i use is called PREVAX. this is an over the counter protectant cream that contains 67% petrolatum and microcrystalline wax.

i apply this to the areas of my hands that are effected and while it does not reduce the redness it prevents the areas from becoming more irrated when i wash my hands or i am working with food.

 

[ben]

http://www.stiefel.ca/en/about_skin/prevex.html

 

[Raerae]

ugh i hate this... I have a patch on my left arm, and for the longest time had one on my shin on my right leg.

Not sure what caused it, how I got it, or whatever. it just appeared one day on my leg, and the one on my arm poped up shortly after that. The spot on my leg lasted for over a year (it's gone now), and I still get flareups on my left arm. Although not as bad as before.

I just had a prescription cortison cream and that helps. Putting a bandaid over the spots on my arms to seal in the moisture helped a lot too when it was really really bad.

 

[jessiekins1]

man, i'd rather have it on my arms and legs than my decollete.

by boobs *were* one of my best features.

 

[Another Janice!]

in the winter...the eczema on my hands gets so bad, it weeps. It's disgusting, and since I work in a restaurant and have to wash my hands 57,8340 a day, all I do is aggravate the hell out of it.

the only thing that works for me is an ointment (prescribed) called Elocon. I wear gloves to bed after I put it on because I don't want my hands to weep all over the sheets. Plus, it really helps the ointment sink in.

 

[Raerae]

yeh my arms and legs did that for a while.. they were gross and had a clear liquid that came out of em when they are at their worst.

My legs have been clear for over a year now, and very minor flareups on my arms, not sure what caused it to go away, but i'm sure glad it did. I feel for all the people who have it in more sensitive locations =(

 

[mzcelaneous]

My daughter and I have it, though mines is far worse. I have an Rx for Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream (0.5%) and it works like a charm on myself (I don't have any patches on my face, so I don't need to worry)& Elidel works great on my daughter. For prevention, I slather on Aquaphor right after the shower and it defintely decreases eczema reaccurences. People say petroleum jelly works just as well, but personally, I feel that Aquaphor moisturizes WAY better.

One more thing that a lot of people cannot stand, but works, is taking showers every other day and do not use hot water. Hot water is too harsh and strips your body of it's natural moisturizers. Gross to some, but I've done it since I was a child and it's one of the main things that curbs my flare ups. HTH!

 

[glueme]

I have Eczema all over my body, and have been prescribed Westcort cortisone creame for my face. It's weaker than anything for the body, so it works fine on my face and neck.

I've been using it for my body but lately (past year) my flareups have gotten worse, so I think I'm going to ask for something stronger.

It's true, I take showers every other day too, and I try not to use hot water (tough it's hard to resist in the cold mornings!)

I also rub body oil into my skin after my shower when I'm still wet (Neutrogena Sesame Body Oil), pat dry, then slather myself in creme. It seems to help.

Thank you for the shower head tip--I didn't even think about Chlorine!!

 

[nicemeka]

OMG!!!!! I can relate to Eczema, I minds usually flare up when I where costume jewerly, so it's around my neck, on my wrist and it flares up on my face and other areas.

The doctor recommend for me is Lidex, it's a an ointment, that works very well, just make sure to get the gel instead of the cream base, because it doesn't work as good. But it will clear up the rash and the itching. Also, it is a steroid.

Another good moisturizer that good to keep you skin from getting dry, is LUSH Dream Cream, which is to die for

. It's very good, and a little will goes a long way.

 

[LineausBH58]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jessiekins1 man, i'd rather have it on my arms and legs than my decollete. by boobs *were* one of my best features.

thats where i have it.... it's so sad... but I use stuff(tri something) and it goes away)

 

[girlstar]

I used to have really bad eczema, it covered my collarbones, patches on my arms and legs in random places, on my cheeks, and (in my opinion, the worst place ever) my eyelids.. which made them puffy, red and scaly. No makeup for me

I tried lotions, creams, antihistamines.. all were very minmal help. If I stopped taking pills or applying the cream, it would come back.

The best thing I ever did was remove start taking a look at my diet.. and the things I was eating around the time of a flare-up. I realised that if I consumed grapefruit in any way, shape, or form.. including juice.. I'd have a breakout of ezcema the next day. So all that time, I had been contributing it to not enough moisturiser, or using cheapie eyemakeup, or taking a scalding hot shower without moisturiser afterwards.. and it had nothing to do with any of those. I took all grapefruit out of my diet, and everything cleared up and I haven't seen a spot of ezcema since.

I really reccommend watching your diet to see if it *is* food related, because it could save you a lot of hassle. I am much happier without grapefruit than I would be if I was taking meds everyday. Another thing you can have done is a scratch test at the dermatologist.. they can also be really helpful with telling you what foods to avoid. A lot of people are allergic to wheat and don't know it. They eat it every day and then wonder why there's stuff wrong with them. :/

Hope this helps!

 

[glueme]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicemeka Another good moisturizer that good to keep you skin from getting dry, is LUSH Dream Cream, which is to die for . It's very good, and a little will goes a long way.

Is it scented?

 

[ette]

Lush Dream Cream!! It's excellent for people with excema. I don't suffer from it but my friend does and after I gave it to her it's GONE. It smells like lavendar and calamine, I personally HATE the scent but for the results it's dealible and it's not too "loud" and I cover it up with dusting powder.

 

[reirei702]

Another thing I just discovered (and I'm going to try) is Eucerin's Redness Relief creams. There is a kit on their website that deals with the facial redness. It also comes with a green cream that supposedly neutralizes the color so your face isn't so red.

Since my biggest problem is mostly the redness, I'm gonna try and see if that works. Lately I've been using normal liquid foundation and Bare Ecentuals powder foundation on my face to cover it up. It works pretty good too! I just want to see if it'll make anything better.

Also, Girlstar was right, what you eat does effect your allergic reactions. I seriously break out when i eat beef or when I'm around cats. I strongly suggest an allergy test too just to minimize what causes flareups. I've done a lot better since.

 

[nicemeka]

Quote:

Originally Posted by glueme Is it scented?

Yes, it has a lavender scent to it, it smells good.

 

[ette]

Reirei, try Perscriptives Magic Foundation Primer in Red Neutralizer before your foundation, it really covers the red!!

 

[reirei702]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ette Reirei, try Perscriptives Magic Foundation Primer in Red Neutralizer before your foundation, it really covers the red!!

D'oh! I knew I should of stopped by this site earlier today... I passed by a Sephora today and could of got it! Thanks, I'm definately gonna buy one. Do you use it? and does it work for you?

 

[ette]

Yeah, it works so well.