Skin Care - Eczema UPDATE - YouLookFab Forum

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Skin Care - Eczema UPDATE

Star

Veteran

Hello

Not sure if this for off topic. Angie mentioned controlling eczema in a recent thread and I was hoping she and anyone else can recommend creams or specific ingredients (as I am not US based and may not be able to purchase exact brands without paying sky high tariffs and delivery charges) that can help light eczema. I had it 30 years ago and then it went away and now it has flared up on my forearm. Not very badly and I am keeping it from getting worse with a light urea-based cream. Anybody else have any experience with this or ideas? Thanks in advance!

General

24 replies

Latest reply was from Star

SarahD8

Veteran

Star my best advice for controlling eczema (with which I have COPIOUS experience) is a steroid cream. If an over-the-counter version does not do the job, then prescription strength.

My dermatologist told me that with steroid creams, shorter-term use of a stronger steroid/higher dose is better than longer-term use of a lower dose. I was skeptical because if my eczema is really bad then a high-dose cream can be painful to use. But I had to admit that she is right (the lower-dose cream was making it better but not totally clearing it up). My strategy now is that if the eczema is bad, use the lower-dose cream to improve things enough that I can tolerate the higher-dose cream and then switch to that. Sounds counterintuitive but it works for me.

Let me know if you would like info about specific doses/molecules.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

My 2 cents

I've had eczema for 25 years, Star - and empathize. It's on my neck and has left scars. And I developed an allergy to steroid (cortisone) creams!!!

The eczema is triggered by lots of things - often the weather, heat, pollen, dander. We have hypoallergenic Yorkies!

I no longer drink cows milk. I am not allergic to dairy - eat lots of cheese and butter! But cow's milk seems to aggravate my eczema. I drink oat milk.

I stick to cottons and silks in the heat. Have silk pillow cases. NON-SCRATCHY wool blends can work. I am very fussy about them. Turtlenecks can be very tricky in wool.

Aloe gel is soothing. Apply many times a day on the affected area. Takes away the sting and itch after a while.

USE THE RIGHT SOAP!! I use regular Dove and Cetaphil for eczema.

USE THE RIGHT MOISTURIZER! I use vanicream, Nivea body lotion and vaseline for very dry skin. Allergy-friendly.

SUN-PROTECTION! Heat triggers eczema. Cover your skin with clothing and hats. Avoid sunscreen on eczema area.

COLD water on eczema. Minimize hot. If you can manage that. I can with neck eczema. It's quite easy.

When my eczema is very bad - which isn't that often anymore - I have a prescription NON-STEROID cream from a top dermatologist here in Seattle (I'm allergic to cortizone cream). It's a tacrolimus ointment. I apply that twice a day for a few days. I try to minimize this route. Stick to gentle remedies.

Good luck, Star! I know how unpleasant eczema can be. Hope you feel soothed soon. xo

Runcarla

Veteran

Ugh! I feel your pain. Literally! Though me and mine have escaped many vexatious ailments, DH and I, and the two DS’s are all prone to ‘skin stuff’ - eczema being one. (Rosecea and psoriasis being others )

Angie has identified several triggers, and I’ll say STRESS is a biggy regarding flares.

We always have pouches of Aveno (oatmeal powder) bath soak on hand and it seems to bring relief when things get dire. I’ve found a diluted tea tree solution (with water) provides relief for itching and can sometimes clear things up early in a flare. Try on a small patch with a Q-tip first, and before skin is ‘raw’.

Good luck!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

OK, a medical perspective. The favoured emollient (moisturiser) in our country is called cetomacrogol, that’s the drug name not a brand. If it is also mixed with glycerine it can be showered with as well, as a substitute for soap. These might be able to be purchased cheaply. I personally think these are better than urea creams. Use copiously.
Then use a steroid cream for inflammation. I often prescribe a moderately potent one called mometasone. Or others.
Hopefully you can Google these.

Star

Veteran

Thank you so much! I will reply tomorrow.

Helena

Veteran

Echoing Sarah ... I used to have awful eczema on my arms and face ... I was so worried about using hydrocortisone cream because of side effects or rebound effects so I avoided it for ages. Finally when all else failed I started with it and it was miraculous. It took a little time since I'd left it so long but it cleared up so much, then good moisturizing etc could do a lot to keep it from flaring again. The other thing I do as soon as I feel it coming on is take an antihistamine, probably daily for about a week (my flare ups now tend to be when the seasons change.) This also helps a ton. Good luck, it's such a frustrating one!

Sisi

Veteran

Are there thermal spas where you live? It can be the best and most natural cure. Ask your doctor.

Star

Veteran

You guys are so helpful. Thank you, thank you.

Angie I too do not drink cows milk but do eat cheese. I noticed 30 years ago that cows milk was making me itchy. Good to know that Dove soap can be used. I am super sensitive to soap, and although I do have a particular bar I use, it is very soft and I would prefer to find an alternative. Also yes hot water could well be a trigger for me. It is so cold here and I tend to take too hot showers, which can cause all sorts of problems. I will look into a tacrolimus ointment. I did not know about no sun screen on the affected area, thanks for the tips!

JenniNZ how wonderful to have your professional input. Living in a country where the language is very far from my own I do struggle to get professional help most of the time. I will look into cetamacrogol and mometasone.

Sisi Bulgaria is world famous for it's natural healing spas. Just not near me but a good idea for the future. I need to investigate.

Carla Teatree and Aveno soak sound like a more gentle approach which I do prefer where possible.

SarahD8 I used a steriod cream 30 years ago and it totally worked. I just cannot remember the name!

Helena Interesting about antihistimines. I have had to take these in the past for sinus allergies. I just noticed that my eyes are very dry currently.

Peri

Veteran

Have you been patch tested for Allergic Contact Dermatitis? That can go side by side with eczema. It can also be mistaken for eczema but if you are under a dermatologist's care, probably not. But if so, knowing what you are allergic to is impossible to narrow down without patch testing, but once you know, that information can really help. Also, I'm in a FB group for eczema even though that is not my real issue...saying this because those people are really helpful.

Star

Veteran

Thanks Peri! I have never had a test. Something to consider for sure.

Peri

Veteran

Hi Star, here is the group I'm in. Lots of info on patch testing and on both conditions. There are also groups for specific allergens but this is a good place to start.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1567785756868893

I'm saying it is impossible to figure out because it truly is, I'm not exaggerating. One of my allergens is "Balsam of Peru", which is not one thing, but a large group that can be botanicals with names like rose flower extract but can also be very un-plant-like sounding things like sodium benzoate. Another is sodium lauryl sulfate, which is usually found under that name but can also go by 60+ other industry names on labels. It's impossible to untangle by only reading labels.

Some people mention having to really push their Drs for testing. It's an international group so hopefully it will help you. It's also quite possible to have eczema without ACD or ACD without eczema. Since they both involve rashes it can be quite confusing.

Star

Veteran

Thanks Peri! Interesting, I will certainly check it out.

Carol

(website)

Veteran

Will come from the nutrition side.

I also have on-and-off eczema, my whole life. It is usually a histamine response from something the body doesn't like. It does not come from a virus, or parasite, or whatever.

The threat can be internal or external. That's why I avoid polyester on my lower half, and excessive alcohol on my insides.

Great general supplements are:
probiotic (slowly strengthens immune system)
any cleanses, but definitely colon cleanses and/or fiber to reduce the toxic load
wheatgrass powder, burdock, clover, echinacea clear skin and blood, and/or support healthy skin

Avoiding or limiting: alcohol, dairy, sugar.
Avoiding or limiting: perfumes, dyes, soaps, chemicals, etc.

I only use bar soap from health food stores, rarely body wash. I haven't had a miss, but some surefire ones are One With Nature or Sappo. I only use shampoo and conditioner from health for stores, and I have not had a miss.

Aloe, as has been said, and any mild moisturizer. A cheap, effective anti-itch remedy is a strong solution of peppermint essential oil in a carrier oil, like olive or coconut.

Star

Veteran

Thanks Carol! Lots of good advice to take in. I like the idea of peppermint oil to help with itching. I'm not big on dairy and have not consumed alcohol since December last year. I know sugar is not good for one on the whole but have developed a bit of a sweet tooth in recent years. I never use body-wash and have to be very choosy with soap. Yes to limiting polyester.

Style Fan

Veteran

I have struggled with eczema my whole life. Right now, it is around my mouth and on my eyelids. The dermatologist suggested that I start a Product Elimination Diet. I was using most of the products on the list, but it has not made a difference. She also gave me a nonsteroid cream, which helps. I will return to see her in April to see what else she can suggest.

I suspect stress has triggered the latest bout. I have been dealing with a lot in my life.

Star

Veteran

Thanks for chiming in STYLEFAN. From this thread it seems that quite a number of people are affected. I think mine currently maybe very dry skin and very hot water. I have to be careful with soaps too. All the best to you.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Reading with interest. I have had a mild but annoying recurring rash on my neck a couple times over the last three months. Of course it had gone away when I had my annual dermatologist checkup, but has come back since then, so I didn't get an assessment from him. The fact that it has come back and it seems flaky makes me pause. I've never had a history of eczema before, but my skin tends to be mildly sensitive. I can't identify a trigger, so I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to use on the area! I'm washing with my usual face wash (Origins Checks & Balances), but I'm a little cautious about my other products. But the area clearly needs moisture, so... I'll be asking my new GP today if she has any recommendations, even though she's not a dermatologist.

Star

Veteran

Janet Mine is not that severe since I started moisturising the area a few times a day. Please share if your GP has any recommendations. I can find the steroid cream that JenniNZ recommended locally but cannot find a moisturising product with the ingredient cetomacrogol avaiable where I live.

Star

Veteran

So as per JENNINz's recommendation I got a cream containing mometasone and it has cleared my eczema in just under one week. thanks JENNI!

Lisa

Veteran

That's awesome, congrats!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Wonderful! It can be like magic. Please just make sure to not use it all the time, definitely take breaks so it doesn’t thin the skin. Most people are fine though because it works so well they can have big breaks before the eczema flares up unexpectedly.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Glad your eczema feels soothed, Star!

LJP

Veteran

Interestingly (to me, anyways) , mometasone is the main ingredient in the prescription nasal spray I use .

Star

Veteran

Thanks Angie and Lisa. Jenni yes as soon as it is 100 percent gone I will stop. LJP that is interesting, seems to have multiple uses.