Eczema outbreak - Aggghh thought i'd got rid of it
Discussion
I suffered from eczema on the inside of my elbows when I was young, it was managed but eventually I turned to steroid cream to cure bad incidences of it. I’ve not had an outbreak for over a decade.
Over the last 4 weeks It has flared up again, and over the last few days it has been very painful. I need to do something about it as it’s making sweaty sport difficult and painful (yes I mean running and the like).
I also have had really sore lips for the last few months (see my other topic) that I've not been able to shift. I had this when I was young as well.
I’ll book into the docs (away from my own though), but any ideas why it has flared up badly after a decade? Advice as to what to do? So far I have the following:
- I have been staying in a house with cats more often. However I’ve stayed in a different house with cats before to no ill effect. Either way the cat will be banned from the bed and I’ll avoid contact.
- Bedding/dust mites. I don’t know how old the bedding is here but should I replace it? A pain in the arse as I’m only here for a while.
- Diet – I may have been eating more dairy (I don’t have it at all in my own flat, really). Cut out milk and reduce cheese. I'm not sure about anything else.
- Steroid cream – ordered one I know from an online pharmacist.
I searched for a topic, and couldn’t find it. It’s getting me down in a couple of ways right now, and embarassing, so any help is welcome. I thought I'd left this behind me.
Over the last 4 weeks It has flared up again, and over the last few days it has been very painful. I need to do something about it as it’s making sweaty sport difficult and painful (yes I mean running and the like).
I also have had really sore lips for the last few months (see my other topic) that I've not been able to shift. I had this when I was young as well.
I’ll book into the docs (away from my own though), but any ideas why it has flared up badly after a decade? Advice as to what to do? So far I have the following:
- I have been staying in a house with cats more often. However I’ve stayed in a different house with cats before to no ill effect. Either way the cat will be banned from the bed and I’ll avoid contact.
- Bedding/dust mites. I don’t know how old the bedding is here but should I replace it? A pain in the arse as I’m only here for a while.
- Diet – I may have been eating more dairy (I don’t have it at all in my own flat, really). Cut out milk and reduce cheese. I'm not sure about anything else.
- Steroid cream – ordered one I know from an online pharmacist.
I searched for a topic, and couldn’t find it. It’s getting me down in a couple of ways right now, and embarassing, so any help is welcome. I thought I'd left this behind me.
Personally I've tried it all over the years and I still have it mildly on my arms and back.
After trying most things I find using a sunbed or going on holiday cures it for me. If I even have one session on the sunbed it gets noticeably better.
One thing that triggers it in me is sudden weather changes, usually when it suddenly gets cold and wet.
After trying most things I find using a sunbed or going on holiday cures it for me. If I even have one session on the sunbed it gets noticeably better.
One thing that triggers it in me is sudden weather changes, usually when it suddenly gets cold and wet.
Could be all or any of the things you mention above. As a long term sufferer I've found it is most effective to attack an outbreak with a relatively strong steroid cream and get rid of it in a few days rather than use a milder steroid longer term. Once it has cleared, use a good moisturiser.
pp
pp
Thankyou both of you for the responses. I get it in quite concentrated patches that grow and become really painful (and I scratch through the skin, or have done); I guess I was just worried that it would get this bad again. I’ve been lucky to be pretty free for 10 years or so.
Interesting idea OC regarding the weather, I’ve been spending time further North and it has definitely turned wetter as well.
PP I think I’ll get the on the Steroid cream then. What moisturiser would you recommend?
Interesting idea OC regarding the weather, I’ve been spending time further North and it has definitely turned wetter as well.
PP I think I’ll get the on the Steroid cream then. What moisturiser would you recommend?
0a said:
PP I think I’ll get the on the Steroid cream then. What moisturiser would you recommend?
Has it really come to this? I'm recommending moisturiser to another bloke on an internet forum 
Here goes then - I really like Aveeno cream. It's non scented. It's quite expensive but very good. Most pharmacies now stock it. It's trial and error with moisturiser. Try a few and see what you like.
Also, I agree with the other poster. Changes in the weather can bring on a flare up. A bit of UV light is also good.
pp
Had Eczema for 65 years and counting.
I have tried every cream and potion known to man and I have pretty well got it under control nowadays. Took me years to find effective emollients.
I have found
1) Topical steroid creams like Synylar. Efcortetlan, Betnovate, and Eumovate are highly effective. Synylar as a non greasy cream suits me best.
2) You MUST be aware that prolonged use of any topical steroids WILL cause thinning of the skin. Over the last thirty years my skin has become very thin and fragile. To the point where if I pinch myself I bleed under the skin instantly and it takes months to disappear.
Despite this, given the alternative of the horror of rampant eczema I would recommend these Steroids. Lesser of two evils.
3) Emollients such as Oilatum, and similar non soap base applications can be effective but I have not found them to be much use.
4) I suffered from Eczema in my hair. Betonvate scalp application works reasonably well for this. Remember it is a topical steroid.
5) I have found a non perfumed hypoallergenic moisturising cream mixed with Tea Tree Oil at the rate of about 5% very effective if applied regularly. There is a slightly clinical smell but it is better than bleeding skin which is the danger of constant steroid use.
6) I have also found treating my skin all over every day with Calypso factor 10 Dry Oil Sun Spray VERY effective. It is by far the best preventative I have found. I have examined the ingredients and I think it is one of the carriers in the dry oil spray that is working on my allergy. I have written at length to the manufacturers I think this warrants further investigation.
None of these are a 100% cure. But my Eczema is now very well controlled and far better than at any time in the previous 65 years.
No one would know I have Eczema currently. It is the best I have been able to achieve after years of embarrassment as a child and young adult. Great red patches all over your body are not fun.
This is what works for me: but any skin specialist (over the years I have probably seen over 20) will confirm the effectiveness of the treatment entirely depends on the reaction of the individual.
Tea Tree Oil, hypoallergenic non perfumed cream in a mix and Calypso dry oil spray applied separately every day without fail all over my sin works for me. I never miss an application and this really does work for me.
But each to their own. You need to experiment and test your own reaction.
Whatever you do keep the steroids at a minimum. The side effects such as thin skin are serious.
But eczema free living is better than steroid free living with severe eczema for me. Just be aware there is a real downside in steroid use.
I have tried every cream and potion known to man and I have pretty well got it under control nowadays. Took me years to find effective emollients.
I have found
1) Topical steroid creams like Synylar. Efcortetlan, Betnovate, and Eumovate are highly effective. Synylar as a non greasy cream suits me best.
2) You MUST be aware that prolonged use of any topical steroids WILL cause thinning of the skin. Over the last thirty years my skin has become very thin and fragile. To the point where if I pinch myself I bleed under the skin instantly and it takes months to disappear.
Despite this, given the alternative of the horror of rampant eczema I would recommend these Steroids. Lesser of two evils.
3) Emollients such as Oilatum, and similar non soap base applications can be effective but I have not found them to be much use.
4) I suffered from Eczema in my hair. Betonvate scalp application works reasonably well for this. Remember it is a topical steroid.
5) I have found a non perfumed hypoallergenic moisturising cream mixed with Tea Tree Oil at the rate of about 5% very effective if applied regularly. There is a slightly clinical smell but it is better than bleeding skin which is the danger of constant steroid use.
6) I have also found treating my skin all over every day with Calypso factor 10 Dry Oil Sun Spray VERY effective. It is by far the best preventative I have found. I have examined the ingredients and I think it is one of the carriers in the dry oil spray that is working on my allergy. I have written at length to the manufacturers I think this warrants further investigation.
None of these are a 100% cure. But my Eczema is now very well controlled and far better than at any time in the previous 65 years.
No one would know I have Eczema currently. It is the best I have been able to achieve after years of embarrassment as a child and young adult. Great red patches all over your body are not fun.
This is what works for me: but any skin specialist (over the years I have probably seen over 20) will confirm the effectiveness of the treatment entirely depends on the reaction of the individual.
Tea Tree Oil, hypoallergenic non perfumed cream in a mix and Calypso dry oil spray applied separately every day without fail all over my sin works for me. I never miss an application and this really does work for me.
But each to their own. You need to experiment and test your own reaction.
Whatever you do keep the steroids at a minimum. The side effects such as thin skin are serious.
But eczema free living is better than steroid free living with severe eczema for me. Just be aware there is a real downside in steroid use.
Steffan said:
Had Eczema for 65 years and counting.
I have tried every cream and potion known to man and I have pretty well got it under control nowadays. Took me years to find effective emollients.
I have found
1) Topical steroid creams like Synylar. Efcortetlan, Betnovate, and Eumovate are highly effective. Synylar as a non greasy cream suits me best.
2) You MUST be aware that prolonged use of any topical steroids WILL cause thinning of the skin. Over the last thirty years my skin has become very thin and fragile. To the point where if I pinch myself I bleed under the skin instantly and it takes months to disappear.
Despite this, given the alternative of the horror of rampant eczema I would recommend these Steroids. Lesser of two evils.
3) Emollients such as Oilatum, and similar non soap base applications can be effective but I have not found them to be much use.
4) I suffered from Eczema in my hair. Betonvate scalp application works reasonably well for this. Remember it is a topical steroid.
5) I have found a non perfumed hypoallergenic moisturising cream mixed with Tea Tree Oil at the rate of about 5% very effective if applied regularly. There is a slightly clinical smell but it is better than bleeding skin which is the danger of constant steroid use.
6) I have also found treating my skin all over every day with Calypso factor 10 Dry Oil Sun Spray VERY effective. It is by far the best preventative I have found. I have examined the ingredients and I think it is one of the carriers in the dry oil spray that is working on my allergy. I have written at length to the manufacturers I think this warrants further investigation.
None of these are a 100% cure. But my Eczema is now very well controlled and far better than at any time in the previous 65 years.
No one would know I have Eczema currently. It is the best I have been able to achieve after years of embarrassment as a child and young adult. Great red patches all over your body are not fun.
This is what works for me: but any skin specialist (over the years I have probably seen over 20) will confirm the effectiveness of the treatment entirely depends on the reaction of the individual.
Tea Tree Oil, hypoallergenic non perfumed cream in a mix and Calypso dry oil spray applied separately every day without fail all over my sin works for me. I never miss an application and this really does work for me.
But each to their own. You need to experiment and test your own reaction.
Whatever you do keep the steroids at a minimum. The side effects such as thin skin are serious.
But eczema free living is better than steroid free living with severe eczema for me. Just be aware there is a real downside in steroid use.
Good post! I have had severe eczema since birth and currently still use dermovate on my body daily to keep it clear. I also still use Betnovate R/D on my face at night, tried may times to come off the steroids but the slightest amount of stress or allergens and it will take a week to bring it under control.I have tried every cream and potion known to man and I have pretty well got it under control nowadays. Took me years to find effective emollients.
I have found
1) Topical steroid creams like Synylar. Efcortetlan, Betnovate, and Eumovate are highly effective. Synylar as a non greasy cream suits me best.
2) You MUST be aware that prolonged use of any topical steroids WILL cause thinning of the skin. Over the last thirty years my skin has become very thin and fragile. To the point where if I pinch myself I bleed under the skin instantly and it takes months to disappear.
Despite this, given the alternative of the horror of rampant eczema I would recommend these Steroids. Lesser of two evils.
3) Emollients such as Oilatum, and similar non soap base applications can be effective but I have not found them to be much use.
4) I suffered from Eczema in my hair. Betonvate scalp application works reasonably well for this. Remember it is a topical steroid.
5) I have found a non perfumed hypoallergenic moisturising cream mixed with Tea Tree Oil at the rate of about 5% very effective if applied regularly. There is a slightly clinical smell but it is better than bleeding skin which is the danger of constant steroid use.
6) I have also found treating my skin all over every day with Calypso factor 10 Dry Oil Sun Spray VERY effective. It is by far the best preventative I have found. I have examined the ingredients and I think it is one of the carriers in the dry oil spray that is working on my allergy. I have written at length to the manufacturers I think this warrants further investigation.
None of these are a 100% cure. But my Eczema is now very well controlled and far better than at any time in the previous 65 years.
No one would know I have Eczema currently. It is the best I have been able to achieve after years of embarrassment as a child and young adult. Great red patches all over your body are not fun.
This is what works for me: but any skin specialist (over the years I have probably seen over 20) will confirm the effectiveness of the treatment entirely depends on the reaction of the individual.
Tea Tree Oil, hypoallergenic non perfumed cream in a mix and Calypso dry oil spray applied separately every day without fail all over my sin works for me. I never miss an application and this really does work for me.
But each to their own. You need to experiment and test your own reaction.
Whatever you do keep the steroids at a minimum. The side effects such as thin skin are serious.
But eczema free living is better than steroid free living with severe eczema for me. Just be aware there is a real downside in steroid use.
Betnovate Scalp application still makes me shudder, the leaflet talks about a cooling feeling during use..... no it bloody stings!!
Luckily neither of my kids have inherited this condition, although my eldest has sensitive skin.
I use as a general moisturisers the simple product range, also decleor is very good but expensive!
OP if your skin has any infection it may be worth using a fusidic acid cream combined with hydrocortisone cream
Edited by lemonslap on Wednesday 16th November 06:20
Pickled Piper said:
Has it really come to this? I'm recommending moisturiser to another bloke on an internet forum
Here goes then - I really like Aveeno cream. It's non scented. It's quite expensive but very good. Most pharmacies now stock it. It's trial and error with moisturiser. Try a few and see what you like.
Also, I agree with the other poster. Changes in the weather can bring on a flare up. A bit of UV light is also good.
pp
I agree with this too. Weather is a trigger for mine, and it ia always worse in winter due to central heating. Best to knock it on the head with a steriod cream, them to apply regular moisturiser to the parts that get affected.Here goes then - I really like Aveeno cream. It's non scented. It's quite expensive but very good. Most pharmacies now stock it. It's trial and error with moisturiser. Try a few and see what you like.
Also, I agree with the other poster. Changes in the weather can bring on a flare up. A bit of UV light is also good.
pp
I am presribed Diprobase which is good, and Dermol cream for washing my hands. But as a general moisturiser if find Aveeno very good. If you have a Costco near you it is far cheaper to buy from there. My daughter has a tendency to eczema, but by appling aveeno after each bath seems to keep it at bay.
Thankyou to all posters, in particular Steffan for such a detailed post- I really do appreciate it as I'm sure will future readers of this post. It's very interesting to hear your thoughts on Steroid creams. My parents were very against the use of steroid creams when i was younger unless the flare up was very bad indeed, and I understand why from your experience.
However previously steroids have been the only way to clear an outbreak in the past. The last few days it has been spreading down my arms to my hands so i need to do something.
Thankyou for the moisturiser advice and don't worry, I was in boots today asking for lipstick type products to stop chapped lips!
However previously steroids have been the only way to clear an outbreak in the past. The last few days it has been spreading down my arms to my hands so i need to do something.
Thankyou for the moisturiser advice and don't worry, I was in boots today asking for lipstick type products to stop chapped lips!
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I usually have no dairy in the house, however I have been staying in another house and drinking milk and eating cheese. I think you might be right. I have also been going through some changes in life that I guess you could call stressful. I guess this might also be related. Now I have the flair up I'm also getting worried about that (meetings, interviews, meeting friends- "why do I have bright rashes on me etc").
Steffan said:
Great red patches all over your body are not fun.
Too right, and a good way to put it. I always have the feeling people are ignoring them and wondering what they are, especially now I have them on my wrists and have been scratching away! On a serious note I'm not as bothered now but as I kid I absolutely hated it. I'd avoid sport, and was the only kid wearing long sleeved shirts in summer (the contrast between a white short sleeved shirt and my patches of red).
Edited by 0a on Wednesday 16th November 14:35
0a said:
Steffan said:
Great red patches all over your body are not fun.
Too right, and a good way to put it. I always have the feeling people are ignoring them and wondering what they are, especially now I have them on my wrists and have been scratching away! On a serious note I'm not as bothered now but as I kid I absolutely hated it. I'd avoid sport, and was the only kid wearing long sleeved shirts in summer (the contrast between a white short sleeved shirt and my patches of red).
Edited by 0a on Wednesday 16th November 14:35
I do not think there is a real cure for Eczema just as there is no real cure for Asthma (often associated) or arthritis, or a lot of chronic diseases.
I think the best than can be achieved is to get it under control, whilst being aware of the side effects of Steroids and the like.
Very interesting comment earlier in the post about Dairy products being a trigger. I have heard that before.
I have also heard that being overweight worsens Eczema. Not in my case.
I used to weigh ten stone more than I do now. I was 25 1/2 stone in my 30's and 40's 17stone 4lbs when I was 17. I am 5'8 tall (short)! always ha a serious weight problem.
My Eczema was no worse when I was massively overweight. I lost weight purely for general health reasons ) Heart, Blood Pressure etc) about twenty years ago and in the process massively reduced my dairy product intake.
Made not the slightest difference to the eczema.
I have continued to eat a much lower dairy intake to maintain the current weight. Just going on a superheated further diet and exercise regime to get down to 14 stone. I am not holding my breath I find it extremely difficult to get any more weight off below 15 1/2 stone.
But my blood pressure and ticker are both reaching danger levels again so I will have another go.
I take a huge number of pills every day, because the abuse I have given my body, has caused a lot of problems. Despite all these drugs my Eczema is better now than at any time in the last 65 years.
I think its the tea tree oil/moisturising cream daily and the Calypso Factor 10 Dry Oil spray. I swear by these and recommend them to everyone.
But as I said in my last post there is no common cause to Eczema and no common cure. Steroids work but be aware of the serious downside.
Try to find a non steroidal emollient that suits you. Steroids have downsides
I have done so after 55 years of suffering so you can understand why I recommend this to fellow sufferers.
Final positive note.
Eczema is more common amongst the intelligent members of our race. Fact. It is also a nasty, disfiguring and painful disease.
But it will not kill you.
Eczema for 24 years here, sadly one of those children that doesn't grow out of it.
My triggers tend to be anything that involves cleaning, so soap, shampoo (Head & Shoulders is the only one that I don't react to), new deodorants, washing up liquid (I got it on my hands when I had a cleaning job at a bakery), biological washing powder (strictly non-bio only for my skin), and then if I'm stressed it tends to make a flare-up worse.
I'm very lucky in that Aqueous cream tends to work very well for me, you can get it on prescription but if you have a Lloyds Pharmacy near you they do their own range of it and it's cheaper than prescription. It's an emollient, so it's meant to be a soap replacement, but it actually works on my eczema better than some steroid creams have in the past. It won't do much for the itching but it does heal things quicker in my experience.
Good luck!
My triggers tend to be anything that involves cleaning, so soap, shampoo (Head & Shoulders is the only one that I don't react to), new deodorants, washing up liquid (I got it on my hands when I had a cleaning job at a bakery), biological washing powder (strictly non-bio only for my skin), and then if I'm stressed it tends to make a flare-up worse.
I'm very lucky in that Aqueous cream tends to work very well for me, you can get it on prescription but if you have a Lloyds Pharmacy near you they do their own range of it and it's cheaper than prescription. It's an emollient, so it's meant to be a soap replacement, but it actually works on my eczema better than some steroid creams have in the past. It won't do much for the itching but it does heal things quicker in my experience.
Good luck!
I recently read an article that Sodium Lauryl Sulphate may aggravate Ecxcema and Dermatitis. The problem is that SLS is in most washing and moisturising products we use:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11564662
There are a number of emolients that are available that don't contain SLS. Your doctor can prescribe them.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11564662
There are a number of emolients that are available that don't contain SLS. Your doctor can prescribe them.
A quick update - after a couple of applications of Steroid cream it's looking far better. The ‘wet’ redness has gone and I’m managing with moisturiser.
I stopped touching (oh err) the cats and banned them from seating/bedding areas, reduced dairy consumption as well for good measure.
Thankyou all for the advice on this thread! I’m very lucky that my eczema seems to be quite manageable after cooling the initial outbreak.
Steffan, thankyou again for your post. What Tea Tree oil do you recommend? I have done a search and Body Shop seems to come up.
Regarding Aveeno products there seem to be a range out there (for example here: http://www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/aveeno.html), any advice as to what I should look for?
I stopped touching (oh err) the cats and banned them from seating/bedding areas, reduced dairy consumption as well for good measure.
Thankyou all for the advice on this thread! I’m very lucky that my eczema seems to be quite manageable after cooling the initial outbreak.
Steffan, thankyou again for your post. What Tea Tree oil do you recommend? I have done a search and Body Shop seems to come up.
Regarding Aveeno products there seem to be a range out there (for example here: http://www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/aveeno.html), any advice as to what I should look for?
Edited by 0a on Tuesday 22 November 14:20
0a said:
A quick update - after a couple of applications of Steroid cream it's looking far better. The ‘wet’ redness has gone and I’m managing with moisturiser.
I stopped touching (oh err) the cats and banned them from seating/bedding areas, reduced dairy consumption as well for good measure.
Thankyou all for the advice on this thread! I’m very lucky that my eczema seems to be quite manageable after cooling the initial outbreak.
Steffan, thankyou again for your post. What Tea Tree oil do you recommend? I have done a search and Body Shop seems to come up.
Regarding Aveeno products there seem to be a range out there (for example here: http://www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/aveeno.html), any advice as to what I should look for?
I buy the cheapest pure Tea Tree Oil from any retailer I can I find Wilkinsons the best at around £2.20 for a small pot.I stopped touching (oh err) the cats and banned them from seating/bedding areas, reduced dairy consumption as well for good measure.
Thankyou all for the advice on this thread! I’m very lucky that my eczema seems to be quite manageable after cooling the initial outbreak.
Steffan, thankyou again for your post. What Tea Tree oil do you recommend? I have done a search and Body Shop seems to come up.
Regarding Aveeno products there seem to be a range out there (for example here: http://www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/aveeno.html), any advice as to what I should look for?
Edited by 0a on Tuesday 22 November 14:20
I mix it with a base cream non perfumed fairly heavy moisturiser such as the simple range and I mix in the Tea Tree Oil into the cream and let it stand for a day or so in the airing cupboard. The heat helps the oil to mix in.
Never use Tea Tree Oil neat it can be too strong undiluted and burn the skin.
I also strongly suggest the SPF 15 Calypso Dry Oil spray as a preventative this definitely works for me. Really makes a difference.
Good luck with the treatment: please let me know if you find it helps.
Steffan said:
I buy the cheapest pure Tea Tree Oil from any retailer I can I find Wilkinsons the best at around £2.20 for a small pot.
I mix it with a base cream non perfumed fairly heavy moisturiser such as the simple range and I mix in the Tea Tree Oil into the cream and let it stand for a day or so in the airing cupboard. The heat helps the oil to mix in.
Never use Tea Tree Oil neat it can be too strong undiluted and burn the skin.
I also strongly suggest the SPF 15 Calypso Dry Oil spray as a preventative this definitely works for me. Really makes a difference.
Good luck with the treatment: please let me know if you find it helps.
Very kind of you to reply Steffan, we have a Wilko here so i'll pop down later and let you know how I get on.I mix it with a base cream non perfumed fairly heavy moisturiser such as the simple range and I mix in the Tea Tree Oil into the cream and let it stand for a day or so in the airing cupboard. The heat helps the oil to mix in.
Never use Tea Tree Oil neat it can be too strong undiluted and burn the skin.
I also strongly suggest the SPF 15 Calypso Dry Oil spray as a preventative this definitely works for me. Really makes a difference.
Good luck with the treatment: please let me know if you find it helps.
This is a great thread folks.
I've been an eczema sufferer since early childhood and have been to hell and back with it.
When I started uni, my skin went into melt-down (not terribly great timing given my new-found freedom and the truckloads of girls) to the point where even the local dermatologist was scratching his head (as it were). I tried all sorts. I was even put on immunosuppressant drugs normally used for transplant patients, which worked, but ferk me, I'd hate to think of the long term damage...
Anyway, the usual suspects like Betnovate and Eumovate are always kept on standby, but as above, should not be used long term (albeit I am guilty of that). But for me, I owe my life to this beasty:
It's the only moisturiser that I've found to work (and I've used them all). I can apply it in the morning after a shower and then not have to re-apply until the next day (albeit sometimes in the summer or season changes, I'll clart it on a little more often). It's expensive (£10.48 per 500g currently) but worth it. It's unlike any other moisturiser I've tried (which either don't moisturise nearly enough or worse still, cause a reaction (see below). It's also pretty greasy, but IMO the upsides far out way the downs. Like Betnovate (scalp application) it cools the skin on application (feels great after a shower) but crucially it doesn't contain a potentially harmful ingredient which took me years to uncover: Linalool.
This b
d substance (extracted from sheep's wool I think (can you imagine anything more inherently itchy?) is in all sorts of creams and potions, both medical or otherwise - especially hair gel. Like I said it took me years to conclude that the reason I was literally scratching my hair out was down to this evil ingredient in my hair products. The biggest surprise for me however was E45 - you know, the cream that's advertised on telly as being the answer to all your eczema related prayers? Well, guess what the active ingredient is sports fans? Yep - effing Linalool. Again, I only realised this after buying some E45 as a substitute for my then usual Dermovate when I was away travelling with work, to wake up in the middle of the night, sweating profusely, red raw and covered in blood. It was so bad that I had to go and buy a black shirt in the morning to hide the blood!
Now it won't be the same for everyone, but once I focussed on cutting Linalool out of my life, my skin has improved notably. This combined with liberal applications of Doublebase is helping me to keep it all under control.
Tea tree oil is another miracle worker, albeit I tend to use it for healing rather than anything else. However, a drop of tea tree oil massaged into the skin can at least keep it free from infection, which is sometimes half the battle with a big flair-up.
On the diet side, I find a heavy session on the booze will cause a flair-up or at least make my skin very dry. Drink plenty of water too. I find that, like a plant, keeping your body watered keeps your skin (leaves) hydrated.
I've been an eczema sufferer since early childhood and have been to hell and back with it.
When I started uni, my skin went into melt-down (not terribly great timing given my new-found freedom and the truckloads of girls) to the point where even the local dermatologist was scratching his head (as it were). I tried all sorts. I was even put on immunosuppressant drugs normally used for transplant patients, which worked, but ferk me, I'd hate to think of the long term damage...
Anyway, the usual suspects like Betnovate and Eumovate are always kept on standby, but as above, should not be used long term (albeit I am guilty of that). But for me, I owe my life to this beasty:
It's the only moisturiser that I've found to work (and I've used them all). I can apply it in the morning after a shower and then not have to re-apply until the next day (albeit sometimes in the summer or season changes, I'll clart it on a little more often). It's expensive (£10.48 per 500g currently) but worth it. It's unlike any other moisturiser I've tried (which either don't moisturise nearly enough or worse still, cause a reaction (see below). It's also pretty greasy, but IMO the upsides far out way the downs. Like Betnovate (scalp application) it cools the skin on application (feels great after a shower) but crucially it doesn't contain a potentially harmful ingredient which took me years to uncover: Linalool.
This b
d substance (extracted from sheep's wool I think (can you imagine anything more inherently itchy?) is in all sorts of creams and potions, both medical or otherwise - especially hair gel. Like I said it took me years to conclude that the reason I was literally scratching my hair out was down to this evil ingredient in my hair products. The biggest surprise for me however was E45 - you know, the cream that's advertised on telly as being the answer to all your eczema related prayers? Well, guess what the active ingredient is sports fans? Yep - effing Linalool. Again, I only realised this after buying some E45 as a substitute for my then usual Dermovate when I was away travelling with work, to wake up in the middle of the night, sweating profusely, red raw and covered in blood. It was so bad that I had to go and buy a black shirt in the morning to hide the blood! Now it won't be the same for everyone, but once I focussed on cutting Linalool out of my life, my skin has improved notably. This combined with liberal applications of Doublebase is helping me to keep it all under control.
Tea tree oil is another miracle worker, albeit I tend to use it for healing rather than anything else. However, a drop of tea tree oil massaged into the skin can at least keep it free from infection, which is sometimes half the battle with a big flair-up.
On the diet side, I find a heavy session on the booze will cause a flair-up or at least make my skin very dry. Drink plenty of water too. I find that, like a plant, keeping your body watered keeps your skin (leaves) hydrated.
Have had eczema ever since childhood and the only thing I've tried that actually works is this http://www.simple.co.uk/products/derma-intensive-r...
Ironically, it's one of the cheapest products I've ever tried but with a few applications a day for a couple of days the improvement in my eczema is amazing. Then I just use it once or twice a day as a preventative. You can get it from boots etc but if there's a bodyshop near you it's even cheaper there.
Ironically, it's one of the cheapest products I've ever tried but with a few applications a day for a couple of days the improvement in my eczema is amazing. Then I just use it once or twice a day as a preventative. You can get it from boots etc but if there's a bodyshop near you it's even cheaper there.
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff