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Eczema - can anyone help me?

(51 Posts)
Lilylaundry Thu 04-May-23 14:13:40

I have suffered from eczema for as long as I can remember but this winter it has slowly taken over my whole body, with only the soles of my feet free of it.

All the medical people give are steroid ointments, antihistamines and moisturising cream.

The steroid ointments take off a layer of skin, which doesn't bare thinking about. I have used them, very sparingly, a few times but my skin is so thin I stopped.

The moistures help for a very short while, then the urge of scratch my face, arms, legs, stomach, ribs, et al, becomes unbearable.

I know there is no cure but has anyone any good ideas.

Being in the sun helps a bit but living in north east England we rarely see the sun.

Forlornhope Thu 04-May-23 14:39:07

Gladskin eczema gel helps me. I think they do a range of stuff like creams, washes etc but I just use the gel. It’s not cheap but a little goes a long way and it makes life bearable.

MiniMoon Thu 04-May-23 15:39:26

Can you use the Gladskin gel around your eyes. I have been suffering eczema on my eyelids for over a year now. I bought Hydromol ointment, but it is very greasy. It does stop the itching and keeps the skin soft, but it is sticky.

downtoearth Thu 04-May-23 15:47:23

Is it possible it is psoriasis that you have ?

Forlornhope Thu 04-May-23 16:23:55

Mini moon - I’ve just checked the blurb in the box and it says it is ‘suitable for face, eyelids and body’. I think you can get a trial sample.

Lilylaundry Thu 04-May-23 16:24:17

Thanks for the advice. Over the years I've spent hundreds of pounds on ointments, gels, oils and moisturisers which have been no help, but I'm so desperate I'll give most things a go, so Gladskin gel is the next on the list for me.

All the medical people I've seen over the years have said its eczema.

Bluefox Thu 04-May-23 16:34:57

Helped me a lot when I saw a dermatologist and she prescribed creams the GP hadn’t. The one for my face is called Protopic and it’s not a steroid.

MiniMoon Thu 04-May-23 16:38:30

Thank you Forlornhope. I will give it a try.

grannyrebel7 Thu 04-May-23 16:51:23

I was prescribed Betnovate for my eyelids and it cleared it up really quickly.

Lilylaundry Thu 04-May-23 16:52:23

Thanks Bluefox, I'll see what the Gladskin does over a couple of months, if I get no joy there I shall give Protopic a try for my face.

VB000 Thu 04-May-23 18:31:03

My dermatologist arranged for me to have phototherapy treatment, which helped a lot. It is manageable with steroid creams for small outbreaks, but UVA treatments at the hospital made the biggest difference.

Thankfully I am now discharged from the specialist.

Lilylaundry Fri 05-May-23 10:58:16

Many thanks everyone.

I too had UVB treatment in 2012, It did the trick. I was clear for months then it gradually returned over the next years.

The Dermatologist said I would benefit from another session but due to Covic19 the hospital had closed it down. I believe it is still closed.

This sounds a bit odd but I take comfort in knowing I'm not alone with this horrible, cruel, skin problem.

Best wishes everyone.

silverlining48 Fri 05-May-23 11:10:29

I am still not sure how it worked but years ago a small girl who had defeated many specialists, with severe eczema which meant being completely bandaged every night.
Her mother began Chinese medicine which involved boiling up twigs and leaves which the little girl had to drink. and to her doctors and my complete amazement her eczema disappeared. I was
an unbeliever and still am in many ways, but witnessed a miracle.

Nanny2020 Fri 05-May-23 11:20:03

Have you thought about cutting out gluten from your diet ? I knew someone who had excema everywhere and things really improved after he changed his diet .

pascal30 Fri 05-May-23 11:27:11

I made my son a mix of organic sea buckthorn and almond oil which helped him quite a lot topically.. sea buckthorn is an oil obtainable online..

SusieB50 Fri 05-May-23 13:16:13

My son had severe eczema as a child . Porridge oats in a mesh bag run under a hot tap in the bath relieved the itching and then moisturising with E45 or similar constantly. I remember when he was really bad going to the school at lunch time to reapply E45 . Have you also tried taking dairy out of your diet? I too have eczema but not badly just a really really dry skin now that needs constant moisturiser otherwise I itch like mad . Can’t wear wool at all .

Soozikinzi Mon 08-May-23 11:14:31

My DDiL has had success completely cutting out dairy from her diet even using Almond milk in tea . I don't know if you've tried that ? Hope you find the solution .

Vintagegirl Mon 08-May-23 11:18:37

I have heard of the light treatment but done in hospital setting. Is it possible to buy a lamp for treatment at home?

Nannashirlz Mon 08-May-23 11:20:35

I’ve got psoriasis I’ve had since a baby it comes and goes over the years I’ve never been completely clear until I started taking some arthritis medication then I was clear for about 7yrs. Then I started taking covid jabs first few I was fine with but then I got a different one and since then they have come back out badly no matter what treatment I use it has no effect. So you could be like me it could be something else that you have done or taken just a thought. My son has eczema and so does my younger granddaughter E45 and fairy power is all he has known since a child check ingredient in every thing you do or take

undines Mon 08-May-23 11:27:19

PLEASE get yourself tested for intolerances
The standard medical profession has NO answers and will in all probability make things worse.
See a good alternative practitioner who has some conventional medical knowledge, to understand drugs etc and can sort out your nutritional requirements THOROUGHLY and PERSONALLY
Gluten and cow dairy (not goat) are very often to blame but there can be other things
Get yourself tested through kinesiology, which the practitioner will do, (standard med tests for allergies is not enough) and adjust your diet according to the advice you get
If you are in the Cotswolds/Avon, S Glos area I can give you the name of someone superb who can offer this. Her waiting list is at least four months but she's worth it.
Please don't do what my sister did which is suffer till her mid forties when she finally found out what her body did not like
There is an answer to this
Good luck!

lucky77 Mon 08-May-23 12:01:50

I don't know if you have seen the TV programme 'The Bad Skin Clinic' with Dr Emma Craythorne - the programme is set in a clinic in London OneWelbeck, 1 Welbeck Street,
London, W1G 0AR - she has featured severe eczema cases on this programme with brilliant results.

This video clip below on YouTube is one of the successful eczema success stories, there are others.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwNS_-2-AHA

Her contact page below:

www.dremmacraythorne.com/contact

She is an NHS dermatologist too so worth enquiring about being referred through NHS at Guy's and St Thomas'

www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/our-consultants/emma-craythorne

I think she could help you as your skin at the moment sounds very similar to this guy. You wouldn't have to feature on the programme, she is a private dermatologist as well as NHS.

Good luck hope this information is of help. The programme covers all skin conditions and is worth a watch if anyone is interested, she is a very personable person, and great with her patients.

VioletSky Mon 08-May-23 12:11:05

If the sun helped, would taking vitamin D help?

WiseOlderWoman Mon 08-May-23 12:20:31

Try improving your Gut Health with probiotics. Thus will improve Leaky Gut Syndrome. It might take some time to improve your eczema, depending on the severity, but it will work. Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride recommends the GAPS diet - "Gut & Physiology Syndrome".

swampy1961 Mon 08-May-23 12:34:49

Antihistamines should help with the itching to reduce urge to scratch?
Having been a life long sufferer of eczema - it is now reasonably under control but I do moisturise with Epaderm which can be used in the bath or shower. It's not fun for you OP but I hope you can get some relief soon.

Bea0802 Mon 08-May-23 13:10:04

I've had this mildly for some years but this winter it's been awful. I haven't eaten bread for around 20 years, which I think started it. So a couple of months ago I decided to improve my gut health. I've given up all bread type food like pitta and crumpets (I've managed to tolerate prev) no cakes or biscuits. I've also gone over to oat milk. I did actimal for a few weeks and also had some kombucha drinks. I'm surprised that it's been clearing up. Still got some itching but otherwise so much better.