Itchyness/Psoriasis/ Eczema

MissAdventure

Ah, that's a step in the right direction then, lemsip.
I am deficient in vitamin D, I know, but the pills make me really sick.
I also have low platelets.

I can't recognise my skin compared to how it was a few years back.

Vit D is fat soluble so should always be taken with food, preferably something with high fat content such as milk or dairy products.

I find Cera-Ve moisturiser cream very cooling and calming for my burning, itching legs.

keepingquiet

About twenty minutes after I've taken it, however I do, up it comes.
It must be as soon as it hits my stomach.

I take calci-d now, but vitamin d is still low.

What has your GP suggested? I suppose you could eat plenty of food high in Vit D, which would be a more natural way of getting into your system.

Maybe it is an allergy to the compound itself, and not so much the Vitamin.

I don't know any alternatives I'm afraid.

I've had chronic spontaneous urticaria since 2020. Sometimes the itching is so bad that I take ice blocks to bed. It's always worse in the evening and at night. At one point I was on seven anti histamines a day, still on four cetirizine a day. My local hospital which is good in some departments, had an utterly useless dermatology department. I'm now seeing a consultant at St Thomas's, who specialises in urticaria and feel much more confident that the treatment being offered will be helpful.

keepingquiet

What has your GP suggested? I suppose you could eat plenty of food high in Vit D, which would be a more natural way of getting into your system.

Maybe it is an allergy to the compound itself, and not so much the Vitamin.

I don't know any alternatives I'm afraid.

An infusion has been suggested, but when I asked if the would also make me sick, the consultant said "Yes, probably".

amzn.eu/d/9i4lOQv

I found this was the best cream, out of many I tried, for a severe all-over eczema flare up/skin reaction to a Covid booster.

I used a thin smear of hydrocortisone cream on the worst patches for a few days at a time, after using the Aproderm all over.
I was told by a doctor doing it this way creates a pathway to help absorb the steroid, otherwise it just sits on the surface and isn't as effective.

At its worst I couldn't wear a bra and had to wear a t-shirt inside out as the seams irritated my skin.

Any cream with liquid paraffin as an ingredient made it worse.

I took antihistamines, especially at bedtime as apparently cortisol levels rise overnight.

I still use Aveeno Baby bath/shower gel.

I switched to a non-bio laundry detergent and stopped using fabric softener.

You all have my sympathies, it's horrible feeling uncomfortable in your own skin ☹️

I've had all of these creams prescribed at some point, but I haven't tried that one with the hydrocortisone at the same time.

The creams all sit on top of my skin and seem to do nothing at all.

Do you have a recommendation for the hydrocortisone, please?

I've got the horrible patch on my leg that I'm convinced is going to end badly unless it's sorted.

MissAdventure, I am was a psoriasis sufferer. I found, inadvertently, when trying to lose weight, that as I followed a Keto way of eating, my psoriasis disappeared! Along with 4 + stone in weight. I came off after 2 years (it's really difficult (for me) to plan/weigh/shop/cook every day). My psoriasis has stayed away for a further 2 years, touch wood! After a lifetime of suffering. I'd def recommend it - the release from pain, discomfort and lotions and potions is immense!

I don't know anything at all about keto, and while I'm not ruling it out, it's perhaps the worst possible time for me to find out and give it a go.

That's not an excuse, honestly.

My advice, based on personal experience to anyone suffering from these problens is, as follows:

Buy toiletries, laundry soap and cleaning agents that do not contain any perfume.

Discard fabric softener and use vinegar instead.

Wash all garments, bed linen and towels that smell of perfumed washing powder in as hot water as possible, rinse with vinegar on a cold cycle, then repeat the cold cycle without vinegar. Afterwards run the empty washing machine on a hot cycle to get rid of any residue.

If you have to use a tumnble dryer, clean and rinse the filter before drying your clothes.

Keep a diary, where you make a note of what you eat, drink and wear every day for a month. It may help you pinpoint what causes flair-ups, thus indicating what you actually are reacting against. With the evidence of your diary to hand, it should be easier for your GP, dermatologist or specialist dealing with allergies to see what is causing the trouble.

Be very firm with friends and family who assure you that you cannot be allergic to their clothes, perfumes, pets, tobacco etc. etc. etc. You can. People can be allergic to anything under the sun and to the sun itself!

It is a lot of work tracking down the source of itching, etc. but worth making the attempt.

If antihistamines work, fine, but they are only dealing with the symptoms not curing the problem, and many people find themselves sleepy or dopey when taking antihistamines.

I'm familiar with many of these problems. I find that having a hot shower or bath can make them worse, so I'm surprised by some of the comments. I try to keep the shower temperature to a minimum, though not cold - brr..

One of the best creams I've found is 2% menthol in aqueous cream. The menthol is very soothing, especially if you keep it in the fridge.

Do you buy the menthol separately, please?
Or is it an all in one cream?

I've still a few pence left from buying up most of Boots the chemist.

I buy Stinky stuff for my dog and they now make it for human use too ( their dog one was ok for people, too, but they weren’t allowed to advertise it as such). People with skin problems have had great success using it. I’m going to use it for the eczema I tend to get on my hands if I’ve been washing them a lot.

www.boots.com/boots-pharmaceuticals-derma-care-w-w-cream-15g-10114906

This is the one I've got, but any brand of 1% hydrocortisone cream would do the same.

You use a very small amount on the affected area, once or twice a day for up to seven days.
I was told to take a break of four days before using it again if I needed to.
Steroid creams can cause skin thinning if overused.

However you shouldn't use it on broken or infected skin.

MissAdventure has your doctor or nurse seen your leg?
It sounds like it needs a professional to look at it.

I agree. When I worked at a surgery we took any leg problems very seriously.

yogitree

MissAdventure, I am was a psoriasis sufferer. I found, inadvertently, when trying to lose weight, that as I followed a Keto way of eating, my psoriasis disappeared! Along with 4 + stone in weight. I came off after 2 years (it's really difficult (for me) to plan/weigh/shop/cook every day). My psoriasis has stayed away for a further 2 years, touch wood! After a lifetime of suffering. I'd def recommend it - the release from pain, discomfort and lotions and potions is immense!

Diet worked for me too. I went on one that was devised for arthritis sufferers. There is a link between arthritis and psoriasis.
Unfortunately our medical profession is trained to go down the medication route and it is certainly much easier to give out a cream than to convince a sufferer to go on a strict diet. It was hard but worth it.

V3ra

www.boots.com/boots-pharmaceuticals-derma-care-w-w-cream-15g-10114906

This is the one I've got, but any brand of 1% hydrocortisone cream would do the same.

You use a very small amount on the affected area, once or twice a day for up to seven days.
I was told to take a break of four days before using it again if I needed to.
Steroid creams can cause skin thinning if overused.

However you shouldn't use it on broken or infected skin.

MissAdventure has your doctor or nurse seen your leg?
It sounds like it needs a professional to look at it.

Yes, I posted about my leg back in the summer, took advice, and got a prompt appointment with the nurse.

She prescribed cream, which is what always happens, so, I apply the cream, it sits on top of the rash, and here I am, all this time later, with a flat full of creams, in tubs, tubes, big pots and small pots, and still my rotten leg itches and is sore.

It seems such a fuss over nothing, but it's wearing me down.
Others are the same, I've no doubt.

It seems such a fuss over nothing, but it's wearing me down.

I can totally understand and sympathise with that.
I think you've given it long enough and should make a further appointment about your leg now.

Yes, I keep threatening to, but it's such a palava... I hate going to the doctors, too.
So, nobody to blame but myself if my leg drops off.

Misadventure, I know it would be a palaver that you could do without but I’m going to urge you to check with your GP too. The leg itch could be caused by poor circulation and there is a possibility that the skin may breakdown leading to an ulcer. They are notoriously difficult to heal and can cause a great many problems.

You mention that the cream seems to stay on top of your skin rather than sinking in. Have you tried massaging in a small amount of cream, waiting 5 minutes or so and then massaging in a second dose? This works for me.

Try and swim in the sea if you can. Have a tablespoon of local honey from your general area, first thing in the morning. Use Eubos pink soap. Keep your hair short. Avoid milk and gluten when you can. Eat plain yoghurt. Stay makeup-free whenever possible. Rub coconut oil into dry, scaly patches. You won't cure your conditions, but you'll feel better.

I tend to suffer from exzema on face, neck and shoulders. Having been successfully treated with a prescription steroid cream - can only use it for a fortnight as it is very strong - I now use Aveeno Dermexa. The local pharmacist recommended it. It has oatmeal in it which is good for repairing damaged skin. It's not cheap, but is very effective.

If E45 cream causes a reaction because it contains lanolin, you might be allergic to wool. I can not wear wool as that causes an irritation.