General Chat

we use Aveeno cream on my 3year old and it really helps for her all the other creams were making it worse so the skin nurse gave us a sample of the aveeno cream 2 years ago now and we have use it ever since

I've had ezcema for 39years and suffered with cracks in the hands, knees and elbows as a child. Then 9 years ago I had erthyrodermic ezcema and was hospitalised for 11 days when my son was less than 3 months old. I was head to toe boiling red and sore and wrapped in bandages and steroid creams. In May I had 2 punnets of strawberries in a very short space of time and since then I've been erthyrodermic with my ezcema again. Only when I got to see another doc this week, as mine is away, have I got it sorted within 24hours after 8 weeks of pain. I'm now on oral steroids for 10days on a reduced dose, use buckets of 'Ultrabase' moisturiser as I'm allergic to the chlorocresol ingredient in 'Diprobase' another common emollient, plus a strong cream beginning with M and antibiotics. I've had allergy testing last October and found out i'm also allergic, in addition to the chlorocresol, to potassium dichromate and chrome and neomycin. I have problems finding the right shampoo and can't use Dettol anitbiotic skin spray as it contains chlorocresol. It is a nightmare trying to navigate around which bottles of shampoo that I can use. The chlorocresol was also in the 'Betnovate RD' and 'Eumovate' that I'd used for years to try and relieve my ezcema and yet it would only prolong it with irritating my skin! I've used 'Surcare' washing clothes liquid for 2 months and now wondering if I'm reacting to that for this flare up to continue so long. Mum has just given my 'Ecover' to use which is made from plants and supposed to be more natural - she gets it in Tescos. I'm waiting to see if I get an apt. for more allergy testing as I've been referred again. My sister in NZ has been worried for me and has been excellent and she is now a virtually chemical free household and keeps trying to get me to try different products but I don't know if i can get them here yet. I'd love to find out what shampoo 'Many N's' is using as I normally use 'Simple Shampoo' but they've even changed their recipe for Frequent Wash Shampoo recently. 39years on and I'm still trying to work out what I react to. 'Johnson & Johnson Baby Moisturizer' put me in A&E on a drip last summer as my face swelled up for several days I could not see - and that said 'safe for mother and baby'.... but my OH jokes...'not safe for Claire!' Sorry to hear so many others suffer with it. Claire

paul I am interested to know where your eyelips are.? thankyou to everyone that has given me your views, it's an awful thing to suffer from, winter is the worst time for me, I have cracks along my finger that bleed, sometimes I put plasers on them, but I don't think that helps. I have yet throughout my life time to find something that helps but I will take all your suggestions on board and at least try them. I was so bad with it as a kid, and I remember my cousin (cos I do belive it is hereditary) she was covered with bandages and we were told it is beacuse she has the smallpox needle asa kid and I didn't. catherine xx

Yes, I have Eczema. I get it on the thin parts of skin. Especially my eyelids :-( I scare people sometimes when they just start bleeding for no reason. It's like something from a horror film. ___ Spelling changed! LOL

Malc, my daughter uses a shampoo off GP that smells like coal tar, she gets it on the scalp in the summer too, so has to take antihistamines. Both mine have asthma, eczema and hay fever unfortunately. M.

My Husband has really bad Hand and Foot Eczema and it's so bad at the minute that he's been signed of work - had 3 weeks so far and another one to go until he goes back to the Doctor. It's a really nasty and severe form of eczema and he's been on Antibiotics and Steroid Tablets as well as various creams. He definitely has an allergy to Nylon but there is something else going on as well. He finds that bathing his feet (where it's been worse) in salt water has helped a lot, especially when it's hot like this. Also, when you use your cream it's good if you can put some gloves or socks on straight away to help the cream soak in - obviously not so easy if it's not on your hands or feet. My Hubby is going to make an appointment with my Chiropractor as he does this 'Chiro Kinetic' which he says will take away the allergies. Also he can help settle the eczema as it is now. I know it sounds bizarre, but I've been seeing this chap for over 3 years and he hasn't just helped my dodgy back, he's also helped with viruses and infections and allergies. It's worth looking into Alternative Therapies like this. Kaye x

Isn't strange why we get it mostly on the hands. I only developed it after having children and seems to come back now and then when I'm stressed. Ruined my skin with cortisone cream, nasty stuff but it does seem to be the only thing. Anna x

Yes mine normally flares up worse in the winter on my arms and legs. This time of year its just normally my scalp so use coal tar soap. Had it since birth (brother and oldest sister asthma) (me and other sister Eczema) Hereditary (mums side)

Both my children have it and have done all their lives and they are 19 and 21 now. They have tried loads of creams, etc., best cream I've found for them is Eucerin. They use 5% on their faces and 10% on their body, they get the 10% one on prescription and the other one at Boots. M.

Not sure how much this will help but we switched all our food to organic and non processed. We noticed a dramatic improvement in our childrens skin - we have also eliminated ALL chemicals from our toiletries. Although the latter is extreme it has worked the children don't suffer anymore. There are now plenty of companies they do chemical free skin care. Faith in Nature, Green People and Miessence are the main ones - please bear in mind that as ethical as they are the Body Shop still use chemicals in their products so their not as natural as they're marketing suggests. The main culprit for irritating the skin is Sodium Lauryl Sulphate and this foaming agent chemical (also known as SLS or SLES) is in nearly ALL shampoos, conditioners, shower gels and soaps. It is a known skin irritant and it accumulates in the organs without being expelled by the body. The companies who use this chemical justify it by glibly remarking that they only use minute amounts in their products. However, to date there has been very little research on the cumulative effects on the body. Given the massive increase in ezcema, psoriasis, asthma and cancer we as a family took the decision to totally eradicate such chemicals from our and more importantly our childrens lives. The results have been dramatic.

Hi Catherine Have you tried a product called Dermaveen ?? I am finding it very good at kepping my eczema at bay, it is lovely & moisturising, it contains oatmeal. :0)) Joan

Forgot to mention, you can buy boxes of the sea salt crystals from the chemist and it's quite cheap for a box, Carol x

Hi Catherine, Suffered with it all my life. In and out of hospital asa a child. Drives me nuts!! My skin is sooo thin due to years of using strong steroids. I always find that being in the sun and in the sea is definately the best cure. Sea water stings like hell for a few days, it might even look worse for a day or two but stick it out as I swear by it. Good luck, Carol x

My Daughter was born with Eczema and still suffers now with it she like you has used ever Cream available and i have paid privately, we found the steriod creams just Massacred the problem and when it returned it was worse than ever, she takes Antihistamines daily, but we have found the only thing that works is Emulsifying ointment she uses as a Substitute soap, she applies it after washing, she did have a problem a few months ago as the Chemist she has used for 29yrs changed its supplier which causes her to flair up again, as the new supplier used a Different ingredient causing a reaction, its an on going problem, also the air con at work dry's her skin, but luckly she works in the community so only visits the office now and again, Hope you have some luck in finding a cure for yours Good Luck Lil

My grandaughter has it very badly and has to be wrapped in bandages at night. My son-in-law had it to the same extent but grew out of it for the most part by the time he was 21. Products made with a hight percentage of emu oil are apparently very useful for some people.

Hi there, I suffer from eczema on my hands and have flare ups during times of high stress.........I use the creams and emolients given to me from the dr. but I will say that for bathing I used to use 'The B*dy Shop' dead sea crystals and they were fantastic and had the same effect as going to the beach!!! I'm not sure if you can get them now but certainly worth a shot..........my niece was really bad with eczema all over her body and she was bathed in this every day and would hardly ever have cracks in the skin :-)) RDA.x.

It's probably worth a try. When I had the boys and a bum full of stitches, we were told to put salt in the bath to help heal up the wounds.

Hi Jean When I have been on holiday the sea does wonders. I live no where near the sea unfortunately, do you think pouring salt in water has the same effect or the bath.lol. catherine xx

I have had it all my life, born with it. As I have got older it has got better, there are places I don't get it anymore, but I still suffer on my hands, I have cream that I use regular and believe me I have tried every steroid cream known to man ever invented. I was just wondering if anyone else suffers and what do you find helps. Conventional or not. Thank you. catherine xx