By meereortalm on Thursday, August 12, 2010 - 03:05 am:

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By meereortalm on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 04:37 am:

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By bellaisfurious on Sunday, April 04, 2010 - 05:39 pm:

YOU CANNOT POSSIBLY LOVE YOURSELF WITH ECZEMA. EVERYONE IS GOING TO THINK IM A WALKING DISEASE & I ALMOST GOT KICKED OUT OF SCHOOL IN GRADE 7 B/C THOSE BASTARDS THOUGHT IT WAS CONTAGIOUS.


AS OF RIGHT NOW IT MYSETRIOUSLY SPREAD ALL OVER MY BODY NO MATTER HOW "HEALTHY" I EAT (I CANT DIGEST ANYTHING ANYWAY). I CANNOT WEAR SHORTS OR ANYTHING. NO POSSIBILITY OF SELF ESTEEM OR SELF CONFIDENCE THERE

By michelle on Wednesday, March 03, 2010 - 01:24 am:

I HAD ECZEMA AT THE AGE OF 6 YRS OLD,I DON,T KNOW WHAT MY MOM USED,BUT IT'S ALL GONE. BUT THE BLACK SPOTS ARE ALL OVER MY LEGS, I CAN'T EVEN WEAR SHORTS, AM ALWAYS IN LONG PANTS,EVEN WHEN ITS HOT WEATHER,AM TIRED OF HIDING MY LEGS CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP

By miss sad on Thursday, January 08, 2009 - 02:51 am:

I am 12 and have eczema all over my skin i scratch in my sleep and now i have scabs and lots of them i play basketball and have to were these long soccer socksto hide my legs its horrible. People always ask why i were them and i have to say some corny lie.

By brianna on Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 02:14 am:

also, gaga, i really don't think you want to give your toddlers a colon cleanse. that's a bad idea.
i wouldn't really try anything with the candida yeast stuff if i were you, because the basis of this is that antibiotics and other medications rid the body of good bacteria and make way for the bad stuff. i don't think your babies have been on much antibiotice, although maybe i'm wrong.
excema in babies is very common. it's likely they'll grow out of it. if not, there's stronger stuff available than you can use on babies. your doctor should really be the person you ask these questions to.
I think that with the food allergies they have, flaxseed oil would be off-limits, but ask a doctor. don't take my word for that.
i have no idea about the creams that you've mentioned, but it's easy to find out more info on the internet.

By brianna on Sunday, November 30, 2008 - 01:57 am:

Ugh! acne and excema together is really annoying. when i try to treat one, it seems like the other gets worse. like waging war on two borders- divert your forces to one area and the other enemy will take advantage of the lapse of defense. haha.
ok but i just got back from the doctor a couple days ago and she prescribed to me a corticosteroid (oral- prednizone i believe it was) and antibiotics. i took the first batch of the steroids this morning and my mom and i concur: i look a lot better. itchiness is very diminished and puffiness and inflammation around the eyes and face are so much reduced. i'm also recently on claritin because allergies make me itch, too. and so by this combination of allergy meds, steroids, and antibiotics i hope to take care of my excema and acne. we'll see.
also, i've been using eucerin lotion forever, but never tried the aquaphor line that they have. bought some today and it is REALLY helping, already. i recommend it. plain vaseline was just not working for me, and though the aquaphor stuff looks like vaseline, it has some more ingredients, and for some reason just worked a lot better. it has petrolatum, lanolin alcohol, mineral oil, ceresin, panthenol, glycerin, and bisabolol in it.

By GaGa on Thursday, October 23, 2008 - 03:51 am:

My toddlers are only 2 and 3 years old and both of them have eczema since they are few months old.
Does anyone try colon cleanse and know what it is? Or what is Candida Yeast Overgrowth, and how to diagonise it? Do you have experience taking Flaxseed oil. They have lots of food allergy, such as gluten, oat, egg and nuts. So do you think it is safe to take Flaxseed?

Have you tried Cetaphil cream? Which one works better, Cetaphil or Spectro cream for infant?

By Iruy on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 - 04:33 am:

Hello,

I had eczema since i was a little baby. I had to shave my hair off when i was a baby because my eczema was really bad on the scalp. Afterwords when i grew alittle, i would get red itchy spots on the folds of my legs and arms. I remember being forced to put on a cream that contained steroids. It stung alot when it entered a cut. That continued for a while, and then when i entered middle school, the eczema spread to my hand where it made me itch and it swelled up my hand, the skin looked like how an oranges skin looks like with the little clear spots in the skin. My hand would weep and tear as the skin stretched. I still have this problem now , and i am a senior in high school. And the worst of it all right now is that I have it on my head, really bad. It itches, weeps, scabs, and flakes alot. I feel disgusting when huge amounts of flakes come off my head. And the scalp weeps after i scratch it. I dont know if it will happen, and it might sound stupid but i fear that if it gets anyworse, I'll go bald or something. Im loosing alot of hair when i go into to the shower so i get scared. And it stings too. Also my hands are just..dead. I wish there is way to cure eczema because it makes me want to rip off my skin.

P.S. I heard from my doctor that eczema is caused by stress. So try not to become stressed.

By mitchel on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 - 12:27 pm:

hello,

i had eczema 4 years back. Now its cured but sometimes it reoccurs while some climatic change butafter applying the doctor prescribed cream i.e.Lupiderm-G it regresses.

the main concern of mine is the black spots.my skin tone is wheatish but those marks are prominently visible.
please tell me the way to get rid of that.

By Laura : on Friday, March 28, 2008 - 07:38 pm:

Thank-you so much for the advice

I tried going off dairy and wheat but it didnt seem to help

but good news!!- my eczema has cleared up!!!!

I think a combination of evening primrose oil ( once a day) stronger steriod creams antihistomine tablets, no scrathing ( i wore gloves at night and mostly during the day) and constant moisturising ( try doublebase cream it's fantastic)


I just want to say thank-you so much for being a shoulder to cry on. You've helped me through

You are all amazing strong people you WILL get through this- never doubt yourself

good luck


laura , 14


xxxx

By wheatfreecured on Friday, February 29, 2008 - 02:22 pm:

Laura,

Try this, do not eat wheat--white flour/gluten.
Also go off of dairy for two weeks at least... I had what you discribe.... the itch will go in a few days... my theroy is this, you have a food allergy so to speak... celiac... please google: celiac and rash,: csaceliacs.org/dh_symptoms.php :research this, as far as your acne, if you do have celiac, your body is not absorbing nutrients and you need to supplement yourself... if your itch goes away and you will then see the redness to start to fade as well... it is worth a try to see.... my son has acne and we find that if he takes vitamin B 5 and a B complex vitamin it is helping. copy and paste this article:gmuntz.tripod.com/b5.html

You could as your doctor for a blood test to rule out celiac before you go on the gluten free diet, but if you want to start right away, give it a try especially to see if your itch starts to go away, that maybe the answer.

Jeannine

By Laura on Thursday, February 28, 2008 - 03:43 pm:

Hi everyone

I'm 14 and have had excema ever since I can remember. I had moderate excema on the folds of my arms and legs in my early childhood and when I was about 12 my excema seemed to go completely. Unfortuantly my excema returned when I was 13 and is worse than ever and now very severe. It's all over my body and is very dry itchy and very red. It's all over my face especially round my eyes and everywhere I go people always stare at me and ask awkward questions.

School is especially hard because people bully me about it and call me nasty names. I have lots of scars on my legs from where I've scratched and red motled skin on my torso. Recently my excema has extended into my hairline as well. It's turned into oozing red bleeding sores on my head which are really painful and I'm terrified are going to make my hair fall out.

I can never sleep at night because of the itching and I always wake up with blood all over my sheets from where I've scratched till I bled.
I look like I have leprosy and feel so awful that sometimes I just want to end it all with suicide. It effects all aspects of my life.

I was wondering if going on the pill would help beacuse all my friends seem to have clearer skin after going on it. Please leave some advice for me

Thank you for making me feel less alone

By plasmagic on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 - 10:51 am:

melody, u totaly eliminate carbs as well?

By melody on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - 10:46 pm:

hi everyone ive had severe exzema for 15 yrs it got so bad that i was completely covered. I tried everything cortizone creme ,cortisteroids which are deadly.i finally did alot of research and i did a colin cleanse an changed my diet to strictly vegitables and in about 2 months i became completly clear .For the first time in my life my skin is perfect i urge u all to try it i also took flaxseed oil everyday .The natural cures really work.

By Irving Ellen on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 12:36 pm:

free photos of jewish woman maste

By Krissy on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 01:04 am:

I'm 14 in gr.9. i have eczema around my eyes. im lucky that it only flares up for a few months usually during the winter. my eyes are slightly scaly right now but not itchy, red or weeping anymore. i just hope it will go away soon. i heard that it usually does before the age of 25. im hoping thats true. If anyone has suggestions for me dont hesitate to email!!!

By MisterJay on Saturday, April 15, 2006 - 10:27 am:

I'm 16 and sufferered from eczema really bad as a child aged 0-5. After dissapearing for about 7 years it seems to have come back, though only on my face, around the nose and upper cheeks - this localization is baffling, and the sore/dryness is compounded by the mild acne that I suffer from too. Any ideas anyone ?

By cjt16 on Thursday, December 22, 2005 - 08:57 pm:

I'm 16 and I've had it since last year. I have the eczema on my face and acne on my body. I have been to the doctor soooooo many times and no hope for it to heal. Has anyone actually healed it fully before?

By charlie on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 05:06 pm:

Hi all!!

Im 22 and have had eczema for,well, ever!
WEll, there was once a time when i used Chinese herbs, and i have to say, it works!
However, i couldnt afford it for long..but thats not the point!

I went to one of these high street shops and had a check out. He had a quick check of me and then prescribed me a weeks supply of herbs. i had 7 brown bags full of roots and herby things. i had to simmer it for an hour in the morning with a pint of water the drain it and then drink it! i did it for a month and i have never had such good skin! i had no spots, no dry skin, i felt full of energy and it seemed to clean out my insides if you know what i mean!!
it took a month alltogether, but i saw results after a week.

i reckon everyone should try it and see what they think. ok, there are some bad points, like the taste and the fact that i smelt like a joss stick, but it was worth it.

Also, i think everyones skin if different so what works for one person doesnt work for another.
also, if stress triggers it, like me, you have to keep calm!
SOmeone wrote about putting everything in perpective, which i agree with. However, when its on your body, on your face and people actually recoil way from you then it will gradually chip away at your confidance.

i also find alcohol doesnt help!

By Ger on Wednesday, September 07, 2005 - 06:18 am:

Hi,
I'm familiar with the eczema skin problem as I have dealt with it on and off over the years. It finally flaired up terribly last year because I had gotten (wood) stain on my hands. It was so bad you would have thought I had leprecy. Anyway, through much investigation......I realized that the creams the doctors gave me (with high amounts of steroids) was not fixing the problem. So I refused to put anything with Steroids on my hands. I know I went through de-tox as my hands swelled after I stopped the steroids. Even the 1% hydrocrotisone approved by the FDA I would stay away from! Hydrocrotisone is a steroid! It never fixed anything, but was only a temorary relief, but made my skin on my hands dry out terribly. After I stopped the steroid creams, I went though "hell". My best bet was to run cold water over my hands when I had a breakout. Eventually my hands got much better and I was just careful not to touch anything that I thought would give me a problem.

Well, just recently I bought Kevin Truedeau's book "Natural cures they don't want you to know about." (great book!) I've been wanting to lose some extra weight and I read his suggestions. His first suggestion before anyone even tries to lose weight is to do some body cleanses. So I took his advice.

Through my weight issue, this is what I have found. (Thank God for Kevin Truedeau!) Have you ever heard of Candida yeast overgrowth? From what I understand more than 80% of people have it. It can be triggered by various things, but the main thing that stood out for me was the use of birth control and over use of antibiotics. Birth control was a yes, but I rarely used antibiotics although I have had to before. The drugs that are on the market can affect your "good bacteria" that you have. Antibiotics are famous for giving people yeast infections. Hmmmmm.........it all started to make sense. So I did some research on it and guess what many of the Candida sights say? Look at the 5th point on the list...... Eczema!!!

Candida Related Diseases

On this page we hope to create for you a clear picture of how the following diseases have a relationship to an overgrowth of fungus in the body. The solution we offer, because it eliminates the fungal overgrowth associated with these diseases, greatly improves the following conditions.


Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Chronic Sinusitis
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Fibromyalgia
Thrush
Eczema, or Atopic Dermatitis
Leaky Gut Syndrome/Crohn's/Ulcerative Colitis
Thoughts on these Candida related Diseases
Other sites about Candida Yeast Infections
Links to Related Health Topics


I did a few tests (home tests) that the sights have and determined that in fact, yes, I had Candida yeast overgrowth. I've just completed a month of the Candida yeast cleanse and I know it has helped me. Just yesterday, I was staining some wood and doing some painting, and I thought.........I had better get this off my hands because I thought I would have a flair up. Well, guess what? I never got one spot of eczema at all! My neighbor friend tested positive for the Candida yeast overgrowth too. She has had some sort of rash on her arms for years mostly in the summer. (never diagnoised as the doctors didn't know what caused it) She has done the Candida cleanse and her rash is gone!!! I realize that it is early for me to actually confirm with you that my eczema is cured, but I think that if I don't have any problems with it in the next couple of months, then I will believe that the Candida yeast overgrowth was the basis of my eczema. I plan on doing a colon cleanse next and a total detox of my body. I am also utilizing Kefir to replentish my good bacteria that was messed up by "pills" throughout my life. By the way, I'm 47 years old and for the past two years I have done lots of research on drugs prescribed by doctors and how they really don't help, and only mask the problem at hand. My neighbor also had a yeast infection that was cured by the Candida cleanse. It has helped her so much. So my advice to you and anyone else who has eczema, is to investigate body cleanses. I will give you a Candida sight so you can learn about it, but there is so much information out there on body cleanses, so checking into them would be my first suggestion. I did find the other day a colon cleanse that also says it eliminates Candida overgrowth. My neighbor and I utilized a product called Three lac. We both know it has helped. Anyway.......I hope this gives you some encouragement because I totally understand what you are going through. Here is the site......and there is alot of info out there. I would avoid any "doctor" advice as to taking any kind of drug because it will never get cured by a drug. Stay away from steroids (hydrocrotisone creams), and think about what inside you is actually causing the problem. Hopefully, this information will help you. Candida causes many problems inclusive of depression etc. This is only one site, .......lots of info out there. Keep smiling........I believe there is help! The doctors just don't know about it! In fact, my neighbor, Wilma, went and told her doctor what cured her yeast infection and her rash. (after the yeast infection came back when she took drugs to eliminate it) He asked her where she got the information and she told him the internet. I told her about it because of my reading Kevin's book! The doctor didn't know anything about Candida yeast overgrowth! Another great web site for health issues is by a doctor who does not believe in too many of the drugs now days. Great information and you can sign up for his newsletter at www.mercola.com

http://www.candidasupport.org/candidarelateddi.html

Gerry

By Georgie on Tuesday, September 06, 2005 - 01:59 pm:

EXCEMA SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!thats all i've got 2 say...lol

By Alex on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 02:28 pm:

What about Eczema and Keratosis pilaris? Does anyone else suffer from KP too?

Keratosis pilaris:
http://www.helpforkp.com

By nick_ruthers on Sunday, January 30, 2005 - 04:28 pm:

In response to Infestation - i refer you to the piece that i wrote further down the page - some of the products i mentioned may help!! I haven't been on this page for many months because fortunately my eczema is much improved!

What you must remember is that NO ONE is perfect; each and every one of us has problems and insecurities and we have to learn to deal with them. Often we tend to magnify our own problems and insecurities so that they become more important in our minds than they ever should. I am not trying to belittle your problem, but you must learn to accept (what you perceive to be) your flaws or at least put them in context.

I think your problem lies deeper than the patch eczema on your shoulder or the dryness on your arms; you must learn to love yourself and pay less attention to how other people perceive you (or how you think they perceive you). You may not fully understand what i am trying to say, but i suggest that you sit down and consider why you place so much emphasis on the way you appear to others. Is it really worth killing yourself because others can see a patch of eczema? You must learn to accept that you have eczema (which may or may not improve)and still be happy within yourself. If you can do that then hopefully you will place less emphasis on what other think of you, and you will come to understand that when others judge you, they don't define you, they define themselves.

Nick (22 years)

By lydia on Wednesday, December 15, 2004 - 05:36 am:

Hello Infestation,

You hate looking bad in public.
To kill yourself just because of a patch of eczema on your shoulder... how good do you think you'll look in the public with this???
Not everyone in the public has the same naive and shallow (sorry for this word) thinking as you. For these group of ppl, the most beautiful ppl are those who dare to stare at whatever conditions they have and stand out proudly in the world.
You have your eczema where you could always find ways to hide it. What about those with facial eczema like me? I know that there are still shallow ppl out there who stares, sometimes, not shallow but just ignorant because they have not encountered it before... just ignore them... you are not born into this world to please everybody.
Just being able to search and write to this forum to vent your frustation showed that you are not as shallow as you wanted others to believe. Find ways to be at peace with yourself. I know, sometimes you will still succumb to some depression period, it's ok, everyone does, just as long as you'll find ways to come out of it.
Good luck and all the best!

By upyours on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 11:15 am:

thats a really rude, shallow thing to say. especially on here. people on this board have to live with eczema every single day. we have to put up with the stares from people, the constant itching and pain. and you have the ordasity to come on here and say that our disease warrants suicide? are we so hideous that we dont deserve to live?
go to hell.

By Infestation on Tuesday, December 14, 2004 - 01:01 am:

I just found a patch of ecxema on my shoulder and i wanna kill my self. My dad has had it all these years and i thought i wasnt going to get it. My sister gets it but i never did but i notice now that the back of my arms are very dryed out and it looks like eczema. If i get it on my arms and all over my body like some of you i will kill my self. Guarenteeing you that right now. Im one of the most self concious people youll ever meet i hate looking bad in public or anything to that sort and if i find out that i am going to have eczema all over my body i will hang my self.

By Zoe on Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 12:45 pm:

Hi in response to KevinUK, i am a 21year old female hwo has what i think is what your describing as pom flecks! I have eczema and i get lots of little white heads or sort of spot things on my arms and legs eaven though they are really dry, it's very distressing because i feel i cant weat the things my friends wear like sort skirts and sort sleeved tops without feeling disgusting! I find that gentle exfoliation helps a bit and i try to use a light lotion instead of thick emolients to stop the pores getting blocked, it doesnt go away compleatly but it helps a little.

By ruth on Wednesday, October 27, 2004 - 02:00 pm:

scratchy - you probably need to get back to your doc and get yourself something a bit stronger to try and know the eczema on its head. the hydrocort is good for mild eczema - but if you have got severe patches of it popping up - then get yourself something stronger e.g. celestone or elocon. it might pay to get a small piece of gauze and tape - put some sorbolene cream on it and apply that over the itchy site - will help to keep that area moist and give it time to heal. will also conceal the area as well - as could put a length of tubigrip over the top of it to help keep it all in place..we have done this before and have found it helps

By scratchingawayouch on Tuesday, October 26, 2004 - 07:35 pm:

i have had excema for a while now and it is not that bad but it is still there and extremly itchy! i cant seem to get in control of it and the hydrocortisone doesnt help at all so i stopped using it. i cant really do anythin about it but aswell as having teenage spots starting the excema gets me down and i try to carry my school bag to cover my leg it is only about the thickness and size of my thumb but it always itches and then the blood goes brown - like it does - and looks hideous. can anyone give me any advice on how to get in control of it or should i go to my doctor?
please help

By Kevin1978UK on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - 05:35 pm:

Hi there all.

This is the first time I have posted on these boards as I've only just found it. I am a 26 year old chap and have eczema since I was 2 or 3. As a child I had the usual atopic eczema in the fold of legs and arms and on my cheeks. I grew out of that and now have what the doctors say is contact eczema. It can come up anywhere on my body and my flare ups happen irratically to the point I can't nail it down to food, detergents, stress or anything.
But recently things have changed and I have started getting little white heads on my lower legs that look much like acne. They are very itchy and also quite painful like a spot is. If I pop them they contain a white gooey liquid much the same as spots do.
My doctor says these are a form of eczema called 'Pom flecks' and 'they're not sure what causes them'. I can not seem to get rid of them.
Does anyone else have these or heard of 'Pom Flecks' and if so does anyone know of a way to treat them?
I've tried my usual Betnovate, Hydrocortisone, tacrolimus, Diprodbase, etc.... but nothing gets rid of them.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Cheers
Kevin
London, UK

By MsItchy on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 10:54 pm:

i am 18 and have had eczema for....at least 10 years. i am OSOTHANKFUL it's only on my legs for now, but it's ALL OVER MY LEGS and is continuing to climb upward. my doctors don't take me seriously because it seems like whenever i come in, my eczema is mostly gone. they keep giving me hydrocortisone which i believe i am now immune to. i hate shaving my legs because it irritates the eczema and when i sleep i scratch until i bleed. i, like angy, am venting. thank you for making me feel less alone. it's summer (duh) but i don't wear shorts because i am embarrassed about my icky icky skin.(luckily, my wonderful boyfriend says he doesn't care whether i shave or not, but i don't feel very sexy when my legs are hairy and red and itchy.) i am wondering if instead of shaving i should try waxing, as waxing lasts longer and the irritation will eventually clear up, whereas shaving lasts a day or two? any advice from da ladies who've tried waxing? thank you!!

By angy on Friday, July 30, 2004 - 04:26 pm:

I have also had eczema for my entire life, irritated by specific allergens. However for the last 10 years it has been extremely bad all over my body. I also moisturize and sparingly use steroid creams that just cover up the problem. In my sleep I often scratch until I have left marks and drawn blood. I have tried to wear gloves and socks on my hands, but when I wake up they have been removed in my sleep. I am almost 30 years old and I am losing hope that I am ever going to grow out of eczema accompanied by acne. The lasts skin specialist I went to said that the whiteheads were not acne, but small staff infections caused from scratching to hard. I have been to several specialists and doctors, for all of them to tell me that they have no idea what is causing the irritation. There are days when I am so embarrased to leave the house and go to work or school. In fact I take most of my classes online. It is horrible, because every where I go people stare and say things like bless your heart, did you get too much sun. Or your face is so red, are you OK? The truth is I am not, and I have no idea what else to do about it. My family and friends say as long as they have known me I have been red and blotchy. How embarrasing is it to live this way! I have tried all sorts of ointments and lotions only to be dissapointed. I have also tried the essential oils. I guess my next step will be the oolong tea! It is comforting to know that I am not the only one with these issues. It seems that way sometimes in day to day life when those around you appear to have normal skin. I can't imagine waking up and not having to cover my skin with vaseline. Thanks for allowing me to vent

By nick_ruthers on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 10:07 pm:

Hello everyone. I am 21 and have had eczema since being a toddler. Its extent has varied throughout the years, sometimes I have had perhaps only a small amount on the inner sides of my elbows, whereas at other times I have had eczema all over my body. Over the past year or so I have had persistently bad eczema on my face. Fortunately, prior to this I had relatively little eczema on my face, however, I have had a tremendous reversal of fortune! If my face is not dry and scaly, then it is red and inflammed. At times, it looks as if I have taken several blows to the head.

My eczema is normally worst first thing in the morning. Overnight I can not apply moisturiser or prevent my self from scratching. I often wake up to find deep scratches on my face, which leave faint scars on my face. I have tried fine cotton gloves, but I seem to rub the gloves against my face in the night (it is amasing quite how abrasive they can be - I have awoken in the past to find my face red raw). I have since taken to not wearing gloves and simply filing down my nails. However, despite filing my nails every night (to the extent that the nails are nearly down to bear flesh) I still get small scratches on my face.

My face is always dry in the morning even if I apply a coating of vaseline the night before. The inherant dryness of my face is causing me to get wrinkles 'before my time' (especially around my eyes). It is also frustrating that I get whiteheads around my cheek bones (aren't these normally associated with greasy skin?!). My only saving grace is the fact that I very rarely get any other spots on my face.

The eczema is still extremely disconcerting, to the extent that I avoid going out of the house because I am afraid of what people will think. I know this is the wrong attitude to take, but I am very self-conscious. In that context, I had (have?) anorexia since the age of 17. At one point I dropped to 6 stone (I am 6 feet tall). This severe and extremely persistent bout of eczema on my face just seems like the final straw!

For any of you out there who have a similar problem, I have very little advice to offer other than: be careful which chemicals and materials you come into contact with (eg. softners used in the washing machine, fragrances, parfum in moisturisers etc.);

try and reduce stress (I find that if I have a particularly heavy work load at university, the eczema becomes worse;

I seem to have tried all the creams/lotions/ointments etc. under the sun and have found only a few that I would recommend. Try aveeno lotion by Johnson and Johnson (for those of you in the UK, it can be purchased from boots). According to the label it contains no parfums.

I also recommend hydromol OINTMENT (NOT cream!) - this is similar to vaseline but less greasy and is very soothing (no nasty chemicals in there either, for those of you with very sensitive skin). Upon becoming warm (add hot water) it changes state from a solid to a luquid (a paste-like consistency depending on how much water you add).

I have also found Alpa Keri Oil useful. This is simply a mineral oil in a bottle that you can add the bath.

I occasionally use mild steroid cream/ointment, but be careful, use it liberally as it is known to thin the skin. You should be particularly careful if you wish to use it on your face (especially around the thin skin around your eyes).

I am not sure about the availability of all the treatments that I have mentioned, however I know that you can get Aveeno without prescription. I got the Alpha Keri and mild steroids with a prescription from my doctor (although I think you can get mild steroid cream/ointment over the counter). I got the hydromol with a prescription from a dermatologist, but I'm pretty sure you could get your GP to prescribe it (in terms of chemical constituents, it is very similar to vaseline, so you shouldn't have a problem obtaining it).

If anyone has any would like any more info on the things that I've mentioned then don't hesitate to post a reply.

If anyone has any advice for me I would love to hear from you!

GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL and one final piece of advice - take each day with your eczema (or skin condition) as it comes - its the best way!

Nick

By Mask on Monday, March 29, 2004 - 11:13 pm:

Hi,
does anyone have any solutions for me - I have pretty bad eczema on my face and I'm looking for a cure for blackheads and enlarged pores on my nose and cheeks. I'm willing to try anything because they look totally disgusting and I just want a way to get rid of them - I'm at my wits end.

Thank you

By chowmander on Thursday, August 21, 2003 - 06:37 am:

hmmm, i just recently got acne, i'm 16. I've had eczema for as long as i remember, but this last year particularly bad. But I dont konw what to do, i cant use any acne medication because it may dry my skin or irritate it. I use spectro jel which I must say is a very nice cleanser (I usually dont use cleansers on my face) but it doesnt help at all. I found that Oolong tea works sometimes. I'm reluctant to just to go the store to buy any acne medicine. And I use Nivea cream on my face, does that make my acne worse?

By Kim on Saturday, August 02, 2003 - 01:48 am:

help! I am 24 and i have been recently diagnosed with eczema. I first noticed it when I got off of my birth control, and now I want to go back on it, to see if it will clear it up. I was on Mircette, but now i want to try ortho tricylclin, however i am afraid that it might irritate my excema. What should i do?? Please help me!!
Kim

By kel on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 06:20 am:

Hi,
I started getting eczema on my face 3 years ago and only during winter when the air is dry. But just a couple of days ago I tried taking Evening Primrose Oil and it helped to reduce the redness and itchiness by a great deal. It's still quite dry but it's not red or itchy anymore.

By cleo on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 08:47 pm:

Hi everone im 18 and iv got eczema on both my legs and alittle on my finger.The eczema on my legs flares up after shaving my legs and bathing in the bath this is very irritating as it gets very very very itchy i try to leave it but i can iv tried sooooooooooooo many treatments and nothing seems to work for me.CAN ANY1 HERE RELATE TO THIS AND COULD YOU RECOMMEND ANY TREATMENTS.ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANTY HERBEL REMEDIES.
THANX
TASHA

By Anonymous on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 02:28 am:

Hi Mary. I am an Indian aged 23 years old. I have astma since I was two years old. It was not as serious but since 3 years back I have iragular mensures-1 year 3 times only. On top of that problem, I have eczema and black marks especially around my eyes. Recently, I went to see a speciallist and he told me that it is normal but I don't feel so. He gave me some medicine but till today eventhough it improves a lot but I want it to work fast because feel so unconferable, sleepless nights and embarressed. Please help me. Thanks!!

By saz on Monday, September 30, 2002 - 04:16 pm:

hey all!
i've suffered from severe eczema for many years now and after trying many things i recently stumbled across an amasing product from LUSH, it is called Dream Cream and it helps to soothe the skin very well. its not a cure, but when your skin is all red, hot n itchy it cools and calms it down well. hope it helps!

By Gilly on Monday, June 10, 2002 - 02:54 pm:

Hi all,
does anybody know why I get whiteheads on my arm and legs? The eczema is particularly bad in these areas.
Thanks

By jack on Saturday, July 21, 2001 - 04:28 pm:

hi all. i have been suffering from excema and infected acne for about 2 months now. although the dry, peeling skin has gone, i am now left with little bumps and protrusions all over my face, as well as acne on my chin and forehead. is there anything that u could recomend i try? thanksa lot

By CV on Monday, June 11, 2001 - 11:55 pm:

I take that question back. I was just diagnosed with dermatitis sebhorric now. The dr. said its not eczema. Another $60 office charge and $20 for new meds. I give up!

By CV on Saturday, June 09, 2001 - 11:31 pm:

I was just diagnosed with eczema on my face 3 weeks ago. Im 24, and just stopped taking the pill, which was helping keep my skin clear. The cream i am using has helped the bumps go away, but its causing pimples. I have had clear skin for years, and this is very hard for me right now. Anybody else get pimples from cortisteroids? Any suggestions?

Thanks

By heather on Monday, May 21, 2001 - 02:38 pm:

Hi mary. I am 25 and have just had a flare up of ecxema after 17 years of thinking it was gone from when I was a child. I'm 25 now. My ecxema is around my eyes, and it seems to spread down onto my cheeks as acne, or up onto my forehead as little bumps. I'm not a doctor, but you might need to readjust your birth control, and use vitamin e cream on the ecxema, as well as a gentle cleanser. Just remember that anything harsh on your face, like salisilic acid (which clears acne) will irritate your ecxema. You probably need a simple, gentle cleansing and moisurizing routine. You may also try pure rosewater to spray onto your face for toning and cooling if you don't have an allergy to that. Try going to a natural foods market, some of these remedies will be available there. Hang in there- you'll find something- I know it's miserable-it's especially hard for me, because I am a beautician!!! - heather

By marygrrl on Thursday, May 10, 2001 - 09:27 am:

Any tips for dealing with both eczema and acne at the same time?

I haven't had acne for a few years because of the birth control I was on. Then I had to switch to a different one. I'm in my 20's, but I feel like I'm 14 again... I have acne on my face and body. I also have easily-irritated eczema. It seems like whenever I do something good for one, it's bad for the other. An ongoing cycle. *UGH* Going to my doctor soon, but I would appreciate suggestions in the mean time.

Thanx!