Eczema Voice

Eczema Voice: Eczema and the Body: Eczema and Pain

By Ginny on Tuesday, February 09, 2010 - 02:45 pm:

I don't know if TheMandaStar will see this message, but it sounds to me like you have psoriasis on your knees and elbows. What does your dermatologist think? It's very easy to treat, but none of the standard eczema lotions will work. Good luck!

By TheMandaStar on Thursday, February 04, 2010 - 05:15 am:

Hi, i've been doing some research online for some bumps and itching i've had since i was a kid. i'm 23 yrs old now. i get them mostly on my arms, worse around the elbow and on my knees. the patches of bumps look like goosebumps (Everyone is always asking me if i'm cold) and they itch sometimes. the patches on my knees and elbows are always there but the patches on my arms come and go. could this be a mild form of eczema? there is no redness unless i itch and regular lotion doesn't seem to help. all the pics i've seen online look waaay worse then mine do.

By Elle on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 - 10:52 pm:

Hello,

I've had eczema since i was young (thanks to the ever so changing new zealand weather) and after years of having on and off inflammations, I found that changing my diet, eliminating dairy products as well as any food products high in colourings, additives and preservatives has helped a considerable amount. I also use Aveeno ultra calming daily moisturiser and night cream, with Skin health Skin Care Creme active honey (which you might only be able to get in New Zealand). If I need to apply steroid cream i use a small amount of lemnis fatty cream.

Hope this helps!

By Dean on Friday, October 02, 2009 - 11:57 pm:

hello everyone, i used to have really bad eczema as kid, nothing seemed to work....when i was 15 learnt about yoga and meditation. at first i was skeptical about all this. but the more i learnt about the stuff the more i found it had in common with my condition affected me . the yoga really helped me calm down, according to Vedic science the Pranayama Yoga (simple breathing yoga) removes toxins from the blood and reduces inflamation and controls immune response. so i tried it for 2 months and my skin really started to improve. next i was told to control my mind further as my eczema would always get worse when i was stressed, i was told to chant a sacred mantra which controls the mind further and causes further relaxation...HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE (30 mins softly in the morning) .

i was also told that eating meat and eggs, onions and garlic would make my eczema worse. in addition i was told to limit the amount of food i consumed with high artificial colours in, fizzy drinks, too much white flour and tomatoes. i personally found that about 70% of my eczema could simply be controlled by my diet...not looking at those stupid allergy tests, which always came back negative for me. i think we eczema suffers react differently on an immune level to food antigens, much more subtly, but acutely.

All above has worked for me, though it took time as my body was detoxing in a natural way. im free from eczema now, i think it has been a blessing from God.

btw please dont take hot baths/showers becuase over a few weeks it robs the skin of moisture causing it to get dry and flake therefore causing the itch scratch cycle. Breaking that cylcle is the key, to do that you need to control the mind, to do that you need the yoga I mentioned above; especially the chanting.

I hope you all get relief and better soon

By richard on Monday, September 14, 2009 - 12:09 pm:

Hi i have had eczema for as long as i can remember,i get it on my arms shoulders and legs. i am glad to see that i am not the only 1 who tries to boil myself in the shower just for a bit of relief. i still scratch myself bloody every night. the doctors dont seem to care much, they just giv me pills and creams that are virtually useless. i am hoping that someone can develop a surefire way of killing this affliction, permanently.
richard

By nash1 on Tuesday, September 01, 2009 - 05:06 pm:

hi, i was just wondering if anyone had any tips on eczema sufferers getting tattoos?i really want one but have very sensitive skin.

Thanks

By Jackie on Thursday, July 16, 2009 - 08:21 am:

Hello, I'm going to be 16 in August and I've been dealing with Eczema since I could remember. I have bad anxiety and currently have blisters all over my skin WITH my eczema and its getting worse and worse. It hurts SO bad I just want to cry!! Its expanded to my hands and sometimes to the parts were you just dont speak about. I get made fun of by people I know because I get to hot or to anxious to actually stop scratching. I used to just BOIL my skin in the shower because it made such a relef. I've been useing Emu Oil and it seems to be helping but since I've gotten the bisters, I think I'm allergic to it. I really dont know. But this hurts and its emberessing. Even though most of my friends say that they dont notice I'm still selfconious about it. I used to just clean out all of my scratchs with rubbing alcohol but it still doesnt want to go away. people tell me to stop itching but I just want to smack them and say I cant because it itches so much. My skin is unexplainably dry and it drives me crazy!! Stress makes it even worse and makes me want to just skin my own skin because it won't go away.

I really wish that I could find a lotion that will get rid of my itchyness. Or just calm me down... I share a room with my mom and she always has to yell at me to stop itching and she doesnt get how I cant!! and it makes it worse when she screams at me....

I just want to get better... I'm so tired of it :/

By RR on Monday, April 20, 2009 - 12:38 pm:

Shabz,

I do exactly the same thing. Dont feel bad. I was lying in a bath of just hot water at 4 o'clock this morning, I didnt go to sleep til 5.30 and had to get up at 8! And I cant stop scratching and the skin just looks angry now and is so itchy and stingy. I also put hot water bottles on my eczema. BUT its all making it worse in the long run. Starting now I am refusing to scratch, im going to take luke warm baths and no more hot water bottles, I know it seems to ease the pain momentarily but it comes back worse. Cut your nails down as short as possible if you havnt already and just make an effort not to boil the skin for fast relief! Probably not very helpful and all stuff you know and try already, but just keep trying. xx

By shabz on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - 12:10 pm:

Hi, i have very bad eczema, and it causes me a lot of pain, and is very uncomfortable. I don't know what to do about it. It keeps we awake at night. And i try not to itch, but i can't stop myself. and then when i itch it starts stinging, and is so uncomfortable, and i have to quickly apply creams to relieve it. I'm really worried about the harm i've done to my skin, as i use hot water when in the shower. that causes the itch to go. the water is very hot, and i'm sure i've burnt my skin. its so sore. i'm under consultant care, and going to have uv treatment soon. i'm just too embarassed to tell anyone what i've been doing, as i no its a stupid thing to do, but i've just been so desperate.

By Iain on Saturday, November 22, 2008 - 04:01 am:

Hi,

I have just today begun treatment for Eczema in the form of Betnovate-C cream.

I am 28 and over the past few weeks i have developed it under my arms and armpits which is very sore. Not 100% sure what it was to start with i used Sudacream which took the edge off but didnt really do anything so i went to the doctors and they have given me this Betnovate-C.

Now it seems to be helping however after the first usage it has left my skin yellow in areas...is this normal??

By Adieu on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - 03:00 pm:

In my case, codeine seems to alleviate not only the itch, but also the eczema itself. Using it frequently is highly pointless, as you'll first develop tolerance, and then side effects and/or addiction from high dosages.

HOWEVER, it is a lifesaver before an important date or other important public event. And it isn't at all sedative in therapeutic dosages. Just don't overdo it, people.

And watch out for other ingredients in the OTC. Here in Russia, the bastards from Drug Enforcement have done a lot to ban everything with codeine that doesn't contain 3-6 other ingredients. Avoid phenobarbital like the plague and large amounts of headache med substances (paracetamol, ibuprofen, etc.) too. Strangely enough, codeine's effect doesn't seem to be pain relief as such, but actually cancelling the eczema for a good 12-24 hours. If you have a 'for cough' preparation available in your area with codeine, with junk like herbs or something added to decrease abuse potential, that ought to be a better choice than pain meds or formulations with sedatives/antihistamines.

And do remember that large dosages of any OTC combined codeine formulation are generally highly toxic, and not even because of the opiate they contain (they are loaded with junk that causes liver damage, stomach damage, and/or provokes vomiting, so that kids don't use them to get high - not that this stops them or anything).

In conclusion: don't use it heavily unless you absolutely must, but there is absolutely NO reason to go through some important event (the wedding mentioned above comes to mind!) ridden with eczema.

By Rob on Saturday, November 15, 2008 - 12:44 pm:

Thanks for the replies,

I went down to devon, I have no clue what water type we have here-london. My skin wasn't really exposed seeming as it was cold and so I was wearin all warm clothing. I think that charlotte may be right about the luke warm water thing, Ill try that from now on.

By hope this helps on Wednesday, November 05, 2008 - 09:43 pm:

Rob

Do you have hard or soft water where you live? Where did you go for your trip? Was your skin exposed?

Sweating can irritate eczema, however if you have staph making the eczema worse (possibly not in your case by the sounds of things but still possible) then sweating can get rid of it out of the pores where washing might not.

If the water type is different or a different soap was used, if the temperature or climate was different, if you were exposed to sunlight, etc can all impact on eczema.

As Charlotte says, the cooler water could be a good explaination.

By Charlotte T on Wednesday, November 05, 2008 - 05:47 pm:

Hi Rob. I don´t think the sweating was the reason why your skin improved. Sweating actually irritates eczema, especially when you have a high level of toxins in your body that are released as you sweat. If you dont normally shower in luke warm water then this may be the reason your eczema improved. Using luke warm water as opposed to hot water is less stressful on your eczema as your skin doesnt dry out so much. Were you using different soap too? Charlotte T

By Rob on Monday, November 03, 2008 - 04:54 pm:

Hi,
I am a long term sufferer of eczema (since young age). My main problems with eczema are the large patches on my back which get dry, inflamed and darken. I also have a really bad dry,ichy scalp which drives me mad!!! Other then that I have dry skin and small flareups here and there.

Anyway recently I went on a trip where I showered once/twice (morning/evening) where the water really wasn't warm and it hurt initially, then applying moisturiser as normal. The trip had me hiking around where I got quite swetty at points while still wearing warm clothing as it was fairly cold. When I came back I noticed that my skin had really dramatically improved, I had no inflamed skin/dryness on my back. This wasn't long lived though, after about a week it started to go back to being crappy.
I'm wondering is this to do with sweating helping your skin? Showering twice a day in fairly cold/lukewarm water? I'm going to dry working out mabye to build up a sweat and then shower twice a day and see what happens.

By uhh on Sunday, September 14, 2008 - 12:01 am:

Looking at the beginning of this thread - has anyone managed to get any pain control or are they happy to get you all addicted to dangerous steroids but not addicted to (relatively) harmless opioids?

By kirstynz on Monday, September 08, 2008 - 05:29 am:

hey everyone,

Just read most of the forum and nearly cried. I am 40 next year and have finally lost patience, but weirdly, am glad to read that I am not alone.

like a lot of you, I too have had a majorly crap time with eczema since birth. I am just about to go on azathioprine in the hope that that might restart my immune system. Have tried everything known to man, being allergic to everything (almost) known to woman. Dermo agreed that 6 antihistamines a day was not healthy, especially if it had no effect.Ha ha.

BUT - Other things to try: I use Lemnis fatty Cream - paraffin based cream to grease up, least unpleasant so far. PH neutral body wash. cold cream for cleaning weeping - seems to sting the least, I use an avon one. Stinging, burning - try one of those bags you keep in the freezer for brusing, I find it comforting to just sit holding it on my face - makes me useless for anything else.

and the pain, ah yes...... All I can say is that child birth three times was easier. At least I knew that it was going to end and they wouldn't leave me in pain for over a day!!!

Relationships: my experience is that you just have to keep going. My eczema got worse at university, especially on my face and when I started work as a court lawyer. I think the fact that I had no choice but appear in public everyday made it easier to ignore what I thought other people were thinking. They still think it but I care less. Anyway, I met my husband when my skin was bad, we got engaged when I had iGEs of 50000 (I kid you not) and I was bloated on prednisone when we got married. He is amazing and I am still flaky. Our three kids seem fine.

Hope this helps anybody and just to know you are out there helps me.

Take care all

Kirsty

By hope this helps - mildly drunk on Thursday, September 04, 2008 - 08:31 pm:

Have you tried diprobase as a moisturiser?

Promethazine (a sedative) is available over the counter - get 10mg tablets, start on 1 and increase it over a few nights until the you find the dose that's right. Problem is it it's long acting.

Hydroxyine is a prescription sedating antihistamime. Similar to the above.

Cetirizine isn't going to send you to sleep. It's useful in the day time for itch relief, but that's about it. If it's not helping the itching, try loratadine or ask your GP for another antihistamine - desloratadine is prescription only and may pack more punch in the itch relief department, but there are lots of them.

If you're going to use codeine, bear in mind it causes a histamine release and may increase the itching - the presence of this side effect and it's intensity varies from person to person. Take an antihistamine BEFORE the codeine. Also, what dose did you try of cocodamol - do bear in mind that some people do not possess the gene to convert codeine to morphine and therefore it just won't work on them. Come back to me with the dose you used and we'll see what we can do to increase it if required. Bear in mind that cocodamol includes paracetamol, so don't take both at the same time.

For the flaking (if it's not sore), try Forever Living Aloe Scrub (a quick google will give you places to buy). It's a fairly gentle scrub that'll take off the top layer of dead skin, but IT IS ONLY USEFUL WHEN YOUR BODY IS SHEDDING DEAD SKIN AND THERE IS GOOD SKIN UNDERNEATH!! Use when there is sore skin underneath will make things a lot worse.

Dermovate is good, but strong - you might also try Metosyn for when the severity drops a little. It's less potent but very effective.

Your GP is certainly correct about the infection being the priority. Infection causes flaring and the extra pain. If you're not responding to the antibiotics, make sure you get it swabbed - that'll tell you what bugs are growing and what antibiotics will kill the buggers.

For moisture - just make sure you're drinking plenty (ideally avoid alcohol) as your skin will be the first place your body drags moisture from when it gets dehydrated.

The red lines will go in time. Keep an eye on them to make sure they're not breaking out again - early treatment with a mild steroid is better than using a stronger one after it gets bad.

Without having seen you it's hard to tell but you seem pretty symptomatic, both physically and psychologically. Get the infection sorted first and see how bad it is - you might benefit from oral steroids or immunosupression. The former your GP can do, the latter is for the dermatologist.

By Missty on Monday, September 01, 2008 - 02:26 pm:

hey miss allergic, thank you for the advice i know exactly where you are coming from. Im glad dermol 500 has worked for you but im afraid i have used this in the past and it was not mointurising enough and rashed my skin. At the moment im back on good old e45 which isnt great but i cant think of anything else. Im still using hydro cortisone on my face and chest and dermovate on my elbows ,feet and behind the knees. I keep waking up with niks taken out of ym skin though and now that its healed my skin looks discoloured and wrinkly. I have these red lines everywhere.

By miss allergic on Sunday, August 24, 2008 - 09:42 pm:

Hi Missty, I can recommend Dermol 500 as a moisturiser which contains an antimicrobial agent in it. For the bath I would recommend either dermol 600 or emulsiderm both of which are quite soothing for the skin. Your GP is probably right about not prescribing viscopaste if you have an infection as covering it can multiply it I think. I went through a similar phase as you were I was infected and itchy and weeping, to clear it then my skin was dry and tight. Keep moisturising and I know it sounds soooooo annoying but the less you scratch and pick the less healing the skin has to do. I hope that you get some help and understanding with the derm you are going to see. Post a message and let mke know how you get.Good luck

By Missty on Sunday, August 24, 2008 - 07:08 pm:

Hi every one sorry for the late reply been a bit busy lately. have a dissertation to do for college which im so far behind on due to this messy skin of mine.

Little update, finally got the infection under control with two kinds of antibiotics,Flucloxacillin and Penicillin VK. I was scarlett , red and oozing fluid on my torso so my new GP (finally changed!) has given me Trimovate for the weeping and Dermovate for the other inflamed areas and hydrocorisone for my face and neck plus Balneum for my dry skin. However, my skin is excrucaitingly tight with fissured lines behind my knees and inner elbows making it painful to walk. Bathing/showering is still painful too. Although my skin has healed considerably i have been getting what feels like ants crawling all over me and my skin has become grey looking and chapped. I have flakes falling off me all the time and i havent left the house now for two weeks. I have a dermatologist appointment in a week after much persisting. My new Gp still wont prescribe me visopaste bandages insisting that it is the infection thats prority at the moment.

What can i do for the pain and cracking. I have tried co-codomol and paracetamol without sucess and Cetitizine to act as a sedative and anti histimine , which helps slightly. Can i do something for the chapping? I apply my emollients 5 times a day and it stings like hell and then dries up leaving my skin just as tight as before.

Is there something to repair extreame mointure loss in my skin?

By A on Thursday, August 07, 2008 - 02:48 pm:

Hi,
I have had eczema ever since I can remember but since iv got older I dont seem to get many rashes as I used to but my skin is more dry, especially on my back. Is there anything other then moisturising I can do to help/cure this and how often should I bath/shower.

By kim on Tuesday, August 05, 2008 - 09:47 pm:

thats ok just didnt want anyone to think i was talking nonsense, kim x

By hope this on Tuesday, August 05, 2008 - 09:29 pm:

Thanks for that Kim, I was completely unaware that this was an accepted practice. My worry is not in the active ingredient but more in all the other crap they throw into these kinds of products to try and get an edge over competitors as they do not expect people to bathe in it.

Obviously people who know more than I have decided it's not an issue - thanks for the education!

By Morpheus on Tuesday, August 05, 2008 - 08:14 am:

Missty - the weird smell is most likely due to the infection on your skin. I have had this in the past too - it's horrid and almost metallic-like.

I used to see improvements in my skin after swimming in chlorinated water. What's happening is that the bacteria on the skin are being killed.

I read somewhere that people with eczema have many times the normal amount of bacteria on their skin compared to people without and especially S.Aureaus (but remember everyone has bacteria on their skin). The problem is that people with eczema tend to scratch which leads to multiple infections.

Bathing with salt/bleach/chlorhexidine/iodine solution etc may be helpful - just be careful because you might not tolerate some of these and they could make your skin worse.

Sounds like you may still need to get this infection under control with antibiotics. Re the flucloxacillin - there are other antibiotics that could be tried such as the erythromycin that someone else mentioned. Just remember that antibiotics tend to make everyone feel a bit sick but if you're experiencing diarrhea and vomiting it's probably time to try something else. It's also possible that you're allergic to some of them - I'm allergic to flucloxacillin - causes a full body rash etc which is not helpful when you're trying to treat a skin problem!

Try lots of different antihistamines until you find one that works but also keep in mind that your scratching may have become habitual so the help may be limited. If you cannot sleep your doctor may be willing to prescribe you sleeping tablets or give you one of the stronger sedating antihistamines.

Have you tried speaking to the doctor about getting viscopaste bandages? Someone else will need to put them on for you (preferably a nurse who knows what she/he's doing). There's also wet wrapping - this might help your arms.

You said you've referred yourself to a dermatologist? Any idea on when you'll be able to see them?

By kim on Tuesday, August 05, 2008 - 04:05 am:

Bleach baths for eczema
Pediatrics for Parents, March, 2005
E-mail Print Link For eczema sufferers, a twenty-minute bleach bath may be an effective way to kill bacteria on the skin and clear up atopic dermatitis. According to Cheryl Lee Eberting, M.D., "The active component of bleach is sodium hypochlorite--the same as Dakin's solution, which many doctors have used for years." Dakin's solution is 0.5% sodium hypochlorite and household bleach is 4-6% sodium hypochlorite. When a cup of bleach is diluted in a bath tub full of water, the sodium hypochlorite solution is weaker than Dalkin's but still effective.

Related Results Dr. Eberting, a clinical research fellow at the National Cancer Institute, stated, "In the right patient, we think [this treatment] can be very helpful in decreasing the amount of bacteria on the skin that may be contributing to the dermatitis. Soaking in this dilute of a solution for 20 minutes is unlikely to be harmful but is likely to decease the bacterial load on the skin and is likely to be akin to swimming in a swimming pool. We have seen similar benefits (in atopic dermatitis patients) who go swimming several times a week in a chlorinated pool."

Family Practice News, 10/1/04

there are several articles similar to this 1.But like i said in my previous message it will not suit everyone, kim x

By hope this helps on Tuesday, August 05, 2008 - 01:26 am:

Ouch, ending up in hospital isn't ideal at all. They wanted to admit me, but working in a hospital I decided I'd caught MRSA in my eczema once and that was enough.

Just a note - I would never, EVER advise bathing using even a small amount of bleach, salt - yes, bleach.... noooo. Chlorhexadine will help in a similar way and have less chance of dangerous side effects (says he currently in enough pain to be combining morphine based painkillers and whisky, my hands are numb but my back still hurts). If you're concerned about yeast infections then try the povidone-iodine 7.5% (Vidine) as it should nuke anything like that - it's used to prep incision sites before operations.

Fluxclox is a first line treatment with erythromycin being second line. You may find you tolerate enteric coated erythromycin better. Also if it has signs of infection get your GP to swab it and do a culture and sensitivity to determine the infection and what it is vulnerable to.

Sounds like you need to throw in an antihistamine for the itching. There are many, and over the counter stuff may help just as well as prescription ones - talk to your pharmacist (just don�t be duped into buying branded ones at this time of year� ask for generic). If you've tried anti-histamines and they don't help then you can use sedating ones to help you sleep like promethazine (available over the counter, try 10mg and work the dose up until it works, bearing in mind it can take a long time to remove from your system so it's only good for weekends) or hydroxyzine (prescription). Ideally, you wouldn't use these if already using an antihistamine but talk to your doctor as always.

Look up Amway - L.O.C is an all purpose cleaner which uses extracts from coconut. Coconut oil is antiseptic and anti-inflammatory and L.O.C can make a good soap substitute - as always try it on a small area first. I would recommend using the chlorhexadine 4% in the shower for 5-7 days a month as a matter of routine to clear out any bugs and L.O.C in between if it helps.

For general pain relief, opioids aren't ideal as they release histamine (bearing in mind I've just recommended antihistamines to relieve the itching you can see the issue), although may provide short term relief if you're in agony.

Eczema just adores staph aureus and so yes, you are prone to infections as that particular bug is found everywhere. Using long term antibiotics and / or showering in anti-septics can help avoid these.

Also, are you under a bloody dermatologist yet? Which city are you in?

By Peter on Monday, August 04, 2008 - 09:08 pm:

Missty, I sometimes notice a smell similar to a tom cat, which seems to occur if yeast is active: there are references to a strange smell on web sites dealing with yeast problems.

I have not tried light therapy, but I have found that sensible exposure to the sun helps.

By kim on Monday, August 04, 2008 - 05:57 pm:

hi missty

the smell could be that your eczema is infected. This does not suit everyone but after being on antibiotics for skin infections which dont seem to work,i bathe a couple of times aweek in a solution of a cupfull of salt and 2 capfulls of bleach ( note capfulls )in a tub of warm water it works for me.I find that the redness and even the itching calm down.I always use my creams straight after the bath.Like i said it will not suit everyone but i always found that when id been swimming in chlorinated or salt water my skin would improve. good luck , kim x

By wheatfreecured on Monday, August 04, 2008 - 05:17 pm:

Misty;

reseach; celiac disease... you may have an issue with gluten in your diet... the dark circles under your eyes would indicate that you do not have the correct vitamins and nutrients entering into your system.. and your immune system is a wreck... please google: celiac and gluten free diet and consider it...

By Missty on Monday, August 04, 2008 - 02:09 am:

Hi every one. I got my skin and itching controlled for a day there (a whole day ha ha). But it is V. Vdry and tight looking like tree bark. After a shower i was ok but my inner elbows were weeping really bad. I left it and the skin is so tight i cant move my arms. When i do hacks burst open and leek fluid. This morning there is a foul smell coming from the affected area. I can only describe the smell as acidic or something similar to taking off an elastoplast.

I feel there is bacteria on my skin that is keeping my condition going. I also have v.dark circles under my eyes and persistant infections all over my body-skin or other wise. I have not found a way to stop this. Any ideas? ps i have gave up on my GP and refered myself to a dermo plus im ordering the "eczema solution" . In the mean time what does this odour mean? can someone tell me? Also does light therapy work ive heard they do but i also worry about the UV light and skin cancer connection. Any one here tried light therapy?

By miss allergic on Friday, August 01, 2008 - 10:04 pm:

Hi Missty! I agree with Morpheus you need to try a tactic to stop scratching. For me when I got stressed I used to lie in bed before sleeping, thinking of all the things which stressed me and have a good old scratch and pick. I would wake up in the mornig covered in blood and depressed. To stop this at night I apply creams and moisturisers sitting on my bed and let them dry in fully. I either read a book ( by holding the book I cant scratch ) or watch tv until I am practically nodding of to sleep. It is a hard habit to break but one which is sooo worth while. Good luck. If I could break the cycle I know you can.

By Morpheus on Friday, August 01, 2008 - 06:06 am:

Hey Missty. So sorry to hear you ended up in hospital. Yeah - most antibiotics make people feel sick. I'm surprised that they didn't help though.

Keep doing what you're doing - sounds liek you've found a way to make yourself a bit more comfortable. That Dermamud shower cream sounds good.

You're right though - you really need to stop scratching. The more you scratch, the more you damage your skin and the more prone to infection you make it. It's a bad cycle. Sounds like your scratching has become habit and is sparked off by emotional events (stress etc) - that's just how I was.

Don't mean to sound like a broken record but the book 'the eczema solution' by Susan Armstrong-Brown will really help you control your scratching or even stop completely (like it did for me). I've not had any skin infections for 4 years now and I know that it's because I managed to break the itch-scratch cycle. Your skin will be able to heal when you're not tearing into it all the time and you might find that after a while dry skin is your only problem...

By Missty on Friday, August 01, 2008 - 04:19 am:

Hi morpheus and hopeithelps

just an update. Ended up in hospital with my skin and was given antibiotics Flucloxacillin. It made me feel sick and didnt really work. I decided i had to get out so i spend a few hours in sunlight and it seemed to ease the pain that i feel from all the raw areas that i regularly scratch. I have used neomycin before and iodine solutions before when i was in hospital many years ago. My doctor has given me a strong steroid ointment too which seems to have worked although im still red at the moment.

The things which i feel have helped heal my skin just now are

Ahava Dermamud shower cream- its very mointerising and doesnt sting and is made with dead sea salts and minerals and seems to calm the skin.

Body shop hemp body butter similary has helped the dryness of my skin and helped it heal.

I spend a whole day sleeping and this seemed to have helped as when i woke the skin was dry and covered in flaked skin but the open wounds had closed over.

Also, taking ten mins in the morning to wake up before going in a shower BEFORE breakfast seems to help for some reason.

However, after a very bad day at work and my father being ill has stressed me out and i have scratched my self real bad again and im back to the way i was before esp my face.

Does anybody find a way to deal with srtess and scratching? Is there something i can do to reduce my risk of infection as i am sure if i cont to scratch again i am bound to get another infection as i am prone to them?

By annie on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 05:00 pm:

Hi all!
I have eczema on my body and I seem to be very allergic to everything including people-stressful events.
I have found that not applying the dermatologists recommeded creams etc allows my skin to breathe-yes it's itchy but not painful as it would be if I used what is on offer from the NHS/GPs..I am allergic to parabens, paraffins and parfum/colours...I am going to try "Allergenics" range as I have tried everything else.
I only wear 100% cotton/linen and in comfortable styles..I have anti-dust mite bedding/covers and 100%cotton bedding-white.Also sleeping on a semi-soft towel helps with my itchy skin.
And when situation permits I air my skin/body-indoors only.
I'v been on anti-histamines since 2000,(this time) bascially when I moved to my apt (but I usually need allergy support when I come to live in Leicestershire, possibly the water is too hard)
I like this site..it's supportive to know others are in a similar situation especially regarding GPs/dermatologists. I am currently on my second opinion and 14th GP!
I've got labelled: "The Difficult One"
I have always been sensitive(in every sense of the word)maybe it's my mind set which will take longer to change.
annie

By Morpheus on Thursday, July 24, 2008 - 08:06 am:

Missty - I agree with what Hope it helps and nevergiveup said.

In fact you should make an official complaint re the not being referred to the dermatologist. It really sounds like you need to see one.

As for my skin I just use aloe vera gel and glycerine on it. My main problem is dry skin now - I don't really consider myself suffering from eczema anymore. However I wouldn't recommend either of the above emollients for you (well, maybe the aloe vera) - glycerine will sting like hell if you apply it to broken skin.

Your skin sounds like it needs some serious attention. No one can diagnose what's wrong with it over website but you're obviously really suffering and your doctor doesn't sound very helpful at all.

By Hope it helps on Thursday, July 24, 2008 - 12:36 am:

Missty,

You have the right to request a specialist referral. If your GP won't do this then you tell them you want it documenting that you have requested referral to a dermatologist as well as the reason why your GP feels this is inappropriate. That'll usually unsettle them enough to stop being a prat.

Any eczema that is weeping / crusty or large areas of bumpy skin which is red is suggestive of infection. Yours sounds infected but it's hard to tell from a description. Infection isn't just a complication, it's a vicious circle and actually exacerbates the disease process behind the eczema alongside the infection. Often long term (several weeks) Erythromycin (low dose - 500mg twice a day) will be used to great effect.

There are aggressive, topical treatments you can try if you're a) certain it's infected and b) willing to put up with some pain during showering.
I'd try hibiscrub (chlorhexadine 4%) on an arm while showering and see what the effect is. You can also try lathering iodine solutions - vidine 4% or 7.5% if I remember rightly. Both are available over the counter from pharmacists, but make sure you're aware of the potential side effects and contra-indications before playing.

The other thing you might try is Synalar-N (spelling??) which is a steroid with neomycin - an antibiotic. That is definitely prescription.

As for the stinging with creams, you might try Diprobase as a bog standard emollient.

If you're in a large amount of chronic pain you can try Solphadine Max (pharmacy) which is co-codamol. Please bear in mind that codeine can cause itching as a side effect so it's up to you if you're desperate enough as it could make things worse. I've only suggested the particular brand as it is the highest dose of codeine available over the counter to my knowledge.

By nevergiveup on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - 09:54 pm:

When i first saw a dermatologist i was afraid to try anything on my skin because it would sting so bad, or i'd be alllergic to it, she suggested to try what they did in the old days. They applied regular shortening after showering. I tried it, no burning, no hurt, cheap, and the only side effect was my brothers puppy kept wanted to lick my legs. Maybe try it in between trying other things. I'm currently rotating different oils, cept coconut oil (allergic). including jahoba, extra virgin olive oil,emu oil,and calendula oil for babies (from Weleda). Hope this works. If it dont work, you can always make cookies.

By Missty on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - 05:43 am:

Hi morpheus, sorry for the late reply

I have asked my GP about antibiotics but he insists that it is not an infection but skin damage . He has given me Fucidin ointment which keeps staph infections away.I do believe myself that i may be infected as at the moment my skin is weeping yellow fluid which dries up and tightens. I have very dry, crepy skin that rips easily and i cant actually walk upright just now as i have raw flesh and hacks at the backs of my knees and inner elbows. I need to keep my limbs bent and the sores at my joints have tried to heal and the skin around them has become hard. My Gp has also prescribed Elocon to stop inflamation and E45 to deal with the tight dryness but nothing works.

I went back to my Gp to insist he done something so now i have a new ointment thats an immunosuppresant but i am already skeptical it will work.

I already use soft white paraffin when in a shower but i feel it makes my skin rashed and reacts with the other creams i have to put on once im out the shower. The only thing that seems to work ok is boots sensitive body lotion which gives a little relief to the dryness. I need something to heal up all my cracks so i can move again, my skin seriously falls off,even if i lightly touch it and i feel like my skin is crawling all the time. I also get what feels like hot flashes.

I am attending hypnotherapy classes next week to convinve myself not to scratch. Sorry this is so long its just i feel i have never had a place to talk to someone with eczema so similar to my own. Im afraid the NHS is rubbish as they wont refer me to a dermotologist! Can i ask you what you do with your skin daily? thank you very much for the advice previously.

By zippie on Monday, July 14, 2008 - 12:30 am:

hi
like everyone on here i have problems with skin(whole body at the minute). i am aware of how sore it can be when it is really bad and the skin is broken and raw. when my skin is itchy i literally tear lumps out of my skin and the pain has took the enjoyment out of life on many occasions. when i first had eczema i didnt think it could get so bad and i was shocked at how distressing the condition can become. if you are very sore i wouldnt recommend using the shower as the water and air pressure can make things worse, a bath is def better. when my skin is sore i take pain killers and sometimes they provide mild relief. my advice to anybody with this condition is to keep your nails very short, always try to think positive about your skin, no point thinking its never going to heal, try and keep your skin as clean as possible without drying it out to much, i know this is not easy, read as much about the condition as you can, better understanding of eczema can sometimes give you new ideas to try and try not to worry to much about it, when i do it makes mine worse. i hope they find a cure for eczema soon, goodluck

By Morpheus on Sunday, July 13, 2008 - 01:43 pm:

Missty - if your skin is infected you probably need antibiotic tablets rather than the Fucidin ointment the doctor has prescribed. Have you ever been prescribed antibiotics in the past to treat your eczema? The reason I ask is because I was rarely prescribed antibiotics whilst I was growing up by my GP or dermatologist. But when I went to Uni I had a very good GP who did prescribe them for me when my skin was bad - and they really helped.

Steroid tablets are not so great if you are on them long term (they can cause bone demineralisation) but occasionally you may just need them eg for an asthma attack or really bad eczema flare up.

Are you seeing a dermatologist? Whoever you are seeing I think you should really stress how it's affecting your everyday life - most doctors have very little understanding of this. They are not helping you manage your skin effectively.

As for the shower problem - I used to suffer from the same thing. Applying a layer of vaseline to the affected areas helped me. The shower probably hurts more because of the pressure of the water hitting your damaged skin in sharp points - I remember exactly how this felt so I really sympathise.

The reason you're shivering may be due to the loss of body heat through your damaged skin. It may also be because of the pain. I'm not sure what to suggest for that though - I never found a way of easing it apart from distracting myself with sleep/food/drink.

Do you scratch your skin badly? If so - please read The Eczema Solution. It REALLY helped transform the state of my skin. I was highly skeptical about the process of habit reversal but the effects have been dramatic.

By Missty on Sunday, July 13, 2008 - 02:10 am:

Does any body feel so much pain when they go in a shower? i feel like today the skin on the back of my knees and arm bends are raw and the shower pressure hurts? I try bathing but for some reason i itch more in a bath than a shower but hurt in the shower more than a bath.

Also, i seem to shiver alot when my skin is all sore. Like when i put ointments over a area where the skin is nearly all taken off i shiver? Plus pain killers dont seem to work? is there something i can use/ take befor a bath or shower to dull the pain that feels like acid hitting me skin?

By Missty on Sunday, July 13, 2008 - 02:03 am:

hi morpheaus! Thank you for your advice. I consulted my doctor and he prescribed Fucidin H ointment for the raw weeping areas which , as you pointed out, are infected.

My doctor is reluctant to prescribe oral steroids since i already take a high steriod inhaler for bad asthma.

Im afraid fusidin has not really worked althought it has controlled the inflamation.

I have been given immunosupressant ointments now but im reluctant to use it as it states on the label that it can make you more prone to infections. Ive very confused. I really want a product that would both work at mointurising and keeping infection at bay! Have you tried any herbal suppliments with success?

By Morpheus on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 - 10:39 am:

Missty - applying lotions or creams to any area of broken skin has the potential to cause severe stinging and irritation because these are water based. Using ointments (which are oil based) instead like vaseline though messy should reduce this - of course there is the chance that you might be sensitive to these also. Unfortunately you've just got to keep trying different things until you find one that works but I definitely think you should try ointments.

Also Missty I really think that you need to get help from your doctor because if you've got open weeping skin you're going to be really prone to infection which is exactly what you don't need with eczema! It sounds like your skin may already be infected - your descriptions sound familiar to me because this is how my skin was when infected.

Have your doctor tried you on oral steroids?

By missty on Monday, June 16, 2008 - 02:34 pm:

Hi all! my problem is stinging. I have open cuts ans sores all over my body and face. The skin on my face and neck is esp thin and prone to ripping. When my skin is broken it weeps water. When the weeping dries it sticks to my clothes and hurts when i attempt to change clothes and even worse get in a shower it becomes unbearable till i have to get out.

When i get out the luke warm shower i am usually rashed and covered in ulticara on my chest and stomach and red/burning on my face. I use E45 just now and my skin is not infected. Steroid creams and ointments dont work and since im outside often i am worried about sun exposure.

Any lotions i use STING like so much and then i become red and itchy. Is there anything that wont STING. Plus the areas where the skin has been taken off weep so bad and i dont know how to cope with it , any help please?

By Lorna on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - 01:03 pm:

i suffer from eczema quite severely, but thank god it's not that bad on my face. I do however, get patches which are red and flakey, i usually put a tiny bit of vaseline on these and it makes them go away no problem.

By Annonymous on Monday, February 11, 2008 - 12:37 am:

Can I ask if there is anybody else who's skin has developed really dry into their teenage years? I mean I can cope with the minor inflamtions I get time to time but the patchy dry skin which comes and goes in loads of places really annoys me, I just want it gone!

By wheatfreecured on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 - 02:03 pm:

Andy,

I agree... talk with your parents and the Derm... your reaction to wheat, could be your skin issues. Mention it to the derm and ask his opinion, a simple skin sample and blood work can be done to determine it.

Good Luck and keep us posted.

jeannine

By andy on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 - 09:28 am:

Thanks for the reply " wheatfreecured".

I had an allergy test a few years ago. Basically I have in the past suffered from bad hayfever, weak asthma and allergies to some things such as: soya, nuts, citrus fruits, grass pollen, dust mites.
I have had reactions to this which i remember used to consist of ichy eyes and hayfever like reactions. I also remember once where i had a reactions to eating a raw carrot and my lip swelled badly.

Basically for quite a while now I havn't had any hayfever like reactions, even in the summer. I don't really ever suffer from asthma. Regarding allergies-I have eaten things in such as soya and nuts and shown no reaction at all. My skin generally has seemed fairly consistant with how it is. I think its very worth while I have another allergy test, but when I did have one i remember I didn't show signs of any wheat/dairy allergies. Anyway I think its best if I just talk to my parents and go see the dermatologist I used to see when I was younger. The last time i went to him I remember my skin was almost normal.

By wheatfreecured on Sunday, January 27, 2008 - 11:54 pm:

Dear Andy,

Please look over the post under allergies...

research: Celiac, you could have an allergy... I lived with what I thought was eczema for 45 years only to find out, it was wheat flour... any way.... you could have a food allergy... also google vitamin herbs for the skin... consider everything... just do not take eczema as what you have... it may not be that at all and just a label to describe dry skin...

jeannine

By andy on Sunday, January 27, 2008 - 02:16 am:

Hi people,

Im 17, I have had eczema since I was young like most of you. I really have trouble understanding my eczema simply because its changed quite a bit. I remember when I was younger my eczema used to be simply having a small flareup on the leg/arm bends. I used to do loads of swimming while I was younger and my skin didn't suffer from it really. As I got older and went through puberty I found my skin became less focused on getting inflamed flareups and more just being dry/annoying and itchy. Currently I can't even imagine swimming because as soon as I'd dry off my skin would slowly dry out until I have various patches of dry flakey skin in random places. Generally while I have moisturizer on my skin appears normal apart from the few minor scratches which heal up fairly quick. It really has had a really bad impact on my social life, it has my mind all over the place. It really badly depresses me, I mean most people in life want to fall in love, get ritch and do incredible things. All I want to do is have normal skin, I would trade most things in life just to have something people don't ever even have to consider. The skin is the biggest organ of the body and my is diseased. I know, my skin isn't half as bad as other people's, throughout different times I go through massive different mental changes even throughout just one day. Sometimes I can convince myself its not a big deal and theres still hope it will get better, others I feel like life isn't worth continuing.
Im really not boasting but I am quite good looking not that it matters whilst I have this disease. I have had a few very pretty girls interested in me but I could never have the courage to get into a relationship because not matter how much I tell myself that its not a big deal, they might understand I just dont see it happening.

I don't really need help managing it, I know my skin fairly well and theres nothing more I think I can do to improve it. I heard Zinc can put it into remission which i might try.
Im sorry for being so negative, Im just at the point where I have so many mixed emotions flying around my head, I just wanted to write them down to try understand myself to some degree as theres nobody I feel I can talk to. Not even my mother/fasther or even my sister who has eczema too. To them my skin appears fine, mabye it does, but this is really hell for me and I just want it to go away.
andy

By leyton on Monday, January 07, 2008 - 04:40 pm:

hi i just like to say that i have had eczema 4 my whole life and now i am 19 years old, it is really annoying as in the summer i cannot wear shorts as it is really bad on my legs and has left scars eg red skin and very dark skin, people always said to me that as i get older my eczema will go but it simply hasnt and is the same as it always was,my scratching is really bad and i have damaged most parts of my skin by itching it.
please could u give me some advice on any creams that i could put on to help my skin, (as the docters medicine has not really helped) or any other ways, thank you look forward to hearing from you.

By sarah on Tuesday, January 01, 2008 - 03:02 pm:

hi. I have just been told I have eczema. I have it in three patches on my back and on my right hand. I have rwo tattoos. one on my arm and one on my back. when I had the first tattoo done, I god impetago from it. That never stopped me from getting another one! One thing I will say is if you scar on your tattoo it will always be damaged unless you keep getting it touched up. It might be worth having a word with your doctor before you get a tattoo

By MillieWii on Sunday, December 30, 2007 - 07:56 am:

Vanessa, hello. Yes, if you can envision yourself with this tatoo for the rest of your life then by all means get it!! I can also suggsst that you look into an herbal anti-eczema cream on eBay made by Salus2005. It is really good! Nothing I tried works for my eczema except this home-made ointment: a couple of weeks of using it my skin cleared almost completely!! Try it.

By Vanessa on Sunday, December 30, 2007 - 01:14 am:

Hi my name is Vanessa, I'm 20 and have suffered from eczema pretty badly all my life. It is literally all over my body. Anyways, I am seriously considering getting a tattoo and I was wondering what other peoples' experiences were with getting a tattoo with eczema...a lot of people have told me it doesn't sound like a good idea, but I don't want my eczema to hold me back from expressing myself with a tattoo for my whole life.

By bjames on Tuesday, December 25, 2007 - 07:36 pm:

hello my name is brian i am 72 years young and have suffered eczema all my life and still do.Ido not want to frighten youngster but i am afraid there is no cure.It is an individual complaint,it is trial and error to find what creams are best suited to you.And what things to avoid.I have seen numerous dermatologists.I think know more than they do! at the moment i am using BETOVATE for body EUMOVATE for face & scalp lotion.Personally i avoid water.Ihave been in hospital with it 3 times.You need to get someone to cream your back for you.If i can be of any help please use my e-mail.good luck Brian James

By halloween is rubbish on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 - 07:48 pm:

Chris - are you under a dermatologist?

GPs are good for basic stuff like steroids but have little experience with the more powerful treatments. If you eczema is widespread and chronic, responding inadequately to topical treatments, you may be better off with immunosuppressants. These are the same drugs given to organ transplant recipients and are often very effective. The side effects are often serious, ranging from severe fatigue to organ damage - clearly these are monitored. Since starting university I would examine your diet changes and look out for processed food being added. If you can, stop milk and any dairy products for a month and examine the results - I know a GP who has had a lot of success with telling patients to stop dairy.

With regard to Neoral (cyclosporine) - it's a potent immunosupressant which is suitable only for severe cases. The side effects are occasionally debilitating, but the change in patients who tolerate the drug is amazing. Wilson is also right about the 50/50 paraffin, which when combined with Diprobase (paraffin on top) can be incredibly effective.

As for the issue of pain, paracetamol is rubbish for this kind of problem. NSAIDs don't usually do anything and the best route is to hit the cause of the pain, i.e. the disease process, using steroids etc. Itching can be relieved by creams containing mixed lauromacrogols such as E45 itch relief. I would suspect nobody on here would benefit from the moisturising component, however the mild anesthetic is useful for wide spread itching.

If you find the pain is consistently putting you off work or making you a miserable git, then try to get hold of cocodamol. Over the counter stuff in the UK usually has between 8-15mg of codeine per tablet, while the strength required to actually do anything for this kind of pain in most people is 30mg per tablet. 30/500 cocodamol is available only on prescription. If you don't think your doctor will prescribe it for eczema then you'll have to make up a reason without making the doctor suspect drug seeking behavior. This treatment is not suitable for children, and the elderly are more suited to 8/500 tablets.

Cannabis is something I've not investigated but could work. There are the risks inherent in any drug use though.

By veritas on Saturday, October 13, 2007 - 10:22 pm:

I cannot believe that introducing foreign bodies into your skin can ever be a good idea and it would seem obvious that it could exacerbate eczema.

By me on Saturday, October 13, 2007 - 06:21 pm:

does having tatoos over ezxma cause problems to the skin

By chris_c on Monday, August 20, 2007 - 03:52 pm:

hi everyone,
im a 19 year old boy who has been suffering from eczema since an early age, since starting university it has spread from the joints in my arms right up yo the top all over my shoulders and neck, i were always told that i would grow out of the condition, i have used treatments such as protopic and double base but i haven't used any in a while and i never thought that this little thing could control my life, i can't sleep at night and its just so painful during the day, its making me really unhappy, i don't want to suffer this horrible skin condition anymore! i am looking to seek advice from someone on this forum, im sure that there will be a few of you who could help me combat it, iv'e spoken to friends and family about it but i as the're not sufferers i don't think they fully understand what it's like to live with.
please help! Thanks
chris.

By Peter on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 04:20 pm:

If your eczema responds to Vagisil, it would indicate that it is caused by yeast infestation. If women are suffering from candida a.k.a. thrush, doctors recommend that they don�t wear tights or trousers and preferably no knickers! Yeast thrives in dark, damp places.

I have managed to keep my eczema at bay by strictly following the regime I described under �Seborrrhoeic Eczema�- �Can clothes be a contributory factor?�. I realise it may not be practical for everybody, but even an hour�s nude time can help. Nowadays, I just apply Zinc and Castor Oil Cream about twice a day.

It might help to apply lashings of Zinc and Castor Oil Cream before going to bed, although it would undoubtedly leave a mess on the bedclothes. I can get away with removing most of the excess from my skin by dabbing with a piece of kitchen roll. Also, you could try having a bath using E45 Bath Oil and I sometimes add a dash of Baby Bath Oil for good measure. After bathing or showering I just gently dab my skin with a towel and air-dry myself: rough towelling can inflame the skin and remove most of the oil. It is extremely important to make sure you are completely dry before putting any clothes on.

By paulbos on Thursday, April 19, 2007 - 12:45 pm:

Al,
No you#re not the only one. I recognise this quite well. In fact, some mornings I am just terrified of getting out of bed - that's when I realise what the first pains of the day are going to be.
Like you, for many years at least, my genitals were untouched by eczema. But my scrotum now has succumbed to the disease, the skin becoming very leathery looking, very thin and esily broken. Almost always covered in a dry white powdery coating of dead skin. Worse, any cream at all will cause my balls to itch intensely. All that works is Vagisil, aimed at women but very effective.
If tempted, do not scratch down there!
Best of luck
Paul

By Al on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - 11:02 pm:

Am I the only person that wakes up every morning in a pile of skin dust from a night of shedding dry flakes of what my younger brother calls "skin chips"?

I also wake up most mornings stiff as a statue unable to move, in order to prevent the cracking and bleeding of my skin?

Are there any suggestions, is there anything that I can do before I sleep to prevent this and make my morning a little easier? I have eczema all over my body with an amazing exception of my genitals - and I suffer very badly I am in search of some type of relief.

By Pip Wilson on Sunday, March 18, 2007 - 04:41 pm:

hey all!
Im sorry if this post isnt in the correct board, its just that im finding the layout very confusing (not sure if im getting this site mixed up with another).
Anyways Ive suffered from eczema for just over 3 years now, but since being put on Neoral pills and using Betnovate RD (steroid cream) to control any minor flare ups my skin is almost perfect now.
I occasionally have flare ups, but they are almost always minor. I was wondering though if anyone knows...

If I have a flare up on say, my leg, and it is itching intolerably, is the rest of my body then more likely to flare?
For instance, Ive just steroid creamed up my torso and arms, and I want to shave, but I was wondering if because my torso is a tad itchy (my instantaneous reaction to steroiding up), will it make my face more likely to react?
Are flare ups on small areas independant of the rest of your skins sensitivity is I guess what Im asking.

Any theories or fact would be greatly appreciated, Im paranoid of scratching minor itches when they arent near the parts of my which are flared, just incase it all explodes.

Also, for anyone suffering from chronic eczema, I would recommend talking to your dermatologist, if you havent got one get one, about Neoral pills, it took my derm a year to put me on the pill, but its an amazing immuno-suppresent, which makes flare ups a rarity.

Id also like to add that if anyone is using Aqueous moisturising cream, there is a survey out (which Id link if I hadnt seen it so long ago), where the tests on the cream showed that only a little bit under a half of the people they used it on had an adverse reaction!
I was on it for a year and It made me itchier, I put it down to the fact that applying anything thick to the skin can make you feel worse. But it turns out it was because Aqueous cream contains Preservatives, which can seriously make things worse!!!
Since switching to 50/50 -
aka Emollient 50 : 50% Liquid Paraffin in 50% White Soft Paraffin Ointment, I havent had any issues. Its a lot lighter to apply, and I just spread it on, wait 5 mins, then lightly soak up any excess emollient with some soft paper hand towels which we bought in bulk.

I just wish you could all see how far Ive come in my skin quality, aswell as my quality of life. Because it is possible! Its just a matter of giving it time, keeping yourself hopefull, and trying as many different types of treatment as possible. But for me 50/50 cream, Betnovate Steroid cream, and God Bless is NEORAL pills!

By : on Thursday, December 28, 2006 - 06:10 am:

dear nichole,
wat rubbish? u dun go hospital for eczema?
there are many patients who r warded in hospitals for eczema n some find their conditions improving much mor there.
Change yr doc if u r nt comfortable with him.

By Az on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 - 05:13 pm:

Yea, I've been thinking about location.

I wanted to get one on my wrist but I do tend to get a patch there.

When I get a patch test i'm probably gonna splodge it on my wrist, though so I can see how the ink will actually affect one of my Eczema hot-spots. If nothing happens I'll go ahead otherwise I've considereed getting on done at the top of my breast which is about the only Eczema-free place I've got left!

By C on Monday, December 18, 2006 - 03:07 am:

I wouldn't suggest getting your tattoo in a place where your excema does or used to break out pretty often. For me, the healing process was longer and required touch-ups (which any artist worth his/her salt will do). However, I've had another done on my torso that was absolutely problem free. I really like my tattoos, but now I know that (for me, at least) it's really location, location, location.

By Nicole on Friday, November 17, 2006 - 04:36 am:

Ive got an appt with derm clinic next week and im definetly going to ask about tattoo and ring find out about tatoo removal,Oh im so not looking forward to it specially because it is on the side of my calf and its big

By Az on Thursday, November 16, 2006 - 02:04 pm:

Ah, you see, I'm very wary about anything that's gonna touch my skin that I've never used before...especially if it's gonna be permanant!

Maybe you should look into having the tattoos removed. If you see an improvement you can always think about getting another one...just have a chat with your tattooist first!

By Nicole on Thursday, November 16, 2006 - 07:11 am:

AZ i didnt get a patch test and my skin has been 100% worse since i had it done, I have said that to my sister and now since you are mentioning it im thinking i should see wheither having it removed will make a difference, I had a friend that did it from a homemade gun and it is well done but Maybe im allergic to it I didnt even think about it and i cant believe how little thought i had before having it done, I had it done years ago

By Az on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 - 04:40 pm:

Nicole, did you get a patch test done with your tattooist beforehand?

I'm thinking about getting a tattoo some time and I am planning to go my local tattooist and ask for a patch test with their inks.

Snowman - If you do a patch test. just nake sure that, if everything's okay and you get the tattoo, if you ever get a tattoo from a different place get another opatch test done becuase different artists use different inks.

By nicole on Monday, November 06, 2006 - 01:56 pm:

Hi ruth and all
My name is nicole and im 31, I have had excema all my life and in my late teens it got much worse and I have dark patches and very dry flakey skin, I can relate to waking up with skin flakes and specks of blood on sheets I have a boyfriend and its definetly been hard on our relationship because i get depressed and have contemplated going on anti depressants but decided to excercise and get more sun i did see a study done with people with depression and one lot was put on meds and the other ones did more excercise and both came away with the same kind of results, My skin is bad at the momment it is 2.48am and i am about to take my phenegan and go to sleep I havent had a shower or bath today because my skin is so sore but i have in the past had panadol before taking a shower and it does work, That was a good point ruth bringing up wheither the Doctor talks about pain relief because mine never has and i had bad ezcema for so long and it was the early stages of scaring yet when i asked my doctor if i could go to hospital because i was absoultely exhausted and my skin was bad he said that you dont go to hospital for ezcema, I was kind of angry and felt that if i was given the right information i wouldnt have so much scarring like dark circles around eyes

I have scratch marks on my back and face is quite bad that sleeping is uncomfortable at the momment It is going to be summer soon and i look forward to it I dont necassarily cover up anymore not like when i was younger i covered up so much that i was sweating profusly under clothes, Just like i have heard bathing is painful and i have been known to cry in the shower because of it
I have been on cyclosporin in the past but i thought i have to be in this body all my life and the drug would damage my insides too much the other thing is of the facial hair that it causes as a side affect im still a bit vain lol

By Matt on Sunday, September 03, 2006 - 03:42 pm:

Hi guys

I had a really bad spot say a month back, it was an infection. It was horrific, plasma was pouring down my face, it was horrible. Just recently small areas have been creeping back, and this morning i had a bath and I rubbed it all off! never mind. Seems like a good idea at the time, as it itches so damn much, but now it's like, sooo painfull, and i can't open my mouth properly. Anyway, see you guys! Just wanted to tell people about that little incident lol!

Matt

By tessiee on Thursday, July 13, 2006 - 10:42 pm:

ohh ohh by the way people!
im tessiee the one with the KP
tessas@hotmail.co.uk
please e-mail me if u can help =}
i dont know how i recieve your help otherwise!

By tessiiee on Thursday, July 13, 2006 - 10:39 pm:

Hello,
i am 15 years old and i have had Keratotis pilaris (or KP, i don't know if i spelt it right!) for 2 years!

i hate it so much, people always comment about it, saying i have goosepimples etc, recently its making me really down..

i know there isnt any particular cure and it goes away after puberty..but please i would really appreciate any names of creams that i can go out and buy without a prescription that might improve these ugly pimples on my arms!

please please please heeelllp =[

thanks soo soo much I ACTUALLY LOVE YOU FOR HELPING!

By nicole on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 08:30 am:

Hi Snowman
My name is nicole and i have two tatoos one on the hand and big one on side of calve. I have had excema for most of my life but it was manageable and no pigment damage, In my twenties i had my tatoos done, long story short it was probably the worst thing i could have done, my sister and i agree that i believe my skin reacted to ink and my excema has been bad pretty much since then I am 30 and i have been hospitalised quite a bit so thats me snowman hope that helps a bit

By tropical on Tuesday, January 03, 2006 - 03:24 pm:

Interesting observation that Jodie finds Astral Cream works. I have eczema for 16 years now and live in the West Indies but I still send to the UK for my supply of "ASTRAL CREAM'
its such a good moisturizer without any chemicals.

By snowman on Saturday, November 19, 2005 - 07:36 pm:

hi my name is mike and ill try to make this rather quick
i am 19 almost 20 years old and thinking about getting a tattoo for the first time.
im not sure about the risks invloved in getting one so if someone could give me some feed back on that i would really appretiate it. thank you

By jodie on Tuesday, October 11, 2005 - 11:20 pm:

i had it on my feet wich made it sooo hard to walk in shoes and socks! i also had it on the palms of my hands. i missed alot of time off school and went to a chinese doctor wich realy works! i also use a sunbed 4 the UVB as that also helps. i have eczma in patches from head to foot wich is embarassing, frustr8ing, painfull and irrit8ing, but i find not using any cream from the doctor but 'Astral' instead works better!
maybe it's because im not smearing aload of chemicals on my skin. i simply keep my cream refridger8ed for the night time if i flare up.

By brooke on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 12:41 pm:

Im really struggling with my eczema, it is startibg to spread from the creases on my arms, down my arm. I am only 20 and have suffered with eczema as a child, but grew out of it. It drives me insane with the constant itching. ive tried all sorts of creams but my doctor does not seem to be able to control it. as a child it was connected with a dairy allergy. any ideas or help from anyone would be appreciated.

By ruth on Tuesday, March 29, 2005 - 07:43 am:

becky - its no surprise really about what you are saying - many people find this when they have eczema. If you think as to the many millions of nerve endings there are in the skin -e.g. remember how it feels to graze your skin and then put water on it - always feels better to put cold rather than warm or hot water on it. The nerve endings in the skin also get irritated and are more 'sensitive' because the normal structure and protection that the skin offers is compromised when one has eczema. The inflammation process that occurs within the skin damages the skin structure itself so it can open the body up more to the external irritants/allergens. I know it might sound a bit strange - but if your son actually feels more comfortable having a cold bath/shower then let him do this. We caught our daughter on one occassion when she was 4 yrs old take it on herself to give herself a bath in the .......outside fish pond!!! - said the water felt beautiful (it was like ice and full of .....fish....). As you would imagine - we pulled her straight out of there - put her in an antiseptic bath full of cool-cold water and spent the next 30 minutes trying to get the algae out of her hair!!!. Hot bath water really makes her itch so we tend to go for the fairly cool ones - minus the fish!

By Becky on Monday, March 28, 2005 - 03:21 pm:

I'm wondering about hot and cold sensitivity with eczema. My 3 yr old has a real problem with even mildly warm water, saying it's too hot, and screaming like we're burning his hands or something when we wash them with even a hint of warmth in the water. He seems to prefer freezing cold water.

By ruth on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 11:50 pm:

Kim - i don't know - has all gone quiet - hope things have picked up for him......maybe he will post again??

Freddy - i married a man with eczema - it never has affected or swayed my opinion of him as a person - only he could have done that to himself.

Hope things improve for you - but really the battle is within yourself for that to happen - once you start accepting yourself - you will stop rejecting others and let them into your life. Sometimes - it isn't an easy thing to do because it goes right to the core of who you are and your feelings of self esteem/self worth. And also - it is easier to believe that people will reject you in the end rather than actually think that there is a good person in there i.e A person worth loving and of being loved (because then that would mean you would have to change your ideas about yourself) I'm not a philosopher or psychologist- but i do remember reading a speech by Nelson Mandela which made the comment along the lines that - it isn't the fear of failures in life that worry us - it is the fear that we might actually succeed. WE all know about fear of failure - it is actually a more comfortable place to be in than the actual fear of success - because with this - it brings change. Change brings uncertainty and the prospect of things being made different. In essence - it is easier to sit around and be complacent about ourselves and just think that things will be the way they be - than it is to go out and change/challenge ourselves and the world (even if the world doesn't think the way you do). YOU have to decide what your life is going to be like - not anybody else

By kim on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 10:31 am:

Ruth is right- except even the Brad Pitts and Jen Anistons of the world have their problems (I am sure you have heard the rumors of their separation?)...
Trust me, it WILL get better. People look for different things at 19 than they do when they are 22 or 29 or 31. In high school and early college, I used to date 'pretty boys' (couple of models, athletes)...they pursued me although I had keratosis pilaris on my arms and thighs (red bumps all the time and dry skin). The guy who I dated and was blindly in love with in my 20s had eczema on lis leg and I never knew it although we were at his beach house all the time. And when I did see it, I was concerned from him and not turned off. I looked into eczema to see if I could be his 'hero' and find some kind of relief for himm. His blue eyes and kind heart melted me...After him was a GORGEOUS guy (6 feet, dark hair, green eyes)...he also had keratosis pilaris and I never even noticed. He also lived at the beach and I cannot believe I did not realize he had something that I was self conscious about. Of course, I ended up marrying the love of my life- handsome, successful, athletic...and he loves me, keratosis pilaris, eczema, baby weight gain and all...

These guys all never had problems finding women. In fact, they are all now happily married to beautiful, smart, lovely girls. None of them were perfect in any sense, but they were confident (not cocky), very gentlemanly, happy about life, honest, hilarious and good to me...these are the things that mattered and these are the things that are so darn attractive. A good looking guy may tun heads, but the good hearted ones get the girl in the end. TRUST ME.

I know you know you need to work on your insides-out. Girls at 19 may be a little superficial, but there are some who aren't. Your insecurity can seem to be disinterest and maybe that's a problem. You know you are more than your skin...let them know it as well. Take a day off from thinking about your eczema and live your life like that (aside from treatment).

Good luck to you!

PS- Ruth- whatever happened to Mis?

By kim on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 10:31 am:

By ruth on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 01:37 am:

dear freddy - you probably don't realise/believe this at the moment - but from your post you have so many desirable qualities that would not only help a relationship get started - but also keep it going. There is so much an emphasis on the whole physical aspects of ourselves and yet the things that sustain and define us are so much deeper than that. You are actually in touch with that - whereas many people are not - and certainly at your age where you are really starting to get out there and mix in the world - you are demonstrating a great maturity about these things. I wouldn't wish eczema on anyone - it has on many occassions pretty well ruined our lives too - but what I have come to realise is is that instead of me LETTING it ruling our lives - i am now trying to kick back at it and I be in control (for some of the time at least) of it. Dont get me wrong - i know just how damaging it can be on all levels - but you also need to get that rebellious streak happening inside you and get out there into the world and enjoy it. You will find that often your harshest critic will be yourself - often your friends/family etc will not look at you as badly at all as the same way you look at yourself. And as it turns out - the world is not full of brad pitts - or jennifer anistons either - there are lots of people out there who dont fit into this mold - almost 100%!!!. The important thing here freddy is how YOU look at yourself - which includes how you perceive that others think of you. It may well be that your fears of intimacy are in fact the very thing that are holding you back. You have developed a sensitivity and awareness of what rejection is - BUT, if you face relationships always in the manner that you will be rejected - then you will make it happen. What you are doing in essence is telling yourself that you are not worthy of being loved and valued because of your eczema - you have to STOP doing this and live your life differently. You are more than a skin condition and people who you allow to get to know you will also know this. Do you in fact judge people completely on how they look - because this is what you are doing to yourself.
Take risks freddy - there is lots of fun and enjoyment to be had out there as well as lots of wonderful people to be met - its worth it! all the best, ruth

By freddy on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 12:22 am:

The emotional pain exzema causes me is lots. I have had zero confidence in myself for years and although Im getting more and more confident all the time i feel held back by this disease. I am a 19 year old male and i hold back all the time when it comes to women.

I am ok in the looks department and work out when my eczema allows me. However my eczema has seriously effected my love life with women. I never make a move on women because i am scared of what they will think/say when they see my body when its not covered. This has now got into a nasty cycle that im trying to break. The fact is im not exactly experienced when it comes to women and that scares me know and in addition im scared of what they will think when they see my body with all the cuts and reness on my arms, chest (which is in a awful mess), legs, back of neck, front of neck, chin and forehead.

It kills me when i think what if i didnt have eczema. It kills me when i see my mates in relationships with nice women or sleeping around. I know it could be me but due to the fact eczema has destroyed my confidence with women its not going to happen and i feel a large part of my life is slipping away.

But i live in hope that it will get better and looking at the achivements I have made over the past 6 months i prey things will continue to get better. A year ago i was too affraid to go out and socilise much becuase of my skin and now (as long as im not too agony) i make myself go out regardless of how bad it looks. I have also got myself invovled in sports and although its painful when you sweat from time to time its paying off and worth it as it gives me a motivation not to scratch which i didnt have a year ago.

Sorry if that goes on abit too much but its the first time i have ever put these feelings anywhere.

By Jennifer on Saturday, February 07, 2004 - 06:55 am:

This is 19 year old Jennifer again. I forgot about this website for a while to check the thread, and now that I have, I want to say it's nice to know we have support in each other. We can read and know we're not the only ones in the world dealing with it.
Lately my eczema has been better than worse, but worse than good. It's winter, so it's itchy, but every night after my shower I rub Cetaphil all over my body. Keeping my super-dry skin moisturized has helped a good bit. It's made me less itchy, but I still have patches that come and go. That's just eczema.
Another thing I want to suggest, and I know it's hard, is to try to use mental strength to overcome the itch and not scratch. It's amazingly difficult, especially at night, but now when I itch I really try to distract myself, whether it be something from reading to watching TV. It helps with the physical pain because I don't inflame my skin as much, and the less patchy skin helps with my mental attitude and self-esteem. Of course you can't completely stop scratching, but if you can cut down it decreases the rashes.
Another tip for people who itch badly at night in bed: Anti-anxiety or sleeping pills. You have to get them from your doctor, and they can't be used very often, but I take a pill if I'm having a really itchy day/evening so I sleep clear through the night and have no chance of scratching. Like I said, it can't be used a lot, but when you really need it, it does the trick (for me at least).
To Roxie: I hear you. My sheets are always full of dead skin and stains from blood or weeping. My boyfriend Jonathan is actually cool with it ("it's just your skin, not you" he says), but I'd be so embarrassed and ashamed if a friend or relative other than my mom saw it. Also, I ALWAYS wear pantyhose with ANY skirt, even in the hot, humid summers, which isn't fun.
I pray for everyone to keep working through the physical and mental symptoms of eczema. I just hope everyone hangs in there!!

By Roxie on Monday, January 26, 2004 - 04:10 am:

I can relate to you all but my worst time is night i do my daily routine i don't no it any of you have itchmapaste but its a gross brown gungy bandage i have to wear every night but i get irratable in my sleep and wake up (without hardly any sleep 4 hours a night most nights) to blood on my sheets and im litarly -(mind the spelling) stuck to my sheets witch is so painful to have to pull off witch leads to depression through the days im 15 and so scared of getting a bf and spending the night to have him find dead flakes of skin and weeping patches on his sheets it grosses me out and being a teenage i don't wear short skirts without thick opaque nylons - i no i no there bad for you but its the only way i feel confertable in a skirt witch is so hard in summer (with the bit we get in uk)when my friends are wearing skirts i get stuck with trousers witch leads me to feel an outcast i know no other personwith eczema witch is worse somenights im pulling my hair out because i can't sleep although im tierd my eczema won't let me sleep my doctor has tryed everything i got told when i was 4 (it all came out after my mmr i wish i never had it)it would go befor i was seven then when i was seven "you will get rid of it before your eleven" then at 12 i was told im never going to get rid of it witch makes me so depressed that i am never going to be able to live a normal life because i can't do activitys e.g all my friends were playing twister i couldent join in be cause i couldnt bend from the eczema under my bottom if any one has any help please help thank tou so much Roxie

By mrleory on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 12:55 am:

REPLYING TO POSTED MESSAGE FROM JENNIFER.

Hello jennifer i was just readng your post i FEEL YOUR PAIN im 23 years old male and i went threw the same thing basically all of my life. i know the stares, trying to hide your arms, not wearing shorts, wearing long sleeve shirts. i use to do the same thing i became a master at hiding my exzema. i use to hide my arms and hands behind my back so nobody could see them people trying to give u tips when they dont even have it and it makes u more mad.i know the feeling, it has caused me to have social problem until this day and hard to communicate. atleast u have people who care and love u, i really didnt. i never had a girlfriend i dont even know how it feels to interact with a female in a personal physical relationship. all because of exzema its hurts me to admit that but its true. but hey things will get better my exzema basically went away through out the years along with my asthma. keep the faith. i've notice a couple of things that can keep your exzema from flaming up. not sure if it would work for u but hey its worth a shot. i live in the u.s.a the east coast and it gets cold in the winter and hot in the summer. try to keep out of the sun when its humid and hot that seems to aggervate exzema, the soap u use can be a factor. also stress i've noticed when i wasnt stressed out my exzema would get better and clear up.just wanted to tell u stay strong and hopefully your family and bf can keep giving u the support u need. take care of yourself. if u get time i posted a message about my life with exzema under/ people and support groups/ adults..... and than click on our stories 3

By ruth on Sunday, October 19, 2003 - 12:46 pm:

hi jennifer, you have touched on a really important point - which is the fact that the pain is certainly more than skin deep. i started this thread as i have a strong interest in how people with eczema manage their physical pain associated with this, but as i have seen from our own experiences and from others read here - the emotional and social pain that this disease can inflict on sufferers is often more severe and enduring than the physical side alone. i'm glad you broadened out this discussion, ruth

By anobody on Friday, October 17, 2003 - 01:41 pm:

hi jennifer. Really sorry to hear that your going through a rough time with your skin.
I also know exactly what it is like to go through this; the contstant stares, the low self esteem and not wanting to even go outside, i know it all to well.
At least you have people around you who care about you, your mom, you have a boyfriend ;i've never had a relationship, something i just dream about.
You should be proud of who you are, i try to be of who i am, but its hard i know.
I have made one promise to myslef and that is that i will never ever give up on searching for a way to make my skin better, and i hope you will not either.
Its a tough struggle, but all we can do is try.

Your not alone, and if you ever need to let off steam, then hop on here and let it all out.

I hope this has helped.... i really do.

All the best, and do post back soon

By Jennifer on Friday, October 17, 2003 - 04:48 am:

I am 19 and have eczema all my life. It has gotten better overall through my life, but it seems like one rash goes away, another rash pops up somewhere else.
For me there is both mental and physical pain. I can't always straigten my arms from the rash inside my elbows, sometimes the skin on my wrists and hands cracks. The worst part is if I scratch the skin raw somewhere. Itching is a constant irritant. It seems like I'm always itching, especially at night.
What really hurts is the mental pain. People look at you or ask you how you got into poison ivy. People try and give you their own tips on what to do. They can be very rude and inconsiderate, making comments at my job or family/social events. I hardly wear shorts because I'm scared people will stare at my patchy skin, and usually I wear a sweater or light coat over my shirt so people don't see my arms. The only people I feel comfortable enough around to let my skin show are my mom and my boyfriend.
Having eczema is really hard, but when I get down about it I try to remember that at least it's not a threat to my life.

By ruth on Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - 01:41 pm:

perhaps try putting a small amount of steroid cream on your finger tips and rubbing this into her scalp - will help to get inflammation down. also reduce the number of hair washings you do as shampoos can really strip the skin of oil thereby drying it out and making it more irritated. even try a little bit of sorbolene on your fingertips and rub this into the scalp - is not oily and will help to moisturise the scalp.

By mommy on Thursday, August 21, 2003 - 10:03 pm:

i would like to know if anyone has it in ther hair my little one does and im tring every thing in the world if anyone knows of anything let me know

By ruth on Tuesday, August 12, 2003 - 12:29 pm:

How painful and/or disabling is your eczema? Do different types cause different problems for people. Does your dr. address pain issues with you....it seems to me that often steroids and antihistamines are prescribed but nothing is given to help ease pain....is this a problem for people. i am interested to hear people's thoughts on this

By ruth on Monday, July 07, 2003 - 03:06 pm:

bekky, i have used paracetomol and stronger pain relief medications i.e. liquigesic (codeine + paracetomol) when the pain resulting from all the itching&scratching gets bad ( which unfortunately is very often)under medical supervision. paracetomol in itself has no anti-itch properties - i use it purely to offer some mild pain relief - particularly around bathing time when it is just so cruel sometimes to put inflamed and excoriated skin into water - it stings like hell. i am wondering whether an analgesic such as paracetomol would be helpful to some sufferers to reduce the pain felt. i am wondering whether others feel that by perhaps reducing the level of pain experienced, it makes the sufferer more comfortable and less likely to itch??? i know from our own expereince, the morphine worked extremely well at the hospital - we convinced the staff to treat her eczmea as if it were burns - we found that by reducing the level of pain, our girl was able to get into a bath - for the first time in 2-3 weeks, our girl had it so severe that to do anything other would have been negligent. i realise that our case was an extreme one, but i think that eczema can really be an extreme disease in a lot of cases. i am not trying to prescribe or offer any particular lines of treatments here but i think that it is a perhaps a useful analogy to link the two ideas together - at least even to explore the issue. i agree and sympathise with you about giving all these medications - i hate it so much -i often feel so helpless and useless that i can't just put an end to this - but i have to keep talking myself into believing (and accepting) that i am doing the best i can do for her with all my available efforts and energy. yes, i hate it too when people say things like that - they have no idea or simply don't try to appreciate the enormity of the struggle everyone goes through to get to these seemingly normal milestones -just remember - empty vessels ring loud (i.e. ignorant people just can't help themselves but make stupid comments!)it is so much worse when it comes from people close to you. let me know what you think and keep battling on, take care of yourselves, ruth

By Bekky on Monday, July 07, 2003 - 02:55 am:

Hi Ruth,

I have not used pain relief such as paracetamol/panadol for his itching. I did not realise this would help. Its sometimes a matter of not wanting to shove too many medications into him - with phenergan and antibiotics for the constant infections. He does get given paracetamol when he is teething or sick.
Have you noticed that when the chn are looking okay (skin looking somewhat normal) people say, "Oh look they are all better!" Ha! No one seems to know how much of an effort it takes to get them that way. And no one sees them when they are sitting in the car seat or in bed secretly tearing themselves to pieces.
Anyway...

By ruth on Sunday, July 06, 2003 - 12:58 pm:

thanks bekky, i understand what you mean..that underlying itch just wont go away no matter what you do, and as you say it is still there even when the skin looks reasonably clear. it drives not only them mad but also yourself because you just cant' stop it. have you ever used pain relief medications e.g. panadol or similar to ease the pain in itself......has this been a problem/issue??? i am wondering what your thoughts on this matter would be....has your son's eczema been so painful where antihistamines or other treatments aren't giving relief?? am interested to hear what you say, thanks ruth

By bekky on Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 08:47 am:

Hi Ruth,

I dont have eczema so cant tell you how painful it is for me. All I know is how painful it is to watch my son (17 months) writh in pain from his eczema. Since birth he has had it and even when his skin is somewhat clear he is still itchy.
We use phenergan; an antihistamine with sedative. This does not really take away the itch from what I can see but it does relax him and helps him to sleep.
I also wish they could at leat develop a cream that would stop the itching - not one that just says it does!!

By Ruth on Wednesday, July 02, 2003 - 09:17 pm:

hi, i was wondering if readers would discuss the issue of eczema and pain - in particular addressing issues such as how painful readers consider their eczema to be, what pain relief strategies they have tried, is there a need for additional pain relief, difficulties associated with negotiating adequate pain relief measures. this is an area of eczema management that very little work has been done in, and i personally feel that it is very underestimated in terms of severeity and impact upon the sufferer and their families. i am a registered nurse and my own daughter has been put on morphine and MS Contin (slow release morphine ) for a short period of time as she has been in incredible pain with this - i have had to fight long and hard for this - but even the doctors are acknowledging that they don't know enough about it - or are underestimating it themselves.
i would anticipate that there would be a wide and informed response to this issue - and would be interesting to hear pain management ideas from the sufferer's perspective - rather than just from the medical perspective
thanks,
ruth

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