tryp Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 I have eczema - I used to have patches all over the place, but nowadays, I only get one. I get this one patch on my left hand on my little and ring fingers and it just WILL NOT go away. I apply my hydrocortisone pretty frequently and it it will not budge. It hurts and it itches, and it throws these little blisters that ooze stuff and it's uncomfortable as hell. I'm pretty sure it's dyshidrotic eczema, because that's the only one that blisters, and it's apparently stress-based. Figured. Any ideas/tips/thoughts/lifestyle changes, since cortisone doesn't seem to be cutting it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mika Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 try very hard not to itch it. salt water heals. calamine is good too. this is off the top of my head. if i think of more, i will add later. DON'T ITCH!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluelikejazz Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Be careful with the calamine, sometimes it can dry things out more. Are you using the hydrocortisone cream or ointment? The ointment usually clears it up for me; but one of my friends takes ethical nutrients eczema support and swears by it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tryp Posted November 13, 2009 Author Share Posted November 13, 2009 Whatever it is, it's white. It's 1% cortisone. I prob need to see a doctor and get something different, but it's such a fucking pain in the ass to see a gdoc here. I got this cream from pdoc because it was just a repeat of a prescription I had before, but if I need something stronger I'm going to have to go to student health, and they probably will be incompetent and not help. Last time I had a perioral dermatitis that was being aggrivated by cortisone and they just told me to put more on. It nearly ate my whole face before I figured out what was happening and stopped the cortisone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluelikejazz Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 The active ingredients in my prescription ointment are: Betamethasone dispropionate equv. to betamethasone 0.5mg/g Topical corticosteroid. The ointment is much better, really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Lush do a cream called 'Dream Cream' which is prescribed by GP's in Europe for this condition. It's not a steroid cream, but it is very effective for it, I have seen it work for friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
water Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Tryp, I've have been living with eczema since early childhood. I have had different types of outbreaks - really red, dry rashes; oozing very itchy rash type blisters and very very itchy spots that almost look like mosquito bites. Please PM me if you'd like. I have used every type of cortisone, homeopathic, organic substance available. A few suggestions: - Like Mika says, no scratching! More than anything else, this will irritate eczema. - use fragrance free soap, laundry detergent, etc. - very mild body soap - ointments do work better than the white lotions - cortisone always always always eventually irritates my rash. After a week of use if it is not working, stop using any type of steroid. - use very benign lotions - eucerin, lubriderm I now use this great lotion from Canada that my sister-in-law buys for me. Uremol (20 urea cream) Time will always heal the rash. Once it breaks out it takes a while for it to go away. Applying the lotion will also irritate the rash initially - something to do with the layers of skin. I'm sure this is too much information. Eczema is just one of those things I can talk forever about. Good luck!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raquin Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 I have eczema as well. I second stop using hydrocortisone after awhile. My doctor told me not to use too much for too long. What I use now is prescription stuff. It seems to work pretty well. I'm nto at home so I can't tell you what it's called. Sorry =( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artemisia Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 I'm not a big fan of steroid creams because they will weaken your skin if you take them for extended periods of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tryp Posted November 13, 2009 Author Share Posted November 13, 2009 Yeah, I might need to rethink the steroid thing. What do you guys do if not steroids? Just wait it out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artemisia Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Yeah, I might need to rethink the steroid thing. What do you guys do if not steroids? Just wait it out? OK, to be fair, I don't have eczema, and I don't know what I would do. For dealing with acute flare-ups, steroids should be fine when you really need immediate relief. But eczema is a condition that comes and goes but doesn't have a cure, and I don't know whether steroid damage can be repaired during the steroid-free intervals, or if it accumulates. I suspect that some of it is permanent damage that accumulates over time. If it accumulates, and you end up using steroid creams off and on for decades, your skin will definitely thin and weaken. That said, if you have to use it sometimes, you just have to use it. There are costs and benefits to everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tryp Posted November 13, 2009 Author Share Posted November 13, 2009 The thing is, it doesn't really even help anymore. And I have this painful patch that just won't go away. I already do use fragrance-free or natural body soap and laundry detergent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sorrel Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Hyrdocortisone is an extremely weak steroid, which may be why it's not working anymore. There are much stronger prescription ones. While it's true that it's not good to use them long-term (it can cause a "rebound" effect of your symptoms, in addition to what Artemisia is talking about) sometimes it is the only solution to an acute flare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tryp Posted November 13, 2009 Author Share Posted November 13, 2009 The stuff that I'm using IS prescription strength Maybe I'll go back to the doctor and get something different Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sorrel Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 You can compare steroid potency here. As the page says, "percentage of ingredient in the medication does not always correlate with the strength of the steroid." Percentage is what usually differentiates between OTC and prescription hydrocortisone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancesintherain Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 I had a child in a class who had an eczema issue and the doctor actually recommended Lubriderm. You've likely tried non-prescription stuff already, but if not, it might be worth giving it a shot. I don't know if OTC instead of Rx was just because of his age (preschool), but it seemed to help him a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tryp Posted November 17, 2009 Author Share Posted November 17, 2009 I used to have patches all over the place, but nowadays, I only get one. Famous last words - blasted thing seems to have spread to my eyelid. Going to the damn gdoc tomorrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneMarie Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 I'll vouch for the Clobetasol propionate ointment. It does thin skin, so you have to be careful with it. My old derm also prescribed something called Eladel, which is not a steroid. It is mild but a great pre-emptive strike. Once any rash breaks out, I start using this stuff in places that typically rash as well. For me, it really works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C. Cat Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 The stuff that I'm using IS prescription strength Maybe I'll go back to the doctor and get something different See if you can get the doc to give you a short course of Prednistelone (sp?) its a steroid. The docs logic was that with the amount of steroid cream I rub into my skin I may as well take it orally. Its a great way to get it under control quickly. I have severe eczema, behind my knees crack and bleed ( i end up not being able to bend them) weeping sores on my calves and rashes on my belly. I end up wrapped in tar bandages (SMELLY) but you mentioned it on your hand so that won't be practical. Also, try using a moisturiser when its not weepy. I did read something about bleach baths, but I don't want to try it and can't find the link. Its also a great reason to get out of the washing up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
o'possum Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 The thing is, it doesn't really even help anymore. And I have this painful patch that just won't go away. I already do use fragrance-free or natural body soap and laundry detergent. Perfume and dye free laundry detergents can still contain fabric softeners and whiteners. My son had persistent eczema when he was a toddler. Switching to a natural body soap was helpful. It resolved almost 100% (i.e. a dime-sized spot once or twice a year now instead of multiple huge spots 24/7) once we switched to Seventh Generation detergent, which is free of anything that's not soap. There are several such laundry detergents out there if that one is hard to find or pricier than you want to pay. We also use just a 1/5 of a capful of detergent and that gets the job done even in our crappy washer. A recent NY Times article on this... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebelSong Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 Have you seen a dermatologist? I mean, you know what's wrong and you have your GP, but I'm a huge fan of specialists, I guess. Plus, they can give you a cream that will work faster... granted, it probably would be a steroid cream... I've had eczema since I was a baby, and it's been EVERYWHERE. It's chosen the top of my head for the last few years, which is gross, because it bleeds and scabs and... eugh. Luckily, not much hair has fallen out. Try as much as possible to not scratch it. Also, drink a lot of water. I have no idea how that helps, but a hydrated body is always healthier. I don't know how interested you are in home remedies, but I've found natural things (like someone suggested Lush products) are a lot nicer to my skin. http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/remedy/Eczema.html <3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
That Girl Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 The only thing that's ever worked for me is Flexitol Naturals Eczema & Psoriasis Cream. Nothing, not even prescriptions ever worked for me! I bought this on a whim one day - figured, what the hell - it probably won't work - but I got results so fast I couldn't believe it. It RARELY even comes back now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
confused Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 My son has eczema, I think it's called papillary, it shows up as little bumps. We have used prescription creams, but mainly we use oatmeal soap, eucerin cream, and amlactin for his arms where he develops thick patches,-all over the counter. He has seen a dermatologist, but not regularly. He also gets dry scaly skin between his toes which I think is related. We apply creme and try to keep his feet dry. It is really hard to keep it under control. It doean't seem to bother him too much except when his back itches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dizzimama Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 Fragrance free type stuff. No "anti-bacterial", it's actually very greasy. Also try not to over wash. Not too hot of water (which is drying). Least amount of ingredients in your product as you can. Look for stuff like Shea, Cocoa butter, olive oil, Sweet Almond Oil, coconut oil.... they are all rich emollient type stuff that will help coat and seal, but not burn. A little goes a long way and will settle in and not make your hands and other areas greasy. We went through this with my daughter when she was young. It turns out it would've been an issue anyways. But became out of control after she watched the movie "Osmosis Jones" and REALLY got into washing her hands... A LOT. Couldn't use almost anything on her hands or it would burn. Then after some studying, we figured it all out. Now we know what soaps we can use and not use, safely. We had one issue when she was in elementary school, come to find out they would squirt the kids with hand sanitizer when they came in from recess. Argh! (insert eye roll). So we sent a tube of our homemade lotion to school. We still use some store bought stuff (after reading labels) and we also make some of our own sugar scrubs and whipped body butters. Life is much better now. Even with my working outside at a horse facility where the weather gets dry and cold sometimes. Just remember that the key is... even if is say natural ingredients... look at the label. There may BE natural ingredients in there. But they are mostly just mixed in with the other ones. (Sorry for the ramble.. I just know that excema can hurt like heck! Especially come this time of year.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Another Random Person Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 Find an allergist that does "Skin Patch Testing" (google it) and Food Allergy Testing. I had terrible "eczema" was using very strong corticosteroids over my whole body and developed adrenal suppression from it. So then I was sent for UV radiation treatment at the hospital and the dermatologist there thought I might have Allergic Contact Dermatitis to common chemicals in the environment. I tested allergic to fragrance (the most common that's why fragrance free is being suggested so much) but also parabens, lanolin and ppd and latex.I also tested allergic to nuts, beans, soy, bananas and eggplant. I switched to all organic, chemical free products and had to stop being a vegetarian to avoid my allergies. My skin is just great now! I require nothing but a little oil on it or maybe some fragrance and paraben free Aveeno after a bath. I use some organic face cream and organic, mineral based makeup and sunscreen during the summer. I use organic detergents and cleaning products. For soap I use Dove fragrance free for Sensitive Skin. I require no meds and haven't had the need for a dermatologist in years. I should mention that I noticed some improvement immediately, but it took a couple of years to fully recover and I had to reduce the corticosteroids gradually. I also bought one washload of all new clothes because mine were all saturated in all the things I was allergic to and wouldn't completely come out. Even the meds I'd been using had parabens in them, so I was healing and aggravating my skin at the same time! It helped so much that I just slowly bought new things and never did go back to wearing my old stuff even though I saved them. I know it sounds expensive, but I live on disability and managed to still do it, so it couldn't be that expensive. I gave away bag loads of stuff I could no longer use to my family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tryp Posted November 19, 2011 Author Share Posted November 19, 2011 This is pretty old. I actually got my eczema pretty well under control. I quit using corticosteroids and started using moisturiser ALL THE TIME, and it's really helped. I have a bit of a patch of it now on my hand, but if I keep it hydrated, it hopefully won't start to crack and peel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Another Random Person Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 Ahh, that's what I did when I was about 21. At 45 I developed Allergic Contact Dermatitis. I read that a lot of people with mild eczema that responds to daily moisturizer end up getting it. They think it's because of all the exposure for years and years to the chemicals in the moisturizers. I would suggest that you try to use one free of fragrance and parabens like Aveeno or just use a bit of coconut oil or you too could end up like I did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tryp Posted November 19, 2011 Author Share Posted November 19, 2011 Yeah, I use the Aveeno with the colloidal oatmeal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 I have had eczema as long as I can remember. It always occurs in the exact same place on my hands and the upper part of each ear. I used to get it on my elbows, but don't anymore. I put lanolin on it and it clears up in a few days. If it cracks I use some tee tree oil and it heals quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gothmum Posted November 29, 2011 Share Posted November 29, 2011 I have had eczema all my life and one of my daughters has it also. If you have just an isolated patch, like i often do, sometimes a steroid injection directly into the skin can work. Keep the area moist and wrapped at night especially as you may be unconciously scratching it in your sleep. Flower essences are quite good especiaaly if it is stress related. Unlike homeopathic remedies they dont react with meds. They pass through the body if not needed. The Bach flower remedy Impatiens may do the trick, I found it helpful. It comes as drops which you can take by mouth or even perhaps bathe the area with it. Goodluck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cattitude Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 I have found that the number one recommendation is DON'T SCRATCH. All the other stuff, creams etc won't work if you scratch. I had "stasis eczema" from ankle to knee for 3 months. It started with a small blister on my ankle that I scratched when it was healing. It's caused by circulation problems and - scratching. My dermo tried every steroid cream and pill known to man and nothing worked. It got infected from scratching (yellowish crusts) and I had to use polysporin to get rid of that. All the creams etc. just made the rash itch as soon as I applied them. I stopped all the creams, dips, soaks. Finally I decided to tackle the scratching. First of all, whenever it itched, I'd put something cold on it. Bag of frozen veg, cold can of Coke, or run water over it if that's all that was available. Secondly I'd take a Benadryl every night before bed, so I'd be less likely to scratch in my sleep. I found the itching spells grew fewer and further between, and the rash gradually disappeared. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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