Topic: Eczema/dry skin

[AB LFC]

Anyone else get eczema or really dry skin? It is seriously affecting me in every way. Let me start.

About five years ago, I cut a bit of my foots, and the skin kinda opened up. At this time I was in India, and the weather was boiling so it always itched. In return, I scratched it. Anyway, a few days later a few spots started appearing near it. BUT, these were different spots, they were darker and a bit harder than he usual ones you get in hot weather. I didn't think anything of it. I never knew it was eczema, and for anyone that know, eczema itches like hell at any random moments, and you jus feel a great sense of relief after scratching it.

However, one thing that I didn't know was that 1) it was eczema and 2) the more I scratched it the mroe it would increase.

Anyway, it never stopped and this kept increasing for wo or three years. I started to apply ointments and stuff on it, but to not a lot of effect.

Fast forward, it's still bugging me today, and it has goten really bad. Quite a large amount of my foot is covered in it, and it's itchy as fuck. I have tried loads of ointments and whatnot but again, no effect. 

Recently, I ran out of the ointment and I didn't go back to the pharmacy out of laziness for two weeks, and during this time it has spread like wildfire on my neck. It's my fault, but it really affects me. When I play football, I sweat (obviously) and the sweatiness REALLY stings my neck, thus forcing me to scratch it ye again. Also, this wakes me up at around 3 in the morning when I'm sleeping, because again, it's annoying at feels like I've got fleas running a massacre on my neck.

I'm currently applying loads of different ointments and oils on it, now I just need to wait for it to hopefully disappear. I can't even wear v neck t shirts or shirts just expose your neck because it looks horrendous. For some reason, it makes your skin go VERY dark.

Does anyone else suffer from this thing of evil? I could really really use some advice, as I just can't stand it now. Thanks for reading, you can tell I'm bored can't you! 

YNWA

[Garstonite]

Treat it before it gets out of hand. Be a poof and moisturise your skin. Vital. Use anti-itching cream like Sudocrem (soothes the pain) or Savlon until you can order something stronger, like Elocon cream.

Also, take Piriteze (anti-itching tablet) - they work well, in case you didn't already know.

Take cold showers etc too.

[hooded claw]

Woke up this morning, pillow was like a flapjack.

[♠Dirty Harry♠]

I used to get it badly, but now i drink 2 or more litres of water a day and take coldish showers, i noticed that drinking causes it too flare up badly so i cut back a bit.

Still got fucking dermatitis but, hands look like i was thumb wrestling with Edward scissor hands, i should have sued.

[Lo]

Cut out dairy products, aswell as sometime nearly killing me, they also make my skin alot worse 

[Marcus6]

Had very bad dermatitis for a year on my hands, so saw saw a specialist, and got cured in a month.

Use intensive care mousteriser during the day

At night, get double bass mousteriser (normally at the chemists), put on affected area, and cover with clingfilm. If it's on your body, wear a t shirt over the top as it can get messy, i just put gloves on my hands

[blurred]

At night, get double bass mousteriser

[Beni]

My daughter used to suffer badly from it.....went on holiday to Tenerife 1 year and accidently started talking to this fellow about her ailment.The guy was an Australian vagrant (We used to call him Bongo Billy).He suggested to drink plenty of fluids and wear loose cotton clothing.The following day we bumped into him again and he looked at my daughters Eczema....hummmd and aaard for a while then went up to this plant and broke a stem off and put the fluids on her arm...He said it was Aloa Vera (if thats how you spell it)
Its a natural remedy for skin disorders and can be bought in various forms.It didn't completely cure her but it certainly helped a lot....
The other answer is to get yourself pregnant     as my daughter's Eczema has cleared up whilst being in this condition.....

[Lo]

My daughter used to suffer badly from it.....went on holiday to Tenerife 1 year and accidently started talking to this fellow about her ailment.The guy was an Australian vagrant (We used to call him Bongo Billy).He suggested to drink plenty of fluids and wear loose cotton clothing.The following day we bumped into him again and he looked at my daughters Eczema....hummmd and aaard for a while then went up to this plant and broke a stem off and put the fluids on her arm...He said it was Aloa Vera (if thats how you spell it)
Its a natural remedy for skin disorders and can be bought in various forms.It didn't completely cure her but it certainly helped a lot....
The other answer is to get yourself pregnant     as my daughter's Eczema has cleared up whilst being in this condition.....

Being pregnant hasnt worked for my skin if anything its got worse

[JonnyCigarettesŪ]

Are you sure that's not psoriasis?

The key is never to scratch it. It's like adding petrol to a forest fire.

I'm not some old hippy, but this is well worth a try;

http://www.moltengold.com/cgi-bin/eBzget5A.pl?shop=4368OrbaOrigi&trolley=6295722161&page=http://www.orbaoriginals.com/eczema.html

I've actually found Vaseline good too, just to stop dryness and not to grease my arse up.


PS - Do they say "gotten" in Leeds?

[Lo]

Goats milk is great for your skin, it tastes horrible though and I cant use it at the moment being pregnant

[♠Dirty Harry♠]

Are you sure that's not psoriasis?

The key is never to scratch it. It's like adding petrol to a forest fire.

I'm not some old hippy, but this is well worth a try;

http://www.moltengold.com/cgi-bin/eBzget5A.pl?shop=4368OrbaOrigi&trolley=6295722161&page=http://www.orbaoriginals.com/eczema.html

I've actually found Vaseline good too, just to stop dryness and not to grease my arse up.


PS - Do they say "gotten" in Leeds?

Got that shit on my head, i get a monthly prescription that stops it. I have really bad sking when i don't treat it, costs me 30 quid a month on medication nearly.

[AB LFC]

The thing on my neck is definitely eczema, but got no idea about what's on my foot. Even the doctor says, he doesn't know and then sends me off his some low strength ointment.

[♠Dirty Harry♠]

Neutrogena T-Gel shampoo works rather well for that.

Been there, done that, didn't work

[nidgemo]

Joey - get your doctor to prescribe eumovate. (or even buy it over the counter at a pharmacy)

http://www.expresschemist.co.uk/product_2681_eumovate-eczema-and-dermatitis-0-05--cream-15g.html?gclid=CMfNjeqTm4YCFQxQEAod41_0sw

Don't let him palm you off with E45 and such shit - it doesn't work for anyone with all but the mildest excema.

I've had excema all my life, and use this cream once a day, and no one would even know, my skin is so clear and unblemished (if I stop using it for two days even, I begin to resemble a leper)

That aside, don't use soap too much, try to get soap free handwash, showergels etc, and try to avoid dairy as much as possible (though I don't do this)

Also, DON'T SCRATCH IT. A good brisk slap does the same job, without breaking the skin. Seriously.

This stuff

http://www.expresschemist.co.uk/category_2208_eucerin.html

is also meant to be very good for scalp, face etc, although it appears the active ingredient is piss.

Theoritically, then, you could just save the money and piss on your foot.

[Lo]

My nan always used to say raspberry vinegar was good for your skin, I ahve no idea if it works I never took her up on the offer to use it.

The best stuff I had was some smelly stuff my Auntie made, god knows what it but my skin was clear everytie I used it 

[Art Vandelay]

Get some Mometasone Furoate off the doctor.  Will clear it right up.

[AB LFC]

Thanks nidge! That tube does look somewhat familiar, not sure if I've tried it before. I'll ask the doc if I can get that instead of these other ones.

[ewok-red]

As a lifelong sufferer of Eczema I would suggest that its trial and error finding out what works or doesn't work - and the 'remedy' may not be a remedy on a consistent basis. 

and there are few things I have experienced which are quite as bad as that burning itch of all itches that it creates.

As a kid I used to have my hands 'bound' / wrapped at night to prevent me from scouring myself to a flaky pulp in the night.  So bad was the pain of the 'unscratched itch'  that no matter how they tried to wrap them in the morning they would be on the floor discarded as my Eczema worse than ever.

At that time the standard remedy was a steroid based cream - lashed on in the shed load.  it makes your skin regenerate quicker (i think) and should heal.  It  worked briefly and then stopped despite years of trying with it. nowadays I believe it is dispensed sparingly which is a good job cos it fuks your skin up big time, makes it paper thin etc. 
However i have used it on a couple of occasions when its been really bad - but only for a week or so - betnavate or something like that is one version.

i had Eczema so bad once i had to be hospitalized when it go infected.

Mine went in stages - as a kid i had it all over
By 11 it was just on a couple of fingers and in the classic Eczema places inside your arm at the elbow joint.
I had a bad year with it on my neck when i was about 17 ( and those european cup scarves with the little bit of gold colored thread in em used to set  it off big time.  and 17 was a really bad time in terms of self confidence, self image to have open Eczema wounds / inflammations on your neck - so you cover it up, it gets hotter, you try to hide it, it gets hotter...it gets more inflamed...argh!

From 20 it settled to just a few patches.

I tried a homeopath - but that was no good cos they just went  "all these things are linked to your lifestyle - so you can't just treat the rash we have too look at your whole lifestyle"    i knew at that point that my caffeine fueled, lager tainted, chain smoking, pie eating chippy arse was not going to get far in the lifestyle questionnaire.

However the tea tree oil based ointment they gave me did work really really well, for three days ! argh

Many people say its stress related - and in my experience that certainly is a factor.  i.e mine gets more inflamed the more stressed I am - for work related stress I have developed mechanism for dealing with it  as for life-stress - it just comes out in the Eczema !

However 'outside' factors play a huge part and are easier to deal with once you have identified them ( I am still finding out now 40 odd years on), this is only based on my experience..

Some of the day to day things likely to send mine, even today, it into a itch burning bastard of a thing if it gets direct contact with the skin : the stuff you use to insulate lofts / fibre glass, sweat ( my own or anyone else's!), dust, feather pillows or duvets, man made fabrics, wool, some weed-killers / pesticides, perfumed soaps are bad once I have had a bit of an flare up,  i totally avoid ALL perfumed ointments / cremes/ moisturizing stuff - people might think it helps dry skin but even the slightest bit of something in it drives mine wappy.   Nivea is especially bad for me.

Ewoks Eczema Solutions:
let the air to it
let the weather at it
let the sun at it
get in the sea (obviously not in this country unless you are mentally ill or a sadist.
Sunny holidays with lots of swimming in the sea.  I wondered is it the lack of stress or the sun / sea?, having been on quite a few stressful holidays my guess is the sun sea thing.  Sun bed does the same job but in a different way - really itch for a while after, but seems to really take the edge off  it for a week or so.
Cool fabrics - cotton, linen
man made pillows
hoover you bed regularly
a small cloth hanky with you to get to the sweat before it gets into the inflammation.


Its interesting that someone mentioned diary products.  i was a vegan for six years and my Eczema never got any better despite not having any dairy stuff.  however I believe that dairy products are a cause of many childhood illnesses / reactions, and the cause of many peoples Eczema.

We had our first lad when we were both vegan so for his first 5 years he was brought up without any dairy products - no Eczema, never a flicker ever.  The youngest who was fed dairy products had a big breakout Eczema problem in his first six years although it seems to be in decline at the moment.

hope some of this is some use

[Reddave7]

Be a poof and moisturise your skin. Vital.

Aye, that's what I do. Twice a fucking day. Morning and night. Spread this oily stuff ( mixed with water turns into locian ) over the affected areas. The stuff is called Epaderm. I'll a shove a picture up for you. I also have this steroid cream called Eumovate. Not great stuff to use as it doesn't spread well. I put that on about once every 2 weeks. I went to the doc, what must have been about 7 months ago and it was terrible. He gave me both of them things and it's completely cleared. You've got to keep putting these things on though or it comes back.

Hope that helps mate, let us know if it clears up etc.

[Marcus6]

i had to do a double check when the specialist said it, but it does work!

[Marcus6]

Goats milk is great for your skin, it tastes horrible though and I cant use it at the moment being pregnant

Hmm, i have goats next door....

[NickoH]

Best thing ever for itching is Eurax cream............any itch, any part of the body.

[cathy-lfc-taff]

My mam had really bad eczema on her feet for years, it was awful. She used this cream stuff, Aru cream i think it was called, and it cleared up a lot. That helped, but when i was younger i used to rub her feet all the time, (beautiful i know), with any old cream for about half hour and after a month or two it cleared up completley. Wasn't any special cream or anything, but it just went. So just find someone who's willing to touch your manky feet everyday and you're sorted 

[crownpaints]

Woke up this morning, pillow was like a flapjack.

Having an attack of the old flakes again?

Seriously though, I get very dry (but not itchy thankfully) skin and lips - obviously worse in the summer. The best thing I can recommend for this kind of thing is vitamin E, take a couple of capules a day and you will seriously notice an improvement, it increases the moisture in your skin.

[Veinticinco de Mayo]

Ewoks Eczema Solutions:
let the air to it
let the weather at it
let the sun at it
get in the sea (obviously not in this country unless you are mentally ill or a sadist.
Sunny holidays with lots of swimming in the sea.  I wondered is it the lack of stress or the sun / sea?, having been on quite a few stressful holidays my guess is the sun sea thing.  Sun bed does the same job but in a different way - really itch for a while after, but seems to really take the edge off  it for a week or so.
Cool fabrics - cotton, linen
man made pillows
hoover you bed regularly
a small cloth hanky with you to get to the sweat before it gets into the inflammation.

Interesting you should say that.  This is recommended by a colleague:

http://www.aalgo.com/

I think mine is triggered by the heat and as a result has flared up really badly on my feet and ankles in the last few days.  I'm thinking of having a few cold baths in the aalgo stuff...

[nidgemo]

Joey - get your doctor to prescribe eumovate. (or even buy it over the counter at a pharmacy)

I also have this steroid cream called Eumovate. Not great stuff to use as it doesn't spread well. I put that on about once every 2 weeks. I went to the doc, what must have been about 7 months ago and it was terrible. He gave me both of them things and it's completely cleared.
Hope that helps mate, let us know if it clears up etc.

see. it works.

[AB LFC]

Thanks a lot peeps.

Reddave, both of them? What's that, Eumovate and?

[Monkey Red]

My daughter had it really bad as a baby, scratched a big hole just under her throat that was an open sore for ages, her fingers were also red raw. Went to a homeopath who mixed a solution from her own urine, diluted with water, which helped. She had Neurodermatitis which would be triggered by animal protein, such as egg white, a drop of egg white on any part of her body would result in a blister and itching. Finally we went to the Baltic coast in Germany, lots of iodine in the air and sea, cleared it up no end.

Also, we rubbed olive oil onto her body which seemed to work to a certain extent, but itīs better if you drink a little short glass of olive oil a day.

Itīs almost completely cleared up now, she hardly ever gets any grief with it . The body goes through a change every 7 years as well, which helped with my daughters neurodermatitis, now she can even eat a whole egg with no side effect.

I think the one major factor in dealing with her condition though, was going to the baltic and getting her in the water, that helped the most.

[only6times]

try daktakort cream

[nidgemo]

Theoritically, then, you could just save the money and piss on your foot.

My daughter had it really bad as a baby, scratched a big hole just under her throat that was an open sore for ages, her fingers were also red raw. Went to a homeopath who mixed a solution from her own urine, diluted with water, which helped.

and you thought I was joking

[Reddave7]

Reddave, both of them? What's that, Eumovate and?

I use both of them yes. What to do is this, put the Eumovate on the effected areas and then get the Epaderm mixed it with water and put that on top of the Eumovate. I did that for a while and it completely cleared up. Now I'm still putting the Epaderm on twice a day, morning and night but I only use the Eumovate when I want to. Usually use it once every 2 weeks if it starts to come back.

The Epaderm is just a moisturise and the Eumavate is a steroid cream.

PM me or post in here if you need any advice on those creams.

try daktakort cream

Didn't help me but I think it's about finding the right stuff for your skin.

[kumbriankopite]

got a small patch behind my ear, driving me crazy!!

[Tarpaulin]

I used to suffer from it terrible a few years back, had to get referred to hospitals bith NHS and private and also paid to go to see specialists and dermotologists all over the place as well as herbal and homeopath.

Eczema is a very personal thing.....wha effects and causes it on one person, will not on the next - the same applies with the cures for it.

A common thing is dairy products and wheats/yeast [so ale] But for me, this doesnt make too much differece, it just flares up when it fuckin feels like.

I then got referred to someone again in Ormskirk Hozzy, and they were new and had just moved from down south, they prescribed me with "Elocon Ointment" from them:



For the 1st week i put it on every other day, and then the eczema started to go....now i use it everytime i feel it flaring up which is probably only once every 6/8 weeks. It may not work for you, but its been spot on for me. Cant recommend it enough. Maybe see if your GP can give you some to try it.

You need the ointment, not the creme - it comes in a tube and is clear stuff not cremey.....It is very think and like super glue, you have to put a bit on the skin and really work it in, you almost feel like yer not puttin enough on, and if your skin is really bad at the moment, it will hurt to run it in at 1st....but its boss.

Read about it here:

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100000912.html

[Slick_Beef]

My daughter used to suffer badly from it.....went on holiday to Tenerife 1 year and accidently started talking to this fellow about her ailment.The guy was an Australian vagrant (We used to call him Bongo Billy).He suggested to drink plenty of fluids and wear loose cotton clothing.The following day we bumped into him again and he looked at my daughters Eczema....hummmd and aaard for a while then went up to this plant and broke a stem off and put the fluids on her arm...He said it was Aloa Vera (if thats how you spell it)
Its a natural remedy for skin disorders and can be bought in various forms.It didn't completely cure her but it certainly helped a lot....
The other answer is to get yourself pregnant     as my daughter's Eczema has cleared up whilst being in this condition.....

Funny that you say that, I have a skin problem on me hand. On  two of me fingers and me thumb the skin goes all dry, sore and flakey. The doctor gave me this trimovate cream which worked for a while, but then the problem came back, and the cream wouldn't work anymore (it did say in the cream's instructions that using it frequently makes it stop working and can even make your skin problem worse). Anyhow.. I decided to just keep putting moisturiser on it regulaly until I could be arsed to go back to the doctor. It didn't make it go away but it stopped it from annoying me. Recently I ran out of moisturiser so I was looking for something else with a similar effect and found some Nivea After Sun cream with Aloe Vera. Lo and behold, after using this a few times a day for a week, the problem has gone and my skin has grown back. I carry on using the cream anyway to make sure it doesn't come back.

[Garstonite]

I used to suffer from it terrible a few years back, had to get referred to hospitals bith NHS and private and also paid to go to see specialists and dermotologists all over the place as well as herbal and homeopath.

Eczema is a very personal thing.....wha effects and causes it on one person, will not on the next - the same applies with the cures for it.

A common thing is dairy products and wheats/yeast [so ale] But for me, this doesnt make too much differece, it just flares up when it fuckin feels like.

I then got referred to someone again in Ormskirk Hozzy, and they were new and had just moved from down south, they prescribed me with "Elocon Ointment" from them:



For the 1st week i put it on every other day, and then the eczema started to go....now i use it everytime i feel it flaring up which is probably only once every 6/8 weeks. It may not work for you, but its been spot on for me. Cant recommend it enough. Maybe see if your GP can give you some to try it.

You need the ointment, not the creme - it comes in a tube and is clear stuff not cremey.....It is very think and like super glue, you have to put a bit on the skin and really work it in, you almost feel like yer not puttin enough on, and if your skin is really bad at the moment, it will hurt to run it in at 1st....but its boss.

Read about it here:

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100000912.html

Yep, agree with this. This with "Diprobase" moisturiser (supposed to "keep in" the initial cream), as well as stopping your skin from being dry of course. As Roper said, can't recommend it, but it's worth asking for. This method seems to work for a lot of people.

[AB LFC]

Thanks for the help guys!

Well my auntie took me to a specialist in Bolton, and she gave me quie a few herbal tablets and stuff. Gave me strict restraining orders too. No strawberries, oranges and grapes!

[Garstonite]

Thanks for the help guys!

Well my auntie took me to a specialist in Bolton, and she gave me quie a few herbal tablets and stuff. Gave me strict restraining orders too. No strawberries, oranges and grapes!

Whilst you should take all advice into consideration, I'd ignore things like this! As long as you stick to regular moisturising, prescribed creams, showers and tablets, you'll be fine.

[liamo3]

Try bathing for 15 min in a bath mixed with silcock base emolient have the water warm to open up the porr's in the skin the and rub the silcock cream into the skin this will really help your skin be healthy and moist. Try asking your GP for an anti-histimene for the itching. Worst case scenario (a bit ott statement) is to use a hydrocorstene gel or cream this will deffo clear it but long term use damages the skin (thining the skin)

And yes diffrent foods etc... will cause flare up
Best of luck sorting it

Got that shit on my head, i get a monthly prescription that stops it. I have really bad sking when i don't treat it, costs me 30 quid a month on medication nearly.

Try Nizorol shampoo use it everyday for 1 week and yo will see huge difference but follow directions to the word

[ewok-red]

Whilst you should take all advice into consideration, I'd ignore things like this! As long as you stick to regular moisturising, prescribed creams, showers and tablets, you'll be fine.

I am not so sure about that, the prescribed creams can be a quick fix but not a long term one - especiallt the steriod based creams as your skin builds up a tolerence to them.  things like E45 are fine for my dry skin, put actually make my excema worse.

However things like not chopping raw tomatoes works a treat (the slightest hint of fresh tomatoes juice on my hands makes even the slightest dry patch rage.  however i can eat fresh tomoatoes no problem. wierd.
don't ignore anything is what i am trying to say. 
i was hopeless at this but- try to monitor it, if you get a flare up things "where have i been, what have i eaten / drunk" - try to record it, then see if it happens next.  try cutting things out - cows milk say, for a month, is it any better?

It is a nightmare, as i may have said before forty five years on i am still finding things out about what kicks it off