bad eczema

[fleebee]

I am am sufferer of eczema which comes and goes, mainly on my arms but now on my neck and face (eyelids), I have seen a dermatologist who gave me a strong cream - I didnt really want to use because the side effects were horrible!

It has suddenly got worse, I think it could be the central heating and I am sure it is stress related...........please does anyone have advice on - creams, shower gels, beauty products - general advice?!!!

[andy-hughes]

Adjust your diet.

Cut out all dairy produce and replace with soya - milk, vegetable oil and so on.

Cut out sugar, cut out tea and cofee, spices, citrus fruit, any pork products. Drink plenty of water.

Use baby shampoo and Pears soap. Spray any perfume or cologne on your clothes, not your skin.

Hopefully this will show an improvement.

[chazza]

What cream were you advised to use? I always used 1% hydrocortisone cream, it's not advisable to use it on your face but you could put it on your neck

Also, try zinc tablets, they worked well for me when I was having bad outbreaks of eczema

[sandmaster]

I'm male so cannot speak from personal experience but my daughter finds the pill helps

[1955]

If it's itchy try Aloe Vera Gel (try Fruit of the Earth or similar)
There's a good cream called Dermatique Recuperating Cream but it's about �25
Presume you have already tried E45 cream

[pastafreak]

Several years ago, i developed facial eczema...and found it so distressing as I would get very bad outbreaks around my eyes. I often looked as if I had been punched. I did not want to go the hydrocortisone route,and after trial and error I found the skin treatments made by a French company called Avene

http://www.essentialslondon.com/category/444.a spx

[lollyone]

My husband suffers sometimes when the weather changes and the only thing that really helps is a few sunbed sessions. I'm generally really anti-sunbed but he just has 2 or 3 when its bad and it really does help.

[pastafreak]

Sorry-sent that too soon.....anyway-I used these two creams for approximately 2 months.....each tube lasts 21 days and the 2 products must be used together . They helped dramatically...I also found that-obviously-as the flare-up diminished, I felt so much more relaxed and far less stressed about how I looked. It is worth a try....it may or may not work for you as each of us is different.

[imajenarry]

not sure if the pill would help. dianette oral contraceptive is given to patients with acne problems but i've never heard it being used for eczema. your doctor could prescribe a course of antibiotics which would help. i'm currently taking one called tetralysal for my eczema(which spookily is in the same areas as yours) i had a two month course earlier in the year and it virtually cleared up but think i needed a longer course as it's bad again.. so i'm on tetralysal again with another doctor who wants to quick regular check on it.i agree with stress being a factor -i seems to play a part in my case too. oilatum shower gel is very good to wash with. soothes and moisturises. can get it on prescripton or is about �7 to buy in chemists.

[fleebee]

Thanks for all of your suggestions, I must admit - I have tried everything - aloe vera, herbal tea, vitamins, sunbeds and so many different creams, but I am not very good at putting them on all the time...... the dermatologist told me to use a strong steroid to get the skin back under control and then religiously moisturise - several times a day. Unfortunately I get a break out of bad spots occassionally and yes, in my teens when my skin was bad, Diannette was my miracle cure but now trying for a baby which Dermatoligist said should actually clear it up, strange because with my first baby my 'glowing skin' was nowhere to be found - my worst spots ever!!
Am making a shopping list now.....thank you

[bigl]

Acupuncture may well help - especially if there's a stress element involved. But make sure you go to a member of The British Acupuncture Council as they've all done proper courses. Some doctors, physiotherapists, osteopaths etc. have just done two weekends worth of training!