Eczema sufferers!

[Perce]

This is going to sound a bit grim, but I have severe eczema and have had for all my life (40+) years. It gets worse in the summer, and then worse in the winter.

I've tried E45, atopic steroids, moisturisers, homeopathic, diet, essential oils, those sprays to cool the skin (which do stop the itching for a while) etc.

I had baths every night with oil in, or sometimes porridge oats (yum - not), and still was sore, itchy and raw.

Then one night fairly recently, I didn't have a bath - think I was too busy or something (this had never happened before), and I was really worried that it would flair up.

Next morning, after a surprisingly good nights sleep, my arms were smoother. Hmm.....thought I, I wonder why.

A bath or so later, i was sore again! Hmm.... I won't have a bath tonight!

Now, I have a wash in the basin daily, with no oil added, and a full bath only once or twice a week without oil (see, I said it was grim!). My skin is smoother, and less itchy, finally my uncontrollable eczema might be becoming controllable

It's early days, so I'm not counting my chooks yet, but....so far, so good.

I agree with this, my story equally grim or at least grubby!
I used to have a hot bath virtually every night - lovely relax, good book, glass of wine etc and my eczema was fairly bad.
I went through a stage when I was just very under the weather, exhausted, working til too late and couldn't face getting in the bath late at night so , like you, had a good wash but no bath for about 4 days. What a difference! I now bath much less frequently than I used to and it is much better. A quick shower is nowhere near as 'itch inducing' as a hot bath. I think it is because a hot bath tends to make you much hotter and the heat is what makes me itchy.
My back is fine when not exercising but gets itchy around my bra when I exercise, get hot and sweat (in a girlie flowery way obviously ;-) )
So never bath and you'll be fine!
lose all your friends obviously but can't have everything

 

[Perce]

I agree with this, my story equally grim or at least grubby!
I used to have a hot bath virtually every night - lovely relax, good book, glass of wine etc and my eczema was fairly bad.
I went through a stage when I was just very under the weather, exhausted, working til too late and couldn't face getting in the bath late at night so , like you, had a good wash but no bath for about 4 days. What a difference! I now bath much less frequently than I used to and it is much better. A quick shower is nowhere near as 'itch inducing' as a hot bath. I think it is because a hot bath tends to make you much hotter and the heat is what makes me itchy.
My back is fine when not exercising but gets itchy around my bra when I exercise, get hot and sweat (in a girlie flowery way obviously ;-) )
So never bath and you'll be fine!
lose all your friends obviously but can't have everything

feel I must add to this that I always shower or bath after exercising! but have less baths on the days when I haven't got hot and 'shiny'
hence I do still have some friends

 

[ladyt25]

Might be worth seeing if you guys have a food intolerance. Often it comes out with skin problems. I developed psoriasis and we worked out it was anything cow related for me that set it off (dairy / beef). Now I know what it is, I can get away with a tiny amount but if I ate a steak then my nose goes red raw and I get big patches all over my legs! And its a lot worse in winter, the sun apparently helps keep it at bay. Worth a shot anyway

This is good advice. I have found milk really aggravated my eczema so I have cut that out and half soya or almond milk instead. I also have dairy free spread (Vitalite), I didn't like the soya spread. I seem to be able to eat cheese so haven't cut that out although try and not overload.

Makeup wise, I use L'Oreal and cream wise I use Nivea's Oil Free Moisturiser as it isn't too oily so can use a fair bit of it without worrying about it causing spots.

For my hands I buy some over the counter eczema cream - the name escapes me at the moment (begins with 'e') and use that for any really bad flare ups. Sudocrem also works well and quickly (I steal some of the horses' stuff if I need it!) but I find that is just so messy! I could never understand why E45 cream was recommended - it's awful stuff and makes my skin worse. The same with all this double base cream - so greasy, I think it just aggravates the skin. Plus I have heard that these types of cream also make the skin actually more prone to eczema.

 

[LeliaDickinson]

I have been using foderma eczema serum for eczema on my hand and it has really helped to keep it at bay. It softens the skin and reduces redness and itching. Would definitely recommend it for dry skin.