about eczema?

Question

Ive had eczema for 11 months and the cream the doctors keep giving me ie Ollatum and Betnavate are not clearing up the rash and easing the ittching and pain still there Any suggestions please

Answer 1

See a dermatologist to make sure you were not misdiagnosed. Eczema is one of those things that if you have it, it tends to re-occur throughout your life. Different things can make it flare up--like stress, skin dryness, or pregnancy. Moisturinzing after every bath or shower helps.

Answer 2

Some eczema's are a symptom of a leaky gut, which is why certain foods can trigger a break out. Also most commercial detergents, shampoos and soaps etc exacerbate the problem. Try using ecover or natural alternatives for the above products. We have used probiotics for eczema, with superb results. Start with one a day, then after 2 weeks if no major improvement up the dosage to 2-3. Once you have the skin back to normal, take a maintenance dosage of one tablet a day The best probiotic we found was primadophilus reuteri or bifidus. Try and go as organic as possible in what you eat and use on you skin, and always wash new clothing, that has been our recent culprit. Good luck!

Answer 3

I have used some really strange ointments and creams on my eczema with great success. They need to be white ointments to work - white stuff out of tubes and meant for treating skin afflictions. You need to put some on and rub it all the way in. Keep applying it in the morning after you shower or wash up and again at night. About 2-3 days fixes me up and it hardly matter which one I use or even what it is meant for - the main point is to rub it in really well. I have even used Nystatin (LOL). The skin needs moisture and it needs the ointment to seal it a little - that seems to be all it wants. I also think the rubbing gets the blood working, I have have eczema on one finger that was crushed when I was 18 and not on my other fingers - then on both elbows where the skin is thin so there is not a lot of circulation.

Answer 4

Go back to your doctor and tell them the creams arent working.
There are many types of eczema...so what might cure some, may not suit others.
Better to find out what sort of eczema you have, and do some research on the internet, and if you dont get any satisfaction from your doc'...ask to see another one.

Answer 5

My ex has very bad eczema and she was in hospital with it when it flared up and got infected.

One of the nurses was a sufferer herself and she used to give out grape seed oil which my ex used and it eased the eczema and the itchiness. About a week later her eczema was on the mend.

One of the issues that sprung to light was washing powders, if your doing economy washes, bad move, you need to do FULL wash cycles, economy washing only creates problems for you as traces of the detergents are left in your clothes, the optical brighteners that get washed into your clothes are also bad, try using a detergent like Ecover or Surcare and remember to do a 60 degree wash as this helps clean and kill off any bacteria that build up on your clothes from day to day wear.

I will say the as well, Betnovate can actually cause eczema with prolonged use, if you follow doctors directions or the skin specialists advice, your only meant to use short term.

If theirs no change then you need to see a skin specialist to ensure that your eczema is not infected becaue you may need Betnovate-C (betamethasone valerate & Clioquinol) or Betnovate-N (betamethasone valerate & Neomycin) or Fucibet (betamethasone valerate & fusidic acid)

Hydrocortisone is used in areas that are more sensitive. Hydrocortisone can be used more often and more liberally than Betnovate, apply too much Betnovate and it is an irritant.

Anyway, back to grape seed oil... You can check with your local hospital dermatology unit who can advise on this if your not sure, the oil is often available from health food shops as it is often used as a food supliment.

A word about Aloe Vera, not very well known fact is that it is an irritant, best avoided and it can cause infection of your eczema.

ADDITIONAL:

I forgot to mention, it is bad to moisturise too much as this prevents the Betnovate from working, what you need to do is to lock in moisture and to do that the new treatment method of using Doublebase which is a single application moisturiser that dries with a thin skin to trap moisture is a bonus as it is often a single once a day application and application after water contact.

Answer 6

betnovate CAN be effective in the short term but long term it has side-effects(it's a steroid - it makes your skin heal faster)

for me it seems to have 'thinned my skin' where i used to apply it and made it weaker. i thought the oilatum was cool but not a cure - just addresses the dryness issue a VERY little.

for me - homeopathy worked and i am completely free of it...still i CAN have flare ups(like every coupla years) if i am not being kind to myself, being stressed or not 'addressing my emotions'...for my sister(who had it badly enough to be hospitalised a couple of times - not enough skin left clear to function properly!) she didn't respond very well to homeopathy(MASSIVE flare up to the point she had to quit)

my understanding of eczema is the sam as my understanding of ALL illness - that it is your body trying to tell you something...in eczema's case that you are sensitive and not looking after yourself in some way(emotionally i mean). i think the reason homeopathy worked well for me was that i also seeing a therapist at the time(for other reasons) and my improved emotional health seemed to support much better physical...even spiritual health. but as to conventioonal cures? they don't exist as far as i am aware and i think i tried pretty much everything (had it since i was about 6 till about 20, badly, and always had it a bit till i was about 30).

there are two main steroid creams - betnavate and dermavate..can't remember which is the stronger..but they do, as i said, have side effects. my vanity was the best cure i knew till i met homeopathy - it IS possible not to scratch and it WILL go away if you don't but...omg!!! i've never done anything more difficult in my life - still, taht was the only thing that actually worked and i got NEARLY clear of it that way.

i think the creams made it more likely to re-cur as well, for me at least.

the other place you can really do something useful is around allergies - maybe you have developed an allergy and you can get that tested easily enough - ask your doc(i'm HUGELY allergic to cat skin, dogs a lil less, but IGUANA!!! OMG!!!! no idea why, but i came up in iguana-claw shaped blisters everywhere it had touched me when i handled a friends a few years ago!!!). for me my allergies all disappeared with homeopathy too/ =)

don't know if that helps but tit's been my experience of it...oh, and depends on your age - puberty can be tough on it and make it REALLY bad...and pregnancy, at least for my sister completely got rid of it, so i'm guessing there's a hormonal component too.

=)

EDIT - oo yeah - what kerina says about aloe straight from the plant is true - i have used that and it's cool! don't know the other thing though, nor about the cobelotol or whatever it is, though i note it doesn't seem to have worked effectively if that porr woman's hands are still not good. i DO use a moisturiser every day, but not where i used to have exzema...but i remember i DID for a couple of years after stopping the steroid creams.

Answer 7

i finally got clobetasol proprionate. it works awesome.
Elidel made things worse. and all other corticosteroids were non-effective. I feel your pain. Eczema is an awful skin condition that I wouldn't wish on my worse enemy. My hands bleed in the winter because I wash them so much from being around patients, and I don't have lotions handy at all times. it hurts at this point. go back to your doc and ask about the clobetasol. just know that you're going to have to use it until it clears up, then use moisturizer EVERYDAY for the rest of your life. *sigh*

Answer 8

Janet, hello. I suggest that you should try anti-eczema cream and spray from http://www.champori.com It is herbal (steroid- and allergen-free) and it cleared my eczema in just 2.5 weeks and I have been clear for the last 15 months. Try it; it comes with money-back guarantee, too.
Best,
Bernadette

Answer 9

Try the source below for some eczema treatment information.

Answer 10

Lifestyle modifications are the first line of defense in controlling eczema, regardless of whether the eczema is mild, moderate, or severe. Recommended by dermatologists, the following guidelines can help reduce the severity and frequency of flare-ups, which also may decrease the need for anti-inflammatory medicine. Continuing to follow these guidelines once the signs and symptoms clear can help prevent further outbreaks:

1. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Eczema is usually dry and itchy, so applying moisturizers as needed to keep the skin moist is part of an effective treatment plan. Frequent moisturizing locks in the skin’s own moisture to prevent dryness and cracking.

One of the best ways to lock in moisture is to apply moisturizer after bathing. When bathing, care must be taken to avoid irritating the skin. For tips on how to bathe and moisturize to help alleviate eczema,
visit Bathing and Moisturizing Guidelines.

2. Limit contact with anything that irritates the skin. Soaps, bubble bath, perfumes, cosmetics, laundry detergents, household cleaners, too much time spent in water, finger paints, gasoline, turpentine, wool, a pet’s fur, juices from meats and fruits, plants, jewelry, and even lotions can irritate sensitive skin. Know what irritates your skin and limit contact with all that does. Avoiding personal-care products that contain alcohol and not washing hands too frequently also will help reduce irritation.

3. Avoid sweating and overheating. The most common triggers of the scratch/itch cycle are sweating and overheating. It is essential to prevent these situations whenever possible.

4. Avoid sudden changes in temperature and humidity. A sudden rise in temperature can cause overheating and sweating. A drop in humidity can dry skin and lead to a flare-up.

5. Grab a cold compress to curb the itch. Scratching makes the condition worse and may puncture skin allowing bacteria to enter and cause an infection. Gently applying a cold compress to the area that itches can reduce inflammation and lessen the desire to scratch.

6. Keep fingernails short. Short nails decrease the likelihood that scratching will puncture the skin. Keeping nails short and wearing cotton gloves at night may help prevent scratching that punctures the skin while asleep.

7. Dress in loose-fitting cotton clothes. Synthetic fabrics, wool, and other materials that feel rough to the touch often irritate the skin and trigger a flare-up. Cotton and cotton-blend clothes usually make skin feel better.

8. Double rinse clothes, and wash new clothes before wearing. Laundry detergents can trigger flare-ups. Using a fragrance-free, neutral pH detergent and double rinsing clothes can help prevent flare-ups caused by laundry detergent. It also may be helpful to wash new clothes before they are worn as washing removes excess dyes and fabric finishers, which can irritate the skin. Tags should be removed, too, as these can rub the skin, causing irritation.

9. Reduce stress. Stress reduction plays a key role in preventing eczema flares. In today’s fast-paced world, reducing stress can be challenging; however, there are ways to effectively reduce stress. For more information about how to reduce stress, visit Stress Reduction Techniques.

10. Follow a prescribed treatment regimen. Moisturizing and using medications as directed by a dermatologist go a long way toward keeping flare-ups at bay.


For Atopic Dermatitis Only
Since atopic dermatitis is a type of eczema that occurs in people who have an inherited predisposition to allergies, such as asthma, hay fever, or food allergies, the following also can help prevent a flare-up:

11. Limit exposure to environmental triggers. Pollens, molds, mites, and animal dander can cause flare-ups. When pollen and mold counts are high, limit time outdoors. To help eliminate flare-ups from mites and animal dander, follow the guidelines in Around the Home.

12. Find out if any food(s) triggers the atopic dermatitis. If you suspect a food allergy is a trigger, be sure to tell your dermatologist. Tests can be run to determine which, if any, food allergies exist.