Eczema Treatments

Nurses General Nursing

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I have eczema and have had it since the day I was born (I had it all over my face as soon as I came out!). It has been a battle since then to control it and I really want to get it under control before I start my clinicals (I'm worried about disease transmission through the open sores). Also, my eczema is much worse when I am stressed, hint it is very bad right now. Also, we just moved and our water is very hard and heavily chlorinated which makes it worse too. The NP at the Wellness Center at my university prescribed me Triamcinolone 0.1% for it. I have to use it 3x a day, and it is not working that great. It will clear it up for a few days, but unless I keep using in on those spots 3x a day everyday, it just comes back. I also use Vaseline Intensive Care lotion for general dry skin, and it no longer works too well. It seems as if my skin gets used to what I use, and it quits working. Does anyone know what else I could try that is not very expensive? I also have a terrible time with skin peeling and cracking on my hands and I cannot get that cleared up. The only thing that halfway works is Dr. Scholl's Ultra Healing Overnight Foot Cream on my hands with socks. I am so sick of itching and wearing long pants and shirts to cover my ugly eczema spots. I tried eliminating foods thinking it was a food allergy making it worse. The only that helped was quitting eating peanut butter. Nothing else made a difference. Does anyone have any ideas of treatments for eczema and extremely dry skin?

An Itchy Student Nurse

I had eczema as a child, and into adulthood. This time of the year was always worse for me. I have eliminated a lot of things from my diet (too much sugar (soda, sweets, dairy, white flour).

In addition to that I started adding simple mineral oil that you can buy at the drugstore for about $1.50 on my skin immediately after a QUICK shower. It is important to let your skin airdry. If you just have to use a towel, simply dab the skin, do not rub it.

In the event that you take QUICK baths, add about 7 capfuls.

I suffered mostly on the sides of my legs, and buttocks. The combination of these two changes have been lifesavers for me.

All the best...

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Specializes in MS Home Health.

The doc puts me on a medrol dose pack and then the cream previously mentioned. Same here. Had it since birth. Life time battle.

renerian

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Specializes in i.c.u., med surg.

In addition to a multi vitamin, I recommend the following.

Ester C (1000 mg a day)

Coral Calcium (3 times a day)

B-Complex

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

My daughter had a pretty serious case of eczema on her face from birth. Because the doctor didn't want to use any of the current medications on the delicate skin around her eyes we used vaseline to keep it moist so it wouldn't crack and bleed. She had a really severe case of it going when she came down with chicken pox at the age of 7. By the time the illness had run its course the eczema had completely cleared up (something that had never happened before) and it has NEVER been back since. Not even once. She's now 14. Her dermatologist swears there can't possibly be a connection, but he'll never convince me.

Of course I'm not suggesting you run out and get chicken pox (and you've probably already had it anyway) but I've just always found that to be such a peculiar thing.

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Yes, I have a certain family member who uses vaseline religiously. My nurse educator suggested trying clarinex or allegra, thought that was a good idea.

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Dermatologists suggested Sensodyne toothpaste (plain no whiteners) for peri-oral eczema. She thinks there is a link in eating cinnamon.

It's sure is a bummer for children to have this. My child is using Elidel, clears up great for a few days then comes back. We added DesOwen for the burning caused by Elidel.

Does anyone know causes for this?

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One thing that really helped me for facial eczema is a compounded soln. of cetaphil lotion, cleocin, and hyrocortisone. It helps immediately and it's cheap, but you have to have a pharmacy that does compounding. If my skin gets especially dry, they use DML lotion instead of cetaphil.

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Don't Forget You Can Buy The Vitamin E Capsules , Poke Them With A Pin And Squirt The Oil On The Dry Area, Best Done At Bed Time..little Messy, But Over Time Really Works Great!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Hydrocortisone is considered a HUGE no-no for chronic eczema sufferers now. I was royally chewed out by my child's dr for using it.

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I've had 2 things work wonderfully for this. I had it for years on my stomach.... large area that would not heal. Someone told me to wash the area 2 x daily with head and shoulders shampoo and to rub in a little after washing as a lotion. It went away and I have never had it there again. It's been about 8 years now.

I still had it on either side of my nose too. I never could leave the shampoo rub on my face because I felt self conscious without makeup on. Tho it would lighten up, it never would fade completely away until I started using Avon products that have the Alpha Hydroxy in them. Since using the Pure O2 skin wash and the Anew revitalizing cream it's almost completely gone. It only reappears if I lapse in one of my 2x daily washings. Even with the stress of Finals it's not showing at all.

I have to say that I would never have tried the Avon had my daughter not started selling it. I was just being a good Mom and found something that beats the rash by accident. You may be able to get free samples from an Avon Rep in your area to try it.... or try anything with the Alpha Hydroxy as I'm pretty sure that is the key ingredient helping me.

Best wishes as I know what a problem this can be.

Hugs!

MaryRose

I

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Specializes in Home care, assisted living.
Hydrocortisone is considered a HUGE no-no for chronic eczema sufferers now. I was royally chewed out by my child's dr for using it.

WOW. I didn't know this! My mom used to lecture me every day about putting on that hydrocortisone cream.

So what do doctors recommend now?

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I too have ezcema. It would get bad during the winter months, but only affected my calves (weird) I met a great dermatologist in DC who prescribed Protopic. It works so great that I only have to apply it every once in awhile. For my hands (because they get so dry) I HAVE to use L'Occitane shea butter hand creme in the foil tube. It's around $28, but it lasted a year in school.

I only use baby oil getting out of the shower, but am thinking of using Eucerin. Everything else is so thin.

Good luck

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