ECZEMA - How to get rid of it?

okay so i have really bad stress-related eczema. it's really getting me down and has made me ridiculously self-conscious. i feel like everybodys staring at me, and the other day the guy i like came and sat next to me and i couldnt even look at him because of the eczema on my face. i felt like he would judge me. what shall i do?!

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Reply 1

papz_007

i thought eczema wasnt curable ? but u could keep it under control

i think you can get a cream/lotion for your local pharmacy

Reply 2

rock_eleven

a fine-smelling cream from a chinese herbalist worked excellently for mine. It comes and goes, though.

this cream works better than anything I ever got from a Dr.

Reply 3

BeesKnees

tis a pain isn't it? :frown:

Oilatum plus is pretty good.

Reply 4

BeesKnees

rock_eleven

a fine-smelling cream from a chinese herbalist worked excellently for mine. It comes and goes, though.

this cream works better than anything I ever got from a Dr.

please try to remember what it's called.

Reply 5

Fred Basset

Hi

I used to have very severe eczema myself, so I know how bad it feels when it comes out. Basically you can get cream (Oilatum) for it that basically keeps the skin moist and occasionally contains a mild-pain-killer, but I'd suggest if it is getting that bad for you, you go and see your GP and talk to him. It is possible for him to prescribe some steroids (various types) that will help reduce the eczema short term.

Other than that, you might want to try tackling the causes of the problem - try stress reducing tactics such as pencilling-in regular time-off, or time to yourself.

Reply 6

rock_eleven

BeesKnees

please try to remember what it's called.

it has no name, I'm afraid. It came in nondescript small glass jars. Just go to a local TCM practitioner (there are a lot these days) and ask for something for excema. Get a topical treatment, not pills. Mine smells a bit like vicks vapor rub, if i remember correctly. Just buy one, might be £10 or something... and try it.

Reply 7

EKO

I too get this stress related rash, like eczema, but that's not what it is; in fact the doctor was unsure what it was, and even blamed spores in the air. I have ridiculously sensitive, and dry skin. It usually happens around my neck and the sides of my face.

Not much helped me apart from hydrocortisone (check with doc first), and sudocrem....

It only ever comes around during exam periods (I have it now), and generally when I'm stressed.

Good luck, and I hope it gets better. :smile:

Reply 8

BeesKnees

I used to use hydrocortisone and other steroid creams too but it's abit awkward coz for me it's mainly on my scalp so it's abit difficult to apply so I was given cocois coconut cream or something like that which I'm supposed to apply about once a week at night and then wash it out in the morning. You should see your GP before you use anything though.

Reply 9

BeesKnees

rock_eleven

Thanks, i'll try to find out about it :smile:

Reply 10

luceluce

I sympathise. I know how you feel! I had very bad eczema when I was younger, was wrapped in bandages like a mummy and everything! I grew out of it although it does come back when I'm stressed...like now!

Hydrocortosine cream is good, as well moisterisers to prevent skin from becoming dry. I've always used diprobase as a moisteriser, prescribed by my doctor.

As people mentioned, oilatum in the bath is good as well. I know its hard but try not to scratch, because it makes it worse! Try and avoid becoming hot and sweaty, I find that makes it worse. Also, cut you nails really short so if you scratch you don't make it as red.

Reply 11

concept2

Hey I totally understand! I used to have eczema really bad when i was younger and (don't laugh) it was cured by acupuncture!! I didn't believe it would work, having tried special diets and steroid creams and that oileum stuff and homeopathy (yeah got a bit desperate). But seriously it literally went after a couple of times. They also give you this Chinese cream which stops itching- it smells a bit funny though! I'm not saying its a total cure but i worked for me and I haven't had eczema in years and years. Good luck!

Reply 12

jessx

i get it quite badly too when i'm stressed... i found that the hemp body butter from the body shop keeps it under control; it doesn't get rid of it altogether but it stops it itching and weeping.. it's 12 pounds for a tub but it does last you a while :smile:

Reply 13

stratomaster

Hydrocortisone 1% cream is the best.

Reply 14

Anonymous #2

I too used to have eczema, i used hydrocortisone and some other steroids for many years and eventually just grew out of it, so im not sure really how it is caused by stress, but i would advise to see your GP about it if its worrying you that much

Also, i know how hard it is to try and not scratch but a lot of it really is down to self control. If you dont touch or scratch it at all during the day there is a good chance much of it will disappear, or at least not appear red during the day. I used to find that if i had an itchy area, i would just pinch my arm as hard as i could, I dont know why really but it seemed to take my mind off the itchiness and it did work.

Reply 15

RubyH

To the OP: I sympathise, I have had bad eczema since I was a baby, and it gets worse with stress too. At the moment it's so bad on my hand that it hurts to write, comb my hair etc. The only thing that helps me really is to go to the doctor and get some steroid cream, as moisturisers etc won't help until it's been brought under control a bit. That said, I haven't been back to my GP about mine because I have actually tried every cream they offer, multiple times, and it stops working after a while. Am considering asking my GP to refer me to a specialist, as there are creams that only specialists prescribe. If your's continues and creams don't help, specialist might be an option for you too. Hope it gets better soon, really do try to see your doctor, they are really sympathetic about it.

Reply 16

Jaffaholic

I used to have eczema/dermatitis when i was younger because of sensitive skin and very dry skin (genetic so uncurable). I used moisturising cream, hydrocortisone and fucidin cream for years. Its terrible for your skin and when i was younger the medicine caused a lot of skin damage by themselves. But without them, i would have caused far more damage through itching creating loads of open wounds.

Thankfully, when you become a teenager and your hormones kick in it goes away in a lot of people. However, i still have sensitive/dry skin but moisturising cream on its own does the job.

As for what rock_eleven said, i bet its just a moisturising cream with aloe vera.

Reply 17

EKO

Anonymous

Also, i know how hard it is to try and not scratch but a lot of it really is down to self control. If you dont touch or scratch it at all during the day there is a good chance much of it will disappear

I'm afraid it's not as simple as that.. in my cases it doesn't just disappear overnight...

Sadly it only goes away when I'm not stressed (which thankfully is most of the year now I'm at Uni, but sixth form was a major prob).

It's also the most painful thing when you get hot and sweaty during sports... it must be like having your face burned against a hot pan.

Sometimes E45 helps a little....

Reply 18

Revd. Mike

Hydrocortisone is good, but be aware that you can only use it on an area of skin no larger than a 50pence at any one time. Make sure you moisturize well, don't scratch (difficult I know), don't have bath or shower too hot, pat skin dry after washing rather than rub, don't wear tight clothing, use a skin-friendly laundry detergent. Eucerin bath and shower therapy is extremely good, about £8 a bottle from boots, you can also get Eucerin Intensive Urea treatment lotion for about £10.

Reply 19

Juncture

I don't know how much use this will be to you but I'll say it anyway, when I was younger I used to get moderate eczema and I found it got worse when I'd had lots of dairy products, so since I was about 7 or 8 I've had goats milk whenever I would normally have used cows milk (i still have normal cheese, chocolate, yoghurt etc. just when i use milk out of a carton i use goats milk) and it cleared my eczema up loads

It's just a suggestion although it doesn't work for everyone and goats milk is an acquired taste