The Student Room Group

Stress induced eczema - tips?

Hi all,

I used to suffer from eczema when I was tiny, but seemed to have grown out of it until I came to uni. I've now started to get flare ups when I'm stressed, and these tend to be on my face. I've just finished my finals, and am left with very sore and uncomfortable eczema around my eyes, around my lips and in a patch on my neck. (It's particularly painful around my eyes, and last time I developed eczema there it eventually got infected and I ended up with swollen eyelids that meant I couldn't open my eyes fully.) I've tried using Sudocrem, E45 and other recommended over-the-counter stuff but it stings like mad and actually seems to make it worse (again, particularly around my eyes). I'm really reluctant to keep going to the doctor and getting steroid cream every time this happens, so I just wondered if anyone else had anything that I could try that's worked for them. On a friend's recommendation I went and bought Evening Primrose Oil capsules today and am starting to take those, but is there anything else? I don't think it's a dietary issue as the flare ups seem directly linked to periods of high stress, but any suggestions welcome. Thanks guys.
Reply 1
Today on the Jeremy Vine show on Radio 2 they did an hour or so's phone in with an expert about skin conditions like acne and eczema. I didn't hear all of it, but I'm sure if you listen to it, you will be able to pick up some tips. You can listen to it hear, click the 'monday' button under 'listen again': http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/vine/

Hope it helps.
Reply 2
I used to get the same, got some low-strength hydrocortisone cream from my doc and it worked a treat.
Reply 3
bewithoutyou
Hi all,

I used to suffer from eczema when I was tiny, but seemed to have grown out of it until I came to uni. I've now started to get flare ups when I'm stressed, and these tend to be on my face. I've just finished my finals, and am left with very sore and uncomfortable eczema around my eyes, around my lips and in a patch on my neck. (It's particularly painful around my eyes, and last time I developed eczema there it eventually got infected and I ended up with swollen eyelids that meant I couldn't open my eyes fully.) I've tried using Sudocrem, E45 and other recommended over-the-counter stuff but it stings like mad and actually seems to make it worse (again, particularly around my eyes). I'm really reluctant to keep going to the doctor and getting steroid cream every time this happens, so I just wondered if anyone else had anything that I could try that's worked for them. On a friend's recommendation I went and bought Evening Primrose Oil capsules today and am starting to take those, but is there anything else? I don't think it's a dietary issue as the flare ups seem directly linked to periods of high stress, but any suggestions welcome. Thanks guys.


First of all, loads of sympathy. I have severe eczema myself and stress is one of my trigger factors too. I don't have eczema on my face these days, but I do get it very badly on my hands and feet, which makes walking to exams an absolute joy. :rolleyes:

I understand your reluctance to see a doctor, but you've tried all of the over-the-counter stuff and it's not helping to subside this flare up. If stress is one of your triggers, and you've just finished your exams, I would imagine your stress levels are going down, and your eczema is going to start getting better by itself, albeit very slowly. To speed up the process, you are going to need prescription drugs.

It's difficult treating eczema around the eyes and mouth because a) it's so easy to accidentally get cream slightly in the wrong place, and rubbing steroids into your eyes or ingesting them is going to do you some damage and b) they're areas where your skin is particularly thin naturally.

Your best bet is asking a GP to prescribe you some hydrocortisone - they're not going to give you anything stronger for that part of your body, anyway. Too risky. Apply it carefully with a cotton bud and it should really make a difference within a week, hopefully.

Remember not to wear makeup - I know eczema on your face can feel hideously embarrassing, but when the skin is broken and you put makeup on top; that's what leads to infection. If you find the skin quite dry and cracking up, you should stick with the E45 (or ask your doctor to prescribe you a different moisturer if it does nothing for you) as well as the steroid cream, and carefully rub an emollient into the area as often as you need to. If you can feel the skin starting to tighten and hurt, or you can feel a cut forming, don't be afraid to duck out of whatever it is you're doing and spend five minutes in the ladies 'touching up' your emollient.

If you shower instead of taking a bath, make sure you don't hit your face/neck full on with the water from a power shower as it will dry out your skin a little, and obviously not help the situation.

Evening Primose Oil capsules allegedly help, but they've done nothing for me. They work for some eczema sufferers but not for all. That said, if you've only just started taking them, you should carry on for, say, another month, just to see if they might make a difference. They take a while to kick in, if there is any effect.

Watch what you eat - not because I think you have allergies, but because certain foods are going to irritate the broken skin around your lips. When I was little and had eczema there, tomatoes really made things go from bad to worse in an instant. If you're eating anything juicy, cut it up with a knife and fork and eat it in dainty mouthfuls!

Edited to add: If you find yourself getting upset for any reason, go to your room and have a proper cry. Bottling up negative emotions won't help with the eczema. Best to get them out. Hopefully with the end of exams you've got no reason to be unhappy, though. :smile:
You need a good cream, ask your doctor because I think they can be quite effective.

Best of luck! :smile: x
Reply 5
Hey there, I used to have really bad eczema when I was little, to the point where I had to get bandages on it etc. So i really do empathise with you :smile:

There are a few things you can do that will really help.
Have you heard of Oilatum plus? It's a liquid that you put in your bath, all you do is sit in the bath for 30 minutes and it moisturises your skin - it really does work!!! You can usually get it from your Dr., if not you can buy it over the counter. Obviously you don't want your bath water too hot in general as that will dry your skin too.

I'd also advise you put something like Vasoline on the effected areas before you go to bed, hydrocortisone is great, but it sinks into the skin too quickly, whereas vasoline will sit on the skin all night and gradually moisturise it. I'd still get the Hydrocortisone, but just use it when you get flare ups. I know you can get paste - as opposed to cream - based Betnovate, maybe they have the same for Hydrocortisone, ask your Dr. as the paste would be better!!
BTW they do have something similar to Vasoline, but it's called Emulsifying Oitment, ask your Dr. about it, they give you it in a big tub and you can use it in the bath as an alternative to soap, plus apply it like the vasoline before you go to bed.
Good Luck :smile:
I have the same problem at the moment.

I got Diprobase from the doctor,it's really soothing for irritated skin I find.Also Hydrocortisone really clears it up quickly.

Also,I know you said it's not a dietary issue,but try cutting out dairy.I'm intolerant and since I started cutting down my eczema got better.I've been drinking a lot more milk recently,which coincides with exams and flare up.
Dont worry lol, im having stress induced spots :fight:
Atleast im on study leave though, so i can do my exams then take care of myself :pwnd:
Reply 8
I sympathise - I get eczema at times of stress too and it has taken years to realise that the trigger is stress, but it is made far worse by specific foods. My doctor told me that the following are common ezcema triggers:

ALL red fruit and vegetables (strawberries, chillis, peppers, plums, and worst: TOMATOES!)
Tomatoes (for me) make ezcemea far worse!!!! Cut it out for while to see if it makes a difference. Of course this includes all tomato based products such as tomato ketchup, pizzas, etc

Chilli or products containing: Chillis (and peppers)

and heres the surprise..WINE! (It's the yeast, causes allargies in some. It makes me itch)

Also, stop using 'biologica'l washing powders and DONT handle wet washing - washed in detergents (they make my hands bubble, with blisters)
Use rubber gloves when touching ANY cleaning products or chemicals; even nail varnish remover) with separate cotton glove liners inside (£2 from chemist)..
DON'T use 'bars' of soap, replace with gentle, non fragranced liquid soap, or aqueous clream or ointment (about £2.50 for a large tub from chemist, lasts ages).

If you can afford it stop using washng powder altogether and use non detergent alternatives such as eco balls (they use oxygen to clean).http://www.johnlewis.com/230478844/Product.aspx?source=14798 They DO work, trust me I've tried them, and they last ages. I'vbe had mine two years now so they save you money in long run.

Good luck. Hope it works. B x
Reply 9
I have the exact same problem, in the exact same places and I'm just going through my AS Levels. I've been trying Sudocrem, Dove, some special lip balm that's made especially for severely dry lips, and none of it works! But because I get home at 5, and the doctors close before 5, and I can't afford to miss time off college because of the exams, I haven't had the chance to get to a doctors!

So I empathise with you, I really do! :smile:
(edited 13 years ago)
I only have eczema on my left pinky which started only a couple months ago. Using regular lotion didn't help after my friend told me about Foderma serum. This has completely changed my eczema. I only need to use it once a day and my skin is flaky no more. This will definitely last me a long time considering how little I need to use.