Mumsnet Talk

Do they still do wet wraps? I had it several years ago and it worked pretty well. Excema even cleared up for a while. It has been back with avengeance the last few years and I have an almost permanent sore on my calf from constant itching and flare ups. I saw my GP a few weeks ago who gave me a different cream (I have tried them all) and he told me if I can't stop itching then they won't help me anymore!
The itching is awful and it ruins my life sometimes so I know where you are coming from. My arms and legs are ruined and covered in scars. I get psoarisis on my head as well so probably look like I have nits with all the scratching.
I have had to stop having baths as I itch from the water, even with oatmeal, oilatum in it. I have to shower and rub the balneum oil in then rinse off quickly and jump out. i can't use epaderm(the waxy one) as as it sinks in it gets itchy. I have the cream based one which I can just about tolerate.

I think I will try harder to give up dairy and see if that helps. I might also be allergic to denim, most of the patches on my legs are where the seams are so now need to find a whole new wardrobe as well.

We used to wet-wrap our DS for the first 2 yrs of his life because his eczema was so bad. It did help, but only for the first few hours of the day because he was so dry. Bear in mind that if you do that you will need several dry, warm layers on over the wet layer i.e. a dry bandage, then pyjamas then a fleece maybe because you will be very cold when you're wet-wrapped.

If you have a bath, try putting a large handful in a muslin bag and pop it in the bath, it does wonders for DS's skin.

Best of luck, I have severe hand eczema at the moment, and I know how the itch and the pain of broken skin must be driving you to distraction.

I meant 'when having a bath, try putting a large handful of oatmeal or oats into a muslin bag'.

Oh I am glad to hear someone else understands but pity ye too!Itch does drive me MAD.I seem to be okay during day and from 5pm on itch starts.It is as if my allergy tablets/ creams have worn off and I can feel the tingle and urge all over..Then itch starts and unfortunately I have had 3 infections on top of this around eye since October.Very distressing Hope ye are doing well at the moment.

Oh I am glad to hear someone else understands but pity ye too!Itch does drive me MAD.I seem to be okay during day and from 5pm on itch starts.It is as if my allergy tablets/ creams have worn off and I can feel the tingle and urge all over..Then itch starts and unfortunately I have had 3 infections on top of this around eye since October.Very distressing Hope ye are doing well at the moment.

Do you have a bath emollient and soap substitutes as well? A good time to put your emollient cream or ointment on is when you get out of the bath after patting your skin dry as they soak in better. Just never have a bubble bath or use soap as they make your skin even more dry. Again there are lots of different ones to try.

Just out of bath and use oilatum plus, never anything bubbly or perfumed.Then i use steroid on bad bits which is arms tonight and diprobase ointment on rest.Even good bits of skin appears red after this routine so something wrong somewhere...maybe what i put in bath...Alternatives for bath not great have tried lots.Patch teating indicated allergy to parabens so that rules out lots.The search shall f
go on...

Sorry last sentence missing/ the search shall go on and on for something that agrees with skin....

Your not having much luck are you. I hope your dermatologist can help you when you have your next appointment. You would think they would be able to not put additives in products for people with skin conditions. I think ointments are better than creams because they don't have to have all the preservatives in them because they are oil based not water. I don't know much about parabens apart from they seem to be in most things. Hope you get sorted soon.

I can't use anything in the bath. I am awful for presents as I just can't do 'smellies' I can just about tolerate Simple for my face and shower gel but anything with a smell or colour just makes me itch like mad.
Have you tried taking your anti-allergy meds at night? Apparently that is the best time to take them

Hydromol works for my DS. It is very thick and greasy though. I also use Betnovate during bad flare ups. Doc said not to be afraid of steroids, best to use the right amount for the right time than skimp and not clear it up. Not suggesting that this is what you do though!

Yes taking allergy tablet before bed.day time i must look into as itchy by day

Another vote for Dermol. Use this on my daughter and stops the itching . Organic porridge oats through a muslin in the bath v good once or twice a week when v bad.

Washing only in Exmol in bath or shower (even for during the day hand washing) and applying Dermol morning & night has been most effective treatment combination by miles.

Never heard of exmol, will try and look out for that.thanks for suggestions will be experimenting with all suggestions

I think mumchat means Eczmol - it's an emollient that also includes an antiseptic, chlorhexidine I think. I've just acquired some for my son following his first bout of infected eczema, but haven't tried it yet.

He says Sudocrem helps with the itching, so recently I've been putting a thin layer of Sudocrem on first, then his usual Diprobase.

You're already using Oilatum Plus - we failed to find some, because of some current manufacturing fault, so instead added some Savlon antiseptic liquid (containing cetrimide and chlorhexidine) to his bath together with his usual normal Oilatum, and again he said that helped soothe the itch.

Good luck with it!

FossilMum,i made a collection of oilatum plus as had heard it woukd not be replaced so i alter that wiith savlon as you suggested.i find smell of savlon very overpowering and a bit harsh on irritated areas.Is Eczmol on prescription only?glad your son is doing okay.It is a distressing condition which requires full time care.Thanks

Did you eat a lot of cheese over Christmas? A lot of eczema is exacerbated by dairy, and we were discussing it in the playground this morning. A friend who has terrible eczema said she cuts down to just milk when hers is bad. Try cutting cheese out and excessive dairy.

I got the Eczmol over the counter from Boots, but they had to order it in so it took a few days. I've since got a prescription from my son's GP, as any repeats will be free as he's only 5.

I found about it from this page, which I came across when doing a web search on infected eczema:
www.talkeczema.com/webdocs/features/antimicrobial_use_could_end_misery_of_eczema_flare-up_for_millions_of_sufferers_in_the_.php

The stuff is also mentioned on the NHS site:
www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Eczema-%28atopic%29/Pages/MedicineOverview.aspx?medicine=Eczmol

If you're desperately itchy between hydrocortisone doses, do also give the Sudocrem a try - I figure if it is safe on a baby's bottom every nappy change, it's safe on my son's legs whenever he wants it. I know it's mainly known for nappy rash, but eczema is also listed on the container and the NHS site www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Eczema-%28atopic%29/Pages/MedicineOverview.aspx?medicine=Sudocrem as a suitable use. It also helped with my son's itchy chickenpox rash a few years back, and contains a mild antiseptic.

I do hope something helps improve things for you.

No I dont eat cheese and I suppose I could start to monitor daury intake.Have any of ye had food allergy testing done as part of eczema diagnosis?Never thought of exploring that option but have other allergy testing done the RAST being the most recent.

Mean dairy intake!!