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Patch testing / Eczema Sufferer

9 replies

seoda24 · 04/11/2012 20:55

Hi, heading to hospital this week to get patch testing done which is applied to back.Have bad eczema almost all over which is only now under control due to an array of creams and tablets. Now I am kind of dreading this as my back is not great this weekend.Has any one experience of patch testing??Will I go crazy with itch (from plasters) or worse, a bad reaction... Now I know it will be interesting to find out what I may be allergic to but... I have such sensitive skin I am wondering if I will be back to square one with a bad rash on back.Any help appreciated x

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Geekster · 04/11/2012 21:26

I found I was ok with patch testing, despite having fairly bad eczema. But I only reacted to a couple of the patches. If you are allergic to a lot it will prob be irritating, they use a plaster that doesn't cause reactions. When I had them done they were put on on Monday, taken off on Wednesday, then I had to go back on Friday to have them looked at again. You can't get your back wet until the Friday. Depends on the type of eczema you have. Mine is atopic and the sort of things they patch test don't usually cause that sort it's more environmental like dust and grass. They can do blood tests for that sort of thing called RAST. The national eczema society is a good source of information, you can join for £20 a year and they have a website and leaflets.

Hope that was of some help.

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seoda24 · 04/11/2012 21:40

Many thanks Geekster. Yes have atopic too.Had the RAST done in Summer. Was told was too bad for patch testing at that time so hopefully will be okay this week.Yes have to be there for those three days too.Am just getting over a badly swollen eye lid due to eczema at corner of eye.There is no end to it....I was never this bad. Thanks again

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Geekster · 04/11/2012 21:56

Yes eczema is a royal pain in the bum isn't it. Mines like that ok for a while then i suddenly react to something. It's just unpredictable. Just seems to get better then worse with no rhyme or reason. Hope you go on ok this week, in some ways you want them to find something and in others you don't.

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Chulita · 04/11/2012 22:04

Dd is 3 and she just had patch testing done last month. She didn't complain about anything apart from the tight tape at first. She had a very strong reaction to one thing but said it didn't itch even though the mark looked very sore and is still there 4 weeks on! atopic eczema is a bastard...

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seoda24 · 04/11/2012 22:14

Chulita, she must be a great little patient! Yes atopic eczema is a complete disaster.... Some days good other days very bad. Glad she got on okay. Thanks

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seoda24 · 08/11/2012 11:37

Oh my God girls...this went awful wrong.they said worst reaction they had seen.body covered in rash back all blisters.i git weak getting plasters off and had allergy to plaster too!hard to read reaults as back raw.what a day..wanted to send me to casualty but seeing specialist doctor tomorrow for final reading.i am feeling sorry for myself here...

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Chulita · 08/11/2012 12:21

Oh no! That's awful! You poor thing...so they have no idea which of them all you reacted to? Is there anything you can take/apply to help?
I'm so sorry you've had such a bad reaction, hopefully the positive will be that you get some idea of what to avoid.

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laptopcomputer · 08/11/2012 12:27

Just wanted to add my sympathies, you poor thing you mujst feel dreadful. I was referred for patch testing earlier this year after I had a massive flare up after using Fucibet (which I have used in the past with no problems). however, my hospital told me they wouldn't test for common ingredients or mediines so it seemed pointless and I did not go for the tests. After reading other threads on here I now make my own moisturiser and my eczema has gone, which is a whole other story. So I know I am allergic to some things and have worked out some of them through a process of elimination. I really hope your skin settles down soon and the tests give you some answers in the end.

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seoda24 · 08/11/2012 14:23

Thanks a mill girls.They will have trouble reading it.was told to put betnovate on but that is burning it as fir the strap of bra!!anyway i am leaving it bfor the moment until they get to read it tomorrow.the itch is the worst it niw looks like the affects of sunburn.thanks xx