Help - allergic skin

[Luckingfovely]

Posting here as no response in Health:

Hi - I would be so grateful for any advice.

My DH has been having awful skin reactions for around six months. Has been to doctors with no real results, and obviously and understandably can't go any more at the moment.

He works outside and seems to have initially had a reaction to some chemical that he came into contact with. Since then, we've removed contact with that chemical, but he's gone into some hyper-allergic state and is now apparently allergic to pretty much everything.

We've removed all obvious triggers including cutting out food groups; and yet he is still constantly reacting.

He is on Fexofenadine 180mg daily and Cetraben cream, neither seem to make much difference.

He has thick layers of eczema on his arms, neck, shoulders and head, and is constantly irritating them, so they bleed again. We seem to be stuck in a constant pattern where nothing is making him better.

We're tried aloe vera, all the normal chemist derma creams, salt baths, etc. Some help a little bit for a time and then either don't work or he starts reacting to them again.

The most effective thing at the moment seems to be my EA 8 Hour Cream!

Sorry for the long post - wanted to give all info - I would be so grateful if anyone has any ideas that we haven't tried?

I’m on the same antihistamine daily and use Aveeno skin relief. I was having terrible allergic reactions on my face and neck.

The doctor also prescribed me prednisolone and hydrocortisone which worked really quickly and gave me so much relief.

It turned out to be my shampoo of all things. I also react to washing powder and need non bio sensitive.

It sounds like it could be similar to my allergy as it’s his skin reacting

Is it eczema, has he had it diagnosed?

Check out my goodness recipes on Instagram, Hanna Sillitoe... lots of ppl with eczema, psoriasis follow her diet and she has healed herself of these skin problems... believe me you won't regret it.

Thank you both - no, not officially diagnosed as eczema- but very similar in appearance. Will look at those options, thank you.

Any other ideas also very gratefully received

He works outside and seems to have initially had a reaction to some chemical that he came into contact with. Since then, we've removed contact with that chemical, but he's gone into some hyper-allergic state and is now apparently allergic to pretty much everything.

Yes, this is a known thing. After a chemical injury or exposure you can develop extensive allergies and even Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Unfortunately a lot of doctors don't take it seriously.

First things first, what washing powder do you use? You need to switch over to a scent-free powder such as Surcare, which is available from larger branches of Sainsbury's and Waitrose. I know that's going to be difficult at the moment, but try and see if it's possible. Here's the thing: "non-bio" is a misnomer. All it means is that it doesn't contain enzymes, but most "non-bio" powder is still full of perfume. It's actually the scent that most people are allergic to, not enzymes. So you specifically need to use something that's scent free. Many people are so drenched in scent every day that they don't realise how much they're using. I've even met people who didn't realise that Fairy Non Bio is full of perfume - how can they not smell it?!

Also, again easier said than done but he needs to look at all his personal products such as deodorant, shaving cream etc, and change all of it to scent-free.

And I'm sorry but you'll have to look at yours too, because your perfume is going to affect him.

Going scent-free is one of the most straightforward things you can do to reduce your toxic/allergic load.

More info here: breakspearmedical.com/about-us/becoming-scent-free/

Or look at some eczema-related websites for other washing powder recommendations. Even if he doesn't officially have eczema, people with many skin conditions follow similar advice.

@tectonicplates thank you, that's really helpful. And yes, we do use fairy non-bio!!

He can get a steroid cream, eumovate, over the counter in chemists that helps me.

I have a skin condition called dermographia which is a bit different but I found fexofenadine to be useless. I've been seeing a dermatologist for over a year now and tried quite a lot of things. The best medication for me (and a lot of people with various urticaria) is 3 a day cetirizine which can be bought off the shelf. Might be worth a try?

Thank you both - it's a great relief to have some new ideas to try!