really bad eczema / itchy hands - help!

[annady]

hello,
can anyone recommend anything for really sore, inflamed, cracked, itchy hands please? my eczema has flaired up again after many years - the doctor's suggested hydrocortisone, urea, hydromol doublebase, etc - none of which have worked - and i've also tried aveeno, lanacane, eurax, and those anti-itch creams.
my hands are falling apart - help!
thanks for any suggestions,
a x

Have you tried Diprobase? That seems to help mine and you can buy it over the counter. However, I'm sorry to say that the only thing that shifts it totally is a few days of Betnovate (which is prescription only and v.strong).

ask the GP for stronger steroids
I am using elocon

Hi

I had really bad eczema a couple of years ago. My Doctor also recommended hydrocortisone creams but also Epaderm which you can buy over the counter at the pharmacist. I applied the cortisone followed by the epaderm four a couple of weeks before it cleared, then carried on with just epaderm. Now I just use Aqueous cream as a moisturiser.

It is worthwhile being careful with branded products as even those marked for sensitive skin can contain irritants.

I also now try to avoid products which include Sodium Laureth Sulphate in them. Look up SLS or SLES online to find out about this.

Best of luck. If all fails do go back to your doc and insist on being refered on.

Hi

I had really bad eczema a couple of years ago. My Doctor also recommended hydrocortisone creams but also Epaderm which you can buy over the counter at the pharmacist. I applied the cortisone followed by the epaderm four a couple of weeks before it cleared, then carried on with just epaderm. Now I just use Aqueous cream as a moisturiser.

It is worthwhile being careful with branded products as even those marked for sensitive skin can contain irritants.

I also now try to avoid products which include Sodium Laureth Sulphate in them. Look up SLS or SLES online to find out about this.

Best of luck. If all fails do go back to your doc and insist on being refered on.

Sorry about double post, having problems logging on!

I found the hydrocortisone cream worked, if I put it on and then put on cotton gloves, and then rubber gloves when I was cleaning.

I think the rubber in gloves is what triggered it. Once it was completely healed it never came back.

Elecon as a stronger steroid (to blast it, for a few days). Better and more modern alternative to Betnovate.

Then Aveeno.

You just need to let it clear up as you are now in a cycle where everything makes it worse(so wash hands as little as poss - use cotton/latex gloves for cooking).

Mine is hormonal - much worse when have PMT and then clears up while I have my period and for the rest of the month.

I'd put a vote in for Elocon too - and for wet wrapping my hands, using Epaderm, overnight when they are really ropey. Admittedly they are usually dry again by mid-morning after a wet-wrapped night (Grr!) but I slather on more emollient, or if I'm not needing to go out and about too much, keep them wet wrapped in the day time too. HTH. MPD

thanks so much for all your advice - i'll try what i can and let you know what works!
a x