Eczema/Allergy/Sensitivity around mouth: getting me very down

[ecofreckle]

For as long as I can remember I have had a problem (mostly over the winter months) around my mouth with eczema. It is mostly on my upper lip and up to my just below my nose. It is red, itchy and very unsightly. I have photos but no idea how to link to them. Covering it up with make up is a no no as it makes it worse. I spend a lot of time outdoors and it does get worse in cold and wind and rain (hence being very bad this winter!).

I have tried doctors who prescribed weak hydrocortisone or a Canestan/hydrocortisone mix. These may have helped a little in the past but not any longer. I fear years of using them has damaged the skin in this area because it's very very old looking now and I'm only 38 :-( Doctors have said it's unlikely to be food allergy linked because eczema everywhere else is fine. I do sometimes get it on my hands but not badly for years.

I have tried pharmacist who suggested Blistex or sudocrem. Neither help.

I have tried experimenting with wash powders and moisturisers. I currently use a dermalogica cleanser for sensitive skins and now use Boots No 7 for very dry skin moisturiser as the dermalogica one was just too expensive. I have tried body shop hemp moisturiser.

This eczema was NOT a problem at all for the duration of my pregnancy by the way.

Any advice about what to try next or what might have worked for you, or in fact, if you have this problem too? Do you have a good moisturiser to suggest? Or perhaps some sort of barrier cream for use outdoors? Or maybe even a guess at what might be causing it in the first place please? Thank you.

[Thankgoodnessforcheerios]

I'm itching to know of the results, excuse the pun :)

[Thankgoodnessforcheerios]

previously Irishclaire

[ecofreckle]

well! it is much better :-) I still look a sight but it's certainly better. In fact I managed a good old snog session with dh
It's a great moisturiser. I'm not sure why it says use once a day. I may contact them and ask. I need twice a day and maybe a bit in between too. I still need to get to bottom of what causes it ideally but for now this is a good step I think. But it's early days! Thank you!

[Thankgoodnessforcheerios]

That's great! Hope it clears up and you get to the bottom of what's causing it.