Would you use betnovate every day?

[crayon]

I have had incredibly itchy skin on my right hand for nearly two years now. I use aqueous cream when I can instead of soap, wear (non-rubber) gloves for jobs where I am in contact with detergent/shampoos etc, avoid key foods I think make it worse, and have nine pots of cream under my bed (from Itch relief E45, emulsifying ointment, aveeno, aqueous cream (was making it worse I think), savlon, sudocrem etc).

The only thing that regularly brings it down is betnovate, and even then the effect lasts just 24 hours. I know regular use causes skin thining, so I put it on thinly, esp as I am breastfeeding (though apparently it is OK to use and feed).

The more I scratch, the more it spreads as I assume I am stratching a bigger area than the actual itch. I am tempted to use betnovate every day, but does anyone know just how much is too much?

At the moment it is so sore, cracked, red and itchy. At any one point in time I have various pus filled spots where infection has started (these seem to go after a few days) which is hardly hygenic when looking after children and cooking .

Any help would be appreciated. I am planning to visit my GP for allergy test referral, but I expect her to say not until I finish breastfeeding in another 6-12 months.

And I would recommend using products like the ones on this website. here you go. I use burts baby bees on DS and it doesn't make my skin react. Most baby products have a chemical in that I react to (can't remeber the name). Babywipes are the worst, I wear my cotton glove, latex type glove combo when I change his bum, bath him, everything really!!! . I bulk buy latex gloves and have a box in Ds's room or the bathroom, one in the kitchen and one by my dressing table, with a pair of cotton gloves poked in the box so I never forget. I also have a set in the changing bag and one in my handbag. I am so anal about keeping my hands safe these days!!!! The soap on the link I gave you is really good, ecosoapia or something btw.

add some probiotics to your diet - live yoghurt or supplement from health food store - as they can help with eczema. And change that gp for one who will refer you to a dermatologist!

Creams are trial and error unless you can see a dermatologist for patch test

Gingermonkey - where do you buy your gloves? I buy non-latex ones from Waitrose but when I am bathing DSs the water just goes over the top of them.

here's that link again to the steroid cream strength (from netdoctor - just scroll down)

steroid cream categorisation

Thanx for that Foxinsocks!

I had thought of Betnovate RD as being fairly mild but aparently not! Its still better than the stronger version I was using though!

I've also been prescribed Calmurid for long term use on my face, mainly because I find any kind of moisturizer difficult to use long term as I develope allergies to most of them, even the hypoallergenic ones, quite quickly! I had assumed that was a fairly safe uric acid based cream but looks as if its not! Luckily E45 have bought out a facial moisturiser which I've found I can actually tolerate so I'll stick with that for now!

Crayon - I get them from costco in packs of 3 boxes. (I think there's 200 gloves in a box)

Thanks Gingermonkey. I have got the cotton gloves today .

Good luck with them! And good luck with a referral. I did get one eventually but she wasn't much use tbh!!! My GP is fab though, but I had to go through 3 others at my surgery to find him.

I use betnovate (full strength) daily and have for months. Unfortunately I have little other choice as I have bad discoid eczema which flares as soon as the dosage is reduced. The dermatologists aren't happy with the steroid use, but aren't concerned about over use.

The thing is, to clear your skin you need to tackle it for more than 24 hours at a time. you need to tackle it until it's been clear at least a few days and then drop back to a milder steroid before coming off it. Also, if the skin has been badly damaged you need to take extra special care of it for a few months.

It sounds to me that you (and a few others who replied) may have pompholyx eczema on your hands. It's like little blisters - intensly itchy - that then calm down and crack and peel and crust over. hard to explain really, but only really happens on the hands and feet. I have it a bit on my hands, common in new mums through washing etc, but have it very badly on my feet. There is various info on the web about self help for it, but ultimately it can be very persistant. I would suggest it to your GP, and if it is resistant to betnovate over a few weeks then ask for a referral. Oh, ask for a swab to be taken to check it isn't infected too.

I've had it far worse when pg and breastfeeding. It can come on in times of stress too so try to relax. If you can take an antihistamine that may help - some are safe in breastfeeding but might make you drowsy. others are safe, but not licensed for use in breastfeeding so you might have a fight getting them... but you can buy them over the counter if you wanted to (I have!).

Suzi2 - thanks so much, that is all really helpful. I've googled pompholyx eczema and that is exactly what part of mine is.

hi all, just got back from spain and i brought back 8 tubes of benovate, as you can buy it abroad over the counter in their cemists and they do not ask questions.
1 tube cost £2.80 it is alot cheaper than a doctors prescripion, so if you know someone going or are going abroad, then to get yourselfs some.
i must admit i use it on my face a few times a week, i tends to leave me looking younger than mosst people of my age, i know i shouldnt but now i have become dependent on it, i had a little eczema years ago and now i face will only take that cream, other creams bring me out all pimley and chapped
bearclare

I had some strange dry skin on my elbows and the doc said it could be very early signs of psoriasis and gave me this cream, I have been using it for a few weeks and it has been drastically improving - healthexpress.co.uk/betnovate

i get very itchy hands with patches of severe eczema . It used to get really infected too but I get Dermol on prescription ( lotion and shower gel) and buy their hand wash which helps . Whilst I also get Fexofenadine & Dermovate on prescription I actually find Fludroxycortide tape to be most helpful thing in my battle with my hands . It is much lower dose than Dermovate but delivers a continued dose over a 12 hour period ( you wear it 12 hours on and 12 hours off). It also covers the exposed skin so I find the relief almost instant . The downside is that I can get through a pack quite quickly so ask your GP for 50cm pack if you find it helpful .

I also had some private testing to work out what I was allergic to - quite a lot it seems including some fairly common day to day stuff . I am allergic to aloe Vera which is in a lot of things for example and nickel and Quaternium compounds which are in lots of things like conditioner . The testing helped me to know what to avoid if Can. Whilst I have had this issue for a number of years it is definitely better through careful management . I have not had to have antibiotics for years or even fucidin . I do get flare ups which I can usually work out what’s caused it. I also take piriton too ( as prescribed by GP since am on prescription strength Fexofenadine ) and then Dermovate if all else fails. I do use gloves too wherever I can .

good luck .