Is this stress or allergy related

[Bythemillpond]

Going through unbelievable stress at the moment. Cant explain what has happened as it would take too long.
Up to going through the menopause I had allergies to all sorts that would bring me out in itchy crusty weeping sore areas on my scalp, face and back if I ate certain foods.
Now haven’t had a problem for about a year and have been freely eating dairy with no side effects.
Anyway almost overnight I developed a red blotchy forehead which is flaking so much and so itchy. It has come down into my eyebrows. I have itched so much I seem to have lost nearly all my eyebrows. The tops of my eyes below my eyebrows are now crinkly and crepey. It looks like I have been out in a freezing windy climate with no protection.
I have been taking an antihistamine the chemist recommended but that just has taken the itch down to a lower level.

Does this sound like stress related or have I developed an allergy to something I am eating.
I will try to take a photo but not really very techy.

I haven’t been using any face cream or moisturiser as it stings.

Anyone?

This sounds like what's been happening to me for the past year except it's focused around my eyes. I'm starting to think it might have something to do with what I think was Covid 19 last December. Do you think you might have had Covid at all? I have to keep sending photos into the doctor. This time he has put me on doxycylcine for a month or two and am using Nizoral shampoo for the flakey forehead. I have found that Moogoo doesn't sting, and also La Roche Posay cicaplast baume.

I've been told to clean the skin in the morning with diluted Johnson's baby shampoo in cool boiled water using cotton wool pads. Am only 5 days into the tablets and the elephantine look has improved but still sore, red and itchy.

Originally I thought it was lack of oestregen because of menopause but now wondering whether Covid has left my body with some sort of inflammation?

I should add that like you I'm taking antihistamine regularly. Also have bought a small dehumidifier and air purifier. Hope yours eases soon!

I think I did have Covid but in December 2019. Although I haven’t had a problem with my skin till now over a year later.

I am so stressed at the moment. It isn’t just my forehead but around the tops of my eye sockets.
I am so upset as I used to have a wrinkle free forehead and now it looks like deep lines are there and my eyes have gone really dry and crepey if you know what I mean.
I have also appear to have lost half my eyebrows. I now have the tufts that run from the bridge of my nose to the middle of my eyes and the downward sweep has fallen out.
The only thing the antihistamines are doing is going some where towards stopping the itching

Same- re Dec 2019- wish the gov would admit it was here earlier.

I can really sympathise- it affects sleep, concentration, confidence....and sounds like you've really itched the eyebrow region a lot to lose hairs which must be distressing.

I tried anti fungal cream just over a week ago but that didn't make a difference- you could possibly try that maybe? The doxycycline is an antibiotic but for skin infections- doing a bit of online research I reckon I could be on it 2 months before a result. I would recommend the baby shampoo in the morning just to wash all the various cream residue off but don't be tempted to scrub. I have had to use tweezers to remove huge flakes from eyebrows and eyelids- can quite see how eyebrow hairs could come out. I've just ordered a cool gel eye mask from ebay to help with the itching.

I would send some photos to the doctor if I was you and tell him/her how long it's been going on. Mine is hampered by stress, and would imagine your stress isn't helping at all, really feel for you.

I can’t see an end to my stress. I have been put in a position because of this virus and an illness a few years ago. We were just recovering from the impact of the illness when Covid and lockdown came and now we are potentially losing everything and I am so upset.
At my husbands and my ages we should have been looking forward to retirement but now I can’t see how we would be able to ever give up work. Not that there is any work. I am trying to keep things together whilst we sell our house at a fraction of what it is worth just so we can get some equity out of it. I am giving it away virtually.
I am getting more and more depressed at what and where we can afford to live compared to our beautiful home and garden in a lovely area. On top of that we all lost our jobs and I have been holding everything together paying for everything for nearly a year just on my wits and a little borrowing off my children who have really helped.
Had to sell things that potentially won’t fit in a much smaller house. Things that I have loved and enjoyed having and looking at and using for 30 years. This thing on my face is just another aggravation and reminder of how shit my life is.
This morning the rash has spread round my eyes and to the top of my cheekbones. It is stinging even though I haven’t put anything on it.
I really can’t be bothered to go to my GP as they are completely useless. Every time I go I come out with nothing. They are a complete waste of time. I know what they will say. It will be a case of just leave it alone and come back in 3 weeks if it hasn’t cleared up. Even then if you go back in the 3 weeks they will only try what I have already tried and told to come back in 3 weeks. It also takes weeks to get an appointment I can’t see them doing anything.

You poor thing, that's a hell of a lot to go through. No wonder your skin is screaming for you! I had a very similar thing happen to me when I was a young mum with a child- I know exactly what you're feeling- your beautifully curated house going to someone else when you put in all that effort. You feel like you've lost all elements of control in your own life and future- we all need to think we've got some level of control.

Re where you can afford to live, just thinking practically I take it you've considered lodger/lodgers for a period? I had to do that in the past, it wasn't for me, but as you are part of a couple it could work better? If like I did, you end up downsizing and getting rid of stuff you love- I found it helped to persuade myself that I had too much anyway and then I could focus on making a small house work for me.

My advice would be to get a house on the safest street you can find- I chose a tiny terrace with promise but on a road that turned out to be crime central, really regret it. You can't put a price on feeling safe is what I learned from that- no amount of period features can make up for weekly car vandalism!

I understand your frustration with doctors- I feel that too- they often haven't got enough know-how on eczema and you feel they're just chucking creams and medication at you hoping something will work. If you can stop it getting infected and feeling hot to the touch that would be something- take it from me you don't want big cracks developing in it which hurt every time you blink- so I would wipe it gently in the morning with Johnsons baby shampoo and water then get a rich moisturiser on it that doesn't sting too much, and apply throughout the day when you feel it pulling/getting tight.

So sorry you're going through all this.

We need 4 bedrooms we have older teenage children. The house is full already so no spare room for a lodger.
I have looked at 3 bedroom places and given there are 4 adults going to be living there I look around and imagine how to fit us all in.
I can’t throw my children out as they too haven’t got any work. They have applied for every job going and occasionally get a rejection letter or usually don’t hear anything more.
Sorry for off loading on a thread for skin problems.
I am also on a thread about ADHD and getting tested as an adult.
My GP told me I was too old to get tested

How are things? Is it still flaring? Have you tried the Johnson's shampoo on it?

Yes tried the johnsons shampoo. Still almost the same.
I tried a recipe of olive oil and baking soda mixed into a paste and applied which stung like Hell
Rubbed it in then wet my face under the shower so the baking powder started to fizz. When it was dried it went really red and really tight so I applied some really thick moisturiser which stung for a bit but in the morning I now have a clear blotch on my forehead
It has started to go around my eyes and onto across my cheeks and every so often it itches like mad and I get a stream of flakes and skin dust and crusty bits falling off my face.

I am hoping it will clear up naturally when I am less stressed but at the moment if anything it is getting worse overall.

not heard of that idea before- tempted but far too weepy and sore at the mo. I'm on prednisolone now and on referral list for dermatologist. It's spread down my neck, like you I have loads of flakes to contend with esp when I wake up, eyes need bathing to get them open. Misery isn't it.