Eczema - blood tests (adult)

[FlowerFairyDaisy]

Finally had a dermatology appointment yesterday after 1 year flare up of severe eczema over whole body (except hands and face).

I have a history, diagnosed chronic in childhood, cleared aged about 7 and mild flare-ups mostly on face and hands throughout my life that I was always able to clear quite quickly (or at least, manage).

The derm suspects possibly hormonal, vitamin deficiency or thyroid related (I am now post-meno, aged 55) and has requested blood tests including liver and diabetes. I have been on Levothyroxine for an underactive thyroid for about 20 years. I take a multi-vitamin and iron, magnesium and cod's liver oil daily already. Healthy diet, low stress job, plenty of time outdoors walking etc..

I have worked out that I have a paraffin intolerance (especially when I perspire, it causes intense itch) so avoid all products containing that and other 'sealants'.

I am wondering if anyone has been in a similar position and the cause was found in blood test results, please?

Thank you for reading.

I’ve had atopic eczema on an off throughout my life. After largely settling down in my early thirties following taking part in a Chinese Tea trial, it then flared up 20 years later and has never really gone away since. I’ve had skin prick allergy tests but never been offered a diagnostic/eliminatory blood test. Sorry not to be more helpful. I would be interested to hear what your results are.

It's so frustrating, isn't it? I asked 3 times for blood tests at the GP as it seemed to coincide with periods finishing.

I will update.

Interesting that the tea worked.

Have a look into Nora Cavani and Alba Health. She completely reversed her eczema and set up a company to help others do the same.

Its good that you're under care of a proper dermatologist OP, that's the first step.

My atopic eczema was always mild until my late 30s, when it became increasingly severe and over 90% of my body. No cause was ever identified.

After years of GPs prescribing courses of steroid tablets I finally saw a dermatologist and was prescribed an immunosuppressant, which worked really well for 8 years (but which I now may need to change to a biologic).

I did have allergy testing - no food allergies (though advised to avoid foods high in histamines - eg red wine, matured cheeses) - but I'm allergic to cats and dogs.
Avoiding them though doesn't make my eczema any better so while useful to know, it doesn't really help.

Be prepared you may never find 'the cause' - you might never be able to cure it by eliminating a particular food/product or taking a vitamin. Do ask your dermatologist about what medication is available - there are options.

Hi op. I have allergic excema but also excema that's bad in the autumn and spring so generally caused by cold/heat.

I can't use any of the emollients I assume that's the paraffin. I can't use things like vaseline.

I can tolerate aveeno on my hands/forearms, but not my body or face as it makes me itch so badly. I can cope with Cerave on my legs. I don't moisturise anywhere else.

On my face I put hydrocortisone on the excema patches then Cerave 30spf moisturiser on top. I can't put suncream on the back of my hands as they roar with redness itching and pain.

I take up to four fexofenadines a day in the summer but it doesn't stop the hives and itching on my hands and legs.

Hydrocortisone generally helps though but I have to remember to put it on, it's only when I bleed I get around to it!

I'm 48 and had excema since early childhood. It's never gone away for me. I did have prick tests as a child and I'm allergic to everything except dogs! Dust, pollen, cats etc. No food allergy done.

A derm offered a skin test a few years ago but I wouldn't be able to shower for a week so I said no thank you! I just live with it now. But I only have small patches on the body, mainly it's on hands, face and thighs. So maybe less of an issue for me.

I was given the impression blood tests don't show causes of excema only skin tests. But I could well be wrong!

Dupixent injections changed my life,

Can you give slightly more info?

I went all the way up the scale of drugs:

Azia(something), cyclosporine, methotrexate (with fortnightly blood tests). Even then I was in pyjamas by 6pm and scratched all night.

Biological drugs like dupixent have '"cured" me and I lead a normal life. It would come back if I stopped.