aibu hand eczema?!

[Elephant17]

It’s driving me insane 😭 steroid cream works a bit but only the very strong stuff and I’m wary of using it as I’ve already used it longer than you’re supposed to. Ive not used it in ages now because I’m worried about the long term repercussions...

Please!! Does anyone know of any natural remedy or anything that soothes the flare ups other than steroid creams??? 😞😞😞

Aveeno. Amazing stuff!

Moo Goo wash and Pure Potions Skin Salvation Ointment.

This was my hand last year, it had been like that for years and nothing had cleared it. I used tropic Tamanu balm and it has completely cleared up and never returned.

it's a pain.
I have it as well. you probably have tried a lot already.
what helps me:

• bar soap (liquid soaps make my hands itch)
• wearing gloves outside
• wearing marigolds for cleaning
• double creaming (bodylotion on first and when that has sunk in top up with a rich cream like nivea blue pot)

My husband’s hands were awful for years then he gave up dairy and it went away and never came back.

If you can use gloves do.

If you can't, never ever use standard liquid soaps. They are your mortal enemy.

Ideally you should wash with Dermol 500 only. Think about what you wash your body with, shampoo your hair with etc as these are all things your hands touch - there should be nothing foaming i.e. with sodium laureth sulphate or SLS in them.

Every time your hands are exposed to foaming cleaning products, soap etc is an opportunity for the eczema to get worse so either cover up with gloves or change the products. And moisturise after each and every time.

Mine were awful in summer. Soaking in natural salts helped me most.

SLS is in detergents. Fabric washed in this next to my skin sets me off. I now use goats milk soap on my skin

What steroid cream are you using OP? After a years if my son bring covered in eczema we went private and the specialist gave mometosone furoate or also called elocon. He was cleared up in 4 days it was amazing. He looked like a burns victim before. We now only need to use it as soon as a flare up shows once and the next day it's gone I have used it on my hands and on my lips where I get chronic eczema and it is amazing

This stuff is amazing - was the only thing that worked for my cracked hands after both of my children. It is a really light lotion and not at all greasy - I didn't think it would do anything when I first used it, but it worked miracles.
www.lakeland.co.uk/8944/DermaGuard-Moisturising-Barrier-Hand-Cream-250ml?src=bfeed&s_kwcid=AL!49!10!{creative}!4583657818348800&ef_id=W6PUtQAABpr_gzx0:20190112213835:s

I have often had to buy steri-strips to hold the cracks in my hands together. I usually get it bad in the cold weather.

I know someone with bad skin who got better after low Iron diagnosis and treatment. Another person had multiple dermatology appointments before they diagnosed low vitamin D, a supplement later and its better.

During a flare up I couldn't go near anything perfumed, it would burn to a ridiculous level. Dermol 500 lotion was good.

See your GP OP, everyone is different and maybe you're deficient in a vitamin or mineral.

Vitamin E 800 IU per day can be very helpful. My mum has eczema and takes it. If she stops for even a day her hands start to get itchy.

I found using Doublebase emollient wash gel every time I wash my hands & putting diprobase on at bedtime has helped immensely.

I use this as handcream after washing my hands. It's really thick but absorbs well and is a barrier so you can stand washing better.
Wear gloves for washing up, very mild soap for hand washing and always wear gloves for being out and about in the winter time. The winter is the worst for hands.

I stock a range of Olive Oil soaps in my shop, the Dead Sea Mud, Propolis and Noni are supposed to help with eczema.

My friend has tested the Noni for me and it's really helping her psoriasis.

Might be worth seeing if you can find some to try?

I feel your pain too. Mine was at its worst after DD was born - combination of lack of sleep, stress and washing my hands often after nappy changes. Winter - cold to hot and vice versa seems to make it worse. And eating oranges.

When it was super bad I had 2 weeks using eumovate, 1 week dermovate, and so on. Diprobase emolliant. I never really felt on top of it. My OH had bad eczema too at one point and saw a dermatologist who gave oral steroids to knock it all ont he head, then elocon after that. It sorted out the worst of it.

Since then I've found Bria Organics balm with gloves over it at night really good. Always wear rubber gloves washing up. Wear woolly gloves out in the cold. Find a hand cream that works (O Keefes, Lush etc stung mine and made it worse; others swear by them). My fave is Aurelia Probiotics hand cream. Also like bodyshop hemp. And more of the bria organics - greasy but good. My son uses the bath oil to good effect as he suffers on his legs.

Oh and I can only use E45 shampoo or my hands get v bad from whatever shampoo i use!!!

Using dermol rather than soap has been very successful for both DH and I.

Allergenics cream is excellent for eczema. There is also the Face and Body wash. A body lotion is also available, but the cream is best for treating patches of eczema.

I get sweaty type eczema flare ups, (on inside elbow / bend in arm) but it gets dry, cracked and itchy. The only thing I find that helps is Aloe Vera gel. It’s better cold from the fridge as has an immediate soothing affect. I use Holland and Barrett brand, which is often included in the penny sale so 2 for 1, but I’m sure any brand will work the same. It really helps, taking the rashy eczema down by the next day and helping to heal the dry, scratched skin with no scaring or marks. It’s worth a try if you’re looking for a natural product. Good luck.

Child's farm moisturiser. Worked wonders on my dd who has severe eczema.

Thank you all so, so much for these suggestions. I’m absolutely knackered so going to bed but will look up all of these creams etc tomorrow!

It started about 5-6 months after the birth of my son and has only got worse since. I tried one strong steroid cream, it didn’t work so was given an even stronger one which did work but as previously mentioned- I’ve grown scared of using it! I use aveeno (the one for skin conditions) and it’s one of the few things which doesn’t irritate it or burn on application. My 2 year old son is the messiest toddler imaginable, so I end up having to wash my hands way more than I would otherwise (between that and housework).

Thank you again everyone x

I swear by Norwegian Formula - better than any steroid cream. And Eucerin is good too, the very oily ointment.

I find that Savlon really works. I smother it on thickly and let it soak in

I have terrible hand eczema too - mine is triggered by liquid soaps, so I use gloves and carry an old school bar of soap in a travel case with me. And use aveeno/Norwegian formula constantly. I have bottles everywhere - I have one in the hall so that I use it every time I answer the door/leave the house or come home.

I guess the positive is it's much better for the planet - I'm using washing powder again and no plastics for the soap etc.