To ask fellow eczema sufferers or parents of for some tips/help?

[Graphista]

Minor I know but one effect of the lockdown for me is I've been unable to get all my usual products that I know my skin is ok with and my eczema has gone nuts!

Been using zerobase which helps a little but still experiencing a lot of itching, badly dry flaking skin which is proving hard to resist peeling, which leads to burning soreness worse at night so it's been affecting my sleep

Spoke to dr and I now have as well as the zerobase antihistamine tablets and corticosteroid ointment

I'm thinking best to use these before settling for the night?

Would appreciate knowing from others if that's a good idea. Also the zerobase comes in large pump bottles, I hate waste and feel sure there's more available in the bottles than when they're seemingly empty? But they're pretty solid containers so I can't figure out how to open, wondered if there was a trick?

Also any other tips for soothing my skin would be very very gratefully received

Even if you're simply experiencing similar would be comforting to know I'm not alone.

I know in the grand scheme this is as I said a minor thing but it's driving me nuts!

Also hay fever has kicked in last few days so I'm hoping for happy coincidence that the antihistamine will help that too

I have dreadful pomphlox eczema on my hands - so you can imagine what a joy extra handwashing and sanitiser has been.
I also have peri-oral dermatitis (thankfully currently under control) and good old regular eczema just for good measure

I have a protopic ointment for my hands and perioral derm - thankfully on a repeat prescription via a consultant dermatologist.

However when I have the "burn", I also use:
Vagisil - 2% lidocaine but can be a bit "dry"
or Tesco own brand haemorrhoid cream - 1% lidocaine and paraffin

Both are a bit odd - but I have checked with my consultant and he considers anything you can put on your foof to be ok for all other lips/hands

@RitzSpy - "bubbly" eczema is Pomphlox eczema
I also run my hands under hot water - which is weirdly soothing, didn't realise it was a "thing" though (just me being weird - which I probably am re the vagisil)

I’ve had Eczema since birth and use Trilogy face oil and then aveeno skin relief over the top and for my body Roche la posey, lipkar. For sun cream I use ultra sun which is amazing, I use dermovate when I’m having a flair up on my hands or protopic on my face, both prescribed by the doctor.

Sorry to derail slightly but which sun cream is best for children with eczema? The ambre solair sensitive factor 50 seems to flaring it up if anything.

I have a few patches that occasionally flare up really badly, to the point where they crack and split. In desperation, and on the recommendation of a friend who has psoriasis, I tried Elizabeth Arden 8-hour Cream,

It smells horrid, but works a treat.

For pompholyx eczema on my hands, Hypercal (Hypericum aka St John's Wort & Marigold) cream from health food shops or the alternative meds bit in Boots, works better than anything. If you live in or near Tunbridge Wells, the one made by Helios is the biz. They may do mail order.

@Chocolateteabag yes - also known as dyshidrotic eczema...it's very bloody annoying!

On the hand splits and cracks I use steristrips - heals up really quickly, and allows me to get on with my life. Hand eczema has been really hard during Covid - for a while I just never touched anything outside our house - I just couldn't wash my hands properly.

I've also found "cleansing" worst parts with plain water helps. I use cotton wipes that have dried out (the last ones in a packet always seem to end up like this) and fold and dampen with water using an old drinks bottle, you know just putting the cloth over the top and tipping it? I'm not sure I'm explaining that very well but then it's not wet just damp and I just pat the worst affected parts gently that helps a little

I've also got an old Trigger spray filled with cold water that I spritz on me on occasion helps a bit at night when I am not wanting to faff in bathroom

I can't wear plasters but I might get myself some cotton dressings to stop me peeling/picking

Yes mine goes "bubbly" too and it's very easy to pick/peel at this stage but I regret it later!

I agree @RitzSpy It's an individual thing. I can't bear hot water on it when it's bad, last bath I had was murder! I didn't think I was that bad and usually bath helps but not this time!

Pomphlox looks all too familiar!

What probably doesn't help is I also have ocd and am perimenopausal so the excess washing and sweating don't help!

I try to keep washing to a minimum but ocd bad at the moment so it's a tricky balance

I've had the eczema since birth too - I was BORN with blisters and they had to clean me up really carefully and still I ended up cracked and bleeding. This was in days of terry nappies too which I didn't cope with, mum eventually figured out it was the sterilising solution and that she had to rinse them really really well for me not to react

Re being in the sun - I simply can't! No sun cream or sun block works many make me react and I burn anyway. I have typical Celtic colouring (red hair, WHITE skin) I never ever tan. So I'm better just staying right out of the sun altogether.

@VictoriaBun yes the 1% hydrocortisone was prescribed to me by my gp. Not sure about it causing cataracts but my gp advised to apply it carefully just to the irritated skin (in my case it was my eye lids that were raw and swollen), very thinly 2x daily and for no more than 5 days. I was warned not to get it IN my eye. By day 3 it had all cleared up by day 3. Its come back a bit but is tolerable and well controlled now so long as I clean each eye with the contact lens solution at least twice a day and Vit e cream.

My son has moderate exzema and I’ve found the Aveeno Dermexa for very dry skin to be excellent.

Bleach baths can be very beneficial - I know it sounds awful but go google it - there are studies on the benefits and they have demonstrated real results for some people.

Yes to antihistamines at night, also steriod cream at night.

Agree with pp that dermol is far superior to zerobase. Doublebase is OK too but I find it quite greasy. I think has quite a bit of parrafin in it?

Ciol/warm showers and wash with dermol rather than soap or shower gel.

I'm similar to you with the sun, auburn hair and very very white skin with blueish veins. I also get something called polymorphic light eruption which is basically a sun allergy (it's an autoimmune thing where skin reacts to things it produces in reaction to sunlight). I find early morning /late afternoon sun to be the most helpful, I don't burn or come out in an itchy stingy rash but it seems to help the eczema a bit. I really can't tolerate very strong sunlight as much as I would love to. I love the sun but my skin does not!

Eczema is an awful condition. No need to apologise and say its minor! It's had a huge and very difficult impact on my household . I absolutely swear by oat baths. All this involves is a large handful of oats in a stocking, tied at both ends and squeeze, squeeze, squeeze til it's milky white. It's magical. Perhaps also consider a stronger steroid? It sounds like you may need it.

If you prefer to shower, you can gently squeeze the oats onto your sore skin too.

@P999 yy oat baths are like witchcraft! Think there is some sort oat derivative in aveeno, perhaps that's why it's so effective?

You could try Sudocrem as well - we’ve been putting it on DS’s eczema since a different cream ran out and it seems to help

Maybe try and avoid the Nivea? As I recall it has a Lanolin base which for some people (me included) is really bad for eczema! Oats in the bath or the Aveno shower wash last thing might offer some relief at night... conversely for me sun exposure actually helps my eczema; if only I could find a sun screen that doesn’t cause a flare up. . Itchy and sore or wrinkly - such a super choice !

Sorry, I just skim read the thread, but do you have food allergies? I was covered in eczema until I gave up dairy when my breastfeeding daughter started reacting to dairy via my milk. My eczema disappeared!

You are going to think I'm crazy, but do try Childs Farm Baby Moisturiser. Dh has exzema and has been treated repeatedly in hospital for an especially stubborn 'rash' in the palm of his hand. Tried a lot of prescription creams too.

I had read about childs farm and he started out applying it several times a day, slowly it got better and is now under control . It's ordinary moisturiser so not as harmfull as many of the prescription creams, so worth a try.

Argh! Was doing relatively well and hoping the new meds were helping then a "heatwave" has hit here (it's Scotland so not super hot but enough to make me sweat more) and I am in AGONY!

I'm slathering myself in zerobase but it's not helping much. Barely got any sleep last night and feel lousy today. Hating this!

I'm not entirely sure but I think I may have used Nivea day before it got bad so wondering if it's that - but I don't use the Nivea on the worst areas that are flaring up!

I wish I knew exactly what was causing this I seem in a roughly 10-14 day cycle with it.

Graphista, I feel your pain. In a similar situation, feels like nothing is working, so tired, itchy and raw I just want to lie down and sleep.

I am going to try to bathe in Dead Sea salts then cover with moisturiser. Only thing for it in this intense heat.

So I'm not nuts? Heat makes it worse?

I'm so so sore!

Olive oil bath. Glug of olive oil in warm water. Not other products. Every night for 1 week.

@Microwaveoven I appreciate the tip but unfortunately not something I can manage I'm disabled and can't always manage getting in/out of bath. Finding it especially difficult at the moment.

Oh no! I am so sorry. That's not going to work then. Olive oil is great for skin though. You can mix up in a bowl or bottle with some sea salt and use it as a rub. We used to do that for DCs and it was great.