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

Just reading through the thread now OP. Sounds really tough. Have you tried sheets in the freezer for when it's hot at night? Sounds like sun is a no go for you (fellow red head here, hello!) are there an uv products out there? I would also try slapping on loads of sudocrem and then wrapping up in a bandage or something to let it all soak in over night.

I use ice packs to sooth the itching

Way way too sore to use salt!!

I've just put clothes on first time today as even that hurts - both the movement and the clothes on my skin and it's just soft cotton vest top and leggings. Part of the problem is worst areas are armpits and tops of legs where the cut of pants for leg holes sit the crease there? But neck, under boobs and back of knees also bad

I've been absolutely slathering myself in zerobase all day it just melts off me! Skin is oily to touch but feels tight, sore and dried out

Could you put baby/olive oil in a spray bottle and use before showering if baths are out?

OP be careful that you are not allergic to the Nivea. I had a really bad flare when I was younger after using Nivea and it turned out that it was the lanolin in the Nivea that was causing it. It was all over my face at one point, really upsetting. I would ring your doctor's surgery and ask for advice.

I heard that about Nivea but apparently there's lanolin in zerobase and pretty much every other emollient/moisturiser! Which is really annoying!

Olive oil probably wouldn't have it in might try slathering some on later expecting a supermarket delivery

Shower is over bath it's getting in/out the bath I'm not always safe to do

Sorry to contradict other posters, but please do not out olive oil anywhere near your skin!! Research from St Thomas in the last few years has shown it's very damaging to the skin barrier because if high oleic acid content (which paradoxically lacks it very healthy when ingested). But as an emolients it's a massive no no. This is recent research, and am aware that midwives had been recommending it for baby massage. But please, do not out it in your skin! Happy to dig out the research papers if you wish. I learned about this research when I went on an eczema course (organised by St Thomas) a few years ago.

Sorry for typos. Please do not use olive oil as emolient! It will damage your skin barrier and likely make your eczema much worse. Please contact the eczema society who will confirm this. In my experience, oats are magical. And i worship epaderm. But, of course, all skin is different. Epaderm, oats and where necessary steroids are great. As are cold compresses (As some here have already recommended) for itch v effective. I hope you get some relief. It's a miserable condition

I'll just leave this here for all long-time hydrocortisone users
www.itsan.org

My DS is having the worst flare ups rights now - I was’t sure if it is allergy related. We use protopic for his face and cetraban daily. He also takes daily anti-histamines and optanol eye drops (prescribed by GOSH). I’ve also just ordered an air purifier for his bedroom to see if that helps. I’ll try anything. My DS was referred to GOSH a few years ago because the local hospital dermatologist couldn’t control or treat his eczema. It’s awful seeing how itchy he is at the moment- it’s a vicious circle.

Hi blah. Yes, but I think there is a role for steroids. You are right though, and they shouldn't be plastered on. And if you follow doctors advice, they are safe. And more importantly, effective. I was scared of steroids and avoided them. My DD suffered greatly as a result. Her eczema may have been nipped in the bud had I been less scared. As it was, i delayed, her eczema got out if control and I ended up needing to use stronger ones. I hate myself for that. But, of course, plastering it on constantly is a v bad idea

Hi Sipping, has your DS been tested for allergies? My DD suffered terribly too. So i know how desparate you can feel. My DD has a dust mite allergy. So i now avoid those triggers and it has made a huge difference

Try sunbathing a bit. It honestly helps.

Uriage kerotasane is brilliant for flare ups. I've used everything at this stage. Coconut oil only helps with very mild eczema for me. I'm allergic to e45 so it's a no go. I use doublebass emollient every day and the uriage when I get bad patches and it actually cleared fully last year for the first time ever using those. I agree with a previous poster that the doublebass can be greasy but I find that really soothing and it soaks in really well.

I tried some Moogoo soothing moisturiser on it today, it is the only one that hasn't stung on application to the weepy cuts.

Hi @P999 Yes we had him tested but it only came back positive for tree pollen. It definitely impacts him all year round and can be very severe. He also gets repeated eye infections because of it - hence under GOSH for skin and eyes. Fingers crossed the air purifier helps 🤞

Just to let you know, DH used to have really bad eczema, he used to bleed.

They went to holidays in Jordan in the Dead Sea and he got incredibly better with the Dead Sea mud.

Maybe it's worth a try? There are different products in the market

Diprobase or moogoo have both worked really well for me. I also use moogoo suncream as it's all natural and doesn't irritate my eczema.

Epaderm ointment (known as ‘magic cream’ in this house) is brilliant. Don’t bother with the cream - its the ointment you want. Takes a while to absorb but my dd had a patch of awfully sore, bleeding eczema in her inner elbow and she put this on religiously and cured herself! Quite cheap, lasts aeons. Order it from the chemist as quite often they don’t actually carry it as a stock item. Doesn’t cure my pompholyx but def helps.

I've found daily use of child's farm unscented body lotion, their nappy cream on likely flare up spots and body shop hemp cream if I do get a flare up (get a bit slack with the regime/lots of stress) works for me. The child's farm I noticed a bit by accident as I realised I want getting eczema on my hands when I was using it daily on DS , it's not too expensive either

Thank you all so much I've just been in floods of tears to gp desperately asking for pain relief.

She was lovely and thinks it's a condition called intertrigo which is slightly embarrassing as it's a sort of really bad sweat rash! I've googled and the images are exactly how my skin looks!

I promise I am a super clean person (I have ocd!!) so I'm somewhat puzzled how it's happened!

I do have a few risk factors - limited mobility, overweight, excessive sweating (pre menopausal nonsense mostly at night!) but also my flat is VERY well insulated - great for traditional cold scottish winters, not so good with global warming! Gp said she's seen a few cases recently (last week we had temps of 11°c this week as high as bloody 22°c and no air conditioning!)

But I do honestly try to take care of my skin as I'm aware my excess washing due to the ocd can be harmful so I rinse well and moisturise - apparently the bloody moisturising May have caused or at least contributed to this!

Anyone any experience of this?

Gp has prescribed a cream and advised baby powder (which feels REALLY counterintuitive after decades of being told NOT to use!)

I burst into tears because I'd barely started explaining symptoms when she kinda "jumped in" with asking likely symptoms and it was clear from this she knew exactly what was wrong. It was such a relief not only to hopefully get a correct dx (and therefore will get correct treatment) but to get reassurance I wasn't nuts for thinking my own sweat was causing it!

I've occasionally had minor sweat rashes before when on holiday etc but they quickly cleared up (likely as I was only in hot/humid environment max 14 nights) but I can't escape current sweatbox!

I just want it to stop being sore & itchy!! To get some sleep!

Please don't think I'm gross

I used to have doublebase on prescription, which got changed to Isomol. It is in 500ml but like big ketchup bottles so no pump. I quite liked the pump as was easy to use (I use one bottle per week).

But - moisturising on its own wont cure breakouts.

I tend to use hydrocortisone ointment currently - don't think I have any steroids on prescription.

BUT - I am also on methotrexate as well.

Don't let anyone tell you it is 'just' eczema and try and minimise.

It can be a bastard.

Mind you, I don't get on with this 'cool bath' thing either. The only thing that helps me are showers at nuclear temperatures.

Childs farm cleared up my DD 's skin really quickly, we were using prescription creams and ointments.

I think I saw something on This Morning a few years ago and there was a little girl who had horrendous eczema and she tried childs farm moisturiser and it cleared up so I thought I would try it on DD and she very rarely has a flare up now, I use it every day on her and she also uses the bubble bath, shampoo and conditioner.

I have also used it if my skin feels tight or irritated.

We use childs farm unfragranced moisturiser you can get it from Boots, Amazon or supermarkets if you get a delivery.

I'm also housebound so yes get supermarket deliveries.

Currently considering nappy rash cream, talc and other things to possibly help lots of alcohol!

So fed up of this!

Struggling to find much on how to prevent this happening again

Can't completely stop myself sweating!