To give up and shave my head

[happyjanuary1]

I have severe Eczema which has seriously kicked off since March.

My skin burns constantly, bright red, very very dry, gets infected. I have to wet wrap it in bandages, wear cotton gloves 24/7, can only wear cotton clothes. My soap, shampoo, hand wash is all prescription.

I have tried everything from bathing in oats, hypnotherapy, every cream going, light therapy etc and its no better.

The latest addition is on my scalp and my neck is awful. To the point i can't turn my neck without it cracking and bleeding.

My hair irritates it so i constantly tie it in a bun on top of my head. When applying cream it gets in my hair at the top of my neck causing knots which take me ages to get out even immediately after. I have to wash my hair over the bath so the shampoo doesn't run down my body etc.

I'm so fed up with it all and I just want to give up and shave it off WIBU to just do it. Problem is I feel very ugly as my face is also covered and I look horrific so I don't think adding being nearly bald to that will be a look for me.

Eaudemilk Yessss she was amazing wasnt she? Really sorted that guy!

He been incorrectly treated for so long his eczema was everywhere. She put him on steroids for about 6 months as well as topical treatment.

Maybe seek her out?

I entirely sympathise OP. Quick question - are you currently using steroid cream? I found that when I stopped using them, I had a massive flare up and got caught in a cycle of steroid/flare ups.

Saw a few articles which examined how steroid cream can make it worse. It may be worth having a look into if it applies to you.

Sorry about some of the patronising responses you’ve had.

Sending lots of sympathies, it's horrible isn't it?

Hopefully there will be something out there to suit you. The only thing that works on my hands is ichthopaste (it's an impregnated bandage). Apparently it's quite old-fashioned and isn't really prescribed for excema much now (I used to have my arms and legs bandaged all the way up and go to bed looking like a mummy when I was younger!). My excema mostly went in my late teens, but my hands are still a bit prone. My GP kept sending me away with diprobase and steroid creams, and was talking about sending me back to the dermatologist. I asked if I could try ichthopaste, and it cleared it in four nights! So maybe there is something that will work for you out there that hasn't been tried yet.

I can see the appeal of cutting your hair short, but it does seem a bit drastic!

Go for it op. But would suggest electric shaver set to no 8 or 6 to start.

Oow my boys specialist at the hospital has an under cut. She in her 40s and it looks fab

Eczema is so often associated with allergens I'd suggest go on a full total elimination diet for a few weeks. See if it controls symptoms and then introducing one food in at a time.

Dr Aron. Look up his method- there's a doctor or two using his method in the uk now I believe. I was lucky enough to have a face to face consultation with dr Aron when he still visited the uk such a lovely doctor. His treatment has changed my life. No exaggeration. Look it up. You won't regret it. My situation was similar to how yours sounds. And now my eczema is under control and I'm well.
Take care OP. It's a horrible horrible thing to suffer from.

Try this: saffronbliss.com/shop/.

If what you have is indeed eczema, this shit works. It's expensive, but it works. You don't need a lot, just a very thin application every few days. I have no idea why it's not given out on prescription.

@PrankedByLife, are you a dermatologist specialising in eczema? No? Then maybe don't blame OP. Victim blaming is not bloody helpful. If op has had eczema since she was a baby it's hardly going to be euros and wine that are doing it!

Op, it sounds grim. I have psoriasis so I can empathise with a wee bit of what you're going through. Do what you have to get through it.

Crisps and wine. No idea where euros came from!

@PrankedByLife - I will always tell Asian people just because you live in a western society doesn't mean you have to have a western diet

What do you do??

Dermatologist

I have chronic hives and the amount of people that say try homeopathy/chinese medicine/have I taken an antihistamine
Yes, I've tried them all and I took 4 antihistamines this morning and may as well have taken a smartie
It's been 24 years and finally I've been started on a hefty drug to help. There is no reason for my hives, they started when I was 11 and I'm stuck with them so no root cause

@QueenPawPaws I hear you. My DH is now very fed up of being told to avoid dairy...

@GrimDamnFanjo it's like when people tell you how to boost your immune system. I'm under haematology and I'm pretty sure if the MLM/smoothies/green powder worked he would rather tell me that than give me a drug that costs the NHS a fortune

Honestly I'm so sick of this too, I'm literally using nothing, no hair products no soap no make up no hair colour, and my face is still bad but I still get the constant 'if you just cut out' or if 'you didn't scratch!!!'. Maybe I just have a chronic condition!!!

Greem smoothies 😒they cute everything don’t they?😏

Maybe someone should tell Boris to build them into his Covid response?

Hands face space green smoothie🤮

I contemplated shaving my head about 18 months ago, when suffering from Post-SEPSIS Disorder, which caused clumps of my hair to fall out whenever I washed/brushed/touched it. In the end, I went for a pixie cut (around an inch at the longest) as I decided that I would struggle mentally with my head being completely shaved, as you feel you might. I think going for such a dramatic option could easily further damage your already delicate self-esteem. I treated myself to some silk scarves and watched some YouTube videos on how to wear them to cover my head. I felt quite conspicuous initially, but I rarely go out these days as I'm CEV and my hair is starting to thicken up again now – although as time has gone on, I find I care less and less about my hair!

I hope you manage something which works for you in terms of both comfort and how you feel about how you look. I know it's tough.

@PrankedByLife

Yours really is a severe case. I still think the hot country and coconut oil will work. Not doable at the moment if course. Was he coconut oil raw / pure?

Coconut oil on the ops skin in a hot climate will just cause her skin to burn. It won't help.