Eczema Creams when pregnant

[Twittle]

Hello

I have only just joined Mumsnet Chat so am not really sure how it actually works so I hope that I am starting this thread correctly.... anyway it is a question really.. I am 15 weeks pregnant and have been using my Betnovate Ointment on eczema on my hand, however, after reading in a pregnancy book that some creams shouldn't be used during pregnancy I googled mine and apparently I shouldn't have been using it............ am now really worried that I may have done some irreversible damage to the little bean inside my tummy. Can anybody help advise, anybody else used this cream and then found out they shouldn't be or been told that they can??? I am seeing the MW next week and so will ask her then but am pretty panicky as have been using it for the last 15 weeks - didn't realise that I couldn't.........

Hello Twittle - Firstly, 15 weeks is a long time to be using Betnovate (it's quite strong but not the strongest (which is Dermovate)).
Some people might wrtie in a minute and say that most companies say not to be used in pregnancy but they're fine, however, I would go back to your GP in the first instance and see why your eczema hasn't cleared up. I think you'd perhaps need to move up a level. A stronger cream may only need to be used for a couple of days to clear it up completely. I've had chronic eczema all my life and have never used any steroid cream for more than 7 days really at a time. I didn't use them in pregnancy because my GP told me not too.
Try not to worry though - if you think how many people take meds, drink alcohol etc without even knowing they're pregnant. Let us know how you get on.

see here for more info about topical steroids in pregnancy see here

Thank you very much luciemule I have always suffered with eczema (although not badly compared to some poor people) for the last few years the skin on my right hand has been cracked and sore and so each night I put a little (not a lot) of the Betnovate and some emulsifying oinment on then wear gloves to bed (it's a wonder I ever got pregnant looking like that.... DH is used to it now though)!! Thank you very much though you have made me feel slightly easier about it all, I will stop using it now and will check in with the midwife when I see her next week! Thank you very much for the link too, this mumsnet site really is brilliant - will let you know what the midwife says.

Just wanted to add, don't feel too bad, we've all done things that are not 'recommended' during pregnancy. I drank a bit before I knew etc etc. As you say you only use a little once a day so it's unlikely to have done any harm at all.

I was using that cream before I became pregnant so went to the docs and she changed me to hydrocortisone cream instead. I also use this cream after I wash and it helps a lot. I usually wait for that to soak in then put a little hydrocortisone on top.

I have the creams from the docs you can wash with etc too but don't find they work as well for me...

Thank you Dalrymps I shall give the Aveeno Skin lotion a shot and see if it helps, as you say hopefully as I was only using a little it should be ok, although worrying that you were changed onto another cream when you became pregnant. Oh well at least I know now. Thank both for the advice I am very grateful and can now get on with some work - which I guess is was I am getting paid for after all!! Just can't wait until the end of July and the arrival of a hopefully healthy baby so that I can relax and enjoy it all..... fingers crossed!

Just a thought - when I said I have always had chronic eczema, last year it cleared up completely for the first time in my life. I still avoid many products but the one thing that helped (especially in pregnancy)was just vaseline. Now I know some people don't like putting petroleum products on their skin however it soooo worked for me. Now, I only use it about 3/4 times a day on my mouth to stop my lips drying out and on my face and hands (used to have awful raw/cracked bright red, bleeding hands)I use 'Nutrimetics- nutrimoist creme'. It contains pure apricot oil (known for keeping natives living in the Tundra looking young) and doesn't give my skin a flare up at all.
Also,if you wear rubber gloves for washing up, thinking it would protect you from the water and washing up liquid, it did me more harm than good and afterwards, my skin reacted terribly to the rubber. Also,after years of wearing cotton gloves in bed after putting on my cream, the GP told me to not wear them and just put a layer of vaseline on when I went to sleep. It worked and now, that's all I do. Might or might work for you but it certainly beats steroids and keeps your skin lovely and soft.

My eczema has come back during pregnancy especially in the last 10 weeks (am 37wks), I get it badly on my fingers. I read on a thread on here somewhere to try Neutrogena concentrated hand cream, the Norweigan formula. Within a day the redness had gone and itching almost stopped, it's cleared up really well. Only about £4 for a small tube from Boots but lasts ages as you only need a tiny bit.

Boardbunny, I also remember sitting in the office scratching my fingers raw - so sore.
I might try the Neutrogena formula you mention for using as a night time hand cream.

I had heard it was bad to use steroid cream whilst pg so I asked the dermatologist a few weeks ago when we saw him with dd2. The cream is for her not me though but obviously I touch it to put it on her. Anyway he said it was nonsense and fine for me to keep applying it on her. He's the head of dermatology so should know his stuff I guess.

Welcome Twittle.

My tips are:
Epaderm - very greasy but good at night
Aveeno - during the day

Something I have just started to try is dermasilk. It is very expensive but there are cloves that I wear at night. The jury is out at the moment but it does give my hands a break from the stronger creams

All the best for you and the 'bean'

If you like the Aveeno lotion. You can get it on prescription.

sorry *gloves. Dear me, its they keys they keep moving.

Hi Twittle,
I wasn't aware of not using steroids for my eczema while pregnant because when I asked my dermatologist (in france at the time) he said they'd be fine. I've got a perfect (some of the time!) DD and DS... and what's more neither have eczema. Go figure...

BTW - I've been using Betnovate and Dermovate alternatively, daily, all my life!

girlsyear I think the main reason they say about not using topical steroids during pregnancy is the possibility of the baby developing a cleft palate.

When I asked the dermatologist he totally dismissed any risks whatsover.. Only found out I was pg at nearly 8 wks so either way the damage would've been done I suppose?

Dd2 improvin g though so doesn't need the steroid cream nearly as much.

Thank you very much everyone that's been really helpful and I now feel a lot better and I am going to try each and every cream as one of them has surely got to work! Will let you know how I get on with the creams and any others that I try out, having young looking skin like the natives in Tundra sounds like something that's worth looking into luciemule! I am off to see the Doc on Monday so will report back but if a couple of Dermatologists have already told people that it should be ok then I shan't worry too much now and I have banished the betnovate to the bottom drawer until July!!

Just as an update, I saw the doctor and now have some hydrocortisone to use! Eczema seems to have got worse over the last few weeks - maybe one of those things to endure during pregancy??? I have spent a fortune trying lots of the creams that have been mentioned, I have found an Oilatum one which was quite good and also one called Pure Potions which I am on the second day of using. I was just wondering, I had been using some bio oil on my tummy to hopefully prevent stretch marks - recommended by a friend and I think that it has actually made the eczema on my arm worse?!?! Just a theory, thank you for the help again and luckily the doc wasn't too concerned about my using steroid cream previous to my appointment!!

I had eczema in childhood and it's come back during pregnancy. On fingers and ankles. Grim. I've been using E45 itch relief cream and didn't even think there would be a problem (not asked midwife as have not seen her for a while). Anyone know if it's ok?

Berberis I had a quick search on the internet and from what I have read it seems fine to use E45 during pregnancy and I can't think why it wouldn't be safe but just check with your midwife anyway - I think it'll be ok! Also you could try emulsifying ointment which you can get at Boots - although it's really thick and fairly greasy it is good on dry skin - just not so good when it becomes cracked and sore as I have found out!

By the way anyone who read my last post and saw that I had mentioned 'Pure Potions' I decided to google that as well and actually not sure that it is safe to use either - it's a right minefield!!!

Thanks twittle!