severe eczema on hands...........pls help

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Can anyone offer any advice here? My DS has severe eczema on his hands and particularly fingertips. He has been allergy tested, see by the consultant and I think we have tried every cream known (inc steroids ie fucibet). Ths is just getting no better. The fingers are cracked open and weep regularly, and now he has lost two finger nails this week where it seems the nail beds have just disappeared. Please advise if you can think of anything else I could be doing.

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Hi, I just had to post as I have experienced the misery caused my exzema. You dont say how old your DS is, assuming he is older than toddler years?

I suffered from mild to moderate childhood eczema on and off, which was dealt with mainly with hydrocortosone - ie it wasn't that bad.

However, in my early 20s after not suffering for years, I had the most horrendous breakout, and suffered really badly for months. Weeping, bleeding, itchy, agony. My face, arms, back, legs. I went to my doctor, tried different creams. Anyway, to get to the point, I eventually went to my old doctor back home when I was visiting my parents. He referred me to a private skin expert (I was very fortunate that my parents still had health cover for me at the time so I could go private). The Bupa doctor I saw was absolutely fantastic - gave me a shot of steroids because it was so bad, which really helped, then tried some lesser known creams, also switched me to an ointment, which my skin seemed to like better than cream. It took a little while, but I got on top of it with the specialist's help.

I just thought I would share my experience of eczema with you to try and offer some advice. I would urge you to go back to your doctor and be referred to another consultant or skin specialist, or get a 2nd opinion from another doctor. Your poor, poor DS, my heart goes out to him. I was asking about his age because I was also prescribed sleeping pills for night time to stop me itching in my sleep and help me get some sleep (vicious cycle) - dont know if this woudl be an option if he is a bit older?

It took me too long to really go for it and push for all the medical help I could get. ONce I was being treated and now, looking back, I was astonished at how long I had left it before I got help.

Go back to the doctor, see if you can see an expert. Push for all the help you can get. Eczema can be total hell and I really, really hope your DS recovers from it.

Just so you know, once I cleared up, I have never (touch wood) had a serious flare up since then. I do get small flare ups but I immediately use hydrocortosone to knock it on the head, and if necessary I would not think twice about going to the stronger ointments again to clear it.

I tried using aqueous creams and diprobase instead of soap but they actually made me feel all hot and bothered. You can get hoydrocortosone ointment instead of cream from the chemist, if you ask. I would definitely check with the doc about what you use on broken skin though. The strong ointment that finally did the trick for me after trying a few was called Synular N (I think that is right). However, very aware that when I dealt with this I was an adult and not sure how much of my experience will help with you DS if he is very young.

Anyway - that is all I can share - hope some of it helps. Get a 2nd, (or even 3rd) opinion!

Good luck and fingers crossed your DS recovers fast.

Thanks for sharing your experiences, we really feel as though we are banging our heads against a brick wall at times! He is only 3 yrs old, so I dont know whether that rule some medication out, but I think you are right - a trip back to the GP is called for again now.
It seems so unfair, esp on his hands as it hinders many activities at nursery. I just wish I could narrow down what is aggravating it.
Another nagging at the docs they must know us personally now!). I think i was putting it off because we have already been referred to a consultant and it didnt seem to help at all. Thanks again

I wouldn't worry about nagging them and asking to see consultant again (or even a different one). What is more important, being polite and not wanting to annoy the doc or doing whatever you can for your DS hands.

Forgot to say, I agree with blunt that keeping dry and away from water is so important (hard when its the hands), but as blunt said, you are prob doing this already.

Also one other thing, I did try chinese herbs for a few months before giving up and going to the specialist. IMO it was not worth it, just go with conventional creams. They are scary, the idea of steroids etc especially on a 3 year old, but ask lots of questions about the dangers.

Good luck