Eczema

[justgirl]

I don't know what I expect anybody to say but I am sitting here nearly in tears and just need to have a strop.

I cannot stop scratching. My whole body itches from to toe and it's driving me insane. I can't sleep (this is combined with 2yo and 4yo constantly waking up and getting into my bed each night) I don't know what to do anymore. I have tried every cream and antibiotic under the sun in my lifetime (27 yrs!) and NOTHING helps.

Is this new or something you have always had ?

Have lots of sympathy for you... My DD has just developed this and we are currently working our way through the pharmacy lotions and potions but in all honesty I expect none of them to work.
Its a horrible cycle - something stresses her out - usually teeth, her eczema flares up. We then have a painful scratch cycle that lasts much longer than the initial problem - it itches, she scratches, it makes it worse, it itches more, she can't sleep properly, it itches more, she scratches some more and on and on.
Can't offer practical advice as I don't have any answers but is there anything that soothes it for you? Can family help with the children so you have time for yourself. I find that some people don't realise how much of an illness it is and seem to think a bit of moisturiser will sort the problem rather than giving me practical help in the same way as if she had a fever/was being physically sick.

It's something I've suffered with for as long as I can remember. Since I've even older I don't get the dry/red/scaly patches...my skin looks normal (or would if I didn't scratch) but it feels like it's in fire. In turn I scratch so much that legs bleed...I have cuts and scabs all over then that come and go day to day....I've got used to never "getting my legs out" but I can't cope with itching. My other half is here but they only want me in the night and more often that not I don't wake when they get in...but wake a while after squashed up and have to put them back etc etc....I'm getting no sympathy for lack of sleep and then we argue (about whatever....usually my lack of interest in sex) then I itch even more! Arrrrgh!!!

can you scratch something else? a soft doll maybe?

Have you ever investigated food intolerance? My friend just told me about her daughter who gets eczema if she eats dairy products. Find a nutritional therapist registered with BANT and they will help you figure it out.

Have you tried Apple cider vinegar? I'm very much in the start of our eczema journey with 20mo dd figuring out how to treat it, but this is something a friend told me about recently and we're trying it with some success so far over the last week. It's something about restoring natural ph levels.

Hi have you ever had any skin tests done at hospital?? I suffered for years (still do but manageable) and along I was allergic to some steroid creams and moisturisers. Ask your gp. Beg him! I was 18 when I found out I used those all my life up I till then. Have been relatively free for ten years now.

Have you tried an anti histamine? It sounds like my friend who has a histamine intolerance, and had to take a daily anti histamine out she scratches herself until she bleeds.

My son has eczema, I have to put Cetroban cream on him morning and night, plus hydro cortisone for when it gets bad, plus has oilatum for the bath. Luckily as a child, it's all free on prescription!