At end of my tether - eczema and stupidly itchy dry skin - HELP!

[Theoneandonlyitchymcitch]

As I sit here, smothered in aveeno, instead of being out with all the bright young things, I am begging for any advice or wise words. I have had ezcena since I was 18 months old (I am now in my 30's) and have learnt to manage it pretty well. However, I have had a pretty rough time recently (relationship woes, work stress, etc, and my bastarding skin has decided to make my life even more difficult by going completely crazy. It is red, flakey and unbearably itchy. I average about two hours sleep a night because of the itching, which makes me unbelievably grouchy at work. I can't wear most of my clothes as I cannot tolerate anything other than pure cotton on my skin. People at work have started making snide remarks about fleas as I literally cannot stop itching and do it without thinking. I literally bathe in emollients and Aveeno, am popping antihistamines like they are going out of fashion... Can't wear dark clothes as my skin is flaking so badly. Have to wash my hair every day as the skin on my face flakes into my hair and looks like I have horrendous dandruff. Then it gets so dry that trying to bend my arms and legs is absolute agony. GP doesn't help, I am more of an expert than them having had bad skin for so long (see a different one Everytime and they just google) ... It is seriously denting my confidence, my sanity and I am begging you lot to suggest something else I can try... Sorry for the essay, but I am literally at my wits end. Help anyone???

It's ruining my life and I have had enough

Our GP gave us a whole load of samples to try on DD the other day as she is convinced it is about finding the right one. That approach did work for dd1.

I'm very sorry for you.

How about oat baths - I'm sure you have tried and dare I say it - aloe Vera forever living I never thought I would suggest such a thing as I am vehemently anti mlm but you are actually at your wits end and if it were to work you would be revolutionised!

I've been where you are. It sucks. I still get flare ups fairly regularly, and totally understand what you mean - it keeps you up all night, all clothes and bedding are covered in blood and flakes of skin, it's painful, uncomfortable and embarrassing. The last time I had a bad flare up it got infected - antibiotics helped massively. If it gets infected, moisturising and steroid creams won't be anywhere near as effective.

The other things that have helped me are phototherapy and Ataracs (sp?) tablets - they're a form of antihistamines that really help with the itching and help you sleep. The GP should be able to prescribe these, but I think you need to push for a dermatology referral.

I really feel for you - it's a terrible affliction, and many people don't understand how much of a negative impact it can have on your day to day life.

You need to go and see a dermatologist, privately, asap. If they work for the NHS, too, they can back refer you to their NHS practice. So you're looking at £100 in order to get proper treatment.

My eczema came back a year ago, with a vengeance. It took a lot of steroids to get it under control, but I now manage with Protopic and Moogoo. None of the other emollients work for me.

Atarax is a histamine that really knocks you out at night. I begged dh to knock me unconscious, he didn't, but Atarax did the trick. It's prescription only.

You have my sympathy, this is beyond shit. I might have mixed wine with codein when I was at my most desperate, but that is a dangerous mix.

No miracle advice here sorry, just huge sympathy. My eczema is nowhere near as bad as yours but it is all on my hands, which I wash about a hundred times a day (looking after 2 dcs, nappy changing, face wiping, playing in mud etc) and the agony of water on it... Plus the intense itchiness its impossible not to scratch it's just unbearable, I feel for you so much.

I was also a balneum and e45 baby. I' trying to use less steroids st the moment as the skin on my hands looks so thin and wrinkly. I'm using Purepotions bath oil and their skin salvation ointment- it's a really thick moisturiser, thicker than Vaseline. It works pretty well on the dry skin but I'm still using my steroid cream on the itchy patches. You can get sample packs of the pure potions stuff from their website to try.

I don't blame you having a glass of wine to help you sleep! I really hope you manage to see a dermatologist soon b

Check which antihistamines you are using - some are far better for skin whereas many are for breathing (hayfever, etc.).

Steroids - ask GP for a potent one or even oral ones to give some respite and def a referral for dermatology. Sadly, there aren't enough to go around in the country so if you can afford to go private, do that. It might only need one appt and they should be able to transfer you to NHS.

Diet is worth looking at, as others have mentioned but stress is also a huge factor. That's a hard one to reduce, isn't it? But, it's an important one.

You need to find a way to be calm to stop your body going mad with cortisol (I think that's what it is).

I would avoid the Aveeno if it's bad. As others have said above, it's great for many, but usually only good for mild eczema and for prevention of eczema-prone skin flaring up. In most chemists now you can buy the emollient ointments without prescription - Epaderm or Diprobase, whichever you prefer. They are going to be far more effective. Put them on loads.

Big hugs x

Tried the oat baths, temporary relief! I have actually got a giant aloe Vera plant in my office and in despair I cut some off snd rubbed it on my arms... It did the trick for an hour or so. Sun is the only thing that works, but Id I get hot and sweaty then it's back to square one.

moogooskincare.co.uk/

Optimal levels of vitamin D and removing sodium lauryl sulphate from your life may help.

Thank you all from the bottom of my itchy heaet. I really appreciate your advice and now I am armed with a list of things that could possibly help me get my life back. I need to sleep, had 1 and a half hours last night, I have some codeine left over from an intercostal muscle spasm I had a year ago - oh the pain! But I would swap that pain from the itching and scratching, and that is saying something! I pretty much carry around an ezcema bag now, I am just so fed up of it now, if I could only have one night of sleep without constant itching, scratching and doing myself damage, plus the short temper at work etc. I know I sound like a drama queen but as I said, I am
In tears again here. I just don't know what to do. It's such a dehabilitating condition...

I just wanted to send huge sympathy. I am 47 and have only recently developed a eczema / dermatitis problem on my face. It is hell, the itching drives me insane and in only a few months I already feel I know lots more than my GP who just wants to keep giving me steroid cream.
Keep pushing to see a consultant.
I hope things improve for you.

Evening primrose oil capsules have also worked for me in the past. Doctors always seem to swear by double base but I find it very drying - diprobase has worked well for me (cream rather than lotion) - another thing with an anti-itch effect. And maybe try contacting the National Eczema Society, they do have a helpline.
I would also go and sob at your GP.

Another voice to say you you need to see a dermatologist!

Thank you so much. crusoe and lost I hope you solve it sooner than I have. Agreed about Double base. I just find that everything prescribed just slides off instead of soaking in... The lack of sleep and the grumpiness is absolute hell. I know there are far worse conditions going on out there, but seriously, this is hell at the moment. Just ordered some moogoo toria thanks for the recommendation, willing to try anything... Supposed to be going away in two weeks on holiday, but seeing as I can't guarantee sleeping conditions and the fact that I might run out of moiusteriser, I am considering cancelling

If sunlight helps, perhaps phototherapy would help?

Could your skin be infected (bacterial or fungal)?

Have you been patch-tested for allergies?

I have been where you are with severe localised episodes. Turns out that I have non-histamine skin allergies, so anti-histamines do nothing for them. (Just to complicate things, I also have histamine skin allergies!) Pure cold pressed virgin coconut oil was the only product that gave me any relief. All the prescribed/OTC emollients felt like applying acid with sandpaper.

Dermatologist prescribed 6m of oral antibiotics to damp down inflammation, 2% hydrocortisone ointment and pimecrolimus ointment. Ointments, not creams. That, combined with scrupulously avoiding my allergy triggers and using greasy moisturiser, resolved it. Took about 2y of treatment, but there was a huge improvement within the first months. I haven't had a severe reaction for several years, and if I do now feel that tingly itch that warns me of a flare-up, I immediately stop using my 'standard' emollient and switch back to the coconut oil.

I have eczema and guttate psoriasis - have had all my life but these last three years have had a massive flare up. I did get a referral to dermatology (after a year and half) but only because 80% of my body was covered and I cried rather hysterically because even my children touching me was horrendous. It's more under control now and I have a list of things that help along with steroid creams and tar lotion (dovonex, dovobet and exorex lotion) - ceterizine antihistamine for the itch, coconut oil as a moisturiser for the dry flaking, a vit d supplement (I am slightly deficient) and cutting out alcohol and wheat until things are better (and then everything in moderation the rest of the time).

You have my sympathies though - sometimes I just want to crawl out of my skin and start again like a snake. The reason I mentioned my psoriasis is because it took ages for anyone to acknowlege that it wasn't eczema. Apparently there is a sliding scale between the two so perhaps if you query this with your GP they will send you to the dermatology for a proper diagnosis?

Your GP sounds bloody crap. WHY won't they prescribe something to help you sleep? That should be the minimum. Or give you a referral?

Have you had light therapy? I know someone that has tried this, with some success.

I am so sorry, it sound grim.

I am a big Moogoo fan, OP, but at the moment you need much bigger guns. Rather than wasting money on yet another cream, invest in seeing a dermatologist. It will be worth it.

Btw, Atarax is an antihistamine. Nobody in their right mind would want to take a histamine

lifeis could you elaborate on the phototherapy? I seem to have been relegated to the Middle ages school of ezcema! And puddle I can totally empathise with the snake thing, in the middle of the night I literally want to just pull
My skin off and start again. It's awful. I've never tried coconut oil. Is it worth a go? I feel calm now because I know it's Friday and I can stay up. But on a week day I go into full blown panic about trying to sleep, as I know I will not get to sleep until about 3am, no matter how tired or stressed I am. Any tips for a heavy duty day time moisteriser? Mine just seems to rub off on lumps now, if you see what I mean?

Thank you all. I am overwhelmed with the suggestions and support. I am going to make an appointment with the gP AGAiN in the holidays and insist on yet another referral. I was referred a while ago, but they just did blood tests. Bloody (pardon the pun) crap if you ask me. I am once again itching my skin off. It bloody well hurts. Is there anything anyone can recommend for this evening? Skin feels like it is on fire - got both windows open, sat in a pool of moiusteriser and still in pain. Worst bit is that I want claw my own skin off. This is horrible

Have you taken painkillers? Sorry if that is a stupid question but it does sound painful

My 3 year old has eczema and I have tried lots of different creams, natural, prescription, been to the salt caves etc. What I have found to be the most effective so far is moisturise, moisturise and even more.. I'm very consistent probably up to ten times a day. The best cream for us is Aveeno and whilst that's still damp I go over it with a natural balm called Bria. Her eczema has greatly improved since I've started this regime. I've totally stopped the hydrocortisone as whilst it worked wonders in clearing up her flares they seemed to come back with a vengeance when we stopped, so the cycle continued. I also noticed it seemed to 'bleach' her skin. What I've learnt from eczema is that there is no one cure that suits all but the routine I use definitely works for her. The Bria isn't cheap but seems to form an extra barrier trapping in the moisture. Good luck op, eczema sucks!

Hello,& I thought I'd tried everything and went back to the gp with very little expectation (similar experience to you- different person each time suggesting hydrocortisone and making me want to scream!). But they gave me epaderm moisturiser and I've found it amazing. I use it on face, hands and body. All the time. I had a strong steroid (very strong) for my face (which has been bad for years) and doc told me to use it for five days whatever happened and not stop part way through. I did that and it cleared up on day 3 but I carried on. It has never come back yet, this is about a year on now. I have never gone this long without a flare up that takes me weeks to control. I also found around the same time that boots number 7 protect and perfect range seems to be magical for my eczema. Honestly I've never used anything that feels so good for my face. It may not work for anyone else, I don't know, but the combination of these things for me seems to have finally solved 30 years of eczema!!!

Eczema sucks indeed, sorry to hear about your dd. Hope she is not due for a lifetime of it, like I am. My parents felt really guilty I think, I am the only one with it. Never thought it would come back to haunt me so badly in my 30's...

God I so remember the agony of a flare up. I really feel for you op. I never found anything to soothe it when it was like that. I'd take some antiinflammatories and try and get to bed if you can.