Eczema or allergy? Pics included

[SleepForTheWeek]

I used to suffer terrible eczema as a child, now as an adult it comes and goes although this time of year it’s normally at its worst.

It’s bad at the moment on my wrists and the inside of my arms. They get SO itchy and nothing seems to help. Steroid cream will clear it up temporarily but it just comes straight back.

I often get these white bumps when it’s particularly itchy (can hopefully make them out in pics) which look like hives and therefore perhaps a reaction?

I can’t think of what it could be though - and why only at this time of year?

Looks exactly like my eczema. That said, I only get it on my hands, and only as a reaction to detergents and alcohol rubs/wipes...

Do you get gives too? I’ve not used anything different, I also get it around my eyes

Looks like eczema. Do you use an emollient? Continuing its use after stopping the steroids can stop it recurring.
Change in temperature?
Change in clothes worn?
Heating on?
Any of those are triggers for me.

The heating is probably the obvious one, although it usually calms down in February time and our heating is definitely still on then.

I use a steroid emollient but don’t like using it too often as I’m breastfeeding and it’s not recommended (I don’t think?). I use dream cream from lush other than that, which normally is great on my skin.

Luckily at his time of year my bare arms aren’t often out by my eyes really bother me

Looks like eczema hydrocortisone cream from chemist will ease the itching 😊

I get this as a reaction to some hand washes

Do you wear gloves for washing up OP? It looks like my skin does when the detergent gets inside the arm/wrist of washing up gloves and irritates the skin.

Once it has gone use emollient (diprobase etc) x

I second diprobase though different people prefer different things. Wash with something non scented. I use aqueous cream as a soap when it's bad.
Apply emollient frequently and a LOT of it! If using steroids. Steroids first. Give it half an hour and then emollient.

It looks like eczema but it can appear as a reaction to an allergen. I get eczema on my hands from washing up liquid.