Can anyone help with eczema please?

[Notnowthankyou]

I have quite bad eczema, mostly on my hands, but other places as well and I was wondering if anyone has any advice please? I have recently got facial eczema around my eyes under control (for now!), and I'm really pleased about that, but my hands are so sore. I can't sleep because of the itching and they bleed and weep. I have hydrocortisone, and maybe I need something stronger, but getting a GP appointment is almost impossible at the moment, and eczema is hardly urgent.
So if anyone can help I'd be really grateful.

If they’re weeping they may be infected, try something like savlon cream to start with. If that doesn’t work it’s the GP I’m afraid!

Poor you. You can buy betnovate over the counter which is stronger. Dd's hands were always like that until we were told about MIT allergy, it's in many liquid soaps. Swapping to bar soap, ensuring she rinsed thoroughly and rigorous use of hand cream and gloves if there was even a hint of it being cold and windy helped. And oral steroids for a short dose work wonders if things are really bad.

aah yes didn't notice they're weeping too. We got dermol 509 from the GP butt you can buy it too, it's a soap substitute that's antibacterial and that helped. But if they're weepy as in infection definitely speak to your GP, they can arrange a swab

If my eczema is bad , I find Betnovate Cream is better than Hydrocortisone , however with eczema it's all about finding the one that suits your skin.
I also find it's the same with soothing creams / emollients .

Have you tried using those white cotton eczema gloves overnight? - slather on some really hardcore moisteriser like diprobase ointment underneath. Sounds like you need something stronger than hydrocortisone but this might help while you wait.

Have you tried epaderm ? That works for my grandson.

Thank you very much for the ideas. I don't think it's infected, it tends to weep when I scratch it. I try not to, but I often wake up in the night scratching. I didn't know you could get betnovate without a prescription so I'll definitely try that. And I'll look out for the dermol 509. I can for for months at a time with no sign of it, but when it comes back it definitely makes itself known.

Dermovate worked for my hand dermatitis - ask your GP

Ps tried Betnovate but it wasn't strong enough

It is urgent! Plus hand ezcema almost always needs stronger steroids than hydrocortisone.

In the meantime make sure you are applying a thick emollient like Epaderm very very frequently, using rubber gloves to do any washing or cleaning, using your emollient to wash with and not soap or showergel.

Don't use gloves if infected though. I also recommend Dermol 500 and you can buy that yourself.

Could I ask how you got the eczema around your eyes under control? I'm struggling with this at the moment?
I saw a dermatologist about chronic hand eczema years ago and he put me on a stronger steroid for a bit which totally got rid of it permanently. I can't remember the name

Not betnovate.

Eumovate for hands

Protopic for face

You can get a small tube of eumovate without prescription but protopic will need a prescription

Thank you so much, I think a trip to the chemist is in order tomorrow. I hadn't realised there was so much I could get over the counter. I have to wash my hands constantly and use anti bac a lot at work. I tried wearing gloves but my hands got terribly sweaty and itchy, so it's hard to know what to do for the best. I will persevere with the doctor as well.

@SnowDropMania I actually use vaseline on my eyelids, I understand that that is not usually recommended, but I put it on, then dab it off ( to get rid of the shine) and I haven't had any problems so far. Also, I moisturise, a lot, before I shower, as the water is very drying, then wash my eyelids with baby shampoo just before I get out of the shower. Then more vaseline afterwards, dabbing it off again. I rub very gently with a soft flannel every two or three weeks, to remove any build up. I can't do it more often than that though.
I take an antihistamine every day, piriton, and sometimes cetirizine. Apparently all antihistamines are not equal and some are better for skin problems. I also avoid tomatoes as they make it worse.
Good luck with your eyes, eczema on the face is so sore.

I do also use hydrocortisone on my face occasionally, with my doctors blessing. And have occasionally needed antibiotics.

Thanks. I use diprobase cream as a face moisturiser and try and add more during the day to my eyes. It helps a little but doesn't get rid of the eczema. I was using diprobase ointment but it was making it bright red. I find they both get in my eyes overnight and cause irritation and crustiness. Think I'll go to the pharmacy tomorrow and if that doesn't help I'll email the GP. (They either send back a message or ask you to make an appointment

I found that most creams would get into my eyes, I think that's why I do better with vaseline. It makes my hands really itchy though unfortunately.

If you have to wash your hands at work then you need an Occ Health assessment for your handwashing as you have ezcema.

It's my choice to sanitise my hands a lot really. I work in a school office, but am out and about in the school a lot and children are filthy creatures and I got into the habit when covid started. I do quite a few things involving contact with the children, and small ones like to hold hands, etc.

I have white cotton gloves from Boots I wear at night when mine is flaring up. Maybe keep your bedroom a couple of degrees colder than usual to stop you overheating in them?
I've got mometasone furoate as an alternative to hydrocortisone which I think I was prescribed to use on both hands and face but mine isn't around the eyes so not certain if it would be suitable.