Hand eczema will not go

[Rose256]

Hello, just wondering if anyone has experienced similar. When I was pregnant I developed hand eczema on the backs of my hands and between my fingers. Since I had my little girl I've tried all sorts, steroid creams, fungal creams and nothing works. It goes while treated then returns within a couple of days once I stop treatment. I wear gloves for literally everything. Constantly moisturising. I've racked my brain and there's nothing I'm coming into contact with that could be doing it. Has anyone had similar and got to the bottom of it? Never had any problems with eczema before this. It doesn't even flare up and down it's just always there itching and peeling.

I had this and tried a lot of expensive creams but eventually realised that Vaseline really helped. Sorry if you've tried this! Hope you find a solution

I have a relative with this and he has been to see a dermatologist who said it's his immune system attacking healthy skin cells.

I developed this in my thirties having never been allergic to anything. Got steroid cream when it was very bad but after trying various creams found that Elizabeth Arden 8 hour handcream kept it at bay, used that for a few years. Then moved on to l'occitane Shea handcream which I've used ever since. The eczema lasted for a few years, went away by itself. I've no idea if there's any basis to this but my life was very stressful at that time and I wonder if that brought it on.

Do you wear rubber gloves for washing up? I developed an allergy to them after I had my dd, I tried every cream going but eventually I bought cotton gloves for under the rubber ones and it cleared up.

Yep. Eventually went to dermatologist who gave me tacrolimus ointment. At the time you couldn’t get started on it by GP but they could issue repeat prescriptions. Not sure if GPs can start it now, this was several years ago.

@Rose256 I don’t have any answers for you but I had the exact same. Mine was there constantly and then would sometimes flare up even worse to the point where it physically hurt to touch anything 😔 my hands were on fire.
It eventually cleared up on its own but not until DS was about 18months 😳😔

This happened to me too - my GP wasn't a lot of help but I think it's dishydrotic (sp?) eczema I have. It flares up still (5 years after my LO was born) and I can't exactly find a trigger. Maybe getting my hands wet too often/cleaning chemicals etc, though I do wear rubber gloves where possible. Sorry, not a lot of help but I feel your pain.

What are you treating it with, what moisturiser, and what sort of gloves?

Thanks everyone. Strongest steroid I've been given is elocon, but it came back a few days after I stopped. Worked wonders while I was using it though. Moisturising with oilatum liquid paraffin which was prescribed by GP

Using sensitive skin marigold gloves for washing up and then cotton gloves/nitrile gloves too

Hi, I've suffered with eczema since I was a child but it was particularly bad when I was pregnant and took a while to settle down. What worked for me is Aveeno and betnovate (this was prescribed by GP, you can't get it over the counter). I always used to use thicker moisturisers like Cetraben but I found they were just making my skin drier. But Aveeno is quite a thin cream and soaks in really well.
Once you fund a cream that works, make sure you keep on top.of moisturising- at least twice a day!
I really feel for you- it's a horrible thing to have and unless you've got/hat it, don't really understand how uncomfortable it can be. And the urge to scratch...omg, nightmare!!!
Fingers crossed it clears up for you.

You dont just stop treatment you need to keep applying it.

if steroid cream you gradually wean off otherwise the eczema will come back.

even when eczema is gone always use moisturiser as this prevents the dry skin that causes eczema.

have you had allergy testing? I was referred after my baby was born as it was really bad on my hands, I have avoided what I am allergic to and haven’t had eczema on my hands in over a year.

I've had this problem, came on when I was pregnant. Just finished patch testing with dermatology and turns out I'm allergic to lanolin, which is in everything for babies and mums. Nipple cream, sudocream, aveeno etc.
Try only using vegan products for a few weeks. It's made a huge difference for me.

Had this. For some reason the keto diet cured it. Did keto (hardcore) for a month based on recommendation from another forum and it cleared it permanently. Really odd.

I've suffered with eczema on my hands since I was a teenager, since I've been taking an antihistamine every day, I haven't had a flare up.

Have you tried allergy testing? I had it for a massive flare up on my face but it came up with surprising results for other things such as washing up liquid and the soap at work and my hands are much better now

Are you using a strong enough steroid and for long enough? And also moisturising twice a day?

It’s going to need a few weeks of twice a day steroid treatment, and hydrocortisone isn’t likely to be strong enough.

And the most important thing for eczema is to moisturise twice a day as well.

… what happens when you don’t use a steroid for long enough, or it isn’t strong enough is it doesn’t get through all the layers of skin - so it pops back up in a couple of days.

Thanks everyone. I think Elocon is a strong one from what I've read and I used it for two weeks. Doc said to use it until it clears and then for a week after. Maybe I should have weaned off it? Or maybe I didn't use it for long enough. I've got another doctor's appointment next week so I'm going to see about a referral and allergy testing.

Dolly & Friends Calming Cream is the only thing that works for us. It's an Australian brand though, so not sure if you can get it in the UK.

Steroid creams are incredibly strong and thin the skin after a while So they are usually only used sparingly and for short periods

I have psoriasis and spent a month in a skin hospital They sorted me out there with the latest and best treatment

Take anti histamines every day, cortisone creme every day

If That doesn't work go back to the gp

Are you sure it hasn't become infected. If it has even strong steroid creams are less effective. I mention this as son has had a skin infection due to broken skin from eczema. Dr diagnosed on a photo and e-consult and sent an antibiotic steroid cream. It was magic. We are now going GF and egg free for a while as it helped before.

Elocon is a strong one, and IME a good one. If it's clearing up and then returning then the moisturiser isn't effective. I think I must have been through at least ten before finding one which worked for me. I agree with pp than Lanolin can be a problem but I don't think that's in Oilatum. Aveeno and oat based ones are good for me, and I agree with the other pp who said sometimes thinner ones are better than thick and gloopy.