Hand eczema/pompholyx . Help! Trying to wean off steroid but keep reflaring!

[Girlwithproblems1]

Hi was wondering if anyone can give any advice . I’ve had this on my ring finger for a while and didn’t think anything of it . Suddenly just blew up and within 2/3 weeks my full finger was covered, the old patch inside my wrist came back red and big and I was getting an itchy sensation on my scalp and my body when it got bad !

I waited 3/4 weeks then Dr prescribed eumovate and said it was pompholyx eczema I used this for 14 days which didn’t clear it but it came down a lot. I was advised to take a break. So I did for about 2 weeks then I used it again for 4 weeks. Again it didn’t clear it but bought it down abit .

Dr then advised another 2 week break and re use a stronger steroid (but my pharmacy didn’t have it in stock). So instead I used eumovate again for 14 days . Again same thing, cleared up a lot but not fully and patches of the rash had
spread to other fingers and on my hand more even through the steroid use.

the steroid calmed it down but every time I went off it slowly got worse.

Since then I have been weaning off, it has been 1 month and I’m currently doing 4 days off and 1 day eumovate steroid once . But I am struggling !!!

The patches of the rash on my hand are getting bigger and the one that’s moved to a new finger is in particular itchy. I have the usual burning sensation, red, itchy and then on the flip side dry if not covered in emollients etc .

I wear no hand Jewellry etc. I am sometimes careful with what I eat now (as I thought maybe tomato triggered it). I think this originated from over washing hands with hand wash and having my hands wet all the time (I have 2 toddlers) and food with spices touching my finger/that area of the rash.

However for months I have not touched food with this hand, wear cotton gloves underneath my disposable for doing the washing up. Make sure cleaning producers aren’t on my hand . I use soap bar now. And I bought double base hand wash to try. I use a couple natural ointments and mainly hydromol ointmemt
especially as I wean off I feel like I need all the help I can get !!

Chucked away some of my furry fluffy jumpers (as not sure what was irritating my hand/ arm when I was worse ) . I wear cotton underneath as a layer now. I know heat and stress makes it worse or if I feel hot . Have a referral to dermatology for patch testing .

Can somone please tell me is my eczema not healing or is it my body just reacting to me taking away steroid ?

Evryone I speak to is advising I stay off the steroid if I can . And that it is my skin reacting to not using it .

tonight is my steroid night . I’ve put it on my patches but I literally want to scratch the hell out of my fingers right now !

My worry is the way it’s going . Am I just weaning off to then just go back on a steroid ?? So confused !!!!!!!!!!! And finding it hard especially between the chores with the kids 😞

@JennyGracexx yeah its the first time I’ve had this leathery look and it looks so horrible !! And yes it can be embarrassing too when going out . I don’t think il be able to wear any hand Jewellry for ages now .

I hope u get urs sorted and find out ur triggers too

Contact the National Eczema Association Helpline and ask for a conversation with the specialist eczema nurse. The one I spoke to was amazingly helpful. There are creams and ointment available on prescription called Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors which are steroid free.

Because of another condition, I have to avoid steroids as much as possible and TCIs were suggested to me instead. The switch away from Betnovate and Dermavate has been really effective, and I have genuine hope that my flareups will now be much more occasional than before.

Ginger shampoo has SLS as second ingredient. Lots of people react to that. Try a bar as a pp says to see if it makes a difference. You can narrow down a better option for your hair if you find avoiding sls helps your hands.

Though the eczema association naughty list doesn’t include sls so aye that’s not a problem. It’s a good list to look at though.

Personally, I’d use nothing but the steroid for a week. Nothing else at all, no other moisturiser, no soap. Salt in bath. Then, gradually reduce the steroid. If you then feel you need a moisturiser, maybe try Aveeno overnight (I swear by it). The key is that you don’t know at this point whether you’re actually allergic to one of the emollients or the soap that you’re using. Good luck, I know the frustration.

I use Taceolimus cream prescribed by a dermatologist on my pomphlox hands

It clears the flares up but I do then get a full skim shed (bit like a snake) in the days after
It's not a steroid cream though (years of using them to get my eczema under control

I do find super hot water a relief, and a good rub with a muslin or tea towel when I'm blistery

Eurax cream is good for stopping itchiness but not if you have broken skin!

But really I need to treat my skin like it's delicate silk - minimal harsh washing ans regular hand cream

I have awful scaly old lady hands

Tacrolimus!

Tacrolimus is the one that I use. It’s one of the newer treatments for eczema.