Extremely dry skin, like skin flaking off dry skin. If you have this, what do you use to moisturise it and do you take any supplements?

[foxinsocks]

My skin has really taken a turn for the worse over the last few months. I've had one v nasty bout of eczema which has thankfully cleared up.

But I have been left with the most hidesously dry skin all over my body.

The skin on my stomach and thighs is now so dry that it is flaking off a lot (so if I wear trousers, when I take them off, it's taking a whole layer of skin with them).

The problem is that if I leave my skin like this, I'm so susceptible to getting another eczema outbreak.

I have a number of emollients, the best one for my skin is Epaderm but it's so so so thick and takes so long every day to apply and I was just wondering if anyone else uses another emollient that's quicker and easier to apply but that actually works (aqueous cream, diprobase and eumobase are not thick enough).

And do you take any supplements? I'm wondering whether I am lacking something in my diet that is making my skin this way.

bumpety bump for any ideas

Try using NORA BODE COOL MOISTURE MASK. Absolutely brilliant stuff!! I had the same problem on my face. This works wonders. Call them on 01252837070.

Good luck,
Shintz

thanks, do you know what's in it that makes it work so well?

Nope, sorry. Just know as someone who's into beauty that it's great and smells fab.

I'm having a nose job in Nov so i am priming my skin before the op. xx

Have you tried Oilatum?

yes, annoyingly I find the oily ones seem to work well quickly but wear off quickly iyswim

it's very annoying grrrr

I think I might just have to spend the time applying the creams. I'm probably just being lazy but it would be so nice if a thinner cream worked as well as the horrid thick stuff!

Have you tried evening primrose supplements? They seem to do some good I think.

WRT moisturiser, I use Aveeno as most others seem to irritate my skin rather than soothing it, but it's runny. Makes it quicker to apply though.

One thick moisturiser I have used is napiers starflower skin cream. Quite effective, about the texture of...ummm...greek yogurt maybe?. Bit pricey if you're slathering it on, though I see they do a big pot.

haven't tried EPO but was thinking about that or fish oils (as I don't eat a lot of oily fish tbh). I think they do similar things?

thanks for the cream recommendations. Will look into them. Anything has got to be better than the thick stuff!

Have you tried anything with urea in it, like Eucerin (or even Flexitol foot cream), they work far better than anything else I have tired (on me and DS) and are much less gunky than aqueous cream.

What do you wash with? Could you change to a milder soap or shower gel without SLS?

I use Aveeno on DS who gets occasional eczema outbreaks, but on my skin (dry, sometimes itchy and flakey with occasional psoriosis) I use this soap and this body butter.

May I suggest that you pop into Lush / call them, especially their Dream Cream moisturiser may be good for you. I have 2 friends with 'the eczema' who swear by it.

Mail Order: 01202 668 545

Also have a gander at their website
www.lush.co.uk

I do not work for Lush but I would like to...

Have you tried 8 hour cream?

wiggly, I have a feeling epaderm has urea in it because it's so thick and has that consistency iyswim (actually it doesn't, have just looked it up - it is basically wax and paraffin!)

aveeno, whilst I love the feel on my skin (and the smell!), about an hour after applying it, my skin has gone dry again

I am going to go out and try all these recommendations so thank you. I am so desperate for something less thick to work!

I am washing with epaderm too (which is bloody hard work tbh). Sometimes I swap back to aqueous cream or simple products because I just get fed up of using eczema stuff but that's probably my fault for making it worse.

Dove Intensive cream for extra dry hands (in a white tube)does wonders for the eczema on my hands. If I use it for a couple of days they actually go silky soft instead of the usual elephant hide / sandpaper combination. Can itch a bit though depending on how flared up my eczema is.

For a thin cream it's surprising effective & long lasting. Might be worth a try although could get pricy if you need it all over.

Unguentum (emollient) has helped DS's eczema a lot, much better than oilatum. You've probably tried it before though, think its a pretty first line treatment.

I know a few people who swear by this cream but it's quite expensive for a small tube really