1st trimester eczema driving me nuts - HELP!

[monipenny]

Hi All, I am new to this forum business so forgive me if I don't use all your fancy acronyms!
Just found out I am pregnant last week (5 weeks gone). I normally use Menaderm Simple and protopic to keep the eczema at bay, but the doctor here in spain said I can't use them because they may harm the baba....
Any alternatives? Itching driving me nuts and nasty raised red patched on my arms and hands...
Doc said to use ice which is next to useless.
Anyone else suffered with this and what can I use instead of the steroid cream to make it better???? AHHH!
Probably stress aggravating it and this is my first pregnancy and no drinking or smoking takes some adjusting too!!
Would love your advice/experiences... x

Sounds to me (chrinic eczema sufferer) that it's the change in your hormones. Sounds like you have hives possibly too. Not sure if you can take antihistimine in pregnancy so check with doc. The reason you're not supposed to use topical steroids is mainly that it can cause cleft palate in the unborn child.
Try Vaseline. Just lie and relax for a while as this will calm your skin down and reduce histimine levels and then gently smooth a layer of vaseline onto your eczema. I swear by vaseline and although my eczema has almost disappeared, as soon as it starts to itch, I quickly smooth on a thin layer of it and my hands go back to normal again.
If you were a smoker, then I guess you're probably scratching more with your hands due to lack of something in them and anxiety? try getting a relaxing CD that you can lie and listen to whenever you get some free time and generally try to relax when you can.
I would think it might calm down in your 2nd trimester but not definitely.
The GP isn't mad when he says about ice and staying cool will really help. Try wrapping a bag of peas in a towel and laying it on your arms and hands.

Thanks luciemule, I will try your suggestions and keep on with the cold stuff!
Didn't know about the cleft palate - that will stop my being tempted to reach for the steroid cream...
A bit hard to relax here as we are finishing major house renovations, but will do my best! x

Oh - is your house covered in dust?
All of a sudden a couple of years ago, my eczeam reacted really badly when I accidently inhaled dust of a high shelf. My head blew up like elephant woman - I looked as though I was wearing a fat suit and loads of friends didn't even recognise me. I'd be very careful if there's plaster dust everywhere but the vaseline would help a lot with that by acting as a barrier.

Oh yes, I am living in dust city! Nasty concrete dust too. I do my best with my dyson, but until the building work is finished, I have to live with it :-(
Will defo try the vaseline... Fingers crossed. Will let you know if it helps. x