Terrible eczema - any tips?

[exBrightonBell]

I have always had small patches of eczema, but now I am pregnant it just seems to be getting worse and worse. New patches keep erupting daily and the existing ones won't go...and the itching! My word the itching is extreme. If I do scratch it makes it 100 times worse, but sometimes I have scratched it before I know what I'm doing.

Anyway, I was wondering whether anyone else has experienced this, and has any ideas for managing it? My gp has prescribed me 2.5% hydrocortisone cream, but it isn't helping much. I'm 14 wks btw.

Aveeno is the only thing that makes mine better the oatmeal cools the skin. I get it on prescription but you can buy it from chemists etc there's a bath oil too.

Thanks for the suggestions. I have not got on well with emollients such as epaderm in the past, as something in them irritates my skin!! A catch 22 if ever there was one :-(

I found e45 cream to be much better for me then the steroid cream my gp prescribed. I think its just a case of finding out what works for you.

Maybe changing detergents might help? Abit random I know, but some really set my eczema off.

I tend to use the emollient cream after I've washed then out a thin layer of the hydrocortisone on top so the area is moisturised but the itch is kept under control too. It's best to try and keep on top of it with the creams and try not to itch. I know that is almost impossible btw!

Sometimes I slap the area that's it hong rather than scratch or put a cold flannel on it.

Epaderm etc and all the emollients GPs offer are full of petrochemicals, parraffin etc, and it's quite possible to be sensitive to them, which could well be why you haven't got on with them in the past. There are lots of moisturisers around now that are petrochemical free. Have a google. If you are sensitive to petrochemicals you also need to bear that in mind when using steroids. Unfortunatey most GPS look at you blankly when you attempt to discuss this with them (can you tell I've been there?!)

Have a look at Kittywises post on this thread
I've had eczema my whole life but become hyper-sensitive to parraffin the last couple of years an this has really worked for me!

I don't know if the emollients you've tried have been cream based or ointment based, but when the doc asked me on a recent visit what I preferred (some people don't like the ointment as its soooo greasy), I said I didn't like the feel of the creams - they make me skin feel sticky and a bit itchy and he said it was common for people to be sensitive to the bit that made it 'cream' as opposed to just ointment.

I have a tub of epaderm ointment which is fab. but I know very well that what works for one doesn't for another - I tried Aveeno after seeing it recommended on here, but it stang my hands so I've abandoned that.

Straightforward baby oil can be good, on wet skin. Try to avoid exposure to water (no washing up without gloves etc).

If its on your hands, try getting some cotton gloves from the pharmacy (or try the body shop) and put ointment on then the gloves.

When your skin itches try to cool it down - I keep a couple of chill packs in the fridge for the kids 'poorlies' and these work nicely - just make sure there's no condensation on them (wrap in kitchen paper if necessary). I sometimes find that if I run myself a 'kids temperature' bath that helps too. The 'relaxation' of sitting in the bath (complete with baby oil for moisture) helps with the itching...I know how fraught the itching can make you feel.

Try to stick to breathable fabrics too.

You could speak to your GP too about antihistamines - there are some that you can take during pregnancy if you're desperate (been a few years, so I can't remember now).

You could try drinking more water too, hydrate from the inside - it makes a big difference to my skin (can def. tell when I've been boozing too much :-( )

Hello there, i would speak to your doctor about an ointment named elocon otherwise named mometasone furoate dont get the cream as it is itchy the oitment is great and then over the top put some eurax cream. i have had eczema for years and have used various steriods which have never worked to being wrapped up everyday for months. this has kept mine at bay. good luck!

I'm 39+2' I get really itchy eczema on my fingers, which has gotten worse since I've been pregnant, drives me crackers at night! I take a Piriton tablet if it's really bad (most docs would say these are acceptable to use in pregnancy, depends how you feel about taking medication..) You could also try aqueous cream as a soap substitute (cheap n cheerful) I quite like Oilatum stuff. It really is a case of trying different brands to see which work best for you. Hope you feel better soon, that itch is soooooooo annoying!