Eczema - managing it when pregnant

[InDreamland]

I have had eczema since I was a small child and had bouts where it's been so bad I've been on oral steroids and antibiotics. Whilst it's not that bad now it has started to flare up again on my hands but GP said I'm not allowed to use my betnovate steroid cream anymore because of risk to baby. I'm also not allowed to take antihistamine and ibuprofen which are other things I normally use to help it settle down.

Had anyone else got eczema and how did you manage it during pregnancy?

It's ready uncomfortable and sore.

Thanks @lulu. I've tried alot of those in the past before getting pregnant and they never worked for me. I've been on prescribed steriod creams since I was about 4 so think they're all that really work. Caved lastnight and took a cetirizine to see if anything that was irritiating the eczema could be dealt with, think I need to do that for a few more days. I'm just utterly miserable at the moment as it's so sore.

This is so sore! It's weeping. Making me so miserable. It's painful to use my hands for anything at the moment.

fingers crossed it improves,
I know what it's like, you just can't stop thinking about it

I so sympathise, my hands look a lot like that at times and it’s just awful. I’d definitely go back to the docs. Can you ask to see a different GP for a second opinion, or even better ask for a dermatology referral? You might find a consultant has more experience of dealing with this. I had one GP tell me I shouldn’t be using any steroid creams (even hydrocortisone!), which just wasn’t realistic for me, so I asked to see another one and he was happy for me to use eumovate. The problem is that drugs aren’t really tested on pregnant women so it’s hard for people to develop guidelines for them, therefore the first advice is usually to avoid everything. However, if the alternative is a nasty skin infection then it’s not necessarily the best option. All the evidence I’ve seen is that mild and moderate steroids are ok, and even the stronger ones aren’t linked to anything massively scary. See this Cochrane Review www.cochrane.org/CD007346/SKIN_safety-topical-steroids-pregnancy for example.

My other tips would be soaking hands in diluted vinegar (some say Apple cider vinegar but I’m not sure it really matters) - I just get a bowl and put a few glugs in and then some water, and soak for at least 5 mins. Vinegar kills any bugs and also takes the itch out for me. Also when my hands are really bad I have some fingerless cotton gloves that I wear round the house. I put my emollients on (I mostly use aveeno but it’s whatever works for you) and pop the gloves on top and it just seems to help protect them and let them heal a bit. I sometimes wear them at night too to help stop me scratching. And I have Dermol 500 on prescription for handwashing too.

Hope you soon find some relief.

Thank you @TryingToStayRational. I will give the vinegar thing ago, have some white wine vinegar in the kitchen for poaching eggs that might work.

I know what everyone will say but I'm trying not to make a fuss but keep calling the GP for everything and annoying them by being needy over everything. Already walked in in tears over terrible hayfever as could barely function. Don't want them to think I'm some sort of pain. Also, It's finding the time and private space to call during work hours.

I could cry so much. It's so far I think the worst part of the first trimester.

I have weepy hands and also lots of split skin that bleeds. To wash them I use Dermol lotion. It's an emollient moisturiser that can also be used in the place of soap.

If you have it on your body too, like I do, then I've found Cetaphil to be really good. I put the cleanser on crooks of arms and back of legs before getting in the shower. Then after the shower, pat dry, put on whatever steroid cream, and then use the Cetaphil moisturiser. A boots pharmacist recommended it to me and it's been a revelation! Ive had eczema since a baby too. I do it if i have a flare up and usually in a week my skin settles down.

And i really do sympathise with having bad hands. It's so rubbish. I work in child care and have a baby so can't avoid washing them! I don't think people realise how much it can affect you. And also the constant comments of "what's happened to your hands?" "Ooo that looks sore" etc get a bit annoying!

I found when I stopped using steroids while pregnant, after the rebound which saw me get worse , my skin actually improved and was better than it had ever been (took months to clear though). It was the steroid making the eczema worse all those years. My skin and body had come to rely on it. Look up Red Skin Syndrome and a website called ITSAN, it was the answer for me and now I don't use anything at all . The initial withdrawal was horrible and so itchy and my adrenal glands had to get used to working fully again without me using steroid ointments so had fatigue but was worth it to be clear after all these years, the last bits to heal were where I'd used the steroid cream so backs of knees and crook of arms. Steroid induced eczema is more common that we think. Hope it clears for you , I know how horrible it can be .

Don’t worry about going to the docs - honestly, you aren’t being a pain - you’re in pain! Doctors have seen it all and are there to help you, especially when you’re going through challenges like pregnancy. Go easy on yourself

Thanks everyone. I'm going to see what it's like on Monday then call doc if it's still as bad.

I have been using cetaphil for ages and it's a good cream but even that hasn't helped.

Interesting point about steroid induced eczema. I'm gonna see if it can clear without it - fingers crossed!

Hi OP, I’ve struggled with my eczema during both of my pregnancies. As someone’s already mentioned Protopic worked well, although my GP refused to prescribe it so my dermatologist had to. Drink loads of water, mine was worst when I was breastfeeding because I kept getting dehydrated. Lots of moisturising and keep cool. I do take the occasional Piriton (mainly at night to help with sleep) but obviously check with midwife first

Totally freaking out!! I've been using betnovate. (Only in tiny tiny quantities) I have a weird patch occurred on my chin. Once a day for a week! The midwife said it was probably fine! Should I be worried? I'm 17 weeks! Diprobase wouldn't clear it!! 😭

Cakelaur don't panic - my gp prescribed me betnovate to use while pregnant and said it would be ok to use every day for 2 weeks. As with all these things, it's best to avoid if you can manage it but steroid creams have been around for long enough now that we'd know if they caused serious problems in babies. I know of women who have been advised to use them on eczema on their bump! I'd leave it off now, but especially if you only used a small bit I really wouldn’t worry. Mine went over my whole left hand. The advice is generally that very, very little of any product that goes onto your skin gets into your blood. And the body makes steroids itself anyway! The topicals we use for eczema just up our natural amount.