Horrendous night with eczema... Advice please??

[Crossfitgirl]

I have eczema that is usually well managed with a dab of steroid cream now and again. since becoming pregnant, it's got worse having not been able to use steroid cream.
Last night, I could not sleep at all, I was so itchy I had to get up and put a cold face cloth on my elbows, wash off the zero cream moisturiser the doc prescribed (I actually think it's irritating my skin!) and I've been up ever since. It's itching like crazy and has spread from just my hands, gradually to my wrists, forearms and elbows over the past few weeks.

Essentially is it worth going to the docs (my thinking is can they prescribe me some aveeno as this seems to help, and to ask can I take Piriton while pg??) or should I just slap on some steroid cream for a few days to settle it? This is what I'd usually do to settle it, and they did say its OK to use steroid cream after 12 weeks and I'm now 12+4.

Just don't want to waste time on an appointment if I can handle it. Any advice from anyone who's had the same?

I used steroid cream while I was pregnant. Only the 1% stuff but still. Doctor told me it was fine. Is your usual cream stronger?

Yes, it's mometasone furoate which I think is quite strong. But usually I only need to use it for a day or 2 and the eczema is gone. Though may take longer now as its much worse than normal. The doctor did say I could use it after 12 weeks but very sparingly and only if necessary. I think I will use some today to try settle it, but wonder if anything else can help stop the itching that's safer for me to use all the time. The itching is the worst!

Oh I really feel for you! I finally managed to get rid of my eczema in my 20s, but since I’ve been pregnant I’ve had horrible dry itchy skin. Like you I was/ am cautious about steroid cream. Yes to trying to get the aveeno prescribed - I found it has helped but of course it’s so expensive to buy you’ll bankrupt yourself over the course of pregnancy! A drowsy anti histamine such as prition or cyclizine might at least help you get some sleep. Have you ever tried oat bath? Put a big handful porridge oat in a Muslim square and tie the top/ toe of an old sock or tights and use like a bath bomb. Just keep the bath a sensible temp and be careful getting in and out (or get help). Is your diet ok or have you have sickness or food aversions? My itchy was worse when I was limited in what I ate, since my aversions cleared up and eating normally it got a lot better but I have horribly cracked lips so I’m assuming I’m short on something (supplementing vits b,c &d plus magnesium. I’ve also found I’m much warmer at night than usual so wearing short/summer pjs, being over warm is not going to help itching or sleeplessness. Good luck

Try Child’s Farm baby moisturiser. You can get it from supermarket in the baby section. It’s usually £4 but sometimes on offer. If you google it you will see that it has been recommended as a miracle cream by eczema sufferers during the last few years. It’s 99% natural. I use it for my son’s eczema. It it not a barrier cream like zero base and it does not contain parafin and doesn’t put users at risk of their clothes being more flammable. It’s great stuff.
Also, are you sure it’s your eczema? There is a rare condition that pregnant woman can get in the last trimester involving severe itching. Mild itching is normal though.

The zero cream was worse for my child
We use Welleda white mallow on him. Pricey but he doesnt use much. I look up creams on the National Eczema Association
He also has a 1% hydrocortisone ointment
If it is safe for babies is not ok for pregnant people? I hate eczema 😫

Aveeno can be purchased across the counter can't it? I don't believe any antihistamines are available when pregnant- although your GP may be able to prescribe one. I'd talk to them regarding your options as many pharmacists won't sell over the counter med during pregnancy. Hope you feel better soon x

Child's farm moisturiser in the baby section. It's sorted my baby boys and my eczema out its about £4. I'd highly recommend it!

Definitely discuss it with your GP. Dont want to depress you, but I found that until I was well clear (6 months after at least) of breastfeeding, everything about pregnancy hormones made my eczema much worse - although it made other things (anxiety, back pain) much better, so its definitely worth finding out what you can and cannot use and what is going to work for you now.

And good luck.

Child's farm moisturiser is brillant really helps my little boys skin. You might also find getting one of the shower gels or bubbles baths made by them will help to as they are all natural and shouldn't irritate your skin. They smell delicious to which helps.

Aloe Vera gel helped me massively during pregnancy. Maybe worth a shot? And the child's farm unfragrenced moisturiser I used on my baby son and ever since. It's excellent and so mild and gentle but worked wonders.

I can buy aveeno but you get free prescriptions when pg so I'd like to make the most of that since its a medical condition that's way worse due to the pregnancy.

I've tried child's farm before and found that OK, but I had to go to about 5 places to find it as it was always sold out everywhere. Its also not very greasy so doesn't seem to keep my skin moist. I wonder if diprobase would be better?? I do think the aveeno actually settles the eczema as well as moisturising.
Haven't tried an oat bath but maybe will try that, thanks for the tip.

Yes my diet has been pretty terrible up to now, only just 12 weeks and have eaten a lot of carbs /sugar, processed stuff that hasn't involved cooking due to food aversions and nausea. That's definitely a factor as my diet does affect my skin. I'm starting to feel better so hopefully can change this to a much better diet soon!

It's def eczema as it's patches like my usual eczema, just worse. Think I'm gonna make an appointment and just discuss everything. If I can take an antihistamine that'd be amazing as they do help me sleep!!

Also... Yes!! I'm way too hot at night! Maybe we should get a different duvet...

Thank you for the replies so far. Hadn't thought of aloe Vera gel so will have a look at trying that xx

Cetaphil was my hero during pregnancy. A boots pharmacist recommended it when I was absolutely desperate. I used it for 2 weeks every day and the improvement was incredible!

Shower using the cetaphil wash, pat dry but not totally dry. Thin layer of hydrocortisone and then use the Cetaphil body lotion. Hope it improves soon. Pregnancy can be rotten enough without all these added extras!

I keep some in my wardrobe all the time now usually for summer when I have more flare ups.

I'd agree with pp that creams that are heavily based on liquid paraffin aren't great.

Having been prescribed various different paraffin creams throughout childhood that doesn't work, in my late teens and early twenties I started buying others to try and I tested about 20 different products. By far the best for me is Eucerin 10% lotion. Since using this I was able to stop steroid creams altogether. Could be worth a try?

I feel completely reliant on Eucerin to the extent I would be very concerned indeed if it became unavailable.

Initially Childs farm was hard to find but has become much more widely available in recent months. Tesco and Sainsbury’s now have a whole section of the range because it is so popular.

My eczema ran wild while pregnant. My GP and dermatologist told me it was fine to use minimal amounts of my steroid cream (I used betnovate for flare ups instead of my usual dermovate and trimovate but it's still pretty strong.)
I found I only needed to use it once a day for a couple of days.
Have you tried dermol in the shower? It's a soap replacement and moisturiser, hydromol can be used too but be very careful as it's really slippy on the floor.