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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

eczema when pregnant

19 replies

misdee · 25/04/2008 16:08

does anyone else get this only when pregnant? suffered last time with dd3, am now really bad again. my arms and legs are terrible, keep putting creams on but want to rip my skin off, have been scratching in my sleep, arms feel like they are on fire

last time was checked for OC, and it wasnt that.

OP posts:

Mizza76 · 25/04/2008 16:53

I got it when I was pregnant last time but didn't associate it w/pregnancy. Now I'm pregnant again and it has come back.... so I guess it is. I sympathise!

Original poster

misdee · 25/04/2008 16:57

last time it started when i had a random reaction on my arm. it was like someone was sticking pins in me. then the skin flared up. since then have been unable to wear any purfumes

this time its worse.

my kids suffer from eczema themselves, so i know how they feel.

have had a couple of bouts when not pregnant but can usualy put that down to new soap etc, and its never this bad.

OP posts:

JessJess3908 · 25/04/2008 17:55

I haven't had it since i was a teenager, but at 22 weeks I've had a sudden break out on my lips, hands and sweaty crease areas (inside my elbows and under my neck).

What creams are you using? It's only happened last night/today so I haven't got anything yet. I remember vaseline, aqueous (sp?) cream and E45 were all good?

It's horrible - please help me make it stop!

Original poster

misdee · 25/04/2008 19:04

was just using dream cream from lush but its not doing much good now. was fine on the small patches but not now its all over.

i'm meant tio be going out with friends this evening but am a big itchy mess.

OP posts:

gingerwench · 25/04/2008 19:27

I had this at 13 weeks until 20 really bad, then back again at 24 weeks to 26 not so bad, and still a bit now. At first I thought it was an extreme allergy (i normally get breathing rather than skin difficulties) it started as red spots then became like hives all over my body. Piriton did no good, my normal extremely strong anti-histamines were not safe to take and camomile lotion was just messy. Eventually I just covered myself in aqueous cream (diprobase) and it settled down to extreme dry skin with eczema patches. I cover myself in diprobase twice a day and that seems to keep it manageable at the moment. I do have a lot of allergies and the midwife reckoned it was a reaction to a hormone and said I should expect it to flare up again after the birth,.

dizzydixies · 25/04/2008 19:28

nelsons tea tree cream, worked wonders for me

huge sympathies

gingerwench · 25/04/2008 19:28

by the way I'm 35+1 weeks

IlanaK · 25/04/2008 19:29

Yes, I get it only when pg (on third pregnancy now) and in a weird place on one breast only!

I think the key is just to keep it well moisturised. My two boys both have excema and I use their non-steroid creams on it.

PearTart · 25/04/2008 19:37

I get dry skin in pregnancy and find that taking plant- based omega oils (orally) really helps. I think the baby sucks all the good stuff out of your skin.

dizzydixies · 25/04/2008 19:46

aveeno cream is meant to be good too and if you have it on hands feet etc you could put on some emolient (sp?!) cream, really slather it on and leave on a pair of cotton socks/gloves until it all soaks in

mummypig · 25/04/2008 20:05

I have had really dry and itchy skin for a couple of weeks now, especially at night. I have red spots where I've scratched so much I've been bleeding. I didn't have it with either previous pregnancies but it's getting unbearable so I'm going to see a 'medical herbalist' tomorrow in the hope that she will give me a magical cream to make it go away! Will report back.

Disappointed that the Dream Cream hasn't been working on you misdee as I bought some the other day in the hope it would make some difference.

I did have dry skin after giving birth to ds1 so with ds2 I took an omega 3 supplement and didn't have the same problem. I thought my diet was pretty good regarding omega 3 oils this time round but if the itching carries on I might start taking supplements again.

fledtoscotland · 25/04/2008 23:44

thank god its not just me! i normally only have it on my hands but with this pregnancy i itch on my legs, back, front, arms, legs, face.....

dermatologist has prescribed stronger steroid creams and i take piriton every night to help me get some sleep. the only emolient thats any good at the moment is dermol and i'm getting through a 500ml pump a week! cant wait to give birth and get my skin back

JessJess3908 · 26/04/2008 00:56

I can't sleep it's itching so bad!

Thank you so much for listing your remedies. Tomorrow I'm going shopping for plant based omega oil suppliments, aqueous cream, dermol and maybe some tea trea cream.

I really hope it works. It's my best friend's wedding next week and I have a gorgeous new pink isabella oliver dress to wear but my face and chest are red raw. Imagine the clash?

I'm surprised Lush sell something for sensitive skin - Even when I'm not PG I can't walk past that shop without breaking out in the itchies!

ButterflyMcQueen · 26/04/2008 00:58

i had eczema as a child and teen but not in adulthood

during pg my skin goes soooo dry

i am bathing in oilatum and the relief is amazing

gp would not prescribe though

mummypig · 26/04/2008 20:18

Reporting back from the herbalist - she has prescribed me milk thistle extract just in case it's liver related, plus a 'magic cream' to use 3 times a day plus before bed, but I don't know what's in it. Also suggested omega3 oils (3g evening primrose oil and 3g fish oil a day) and said studies had shown taking probiotics in late pregnancy and while breastfeeding helps babies to avoid developing infantile eczema and other atopic-type conditions (we do tend to have reactions like this in the family).

The shop assistant in Lush told me the 'Dream Cream' had been developed for people with eczema but to be honest I still find the perfume a bit overbearing. The cream the herbalist gave me smells more subtle.

I also bumped into a friend in the supermarket who said she'd been through all kinds of creams for eczema and found Aveeno worked best. So that might be my next option if the herbal cream/Dream Cream/omega 3 supplements don't work.

meep · 26/04/2008 20:24

I hate to tell you, but I got it when I was pregnant and it got worse after dd was born. Mt hands are currently slathered in Epaderm (dh hates using the keyboard after me) and I went through a stage when I couldn't wear makeup because my eyes were horrendous.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!

southernbelle77 · 27/04/2008 06:42

The dr has just diagnosed me with ezcema in pregnancy. I have never had it before, and I never really had it when pg with dd (just had very dry hands). It's worse on my arms, chest and stomach areas and REALLY itchy. Am using E45 cream which takes the itchiness away but only temporarily. The dr prescribed diprobase but not been able to get that yet!

asur · 27/04/2008 18:55

I've had this in each of my pregnancies although skin wasn't completely clear till a few days later, the itching/sore skin cleared within hours of DS's arrivals. hormones are strange! ;)

JessJess3908 · 30/04/2008 11:21

I wanted to say thank goodness for mummies.

I was in a right state - all red & itchy at the beginning of this week and i didn't really realise it was eczma 'til i saw this thread.

When the penny dropped I got my mum to bring up all her eczma creams (have just been using aqueous cream to wash and moisturise with and a tiny dab of steroid cream on the worst bits). I also finally started taking the pregnacare plus with omega 3 vitamins that my new mummy sister had bought me weeks ago.

And it's worked! My skin's not perfect but it's much much better - thank you mums! .

Another side effect of not using soap is that the angry rash of red spots on my chin also caused by all the pg hormones has calmed down. Phew!

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