Eczema at 5 months pregnant- any miracle cures?

[ScummyMummy]

Have nasty eczema on my hands and am in an itch, scratch, weeping sore, heal a bit, itch, scratch, weeping sore cycle. I'm trying not to scratch, obv, but am mostly doing it in my sleep or really absent mindedly. Am slavering doublebase on at least every few hours but it's not helping that much. I haven't had it this bad for a long time and last time it was like this I needed betnovate to zap it away. But I understand (from googling) that steroid creams are a bad idea when pregnant. Is that true? Does anyone have any ideas on how I can get rid of it?

bump- save me from my sore itchy hands!

When I was pg I used a 1% hydrocortisone on my hands - gp advice was to use it sparingly and no more than once a day, for no more than a week (if that makes sense)

Like tons of drugs I don't think there is evidence of it being harmful or safe in pg IYSWIM

have you tried bio oil? i use it for EVERYTHING!! alternatively lush do a lovely gentle but deep treating hand cream which you can put on under thin white gloves overnight to help it soak into your skin. HTH

Oh thanks, doggiesayswoof. That's helpful.

Bio oil is something I haven't tried before, sircoughalot. Could be a good idea. Is it perfumed?

I had terrible eczema on my feet when I was pg with DS2, they did prescribe me hydrocortizone, as long as you only use it for a short period. It saved me, i was going mad with the itching, esp at night!
Go and see you GP

no, not perfumed. it is fairly expensive though but it cures EVERYTHING, including stretch marks - i only got them on my thighs when pg cos i forgot to put it there but my tummy is lovely and smooth despite being the size of a house, so if it doesnt work on your hands it will be used elsewhere. I has a slight smell but i think thats the oil nothing else, i shall find you an advert for it for you to look at. hang on.

it says it is completely safe for prengant women and helps rehydrate skin. i use it on ALL dry and wrinkly pathches and i can't twll you enough how great it is! [[http://www.bio-oil-direct.co.uk/bio-oil-suitability.aspx here}}

i am rubbish sorry here

oh, also meant to say i had pregnancy acne, but dry skin acne during pregnancy, was horrible and bio oil helped that too. I have just read not to put on broken skin, but I didn't know that until today

Thank you so much, sircoughalot. I'm v touched by your research efforts! I've got broken skin galore, unfortunately, but love the sound of bio-oil for general use. I think I will need to use some hydrocortisone to clear up the worst of it. Thanks, vampire.

I have been using the bodyshop's Hemp body butter for my Eczema, like you my skin is broken and i find that this stuff clears it up nicely.

here

I've been using epaderm, which is a very strong moisturiser, available on perscription.

Thank you, everyone. I have found some hydrocortisone cream from my last outbreak and am using it sparingly. My hands are looking a little better aleady after a couple of days. Will try and get to the GP soon and get some freebie oilatum/epaderm/whatever they think will help plus stronger steroid cream if the hydrocortisone isn't quite enough. Your GP's advice re steroids beiung safe is v reassuring, AApple. Hemp cream looks good too, gemdangracie. Once again, thank you very much, all you dermatological whizzkids.

Aveeno cream ... its great safe for babies too