Pregnant with Eczema. Driving me mad!!! HELP!

[Dalrymps]

I've always had eczema, it's come and gone throughout my life and I've used various creams. Most of the time I can keep it under control.

Sonce becoming pregnant (24 weeks now) it has flared up and gotten a lot worse. I have been prescribed some emolient cream that I can wash with and hydrocortisone cream 1%.

I just feel i'm fighting a loosing battle, it's so itchy and all nearly all over my arms, right hand and even a bit in the corners of my eyes, oh and on the back of my knee's and one shoulder

The ithcing is driving me insane and when I try to go to sleep at night it itches more and I lie there trying not to scratch. If I do scratch it makes it worse, it's a constant cycle!

I get temporary relief when I've washed and applied mosturiser and my hydrocortisone but then it just starts up again.

Is there anything else I can do? I've just put some more cream on but it itches more as it soaks in arrgghhh!

This thread happened just recently, I posted some of the thins that helped me calm the itching. Good luck, it is horrible and other people don't get how irritating it is.

*things

Thanks, will take a look...

Can you take any anti-histamines? I wasn't allowed to for the first 3 months or so but after that it was ok?

Ask your doctor. It can really help with the itching.

Not sure but I'll ask, thanks.

MrsJamin - Checked other thread, am off out soon to get some of that Aveeno and dead sea soap, worth a try if it helped you!

You probably need some stronger steroids - go back to the dr and say it isn't working. Oilatum in the bath is good, likewise I find putting olive oil on my hands is much better than emollient when I have a flare up. PS steer clear of the chinese herbs as suggested on the other thread. Just because it is 'natural' doesn't mean it has been fully tested on the pregnant and can do a lot of harm - many are grown in areas of China where regulations over heavy metal contamination and pesticide use are not quite to EU standards...

Cool - I reckon try the most normal and non-medicine route first, before looking into anti-histamines, as I think IIRC when I looked into it, you have to take the ones that make you drowsy rather than the non-drowsy ones? I can't remember so it's worth doing your research. Hope the soap and aveeno work for you!

Thanks for the advice re the chinese herbs jaype, i'm usually quite catious about what I take/use when pg anyway so think will steer clear. Olive oil is a good idea, will try it if this new cream doesn't help.

MrsJamin, am gonna try this soap and cream for a while and see how it goes. Had a shower with the soap this evening and patted dry then applied the cream. Skin feels well moisturised Can feel it still has the posibility of itching if I get hot but that's cause i've scratched it till it's red and sore . Will persist and try my best not to scratch (it's sooo hard!). The soap and cream get great reviews on the boots website!

Yes, I think trying to find a solution that doesn't involve stronger steroids or antihistamines first is a good plan then will see the doc to ask about that if this way doesn't work.