How to get rid of really stubborn spots of eczema?

[YouAreAMouseInAMaze]

I've put this in S&B rather than health because it's more of a cosmetic problem than anything.

For the past couple of years I've been getting these really stubborn spots of eczema under my arm (but not in my actual arm pit IYSWIM). The dr thought it was fungal but it's def not because the only thing that helps a bit is steroid cream, whereas if it was fungal steroids would make it worse.

Steroid cream (betnovate) does help but never gets rid of it totally and when I stop the cream it comes back. I've also tried moisturising a lot using Aveeno, tea tree cream, etc. but it makes hardly any difference. Help?

I find that Bio Oil works well for the little patches of eczema that I get on my upper arms. Either that or a cream with Neem oil in it.

Hi. Lifetime eczema sufferer here!
Are you putting the betnovate on regularly? It needs to be twice a day. Also make sure you're using enough. It's also better if you don't put Aveeno on just before the steroid.
When you have it under control you need to step down the steroid and not just stop. Go to once per day, and then every other day etc. you can then step down to a less potent steroid (eg eumovate).

if the betnovate doesn't work the next strength is dermovate. You'll need to go back to the docs for that though.

Aveeno Cream (the one with Colloidal oats) is a miracle worker, IMO.

What are you using to wash with? You need a soap-free and SLS-free showergel otherwise you are just drying the skin out every time you wash it.

I agree, if the steroid cream doesn't shift it you need a stringer one. Best to blast it over a short period with a strong steroid than to have continued use of a weaker one.

I agree, you need a tube of dermovate. It's the only thing that shifts my most stubborn patches, and then a top up with bentovate if I suddenly get a flash of it again. Act quickly if it looks like flaring up again and nip it in the bud.

Dermovate for a few days blasts it all.

Be careful afterwards to use correct shower gel / deodorant etc to not aggravate it again.

Try not to wear anything tight and scratchy that might physically aggravate it. No wool or nylon / elastane rule works for me, also keeping cool rather than hot.

Have a look at your diet and include more omega 3 oils found in oily fish, etc.
Reduce your sugar and white refined foods. Sorry if you're already doing this, but I found it helpful, also chia seeds everyday.

I did use Betnovate twice a day. It did work on some of it (although that came back) but some of the spots never fully went so maybe I do need stronger cream. I have heard you can get skin thinning though, is that true? How long do you need to use it for before that happens?

I don't use soap to wash with - either Aveeno shower oil or just water (I'm not a very smelly being).

The annoying thing is that two of the spots are right under where my bra strap goes (even though I mainly wear old bras, much washed and not scratchy).

Diet could probably do with a bit of work and had not heard of chia seeds, so thanks for that.

I think the skin thinning is over hyped tbh. Also, it's considered "safer" to use a stronger steroid over a shorter period than a weaker one over a longer period.

I use buckets of Doublebase gel (either from the chemist or on prescription) and betnovate. Diprobase cream is also good but still need to use in conjunction with betnovate.

I had some round patches on my arms when I was younger for yonks and moisturised endlessly etc and the only thing that shifted it was some hydrocortisone from the doc.

touch wood not been back

It was annoying as it was literally about 2 years at the height of my going out days and I could have got rid of it like that but instead arsed around with creams and lotions for yonks and hit the disco all marvellous apart from these weird dry patches the size of 2p pieces

Skin Salvation from Pure Potions.

Double base dayleve cream. Not the ordinary double base but the 'dayleve' version which has something in it that locks the moisture to the skin. Amazon stuff. Moisturise at least 4 times a day. Every single day. At a separate time from the steroid.

Steroids religiously twice a day until it is totally cleared. Then once a day. Then drop down to eumovate once a day then hc (1% if skin stays clear at that level . Hc2.5 if you need something more) once a day. Then the hc twice a week. It is entirely fine to use steroid at a low level (hc 1% or even hc2.5%) twice a week as a maintenance programme long term. Also see if you can get the steroid in an ointment rather than a cream. I find t more effectively. Keep moisturising all the time. Have multiple bottles of cream everywhere so you can quickly give it a rub.

If you moisturise or use an emollient then you should apply the steroid first then wait twenty minutes before putting the emollient on.

Tried diprobase and steroids with my dds eczema and did not clear it. Tried la roche posay Cicaplast on advice from here and it cleared it within days and it has never come back. Wonderful stuff.

Thanks everyone - this is really useful. I'm going to see if I can get some dermovate from the GP and then do the step-down thing.

I have an amazing cream on prescription called Elocon. I get patches on my hands and a couple of days of the cream totally zaps them. You only use it once a day, so I can put it on at night and let it soak in.

My son and myself both have eczema and we use both the avens and steroid cream you mentioned. What helps us is constantly reapplying the aveeno and also I find that giving my son avocado to eat really helps his skin. I have also taken vitamin e tablets in the past and that has helped me.