Have made a very painful mistake :(

[AvonCallingBarksdale]

I am 41. Years ago, I used to use an oatmeal and honey face scrub made by Mill Creek - tracked it down again recently and started using it again. Resulting in baby smooth skin could be that it was effectively removing a layer of skin, but there you go . Anyway, I have now broken out in v, v painful eczema patches on my eyelids and under my eyes. As the skin is so thin there it's very sore . I have stupidly sensitive skin as it is, and I hate trying out new products only to have to give them away because my face reacts. My current "regime" is Clarins foaming facial wash for sensitive skin and Simple light day moisturizer. Trouble is the eczema is just not shifting, and I have dry patches on my cheeks now, so I look pretty shit. I used to use Clarins gentle day creme, which is lovely, but at £37 a tub, I just can't afford it at the moment. So, any recommendations on what I can use on a face that's been stripped of all moisture? TIA

To be clear, I don't think the Simple moisturizer is cutting it, so it's moisturizer I'm after I assume. Needless to say, I won't be scrubbing my face with anything granular any time soon.

Have you thought about oil cleansing. Or if not cleansing with oil, using a couple of drops if rosehip oil as a 'treatment'. My dh has patches of psoriasis on his face and it really helps them.

Scrubs with bits in and anything that foams are literally the worst things you can do for your skin and if you're sensitive I imagine they're particularly bad

Use an oil or creamy cleanser on dry skin, massaging in and then rinsing off with a flannel (clean one each day)

To exfoliate use an acid toner like the Ren one or Estée Lauder do one

And use a very basic moisturiser. Or you can even use an oil, like coconut oil for overnight.

Hydraluron serum is good for moisture and you can use that under moisturiser, or alone

I would put sudocrem on the dry patches just to heal them up & make them less sore, and maybe diprobase or aqueous cream whilst you're in the house/make-up free or blend them with your foundation. Actually maybe you don't wear make up - but I would avoid all powder until it eases. Years ago I had a similar reaction after using something medicated to get rid of a viral rash on my face! poor you, hope it feels better soon. X

Ps I wouldn't spend money on expensive brands as this is just a temporary thing. Oils are good though, almond oil and as mentioned rose hip might soothe x

My sister and I have eczema on our face and often when don't, we use Aveeno cream which has been great for us. If the eczema is quite bad then I get hydrocortisone from the doctor, but use it is as sparingly and for as short a time as possible. Aveeno cream costs £7-8 from Boots.

Oh, lots of ideas here, thank you so much

I have very dry skin and most moisturisers leave my face very sore and flakey. After much trial and error I now swear by Lush's British Nanny. Maybe try something natural?

aveeno is the dogs
my whole family use it- my dh and sons all have eczema and i have very ry skin and it's just brilliant and gentle and soothing

Try using some Dr Organics Tea Tree cream on the eczema areas. Its the only cream I trust for mine and my daughters eczema and it really helps. Its around £7 from Holland and Barrett. I have very sensitive skin too and have to be very careful about what I use. I only use regular Sanex 0% body wash and lightly buff my face with that and my sponge in the shower. Then I cream with the Tea Tree cream in the winter and a lighter face cream in the hot summer.

I second using almond oil, it's really gentle and works well on my DS's eczema.

If you're still wearing make up, perhaps use an oil cleanser- the Body Shop camomile one is nice and well priced. Their camomile cleansing butter is nice and moisturising too. I also like their serum-in-oil as a night time face treat.

I do not work for the Body Shop!

I wouldn't be using anything other than Aqueous Cream or some other eczema treatment until it clears up and your skin settles down.

Aveeno is amazing for super sensitive skin. They even have a range for eczema. It's paraben free and the only moisturiser apart from Clarins that I can use that doesn't make my face sore

I would stop using anything. Eat well, drink lots of water, don't smoke, don't wash your face everyday. I never use skin products and my skin is very good and always has been (well after the teenage acne). I always think there is a vicious cycle in using all these products in that they strip the skin or stop it producing its own natural moisture.

I have ridiculously sensitive dry skin and eczema, it's awful I know. I've tried everything and now have really clear skin. Granted I have to look after it well but I hope some of my mainly trials (and fails!) can assist you.

If you can, get allergy tested, will solve a lot of problems in the long run.

The really dry bits you have at the mo, I'd protect with some Epaderm ointment (over the counter from Boots) if out in the cold/wind. Clean your face with Epaderm cream (big pump bottle about £14 from Boots) and cotton wool pads. For moisturising, La Roche Posay Cicaplast is amazing and really helped get rid of the dry patches for good.

Finally, try to get your GP or dermatologist to prescribe Protopic ointment. It's the new treatment for eczema, extremely effective and none of the long term issues you get with steroids.

Supplement wise, Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Vit A+ has made an enormous improvement to my skin too.

Hope it clears up soon.

Sorry, many not mainly.

Dream Cream from Lush is excellent for eczema. However Clinique Moisture Surge Mask is the best moisturiser I've ever had.

I have very dry skin on my hands and use Elizabeth Arden 8 hr cream - its fantastic

Aveeno. Made with oats - very natural.
Only thing that helps my sons raging eczema.
Tis brilliant.

I know this sounds really odd but have you ever tried metanium? It's yellow nappy rash cream. My DP once ran out of cream for his eczema and just used DSs metanium and it healed all the scabs and made it loads less sore. Now I buy a tube for him and DS in my weekly shop.

I don't think it cures the eczema as such just heals up the scabs from it and then he uses his normal cream. It's improved it tenfold!

When I'm having a horribly painful eczema outbreak I use sudocrem and it usually calms it down overnight. There's also some really lovely calming aloe Vera night cream from the body shop that's been a god send.

Are you exfoliating your eyelids?

I use a Aveeno cream on my sons face for his eczema. Works a treat x

mymummademelistentoshitmusic I know, why on earth would you exfoliate your eyelids?! Am genuinely intrigued!
Sorry OP, that's not very helpful after the event, regardless it sounds really painful, I'm sorry. I don't know anything about treating proper excema, but if its really dry skin, sudocream is a good suggestion.
Also if you love Clarins but find it pricey, I always substitute with Aldi creams when I can't afford Clarins, honestly its about £3 a pot and the day cream is fantastic. I think they do a richer cream which may also sort out this problem but otherwise I'd stick to something as natural and unperfumed and chemically as possible. Hope it clears up soon.