Excema on my face, please help with skincare and makeup

[YesOfCourseAlways]

Out of the blue I have developed excema on my face, I don't know the cause. It started as a tiny patch on my nose and has spread down the left side of my nose and underneath my left eye and is now creeping around to my eyelid. The rest of my skin is fine. GP gave me hydrocortisone which didn't help noticeably, I've had better results with a Bioderma cream I found, it has really helped the skin on my nose but I look like a have a puffy red eyepatch on my eye. I feel like crying when I look in the mirror.

Concealer helps, but my foundations , which suited my normal/oily complexion are all wrong now and just emphasise the dry skin. I'm not sure what to buy now, I was thinking of Bobbi Brown balm foundation, but then I read it's highly fragranced which might irritate.

I'd be so grateful for any advice or recommendations 😊

I get this sometimes. What hydrocortisone are you using? If it's 0.5% then that has never worked for me. When I get a flare up (mostly stress caused) i use 1% hydrocortisone twice a day for a week and also pile on the mosituriser several times a day in between. If it's really inflamed then Piriton tablets can take the redness down a bit for me. La Roche Posay Toleriane range works well on my skin. I tend to leave the skin with no make up on when it's really bad. I use the Bare Mjnerals serum foundation otherwise which doesn't irritate my skin. For make up removal I use Clinique take the day off cleansing balm which is fragrance free etc and moisturising.

And I agree it's really upsetting. And then I feel vain which makes me feel worse. I fine if I have my hair done nicely and nice clothes on, earrings etc then it minimises feeling bad about my skin.

And a dermatologist once told me that with skin on your face it is better to use a stronger steroid for a shorter period of time than a weaker one for a prolonged period.

If you can, go back to your doctor and ask for Protopic. It's the next generation drug after steroids and causes none of the long term issues they do. It's also a lot more effecftive.

I'd use Cicaplast or Hydriene Riche to moisturise and a very mild cream to cleanse (such as Epaderm).

Thanks, I'll check the strength of the hydrocortisone. Years ago when DS was a baby he got excema and HC45, which is E45 with hydracortisone, cleared it up. Pharmacist didn't have it, but I think I might order it. I'll try the Toleraine. This is the Bioderma I found good, Cicabio

I've been wondering if I should get a dermatologist referral, but I might try the Protopic instead, thanks Shopping. €65 for another GP visit but it will be worth it if it works. I find my eye is watering and the tears are stinging the irritatied skin, it's making me feel very sorry for myself!

Cake I have been wearing my nicest earrings, which I rarely wear to try and distract myself 😃

I used to get eczema on my face and none of the emollients worked for it. Circaplast was ok but then I started using Salcura and haven't had an outbreak since 😊

Oh yes, and the Bourjois healthy balance cc cream is good. - better than all the other expensive foundations that I have.

MissB, I just googled Salcura, is there a particular product you'd recommend? I have thebourjois cc in my drawer thanks!

I have the same problem but I know it's because I've tested positive for HLA-B27, which is an antigen responsible for lots of conditions, psoriasis included. Knowing that doesn't help, but at least I know it's not an allergy it stress-related.

I was told you can't use 1% hc on your face though.

• or stress-related

I second Protopic, it's amazing!

Epaderm ointment worked well for me (at night only, it is extremely greasy). I have now downgraded to Cetraben cream over night and cleanse (with coconut oil) and cream religiously.

Moogoo products are excellent for eczema as well. I use the udder cream as a base in the daytime and Boots No. 7 BB cream for dry skin on top.

Just a suggestion - make sure you aren't using any old/out-of-date make up or unwashed brushes/applicators.

Make up or brushes contaminated with bacteria can trigger or exacerbate excema. It's worth chucking any half-finished mascaras etc.

So much great information here, thanks so much!

Has anyone found it to be related to diet? I am wheat free due to IBS, and read a lot about diary causing excema. I don't eat a lot of dairy, but I don't want to eliminate another food group unless it's necessary

I suffered with facial eczema for years and had steroids and homeopathy And allergy testing none of it worked. Gp made me feel vain even though I had weeping bloody sores on my face. Homeopathist made it worse and in the end said she couldn't treat me. This was in my mid 20s

What worked for me was clarins sensitive range in the peach packaging particularly the rescue remedy oil. This is what I still go back to when I flare up and it still works ( now 45)

Be careful with what you wash your clothes in and what you put on your hair too. Aveda hair products, despite being meant to be green and organic etc etc, make me flare up whereas loreal elvive is fine. Non bio wash all the way

Oh mine is stress and product, not diet, related

Moo goo is brilliant for eczema, they also have their own make up range.

I recommend bare minerals find it doesn't irritate me

I've found Clinique to be the best hypo-allergenic make up for me.

I am very sensitive to many products and many things make my eczema flare up. My husband is exactly the same. I use aveeno lotion and bare minerals powder foundation. Please try to cut out any products full of chemicals. The biggest problem for eczema sufferers in my opinion is washing powder. It is full of nasty chemicals that are constantly next to your skin. Try get a natural non scented one. After switching washing powder my husband and I have had no problems with our skin. He doesn't even need to use the creams prescribed.

Second Aveeno lotions. I get the Intensive Moisturising one via Amazon as I've never found it here

Google Skin Salvation cream from Pure Potions. Completely natural formula invented by a lady for her daughter with eczema. Very soothing and will certainly not make anything worse!

Also agree that perhaps 2% HC would be useful over short period of time. Good luck, I know it's very upsetting when it's visible but it's mainly because you feel self conscious, most people probably won't notice. Good luck

I've got a persistent patch of eczema on my forehead and I've managed to bring it under control with 1% hydrocortisone and Eucerin Atocontrol Acute cream which has worked wonderfully to clear it up. Th cortisone alone didn't cure it, but the combo of the two has worked well after months of trying to get it under control.

I also agreee that you need to use a sensitive skin clothes powder especially for your pillow covers - I use Surcare and more recently persil non bio.

I also don't use any face wash - only Sensibio Micellar Water as I just can't tolerate them. Even my favourite Clinique cleansing balm dries me out.

try pure aloe vera gel on at night too. it is sticky but worth, it helps with the inflammation. I'd second clinique/clarins /aveeno for cleansing regime and non bio persil also waitrose pure shampoo and conditioner (or be careful you dont get any others on yr face) my sympathies go out to you!

Aveeno does nothing for me, non-bio or surcare doesn't make a difference either.

Using products without SLS on skin and hair does, though.
Yellow Johnson's baby wash is SLS free, as is happy hair shampoo from Sainsbury's.

Don't be fooled by "sensitive" labels, they are meaningless. Most sensitive products contain SLS and are full of irritants!