Eczema went whilst on holiday in Cornwall but now it's back!

[Dominoz]

Both my DS, 2, and I suffer from eczema. Just on our face. Whilst we were in Cornwall last week it completely cleared up. Guess due to the soft water. We're back home now- closer to London, and it's back.

It's not an option for us to get a water softener and I've tried all sorts of creams. Was thinking of trying Dermatica too. But, was wondering if anyone had any other ideas to try?

Why can’t you get a softener?

Do you use fabric softener or biological washing powder/liquid. Both of these gives my DS and DH eczema. Often used to flare up when they were away and not on bedding that I'd washed. May be the other way around for you?

That's a bit strange! I went to Cornwall last week and got loads of eczema over my face which I've NEVER had before . I bought some Aveeno cream and it's done wonders though, definitely recommend!

I suffered for eczema for years in London and the SE, but it disappeared when I moved to a soft water area. Is a softener definitely not an option? It can make so much difference.

My eczema always gets better when by the coast - I always mutter something about sea air but don't really know what I'm talking about. I've also noticed that it's tons better since working from home - not sure if that means I'm less stressed (not) or something in the workplace is winding it up. I'd also suggest Aveeno cream.

My DD had eczema in childhood triggered by cows milk and sulphites.

Whenever we went to Ireland on holiday which was twice a year for several years but always in different locations, sometimes s/c sometimes hotels or B+B, it cleared up within a couple of days of arrival.

We always took our own bottled water and she didn't have ice in drinks so ingestion of different water wasn't a solution. Food intake was very similar to what she eats at home.

We never did find out why it happened, but it happened every time we went.

I don't think it is the drinkign water which is the issue, it is the water you wash in.

Yes i do think different tap water makes a huge difference.

But as a kid mine was always better when I had been swimming in the sea, the salt water was a well known treatment for eczema years ago

I had terrible facial eczema a few years ago, having been clear for 20 odd years.
It was my shampoo, took ages to track it, as I had used it for years, and because my skin was so inflamed, all shampoos irritated, but once it was under control, I could see that it was that particular shampoo, and switched. They had changed their recipe, and I was reacting to something in the new recipe

I'd love to get a softener but we're just finishing extending the house. I spoke to the plumber and without taking quite a bit of freshly plastered and decorated ceiling down it can't be done. I didn't think to get one before...

I do use fabric softener and I think probably bio washing powder- just get whatever is in special, so might try stopping those.

Will try Aveeno and will cut out cows milk too. It's so weird. It literally has come back again within a week.

It definitely works for us - I don't use softener and use Aldi or similar non bio. Interestingly I bought Persil non bio on offer recently and my DH was covered in eczema again. Stopped the Persil and it went away so it does take some trial and error

Crikey I thought they just went under the kitchen sink

Did you both spend time in the sea? Saltwater is supposed to be good for exzema. Saltwater baths at home maybe?

Could be increased sunlight? I've just done light therapy and my mod/sev eczema (70% of body) has cleared 95%. Now it's just the back of my neck and hands (hand washing and hair).

Vitamin D leads to better skin barrier function.

I moved from Yorkshire to London and my eczema was already bad but did get much worse. I think it's the air pollution.

Oh and yes I use no laundry products or soaps at all. Get a laundry egg.

@Dominoz that sounds a bit strange, I actually work for a water softener company and we’ve never had to do anything involving taking off any plaster or gone anywhere near a ceiling. Our plumber just adjusts the pipe work accordingly and installs the softener in a cupboard. Usually the kitchen or a utility room. If it’s something you can afford doing then I would look at a specialist company rather than just a plumber. We have SO many people who get in touch with us to say how much better their skin condition is once they’ve got soft water

washing powder. You often see people say they can't use bio powder, but dermatologists will tell you it is unlikely to the the bio part which is the issue, it is much more likely to be the perfume.

I have to be very selective, so I can use Asda's colour powder, but not their Ying yang jasmine (or whatever it is) powder.
Many powders are really strong. Pretty much all the brand names are a no go for me except Persil.

I love fabric softener, but I can only use sensitive skin ones, and then not all brands. (not fairy or comfort for example). But fabric softener is much more likely to be the cause than washign powder, according to what I have read.

Our water softener was under the sink.

I’ve always seen water softeners installed under the kitchen sink.

My child’s eczema cleared up after swapping washing powder for liquid ecover or method only. We now use smol which comes in the post. Never fabric softener.

My own dry skin cleared up when I moved from London to a soft water area, started using more natural toiletries particularly shampoo and swimming in sea water / spending more time outside and away from air con / heating.

Sea holidays have always improved my in-laws eczema.

They put it down to the greater humidity in the air, rather than the water.

OP.. salt water is amazing for eczema! Also..buy "childs farm" moisturiser

You can definitely get water softeners under the sink and fixed next to the mains inlet too yo serve the whole system. Change your washing powder to the planets most unscented non bio one you can get. It makes a massive difference to skin. Dont bother with fabric softener. Ot destroys the inside of your machine too.
Get lots of sun on the skin. That's great for the eczema too I have always found.

Ecover zero laundry liquid is brilliant if you’ve got eczema. Also oilatum plus in the bath!

I was going to say being outdoors in the sun helps me.

My DM spent the first three days of holiday with a reaction to what she then realised was their Tesco washing liquid. If your kids have eczema I would find a brand they can tolerate and stick to it. I use Fairy or Persil since my son had a reaction and my DM can only use Ariel. I also don't use softener.