Adult Excema, I look like a Raccoon. Help me please.

[TippytheTipsyTurkeychick]

I've had this for a year and a half now, had steroid creams from the Drs that are shag all use so I've given up going back.

I have dry and flaky patches along both cheeks, under the eyes, and around my eyebrows. No matter what cream I use to control the flaking, the redness remains and makes me v paranoid. Covering it up just causes more flaking

They can't pinpoint the cause, could be stress but that doesn't look like ending any time soon so I need a cure in the meantime. I've tried Eucerin, E45, Nivea and Simple (which proves how desperate I am as I won't normally buy from those companies!) and have stuck with each cream for at least 2-3 weeks before giving up.

Any help much appreciated - do you stylish ladies know of any wonder creams?

avene products are v good I use this on my excema - get it on my foot. £ 11-odd but worth it.

Some MNers have had it on prescription on the UK IIRC

HTH

Ask for a referral to a dermatologist. If it's a year long wait, consider finding around £100 for a private appt- you could be seen within a week or two.

My son has bad eczema and was prescribed a new ( ish) non steroid cream that can be used on the face- it is called Protopic or Elidil and is an immunusuppressant- but your GP cannot give it to you.
Alternatively, try Chinese herbs- they cleared my really bad eczema in days but you need a good chinese dr. good luck!

There's a Chinese Medicine place in my local town but cos they have a shop in the shopping centre and look all slick I always assumed they were a scam. I was expecting a teeny shop in Chinatown with frogs legs in jars.
The avene website is not working for me but I will keep trying, thanks for the link

aaargh Tippy I forgot to say you can get it at boots

Hi Tippy,
Could it be too much salt in your diet?

If you live near / can get to LOndon I could give you the name of a chinese dr and a good dermatologist.

DS used to get diprobase from doc - it's a cream or a gel (gel is better). I used that with very low dose steroid cream and it helped (although turns out he was allergic to bananas and his eczema disappeared once I cut them from his diet).

Dipro base can help- my son had it- but it won't cure the eczema on his own.

You shouldn't use steroids on the face long term- they can cause skin thinning although this is unlikely with hydrocortisone 0.5% or even 1%. However, weak steroids like those will not usually be enough to keep it under control - i battled for 10 years with them on my face which was covered.

Your best bet is, as I mentioned, going to see a dermatologist and getting the newer creams, immunosuppressants. You can google Protopic for more info. It is also worth asking for skin prick tests and food allergy screening via a dermo to see if you are intolerant to anything- don't use blood test kits like those form York medical etc as they are not reliable.

Calendula cream made from marigolds works a treat-you can buy it in boots

I've tried calendula, no joy
It's down to a dermatologist now I think tho I might give the chinese medicine a try.

I find taking Evening Primose Oil capsules helps (a bit) although currently my hands are actually split open with eczema.

Eucerin definitely works for me but you need a hydrocortisone to get rid of the flakes.

I second the advice to see a dermatologist.

My son has sevee eczema and nothing worked until saw a dematologist. Gp was really reluctant to refer and I had to be very insistent! He is also on Protopic, although I think it is only prescribed when steroids dont clear it up - the dermatologist tells us to us it as a "steroid minimiser", so we are not using steroids everyday, but say for 2 weeks then protopic for a month, then steroids for 2 weeks etc.