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Eczema - what to do to relieve it?

Posted: Apr 19, 2012

For the past couple of months, due to job stress, financial stress, and family issues, I've started developing eczema on the insides of my elbows, and now even have it on my face, on both temples. It itches like a son-of-a-gun! And it keeps popping up in new places.

So far I haven't found any cream, corticosteroid, or lotion that helps much, other than to keep it a little less dry. Have any of you with eczema been able to relieve it or even cure it with any product, treatment or diet? If so, I'd love to hear about it!

=^..^=

;

100% of the time there is a vitamin D deficiency going on. (sm) - NutritionGeek

[ In Reply To ..]
Also, certain inflammatory foods (grains, dairy, nuts, nightshades) exacerbate it big time.

well, that explains a lot - eczema sufferer

[ In Reply To ..]
I have serious eczema on my hands, top of my feet, back of my neck and upper arms. My hands itch so badly that I would like to take a potato peeler to them and slice all my skin off... I know that sounds drastic, but seriously, the itching wakes me up at night. I cannot stand it.

So, I have to take all grains, dairy and nuts out of my diet? What is left to eat?

left to eat - itchy

[ In Reply To ..]
I'd say you have to stick to chocolate!

Seriously though, if you think food is exacerbating the problem, take out one type of food at a time. For example, give up dairy for a week or two and see if you notice an improvement. If you do, then re-introduce a little dairy and see if your symptoms come back. I got this elimination strategy from an allergist when I was trying to figure out a food allergy (turns out it was mold, like in mushrooms, ketchup, etc).

Have you tried Benadryl to help the itching at night? I know that helps some people.

Also, try going here for some ideas and support. http://www.nationaleczema.org/

I had eczema myself. Here's how I cured it. (sm) - NutritionGeek

[ In Reply To ..]
1. Optimize your vitamin D level. You are looking to get it to 75.
2. Eat a Paleo food plan (meat, fruit, vegetables, nothing processed, no industrial seed oils (canola, etc.) -- as much as your heart desires -- it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change).
3. Start taking fish oil daily.
4. Direct sunlight on involved areas.
5. Emu oil to involved areas.

It works! It works!

I was eating Primal (an easier version of Paleo which does include dairy) and lots of nuts. It wasn't until I got rid of the dairy and the nuts that things finally got better for me.

Best wishes. I know it's a misery, exhausting, and embarrassing to boot.

Don't know if it works on adults, but - mthead

[ In Reply To ..]
I have used a 50/50 mixture of Eucerin and hydrocortisone on my kids. I also changed their soap to Cetaphil. They've mostly outgrown it now, though, except for a patch here and there.

Also have heard that baking soda works well. nm - Yochana

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

eczema - itchy

[ In Reply To ..]

I know what you're going through. Well, kind of. My son has suffered since he was 9 months old (a side effect of asthma). Since he's now 22, we have tried everything on the market and also prescriptions. The one and only product that works for him is Surgeon's Skin Secret Beeswax Cream.

Here's a link if you're interested. http://www.jamarklabs.com/Surgeons-Skin-Scret-10408-Beeswax/dp/B002PDKYNS

Good luck - I hope you get some relief soon.

Disclaimer: I have no relationship with this company. I'm just a satisfied customer.

P.S. He also uses Gold Bond Ultimate cream in between flares and that's good stuff too.

Thanks for all the feedback and ideas! - Meerkat

[ In Reply To ..]
I've sometimes been a tad suspicious of nuts, but only when I ate too many of them in one sitting. I still eat nuts, but have cut 'way back.

But ever since I was a kid, although it didn't happen very often, every once in a while if I was stressing out in school, I'd get round itchy patches on my ankles or my wrists. One time my dad thought it was ringworm, and got rid of my cat! :( That, of course, just made the rash worse!

Today I got some 1% hydrocortisone, and Aveeno skin lotion. I had tried Dermasil, and my skin didn't like that one, but it seems to like the Aveeno, which has oatmeal in it, and a little menthol. Anything with menthol really calms down my itching a lot. I read somewhere that it works because the cooling sensation sort of confuses the nerve ends, and they stop itching. For the same reason, Gold Bond is also pretty good.

I find I have to rotate, because the rash seems to get sort of immune to whatever I'm using if I use just one thing, so I switch around.

Someone mentioned vitamin D, and that could be a factor. With this job, I rarely get any sun anymore. (Plus I don't want to get skin cancer). Though I think I do get it in my multivitamin and vitamin-D in milk.

I've also heard caffeine can flare up eczema, and I have to admit - I do a LOT of caffeine, especially since I started doing so much VR! VR puts me right to sleep.

This week, though, I'm going to try a combination of Aveeno & hydrocortisone, and see how that works.

Thanks again for the ideas!

My mom had it when I was growing up - Angie

[ In Reply To ..]
She always used Lubriderm..that was the only thing that helped her and it did help. It is an oldie but goodie?? She used it almost daily and I wasn't allowed as it was expensive back then. Hope u get relief soon! :-)

Update on Eczema relief! -sm - Meerkat

[ In Reply To ..]
It hasn't even been 24 hours yet since I started using the Aveeno lotion, and I'm already having a far better, far more non-itching day than I've had for almost the last year! Really good stuff! In case this might help someone else, this is what I bought:

Aveeno Active Naturals skin relief moisturizing lotion ("with cooling menthol") and natural colloidal oatmeal.
(Light tan pump bottle with dark blue cap).

Yesterday I was literally scratching the skin off my elbows, and trying hard not to scratch my face. Today the redness has faded about 80%, and the spots aren't dry & flaky. Whenever I feel the beginning of an itch or twinge, I apply just a little dab, and my skin feels normal again!

=^..^=

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