My son uses coconut oil, Eucerin in the tub, its thicker than the lotion, or Cetaphil. It helps a bit, but you have to appy it often, best after a warm bath. I hope your eczema improves.
Posts: 261 | From Piedmont | Registered: May 2008
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massman
Unregistered
posted
Eczema is often due to liver malfunction.
Treating the skin is only treating symptoms and not treating the cause.
Try a good alt doc who knows about this.
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Melanie Reber
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Member # 3707
posted
Sooo, it has been 4 weeks now. Just when I thought it might be going away, it actually has flared up even worse.
Thanks so much to you both, but...Any other suggestions?
Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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Carol in PA
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Melanie Reber
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 3707
posted
Hey Miss Carol!
Is psoriasis the same thing as eczema? The descriptions sound the same.
From that link:
"Use caution in exposing skin to sunlight after applying this product, as it may increase your tendency to sunburn for up to 24 hours after application. This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer."
I'm not sure I like the sound of that. The active ingredient is Coal Tar!
Have you tried this? I wonder if it can be found at the drug store?
Miss you.
Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
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posted
So sorry you have it. It is miserable. I had it. It was relatively mild except when it flared.
It is related to allergies. Different than psoriasis although psoriasis is also related to immune system function (my husband has psoriasis).
My doctor told me to take 3-4 grams of vitamin C per day. It quickly went away and has never come back.
I am still taking the Vit C. I take slow release, it's much easier to tolerate. I have no problems with 3-4 grams per day.
Hope you get it under control quick.
Edited to add: Perhaps the psoriasis gel would work but psoriasis plaques don't itch, unlike eczema so I would look for something that controls itching.
Also look around for a possible cause to the allergy. Food or change in soap or something along those lines.
Vitamin C probably works because it is a natural antihistamine.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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karenl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17753
posted
Melanie, I copied you an old post, as I am in a hurry. Make sure it is not morgellons - dermatologist won't know about it. They are very often misdiagnosed as eczema. Especially if you feeling exteme fatigue please do more research, just not to miss sth. Best luck. Karen
posted 20 April, 2008 08:40 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gromit,
I agree with Eyebob that skin issues are still a very murky area when it comes to Lyme and co.
I would also endorse Klutzo's suggestion to do a search on Morgellons. Even if this is not what your lesions are, the information will probably be helpful.
Also do a search on Lymenet for posts by a member named JWF. He and his wife successfully dealt with Morgellons via a combination of antibiotics and a number of herbs, supplements, and topicals. His posts were of tremendous help to my husband, whose TBI included some nasty skin problems.
karenl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17753
posted
Melanie, I copied you an old post, as I am in a hurry. Make sure it is not morgellons - dermatologist won't know about it. They are very often misdiagnosed as eczema. Especially if you feeling exteme fatigue please do more research, just not to miss sth. Best luck. Karen
posted 20 April, 2008 08:40 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gromit,
I agree with Eyebob that skin issues are still a very murky area when it comes to Lyme and co.
I would also endorse Klutzo's suggestion to do a search on Morgellons. Even if this is not what your lesions are, the information will probably be helpful.
Also do a search on Lymenet for posts by a member named JWF. He and his wife successfully dealt with Morgellons via a combination of antibiotics and a number of herbs, supplements, and topicals. His posts were of tremendous help to my husband, whose TBI included some nasty skin problems.
posted
I have had eczema on and off all my life. In the past few years I have had success with a dietary approach to keep it away.
I take two fish oil capsules and two magnesium glycinate tablets per day and this helps. Also, grinding a tablespoon of flax seeds in a coffee grinder and adding it to a shake or to hot cereal can boost omega 3's, which can help.
Oatmeal bathes such as Aveeno can help. Using bentonite clay in a bath can help draw out toxins and this can help clear it up.
If the air in you home is dry, it can help to run a humidifier. Swimming in the ocean is also very beneficial because of all the minerals.
Posts: 156 | From MA | Registered: Jul 2003
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minoucat
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5175
posted
Miz Melanie, so sorry your skin is having a conniption fit.
At one point the hubby had an ecxema-like experience. We think it was bartonella related, but we dunno. Very unpleasant.
A friend with excema recommended a zinc water-based spray, and it seemed to help. I don't have the bottle any more so I can't tell you the manufacturer or zinc concentration (I think it was 2%). There are also zinc skin creams. Available without prescription.
Best of luck. Hope 2009 is a good year for you...
-------------------- ********************* RECIDITE, PLEBES! Gero rem imperialem! (Stand aside plebians! I am on imperial business.)
my pcp prescibed OTC EUCERIN, dry skin therapy moisturing cream 16 oz. $15
my upper chest got really bad so when i was in for diabetes check, i mentioned this and he gave me that suggestion and also a strong RX which worked promptly.
cream is GREASY at first and then disappears completely; i like it !!
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Melanie Reber
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posted
Thank you each SO much Carol, Terry, Karen, Kids, Minou, Keebler and Betty! And thanks also to those who emailed too!
This little rash is so odd. It seems like it is going away one day and then seems like it is getting worse the next.
Perhaps it is allergy related, as I have the same issues there. Fine one day and awful the next?
Anyway...I'll go down the line with your great suggestions. Something has got to help.
Thanks again so much! Happy 2009! M
Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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cactus
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7347
posted
Ditto to all the suggestions above, I really just wanted to second the allergy suggestion.
My son has had eczema all his life, and has slowly developed more and more severe allergies.
Removing his allergens not only from his diet but from our entire home has cleared up the eczema.
In his case - it is all tree nut (including coconut - classified by the FDA as a tree nut) - which would explain why putting coconut oil on it, as I was doing, did not help.
We have also removed all lotions containing almond oil and shea butter (cetaphil was one of these, can't remember which nut oil it contains, but it was one I was using regularly), as well as all food items manufactured on the same lines as nuts.
I can tell when we have been around someone who uses lotions with nut oils, as the eczema flares!
So once you figure out if you have an allergic trigger, please keep in mind that it could go beyond a dietary issue.
Good luck tracking down the cause - eczema is no fun!
-------------------- �Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
Melanie, While looking up information about Gotu Kola, I found this testimonial for Psoriasis:
Nature's Answer, Gotu Kola Herb, 1 fl oz Our price: $6.05 Link
quote: I love this stuff! My other medications will not allow me to take alcohol, so this alcohol free extract is perfect for me.
Psoriasis is driving me crazy & the doctor's treaments only randomly help, but this extract alieves the stinging & itching.
The psoriasis is still there with it's flaking, but life is certainly more pleasant.
Carol
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
I also think it is a alerigic responce to ofending food/foods. I get the rash you describe on my lower legs and I'm not sure why but Jergins Ultra Healing lotion makes it disapear.If I stop useing it, it will come back.There are several types of Jergin's and only the Ultra Healing works for me.
Posts: 203 | From tipp city oh.45371 | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
I've had eczema for years- eucerin redness relief works wonders..it has licorice in it, which is recommended for eczema
Posts: 561 | From eastcoast | Registered: Aug 2006
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Melanie Reber
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
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posted
Thanks so much to each of you for the suggestions! Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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kelmo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8797
posted
Melanie, I developed a rash on my left hand, middle finger.
It started as a small patch on the side, and has grown to engulf the entire finger.
It starts with itchy/painful bumps, then crusts up, cracks, peels, then starts over.
I tried an anti-viral, because me LLMD thought it was the herpes virus (it still may be). After one month, very little improvement.
Nothing I have found over the counter helps.
I'm about driven made by the intense itching tonight and had to take a Vistaril (my daughter uses it when she herxes and gets itchy legs).
If you find out something, I would like to hear about it.
I have an appt with a dermatologist next week. I don't have high hopes for it, but if I can get a cream (hydrocortisone makes it worse) to take away the pain and itch, it would make life bearable.
Melanie Reber
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 3707
posted
Wow Kelmo! That is amazing how similar your rash sounds to mine, right down to the exact location!
Mine too began as itchy liquid filled bumps under a gold ring I have been wearing for over 10 years now. Then it just sort of grew from there.
Now, it has wrapped around both sides of my finger and really hurts when the other fingers hit it.
Itchy, scaley, red, bumpy, painful and really flares whenever it gets wet.
I've had a few surprising rashes pop up this year- shingles, bart streaks, odd red patches with no feeling, and now this.
I too have an appointment with an LLMD for the first time in 2 years in a couple of weeks, so am really hoping to get to the bottom of it.
Best of luck to you in figuring it out, and if either one of us finds a solution, lets for certain share it, OK?
Thanks, M
Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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kelmo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8797
posted
Melanie...thanks for confirming this.
I have heard that the middle or ring finger on the left hand has a connection with the heart.
So, I was wondering if something was deposited there through circulation.
Or, maybe I'm all wet.
I can only say this is hell.
It has also gotten worse since I started Biaxin.
But, I LOVE Biaxin because I can breathe better on it.
Maybe a herx? Herpes virus flare due to treatment?
I'll try my favorite liver cleanse and see if that helps, too.
Let's keep this up and posted.
Posts: 2903 | From AZ | Registered: Feb 2006
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Marnie
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Member # 773
posted
EPA is supposed to help. Likely the slightly different and IMO, "improved" form E- EPA (ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid ) may do more than just help the eczema.
"Modulation of the Cold-Activated Channel TRPM8 by Lysophospholipids and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids"
Posts: 9424 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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ukcarry
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18147
posted
Melanie, out of interest, are you on any antibiotics and has the eczema got worse on them?
I ask because I have always had a very mild tendency to eczema, but in the last few months on antibiotics, especially since I started Zithromax and then Rifampin, I keep getting quite fierce patches and the odd small red spot on my right hand. As with yours, it flares one day, improves another, then flares, apparently without logic.
I have wondered if it is part of my response to treatment.
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