Eczema - don't tellme not to scratch I already know that! (My Experience of Eczema)

Member Name: rrharmston

Product:	My Experience of Eczema
Date:	04/02/09 (105 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: None

Disadvantages: Itchy skin, inflammation, allergies, people worry about it being contagious

I've suffered from eczema since I was a child mainly in reponse to chemicals, long grasses and plants. It used to occur on my joints in particular behind my knees and on the inner elbows. Thankfully it has lessened as I have grown older but I'm still prone to out breaks as I now work in a lab - the prefect place to find someone with skin allergies. I've also been hospitalised for ten days in the past when I developed an allergic reaction to my then pet tarantulas bottom hairs (not much you can say to that). I'm not medically qualified but just write about my own experience.

What is eczema?
Skin becomes inflammed, itchy, dry and flaky. Scratching eczema relieves the itching for a while but can lead to skin scaring, splitting and secondary infections in rare cases. It tends to occurs in the creases of the elbows and wrists, and behind the knees or where general irritation can occur ie hands.

The two main types are Atopic eczema which mainly occurs in childhood, Many children grow out of it as they get older, but it can flare up again when they're adults. This type is more common if eczema runs in the family or you have a history of hayfever or asthma.

Contact eczema usually affects adults. It's caused by contact with an allergen, such as nickel, or substances that irritate the skin, such as detergents, soaps and perfumes

Treatment?
I'm currently using 0.1% strength betnovate which is a really strong steriod cream which has to be used very sparsly as it can thin the skin through extended use. I only use this occasionally as you tend to stick to everything if the have the sort which is like vaseline. I have tried hydrocortisone creams as well bit these have never worked for me.

I've also used Aru Aru cream which contains Borage oil. I can't say it will work for all cases but it does help reduce the redness and dryness of my own eczema. The RRP is £6.95 for 60ml. http://www.althealth.co.uk. It's a light cream which is easily absorbed into the skin. There is a link here to borage oil article http://www.thehealthierlife.co.uk/

What should I do?
Always consult your GP or pharmacist for treatment. If severe you may be sent to the dermatology unit at your local hospital for allergy testing (prick, patch and blood tests).

You can also:

Try and keep the skin cool by wearing natural fibres such as cotton. Be aware that wool can be very irritating the skin so I tend to wear soft fleeces in the winter. I think lanolin is the problem.
Moisturise the skin with emoilients when required to keep the skin moist - some emoilients can be used in the bath.
Try to avoid any triggers.
Evening primrose oil has been shown to help control eczema, as have fish oils, such as cod liver oil. It's also important to get a good intake of vitamins C and E to maintain healthy skin.

National Eczema Society
Helpline: 0870 241 3604
Website: www.eczema.org

I've also used an Oat bath in the past but of course if you have an allergy to oats or similar things ytou should not try this: put a handful of porridge oats in a muslin bag. Use in bath or shower. Oats nourish the skin and are very moisturising. Has left skin feeling soft and less inflammed.

Tip from handbag.com
I get about 1/2 a cup of organic porridge oats, add two cups of boiling water, stir a few times and let sit for about 1/2 an hour.
Then strain off the milky water and add that to the bath. It really works wonders and you could use it to wash your face.

Summary: Eczema - delibilitating but can be controlled with care and treatment