Eczema

[devilgrrl]

Ok, flist, I have nasty, burning, cracking eczema on my hands from using the work soap. Obviously, I am going to not use industrial soap anymore, but how do I get rid of this ASAP? I am putting loads of lotion on, but what else? It looks gross and hurts.

Comments

[ladyluna.livejournal.com]

I really don't know...but I vote a Lush run.It can't hurt...

[ladyluna.livejournal.com]

Looking up some stuff I'd get an over the counter steroid cream and some calamine lotion. Also take some allergy pills if you can.

I guess I never realized eczema was an allergic reaction. I just thought it was a "hey, you're lucky...you have skin issues" type of thing.

I tend to get more a contact dermatitis than something like eczema.

[devilgrrl.livejournal.com]

Bah, I'm using them interchangeably. It is contact dermatitis. It just kind of looks like eczema. What kind of OTC steroid creme would you recommend? I have the calamine and I'm going to slather that on now. I did just take some sudafed too.

[ladyluna.livejournal.com]

Cortaid maybe? I'm, personally, frightened of anything with steroids in it. I had oral thrush once, that lasted a while and I missed work and it was horrible. Anyway, steroids in your system can help thrush take over again (basically, it's yeast).

Now, I logically know that putting a cream on probably won't hurt much. It will sink into the skin but it's not like I'm putting it in my mouth/throat, but I just can't get over the thought of it.

But, I've known my father to use cortaid, so that's all I can go based on recommendation.

My contact dermatitis is literally by contact. I'll scratch myself, break out horribly, and as long as I don't itch it it goes away within hours. But looks scary until then.

[devilgrrl.livejournal.com]

I spent all day rubbing this before I actually looked down to see what it was.

I'm definitely getting some Cortaid. I have basically no issues with yeast/thrush (knock on wood), even with antibiotic use.

[ladyluna.livejournal.com]

yeah, I rub and scratch sometimes too when I should know better. Hope it works quickly for you.

[djarum99.livejournal.com]

Get a 1% cortisone cream - generic or Cortaid, and make sure you take Benadryl, an antihistamine (it might make you sleepy). Sudafed is a decongestant. Caladryl is a calamine lotion with topical Benadryl, and that might help more than plain calamine. Talking to a pharmacist might be a good idea, too.

Ow! I hope it helps :-(

[devilgrrl.livejournal.com]

Ok, I've just slugged down some benedryl and coated my hands with Caladryl (yay for Steven having poison ivy over the summer.) I'm getting some cortisone tomorrow, when I go to le Target.

The Caladryl is helping, so far. It's done down quite a but.

[easter.livejournal.com]

Once it's toned down I'd also pick up a jar of Smitten from Lush. That's worked wonders on my hands, and on my legs too. If that's out of the budget use a massage bar!

[devilgrrl.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I have a sample of Smitten. I should use that!

[suzabelle7.livejournal.com]

I second this.

My skin reacts the same way to industrial dish soap, and this combo cleared it up quickly.

[devilgrrl.livejournal.com]

I am convinced industrial soap is the devil.

[missbess.livejournal.com]

just a thought, I get eczema on the tops of my hands and elbows but I hate using steroid based products, if you want a natural solution you could try spray on lavender water, the lavender helps to heal the wound, cool the heat in the rash, as well as moisturize the skin. It isn't necessarily a quick fix, but better than the steroids (and I know its hard but try not to scratch it!) Hope it clears up soon . . .

[devilgrrl.livejournal.com]

I may try this. So far, Caladryl is working pretty well and I brought my own soap in. I should keep lavendar water around here.

[teawithfrodo.livejournal.com]

I use Aveeno once the eczema is at bay...
but until then, lots of cortisone.
You could also mix cortisone with your regular hand cream.

[devilgrrl.livejournal.com]

I've been ganking the kids' Aveeno today. It has helped a lot. I didn't think of mixing cortisone with my lotion though. Thanks!

[teawithfrodo.livejournal.com]

oh yeah, either find a lotion that already has it, or get another bottle and mix them up.

[dolphinluv2783.livejournal.com]

I don't know anything about eczema, but I do have a kiddo that gets uber-dry skin in the winter. We use Eucerin on it with fabulous results. Slather a shit ton on, the put on gloves and let it sit for as long as you can stand to have gloves on.

[devilgrrl.livejournal.com]

Eucerin actually bothers my skin (found this out the hard way). I did the glove things this week-end and it helps a lot.

[amity26.livejournal.com]

I use hydrocortisone cream on mine. You could also try slathering yourself in lotion and sleeping with gloves on. I used to do that when I was a kid and mine was really bad. Then I couldn't scratch it in my sleep either. It should get better if you stop using that soap and don't scratch it at all.

[devilgrrl.livejournal.com]

I was strongly considering putting socks on my hands last night, but the burning overrode the itching, so it worked out. Now if I can keep the kids from touching my booboos…

[renfairewench.livejournal.com]

I do this for my hands because even at home as the soap that I use to wash up with after going to the bathroom is very drying to me. Lotions "help" some, but this works for me (no pun intended) hands down. I use petroleum jelly. At night I have put it on my hands and then put (cotton) socks on my hands. I have found that it really does protect my skin. I use petroleum jelly for my poor cracked feet too. I'll slather it on my feet and wear socks to bed. After a couple of nights my feet are so soft and if I keep up using it about once every two weeks I don't have to do for days on end to get them to the soft point. The best thing? It's cheaper than buying all sorts of lotions and it works.

[plunkybug.livejournal.com]

If it continues, you might want to up your omega-3s. A supplement daily is good for the skin or you could just rub some pure oil on the irritated area...evening primrose is good for the skin.