I have had eczema patches on my arms for the last 6 months and my doc prescribed me Hydrocortisone steroid cream, that has had little success.
I've read that steroid creams can have side effects and aren't great for your skin so I am concerned that if I go back to the doc he will prescribe me another steroid cream that'll be stronger.
Are there alternatives to steroid creams that actually work?
A good friend of mine uses a product called purebodybutters for her eczema as like yourself she was concerned about using steroid creams.
It seems to be quite effective as the redness on her hands has lessened greatly from when I first met her years ago, so it may be worth a try.
Hi Hannakabanna,
Ideally, steroid cream should be used as part of a treatment regime, which at the very least, should include moisturising. 'Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion' really helps to ease my eczema, and I find that my eczema can flare-up if I don't moisturize enough.
A lot of people have found 'Pure Potions Skin Salvation' helpful, but this isn't the same for everyone, and actually made my eczema worse. Pure Potions: purepotions.co.uk/collectio...
Read more about treating eczema @ nhs.uk/Conditions/Eczema-(a...
Hope you find something that helps,
Shell.
Treating eczema is more a case of finding how to manage for you . Key to management is an emollient that works for you without further irritation. This is trial nd error e.g I use Doublebase gel, but Diprobase made my eczema worse! Also have problems with any urea based products though many people find them helpful. i have found what is most effective is emollient first, then about half an hour later the tiniest amount of corticosteroid cream that is effective.
Good luck
Try a non-inflammatory diet as we use for MS. Also see a specialist in essential oils and find out which to add to coconut oil to help while the diet is changing things on the inside.
Purple grapes contain resveratrol, a phytonutient, which is known to aid cirulation. Grapes can help prevent dementia by increasing oxygen and nutrient supplies. They raise good cholesterol and lower bad cholesterol.
Other sources of choline include beef liver, chicken, turkey, scallops, shrimp, salmon, collard greens, Swiss chard and cauliflower. Also sesame seeds, flax seeds, legumes, and a number of fruit.
Some of us would rather not use the medications doctors can provide as the side effects can be a problem or there are ways to get our bodies to do the work at getting well without them. However, that doesn't mean you will not be supported choosing any prescriptions you deem right for you. One thing learned early is that every chronic illness is personal and every person is unique. That's why I like the idea of a snowflake logo for us as each snowflake is different from every other one, and all are beautiful!
Most chronic illness usually starts with diet and nutrition. It's important to eat a diet that is not inflammatory. Stopping inflammation can slow them down or even stop the progression.
The first thing to consider is stopping gluten - wheat, rye, barley and triticale. These grains are inflammatory. It doesn't matter whether you have celiac disease or not. The gluten will make it easier for disease to thrive in your body.
Next, consider stopping dairy. Dairy is also inflammatory. Try replacing milk with almond or coconut milk.
Third, several foods contain a high quantity of lectins. Lectins are inflammatory. The good news is that most lectins can be destroyed by cooking a food in a pressure cooker for at least 20 minutes. (There are electric pressure cookers now with timers so it gets easier.)
Peanuts are high in lectins and cannot be corrected so consider giving them up.
Potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, beans and peas are all high in lectins. Cooking them in a pressure cooker (20 min minimum) will destroy the lectins and make them non-inflammatory.
Adding supplements that compensate for deficiencies or help fuel the fight against disease can be important. Try one at a time and give it 4-7 days to see how it impacts you before adding another. Getting supplements from somewhere like amazon can be good since there is a 30 day money back guarantee on most purchases, even if the bottle is empty.
Evening primrose oil lowers inflammation. People do well on 3-4 grams a day. You might consider taking 1 gram with each meal.
Cod liver or krill or veggie DHA are other oils to consider. 500 mg with each meal of one of these can boost the immune system and make the gut work better.
netmums.com/coffeehouse/woman-504/sex-contraception-48/606837-eczema-all.
Also note that some medicines eg those prescribed to control high blood pressure may cause dry skin and eczema like conditions.
Evening primrose oil can help. I have found that it may take a month to work. I take about a gram a day. My suspicion is that some people do not produce enough skin oil because they lack the ability to process certain fatty acids. Primrose oil has the missing ingredients that the body needs to produce its skin oil. Just a theory.
Mild bleach can be helpful. There have been trials on this.
nationaleczema.org/eczema/c...
It says:
"
Bleach baths may be recommended by your dermatologist if your child has moderate to severe eczema and/or a history of infection. Bleach baths help prevent infections and maintain better eczema control. Staphylococcal aureus is a bacteria that lives on the skin of many children with eczema and can occasionally grow to cause infection and eczema flares. Bleach baths can help control the amount of bacteria on the skin and lead to fewer skin infections. Bleach baths are safe and are similar to bathing in a chlorinated swimming pool. Bleach baths are made by pouring ¼ cup of bleach into a half-filled bathtub. For babies with eczema, 1 to 2 teaspoons of bleach per gallon of water may be added to a baby tub. Always be careful to dilute the bleach before contact, avoid getting bleach water in the eyes, and moisturize immediately after the bath. Bleach baths are usually recommended a few times per week.
"
Hope this helps
Skin keeps cracking open, which cream / lotion to use?
Menopause rosacea
