[*Laurie*]

Hi, I have developed a nasty eczema on the top of my foot, my forearms, and my hand. I saw the doctor and she prescribed a steroid cream. The cream seems to be helping on my foot, but burns like mad on my hand & turns the skin flaming red.

Does anyone have any experience and suggestions about eczema?
Thank you.

[LaraR4444]

I have eczema, and it's a very confusing and frustrating condition. It often takes people a lot of trial and error to discover what controls their eczema because there are many things that can cause flare-ups.

I'll tell you about my experience:

I started developing it in my teens on the backs of my knees. I thought it was poison ivy, until it kept recurring and I couldn't imagine how I had gotten in any poison ivy. Because I didn't know what it was, I kept slapping cortisone cream on it and worried my parents because I was using it too often.

In adulthood, it switched to my hands. And I was a waitress! The predominant triggers seemed to be stress and irritating soaps. I asked a friendly manager if it was possible to get new soap in the dispensers and that helped. When that wasn't there, I also used this soap alternative hand cleanser from CVS. I can't find it online, it was in a small white rectangular bottle on the soap aisle, but it was similar to these - https://www.google.com/search?q=%22h...w=1366&bih=637

It went away for a long time, without me having to do anything special to it or anything, then it flared up again a couple of years later while I worked at another job. I'm also suspecting stress for that flare up.

That went away, don't remember what I did. Then it returned in the last few years while I've been working from home. I've had a terrible time with it this time. At one point most of the back of both my hands were red, there was just a tiny spot of white left. I also started developing it or another skin condition that co-exists with it like seborrheic dermatitis or something on my scalp and ears. Some dry patches are appearing on my neck, chest, and back too, hoping that doesn't turn into something bad.

For some time now, I've completely unflared-up the eczema on my hands by using this soap - https://www.walmart.com/ip/Shea-Mois...-0-OZ/43841602 It can be found it many stores, not hard to find. Just make sure, if you buy it, to get the one that says eczema because they sell many soaps with a similar box and I can't vouch for those.

Nothing works for my other issues so far.

During my horrible hand flare-up, I tried Benedryl, Celexa, many many lotions, wearing gloves at night with the lotion, a prescription cream, different soaps, and changing my diet to naturally improve my gut health and maybe impact my neurotransmitters that way.

For my scalp and ears, I've tried lotions, different shampoos, washing less, washing more, drying my hair, and not drying my hair.

Advice:

Steroid creams and other topical, even prescription, medications are very effective in the short term, but are impractical for long term.

Like with allergy testing, try a process of elimination method of one "treatment" at a time to see what works or seems to be causing the problem. Here's a list of triggers - https://nationaleczema.org/eczema/ca...ers-of-eczema/

Track what seems to be causing the problem with a journal, or in my case, a spreadsheet. During my hand flare-up, everyday I tracked my stress level, changes in my diet, gut health, hormones, what soap I was using, allergies, whether I got a tub bath(many people recommend that), whether I was taking medication, how often I washed my hands, how well I dried off my hands, my lotion use, and how well I slept to compare to the state of my hands. I determined that the only obvious correlation I could see at that time was to my gut health. I've been eating yogurt ever since, so actually the soap and yogurt may be the magic formula for my hands.

Be aware that it can vary. Sometimes it's puffy, sometimes it's dry and flaky, sometimes it's more like water-filled bumps that "weep", the latter is the rarest for me.

Handwashing and soaps are common factors in eczema flare-ups.

Steel yourself for frustration and not understanding what the heck's going on.

I asked my doctor why it seemed to mostly be on one side of my body and he told me the location of the flare-ups doesn't mean much, like it's just random.

The burning you're experiencing may be because that skin is simply more irritated or maybe it's not eczema but a commonly co-existing skin condition? There are also fungal causes for eczema and eczema-like things. Does your steroid cream also have anti-fungal properties?

Lara has great advice.

I get it too—antibacterial soap is the worst. Washing with dandruff shampoo (I use generic Head and Shoulders) and putting antifungal cream on it helps (I use generic lotramin).

Only use soap where you have to. You don’t need to soap every square inch of your body.

If that doesn’t work, try looking into dietary causes. The Paleo diet might help (meat, veg, fruit diet) that eliminates suspect foods. There is an elimination diet I’ve heard of, but I haven’t tried it.

[Spirit_]

I was told that eczema on the hands and feet are caused by water so honestly, there's not much to do about it. I feel you, eczema sucks.

[*Laurie*]

Lara and key tones, Thank you both SO much! Lots of excellent information. Thank you for taking the time to write out your experiences and suggestions.

My diet is quite decent; maybe I have allergies to something I eat (for example, I eat a lot of nuts), but who knows. The dietary thing can be so convoluted and frustrating.
Stress is a huge problem for me...in fact, I believe that stress initially caused the eczema, or at least caused my propensity for eczema to flare up. For example, I had a nasty argument with my husband last night because he overdrew our checking account and my hand immediately turned very red and began to itch like crazy. Felt like tearing my skin off.

Here are some thing I've found out, so far. Lara, interesting that you mentioned black soap. I used to use only black soap to wash my hair and skin with. Nothing else. My hair was in great shape and my skin very calm. I used black soap for years. Then I started wanting to wash with "nice smelling" soaps. Not a good idea, at all.

I will definitely buy the black soap eczema bar. Great idea!

I find Aquaphor (the gooey kind) to be most helpful for the eczema on my arms and hands. I really glob it on there and gently massage it in, and I do that several times per day. Eventually, the itching stops and my skin calms quite a bit (as far as red spots).

key tones, I agree - I also feel like there's some kind of fungal "something" going on in addition to the eczema. My GP completely denied that, but I don't agree with her. I've also used Lotrimin on the itchy areas. Doesn't make the eczema go away, but it seems to calm it down.

My doctor prescribed a steroid cream ( starts with a "t"...it's a common cream for eczema...long name, can't recall it). It doesn't have anti-fungal properties in it, which I think is unfortunate. The cream is helping the eczema on top of my foot, but isn't doing jack for my hand...only the Aquaphor helps my hand quite a lot.

Well, this is not a fun condition, is it? I am immensely grateful to both of you for your information. Thank you

[LaraR4444]

The diet thing is very convoluted and irritating. I remembered while typing my response to you how much I suspected my diet had to do with all three flare-ups, because the situation was the same each time, but I can't really do much about it now because I need this diet for other reasons. That's why I had forgotten my discovery.

Maybe I ought to try this kind or some other appropriate kind of black soap for shampoo. The eczema black soap makes all the difference with my hands. It's been tried and true for years, and those flare-ups only come back when I'm stubborn enough to use other soaps. I can get away with it for a little while, depending on the soap, and then bam! eczema's back. I've used one bottle of another kind currently and an itchy bump appeared on my hand this morning.

This kind smells good, to me at least, but it can temporarily "stain" washcloths if you leave some of it in there without lathering it all up.

Sorry about the stress. I believe I've noticed that before too, the instant irritation.

[*Laurie*]

I might have discovered something interesting last night. I have a bad burn on my finger. I have a lot of experience with using aloe vera for burns and wounds - a leaf broken straight from the plant, not anything you'd buy in a bottle.

I rubbed some of the aloe vera from the stalk onto my burn - 2 days of aloe vera and the nasty burn is healing so much more quickly. Then I got the idea to rub some aloe vera onto the back of my hand, where the eczema is. What do you know - it actually soothed my skin! It didn't burn or irritate it, but stopped the itching and seemed to calm the inflamed skin.

I'm curious to try the aloe again today.

Thank you again, Lara, for your input and support

[possum220]

Glad you found something that can help your skin.

[*Laurie*]

Well, the Aquaphor and aloe are helping my hands, whereas the prescription steroid cream is slowly helping my foot.

[*Laurie*]

So I suddenly remembered something. I want to post it just in case anyone else who sees this thread might find my "treatment" helpful. A few years ago, for many years, I used Black Soap to wash my face, body, and hair (I had long dreads back then). I've always had sensitive skin and the Black Soap seemed to calm my skin.

I wondered if perhaps the Black Soap might help my eczema, so I bought a bottle and have been washing my face and skin with it. I swear, the stuff has magic properties to it. The eczema has calmed down significantly. I mean - a lot. Stopped being red, rashy, inflamed, and itching/burning like crazy. I've been using the Black Soap for 6 days. (The prescription med was horrible and only burned my skin, so I have not been using it.)


I do want to caution anyone who might want to try the Black Soap to buy only Allafia Black Soap, the liquid. Dilute it by 1/3 with water, as it is concentrated. The soap is not expensive. I buy it in health food stores or online.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

So I suddenly remembered something. I want to post it just in case anyone else who sees this thread might find my "treatment" helpful. A few years ago, for many years, I used Black Soap to wash my face, body, and hair (I had long dreads back then). I've always had sensitive skin and the Black Soap seemed to calm my skin.

I wondered if perhaps the Black Soap might help my eczema, so I bought a bottle and have been washing my face and skin with it. I swear, the stuff has magic properties to it. The eczema has calmed down significantly. I mean - a lot. Stopped being red, rashy, inflamed, and itching/burning like crazy. I've been using the Black Soap for 6 days. (The prescription med was horrible and only burned my skin, so I have not been using it.)


I do want to caution anyone who might want to try the Black Soap to buy only Allafia Black Soap, the liquid. Dilute it by 1/3 with water, as it is concentrated. The soap is not expensive. I buy it in health food stores or online.

Ugh - I just realized that Lara had mentioned using Black Soap, which was the reason I remembered the Black Soap idea. I need to stop being online when I'm half-asleep, lol.

[LaraR4444]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

Ugh - I just realized that Lara had mentioned using Black Soap, which was the reason I remembered the Black Soap idea. I need to stop being online when I'm half-asleep, lol.

That's okay. It's a different kind with different advice, so still helpful.

[LaraR4444]

Oh, and I've gotten excited about trying two new treatment ideas, seaweed/sea salt and Vitamin D. Will still try the black soap shampoo if I get a hold of a good one. I'm looking into that brand Laurie mentioned now.

I've also got an update about a potential thing to avoid: cocamidopropyl betaine https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredi...ROPYL_BETAINE/

I tried a tea tree oil shampoo and an extremely moisturizing coconut water shampoo on my scalp and they both caused the same flareup of bumps on scalp and severe worsening of my other symptoms. Should be opposite ends of the treatment spectrum, so why the same result?

Probably because the second ingredient in both shampoos is that substance that is known to be a potential skin irritant. I'm particularly pissed about the coconut water shampoo too because I deliberately researched online for a shampoo that didn't have that in it and used it trusting it was isn't there only to find out that somehow it was despite what they'd said online. Maybe it was because the bottle says limited edition, maybe it's some one-off weird formula or something. Or the company messed up.

[*Laurie*]

Yikes, I would be wary of using tea tree oil because it's harsh on skin. It has burned my skin even when I didn't have eczema.

I used to use the Alaffia Black Soap liquid to wash my hair when I had long dreads. It was great. I wouldn't use it on color-treated hair, though.

[LaraR4444]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

I used to use the Alaffia Black Soap liquid to wash my hair when I had long dreads. It was great. I wouldn't use it on color-treated hair, though.

I'm trying to find the Alaffia one with the eucalyptus, and was it tea tree oil, I don't remember. I tried three stores yesterday, and the Walmart did have some Alaffia but they were only tangerine citrus and mint. May have to order. I wanted either the one I just mentioned or the one with nothing added.

Tea tree oil is known to be irritating to skin sometimes, so good point.

Bought some epsom salts instead. Tried a test patch today. lol Will try to do the whole head tomorrow.

[*Laurie*]

Well, the black soap ended up not helping at all - that could be because it was scented, though. What has helped more than any other soap is pine tar soap. Specifically, Grandpa's Pine Tar. The only thing that has actually stopped the eczema itching and prickling is triaminolone acetonide cream (prescription).

[Fuzzybear]

Not fun. I hope this isn’t “chronic” - it isn’t for everyone. My skin is soft just like a fuzzy bears skin is at the moment.

[Patagonia]

I had eczema which was brought on from stress. It’s a horrible story & so is dealing with eczema so I totally sympathize with you. For yrs I wore pants all yrs bec people thought I had poison ivy or even fleas!

For some reason & I have no idea why it did just....stop. Took about 8 yrs & I did all the creams & every homeopathic thing out there. It left my self esteem in bad shape. I don’t know why it left. Sometimes when I sweat a great deal I have small patches of it again, but was told sometimes it does....disappear.
Sorry I’m not sure this helps, but I hope you find some relief & that it does fade for you!!

[Marla500]

This thread is awesome! My son has eczema on his forehead and between his eyes. He uses cortisone but I do worry it's not good long term. The only other thing That helps so far is castor oil. I know it has hurt his job search. He finally found one but it's not vey good. I am going to re read everyone's posts and see what we can try. I do believe in his case he may have wheat or peanut allergy because he eats peanut butter sandwiches every day and won't give them up. I have been reading the Wheat Belly books to come up with some alternatives. Thanks everyone

[Patagonia]

When I wento a dermatologist she said she can’t recommend this, but drying it out by sun or a tanning bed has helped some people. It did help my brother in the winter months when it gets dry out.
I was prescribed Clobetasol cream for when it got really bad but told only to for 3 wks then use triamcinolone cream in between.

I have noticed recently on tv an ad for a med for eczema & I was jealous bec it wasn’t around when mine was so very bad. People thought I had fleas bec it was on my legs! I’m very sympathetic to anyone who has such a terrible problem with their skin. It really effects your self esteem! I gained a lot of weight as comfort. Ugh!
I changed all my soaps, deodorant, creams etc anything that touched my skin to “sensitive skin” brands with no harsh chemicals or perfumes. Not sure it helped but I’m never changed back & still vigilant bec I don’t want it ever to return.

[Marla500]

I'm with you on the sunlight, I think it cures everything

[*Laurie*]

In my experience, tanning beds were amazingly helpful for all skin issues. I used them for several years, then all the warnings came out about the dangers of tanning beds, so I've been afraid to use them anymore.