MY Eczema Cures

Thank you so much for following me. I spent 5 minutes on your blog and I found out what kind of eczema I have, Dyshidrotic Eczema. This has definitely changed my life, thank you so much. I cannot express how thankful I am. I've been searching for years, and I never found an answer, unfortunately. No one could tell me how to reduce my eczema, even doctors. My mom has eczema on her feet, and after reading your blog, I can share the news with her too. Thank you so much.

Sat, 03 Sep 2011 15:38:47 -0400

I’m really glad I was able to help you marcellalaird. I feel really blessed to be able to change lives with my blog, even for just a little :)

Guilty Pleasures: Steroids For Eczema

Sat, 03 Sep 2011 08:13:00 -0400

A lot of people warn about using steroids to deal with eczema. You can read about the so-called “dangers” of steroids in forums and from people who have experienced complications first hand. No matter how many bad things go around about steroids, many still find pleasure in using them. So what is it with steroids that makes them guilty pleasures among people with eczema?

One reason why steroids are our guilty pleasures is that some of them don’t need to come with a doctor’s prescription, like over-the-counter (OTC) ointments and creams. There’s no need to schedule an appointment with a pediatrician, dermatologist, or GP. And there’s no more waiting in line for your name to be called too. You can skip all these and head directly to a nearby drugstore or pharmacy and pick out an OTC steroid of your choice.

Another reason why we can’t live without these excema cures is that they are quite effective in getting rid of eczema rashes. If they don’t work with first use, chances are you don’t have eczema. Steroids are anti-inflammatory drugs which counteract skin inflammation associated with eczema. If they don’t do anything for you, it only means that your rashes aren’t the result of skin inflammation and that you don’t have eczema.

Steroids are also great for controlling a wide range of eczema types. They can also handle mild to severe eczema rashes. Eczema ointments and creams (OTC or prescription) are ideal for mild to severe rashes found on only a few parts of the body. But it’s best to use injectable steroids with severe, widespread eczema since its effects are systemic or throughout the entire body.

The complications of steroids vary with what kind you’re using. By now, you would’ve already known that steroids are either topical applications or injected into the blood stream.

The complications of topical applications include:

1) Drug tolerance (wherein you become resistant to the steroid ingredient)

2) Thinning of the skin

The complications of injected steroids include:

1) Possible infection (because it weakens the immune system)

The complications of topical applications can be avoided. Simply avoid misusing steroid ointments and creams by following the doctor’s orders or the instructions on the box. Usually, they should only be applied two to three times a day for 5 days to a week. If the rashes aren’t completely treated by then (but have improved), discontinue for at least 5 days before continuing to use it for one more week. Repeat this cycle until all rashes are gone.

When planning to use steroid injections as excema cures, you can only use them twice a year with several months of interval. Unfortunately, you’d have to avoid getting an infection since injectable steroids weaken the immune system.

CLICK HERE FOR ECZEMA-RELATED QUESTIONS!

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 04:08:04 -0400

CLICK HERE FOR ECZEMA-RELATED QUESTIONS!

My Eczema Cures

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 04:05:00 -0400

My Eczema Cures:

My Eczema Cures is a blog that I made for people with eczema. I usually write weekly posts on everything about eczema: its different types, symptoms, home remedies, standard treatments, etc. My three most recent posts are…

How To Deal With Scalp Eczema At Home

Quick Tips To A Healthy Diet For Eczema

and Food And How It Affects Eczema

If you want to know more about eczema, please follow my blog by clicking “My Eczema Cures” at the very top.

Thanks!

I have eczema on my eyelids and around my eyes and under my nose. Any tips on that?

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 03:28:00 -0400

Hi anticipatingfitness. It sounds like you have mild eczema. I suggest you use a mild or “weak” steroid for face eczema. Weak steroids are enough to treat face eczema. You can ask the chemist on this one or you can always ask for a prescription from your doctor. When using topical eczema applications that have steroids in them, comply to your doctor’s orders. If you didn’t get them via prescription, use only 2-3 times for an entire week and if all rashes aren’t gone by then, wait for 3-5 days before continuing treatment for another week.

You can also read the following articles to help you with your face eczema:

Preventing Your Rash Of Face From Getting Worse

Face Eczema Skin Care Tips

Alright, I had a massive itch attack last night. My eczema's all over my face, and I really want to clear it up. What do I do to not scratch it throughout the day?

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 03:22:00 -0400

Hello wearehayalets. If you’re staying at home, try applying any of the following on your itchy face:

1. Camphor - leaves the skin with a cooling sensation that helps soothe itchy face rashes.

2. Calamine - my mum used to apply this on my rashes when I was a kid. I don’t know how it does it but it certainly relieves itchy rashes.

3. Aloe Vera - Aloe Vera is also soothing on the skin. If you happen to grow an Aloe Vera plant in your garden, simply snip off a leaf and apply the juice that comes out of it on your face rashes.

If you’re gonna go out though, it’s best that you take a no-drowse oral antihistamine. Antihistamines can make you very sleepy that’s why you should buy a no-drowse version of it you’re going out for the day. But again, if you’re staying at home and don’t mind sleeping all day, a regular antihistamine like Cetirizine should help you with your itchy face.

So I have eczema all over my hands. But aside from that, on the fingers that I don't have eczema, there are tiny white dots all over my fingers. Do you think that's part of the eczema?

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 03:10:00 -0400

Hi yourkissmight-killme. I haven’t heard of an eczema type that causes white dots to appear on the fingers. Eczema either causes dry and patchy rashes or raised and bumpy ones. If the ones on your fingers are very small, fluid-filled blisters however, it’s possible that it’s eczema. Specifically, dyshidrotic eczema. You can read about dyshidrotic eczema on the following link to see if its symptoms match yours :)

What Is Dyshidrotic Eczema?

I’ve already made several posts on dyshidrotic eczema as well as a few home remedies for it.

How To Deal With Scalp Eczema At Home

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:52:00 -0400

Scalp eczema is a symptom associated with sebaceous dermatitis. It looks like dandruff, but it’s far more complicated than that. Fortunately, you can deal with scalp eczema even from home. If you have scalp psoriasis or just plain old dandruff, you can still use the following home treatments!

Blue Lagoon Minerals

Have you ever heard of the Blue Lagoon? It’s a natural geothermal spa found at Iceland. Blue Lagoon is said to heal psoriasis and other skin conditions like eczema. A clinic was even set up at the Blue Lagoon Resort just to cater to guests with psoriasis and eczema!

However, the chances of heading all the way to Iceland just to go to the Blue Lagoon is probably slim for you. Fortunately, the resort does export Blue Lagoon products which contain minerals from the lagoon itself. You can use one for your scalp while at home and your scalp eczema should be gone with regular use.

Dead Sea Salt

The Dead Sea is another body of water that’s said to treat scalp eczema. Unlike the Blue Lagoon which contains a variety of minerals, the Dead Sea purely relies on its salt to treat eczema. And since it’s just as impossible to visit the Dead Sea as it were with the Blue Lagoon, you can purchase Dead Sea salt.

Once you’ve gotten hold of Dead Sea salt, dilute it in water and use the solution to wash your hair and scalp.

Epsom Salt

A cheaper alternative to Dead Sea Salt is Epsom salt. It can also treat scalp eczema from home. You use it in the same way you would use Dead Sea salt. Simply dilute it in water and use the salt solution to wash your scalp and hair.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar is also a great home treatment for scalp eczema, scalp psoriasis, and even dandruff. But because it’s too acidic, you can dilute it in equal parts of water before using it to wash your scalp. In order to treat scalp eczema with it, remember to leave it on your scalp for a few minutes before rinsing it off with cool water.

Head & Shoulders

Okay, this is the only product I recommend for scalp eczema, scalp psoriasis, or dandruff. Head & Shoulders treats dandruff. But with scalp eczema or scalp psoriasis, it only relieves itchy scalp.

NOTE: Blue Lagoon Minerals, Epsom Salt, Dead Sea Salt, and Apple Cider Vinegar are able to treat scalp eczema, scalp psoriasis, and dandruff because they have antiseptic properties which get rid of any fungi proliferating on the scalp. The proliferation of fungi on the scalp has been linked to these three scalp problems. Also, these home treatments have exfoliating properties which means that they can get rid of scalp flaking associated with scalp eczema, scalp psoriasis, and dandruff.

I've had atopic eczema since I was born, but recently I've contracted hand eczema. Do you know of any products I can use, since this "moisturizer" is only further drying my hands.

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 13:38:00 -0400

Helo mal0hi. You’re not using the right moisturizer I guess. That’s why it’s drying up your skin. Why don’t you try Emu oil? You can lather it all over your skin. It’s not greasy, unlike Olive oil and mineral oil which leave the skin greasy. And it contains Omega fatty acids too which are essential in treating eczema. You can read more about it here - Emu Oil And Its Benefits For Eczema.

Also, because you have atopic eczema, I suggest you try taking 400 IU of natural vitamin E daily for 8 months at least. If you noticed a significant improvement in your atopic eczema within those 8 months, then you can continue using it as a supplement. Just remember to take only 400 IU of it daily and to choose natural vitamin E and not the synthetic version :) If you’d like to learn more about this study on vitamin E, please read another one of my posts, Vitamin E - A Study Into Its Use As An Eczema Treatment.

Hope that my suggestions will be able to help you :)

I have bad eczema since I was a baby and all the doctor told me was that it was cause my my extremely sensitive skin. He never said what type it was. I am not common with the different types. I just know that I have to use dove hard soap, soft liquid detergent and no fabric softener, wear mostly cotton and use Betaderm cream on it. Even wearing metals too long gives me eczema so I can not wear belts. It looks kinda like a rash. Do you have any idea from what I have said?

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 13:25:00 -0400

Hello scars-and-fat! Based on when your rashes started, I think you have atopic dermatitis (aka infantile eczema). It’s the most common type of eczema usually beginning sometime during infancy or childhood. Do your rashes look dry, dark, dark, scaly and yet weepy? If they do, then you definitely have atopic dermatitis. You can read more about eczema types here. But if you’re still puzzled with what you have, hit me back with another message detailing what your rashes look like.

Oh my goodness, this is perfect. I hate having to make a trip to my doctor every time I need to ask about my eczema. So, I've had eczema for a while, and I normally just get breakouts of like water blisters on my hands from time to time (my doctor said it may be from getting sweaty palms). However, I just got a job where I come into contact with a sanitizing solution almost everyday, and now i have terrible, terrible dry skin, along with the water blisters, and my hands are always nasty and red. So I was wondering if there was anything I can do to help that out?

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 12:57:00 -0400

Hello matadormomo ;) I’m a registered nurse so I’m practically half-qualified to give you advice. lol. Hmm. I think you have dyshidrosis (aka dyshidrotic eczema). It’s a type of eczema once thought of to be related to sweating, but it’s really not. I think it’s your sanitizing solution that’s the culprit.

So, my advice is to stop using the sanitizing lotion and try the home treatments that I have for dyshidrosis. Here’s the link to the post I made here on Tumblr - Home Treatments For Dyshidrosis Eczema. If you don’t know what dyshidrosis eczema is, you can learn more about it here.

Good luck :)

I've had eczema since I was a kid and in some places (knuckles, knees, elbows) my skin is really thick. Are there any products or techniques to get rid of the thickened skin?

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 12:31:00 -0400

Hi doughnutsorgtfo. Do you have atopic dermatitis or neurodermatitis? These are the only two types of eczema (that I know of) which cause dry, thick rashes. They look like leather don’t they?

One advice I can give you is to stop scratching your rashes. There are plenty of ways to help get rid of itchy eczema rashes. And you can wear cotton gloves, cotton clothes, and have cotton bed sheets, pillow cases, and towels too. Cotton is a non-irritating fabric that can help you keep from getting itchy.

Now. For the real answer to your question. Try this: take 400 IU of natural (not synthetic) vitamin E daily for at least 8 months. 400 IU only, no more, no less. If you see that your rashes have improved a lot over those 8 months, continue taking it as a daily supplement.

Did you know that vitamin E has been proven to be effective at treating atopic dermatitis? I really think that you do have atopic dermatitis. You can see a background of the study for yourself at one of my posts here on Tumblr —- Vitamin E - A Study Into Its Use As An Eczema Treatment

Hope I was able to help!

Good luck ;)

any idea for sunblocks or sunscreens that are safe? when i was a young teenager i was never allergic but towards my late teens and early twenties i developed the allergy to it.

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:03:00 -0400

Hello carjielou, I can’t give you a specific answer for this one. You know why? Because people react differently to different products in the same way that people have varying food allergies. In general though, you can look for sunblocks that are labeled hypoallergenic. Hypoallergenic sunblocks are less likely to cause skin irritation. Aside from hypoallergenic sunblocks, also go for ones which contain no fragrances. Fragrances found in skin care products are common causes for eczema.

It will have to be a trial and error on your part, sadly, so you can identify which sunblocks you’re allergic to and which you aren’t. But there’s better chances that you won’t get any rashes if you use hypoallergenic and fragrance-free sunblocks :)

i have patches on my arms, legs, shoulders and armpits. the patch on my legs is pretty much everywhere. it hasn't gone away all summer, and i've been putting lotion on every day. i don't know what to do and it gets worse every day.

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 17:53:00 -0400

Hi ajouter. The first thing you need to do is identify which type of eczema you have. I can help you with that if you can give me a detailed description of what your rashes look like or you can go online and go over photos of eczema. After identifying which type of eczema you have, you can narrow down the possible causes of your eczema since each eczema type has varying causes. Atopic dermatitis, for example, is usually triggered by food allergies and exposure to allergens. Meanwhile, sebaceous dermatitis is usually stress-related but can also be caused by the proliferation of fungus on the scalp.

If you have trouble identifying which eczema type you have, hit me back another message including a detailed description of your rashes. If possible, also include details like when it started and when your eczema tends to flare up. I’ll be waiting for your response!

I have had eczema since I have been a wee baby. I am now fourteen and still struggle with it, but now I am left with hundreds of scars all over my legs. i really want to be able to wear shorts this summer. Please help me.

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 17:10:00 -0400

Hi hatemethewayido. I can help you but I’d like to get a clear picture of how your eczema rashes look like. Message me again with a detailed description of your eczema rashes and I’ll get back to you. If you get me photos of your eczema rashes here on Tumblr, that would be superb! If ever you do get me photos of your eczema rashes, I promise I won’t post them publicly and I will instead reply to your message privately.

Based on when your eczema started though, I think you have atopic dermatitis. It’s a type of eczema that causes dry, dark, and patchy rashes to appear on several parts of the body - usually the face, neck, and extremities. If this is the case, I suggest you do the following:

- Take 400 IU of natural vitamin E daily, no more, no less. More than 400 IU of vitamin daily can shorten your lifespan and you don’t want that to happen.

- Do this for at least 8 months and if your eczema improves within that period, continue taking it as a regular supplement for the rest of your life.

You can learn more about the study on natural vitamin E supplementation and atopic dermatitis by clicking this - Study Proves Vitamin E Can Be Used For Dermatitis Atopica. The article describes a more understandable version of the actual study which was derived from the March 2002 issue of the International Journal of Dermatology, Vol. 14, pages 146-150.

I'm allergic to peanut butter and I know it's dumb but I still eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Well I have been lately because nothing really bad happens except my skin gets a bit itchy. But ever since I've been eating them again my eczema has gotten really bad. Is the food allergy to blame?

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 17:00:00 -0400

Hey carlosneverletgo. Thanks for trusting me with your eczema-related question. Yes. Food allergies is to blame for your eczema. But if you keep eating it, you may grow intolerant to it which in simpler words means you’ll no longer be allergic to peanut butter - yay!

If your rashes seem to be getting worse with each peanut butter sandwich though, I advise that you stop eating peanut butter because your air passages may swell up and cause difficulty in breathing. You may even die because of it (sorry for the bluntness). Last time I accidentally ate shrimp which I’m allergic to by the way, I had difficulty breathing. I had to be rushed to the hospital so they could clear my airway. I was given a diphenhydramine shot because I was at risk of suffocating due to swollen airways.

Well the blisters (on my hands) matched the descriptions I found online and looked identical to the photos that would appear, I had the dryness and peeling happen right before they went away. The bumps on my elbows are just dry, never really blisters, and they itch like mad. I'm not really sure what that is from, but I've been getting them my entire life, before the blisters on my hands started showing up.

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:50:00 -0400

Hi xoxosara. The bumps on your elbows are definitely not caused by dyshidrotic eczema. The one on your hands were. Based on how long your elbow rashes have bothered you, it sounds a lot like eczema. After all, eczema is a chronic skin condition. But it can’t be contact dermatitis, another type of eczema which causes itchy bumps because in particular, it causes wheals, hives, and large blisters. The rashes caused by contact dermatitis don’t recur on the same area of the body too as what happens with you.

I’m thinking that maybe you have dermatitis herpetiformis. It’s an eczema type which triggers the appearance of blisters that make it look like you have a herpes virus infection (even if you don’t). It’s related to stress but mainly triggered by gluten which is typically found in bread, wheat, rice, and other wheat products. Try switching to a gluten-free diet and monitor your elbow rashes for improvement. If they do get better, then it’s possible that you have dermatitis herpetiformis.

I’m also leaning into the possibility that you have atopic dermatitis. It’s the most common type of eczema. It doesn’t just cause blisters though. Its main symptom is the appearance of dark, dry, and patchy rashes. The itchy bumps merely appear on top of that. Maybe you should go over more pictures of eczema so you could identify which eczema type you really have. Do some more reading on atopic dermatitis and dermatitis herpetiformis too.

Quick Tips To A Healthy Diet For Eczema

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 03:59:00 -0400

Last month, I posted an article entitled Food And How It Affects Eczema. There, I discussed both the positive and negative effects of food on eczema. Today, I’m going to give you a few quick tips to having a healthy diet for eczema. Hopefully, these tips will be able to help you create an eczema-appropriate diet.

Tip #1 - Avoid Allergenic Food

Allergenic foods are those which contain high amounts of allergens. Examples of allergenic foods are shrimps, lobsters, oysters, nuts, and eggs. Even though you’re not allergic to these foods, they will eventually make you more prone to eczema outbreaks because the allergens that they contain accumulate in the body.

Tip #2 - Avoid Foods You’re Allergic To

Of course you’d have to exclude foods you are allergic to when planning a healthy diet for eczema. Unless you want your eczema to flare up (or maybe even die), then by all means eat everything you’re allergic to.

Tip #3 - Stick To Nutritious Foods

Nutritious foods are foods that contain plenty of nutrients (vitamins and minerals). The more they contain, the better they’ll be for your health and your eczema. Nutritious foods can help strengthen your immune system which plays a major role in eczema.

Tip #4 - Include Only Organic And Natural Foods

A healthy diet for eczema only has organic and natural foods. Organic and natural foods don’t contain preservatives, fertilizers, or any of those nasty chemicals found in processed and non-organically grown foods. These foods are bad for eczema because they accumulate in the body and make you more prone to flaring up.

(Additional Notes) Foods to look out for are those which contain the following nutrients:

a. Omega 3 fatty acids (natural anti-inflammatory) - can help decrease skin inflammation associated with eczema.

b. Vitamin C (natural antihistamine) - can help prevent allergy-related eczema from getting worse.

c. Vitamin E - has been proven to be effective against atopic dermatitis or infantile eczema.

Food And How It Affects Eczema

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:30:00 -0400

If food allergies trigger your eczema, you already understand that food does affect eczema. In this case, food causes eczema and therefore has a negative impact on this skin condition. But food and your overall diet can also influence your eczema positively, helping prevent it and possibly even cure it.

FOOD AND ITS NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON ECZEMA

Most of us only see food for its negative effects on eczema, mainly because of the prominence of food allergies and how it almost immediately brings up an eczema outbreak. In some people, food also aggravates or worsens eczema rashes, even though if they’re not allergic to these foods. Both these circumstances clearly tell us that eczema and diet have a bad relationship at times.

Foods known to aggravate or worsen eczema are foods that usually have a high allergen content (allergenic food) like shrimps, crabs, eggs, nuts, milk, and chicken. You don’t necessarily have to be allergic to these foods for them to make your eczema worse. Foods which trigger eczema outbreaks could be any food you’re allergic to.

*** Personally, I’m allergic to shrimp and rum. There was this one instance when I accidentally drank rum - only a very small amount of it. But because I had boiled eggs for breakfast and fried egg as well as chicken barbecue for dinner, I had worse-than-expected eczema. Rashes were all over my body!

FOOD AND ITS POSITIVE EFFECTS ON ECZEMA

You may not know this but food also has positive effects on eczema. This proves that there is a positive relationship between eczema and diet. It can either prevent eczema outbreaks or cure eczema rashes. By incorporating certain foods in your diet, you can even do both! Foods known to both treat eczema rashes as well as prevent future outbreaks are those which contain Omega fatty acids, like tuna. The Omega 3 fatty acids found in these foods treat eczema because they are have a natural anti-inflammatory effect. Other fatty acids prevent eczema outbreaks because lacking these in the diet have been proven to be related to eczema.

I was wondering if it's possible to get dyshidrosis eczema on your elbows? It was on my hands a few weeks ago (i used a steroidal topical treatment to get rid of it on my hands, worked perfect) and now it looks like it's on my elbows.

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:33:00 -0400

Hi xoxosara! Thank you for following my blog :) No, you can’t have dyshidrosis on your elbows. Are you sure what you had was dyshidrosis eczema? Because if you had the same-looking rash on your hands, you may have not had dyshidrosis eczema at all. Dyshidrosis is characterized by fluid-filled blisters on the hands or feet. When these blisters break, they should be replaced by dry and peeling skin - also characteristic of dyshidrosis. If what you had on your hands weren’t blisters, it’s possible that you had something else and not dyshidrosis.