Hi, I'm new here and eczema is new for me too...

[Satomi__]

Hi there, how are you?
I decided to create a topic here because I just don't know how to deal with my recent skin condition - eczema. So I was wondering if someone could give me some hints or just hear about others experiences.. maybe it would help me getting less stressed out about this...

I started having sypmtoms last summer, after a mosquito bite who made me have a terrible skin rash/reaction in my cheeks. As far as I know, I never been allergic to mosquito bite, but my skin tends to overreact to it.. So it always takes a long time to stop itching and heal completely - but it was never as dramatic as this time. Since then, my skin was never the same (i'm not sure if that's due to the mosquito bite or whatever), but I noticed that my whole skin started to get dryer. I never needed to moistorize my hands e.g., now I have to do it everyday.

It started in the cheeks and for months, it would not go further than that. Now it started spreading around my forehead, left eyelid, around my lips and something more in my fingers and arms, but that's the least.

So far, I've seen 2 doctors and this is the second treatment I'm doing. I've been misdiagnosed (does this word exists?) in the first time and the ointment (anti-fungical) and the pills (anti-fungical) didn't do absolutely anything.
Since I started the second treatment, I feel my skin is not as "angry" as before but it's spreading more than ever... weird isn't it? I just started the treatment like 2 weeks ago, so I guess I may have to wait 2 months untill I see some results maybe. Anyway, I'm going to call back my GP to check if this is normal.

I'll just write here what kind of treatment and procedure I'm taking (oriented by the doctor) and let me know if you're familiar with something and if it worked for you please:

- I'm taking anti histaminics (1 every night) to feel less itchy (I have to do this for 2 months)
- Hydrocortisone ointment (I've stopped using it for now because it says I can't do it more than 2 weeks). I haven't seen any improvement with it either.
- Now I wash my face just ONCE a day (at night) with a very mild cleanser that doesn't make any foam at all
- Then I apply a vitamin C moisturizer
- In the morning I just wash my face with water and apply a super concentrated vitamin C serum
- The doctor told me to use Ketrel once a week (it's like a soft chemical peeling ointment), she told me that at first my skin would get worse and sensitive with it, but later it would get better.

And she prescribed me a bunch of allergy exams to do, mosquito bite, cat fur and others I can't name it (because they are way too complicated names I can't remember )

I had some cosmetics that I suddenly my skin started to react to them, so I put them aside and now I just use hypoallergenic stuff. Besides, I feel like NOTHING can actually moisturize my skin enough... unless virgin olive oil that sometimes I apply directly in the dry areas and most of the dryness goes away.
But it's not like a miracle, because the itchyness and swollen skin never goes away just with the stuff I'm taking.

I wonder if you feel like you get worse when you get stressed out?
My sister passed away last year and I've been more stressed out and depressed than ever... I wonder if this might be one of the triggers... I don't know... :/

Thank you!

[Marcie Mom]

Stress can be a trigger indeed, more so for adults. It does sound strange though, how the rash started at adulthood (maybe check with your parents or any allergic condition in family?) and spread so much.. most of what you are doing is good, do take those allergy test. If it doesn't get better even after avoiding the triggers picked up in the allergy test, likely go and see a skin specialist to see if they have another diagnosis.

take care!
Mei