Active Treatments

[ironchef]

After 30+ years of using anything my doctor prescribed, I have stopped all prescription treatments for my eczema as of spring 2008. I realized they were weakening my skin and immune system in the long run. By using supplements and avoiding certain intolerant foods, I have been able to sustain a healthy equilibrium. My skin will always be dry but it's rarely as angry, red, and itchy as before. Took me 30 years to learn.....

[figgymyson]

Out of interest, what do you mean by supplements? Having similar challenges at the moment.

[ironchef]

Acidopholis (highest dose possible, 50 billion)
Evening Primrose Oil (2 tablespoons/day)
Selenium

For me, staying away from dairy, eggs, wheat, is very helpful....on top of the things I'm allergic to.

[JC_USN]

I see where someone posted that taking ORAL STEROIDS is tremendously bad. Im taking a 6 day dose of methylprednisolone for my hand eczema. Should I really expect to see a huge rebound flare up after I quit taking this?

Thanks for you help everyone!

Josh

[Helen]

hi there,

I am 23 years of age, and have been using azathiroprine for almost a year, i was not to keen on this as i am on a very dosage, but after 3 months of taking this noticed a change in my skin, i do still have flare ups but my skin is sooo much better, i have been clear for almost 4 months now, i really say this is worth a try, they do regular blood tests to check on you, they wouldnt perscribe this if your son wasnt bad enough, believe me i have suffered with this all my life, and these tablets are a life saver for me, i still have flare ups when not feeling well ect but nothing like i used to,

i hope they work for your son as they have for me, if u wish to talk more please feel free t contact me, i wish your son all the best

[mother]

Searching for Dermatologist/skin specialist in Sydney, Australia or patients anywhere who are familiar with this condition and/or the following publication:
The red skin syndromes: corticosteroid addiction and withdrawal
Authors: Rapaport, Marvin J; Rapaport, Vicki
Source: Expert Review of Dermatology, Volume 1, Number 4, August 2006 , pp. 547-561

[JulieR]

We tried the steroids and such too but had no luck. The flaring would go down for a bit then come back with a vengeance. It was AWFUL! We finally worked on building our daughter's immune system and switched cleaning, laundry and personal care products. We also added in supplements and she has been well for over 6 years now.

We did an elimination diet too to find food triggers. She is able to tolerage most foods now and what a blessing that is.

We were also able to get rid of all her prescriptions which saved us $210 a month (after insurance.) Plus, no side affects.

If you need more information please feel free to contact me.

wellness_country@msn.com

Julie

[magicream]

Have you tried the Magicream, which 100% herbal cleared my baby son Eczema in a week.
He was using the steroids cream since he was only 3 months for his serve Eczema, basically the doctor was warpping his up all over his body, which was not help at all.

Luckily we found the Magicream when we were on holiday, a friend was told me it works for children Eczema, now my son 's skin is soft and silky, I feel i was so lucky, just share with all the Mums

Ellen

[drmule]

Hello, first post here

I couldn't tell you how long I've been using Eumovate on my face, once daily. Something in the region of 5 years, maybe more. I had no idea in the beginning that I wasn't supposed to use it for extended periods of time. When I tried to step down to Fucidin H as prescribed by my dermatologist, it just was not effective enough. I got her to represcribe Eumovate but it was only for flare ups. I just used it on it's own. Using moisturiser (Dermol or others) with it just seemed to bring on a flare up. Anytime I cleared my face up, I'd stop and then it would flare up again the next day. So, I got stuck in a loop of using it every day for years.

When the doctors called me in for reviews of my prescriptions, it was never made entirely clear to me exactly what could happen to me if I carried on using the steroid in this way. It was only ever said about the thinning of the skin. As I felt my skin was not thinning and I could also not see any spider veins, I just carried on, conning them into giving me more Eumovate. I knew in the back of my mind I should get some help to come off the steroid and so on, but it was such a hassle getting to see the doctors, or my dermatologist, that I could never get myself to do it.

This time though (Wednesday), the doc suddenly comes out with all this bad stuff that can happen, how it can get into your bones, and suppress the production of your own hormones, the skin problems that can occur like wrinkles and your skin falling apart and not healing.... Now I'm scared. Within 2 days of being off the steroid, my entire face is bright red, sore, burning, painful, my eyelids and surrounds have puffed up, my face looks puffier in general, and my skin is of course flakey as hell and rolls off my cheeks, chin, eyelids etc... I look like I slept in the sun for a week.

I'm using moisturiser so often, it comes out of my skin when I wash. I've shaved my hair down to a grade 4 all over to keep it out of the way.

I don't know if the redness and puffyness is due to the change in moisturiser from Dermol to Aqueous BP, but I've gone back to Dermol anyway as I had weepy sores and the weeps were drying yellow. Dermol has some active ingredient to fight infection, and I don't have that problem now. I guess I'm just suffering the withdrawal from the steroid, but it could be more serious.

I urge you to keep in touch with the doctors if you find that flares happen very quickly after stopping the use of steroids, and not carry on like I did. I will see my GP tomorrow, despite going to a weekend doctor at the hospital (just gave me antihistamines) to see if there is an explanation. I know some of the effects of steroids are irreversible.

Has anybody had similar experiences?

[Sammie]

Hi there,
I am very sorry to hear your story; but I am not surprised.
It is really awful when the thing you depend on the most...causes you the most damage.

I myself used a variety of steroids, and like you, was never told about the long term effects of using them.
My skin has been left thin and discoloured. Any friction to my hands, even doing every day tasks, my finger tips bleed.

It must be so painfully, soul destroying to have to deal with firsty, having eczema; but to be left with limited choices of how to treat your disease.

Like I say...doctors have a lot to answer for. Something that would have taken five minutes to explain to you, at the first consultation appointment, has left you with these unreverable consequences.

Has your G.P offered any other advice on what you are to do now the damage is done, and you are left with few options?
Or are you suppose to just carry on like nothing is wrong?
Maybe something flashed up on your docs computer....that is why you where told about the effects? Jeez!!!!
Have you asked your dermatologist for patch tests?
I myself do not agree with steroids, and think that G.P's hand them out like sweeties, it's a cop out!

I myself have not has an outbreak for many years now, and can only say that removing all chemicals from your life can only improve your condition, such as scented toiletries, cleaning products. And eating fresh fruit and veg. Olive oil is also a good moisturiser.
Keep things as natural as possible..can only bring positive results.

I wish you well..x