Active Treatments

[nick]

Hi everyone,
So we all know the dangers of using oral steroids like prednisone for treating our eczema- they may give temporary relief, but usually the problem comes back with a vengeance once they wear off. This happened to me about 3 months ago and now my eczema is the worst it has ever been in my life, on 95% of my body.

But, do topical steroids create this same phenomena? I haven't heard of this happening, and haven't noticed it myself when using them, though perhaps the effect is not as noticeable as with the oral steroids and I have missed it? I am wondering because now, at the holidays, I am having such a hard time... I don't want to leave the house, much less have to go see friends and family at parties and dinners. I haven't actually used a topical steroid in about 6 months, and then I was using a low strength, just often enough to keep it under control. I am thinking of going to my doctor and asking for a low strength steroid that I can use temporarily just to get me through the next month or two. But I don't want to do this if it's going to make things even worse in the long run.

[JulieR]

We had issues with both. Things have been great for about 5 years now. It took some time, trial and error but we finally figured it out and got rid of that nasty skin issue.

We built up my daughter's immune system, found out what her triggers were, give her food based supplements, and replaced harmful products in our home with safer products. She is a new person and hasn't had a bad breakout in years.

We're here and would love to help. Nobody should have to suffer like this.

Julie

[karendee77]

Hi all,

Is anyone using Protopic? I've been using it for a week and alongside the unbearable itching and scratching in my sleep I now have a really nasty infection and my hands are covered in yellow spots. I have a really nasty infected blister next to my thumb nail which is agonizing, and my thumb has become very swollen.

Has anyone else had a similar experience with Protopic? I'm not sure where to go from here. The strongest steroid creams have not worked and I'm worried that this was my last option.

Karen

[gecko]

Hi Karen, I had the same thing with Protopic, I found it unsuitable for my hands, although I can use it on my face and its okay. I find it itches unbearably for the first day or so, but if I can get through that without ripping my face off, it calms down and the itch goes away completely. Same for the hands, but they always get infected first - so its no use! I dont know what the solution is.

If its any comfort, my hands are also terrible at the mo - very cracked and sore (and I am a secretary). I am always a lot worse in winter, doesnt matter HOW much emollient I use! I am using full strength Betnovate ointment, but its not doing much. Trouble is with Protopic, it lowers the immunity in the skin, which makes the skin more susceptible to infection, and when hands are being used all the time they are bound to pick up germs.....its a pain (literally) .

I don't know the answer, unfortunately, except go back to your doctor/specialist and see what they say.

Take care
Joyx

[Puddleduck]

Hi,

If your skin is infected,it's most likely very red, hot, itching unbearably and possibly also oozing. I can relate.
You must ensure your skin is covered. This is to protect your vulnerable, broken skin from further injury and also stop the spread of infection to others. So, if it's on your hands, wear gloves. Silk is the best fabric to wear, as it's antibacterial.

You have a choice: you can see a doctor for antibiotics to clear the infection, or buy yourself Manauka honey to put on on the skin and also take a teaspoon 3 times a day for 2 weeks. Taking Manuka honey regularly has been shown to prevent an infection reaching the point where it needs an antibiotic.
Taking a vitamin C plus zinc supplement will help, as will crushing a clove of garlic each day and either taking it in plain yogurt or on toast, or, if you're brave, in a glass of water. Garlic has antibacterial properties, which are as good as any antibiotic and there are no problems with antibiotic resistance.
If you're on antibiotics you'll need to take a probiotic to heal your gut of the bad effects of the antibiotic, which is why the possible attraction of "free prescriptions" for antibiotics is silly: they end up costing you more financially as well as costing your health.

Good luck.

[AnnaB]

Hi Joy

You say about your hands being a problem. My 4 year old too struggles even Dermovate does not work on the deep cracks and splits. Have you tried Haelan Tape. The steroid is in the tape it is good stuff for small problem areas. Do you put gloves on after applying the Dermovate. This was on my sons prescription, I think due to his age so that he does not spread it to his face, but I believe it makes sence to wear the cotton gloves for 30mins after applying the Dermovate to ensure it does not get rubbed off, as soon as you touch anything you'll be rbbing it off.

All the best Anna

[gecko]

Hi Anna - well I thought I had tried everything - but had never heard of Haelan tape - will ask my doctor about it. My boss has hand eczema also, and he is suffering due to the winter weather - split knuckles etc. Will mention it to him.Thanks.
PS I have had atopic eczema and asthma all my life and I will be 50 next week - aargh! LOL! People think it must be so hard to live with, but when you've never known life without it, it seems normal, and I only really flare up badly in cold weather. I was a lot more poorly when I was a child. Lucky really I suppose.

Cheers
Joyx

[AnnaB]

I do hope you get to try some. I think it is used to treat scars and promote healing, but for bad splits on my sons fingers it is magic. Once when it failed to work we were prescribed a different dressing for bed sores, we managed to get his hands to heal without using it, but when there are really bad splits it is good to know there is an emergency fix.

[karendee77]

Hi all,

Thanks very much for your posts. I did have to get antibiotics for the infection in the end but it has gone now and I am trying dermovate again, which seems to be working for most of my skin, but not the fingertips. I am in the middle of allergy patch testing at the moment and have huge sticky plasters all over my back which have to stay on for three days. It feels really odd! Hopefully this will identify whatever is making my fingertips so bad.

It is comforting to hear that I am not the only 'grown-up' who still has eczema. Gecko - you are so right. People seem to give us more sympathy than we think we need. It's just something we've always had, no big deal!

Take care all.

[AnnaB]

Good luck with the patch tests. My son had 2 lots of them last year as his back wasn't big enough. They came up with no true allergies only false results. It was good that non of his creams were an issue which is what they were looking for, but at the same time to have pin pointed something to work around and avoid would have been great.

I am glad you have such a positive attitude to your eczema of it's no big deal. I would love to think that morning and night and throughout the day when caring for my 2 and 4 year olds.