Out of control eczema on my hand.

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kap180
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2012 2:08 pm
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by kap180 on Mon Oct 29, 2012 6:06 pm

Out of control eczema on my hand.

Hi there. I stumbled upon this site on an online search for something that will give me some relief for my eczema. So I'm a newbie here! I'm sharing my saga in hopes that someone out there can offer some suggestions. I've always had little patches of eczema on my hands/fingers. It was always easy to control with steriod creams until 2008. Something changed then, and for the life of me I can't figure it out. The eczema started getting out of control on my right hand. It got to the point where I was unable to move most of my fingers. My fingers and joints were swollen and red. The skin was broken and would bleed regularly. It went from being extremely itchy to very painful almost instantly. My dermatolgist refered me to a specialist that did patch testing on me. (I had to wait 6 months to even be seen!) The patch testing showed I was "allergic" to all kinds of additives and perservatives found in costmetics, soaps, shampoos etc. I went on a taper of predinsone and went "clean" for over a month. AFter the predinsone was over, my hand went right back to the way it was. I never saw any improvements in my hand when I wasn't using the products I was supposedly allergic to. The specialist suggested I try a diet that eliminated foods high in nickle, chrome,spices and flavorings, etc. I did try it but it was so extremly limiting that I ended up giving up. Shortly after all this, I got pregnant with spontaneous twins. My skin looked and felt amazing during my entire pregnancy. I didn't have to use any of my topical creams and ointments. But not long after the birth of my babies, the eczema started up again. It was horrible last Christmas. Bad enough to go back on predinsone to get it under control. I was perscribed halobetosal, protopic and an anti-fungal for around my nail beds. Although, it never completely cleared up, it did get better over the summer. Now, I'm right back to where I was. My hand gets so dry almost out of the blue and it will be difficult to move my fingers. I'm ridden with cracks and cuts all over it, my fingers are so swollen, wrinkled and ugly. I'm 32 and I have the hands of a 90 year old. My fingers are warped and deformed due to all this. I'm at my wits end! I feel like I have gotten no where with the dermatologists and allergists. (I should add I was also tested for food and environmental allergies which were all negative). I do feel that stress is a big trigger for me, but I just don't believe it is the only cause. I feel there has to be something inside me that just isn't working right. I'm done with allergists and dermatologists! I do feel like I need to see a doctor, but have no idea what type to see. I've been considering trying eastern medicine, but again...I'm not sure who I would see for this. I'm diligent about moisturizing. I use fragrence and dye free soaps and detergents. I tried cotton gloves and didn't have much luck. Is there anyone out there that has any ideas, suggestions, guidance, anything really? It would be much appreciated. Thank you!

Maya
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2012 9:09 pm
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by Maya on Sun Nov 04, 2012 10:24 pm

Re: Out of control eczema on my hand.

Hi kap180.

I am 18 years old and have suffered with eczema since birth.
For the past 4-5 years I have had eczema on both hands and wrists.

I find cotton gloves fairly useful although I tend to scratch them apart or tear them off. I believe cotton socks work better as they can be pulled up to the elbow.

When I was young I tried Chinese medicinal treatment which cleared my skin (although it was not on my hands at that point) but weakened my immune system. After getting sick I had to stop treatment and it came back.

I would recommend going to a skin specialist again. Frustrating I know.

I, like you, really dislike my hands as they look like an old lady's and constantly split and crack. After 18 years I am still trying to convince the dr for a referral to a specialist :x

Good luck and I hope it clears up,

Maya

alvespit
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2013 12:40 pm
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by alvespit on Wed Jan 09, 2013 12:46 pm

Re: Out of control eczema on my hand.

Everyone has talked about the natural therapies for healing eczema, but no one recommended going to a Dermatologist. Here's my story..... I have had eczema all over my body for 2 yr's, and over the past three month's my hands were so cracked that I almost decited to give up being a MT. I thought it was stress, or someting I was eating that caused this. I spent a few hundred dollars on natural suppliments, oils, lotions, and had consultations with Homeopath's, & Nutritionist's , with NO IMPROVEMENT!! Finally, my boyfriend insisted that I see a Dermatologist. The docter identified my eczema on my hands, called CONTACT DERMATITIS which he said is most ofted caused by DISH DETERGENT!!!! Yes, you heard it DISH DETERGENT. I was shocked!!!! Anyway I was told to never wash dishes without long gloves on, and he suggested only using ceytaphyl, NO OTHER SOAP should be used, and to ware gloves with any chemical cleaners. I chose to get a cortizone shot, and my hands cleared up in three days! ::) I now keep my hands, & body moisterized with organic coconut oil. It was so valuable to get a real diagnosis, and learn what was irratating my skin.
Last edited by admin on Thu Jan 10, 2013 1:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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JanetValentin
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Aug 14, 2017 11:39 am
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by JanetValentin on Mon Aug 14, 2017 11:43 am

Re: Out of control eczema on my hand.

I've had sporadic eczema on my hands for as long as I can remember, but lately it got so bad that my skin was actually breaking, and it hurt simply to grasp something. I had tried pretty much everything, but most of the creams touted as eczema relievers did little more than moisturize and modify the itching. Foderma serum actually made a difference; it provided a surprising amount of relief just using it for the first time, but within two days, my skin started to heal. I took the advice of another reviewer and added Prevaclear so I was attacking the eczema both topically and from the inside, and the combination has been a minor miracle. I can't promise it will work for everyone, but it sure did work for me.

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