Wedding in a week bad hand eczema

[Feenelly]

Hi, i'm new to the forum and i'm really hoping for some advice.

I work in care and I am constantly putting gloves on (non latex one's, without powder) and washing my hands. I'm in absolute agony at the minute, my hands are all split and bleeding. Last night at work I was in so much pain I couldn't even put my hands round the mop to mop the floor.
This is only a problem that I really get in the winter, as soon as the central heating is turned on I break out. Over the years I have tried all sorts of things but haven't found anything, as yet, that really helps. I tried sleeping with cotton gloves on and woke up in the night scratching chunks out of my hands.

I have to wear gloves for work but even the non latex, non powdered one's are no good as my hands sweat inside them which just makes my hands worse, washing them after I take the gloves off just add's to the problem...any idea's on something more suitable or is it a case of grin and bear it?
I've been using hemp hand cream recently, which is ok on my days off, but nothing atall seem's to take the pain, redness, splitting away while at work. Even when I do put it on it brings tear's to my eyes because of the splits on my skin. Every cream I have ever used almost reduces me to tears when I put it on

I'm in despair so really could do with some help pleeeease.

Thanks Fee x x

[AnnaB]

Hi

Have you tried wearing the cotton gloves under the rubber/latex gloves??

Apply moisturiser as soon as you have washed your hands.

You sound like you may need steroids, but the hands are very tough so with a good doctor you should be ok to use them.

Good luck

[Sammie]

Reading your post, reminded me of how painful and frustrating hand eczema can be. And the dispare that you feel.
I mayself can not use fleece linded gloves. I have found that I can only where Satin Touch gloves, they sell them in Tesco. But, I also find that wearing any type of gloves for a prolonged period makes my hands sweat. Have you tried explainig your situation to your employer? They are usually very sympathetic, maybe they can help you work something out, so that you are not continually exposed to these elements.
What else is your hands coming into contact with?
I say in all my posts, it is essential that you have patch tests to illiminate posible triggers.
I wish you well..x

[Feenelly]

HI, thanks for replying. I can't wear the cotton gloves Anna, they make my hands sweat too much but I like the sound of the satin one's, I'll have a look for them in Tesco.
I've got to wear gloves at work as i'm working in an environment where I come into contact with bodily fluids and on hands like mine the last thing I want is contact as that will probably set up an infection and add to the problem.
I use cleaning solutions at work, mainly flash and dettol but I do try to keep contact minimal.

I think the next step is a trip to the doctor for steroids, i've had steroid creams in the past that were not really that helpful.
Where would I go for allergy tests? Does the Dr arrange them or do I need to see a dermatologist?

Fee xx

[_heidi_]

Hi, I've had hand eczema for the past 6 months and wasted the first few months going to the dermatologist and using steriod creams which did not work but have made my fingers all wrinckled. Go to a natruapath for allergy testing you should'nt need a referal. I did this recently and found out I am intolerant to alot of things which I am in the process of avoiding at the moment.

[Sammie]

When you have eczema on your hands and it is quite bad, It is really horrible. You need your hands to do almost everything. And if you have children to care for, it can add to the frustration.

You ask your doctor for a referal. G.Ps are all to happy to hand out steroids like they are smarties. In the short term steroids can work wonders. But once you stop using them, the eczema comes back worse. INSIST that your G.P refer you to a specialist, who will carry out patch tests.
I use simple soap and products on my skin, and use surcare washing powder.
If your skin is also hypersentitive, Tesco also do a sensitive plaster range. I have found these to be very good for covering split skin temporarily.
I have not had an eczema outbreak for many years, and avoid the triggers (there are quite a lot) at all costs.
I stoke up on the things that I can use, incase at any point these things are unavailable when I need them most.
I wish you well..xx

[AnnaB]

Hi

Our Dermatologist refered us for patch testing. For my son he had 2 full batches covering his whole back, the second lot were with UV exposure. All the results came back clear so it was no big answer for us. My daughter is being tested next month.

As for steroids we were told you need one strong enough to clear the eczema in a couple of weeks, then going forward it is a case of using it every week upto 3 days and you a break of 4 days and thinning will not be a problem. We use "weekend therapy" using them at weekends even if the skin is good to keep it away.

We have to balance the use of steroids with a quality of life.

[donna86]

Hi I dont know if it might help for you, my hands are the only place I dont get eczema, but when they start feeling dry and itchy I always have a parraffin wax dip. Its a hot wax which you dip your hands in then get them wrapped up. It is a really nourishing and hydrating treatment. they should offer this service in most beauty salons. hope this helps!

[millymollyouch]

Hey Ive got exactly the same problem, on my hands is the only place I have eczema. Its so bad I itch even at night time until my hands are in so much pain and raw. However its only on my fingers and in between the webs. I also get it during the winter season and also when washing my hands alot, it can get pretty bad,but it comes and goes like every other week.
My doctor told me to stay off dairy for a while as I did notice it made it flare up sometimes, but its not the main culprit. In fact I heard its the water we use on our hands, which depends on where you live, so in London there is hardwater which is not so good news for eczema sufferers.
More and more people are starting to suffer from eczema and its because of our environment;the stress, pollution, chemicals and toxins in our food etc, are all contributing to health problems and most commonly now, skin conditions.

I started using organic products recently and I have seen a slight improvement within a week. I bought organic aloe vera gel for my hands and even body and hair shampoos which are organic and for sensitive skin, as obviously I have to use my hands to have a shower and they really suffer in pain with normal products. I actually had such a severe bout of hand eczema 2 weeks ago that I took days off as I couldn't wash myself it was so bad.

Lastly my doctor just yesterday prescribed me a steroid based cream 'Betamethasone valerate' and also DiproBase cream. I also bought myself an organic natural hand sanitiser without the alcohol and nasty harsh chemicals and it doesn't hurt my hands, so I recommend buying it at any health shop you go. MIne is called 'Bently Organic' moisturising hand sanitiser, but Im sure there's others in a health shop nearby. Anyway since using the creams the doctor prescribed me I already have an improvement in my hands and thats after only 3 applications since starting yesterday, but dont know if it will continue to improve, we'll see, will try and update you on result. Hope thats helpful to you.

[chobo]

Hi, I have had eczema on and off since I was a teenager and now it is back again with a vengeance. My eczema is on the backs of my fingers, the worst fingers are the middle and pointer fingers. I have tried many creams, but most of them make it worse... I tried my best to fight it without having to go on steroids, but it got pretty bad and I was prescribed antibiotics and steroids.

This cleared it up about 90%, but as I was weening myself off the steroids it started coming back slowly. I now have pretty dry skin that is becoming more inflammed and it is spreading. What's so frustrating is that I eat quite healthy (no fast food, hardly any sweets or junk food, cook everyday, and use some organic products). I also started taking a probiotic a few days ago along with an omega 3-6-9 oil once a day.

I even use a special soap (Cetaphil) for my hands that is quite good, but expensive. I currently do not have any moisturizers because I am scared it will make my hands worse. Every time I have tried a cream or moisturizer it would work for a few days then get worse. In almost all case I would get those tiny fluid filled bumps that would become so itchy and would weep after scratching. I remember when I first put on my steroid cream my fingers became so wet because it removed all the water from those bumps.

Has anyone else had this problem? Everything I have read says I need to moisturize, but I'm scared to get those tiny weeping bumps that will cause me to itch. Right now my hands are dry, red, flaking, and are getting harder to bend.

If anyone has some advice, I'd greatly appreciate it. I don't know what to do anymore.

Thanks