Eczema flare up

[skpcambridge]

Hi there

I've had awful eczema flare ups the last few weeks and have been on steroids (hydrocortisone, Clobetasone) endless emollients (I've tried everything, and sure it helps with the itching and dryness but I'm no big fan of having a greasy face and the stickiness is so distracting that I end up rubbing my skin and it's impossible to get to work and face people.)

It's mostly on my face, back of my neck, cleavage, inside of my arms, a patch on my stomach and my lower back and sometimes around my nipples but not as dry and scaly...

I've been on a course of antibiotics and that didn't do much. I tried Fusidic acid for a few days. The steroid eases the pain, redness but then it just comes back and I am hesitant to use steroids for more than 10 days at a time.

I have asthma - I've had it since I was a child - but it's really never has been better. I haven't wheezed or needed an inhaler in a year, usually if I exercise and am a bit breathless...

I don't think I have any food allergies as such, I thought I used to sensitive to shell fish when I was younger - but it seem to bother me.

I'm not sure what to do next.

[Marcie Mom]

Sorry to hear this.. maybe consider an allergy test/ patch test? Particularly near the scalp, could be sensitivity to shampoo? Take care and hope all get better soon!

[Stella741]

Hi Skp...

I am really sorry to hear about your flare ups. Have you ever done bowel cleansing?

I say this because, I had flare ups for 4 years in a row from 2012-2016 from head to foot and by 2016, I was debilitated and had to use Tubifast bandages.

To stop the itching, I had to go raw vegan cold turkey as nothing worked including a trip to A&E at midnight.
Fortunately, some kind people gave me some tubes of Forever Living Aloe Vera belly. I applied generously then applied raw shea butter mixed with raw coconut oil. Then I applied the Tubifast bandages which I wore at night.

My bathing regime was to oil myself before stepping into a bath with 1kg of Dead Sea Salts. I did this every night for at least 3 weeks so that my skin would not get infected. As a skin specialist told me I was taking too many baths, I reduced the baths to every other day, then as the skin healed, to twice a week.

One thing I can tell you is to drastically reduce the amount of sugary drinks you consume. Even if they are natural fruit juices. A pharmaceutical technician advised me that "if you have a skin problem, you should not eat anything sugary or sweet as it causes inflammation". I listened and found it to be true.

I eat plenty of steamed oily fish like mackerel or sardines with salad. I also drink avocado smoothies which I make at home. If eating out, I choose chicken with salad. I do not eat any bread as floury food gives me a floury face the next morning.

As for a bowel cleanse, if you can find a herbal one, it will be gentle on your system and cleanse you from the inside. You will find that your skin will become much calmer and also more normal. You should do a bowel cleanse for at least 2 months. Twice a year. Especially at the change of season.

I hope that you get better and that your skin will turn around for the better.

All the best,

Stella

[talkhealth]

Hi Stella741

Thank you for your recent post. It's really useful when the members of our community reply to posts as it gives a real insight into how other people overcome problems and/or learn to live with things. Thank you for taking the time to contribute.

Kind regards
talkhealth