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i understand . that is my main point
itching. i understand
scratchining i understand!
feeling like your itching and scratching is self inflicted , i struggle with that all the time
i am starting on the eczema solution by sue armstrong brown
come with me i need help i can support you too. email me carolinejlever@yahoo.co.uk please

One year old little boy diagnoised at 2 months, occasional use of 1% steroid mostly use Epaderm and oilatum...areas affected legs arms and face occasionally.....these areas get very dry and scaly, not red are not inflamed by any foods washing products creams ect at times his skin is clear and soft this is when he starts scratching!! i wonder if his scratching is a habit as he does it at times when not busy ie: in his buggy/car seat he does not try to scratch through clothes does not have sleepless nights no wriggling or squirming that i would associate with itchy skin but when he gets going he causes massive damage and bleeding, goes into a trance like state and causes infection (how he manages with practically no nails i don't know) He always seems to attack his skin when it is not so dry hasn't attacked his face for about 3 months even though it is quite dry. Any input appreciated. Thanks

Eunice ,no I don't think it's a habit with your little boy he will have a genuine urge to scratch even with his emmoilients and creams on. It's the nature of any skin problem I'm afraid and I'm like that myself.

I find that Aveeno cream is helping to control my itch but I'm always itchy somewhere on my body and find I'm constantly dabbing something on to cool my skin down.

Thanks for the reply, just seems weird that he scratches most when his skin is soft and healthy, he recently had a virus resulting in a rash which was aggrivated by all lotions and potions so for 4 days we used nothing, his skin became incredibly dry and rough but he did not scratch once, so frustrating keeping him covered up in the hot weather just so he can't scratch this really is a very distressing condition

It's an awful condition and thankfully it's me and not my children who have it. As a parent it must be so difficult for you.

what can i say it has to be done i hate doing it i try not to but i have to then i get depresses and hate myself for making it work it get that bad on my face that i have to get a towel and rub my face till its red raw only then does the icth and the burning stop only to start again the next day . when busy at work i seem to keep the itching under control but do even at work find a time away from others where i can scrach the itch its worse when i begin to relax my skin just seems to come to life as if ive things walkin under it so i scrath the dam itch in fack my hand are alys rubbing scatchin touching im never still im the same at night and sleep very poorly because of this eczema is a curse a difficult one and its nice to think that someone out there knows how i feel

Well, what can i say? I dont think there is anyone out there who really enjoys their eczema. if you have only had it mild/moderately then I can understand why you would be in a happy place. Me personally, Ive had severe eczema most of my life, and when its under control (itching aside), im the happiest man on the planet, they call me the ladykiller. However, when its bad, I barely want to be seen in public. I have accepted that I will always have the condition, but that does not change the psychological affects it had on me through childhood, school and puberty.

I have friends who have it mildy and it barely even bothers them, their skins just a bit dry, they even use only vasoline to moisturise. Me however, it isnt just dry skin, its molluscum, inflammation and stiffness, redness, flaking, etc.

Its so difficult not to itch tho, jesus, Im fully aware im doing it, and i still cant stop. The reason i dont think the itch/scratch cycle would work for me is this - when im in public, with friends, at work, you will barely find me itching anymore than the average human. However, once I get home, get comfortable, take off my shirt/tie, thats it. Piriton sometimes helps, but not often. I do know this though, its definately a mental strength issue.


I now have a lil girl, who is 2 and touch wood doesnt appear to suffer from it, she has a few molluscum spots but thats quite common in children. She sometimes says 'stop scratching daddy', and I think to myself, rather me than you.

Hi there.

I'm new to this forum and just thought I'd see if anyone could help me help my boyfriend. He's 23 and has had eczema all his life. He used to have steroid creams when he was little but says they didn't work and just thinned his skin, so he refuses to use them now. He gets the eczema really badly on the inside of his elbows - tight, pink, fissured skin that seeps blood due to his incessant scratching. He can't leave it alone long enough for the cracks to close, so I can't use any anti-itch creams (I've looked so many times, but every single cream I find says it must not be used on broken skin). He scratches mostly when he's asleep - I have to hoover the bedsheets each day to remove the skin on them. I've tried bandaging his arms (shoulder to wrist) but he managed to get them off without even waking up! We've tried gloves (they get pulled off), anti-histimines, emoliants (diprobase, currently)... Nothing seems to work. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd be very grateful - it's making him very depressed and I'm worried for him. Thanks

Fran

Protopic is an option. It is not a steroid so no skin thinning risks. It would be well worth talking to the doctor about. Also has he ever tried wet wrapping his arms, this can sooth during the night. Also has he tried Hydromol or epiderm they are much greasier and can bring good results. Anna

I actually contemplated the thought if i had the chance to change my eczema would i? I literally went through my head "What would i do when i wanted to pick dead flakes off of myself" lol I dont know if i would or wouldnt