Eczema

I heard months ago that people who around cats from birth are more likely to suffer from allergies and eczema. I dont have allergies but ive had eczema for maybe 11 years, since i starts high school and the stress hit me (it's only between my fingers and bit oninside of my hands) and cats have been in my family since before i was born

Originally Posted by Dragoriana

I heard months ago that people who around cats from birth are more likely to suffer from allergies and eczema. I dont have allergies but ive had eczema for maybe 11 years, since i starts high school and the stress hit me (it's only between my fingers and bit oninside of my hands) and cats have been in my family since before i was born

Click to expand...

My Mom was severely asthmatic so we couldn't have cats. We did have a small dog when I was a toddler, and we had a large dog for a few years, but he was kept outside. No cats though. Yet I ended up being the sickly, allergic child in the family.

I have it on my hands (both hands on the fingers and at the base of the fingers on the palm side)! I've had it for about a year here and have been using a prescription cream for it, but it really doesn't seem to do much! It gets so bad sometimes that my hands crack and bleed. I've been using Dove nighttime hand cream the last few days, and it seems to be doing more than anything I've tried thus far! The bumps seem to be drying up and getting smaller, and not so itchy anymore, but the skin around is moisturized and not getting new breakouts!

I used to only get it when I wore jewellery because of metal allergies, but now it doesn't seem to matter what I do, my hands are awful!

When using creams and lotions you have to be really sure there is no perfume or alcohol (think brad paisley ) in it. I've found that if it's got it in it, it just makes my skin worse.

i have eczema on my heels. they split ALL the time and i scrub them often and put lotion on... does anyone have any ideas on how to treat split heels? i can barely walk!

also - if you use an exfoliator (no alcohol in it) once a week it helps remove the dead skin so your lotion can actually do the work it is supposed to....

Peruvian Balsam a.k.a. Balsam of Peru and Peru Balsam in it's thick dark brown ointment form can work. For some people it really helps, but for others it can be dangerous.

If you do want to try it, test a small area of your skin that is unaffected by eczema with the balm. If your skin does not react within a week, it may be safe to try it on your eczema. I've seen it work wonders for both psoriasis (sp?) and eczema on both normal people and those with suppressed immune systems. Don't try it if you have kidney problems though, and don't use it more than once per week.

Since it goes by many names, you'll know you have the right stuff if it is very thick, dark brown and tar-like in it's consistency. It's very tacky on the skin and it may be difficult to wash off the next day.

Originally Posted by babyharley

I'm definately going to have to check that out- is it spendy stuff?

Click to expand...

Not too bad - a $10 pump bottle lasts me several months.

Originally Posted by Renovia

i have this and all those things lucky girl said are great! I have also used elidel with good results and also arbonne.

the one thing that really helps though is actually TANNING, it does something to my skin that really helps. part of it is that i put lotion on a bunch because of the tanning - but i think the tanning helps too.

Click to expand...

Yes, I forgot to mention tanning.... but even when I do tan, I used a sun block/moisturizer on my face & one of their lotions on my body.... but it all but goes away with tanning...

Originally Posted by babyharley

I'm definately going to have to check that out- is it spendy stuff?

Click to expand...

only like $10-$12 Kenz, and it's a heavy lotion, meaning 1 pump spreads along way, you have to rub it in real good.

Originally Posted by Renovia

When using creams and lotions you have to be really sure there is no perfume or alcohol (think brad paisley

) in it. I've found that if it's got it in it, it just makes my skin worse.

i have eczema on my heels. they split ALL the time and i scrub them often and put lotion on... does anyone have any ideas on how to treat split heels? i can barely walk!

also - if you use an exfoliator (no alcohol in it) once a week it helps remove the dead skin so your lotion can actually do the work it is supposed to....

Click to expand...

yes, good points, I use a soft loofah weekly, anything too rough hurts... for your heels try these... http://www.blissworld.com/product/bl...c=false&page=1

I had them for awhile when my feet were terrible, they worked great. I slept with them on.... Or I've done the vaseline treatment or you could use aquaphor too... and an old pair of socks, and cake it on heavy on your heels/toes & slip the socks on & sleep that way. When you get up in the am just towel dry off your feet & put on new socks. You'll want to use the same "vaseline socks" each night instead of ruining a new pair every day...

Originally Posted by laureen227

don't know about eczema, particularly, but i've heard good things about Aquaphor for dry skin...

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info Laureen

I did a mini-rotation in Dermatology several months ago, and the Derm professor says the key is hydration:

Soak in a tub of warm (not hot water); immerse all affected parts.
No soaps, no scrubs, no perfumes; maybe a few drops of fragrant oil -- if you must. Soak about 20 min.
Pat dry w/ towel, no rubbing.
Thin -- THIN -- layer of vaseline jelly to seal in the moisture. If you're all slick & slippery, you're putting too much on.

OTC lotions won't help much. Gotta go with prescription steroid creams.
But see a dermatologist. They see this stuff all the time. Some cases are just tough to get rid of.

Good Luck!

Well, the Dove experiment failed! Fresh outbreak last night while I was sleeping! It doesn't seem to matter what I try, nothing works permanently! Not even the prescription steroid creams.