P-Vate Eczema Cream
Up until now I have been using Eumovate eczema which you can get over the counter (OTC) from Boots chemists in England. It says not to use it for more than seven days in a row but I have been using it for a few years with no side-effects so far. As long as I keep using it the eczema stays away but as soon as I stop with the cream the eczema comes back. Although sometimes the eczema does go away but another patch will always spring up in another area.
Recently another small patch sprung up on the end of my right-hand little finger. It was around the nail area and soon spread to the two fingers next to it. As usual I smothered the patches in Eumovate but it was quite a stubborn patch and after about a month or so of daily Eumovate use, although it had calmed down a bit, it was still there. My Eumovate cream ran out and normally I’d go and buy some more but as I’m now living in Thailand I couldn’t find any. I went into a chemist and asked them if they had any eczema cream and they gave me some P-Vate clobetasol propionate cream. The pharmacist said it was very strong and not to use it for more than a few days. I got home and applied the cream and by the next day the skin was already looking much better and now a week later of applying the cream around three times a day it is almost gone.
I don’t know much about this type of cream so hope there are no long term risks of using it long term but for now I am very happy with it.
Does the sea make your eczema better?
Last week I was at the beach and went swimming in the sea most days. Although it stings a bit it appears as though the sea water has helped my eczema. I have one patch on my little finger by the nail which I am fighting with Eumovate and it almost gone but not quite.
After a week in the sea it did look better, or at least different!
Anyone else found this?
Eczema on my Thumb Joint part II
In my previous post I posted some photos of my eczema before I started using any cream on it. This photo was taken 21 days after the last set during which I had been applying Eumovate cream 2-3 times per day every day. As you can see it has gotten much better.
Eczema 3 June 2009 photo #1
Eczema on my Thumb Joint
A few years ago I posted photos of the eczema on my right hand just below where my thumb starts. Using Eumovate cream I managed to get rid of that patch of eczema after many months of use. It went quite quickly once using the cream but if I stopped it would come back just as quick. But after a year or so it stopped coming back. Now I have another patch on the same hand but a bit closer to my thumb on the thumb joint. I went on holiday and didn’t take my Eumovate cream with me and after a week the patch of eczema had gotten quite big. Here are some photos of it as its peak. Enjoy!
Eczema 13 May 2009 photo #1
Eczema 13 May 2009 photo #2
Eczema 13 May 2009 photo #3
Dry Skin on my Face
My eyelids have been quite dry and itchy for a few weeks now but now next to my eye I have got a small patch of dry skin that looks suspiciously like eczema!
Eumovate, the cream I have been using says not to use it on your face as it can damage the skin which is a shame as it has worked wherever I have put it before. Hopefully it won’t develop into full blown eczema as I don’t think I’d be too happy with it on my face!
E45 Cream gets UK TV Advert
Just saw a TV advert for E45 cream for the first time and it mentioned it was used to treat eczema. I use it when my skin is dry and it helps with that but I’ve not had much success using it on my eczema.
HC45 cream on the other hand is much more useful for eczema but it is an over the counter cortisol cream so that is to be expected.
There are a number of products, a shower gel, cream etc.
Another Little Patch of Eczema
Small Patch of Eczema on my Inner Upper Arm
Nothing much really but its a new eczema site. Hopefully the Eumovate cream will quickly reduce it and keep it away for a while.
The Battle Continues…
The impetigo isn’t really going away but its not getting any worse which is good.
I’ve got small patches of eczema trying to break through on my arms and hands but I’m keeping it at bay with the Eumovate cream. I’m hoping that once the weather starts to get warmer and dryer the eczema will die down. For now it’s my best hope of a cure.
Impetigo
I think I have found something worse than eczema: Impetigo!
Similiar to what I've got/had
It first appears as a small scratch or itchy patch of eczema - skin inflammation - on seemingly healthy skin. A small red, itchy spot quickly develops into a blister containing a yellow substance.
Later, the top of the blister becomes crusty and weeps while new blisters develop in the same place or on other parts of the body. Impetigo usually begins on the face, especially around the corners of the mouth, the nose and back of the ears.
I started getting really dry lips a couple of weeks ago and then they started to become itchy and scratchy. I thought it might be a cold sore but as I’d not had one before I wasn’t sure. I tried some Zovirax but it didn’t make it any better. Next I tried some Blistex cream which is for dry and damaged lips. This kept them moist if I used it regularly but the itching persisted and soon little bubbles or blisters where appearing. When I’d wake up in the morning my lips would be covered in a a layer of yellow crust as the blisters had wept in the night. Not only was this painful but it was now starting to look very gross!
I thought it must be eczema as I have had weeping eczema before but I spoke to a few people and they suggested it might be impetigo. After doing some reading on the web it looked like I would need to see a doctor. I booked my appointment and told them the symptoms and they said it was likely to be impetigo. I got a prescription for some Fucidin cream which is fusidic acid and started applying it three-four times a day with instruction from the doctor to come back in a week if it had not cleared up. Within a day it was starting to get better and by day four it was almost gone and the lips were no longer so dry. But then I woke up this morning on day six and the blisters and the golden crust was back! Looks like impetigo might be an formidable opponent as eczema!
Eczema as Art?
I stumbled upon this item on amazon today. Its not the first thing I would think of to do with a photo of eczema. Maybe I should get some of my eczema pictures done!
Eczema as Art
Buy 40″ eczema print from Amazon, I think it would make a lovely gift!
The only thing that cures Eczema for me 100%
I’ve tried a fair few things and some have worked somtimes whilst some have done nothing at all.
The only thing I have tried that will clear up a patch of eczema everytime I’ve used it is Eumovate:
Of course, it nearly always comes back but its better than nothing.
You can get it over the counter at places like Boots or get it online at Amazon.
Click here to buy Emovate from Amazon
Cick here to buy Emovate from Boots
Do you have an allergy?
I came across these bracelets that look like the would be useful for kids or perhaps older people who have allergies:
They are available from Mediband and are only a couple of quid.
They also do a wallet card that lists your allergies etc.
Back for Christmas
Maybe its the winter, maybe its the stress of Christmas approaching but either way the eczema is making a comeback.
The patch that started this blog is looking a bit red after being gone for months and there is a little patch on my right wrist.
Today I noticed about a 3″ cirular patch on the inside of my right elbow.
I’m guessing its to do with stress and I know what’s causing my stress at the moment, just not sure what to do about it…
Update: just as this batch came it has gone. In the last few days I have started getting an itch on right calf which I am using Eumovate on which should clear it up.
Article: Spa trips for eczema a sufferers
Article in The Times about a spa for eczema and psoriasis sufferers.
In France patients with severe skin conditions are referred by their GPs for a minimum three-week stay at the Avène Hydrotherapy Centre.
Just when I think I’m clear…
…they pull me back in.
I posted a comment on a previous post saying how I was eczema free.
Looks like I spoke a bit too soon…
Update
Just a little update so I can keep track of what’s going on…
I am still using the Eumovate cream on the initial patch on my hand.
I’ve got little spots of eczema on my forearms and upper arms which I am using the cream on to keep at bay.
I had a blister on my big toe which didnt heal and turned into eczema, the cream is keeping this away but I have to use it every day.
The skin on my cheeks is quite dry but is not eczema yet.
There is some suspicious looking dry patches of skin just infront of my ears but hopfully it won’t become eczema.
Summer is nearly here so hopefully that will help with the dry skin and maybe cure the eczema?
I am quite stressed at the moment as I am arranging a stag do and have a best man’s speech to give at a wedding in about a month. Plus I am skint as usual!
17,311 hits!
I noticed the other day this blog has had 17,311 since it started.
“Wow” I thought. I never realised so many people would check my blog. Turns out my progress pictures are on the first page of a Google image search for ‘eczema’.
I wonder if anyone is reading my posts after viewing the images?
Red Face
Well, after my very red and dry skin over Christmas I am now back at work and back in the gym. My skin was totally clear on my face when I went back to work but after a hard cardio workout yesterday lunch time it got really red and lumpy. It had calmed down by the following morning but one can just see the red areas although they are quite faint.
It seems the heat from the workout and the shower after are causing my face to go all red and patchy. I can’t stop going to the gym but don’t want the red face.
I have googled some cooling face creams, has anyone used any of these:
Korres Yogurt Cooling Gel Moisturising Face And Body Aftersun Gel:
Jason Witch Vera Cooling Gel:
If so let me know what you think of them.
Thanks.
Home-made Humidifier
As I suspect the dry heat from central heating is drying my skin and helping to bring on my eczema.
Due to this I have been looking at humidifiers. I have read you can make your own by draping a wet towel over a radiator or even leave a bowl of water on top of the heater - I tried that but no water appeared to have evaporated.
I came across a few products that clip on the radiator, has anyone tried them?
Back in the offfice…
Well I am back at work after two weeks off for Christmas.
On around the 23 December my face was really dry and scratchy and I set off for Christmas with an angry looking face. I used E45 cream over the next few days which didn’t really do much. But a few days out of the dry office and avoiding hot showers my skin was on the mend. I bought some Botanics skin cream which goes on well and seemed to help clear it up as after a few days my skin was totally clear on my face. I’m not sure if it ‘cured’ it as it was clearing up a bit any ways but it stops it from itching. I will continue to use it for the foreseeable. Hopefully being back in the dry office won’t set my face skin off again. Its not very hot today so fingers crossed. Also I will be back in the gym at lunch time after two weeks off, ususaly getting hot and sweaty makes my dry skin a fair bit worse.
What triggered my face to go all scaly:
- stressing about Christmas?
- the dry heat of the new office?
- the cold winter air?
Who knows…
Dry Skin in Winter
Our new office is really hot and dry, my eyes were getting a bit itchy but now my skin is really drying up - especially on my face, don’t think its eczema but its early days - something to look forward to.
Is there anything you can do to stop the air indoors being so dry?
I saw this on another blog which might be of use:
http://www.eczemaskintreatment.com/2007/12/04/winter-tips-for-dry-eczema-skin/
What are your tips for beating winter dryness?
One year on…
It was around this time last year that my current crop of eczema started to appear.
It was just a small patch on my right hand and after taking a homeopathic remedy it went away for a while, then it came back and after taking another dose of the same remedy it went away. Over Christmas (2006) it came back and got worse from then on - read previous posts for full gory details (with pics!). The remedies stopped working.
Since its almost been a year since then some more eczema has started to appear. There are just a few ’spots’ on my left arm, around the elbow, but on the outside of the arm. It doesn’t really look like eczema yet as it hasn’t broken out completely, hopefully it won’t. I’ve been using some E45 type cream on it twice a day to keep it from itching but haven’t used a steroid cream on it yet as I am trying a few homeopathic remedies first.
Why homeopathy?
I know the cortisone cream (Eumovate) I am still using on the patch on my hand will make it go away but it won’t cure it and I will have to use the cream forever as I am doing on my hand (about 10 months now). As I would like to avoid this I am trying other methods first that are more likely to cure the eczema rather than push it back under the skin.
If the remedies don’t work I will reluctantly use some over the counter meds but I will see what happens…
Why this time of year?
It seems a bit of a co-incednce that more eczema has appeared around the same time as last year.
Is it the stress from Christmas?
Is it the change in weather? Its pretty cold here now after a mild autumn and run up to winter.
Is it an allergic reaction? I’ve never associated my eczema with allergies but it could be the change from wearing t-shirts everyday to wearing long sleeved tops that has caused the skin on my arms react. I don’t think it is personally.
I’ll be posting a bit more now as I have something eczema related to write about.
Feel free to post up any comments you think may be of use.
Book Recommendation
If anyone is thinking of giving homeopathy a try, I found this book quite good: Understanding Eczema - Natural Solutions That Really Work: How You Can Use Natural Remedies, Herbs, Diet and Nutrition to Heal Eczema
Quick Update
The skin on my hand is a bit red still but not that noticable.
I’m still using the Eumovate cream (OTC) every day even though it shouldnt be used for more than seven days.
Am currently taking homeopathic remedies too.
Progress Pictures part II
Check out these eBooks: Beat Eczema Now | Cure Your Eczema in 14 Days | Eczema Diet Secrets
I have been taking the Hc45 Hydrocortisone Cream which I got from Boots (OTC) for seven days and it has made a great improvement. I’ve taken the plaser off as its no longer bleeding or itching but it still looks a bit gross. I put the cream on the eczema on my arms which had only been there for about a week and its almost all gone.
The Hc45 should only be taken for seven days and those seven days are up but I’m going to continue for two more days as I’ve seeing the doctor then.
I’ve been avoiding using any kind of steroid cream all my life but am now kicking myself I left it so long to try them. I hope I am not jumping the gun and it doesnt stop working and the eczema comes back.
Check out these eBooks: Beat Eczema Now | Cure Your Eczema in 14 Days | Eczema Diet Secrets
Progress Pictures
Check out these eBooks: Beat Eczema Now | Cure Your Eczema in 14 Days | Eczema Diet Secrets
I’ve started to take some photos of the patch of eczema on my hand. It can sometimes be hard to tell if it is getting better or worse (depending on how much you scratch it) so the pictures will give me something to track my progress against. That should help me see what is helping and what is making it worse.
This was just when I’d started using a plaster to cover it:
Check out these eczema eBooks: Beat Eczema Now | Cure Your Eczema in 14 Days | Eczema Diet Secrets
After two weeks of wearing a plaster during the day you can see what appears to be contact dermatitis from the adhesive on the plaster:
Check out these eczema eBooks: Beat Eczema Now | Cure Your Eczema in 14 Days | Eczema Diet Secrets
Ten days on and its only getting worse:
The last photo was taken before I started using the Hc45 cream. Hopefully it won’t get any worse.
I have to cover it with a plaster but I do think the glue on the plaster is making it worse. There doesn’t seem to be any plasters that don’t use rosin which is a common cause of contact dermititus.
Check out these eczema eBooks: Beat Eczema Now | Cure Your Eczema in 14 Days | Eczema Diet Secrets
Hc45 Hydrocortisone Cream
http://www.e45.com/main.asp?pid=3390
I bought some of this today from Boots. Its my first foray into cortisol based products. It says not to use it on broken skin but isn’t eczema broken skin? I put it on the patch on my hand anyways which although broken, was not an open wound. The directions state not to use it for more than seven days so I shall use it for a week and see what happen. I’ve also registered with a doctor so will go and see them once the paper work has gone through.
A Fish ate my Eczema!
Sounds like fun:
Dillon was so convinced by the fish that she spent the next six years, with her Turkish husband, setting up a clinic - Skin Therapy Ireland - to treat psoriasis, dermatitis and eczema.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,2053294,00.html
False Dawn
Although the patch on my hand has increased by about 300% over the past few weeks, yesterday it appeared to be clearing up a little. I felt happy for once as I had visions of it receding until it was gone. But the next day it was back to normal and as raw as before.
My main objective now is to join a doctor’s surgery and get an appointment so I can get some steroid cream.
Eczema Forum?
Is there one? I haven’t seen one that resembles a traditional, functional forum.
I think it would be a good idea and could be quite useful.
Anyone got any plans to set one up?
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
I have been using a plaster to cover the eczema on my hand as it is an open wound and could become infected, plus it looks rank. But it seems the glue on the plaster has given me dermatitis or more eczema. The patch is the perfect shape of the plaster so it seems pretty likely.
more info on allergic contact dermatitis and a photo of what it looks like.
Does anyone know of any plasters that do not use rosin or colophony for their adhesive?
Steroid Creams
I’ve never treated my eczema with anything other than homeopathy as thats the way I was brought up.
Prescription drugs are bad and will just suppress any illness and it will either come back worse or will give you something more serious. That was what I was told and that is what I believe.
This is the first time I have had eczema in about three to four years and the first time I have had it in a place where it is on display (my hand). I have taken a homeopathic remedy and it has not cleared up yet and has spread to my arms and legs although it hasnt broken the skin in many places yet.
Its really getting me down as I can’t go to the gym as the heat makes it worse, I have to have a plaster on my hand all day, and it generally hurts and itches all day.
I need a quick fix and I am tempted to turn to the dark side to get it.
Am I being overly dramatic and should I just get down the chemist and get some HC45 cream and give it a try?
Hmmm.
My eczema history
I first had eczema when I was a baby. I have had it on and off since then. Usually there are gaps of two to three years of no eczema then it will appear and then after varying lengths of time it will go.
I have always treated it using homeopathy and have never used anything from a doctor or a pharmacy (up until now). For this occurrence I have tried using E45 cream and Eucerin on it. This has been the first time I have used anything non-’alternative’ on it. I have always believed eczema to be purely psychosomatic but after looking on the Internet I have seen there are reports of people stating it is caused by allergies and that is a genetic issue.
Currently I have eczema on my hand (a first!) that is about the size of a 50p coin. I keep it covered with a plaster during the day as it looks gross plus it stops from me scratching it. It first came around Christmas (2006) time and since then I have taken a homeopathic remedy and it has gone but then came back again. I have recently taken a different remedy but now I’m getting it on my arms and legs but has yet to properly break out and is just itchy. My face is also itchy too. Hopefully this is the ‘better before it gets worse’ part.
We shall see!
About this blog
During this recent bout of eczema I have been researching it on the internet, looking for cures, reasons why I have it etc and during that process I decided it might be a good idea to keep a journal so I can look back and see what worked and what didnt and maybe others could too.
This is also my first ever blog.