Eczema?

[Octoberbride03]

I have been dealing with red blotches on my face for awhile now, and I am starting to think that maybe its eczema instead of just dry skin patches. The only thing that really deals with them so far is cortaid, which is what got me thinking on it. Had been thinking Psoriasis but googling doesn't come up with pics that look like me. They look worse.

So who here has eczema and what do you use on a daily basis to deal with it?

TIA

 

[Angelhalo]

Clobetasol Propionate Cream. I've had excema on my hands for years and this is the only thing that works for me.

 

[SaraJayne]

Clobetasol Propionate Cream. I've had excema on my hands for years and this is the only thing that works for me.

This is what I use on my psoriasis. My son has eczema and honestly, we use all kinds of stuff, but none of it works very well.

He has terrible looking skin.

 

[Angelhalo]

This is what I use on my psoriasis. My son has eczema and honestly, we use all kinds of stuff, but none of it works very well.

He has terrible looking skin.

Yeah. I think somehow it is different for everyone. I've tried everything under the sun throughout the years. Hydrocortisones do nothing, Retin-A did nothing, I had one that had to be refrigerated but I can't remember the name...the only thing that has worked for me is the Clobetisol. I have one that is a cream for when I need to use it during the day and don't want people to see it. But, when I'm at home or using it overnight, I use the ointment because my DH's dad who is a doctor says if any medicine has an ointment version, to choose it over the cream because the ointment works better. The only bad part is that the ointment is greasy.

 

[Gretchen]

Could be roseacea-
For eczema we use baby soap, rinse well-only use a clean washcloth or well aired poof. Generic lubriderm from walmart put on damp skin to keep it hydrated. We use aquaphour at the first sign of redness. Mometasone when it starts to itch. Also, you can try bleach baths--or a nice dip in a chlorinated pool--supposed to kill the bacteria.
Good luck

 

[java]

Ah eczema- my old nemisis. My now 16 year old had it very bad as a 5 year old. It flared up the first time in the summer- they couldn't figure out what it was - finally got the eczema diagnosis.

We were given a steroid to put on him. Since it was ALL over his body I was very uncomfortable rubbing this steroid all over him.

I started trying to find the triggers.
Turns out he had a Red Dye allergy, PABA allergy and a handful of other random ones.

He was allergic to Laundry soap. I started double rinsing and only use Tide Free for his clothing.

Hot water makes it worse. So be careful when washing your face. Do you use a washcloth? Maybe that could be a trigger for you as well.

All I can say is I am grateful that we were able to find his triggers and he has been symptom free for the last 10 years!

 

[Angelhalo]

Ah eczema- my old nemisis. My now 16 year old had it very bad as a 5 year old. It flared up the first time in the summer- they couldn't figure out what it was - finally got the eczema diagnosis.

We were given a steroid to put on him. Since it was ALL over his body I was very uncomfortable rubbing this steroid all over him.

I started trying to find the triggers.
Turns out he had a Red Dye allergy, PABA allergy and a handful of other random ones.

He was allergic to Laundry soap. I started double rinsing and only use Tide Free for his clothing.

Hot water makes it worse. So be careful when washing your face. Do you use a washcloth? Maybe that could be a trigger for you as well.

All I can say is I am grateful that we were able to find his triggers and he has been symptom free for the last 10 years!

I wish I had triggers, then maybe I could do something about it. Unfortunately none for me. Water makes it terrible, hot, cold, doesn't matter. If it gets wet, it gets REALLY dry and irritated.

 

[golfgal]

Try Head and Shoulders shampoo on the spots and see if that helps. It will sting some but it helps tremendously with eczema as strange as it sounds. My DS's use this when they get flair-ups on their faces.

 

[smschex]

Clobetasol (brand name Temovate) is a pretty potent steroid and often works great on eczema, but it should not be used on the face. The more potent steroids can cause skin atrophy and also have increased systemic absorption from the face.

Desonide (DesOwen) is a low to medium potency steroid that can be used on the face. We have used it successfully on my daughter's facial eczema, but it does require a prescription.

If it is getting worse a dermatologist might be able to give you something to quickly take care of the problem. But I understand--I HATE to go to the doctor!

 

[allison443]

Clobetasol Propionate Cream. I've had excema on my hands for years and this is the only thing that works for me.

Me too! It is amazing.

 

[abdmom]

DH had terrible eczema. When he was a teenager/early 20's, his hands would develop cracks. He used steroid cream and ointment liberally. He also used it on dd who also had eczema. The eczema got slightly better, but never went away for either of them. At age 41, dh contracted a really rare terminal cancer. Since steroids screw up your immune system and cancer can be a disease of the immune system, I threw out every steroid tube I could find. Now, I use Aveeno cream on dd, plus make sure she wears gloves (it's mainly her hands) as soon as it gets slightly chilly outside and her eczema goes away. Come to think of it - dd had also had terrible problems with warts on her hands while she was on the steroid cream. No problems since stopping steroids.

 

[SaraJayne]

Clobetasol (brand name Temovate) is a pretty potent steroid and often works great on eczema, but it should not be used on the face. The more potent steroids can cause skin atrophy and also have increased systemic absorption from the face.

Desonide (DesOwen) is a low to medium potency steroid that can be used on the face. We have used it successfully on my daughters facial eczema, but it does require a prescription.

If it is getting worse a dermatologist might be able to give you something to quickly take care of the problem. But I understand--I HATE to go to the doctor!

Up to this point, we've only seen the pediatrician for DS's eczema, but our next step will be the dermatologist...probably within a couple months.

 

[Angelhalo]

Clobetasol (brand name Temovate) is a pretty potent steroid and often works great on eczema, but it should not be used on the face. The more potent steroids can cause skin atrophy and also have increased systemic absorption from the face.

Desonide (DesOwen) is a low to medium potency steroid that can be used on the face. We have used it successfully on my daughter's facial eczema, but it does require a prescription.

If it is getting worse a dermatologist might be able to give you something to quickly take care of the problem. But I understand--I HATE to go to the doctor!

My DR. says the clobetasol cream 0.05% can be used very sparingly on the face but not the ointment. However I don't have any excema on my face so I've never needed to use it there.

 

[smschex]

My DR. says the clobetasol cream 0.05% can be used very sparingly on the face but not the ointment. However I don't have any excema on my face so I've never needed to use it there.

Of course, your DR. is free to recommend whatever he/she wants and you should follow his/her recommendations. I was going by the info from the product insert:

Indications and Usage for Clobetasol Cream

Clobetasol propionate cream and ointment are super-high potency corticosteroid formulations indicated for the relief of the inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses. Treatment beyond 2 consecutive weeks is not recommended, and the total dosage should not exceed 50 g/week because of the potential for the drug to suppress the hypothalamicpituitary- adrenal (HPA) axis. Use in pediatric patients under 12 years of age is not recommended.

As with other highly active corticosteroids, therapy should be discontinued when control has been achieved. If no improvement is seen within 2 weeks, reassessment of the diagnosis may be necessary.



Precautions

General

Clobetasol propionate cream and ointment should not be used in the treatment of rosacea or perioral dermatitis, and should not be used on the face, groin, or axillae.

 

[Angelhalo]

Of course, your DR. is free to recommend whatever he/she wants and you should follow his/her recommendations. I was going by the info from the product insert:

Indications and Usage for Clobetasol Cream

Clobetasol propionate cream and ointment are super-high potency corticosteroid formulations indicated for the relief of the inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses. Treatment beyond 2 consecutive weeks is not recommended, and the total dosage should not exceed 50 g/week because of the potential for the drug to suppress the hypothalamicpituitary- adrenal (HPA) axis. Use in pediatric patients under 12 years of age is not recommended.

As with other highly active corticosteroids, therapy should be discontinued when control has been achieved. If no improvement is seen within 2 weeks, reassessment of the diagnosis may be necessary.



Precautions

General

Clobetasol propionate cream and ointment should not be used in the treatment of rosacea or perioral dermatitis, and should not be used on the face, groin, or axillae.

Yes, I have the same insert. I'm just sharing my own personal experiences with the medicine. Of course (obviously) everyone should follow their own doctor's instructions.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I have been dealing with red blotches on my face for awhile now, and I am starting to think that maybe its eczema instead of just dry skin patches. The only thing that really deals with them so far is cortaid, which is what got me thinking on it. Had been thinking Psoriasis but googling doesn't come up with pics that look like me. They look worse.

So who here has eczema and what do you use on a daily basis to deal with it?

TIA

Well I have had it forever now.

Yes, I have used all kinds of steriods and prefer not to go that route anymore. I will if I have to if I am desperate. If you overuse they have an opposite effect on your eczema. Plus they also affected my liver function. That was a surprise.

I have it in the corners of my lips right now and that is very hard to deal with as the tissue is very fragile to keep healed. I have to drink from a straw and keep the area "clean".

Treat your face like it is fragile. I use Cetaphil cleanser. If you wear makeup you are going to have to find a way to make it "sterile".

Do not use hot water, keep your face out of the sun, do not eat spicy foods or anything on the list that flares up rosecea.

A lot of eczema is "contact" so changing things up can help. For example, I cannot get rid of the "bottle opener" skin in the crook of thumb/forefinger.

Figuring out how to keep your beast at bay is a lifelong challenge.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Thanks all for the replies.

I did some goggling and I think this is indeed what I'm dealing with. I also think now that this is not my first time as an adult with it. In reading up on it at Wikipedia it noted that flare ups can be stress related. Well a few years ago I was preparing for major surgery and pretty much freaking out and had patches like this then too. After surgery it pretty much cleared up and I figured that was it, but I've been using moisturizers ever since.

Then a couple of months it came back starting mostly at the hairline but now i have patches around my nose and my chin too. Haven't had time to use makeup in months so i knew that wasn't it. Switched facial soaps from Olay to a more gentle Avon moisturing wash. Switched basically everything except shampoos(I switch off between a dandruff shampoo and pantene. the dandruff shampoo is used actually every 3rd or 4th time, not an everyday thing anymore.) I'll admit I like my warm showers though. Sad to say this year has been a ball of stress as well. No surgery, just a year full of something. Its like Murphy has moved in to the house.

It was actually reading the tube of cortaid the other day that got me thinking on it. Its just something I don't need right now. I really DON'T feel like finding a dermatologist. KWIM?

Oh bother

 

[marcyinPA]

My DS11 has eczema...he mostly gets it in his elbow pits and knee pits. His doctor prescribed a steroid cream to use as needed, but no longer than two weeks. When his eczema flairs, we use it, and it is usually gone in a couple of applications. When it comes back, we start over again. I feel bad for him...it can be pretty itchy. He gets all of the skin issues...warts, ringworm, etc. BLAH.

 

[onelilspark]

I had a red patch on the inside of my elbow (crook of my arm) a few months ago. I hadn't changed any products I was using, and it got worse when I took a shower (or it got wet at all.) I finally went to the Dr after a couple weeks of dealing with it. She took one look at said, "yep, it's Eczema." Hadn't even crossed my mind. Gave me some steroid cream and it cleared right up. I'm fairly certain it was caused by stress...my new boss and I don't really see eye to eye, and it was really bad back then. Talked to my Mom and she used to get it on her hands...stress related!

I just went to my normal doctor, not a dermatologist.

 

[marcyinPA]

I never knew that it could be stress-related. That has me a little concerned...since it's my 11 year old who has it. He's the most easy going, laid back kid, which makes me wonder if he internalizes everything and any stress that he might have comes out in this way. I'd much rather he vocalize what's bothering him, rather than it "damaging" his body...