Severe Eczema on hands

[JonDuke]

Looking for help from the CP braintrust.

Around January of this year, I started getting open sores on my finger. At that time it was only my right forefinger. I went a few months without having it checked out. When I did, I was given a general script for eczema cream. I didn't work. About 5 months ago, the wounds have spread to all fingers on my right hand, and periodically make appearances on my left fingers.

I had tried 3 different creams given at walk in clinics before seeing a dermatologist, who gave me "clobestal", which is apparently the strongest cream available, and works, but only for a few days, and never fully heals my fingers.

My fingers burn every second of the day, and touching anything is even more painful. Simple things like changing my daughters diaper, or even pulling up a zipper, opening a door, etc are super hard and I've turned to the Howie Mandel fist pump because it hurts to even shake a hand.

Some background:

I work from home and am not exposed to chemicals or anything at a workplace on a daily basis.

My hands almost returned to normal during a trip to Miami 2 months ago, but got worse when I got home. I thought it may be due to dry weather, but on trips to New Brunswick and Manitoba, they stayed the same. Unfortunately, moving to Miami is not an option.

I have tried using organic, natural handsoap, but no change there either.

Any suggestions? Home remedies? Anything at all? As far as I know, we haven't introduced anything new to our diets or home in the past 10 months. I'm not overly stressed about anything either, except for this. Just don't know what could be causing it, and the dermatologists/doctors aren't helping thus far. I am looking for any advice from anyone who has seen something similar. This thing is driving me nuts.

NSFW!

[Caged Great]

I have eczema off and on, and I find using penaten cream works pretty well. I haven't had anything like what you're going through though.

[normtwofinger]

That's terrible. My wife had really bad eczema on her hands, so much that she was having blisters and cracks. Nothing the doctors recommend fully helped. The only thing that cured it was moving to a high humidity climate. She has yet to have a break out since we moved from dry Calgary.

[Flash Walken]

I would go see another dermatologist.

I would also NSFW tag that video, as it's a horrible thing to keep looking at as I quick reply.

Also, those look remarkably similar to what used to happen to my hands when I grouted tile.

Edit: Forgot to mention, I knew a guy who used hemp oil to help with his eczema. I don't know what the deal was with him, but he didn't like to/couldn't take many of the steroidal creams.

He eventually switched to plain ol' marijuana oil. Said it was a huge improvement on the hemp oil, which was a huge improvement on pretty much everything else.

[Caged Great]

The penaten does lock some moisture in, so that and putting on moisturizer like a crazy person is probably what's going to help the most. Otherwise, you might have to consider what Norm said.

[JonDuke]

I've lived in Calgary for 11 years though. Could my body just suddenly be over the dryness here? And, it's only on my fingers. Nowhere else on my body at all.

[redforever]

I would see another dermatologist.

I have weeping eczema and had a terrible time all throughout my Grade 8 year. My dermatologist put me on a cortisone cream which I had to apply twice daily. I also had to wear protective cotton gloves for a whole year.

I still get flare ups but nothing to the extent of that Grade 8 year. My main triggers are certain fabrics, like wool or fabrics that feel like wool, as well as most cosmetics and personal toiletries that are fragrant.

So in other words, I have to use just about unscented everything. I can use Tide for washing but just the original scent. I can use 2 or 3 dish detergents, and about the same for hand soaps. All perfumes and fragrances are out.

I still have a cortisone cream, but rarely need to use it anymore. I have to be more careful in the tropics as it is hotter and more humid there, causing more sweating. I can get eczema in areas where sweat can accumulate, like in the bend of the elbow, behind the knee, crease of the eyelids, that sort of thing. I also never wear rings on my fingers around the house, usually only putting them on when going out to a function. Sweat or moisture that collects between the ring and my finger can cause an outbreak of eczema there as well.

If you have a toddler, you will be using your hands more and washing your hands more as well. I think you are going to need something like gloves or gauze coverings, or bandages, something to cover your sores until they heal.

Don't content yourself with walk in clinics and what one dermatologist recommended. See another dermatologist and ask him if something else besides eczema can be causing the open sores that you exhibit. They look very painful. My eczema is never painful, just severly itchy.

[Captain_Obvious]

I have psoriasis and while it's non-exsistant most of the time there have been a couple times over the years where a bad cold (strep) has brought on a big outbreak that includes my hands.

A good trick someone taught me is to apply whatever moisturizer or cream you find works for you and then put on latex gloves for a few hours to keep the moisture locked in. Seemed to work well for me when it was particularly bad. If you're having some trouble might be worth a shot to see if it helps.

[Mr.Coffee]

I've had Eczema my whole life, was hospitalized in grade 8 because of it (it was pretty bad..). What kind of topical steroid are they giving you? I found different types and strengths helped, but sounds like you have actually tried several so I'm not sure. I use Elocom and it works really well. I would consider visiting another dermatologist though.

My eczema is mostly allergy driven but in Calgary I am sure the dryness is a factor, and in fact after drinking it gets worse (I assume because my body is dehydrated). Have you tried putting on the topical steroid, then a layer of vaseline on top, right before bed? Your sheets might not like the grease (or your gf / wife haha).

I also apply Glaxal base right out of the shower, and was told that this helps keep moisture in the skin, plus glaxal base cream is epic. It seems to be the best cream for me. Try not to pick / scratch at it, but I know it's hard.

Good luck man, not sure what else to tell you. I did years of various treatments, even acupuncture and chinese herbal teas, nothing really ever seemed to work for me except the topical steroids. You could give some of these alternative treatments a shot too, I know they've helped others. Sorry man, wish I had more for you, looks rough.

[Nage Waza]

I don't know the name, but there is a laundry detergent I saw on Dragon's Den that consisted of some kind of large seeds that apparently is very good for people that have eczema.

I didn't watch the video, but the image is worse than any eczema I have seen.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

I've had Eczema my whole life, was hospitalized in grade 8 because of it (it was pretty bad..). What kind of topical steroid are they giving you? I found different types and strengths helped, but sounds like you have actually tried several so I'm not sure. I use Elocom and it works really well. I would consider visiting another dermatologist though.

My eczema is mostly allergy driven but in Calgary I am sure the dryness is a factor, and in fact after drinking it gets worse (I assume because my body is dehydrated). Have you tried putting on the topical steroid, then a layer of vaseline on top, right before bed? Your sheets might not like the grease (or your gf / wife haha).
I also apply Glaxal base right out of the shower, and was told that this helps keep moisture in the skin, plus glaxal base cream is epic. It seems to be the best cream for me. Try not to pick / scratch at it, but I know it's hard.

Good luck man, not sure what else to tell you. I did years of various treatments, even acupuncture and chinese herbal teas, nothing really ever seemed to work for me except the topical steroids. You could give some of these alternative treatments a shot too, I know they've helped others. Sorry man, wish I had more for you, looks rough.

This is where those cotton gloves come in. They are meant especially for problems like this or for problems associated with dry skin. They also have little cotton socks that help if the feet are affected.

[Nage Waza]

I forgot to mention I have used this cream on my knuckles before bed and found great benefits.

http://www.gehwolonline.com/index.ph...d=2&limitcat=2

[Slava]

I tried a whole pile of stuff and what eventually worked for me was Emu oil. Its about $20/bottle and you can buy it at most health food stores I think.

I have no idea why it worked, and have no idea if I just got lucky or anything. I tried it and my eczema went away though. I also got it on my hands, specifically between my fingers. Can't say it was as painful as yours sounds or anything, but I tried dozens of creams, salves and various herbal remedies (as well as the corticosteroids) before I found that cure.

[meanmachine13]

I have eczema and found the pumpkin soap from rocky mountain soap company works quite well. They have a location at the farmers market by Deerfoot meadows, one in TD Mall downtown, and possibly others as well. They also have body butter/lotion for eczema too.

[TSXCman]

Sorry to hear about your case, I have dealt with it for 12 years and luckily have had it calm down to not notice anymore.

Keep up with the high steroid cream 0.1% , and I find that whichever brand is working, eventually it dies off in effectiveness and I need to try a new one.

Try getting some sun, or fake tanning in this case, while keeping moisturizer rubbed in. Try to get some breathable gloves if you can, so that you can wear them during certain activity to reduce infections. I get it on my feet, so I would bring 3 pairs of socks with me to change as the day went on.

Since there is no clear solution, you need to keep trying things. For instance, sometimes it is triggered in relation to allergies. You could try the homerun diet. Avoid milk products for the whole month, document any effects, avoid all citrus for a whole month, avoid all shellfish for a whole month, avoid all gluten for a whole month. It is pretty intense to avoid something, but you MAY just find that your skin stops being irritated.

Be patient and keep calm. I've developed into a zen master of ignoring itchs and other skin signals due to needing to be able to function with a clear head.

[JonDuke]

Thanks for all the advice. I do wear cotton gloves at night and sometimes during the day, alternating with clobestol, vaseline, Geoprges cream and polysporin (I heard latex gloves weren't good because of perspiration). The problem I run into, especially after 8 hours of sleep is that the creams dry out, at when I take off the gloves, it rips. I am always down at least 1 layer of skin and usually 2, so the tearing off is not my favorite part of the process. I think I'm going to try wearing them more during the day as well as trying to avoid certain things for a month at a time like TSXCman suggested.

Appreciate all the feedback!

[redforever]

Originally Posted by TSXCman

Sorry to hear about your case, I have dealt with it for 12 years and luckily have had it calm down to not notice anymore.

Keep up with the high steroid cream 0.1% , and I find that whichever brand is working, eventually it dies off in effectiveness and I need to try a new one.

Try getting some sun, or fake tanning in this case, while keeping moisturizer rubbed in. Try to get some breathable gloves if you can, so that you can wear them during certain activity to reduce infections. I get it on my feet, so I would bring 3 pairs of socks with me to change as the day went on.

Since there is no clear solution, you need to keep trying things. For instance, sometimes it is triggered in relation to allergies. You could try the homerun diet. Avoid milk products for the whole month, document any effects, avoid all citrus for a whole month, avoid all shellfish for a whole month, avoid all gluten for a whole month. It is pretty intense to avoid something, but you MAY just find that your skin stops being irritated.

Be patient and keep calm. I've developed into a zen master of ignoring itchs and other skin signals due to needing to be able to function with a clear head.

My cream is .2%, not sure if that is a factor.

But when I notice or feel a little flare up, I immediately put some of the cream on, and by next day, I usually have 100% relief.

[smoothpops]

I'm a dialysis patient and the treatment basically leaves my skin feeling super dry. I finally saw a dermatologist, and he recommended Cerave cream, it's really good even if i have to keep appling it throughout the day. It stopped my skin from flaking off all the time. It has to be ordered by your pharmacy, not sure if you need a prescription. i also had really bad eczema when i was way younger, and the creams helped, but cutting out dairy and gluten ultimately did the trick, (until my kidneys failed...from genetic factors, not from lack of cheese)

[smoothpops]

P.S. my pharmacist also approved the Cerave cream, and said "i'm glad you got this and not the steroid creams, you don't want to use too much of those as they thin your skin and end up causing more problems then they solve"

[MrSector9]

Most eczema is caused by allergy, and that being said usually caused by yeast (see above guy gets it worse when drinking), also the person that mentioned sweaty areas as it is not the sweat but the yeast bacteria thriving that is already on our skin, other forms of external yeast are atheletes foot/jock itch. Notice you said changing the little ones diaper, possibly added to a nailbed infection on you.

Also you might not think you have anything on your feet however usually it is not as bad so inspect your feet well for small bumps on the sides of toes.

For the above, get some tolnaftate cream (foot care aisle) and try it(on hands/feet/anywhere else you suspect, let it work in) before the steroid cream on your hands, soon as it is gone, or getting better cut the steroid cream WAY back as it weakens the bonds between the skin cells on your hands.

Another in my family has it extremely bad and one trigger is sweetnlow/sugar twin/saccharin.

The soaps usually do not cause it however they will cause inflammation from certain SLS amounts and certain perfumes.

My hands are pretty much my living (mechanic) so I have to watch them very carefully now, I have had this now for approx 23 years, most of my family have it as well :/

Good luck and let us know if anything works.