Severe Eczema on hands

[steveo]

I've used those topical corticosteroid ointments before too and I've noticed the areas I've have used the creams on have "thinned" the skin down. It feels more sensitive than the areas where I haven't used them. I try not to use them if I don't have to..I try to stick to aveeno lotions which I found help as long as I keep moisturizing everyday. Another hand cream I found works pretty good is glysomed but that one leaves the hand pretty greasy feeling, not as bad as the corticosteroid ointments though. I too find I have to watch my hands pretty closely as well I work with food and I'm constantly washing my hands and I usually get flare ups when my hands are in contact with dish soap and lots of water. Sucks, but I have found wearing gloves help a lot as well. Hope you find a solution.

I have dyshidrotic eczema. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1122527-overview

[drhu22]

[QUOTE=JonDuke;3889677]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.

Is there any new clothing (gloves?) that coincides with the start of the symptoms? Some fibers can be allergenic. Try eliminating EVERYTHING NEW IN YOUR ENVIRONMENT . That trip to Miami might hold the answer.

[calumniate]

Oh ####! I used to scratch till i bled as a youngster, especially the hands, elbows and knees. But the tips of the fingers? That's horrible I'm sorry. In my youth I was prescribed glaxal base and cortizone. The glaxal made it worse. As another said i realised it was more allergic than anything. I started taking allegra pills but at the same time i grew out of it. I wish you good health.

[To Be Quite Honest]

Originally Posted by 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.

Yes, yeast is a BIG one. However, I find it's more about the immune system than allergies. Allergies are auto immune problems just like eczema. Boost your immune system and you'll see a huge difference. The skin fully replaces itself in something like ten days and it needs good foods to do this.

http://www.health.harvard.edu/flu-re...une-system.htm

[drhu22]

Originally Posted by To Be Quite Honest

Yes, yeast is a BIG one. However, I find it's more about the immune system than allergies. Allergies are auto immune problems just like eczema. Boost your immune system and you'll see a huge difference. The skin fully replaces itself in something like ten days and it needs good foods to do this.

http://www.health.harvard.edu/flu-re...une-system.htm

Isnt raw garlic supposed to help the immune system (re natural remedies)?

[To Be Quite Honest]

Originally Posted by drhu22

Isnt raw garlic supposed to help the immune system (re natural remedies)?

From the Harvard article

Garlic. Garlic may have some infection-fighting capability. In laboratory tests, researchers have seen garlic work against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Although this is promising, there haven’t been enough well-designed human studies conducted to know whether this translates into human benefits. One 2006 study that looked at rates for certain cancers and garlic and onion consumption in southern European populations found an association between the frequency of use of garlic and onions and a lower risk of some common cancers. Until more is known, however, it’s too early to recommend garlic as a way of treating or preventing infections or controlling cancer.

[Sluggo]

First I would not recommend anybody with allergies to wear latex gloves for a extended period of time since you can develop allergies (sometimes severe anaphylaxis) once a exposure limit is reached... Nitrile gloves are a good alternative and you can cut the finger parts off the gloves and poke a few holes in them to enhance the breathability. Additionally, I'd try to avoid using soap whenever possible, I use the gloves when in the shower and odorless hand sanitizer when possible but be warned it might burn a little.

I also found that using a water softener eliminated the eczema from my hands for around 10 years, it came back though but was never as bad.

[Traditional_Ale]

What kind of cooking oil do you use?

[zztim81]

Originally Posted by 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.

I also have occasionally really bad outbreaks of psoriasis, (stress related..diff thread...) there are a number of topicals that i have used the last couple years that seem to work on my fingers which i know work for exema, and keep trying different stuff becase for some stupid reason each person reacts differently, try Dovonex, Dovobet, salisic acid(spp?) and dont be afraid of using the steroids, and double up it helps. be carefull with using latex gloves over night can actually make the problem worse and make it peel more if you fingers cant breath, wrapping and using cotton gloves work much better.

Best of luck! hope this helps...

[northcrunk]

My daughter used to get bad excema on her legs when she was 2 years old. We mixed non-scented mosturizing cream with aloe and it cleared right up. My sister has had it since she was young and this is the only thing that helps her.