I’m not looking for medical information just those who may have the similar looking wounds and curious what you’ve used to help. Started as just an itchy area, made sure to not scratch to make it worse and it starts turning into this. I’ve been applying cocoa butter lotion but it doesn’t make a difference. Will be going to the doctor soon.

Pics: https://imgur.com/a/Rx4VVkE

Not going to lie, I drink quite often and all but I noticed that when I drink IPA’s (3 or more) I tend to get flare ups. Is it possibly the ingredients in an IPA?

Hello all! I'm seventeen and I've been suffering with ecezema since I was an infant, I've gotten most of the actual ecezema under control(for now) but I was just wondering if there's any way to lighten/ get rid of the scarring it left. It's pretty severe and covers my arms and legs. It makes it hard for me to wear anything short sleeved etc. And whenever I try to be confident and show my arms (they're not as bad as my legs) I get people asking about it or giving me looks. Which really affects me socially and I'm overal very anxious about it. Sorry for the long paragraph. But I'd just like to know if anyone had any remedies for the scarring, (mainly deep and purple) thank you💗

I'm not 100% sure what type of eczema it is (its different to the eczema on my body) but I asked chatgpt and it said seborrheic dermatitis, does anyone have shampoo recommendations to heal it? The eczemas on my hairline and it bleeds a clear liquid

Hi friends, I wanted to make this post in the hopes that it will help someone with their healing journey. I’ve suffered with mild eczema for years now but this year I started a new job and the eczema became more and more severe throughout the year until my entire body was pretty much covered and I couldn’t take it anymore, I’m sure many of you can relate. Hardly able to sleep, constantly irritable because my skin was itchy, didn’t want to go out because I was so embarrassed of the way I looked. I knew I had to do something about it. It’s taken around 3 months but I’m finally pretty much completely healed and here’s how I did it. I started an elimination diet to find the root cause of my eczema, I only ate chicken, salmon, steak, brown rice and select veggies for around 2-3 weeks before starting to introduce new foods. I kept a food diary so that I could keep track of what foods made me flare. I would know pretty quickly if something was flaring me up though. I worked out that I had been suffering with a histamine intolerance, which then simplified my journey as I could use a low histamine diet to curb the flare ups. I knew I couldn’t be on this diet forever though so I really focused on healing my gut, as this was the cause of the histamine intolerance. I think it would’ve been really beneficial for me to see a naturopath in this time but this wasn’t something I could afford so I just worked it out myself. I was making sure to eat healing foods such as salmon, cabbage, leek (prebiotic), shallots, asparagus, beetroot, etc. First thing I put in my belly each morning is a chicken bone broth (collagen and probiotics). I’ve been taking probiotic specific for eczema prone skin and zinc everyday. Also magnesium before bed each night. In the past month or so I’ve started taking colostrum in the morning as well and I feel that this is helping. I did a couple of other things that weren’t diet related like a quick 10 minute meditation each morning to regulate my nervous system and switched my cleaning products to low-tox products, but I know my issues were almost entirely diet related. The end result of all this has been that I can now eat my favourite foods again without flaring up!! I will continue to eat healing foods and taking my vitamins to support my gut but it’s so freeing to be able to eat a sweet treat or a dirty takeaway without being in pain. It’s been a process but it’s honestly gone by in a flash and I’m just so happy.

I can’t sleep it’s too uncomfortable, can’t exercise i’m too exhausted, and, despite trying, can’t eat from fear that the food will make my condition worse. I don’t see my friends anymore, and when I do they only pity me and can’t act normal. It’s like i’m a completely different person. Every joy in my life has been sapped and it doesn’t seem to be improving at all.

I’m red, itchy, and burning all over my face, eyelids, neck, chest, shoulders, back, inner elbows, and behind my knees. I cant see out of my eyes as they are so bloodshot and thick with a watery film all the time. It’s like having bugs crawling under my skin and all in my eyes. Trying to study for my engineering finals is HOPELESS. I’m failing my degree despite being an A average student last semester.

I got a steroid shot a couple weeks back which made me super human for a week before I crashed worse than ever before. I’m taking two strong antihistamines, using emollient ointment, two different eye drops, aveeno moisturiser, cetaphil moisturiser and body and face wash, i’m bathing in pinetarsol, wearing loose, light fabric, taking a cocktail of different vitamins and minerals every day, and only eating clean, unprocessed, “non-eczema-risk” foods. NOTHING has changed. My doctor basically gave me a pat on the back and said good luck.

There is no dermatologist in my area as they don’t get paid enough in my country so all go overseas. I obviously can’t afford to travel on my part time job and student loan. Any and all advice welcome. Thank you and god bless you all🫶

Curious what everyone’s experience is with what works fastest in terms of treatment. Currently on Rinvoq, betaderm ointment and oral steroids with minimal effects and having a really bad eczema flare. The burning and cracks/ bleeding are really getting to me so curious if anyone has taken any other meds that are relatively fast acting?

I keep finding that every week or two I need to go on a course of my steroids (betamethsone dipropionate) which I understand is quite strong.

And despite reading about taking off days and breaks I can't help but feel like I'm walking myself towards tsw by regularly reducing my natural cortisol levels by doing this

Has anyone here been able to use a potent steroid one week off and one on consistently and avoided tsw because mentally this feels like I'm just making it worse.

I'm trying to track down my triggers but it's been over a year and it is so frustratingly difficult. Seen an allergist cut out so many foods.

I just don't want to feel like the "fix" (at least for now) is not going to lead to tsw 😞

Also the derm told me to use this steroid also on my neck but I've heard not to use strong steroids on the face.. Have you guys had experience in using it on your neck without issues?

Hi everyone. I'd like to thank you first for this community, I appreciateciare every recommendation and empathy.

I was born with atopic dermatitis, but it was never hard like when I compare it with the recent 2 years. My life turned to hell (I got married, job changes, family issues, etc). I know stress affects eczema however, I don't know how to manage it. Because when I get worried about something, or eat any triggered food, or not enough sleep, too hot weather, too cold shower, I mean it's like I've to control EVERYTHING about simple life. One of the doctors that I've seen told me to move to another city and live a simple life, and I can't change my life and even don't want to change it. I'm happy. I want to stay happy and calm. Like a NORMAL PERSON. I just want to wear clothes that I want. Putting a lovely fresh make-up. Not worried about the shower. Don’t have to buy or use thousands of creams.

You know I'm just jealous people. I always want the best for people, but came on your skin has no scar, redness, flakes, or dryness, you seem like a PERFECT. I’m so tired of thinking like that.

About my flares, easy answer... All of my body. Face, hair, hands, legs, arms, everywhere... Flaky skin, itch, scars, bloody t-shirts, crying under the shower, and begging to god stop the pain. I’m having attacks per week, sometimes it takes 3 days so I barely live.

I'm sorry. I know if someone reads this it makes them hopeless, but I'm losing my coping mechanism with this disease.

I got prescribed hydrocortisone for my eczema. I have patches on my face. Specifically on the outer edges of my face. I do feel that it has gotten worse. Is it possible that it gets worse because of this ointment? Also any tips to get rid of itchiness?

My GP thinks that's what I have. It started a couple weeks ago as flaky skin on my forehead, turned into a somewhat circular redness. I thought it was ringworm. No itching, I wouldn't even have known it was there if I hadn't looked in a mirror.

It got really flakey after a bit. It now has some redness in the center with yellow flaky skin around the perimeter, kind of stuck on dead yellow flaky skin. No itching, but it kind of stung when I tried sloughing off the flakiness.

He prescribed triamcinolone cream but I might just try OTC 1% hydrocortisone from Walmart. Actually, I'm scared to try any sort of steroid on my face but I have read some people both for and against using any steroid cream on the face.

Due to multiple factors, I unfortunately can't get to a dermatologist to have them look at a skin scrape under the microscope. I wonder if it's ringworm.

If it is ringworm and I treat it with a steroid cream would that cause big problems?

Any thoughts or advice are welcome.

I have been working with a naturopathic doctor for almost three months. She ordered me to begin the AIP diet on Sept 11. I had a panel done that showed everything was in normal range besides slightly low HDL Cholesterol, slightly high homocysteine (my folate and b12 were fine), and slightly out of range insulin (high). She asked that I continue the diet. She had me do a round of antibiotics once my hands got staph. Once finished with the antibiotics I later did a GI Map which I am awaiting results.

In the meantime, even after the first 25 days of the diet, I was still extremely inflamed. So much that I wouldn’t be able to tell if I was flaring when I begin introducing new food in. I expressed this concern and she didn’t have much advice to give besides “this stuff takes time”. Even though I expressed how my mental health and relationship with food began to disastrously decrease.

I reached out to a new dermatologist to get another opinion. She disagreed with almost everything my naturopathic doctor states; eczema being food related, gut related, etc. the dermatologist prescribed me to begin taking Adbry and that it would take about two weeks to come in. She also prescribed me triamcinolone and protopic in the meantime to “calm things down”. I immediately got upset and began crying stating I did not want the steroids and that was why I was in this predicament to begin with. She reassured me to “just use them to get over this hurdle until Adbry kicked in”.

I reached out to my naturopathic doctor with this information, expressing some of my concerns with my current eczema management, and just maybe some other options besides AIP that could alleviate my symptoms considering I was struggling. I also vulnerably shared that I was struggling financially and going about things naturopathicly has been a hardship on my bank account trying to keep up with all the supplements and tests required. She replied almost as if she was offended that I seeked out care with a dermatologist and that “people should stick with the stuff they believe in”. She even tried to compare herself to my situation when I opened up about financial strifes and being a single mother. She stated how much she’s making/how much she’s paying to further her education. Then stated her husband is gone often. I’m literally on food stamps, a mother to a 1 year old son, and his dad only gets him every 2-3 weeks… we are not the same ma’am.

I know this is a lot. I guess my main questions are: Should I stick with this naturopath? Should I find a new naturopath? Should I take the advice of the dermatologist? Should I see an allergist/immunologist? And ultimately, should I take Adbry or still try to do this naturally?

I am exhausted in feeling this way and just want some relief. I want to enjoy life again. I want to enjoy being a mother again. I want my son to have a happy and healthy mother.

hello!!

i’m from the uk and about to start taking dupilumab (dupixent) and i’ve found out it’s around £1,2k for two shots of it(?!?!?!?!?) that’s so expensive ???

so i searched up how much it would be in the US and it’s 3.2k for it? how do you guys even have the motivation to get these medications when they cost so much, my heart aches for yall

paying for doctors and dermatologists and everything mannnnn

I’ve been recently experiencing some flare ups of facial eczema, and it’s really taking a toll on my confidence.

This post is mostly a story time, looking for other people with similar experiences.

Recently, as of April 2024, I’ve been experiencing pretty frequent flare ups on my face. I’ve been trying to narrow down the cause of it. I have now been referred to an allergist (appt Feb 2025) since I was convinced it was solely just an allergy issue. I’ve been taking allergy medication daily for almost 3 months, trying both (off brand) reactin and Claritin. With mostly inconclusive results, since sometimes it helps and other times it does nothing, I’m curious about whether it’s just an issue with my skin.

I’ve never had allergies in the past so I was unsure if it was due to increased levels of pollen this year in southern Ontario. The issue only started when I began pursuing almost daily outdoor activity (running, biking, walking) while attempting to train for a triathlon. My allergy conclusion was due to the seasonal changes but as things continued to progress it started to feel like it could be dietary or what I was putting on my skin.

My skin care routine hasn’t changed for 3 years, I use lush shampoo and conditioner bars and the ordinary for my skin. I’ve always had acne prone skin so I’ve tried to use gentle products, wear little to no makeup (especially not concealers/pore clogging products) and keep my skin clean. I wear sunscreen on my face and drink a lot of water.

I tried reducing my skin care routine to the basics (dove bar and light cream, no serums), trying different detergent, and reducing my outdoor exposure.

The only things I’ve noticed that reduce the flare ups, are reducing my time outdoors. I’m unsure how to deal with this moving forwards as I’ve already sacrificed my training, it’s sucked the joy out of the weather I enjoy the most and it’s overall really discouraging.

The cold weather has come now and I had another flare up after I decided to go for a 10km walk in the cool fall weather. It was pretty aggressive, really pulled me down, and ruined my confidence that things might be improving. I had to walk in the cold to go get some skin care things as I’m not at home so I thought i would share the ones I picked up since they seem to be helping. I made sure to look for ones with the CDA stamp of recognition, which has proven to be very positive. They aren’t doing great for my acne but I think I’m ok with sacrificing some clear skin to allow for the moisture barrier to repair itself (lol)

I think the reason this feels so discouraging is due to my upcoming wedding, I am worried it’ll flare up in June due to the nature of allergy season. If it is triggered by environmental aspects (which everything seems to be pointing to) we’re going to be doing some hiking with the family who are traveling and will be having the ceremony and reception outside.

Anyway, this is story time done and now I hope anyone can give some tips to avoid severe flare ups in the future. I feel like it’s a pipe dream from everything I’ve read over the last 8 months, however, I’m still going to ask.

Thank you for reading 🫶🏼

I’ve had eczema on and off since I was around ten years old. It started on my hands, in my early twenties got it on my toes. It vanished from both my hands and feet after some time. Then in my early thirties got it back in my hands, and right now it’s been the worst I’ve had yet.

I’m trying to figure out if it’s a specific type of eczema, most likely dyshidrotic eczema, but anyone have any input? All doctors I’ve gone to throughout my life have just labeled it as eczema and prescribed the typical corticosteroid cream without any further inspection. Not sure if knowing what type would help anyway, but I’m curious I guess lol.

I’ve attached some images in the link (sorry not sure if photos aren’t allowed, I’ll delete the post if needed)

https://imgur.com/a/iWOkgPR

my two go-to’s are:

• La Roche Posay Lipikar Eczema Soothing Relief Cream
• Cetaphil RESTORADERM Soothing Moisturizer, For Eczema Prone Skin

i tried the Gold Bond Eczema Relief Medicated Skin Protectant Cream/lotion, but realized its not non-comedogenic…

what are your favorites?

Winter is here! I use CeraVe cream once a day but have been thinking to increase to once in the morning as well.

How many times a day do you apply lotion?

I got scars from more than 5 years ago due to eczema and i want to get rid of them. They are mostly dark, kinda like hyperpigmentation. What should i use on them?

Right now, my hands are raw, open and, bleeding, but I’m also noticing that up my arms itch too where I don’t have any eczema. Also, when I get out of the bathtub, the dead skin just starts rolling off my arms especially.

Does anyone else deal with this and what can I do to be more comfortable? Is it just the change in weather? Thank you so much!

I just got a prescription for Tacrolimus yesterday, and spent last night reading all the Reddit posts about how miserable it is to use at the beginning. If you have used it, how long did it take for the intense itching to stop after your first applications and was it ultimately useful in relieving your eczema?

Edit: Thank you everyone for sharing your experience. I applied it for the first time an hour ago. Fingers crossed it doesn’t cause too much itching.

Has anyone else experienced this? I have been suffering with eczema consistently for 6 months. It has been miserable. On top of it, I have been having gallbladder issues. On Tuesday I got my gallbladder removed and was anesthetized for it. When I woke up, I noticed a difference in my skin fairly quickly. It didn't burn and itch and the texture improved. I wasn't itchy at all. I was filled with hope. My skin was really good for two full days afterwards and then yesterday (Friday) the itching started again with a vengeance. I am so depressed about this. I know I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up, but I did. I don't know what was in the anesthetic. Has anyone else experienced this?

Hi! I am a fairly active person (gym and bjj) but now I feel like my eczema flare up is keeping me from exercising. The thought of sweat on my damaged skin and rolling on the mat especially since my face and neck are affected feels awful as an idea. How have other people solved the issue or should I just pull back from working out until I get at least a little better? Nothing seems to help with the symptoms.

Has anyone else had issues with HIDDEN mould (like inside walls etc). We don’t have visible mould but am wondering if it could be hidden? Did you get a specialist?

about a month back i got a really bad flare up of eczema. my arms and legs were covered in these red dry circular patches that used to itch after i showered. i used a steroid (Fusibet) for a few weeks and it healed up good but now im left with these white patches. i’m not sure what these are and why the steroid wasn’t able to fix it. shud i continue the course of steroids for a weeks more? is there a particular name for this condition

https://ibb.co/yRHJMy2 https://ibb.co/QcphptZ https://ibb.co/M2yZhfb

cortisone on genital and doctor feedback

Yesterday, I saw a dermatologist for the third time because I have mild psoriasis on the shaft of my penis. He prescribed Ovixan cream (mometasone furoate) to apply every night for 10 days, then every other night for 20 days, and then as maintenance twice a week for 3 months. I’m a bit worried because this seems like quite a long period. I asked about tacrolimus, but he said cortisone is much better, mentioning that tacrolimus is hard to find and more expensive at pharmacies… it felt like he was really steering me toward cortisone. He also wrote in the visit summary 'possible bridge to systemic therapy.'

Right now, I only have psoriasis on my penis, and it’s not very severe. Occasionally, I get minor flare-ups since I have sensitive skin, but this treatment seems a bit excessive. What do you think? I don’t know what to do anymore... One dermatologist prescribed clobetasol to use once every three days for a month, another prescribed betamethasone to use twice daily for two weeks, then once daily for two more weeks, and now this one...

hey all! i just wanted to ask if anyone else that has suffered from eczema for a long time/ most their life has a natural inclination to itch even when not itchy, mostly as a self soothing mechanism. i find that when im answering a question/ thinking hard i start itching subconsciously, or if im having a difficult conversation, arguing especially, it has become my main way of dealing with stressors.

my mom has told me i've done this my whole life and it's something i don't think i could stop. i mean, im definetly extremely itchy all the time, but even in the rare moments im not it seems like my body just wants to make itself itchy again or i just do it on accident. scratching feels so good of course, it's like an easy dopamine (or whatever chemical) hit and my body is addicted