I've always been very self conscious about it, especially when someone points out my dry skin. Like many others I've been to doctor after doctor and have tried more lotions, creams, and oils than I can count. Growing up I had to crawl around my house to minimize the pain of walking on my dry and cracked feet. My mom and I had gone to doctor after doctor who "knew how to solve the problem." Many of the ointments and creams I used either got rid of the itching or gave my skin more moisture. While this was always a great relief, I needed both to go away if possible.
When I was 14 years old I met a lady who sold Arbonne, a company much like Avon or Mary Kay, but that used all natural ingredients. I was using their baby oil and baby lotion. This helped my skin immensely for several years, but the cost was getting too high for me to afford. However, after talking to this lady she helped me in buying other off the shelf lotions or creams from any store. The two ingredients she advised me to stay away from are Mineral Oil (in any cheep, cheep lotion) and Petroleum (Vaseline). When shopping for lotions I have always avoided these two ingredients and my eczema get increasingly better once again. I have been using lotions such as Calgon, Bath and Body Works (I use their body wash too!), and other lotions. But it was still there, still painful, and still noticeable to anyone who looked.
When I went away from home for college I changed my diet. I started focusing on vegetables and whole wheat breads. To my surprise this helped my eczema! Recently I tried something most people have seen off of Pinterest: a detox bath. I tried one to have a relaxing bath and to see how I would feel afterwards. Just a couple of days ago I was looking at my feet while putting on lotion after a shower and noticed that my eczema is practically gone. The combination of healthy eating and the detox baths have gotten rid of my eczema! Now, I know that this may not work for everybody, but please try it!!
Here are the ingredients for the detox bath:
1-2 Cups Epsom Salt
1-2 Cups Baking Soda
2-3 Tea Bags (any should work fine!)
Lots of hot/warm water. I always use very hot to relax my eczema.
I really do hope that this helps you like it has helped me! My eczema feels better, and so does my body! If you have any tips or suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comment section!
Also, for those who know what eczema looks like, this is one way it may look like.
15 comments:
Thank you for your post. I have eczema in my hands. My right hand looks like the one in your picture, and I have had this current exacerbation for going on 3 years.
Since none of the therapies I have tried have been successful, I fervently hope the remedy that you have suggested will help me.
My hands and feet looked exactly like yours for years. Tried tons of creams, trial drugs and steroids. Went to homeopath who did some tests, turns out I am allergic to wheat. If I don't eat wheat, no blisters, I still have sensitive skin, coconut oil works great. Remember blisters are from the inside,
do your symptoms start with blisters?
The palms of my hands and 1 foot looked just like this. It took years, but it's completely gone and has been for many years now. My trick was to smother them. I used large band aids and kept them on around the clock for days. Under the band aids I had neosporin or some other moisturizing lotion. I would not let them dry out. It was the only thing that worked for me.
I have to wrap my son's hands in petroleum gauze and that stretchy wrap at night for his hands and it always helps by morning and keeps him from itching at night without knowing it. Reading your blog helped because he is 7 now and I won't always be able to be there and wrap his hands like little boxing gloves. Food for thought in the future. Thank you.
Hi all,
Thank you for the comments and support.
My eczema has never started with blisters - unless you are talking about the small tiny little ones. Whenever I have eczema on my hands it does often start with the small blisters - though I'm not sure if that is what they are.
Recently I have use Cetaphil lotion for my eczema. I used this when I was younger and it worked but stopped working for years. I picked up again because of someones comment on this link via pinterest and it has worked wonders on my body everywhere! I have also started to take fish oil pills and that has helped considerably.
Smothering has always helped me, but it is hard to find time to dedicate to that since I am a college student. I also take Benedryl and apply anti itch cream before going to sleep to prevent myself from scratching at night.
Is there anything else that works for you?
Apple cider vinegar 8 oz glass of water and a table of apple cider vinegar three times a day for a week.
Vicks ointment helps me instead of steroid cream to relieve itch, Cetaphil soap, and trying not to stress or sweat too much when I work outside.
After elimination diet, I found out that my breakouts on my foot was due to any soy that I had eaten.
After going to four different doctors, my allergic found that I was allergic to NICKEL. Unfortunately, it's in so many things! Especially canned foods, TUNA being the biggest problem food. So, after avoiding seafood, chocolate and anything in a can, I have found some relief. But he did recommend a great cream called VANICREAM (I got it in CVS in the area where they sell ROC makeup products). I also found a product TRIDERMA Eczema Fast Healing Lotion at Walmart and this has really helped big time! Keeping the area moist with the VANICREAM is important. The products are reasonably priced so worth a try. The $400 medicines did nothing and the side effects were scary. GOOD LUCK...STAY MOISTURIZED And I do take Benadryl at night if it's very itchy!
When my hands are blistered like that from eczema ..I cut the fingers out of the medical gloves you can purchase at the drug store in the first aid department..helps to keep the sores clean...helps to keep medication or lotion on...and helps to keep from itching it.
I have eczema on my feet for 5 years now I can relate to all of you, my dermatologist prescribed tons of creams etc , two dermatologist and its costly...what works with me now is I made a home made scrub with coconut oil and alternately soak wit Epsom salt..my feet looks pretty now..there's small areas that's stubborn but I'm getting there... I've only started doing this 3 months ago and the difference is great....hope this helps
I have never had eczema on my feet but I have had it everywhere else. It seems like once one spot begins healing another gets bad. I had eczema off and on inside my elbows when I was a kid. Since my older teens it has gotten worse and worse and more wide spread. The doctors/dermatologists gave me pages of advice and many expensive medicines but nothing came close to a cure. They did help though. They told me to use selsun blue which saved my scalp which had been covered in sores. I learned to stay away from perfumes, extreme temperatures, anything that dries out my skin and to keep my skin clean (regular showers and bleach baths) and moisturized. Still it wouldn't go away. Just recently I used an old allergy blood test I'd had done to stay away from anything I could possibly be allergic to. You ready for the list? Peanuts, shellfish, wheat, corn, eggs, and soy. It's a little brutal (soy is in everything!) and I just started but I think my eczema is finally fading. I also use cerave lotions and cleansers, hydrocortisone cream, anti itch cream, and triple anti biotic ointment for wounds. It seems to me that everyone's eczema is different and you have to find the cause of and treatment for yours. Good luck on the journey to understanding your skin.
I can relate with all of you and with every symptom you have describe. I had been diagnosed with "Eczema" since I was a child. Years of creams and ointments later I was sent to a specialist who took one look at me and said" I bet you were told you have Eczema". Comes to find out it is a skin condition called Lychn Planus. Please consult your Dermatologist and have them look in to this. This diagnosis is controlled with Light therapy and also homeopathic remedies work well for others. Best of luck to all!
My 6yr old,has severe eczema that looks like the pic of yor hand but also occurs generally on his arms near his wrists, ankles, and legs. It is so itchy for him my heart breaks. We have found that a bleach bath (1-2 cups) added to a full bath tub at least once a week helps with the itching and bwgins,clearing up the patches if they get severe. He takes Clariten daily, we only use All Free & Clear and sent free dye free liquid fabric softener to wash our clothes,and towels as even the free and clear dryer sheets have a chemical in them that can exacerbate the condition. We have found that CeraVe cream head to toe 2-3 times a day works best for helping keep him moisturized but we often have to switch to the,CeraVe ointment in the winter months when the air gets really dry. We have had a difficult time finding an affordable sun screen for him in the summer months if anyone has any suggestions?
Post a Comment