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Eczema? How do I get rid of this?

647 views 10 replies 5 participants last post by  MoonStarFalling 
#1 ·
A couple years ago, I saw my doctor for a rash of some sort. It was at the back of my head, right at and above my hair line on my neck. He said it was eczema and prescribed Triamcinolone Acetonide Ointment, 0.1%. It cleared up fairly well. A few months later, it flared up again, and to be honest, I wasn't good about taking care of it. I had a newborn and couldn't be bothered. It ended up covering a somewhat larger area, but never really spread (about an inch to an inch and a half in diameter). It gets itchy, then kind of oozes (sorry...gross). Several months ago, I got what I thought was acne near the corner of my mouth. It looked like 6 or 7 little pimples. They weren't regular pimples though. It cleared up, then came back right away. It occurred to me that it might be the same thing, so I used the ointment and it cleared up again, mostly but not all the way. Then it came back again, just below that area. I can not get it to go away. It looks awfu. It's not really itchy, just a little bit. It gets sort of scaly/scabby and hurts a little bit if it gets scratched. It doesn't appear to be contagious because none of my kids have gotten it (at first I thought impetigo or something, but that wouldn't explain the back of my head).

I can't really rub the ointment in because my hair is so thick. I can't cover the whole area. I'm going to call my doctor back soon to go in if I can't clear it up. Does anyone have any ideas? Does this sound like eczema? I just think it's weird that I never had a problem until about two or so years ago.

As far as diet goes, we're vegetarian. We don't eat eggs and we consume dairy is if it's in stuff (generally from restaurants, so very occasionally).
 
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#2 ·
No real answers other than I developed eczema on my right pinkie finger when I was 11. My parents treated it (Rx steriod cream I guess) and it cleared up. And came back. Treated. Cleared up. Came back. yada yada yada

Through my own observation I have discovered what exasurbates it (stress, lots of dairy, too many dyes/perfumes, dryness) and have become zealous about addressing those before turning to Rx treatment. Sometimes it takes a couple of applications (not days or weeks) of Rx to start the road to healing.

The very best "products" I have found are AHAVA . When I started using the lotion on my hands several times a day I rarely had problems.
 
#3 ·
My partner suffers from eczema on his legs and occasionally of his scalp aswell. The best way he's found to relieve the symptons is keep the areas really well moisterized (he uses E45 cream), he also takes baths in oatmeal which seem to help aswell. He puts the oatmeal in one of my old stockings and ties to the taps so that the water passes through them.
 
#4 ·
Thanks. The scalp seems to be clearing up now but my face is terrible.
It's embarrassing. It's about the size of a dime and very visible. I've been using the ointment again so hopefully it will go away, but I think a new patch is getting ready to come right above it. There are a few tiny little bumps in a spot and it is a little bit itchy. That's how the other thing started. I'm probably going to go to the doctor soon for something if I can't clear it up on my own. I'd prefer not to, but I'm going to be vain and say that I don't like the way it looks at all. I've been trying the last couple days to cover it up, but it's still very noticable even if it isn't as red.
 
#5 ·
I developed an allergy to corn when I was pg, though I didn't know it. When my dd was 15 mths old, she was diagnosed with a corn allergy. I eliminated corn for her (she was nursing), and surprisingly, the itchy spot that had developed on my face went away.

Perhaps you've developed a food sensitivity? Pregnancy is a common time for them to change (get worse, go away, etc.). It could be any food, but as you probably know, wheat, soy, corn and nuts are the most common after dairy and eggs.

FWIW, my sensitivity went away after avoiding it for a year (until my dd weaned). During that time, I also did a lot to strengthen my gut and immune system like take probiotics, fish oil, vit c, etc. In the allergy forum, there's a lot more information about that.
 
#6 ·
Hmm, that's something to look in to. I wonder if it could be tomatoes?? We eat a lot of tomatoes in sauce. We had them last night and I had leftovers for lunch today. Since I posted this, there are more red bumps. The others aren't a cluster like the dime sized spot, but rather just individual bumps. My face is itchy (around the mouth and chin). I'll look more into that.
 
#8 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by Chinese Pistache View Post
Some of that sounds like hives, too. If you take benadryl and they go away, you'll know. My friend gets those bumps (hives) with tomatoes. It's gotten worse as she's gotten older. Do you have any itchiness in your mouth?
Sometimes the roof of my mouth itches. I attributed it to seasonal allergies, but I guess it's a little too cold for that now. My lips and around my mouth are pretty itchy though.

So would you suggest an elimination diet of some sort? Probably tomatoes at first since that's something we eat several times a week?
 
#10 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by Chinese Pistache View Post
Were your tomatoes peeled? Sometimes that helps.

As to the eczema, it sounds like you're "atopic" right now (prone to allergic responses) and it really could be anything from food to laundry soap to shampoo to stress. Do you take probiotics and CLO?
They were canned diced tomatoes. And salsa from a restaurant. And salsa at home. And tomato sauce on pizza. We eat a lot of tomatoes!


I don't take probiotics and I don't know what CLO is, so I'm guessing I don't. Is it cod liver oil? If so, then no. We're vegetarian. We do take veg DHA though.
 
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