Eczema Support Group

I am so sorry you're having such a hard time. I cry every time I read a discussion like yours because I know exactly what you're going through and it is sooooo hard. You gotta hang in there. Eczema is so different from person to person so you just gotta try things out. What didn't work for somebody else might work for you. A good website to look at is www.eczema.net. Try not only using topical medications but try eating better and thinking better, thinking positive. I know it easier said than done.

I am sorry to hear how hard you are having it at the moment with the excema. I have had it all my life & knnow how hard it was at school.
The only things I can think of (& you might already be using them) is evening primrose oil capsules which moisturise from inside the body. I also drink aloevera juice which helps to cool down the bloodstream. I dont know if you have a drink called fluid magnesium as that is an old fashioned drink that cools the bloodstream. That is one of the main needs as excema is contributed to by heat in the body (I think thats how to say it). I know these have helped me.
Take care of yourself.
Hugs

I'm soo sorry to hefar that you are going thruogh such a hard time. I do know exactly what you're through becuase I had simmilar episode a few months ago, my exzema covered every inch of my body for 5 months until I finally went to a dermontologist. It's good that school is finally over so you don't have to hear what others are saying about you, they don't know anything about exzema and they should all keep their bigs mouths shut. I don't really have any advice to give you, but if you ever need to talk I'm hear. You'll get through this, keep your head high.

im sorry you don't have a lot of support from family or friends.
nobody really understands eczema..
i was talking to my friend about it and she told me it wasn't a big deal and i just want attention.
i just wanted to slap her.
i have some support from my family, but they make small jokes about it, i don't think they understand that those jokes hurt.
this website has been a great help for me, but it just doesn't seem good enough for me because i won't someone i can really talk to in person who has eczema.
i hope that you find something that works.
i am also 15, and i've only had for a few months.. i am able to semi control it, i use lots of eucerin lotions and i take flawseed oil softgels.
and during a flare-up i use vanos.
please keep me updated.

I have been asked to pray for healing for others, so by chance I have seen your post and will pray the my Lord Jesus touch your body and heal you from this eczema. Lord Jesus I lift up this young person to You, as you have asked me to pray, so in obedience I have kept my eyes open for people in need. I lift up this young person and their skin eczema and ask You Lord to work Your lovingkindness in their life, touch and heal this young person and be glorified Lord Jesus in this and through this, in Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Hi, I feel you on the lack of prescription medication, I have no health coverage to get what I need, and sadly, yes, over the counter only gets you so far. Long term eczema sufferers get pretty creative. I'm like an overweight person who's tried every diet. Here's what's working for me:

I use scent, dye and chemical free laundry detergent. This is a MUST! My skin itches at the thought of not using it. My favorite brand for value and ability is BioKleen Free and Clear, which you should be able to get from a health food store. A little goes a long way so a bottle lasts.

Keep your house and self clean without overdoing it, harsh chemicals hurt!! I use a mild shampoo (bumble and bumble is what I like) and use cetephil bar on the parts that need it, but stay away from harsh soaps. Dust is bad. Even vacuuming would flare me up (kicking dust into the air). Use free and clear and eco friendly cleaning products, and keep dust to a minimum, have your mom vacuum and stay out of the room for a while after. When I moved to a home with wood floors, I saw a huge improvement.

I only wash my hands with cetaphil bar soap, which I carry around with me in a little travel soap holder. Antibacterial anything is absolute murder on my skin, most public restrooms have horrible soap. Cetephil does make an antibacterial soap, so stay away from that, buy the normal one. Mild cream after.

Drink water, water, water. really, it's free and what could it hurt? Keep hydrated. Eat your unsaturated fats, not overly, but make sure you get some good oils in your diet and stay away from processed foods. Someone suggested oil of evening primrose. Also, my eczema really flares up when I gain weight, eat right, treat yourself well. Really.

Lastly, I mix a tiny amount of my precious triamcinolone 0.1% cream with goldbond soothing camomile cream and slather myself right out of the shower. The tiniest amount, because I have no health coverage and it's hard for me to get the prescription. It makes it last longer and I think with everything else, I do alright.

My brother has it bad, too. He doesn't religiously do the things I do, his house is a mess, he smokes pot, he hates to lotion, he tries fad diets. He's a big red flakey mess. I know it's different from person to person, but you had to dillegently take care of yourself and no amount of praying, voodoo or whining is ever going to help our horrible problem. Big hug to you!! May you find relief on this message board.

I understand exactly how you feel. I have very bad eczema at the moment on my arms and legs, its makes me soo sad i just wanna cry all the time. Its so dry at the minute i am applying Vaseline every 15 minutes !

a tip that i have which does seem to help is wearing bandages at night. I cover my legs in cetraben then put bandages on to stop me scratching. I couldnt put bandages on my arms, but my brother came up with the idea of using old socks.
So i cover my arms in an old sock with the toes cut out to stop me itching.

Its worth a try !

Hey, its very nice too meet you. I understand you man... ive never worn a t-shirt to school or shorts. It popped up once on the right side of my head and it looked like a wolf bit me. If i knew you i would knock out every one of those people that insulted you. Your just as human as them yet they think they're better you. My only advice to you is know that everything and anything can be overcomed in this world. Good luck

That was my life from 8 to 18. Everything you wrote was my life exactly even down to just spending all my time in my room and not having any creams and the long sleeved shirts in the summer.

My mom took me to the hospital only when I broke down crying because I just couldn't take it anymore.

BUT.

I overcame it. and you can too. Yes, I still feel the side effects of not socializing during that crucial period of a kid's life, but I went to college. I did my research and made sure I went to a college in a town that didn't aggravate my skin as much as my home town did and with a good diet and proper hygiene and switching the soaps, detergents, and shampoos I use, my skin never got as bad as those middle school/high school years where I had to cover up my whole body.

It can happen. You just have to hang in there. If you could read my journal from the years 15-18, you'd probably see your own words reflected right back you. Looking back through it, it was both hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time.

I remember writing, "I'm not strong enough to do this anymore. I am tired of being me."

I remember writing once how I used my red blotchy, flaking skin as a means to screen people; that the people who were still my friends despite how grotesque my skin was, who still hugged me and still spent time with me. I remember writing that they were worth my time.

I used to really worry that my skin would be that bad my entire life and that no one would love. I would die lonely and alone scratchy myself raw.

It doesn't have to be that way. It wasn't for me and it won't be for you. Come up with a goal in life. Have something to aspire to, to live for, even if it's something you're afraid other people will think is stupid. I lived eight years because of a stupid promise I made to myself: "I cannot die until I have seen all of Berusaiyu no Bara"

It was a stupid goal, but it kept me alive. And if something can keep you alive, I don't think it's stupid at all.

Hang in there. Be strong. Be mean if you have to. Things -will- get better.

mate you have to hang in there. mine got to a stage where one specilist tried telling my mother to keep me out of the rain. and i agree school is tough. specially when u have people shoving all this stuff they think they know about eczema.