Eczema Support Group
Eczema is a form of inflammation of the upper layers of the skin. The main symptoms are skin rashes characterized by redness, skin edema, itching and dryness, with possible crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing or bleeding. Eczema can be extremely physically and socially uncomfortable. If you're an eczema sufferer, join the group and get support.
Hi!
I have eczema mostly on my face. It often shows as a very red angry rash from my jawline up to my forehead. When it is red there isn't much I can do other than put on the lotions the Dr has prescribed.
But there is also a time when my face is covered with dead flakes of skin. It will flake off like very bad dandruff.
I can wash off the the dead skin, being careful to avoid detergent based soaps etc to take off the flakey dead skin. But that leaves my face looking blotchy with bright red patches... or even mostly red. Sometimes I think I look like someone who has had fairly bad burn damage to my face.
My question is which do you think would look the more socially acceptable, the flaking dead skin or the bright red burned look?
Sometimes I just like to hide under a broad brimmed hat. A beard at least would hide the lower sections of my face... but then the flakes get caught in the hair which also looks bad and it gets itchy and harder to apply the prescription lotions.
I am lucky that it most time it either doesn't itch or burn too much or I can put the aggravation out of my mind.
~ Darrell
I have eczema mostly on my face. It often shows as a very red angry rash from my jawline up to my forehead. When it is red there isn't much I can do other than put on the lotions the Dr has prescribed.
But there is also a time when my face is covered with dead flakes of skin. It will flake off like very bad dandruff.
I can wash off the the dead skin, being careful to avoid detergent based soaps etc to take off the flakey dead skin. But that leaves my face looking blotchy with bright red patches... or even mostly red. Sometimes I think I look like someone who has had fairly bad burn damage to my face.
My question is which do you think would look the more socially acceptable, the flaking dead skin or the bright red burned look?
Sometimes I just like to hide under a broad brimmed hat. A beard at least would hide the lower sections of my face... but then the flakes get caught in the hair which also looks bad and it gets itchy and harder to apply the prescription lotions.
I am lucky that it most time it either doesn't itch or burn too much or I can put the aggravation out of my mind.
~ Darrell
This is expensive but very thorough! If on your on at least have them do a candida and pathogen test!
DO NOT LET THEM TREAT YOU AT CONVENTIONAL DOCTORS OFFICE IF PATHOGENS ARE FOUND! PARDON ME BUT, THEY DON'T HAVE A CLUE!
A person could skip the test and just treat this. It is basicly diet thats going to help this anyway!
SCRATCH
I've tried a lot of different things, but so far the best mosturizer I've ever found for treating this is Eucerin Calming Creme. It doesn't specifically say it's for use on the face, but I use it all over my entire body everyday including my face.
It's really cleared up a lot of the flaking and redness. It is steroid and fragrance free and it won't clog pores (it says it's "non-greasy," but one of the ingredients is mineral oil, so it's a little greasy, but so far I haven't had a problem with clogged pores).
I put it on after I've had a shower when my skin is still moist. I've experienced a little burning when I first put it on (but when my skin is really flared up it hurts when I take showers or put ANYTHING on), but I find if I apply a cold compress immediately after putting it on, that helps take away the sting.
Other things that I've found that help:
1) Don't rub or scratch the dead skin off. I know how embarassing the flaking is, but I think the friction of removing it actually makes it worse and perpetuates the cycle.
2) Don't smoke and stay away from people who do. My face imparticular cleared up a lot when I quit smoking.
3) Non-detergent, fragrance and dye free everything. Right now for soap I'm using Tom's of Maine Unscented Natural Moisturizing Body Bar. It's detergent, tallow, and fragrance free and very gentle. On my face I use Cetaphil or fragrance free Noxema. On my clothes I've been using fragrance free All.
4) Be vigilant about avoiding irritants, allergens, and stress--anything that compells you to scratch. When you do feel the urge to scratch or feel dry apply more moisutrizer instead. I carry purse sized moisturizers and lip balm around wherever I go.
Hope that helped.
What are you using as a daily face wash to just simple clean your face? I would love to share some great products with you for free to see if if helps your face. I do undrstand that you might be able to use some but it just might help...
Sean
PS drop me an email if your like to try...