Eczema - Recommended Treatments?

[danielle13]

Hello :wave:

I've often got terrible eczema on my hands which I'm currently treating with an expensive, powerful pharmaceutical ointment. It's helping alot, but I can only use it for 2 weeks at a time, and it costs $55 for a 15ml tube :eek: . And in the weeks that I'm not using it the eczema returns full-force.
Does anyone have any recommendations for cheap, good alternatives (even home remedies)? I've stopped using all kinds of soap on my skin (I wear gloves when doing dishes etc, and use QV oil instead of soap in the shower), but nothing seems to be helping much. Any advice or whatever would be greatly appreciated - it's driving me (and my bank balance) nuts!

Thanks

[nemosmum]

First i would recommend an allergy test as eczema is a symptom of an allergy.
To get a referal to an allergy testing centre see your gp.
They will be able to tell you what your allergic too, also can give you info on diet and foods to avoid etc

Second i would stop using QV as i have been told by my sons allergy specialist QV products still contain small amounts of products that can affect seriously sensitive skin........we use Cetaphil and only when necessary, most of the time i bath my son (who has eczema in nothing but luke warm water)

Third try and get someone to recommend a great natropath to you........we take my sonto one and although she was initially $ the results were amazing and I love the fact they are all natural not horrible steroids!

Fourth gd luck....eczema is a horrible thing to suffer from:hugs:

[Little_Toad]

I gewt excema on my hands also.
Worse now I'm pg.

Steroid creams are ok for on the hands..
i can get 6 tubes of diprosone for $27. 15g each.

Ask you doc to ring up for a PBS authority.

[danielle13]

Pardon my ignorance...but -
What's a PBS authority?

[babytoo]

What cream are you using that costs $55? I have been using Elidel and its expensive too but only $37 a tube....my paed gave me about 10 sample packs too which has saved heaps of money!! It works wonders though!

[Little_Toad]

PBS authority allows you to get more than the usual number of scripts.

[danielle13]

It's Diprosone - the first time I got it, it was $30, but then I had to get it again yesterday and it was $55!!!!!! How do you get it so cheap Little_Toad? Is that on a concession? And 6 tubes at once?? I had to listen to a big spiel about how bad it is to use for a long period of time, and they'd only give me one tube!! Hmmm :detective:
I think I need to find a new GP.... she's never once suggested an allergy test, just keeps trying me on different ointments. And she recommended the QV oil, but now that you mention it nemosmum, it's probably not that good. I mean, it's one of the very few things that come into contact with my hands yet they still itch like mad and are horribly dry.
I've tried cetaphyl, it stung :(

It's so frustrating!

[Little_Toad]

Danielle,

I'm not on any concession.

I'm surprised it cost that much!

Maybe shop around at different chemists.. but I think the price should be the same.

I ask my GP for a PBS authoity and i get 6 tubes on the one script (given to me all at once).
The script has 6 repeats too... so I can get 36 in total.

Steroid creams arent great on your skin long term as they thin the skin. hands are fairly tough.

What I've found surprisingly good for my excema is Ego Dermaid 1%, a lower dose of cortisone. They have iit behind the counter at the chemist.
It's got a really nice base to it that lingers on your skin even after wetting it. i've got very sensitive skin also.
It's about $8 for 30g i think.


If the doctor complains about only being able to give you one tube at a time, say you need it for cost reasons.. and one tube lasts you a while.

Also with your application, use it till the excema heals. then stop it, then as soon as you see signs of it appearing again put it on. I don't see why you should have to use it full time for two weeks then stop.

[aardvark]

I've gone organic - everything - meat, fruit, veg, dairy detergents etc, and the eczema which has plagued me since childhood is completely gone.

[danielle13]

Little_Toad - yes, it's strange how GPs and pharmacists can be so different, ie with useage, cost, repeats etc... I understand why some medications vary for different people, but you'd think ointment use would be pretty standard.. I'll talk to my GP about it and see if she'll help me out with the repeats etc, it's ridiculous that I have to go back to her so often - not easy with a little bub! I'll try the ego stuff, can't hurt I suppose!

And aardvark - I've thought about going organic, but the cost puts me off a bit. How do you find the cost compared to non-organic products?

[Little_Toad]

Danielle,
Also try the diprosine cream instead of the ointment.
Sometimes a different base can be more effective.
It's not greasy either.

[Dannielle]

Hi Danielle :wave: , nice name:laughing:

My DD2 gets eczema on her face sometimes. She is allergic to dairy and will sometimes manage to eat something with dairy in it and break out.

Anyway, I highly recomend trying GAIA Natural Baby Skin Soothing Lotion. It comes in a 250ml bottle and we bought it at the chemist for only $10. But the best thing about it is DD2 says it makes it feel better.:)

[abeckaj]

rosehip oil is great too!

[Crazyfamily]

I use emu oil. It is great and has worked for everyone I know who has tried it.

[aardvark]

And aardvark - I've thought about going organic, but the cost puts me off a bit. How do you find the cost compared to non-organic products?

It's more expensive, not doubt about it.

I feel much better, though, and the eczema has gone, so it's a quality of life thing.

I mostly cook from scratch, though so it is cheaper that way. If you want to buy organic packet everything, it really starts to be outrageou$.

[poodysmum]

Pardon my ignorance...but -
What's a PBS authority?

It's the Pharmaceutical benefits scheme. I can empathise with the sore hands. Ive had them for ages, as Ive worked in a pathology lab where we have to wear gloves and wash our hands alot, and unfortunately Ive been stuck with it eventhough I am no longer at work. I would love to hear anybodys suggestions too cos its driving me NUTS!!!!!:eek:
If its not itchy, its dry and sore-ooooouuuuccchhh!:crying:

Alli

[hwamy]

Hi may i know if anyone has tried any natural products which helps with eczema other than prescription creams? Thanks for any suggestions.....

[CJandMum]

My DH has horrible ezcema on his hairline, neck, back, joint areas, (arms and legs) hand, and on his chest. He has been battling it for many many years and he has used everything under the sun to try and make it better but so far it's a losing battle. It's good for a while and then he just goes downhill.. mostly due to the changes in the weather. The hotter it is, the worse he feels. He uses QV creams, oils, shampoos, hand soap, lotions, etc. and they do seem to make the ezcema a little less itchy and dry. He also has an assortment of steroidal/non-steroidal creams that he uses only on the really bad flair ups. What works best for him is an all natural vitamin E oil. He applies it every time he has a shower to avoid his skin going completely dry. Not to mention, it soothes the itching without irritating his skin. If you eat or put anything on your skin that is irritating, you'll know immediately after eating or applying it. Make sure you see a dermatologist and keep a close eye on what your eating and putting on your skin. It's a long process of trial and error. I hope this helps!

[poodysmum]

My DH has horrible ezcema on his hairline, neck, back, joint areas, (arms and legs) hand, and on his chest. He has been battling it for many many years and he has used everything under the sun to try and make it better but so far it's a losing battle. It's good for a while and then he just goes downhill.. mostly due to the changes in the weather. The hotter it is, the worse he feels. He uses QV creams, oils, shampoos, hand soap, lotions, etc. and they do seem to make the ezcema a little less itchy and dry. He also has an assortment of steroidal/non-steroidal creams that he uses only on the really bad flair ups. What works best for him is an all natural vitamin E oil. He applies it every time he has a shower to avoid his skin going completely dry. Not to mention, it soothes the itching without irritating his skin. If you eat or put anything on your skin that is irritating, you'll know immediately after eating or applying it. Make sure you see a dermatologist and keep a close eye on what your eating and putting on your skin. It's a long process of trial and error. I hope this helps!

Thanks for the tips. Im definately going to look into that vitamin E oil! :D

Alli

[nicoleE]

I would give this Wheat Grass cream a go. It was recommended by my natropath and I use it for acne although it is technically for Eczma & dermititis etc. Its natural and its actually a nice cream. I have replaced my face moisteriser with it. Its only $20 a tube and although the tube is on the smaller side it does go far (still wayyyyy cheaper than my Clinique moisteriser!!)
You can order online or you can probably get it from natropaths and perhaps other places if you enquire. I pay about the same price as you pay online (but obviously i save on the delivery cost, although minimal)

http://www.drwheatgrass.com.au/products/dermawheat-cream/Default.htm

[3times]

I use emu oil. It is great and has worked for everyone I know who has tried it.
I found emu oil dried me out even more, milk and almond oil works for me. Have a quick shower to rinse of dirt followed by a warm bath with 1/2 a cup of milk added to the water, with a loffah rub body with small amounts of almond oil. The milk helps the skin absorb the almond oil. But one last thing stay away from sorbelene and petroleume based creams.

[danielle13]

But one last thing stay away from sorbelene and petroleume based creams.

Yes!! My GP told me to use sorbolene handwash in place of soap, and my hands were the worst they've ever been. Since I've stopped using it my hands are still pretty itchy at times, but nowhere near as bad.

Thanks for all the tips everyone, I'll be a tighta*se and try the cheapest first!! :laughing: