March 1996 Eczema Mailing List Archive

Does anybody have any good ideas/sources for applying lotion to your back? It isn't as raw as other areas, but some days my dry, itching back drives me crazy!

Hi Kristen, I may have not stated well what I meant about anger. I believe it is good to address (vent) anger, but I believe that one can become so good at venting, that the natural reaction to any displeasurable experience becomes anger; That is, there are some things to get angry about and venting is good... if one becomes very prone to venting things, than minor incidents which should not cause an angry response become a basis for venting, and one can go too far. This results in becoming angry easily (I am sure you have run into people like this), and venting for ventings sake takes over. Therefore, venting at times is good and healthy... overventing, can have a negative impact..that is what I was trying to say.

I haven't had that problem, but I think I would try one of those sponge-on-a-stick gadgets used for cleaning the glass on fishtanks! They serve almost the same kind of wiping function. Try any pet store.

(I am not making a joke here or trying to be cute; I think this would work just fine. I would wash the sponge thoroughly before using it the first time.)

Yes, I have a gizmo from a mail order medical company named Dr. Leonards... it is a backscratcher type arrangement but instead of a hand on the end there is a place for a an absorbent pad (which is replaceable). It works very well and is a godsend, as one does not have to rely on another person all the time to get at those hard to reach places... when I get home I will find out more info (if I have it..I am on their mailing lists and get catalogues from time to time).

To all, What a strange thing it is to explain to those without exzema (don't you just sometimes sorta *hate* those people with perfect skin?!?) that you have a skin problem. I always get the reply "but your skin is so nice" - if only they could see what the clothes hide and what my skin looks like on the days, weeks, months where I (we) don't leave the house for fear of an unkind remark or look.

Or how can they know what it is like to sweep out your bed in the morning to get rid of the piles of skin that you have scratched off in your sleep? (Or not to sleep for weeks because of the itchiness.)

And how to explain the ITCH. If I hear another friend say to me "stop scratching" I will go ballistic!

I have not read much concerning what we eat (someone mentioned chillies a while back) and how this may affect us. I know that if I drink beer or consume lots of yeasty/fermented food like fresh crusty bread smothered in stilton cheese washed down with an ice cold beer (OH BLISS!!) my skin simply goes to pieces and itches like mad and... well we all know the rest. But bread and cheese (and beer) being just about my most favorite things (apart from chillies), when I give them up I feel very deprived.

I would love to hear about what foods people have problems with.

I am currently finishing off a long course of oral cortisone and am really scared aobut how my skin will be when I stop. I am tapering off ever so slowly but the reaction is always bad after a course of this most horrid drug.

Eric, We've had a hard time trying to prevent Nadia from causing too much damage from scratching, with limited success.

Naturally, we keep her nails completely filed down. At bed, she wears soft cotton gloves that we tape around the wrist of the glove (not on her skin) to make it difficult to remove, except by an adult.

These days, at 10 years old, we give more leeway to do her own thing, with occasional dire consequences.

Awhile ago Kris said she had severe sinusitis. Many people with eczema also have it. I have eczema as my worst symptom, sinusitis a close second, and then asthma less severe. A few years ago I found Nasalide, a steroid nasal spray I use every day. Before that, I sneezed and had runny nose all day and night my entire life. I walked around with a handkerchief in my hand and back-up tissues in my pockets. I assume that eventually Nasalide won't work anymore and I'm wondering what other medications people have found effective for chronic sinusitis? Also, awhile ago Wren mentioned scalp problems. I use Temovate Scalp Application 0.05% and am curious about what other medications or alternative treatments people use for scalp eczema?

I have another question for folks. Wayne and I talked about this on the phone the other day. What kind of reaction do people get from sweating and do you sweat everywhere or only in certain areas? For example, I only sweat under my armpits and under my breasts. Nowhere else. And I rarely exercise because I always get a rash afterwards, which I think may be due to the fact that my body is trying to sweat but can't and the pores get clogged or something and I end up itchy and rashy instead. On the other hand, I know that Alan rarely sends and receives messages on the list because he finds sweating and exercise very good for his eczema and he tries to be outdoors actively sweating as much as possible! What are other people's experiences with sweat? 

Shelley, Is Nasalide a prescription item, or over-the-counter? Who is the manufacturer?

Shelley, Nasalide has helped me too. I try to limit its use to when I am congested (I.e. colored drainage). Theoretically, if you are aggressive enough with antihistamines, you won't get congested, but that doesn't always work. I also use Nasalcrom which is much more benign, but not as effective. I use Nasalcrom to taper off from continual antihistamine use. The allergy shots have really helped my sinuses too.

Sweating doesn't seem to bother or help me. I excercise heavily and often sweat heavily. Sometimes my scalp stings from the sweat but not much lately. Excercise is my way of fighting back; "my skin may be fragile, but the muscles underneath are strong." I do find that underarm eczema gets worse when I don't shave there. I shave very lightly with an electric razor.

On another topic, I have switched to Tide Free after a lifetime of using White King Soap. If anything, my skin is better and the clothes are definitely cleaner. Of course, I am very careful to not put in too much Tide and to rinse thoroughly. 

Hi eczema community: I find that with night itch much of it is habitual. Once skin begins to heal I think that itch declines, but because we get into a habit we scratch. I find that when I am in a flareup I'll wake up and scratch the same area at the same time every night. So I try to break the habit: sleeping on the couch, sleeping with comfortable daytime clothes on, bandaging with old bed sheets, not eating close to bedtime, and maybe taking something to help deepen my sleep.

I sweat only above my chest. Profusely from my neck up. My sweat tastes very salty to me. I am hot when I sweat, and the combination of salty sweat and heated skin gets me into an itching rage. Therefore, I try not to do anything that makes me sweat heavily.

Ralph, you asked for specifics on Nasalide. It's a prescription drug, manufactured by Syntex Labs. The main ingredient (perhaps the generic term for it?) is Flunisolide nasal solution 0.025%. It's a steroid nasal spray. I was told the spray delivers the steroid in such a small dose that it doesn't have side effects yet is still effective for chronic sinusitis. I've used it for almost 5 years. I spray once a day but was told I could use it twice a day if necessary. I still carry tissues in my purse and do have to blow my nose more often than non-atopic people, but it's such an improvement over the previous situation where I had to hold a handkerchief in my hand 24 hours a day. Before I found Nasalide, I had never had a sense of smell. I don't have a great sense of smell now, but at least I have a minimal amount. That's another question for others with sinusitis. Do you have a sense of smell?

I wanted to report that I'm having success using aloe vera gel on my skin. Aloe vera gel is an over the counter item found in health food stores. It comes in bottles. It's a clear brownish substance from a plant. I've always had some in the house as first aid for burns. (I personally witnessed a friend's getting seriously burned and she couldn't afford to go to the hospital so she just put aloe vera on it and to my amazement it healed fine!) Anyway, I never thought of using it on my eczema. But just the other day, I pulled it out for a visitor's minor burn and ended up wiping the excess on my own skin, and later realized that it felt good. So I've been using it for the last few days as an experiment. It seems to be good for the dryness and my rash areas are clearing, though I'm not sure if the clearing can be specifically attributed to the aloe vera. But I wanted to mention it right away because this product should be easy to find and it's certainly worth trying. (If it doesn't work for your eczema, just keep it for burns... )

Thanks for the helpful hint on venting anger, Ralph. Actually doing something physical to vent is probably just as or maybe even more helpful than dealing with it intellectually. 

Hi Anneliese, I also have eyelid eczema problems--for some reason, I got the brush off, which was highly irritating by itself. But I kept trying to find something. I got nowhere with derm doctors for four or five years either. Nor with eye doctors, until I happened on one young eye dr, who suggested a daily regimen--which works when I do it!

Apply the special "eye soaps" (liquid form) (one product is called OcuCoat) to eye lids 2X daily to wash off skin particles and bacteria. For lid problems, chronic, use hot compresses and lid scrubs (with OcuClenz soap) AM and PM. Use Bion tears and OcuCoat every 2 hrs, if possible. Try CelluVisc just before bed for dry eyes. For itching, use Acular drops (nonsteroid) and cold compresses.

It does help--and I do my best to keep my fingers off and not rub. You will need prescriptions for the Acular if you decide to try it. But the other stuff is o-t-c in any drug store. Good luck. 

Priscilla, I leave my back wet when I get out of the shower, then do the "monkey reach" with a fist full of lotion, but it seems to spread a lot easier when the skin is wet. Wait until your back feels dry before putting any clothing on your back. I could use a better method though. 

>> I think I would try one of those sponge-on-a-stick gadgets used for cleaning the glass on fishtanks! << 

Ralph, What would you do with it between uses? I mean, after it's all soaked with lotion, would you rinse it all down the drain (sorta a waste) and how would you keep it clean between uses, so it wouldn't end up being a breeding ground for bacteria? 

I always hate it when someone says, "stop scratching." As if they have any idea what it's really like to itch.

You most probably have the same food problem I do--allergy to GLUTEN in any grain product, including beer with its malt. You may be able to tolerate small amounts over weeks or months, but loading up on it must be bad news. It's always one's favorite foods that are the culprits.

If you were raised on breads and grains, milk and egg products, it's very hard to develop a taste for stuff like rice bread, and try cooking with all the alternatives--it's very expensive and disappointing, to say the least.

I loved taking oral cortisone--it was blessed relief and a free mind for a few days. Are you also medicating topically as you wean off it? 

Shelley, thanks for the medication tips. I will ask my derm dr for these to try on my next appt. 

On the subject of sweating... 

I live in a tropical climate. We don't have four sesons here, we get six months of 'dry season' and six months of 'wet season'. During the wet it is humid as hell and I sweat all of the time and in the dry, the opposite.

What I have found is that because my skin is so dry, my exzema is better in the wet season. I find the dryness causes me to be more itchy than the humidiy. When I had a holiday in a very dry, Mediterranian type climate my skin was as bad as ever - (and to top it off it was *cold* - we NEVER get cold where I live - it is hot or warm all the time).

Anyone else have similar experiences in similar climates? How do you all cope with very drying central heating - I find that air conditioning drives me nuts because it takes all of the moisture out of the air - I find myself ducking outside to get a bit of a sweat going so that my skin can "move".

Shelly, I have an aloe vera plant growing in my shower window. I pull of the stems and peel off the outside and wipe the gel like stuff on my exzema. I find it ok (but not brilliant) to soothe an angry rash. It is, as you say, fabulous stuff for burns.

On another list that I am on (yeast-l) there is a discussion going re the benefits of drinking aloe vera juice. I have tried drinking it and it is YUKO!

It is easy to grow and my plant that I have is about three years old. (they are a sort of 'succulent' cactus). It is from, I believe, the same family as onion, garlic, asparagus etc.

Hi Wayne, Like you, when I perspire (usually in high humidity which I cannot avoid), it's primarily from the waist up, and is most profuse from neck up. I try not to sweat at all, because it's so uncomfortable, and I hate the way it makes me feel dirty. I used to bike, but haven't for several years. It does keep one cool, usually, because of the wind in one's face.

I'm about to join a health club so I can swim!! Best way I know of to get good exercise, low impact, and NEVER SWEAT! I'm very averse to insects--anything with a buzz in my ears or the audacity to sit on my skin makes me itch. Indoor swimming is the best solution I can think of. 

I've used aloe vera gel, and do like the sensation. Have never been able to see much benefit other than momentary cooling sensation tho. Hope other's get better benefits than I've had. 

I guess you would have to wash it, waste or not. But didn't you see the reply from Robert? He has evidently tried this, and I haven't, so let's ask him: Robert, how do you clean your applicator gadget?

Ann: Interesting mention of soap/detergent. I also use Tide, but haven't tried Tide-Free. I'll try that next time. I use Palmolive dish washing soap and in the shower I use oatmeal soap. For most of my life I used Neutrogena, but a few years ago I started having a reaction to it and now I can't use any of those glycerine soaps. If my skin is really bad I use Cetaphil but most of the time I use oatmeal soap. And you mentioned shaving, which is another interesting topic. I've never shaved. When I was a young girl and hairs first started coming in, I used to pluck them out with a nipper. I still do that under my arms. But I've let the hair on my legs grow in and ever since my leg skin has been good. I can't stand hair under my arms, probably because that's one of the only places I sweat, and it gets itchy, so I do keep it plucked, but the idea of shaving seems repulsive. Thank god I'm not a man and don't have to worry about shaving my face! 

Wayne, reading your note about night itch where you talk about how you learned to sleep in different ways to break the habit, makes me think that there are advantages to having this condition. 

Wayne's story is an example of the ways that intelligence and flexibility can be used to improve a difficult situation. That old line "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" could have been said about eczema. Living with this disease really builds character. In large part due to this condition, I've developed self-awareness, independence, discipline, flexibility, patience, empathy, high tolerance for difficult and challenging situations, and high intolerance for racism, injustice, and discrimination based on physical appearance of all kinds. 

I would certainly never choose to have this condition just to get the character building side effects, but since I have no choice in the matter, and I'm stuck with it, I sometimes remind myself that most of the reasons I like myself as a person are traits that developed as a result of the very condition that I hate. 

I sometimes wonder what kind of person I would have become if I wasn't born with eczema. I can't even imagine it. I'm sure I would have been a completely different person, for better or worse I don't know. If I had the chance to do it over, I would definitely trade eczema for some other problem, but it's an interesting philosophical question whether or not I might be a "better person" because of this disease. 

I feel I owe the list an account of my own recent travails and personal discoveries but am just coming off a major episode which I tried to stave off for months not wishing to resort to steroids--finally had to and in retrospect wish perhaps I had gotten on top of it earlier--I so far (knock on wood) have a history of bad outbreaks followed by decent periods of relative calm. 

But right now a trigger is my sitting at my computer chair which irritates my back and begins the cycle anew so am laying low on e-mail but very grateful for all the sharing and information and hard work list members have been carrying out. 

One topic I will get on to: in my case allergies certainly do seem to aggravate my skin condition and one substance I am very sensitive to is corn, especially high fructose corn syrup. And this stuff is in EVERYTHING. From Dr. Brown's Celery Soda to your regular white slice of Wonder Bread. One of my allergy books from years past got on to the subject of corn allergies which the author felt were ubiquitous and highly underreported, owing to the high reliance of the American food industry on corn based sweetners. 

Anyway it zaps me--have learned to read every food label (For example, corn is present in champagne via the coloring in the cheap brandy that is a minor additive to champagnes less dry than the brut variety--American brands at any rate).The health food stores here seem to have a special antenna out for when I get interested in their products: as soon as I started experimenting with tea tree oil and calendula creams Vitamin Express virtually doubled their prices.

Like most of the rest of the subscribers I too didn't like to sweat. ( when I was younger.) But now I seem to do better when I sweat heavily during physical activity. As long as I am able to get a shower soon after sweating I am O.K. I think that sweating helps clear the pores and the body is also geting rid of some toxins at the same time. I also disagree with using any lotions or creams that have a lot of petrolatum (vasaline). Vaseline feels really good however it clogs the pores to the max and doesn't wash off very well. Taking cold showers doesn't help wash off this substance either. I know its a difficult choice for different people and their individual conditions however I think it is very important to take off all the old topical medications when bathing and put on the new.

Again I too had clogged sinisus. It was found that I had nasal polyps. After removing them through surgery I started getting allergy shots and started using a nasal spray called Vancenase (beclomethasone) by Shering. All this happened about 6 years ago and I can smell and breath through both nostrils. I am allergic to everything and anything!! I believe this is one of the reasons why my skin is doing so well.

Shelly metioned she was using aloe vera. I have been mixing aloe vera gel with my 1% hydrocortisone cream and using it on my face. Seems to be working.

Someone metioned something about emotional times. I strongly believe that there is such a big connection between the mind & body that if we can learn to control our emotions better it just might improve our skin conditions. I am currently lookng into Bio-Feedback. Has anyone done this? I think that science has even found that touching, laughing, the feeling of being loved, are all immune sytem boosters.

The toll free number is 800-785-0880. The item is a lotion applicator #921... it costs $4.99, package of refill pads, $2.99 (item 922) Enjoy.

I did urine treatments for months. I personally had no luck. However, my father who suffers from hay fever said the shots made it go away. He went back for boosters every 6 months after initial treatment.

The allergies that come with my AD are dirt, animals, pollens, perfumes, molds, the usual foods ... 

I was tested for allergies when quite young, but I don't know the results. I do know that my eczema gets much more itchy when my allergies are bothering me, sometimes becoming nearly intolerable. Perfume swatches inserted in magazines and junk mail drive me crazy.

The eczema also seems to get better when I go somewhere that is non-allergic. I was almost completely clear in Arizona and New Mexico a couple of years ago when we went for a vacation.

I had an experience like that, although not related to eczema. I had mononucleosis and my tonsils got REALLY swollen. I was having some trouble breathing because the tonsils were starting to occlude my throat. The doctor took one look and called his nurse in. "Look at this," he said loudly and with evident disgust. "That's the worst I've ever seen. They're necrotic!"

I have remembered this comment for these 20+ years. Some "bedside manner."

Hi Sam, we have four seasons, and plenty of flying insects except in winter. Winter is usually only 3 months; spring and fall are the best; summer here can be beastly with high humidity and heat. This past summer was a pip for both. Usually we are more temperate. I don't notice huge extremes like those you mention--maybe because the climate here varies a lot. It's never either/or. I like A/C to reduce humidity, but I don't like A/C that's cold. I use it at home to reduce humidity/heat, but keep the temp around 70. In winter (now) I keep home temp about 68, but it is dry--so let clothes and dishes air dry. Yes, we had huge snow dumps in December and 40-below winds in January, but since then the weather has been decent--zero to low 30s. I hate the winds the most. I shower every nite without fail just to hydrate me and the house! 

Hi Diane, I was surprised to read about your experience with corn sweeteners, altho I had heard long ago that corn could be an allergy problem. It reminds me of the gluten problem--hardly anything on the grocery shelves doesn't have wheat in some form in it, or milk. It was so discouraging and irritating to find anything decent to eat without it. What relief do you notice when you avoid corn sweeteners? 

Richard, What exactly comprises "urine treatments"? Ditto for all the other exacerbating stuff. 

Kristin, I love swimming but alas, the chlorine in the water makes me itch itch itch. And boy does it sting. And makes my rash worse without scratching.

I hope that this does not happen to you - even 'salt water' swimming pools have chlorine in them. I can only tolerate sea water (and it is wonderfully beneficial to the eczema) and filtered shower water and river water.

I and others have found that oral antibiotics sometimes clear up the eczema, not just the infection. There is a theory of "superantigens" being worked on by a Dr. Leung at National Jewish Center which may explain why this so. Evidently there is some immune-system response to common bacteria, even without a clinical infection, which causes or exacerbates the eczema.

I find that when a patch of eczema becomes infected, the infection "supersedes" the eczema. I can therefore clear up the infection with antibiotics and the eczema is gone (temporarily, of course) without steroid use. I heard the doctor on the radio tell a caller that it was easier to clear up infected poison oak than regular poison oak, backing up my theory. Maybe, in the same way, sunburn "supersedes" eczema; and in a systemic sense, fever "supersedes" eczema? I have some tattoos (from my wilder, healthier days) and I remember that the tattooing process seemed to clear all nearby rashes ( in spite of the drying alcohol slathered on me.) The tattooed skin has remained remarkably clear, probably because I couldn't bear to scratch the decorations! Anyhow, I think it's the infection drawing the immune system away from the eczema and not the direct effect of the antibiotics: I.e. give the immune system something real to work on and it doesn't have time for eczema.

I just thought of something I have meant to tell Ralph for a long time that may also apply to those who are timid about joining the discussions. No one should feel guilty or unworthy of support because they "only" have hand eczema. or don't have severe eczema etc. etc. In the case, of hand eczema, it is my all time unfavorite, and I am a person who has or has had eczema everywhere. Hand eczema cracks so easily, infects so easily, attracts so many comments (people who are kind enough to not ask why my face is rashy seem to think that "what is the matter with your hands?" is a good icebreaker), and you can't constantly cover your hands the way you can arms and legs. It would take very severe eczema to render a limb useless, but I know I've had times when I couldn't tie shoes or grip a toothbrush or pencil correctly, let alone prepare food, do crafts, or heaven forbid, pull taffy! Thank goodness, the advent of the dishwasher stopped my most frequently heard comment:"OOH! Dishpan Hands." One of the worst complications of all, is the fact that with hand eczema, you can't wash your hands thoroughly. I figure that's why I catch so many colds and ther contagious bugs. Anybody else think that hand eczema is the worst? 

By strange coincidence I was reading a trashy women's magazine thie very morning and in the "handy hints" section was a suggestion on how to apply lotion to backs.

The person said that they had had success with wrapping a long handled wooden spoon's bowl with plastic wrap and fastening it with an elastic band and using that. This would seem a good idea in that one could throw away the bit of plastic wrap after application but not as soft as the foam tipped thingy which was discussed previously.

I've had patching testing numerous times and do not like it because it's an irritant--especially in hot weather. I've passed on it a number of times--no washing the area either, which I don't tolerate very well. Even finding out all the things I'm allergic to is much help in narrowing down avoidance of pollens, rubber, etc. Altho I already knew cats were a huge problem, dogs less so for me. I was advised at age 18 never to use perfume or anything scented directly on my skin. Now sweet smells bother my nose and eyes tremendously, altho they didn't when I was younger. Unfortunately, there is hardly a cream or lotion or shampoo on the shelves anywhere that doesn't have dyes or fragrances in it--even in the medicated ones like T-Gel and Sebulex. I've about given up on finding a 'pure' product without all that junk in it. 

Hi, Ann. A couple of interesting things here in your observations which underlie some of the principles of homeopathy and are a medical version of the old bromide, "a hair of the dog that bit you."

For example, poison oak is a contact dermatitis. Therefore, it's a cell-mediated immune response and takes a couple days to rear up. This "time delay" opens a window of opportunity for doing damage. Now, let's say that this same tissue under exactly these conditions happened to get "infected" with an agent you had already gotten exposed to (and therefore had developed specific antibody): The antibody would be Johnny on the spot and could initiate the sequence of healing steps: recruitment of substances and cells which begin a proper inflammatory response with unmediated or undelayed repair organization.

One of the real problems with a number of chronic conditions is that they often don't give a sufficient "jump start" to really get the immune system "rocking and rolling" under circumstances which are most favorable to the particular individual with a particular tissue disorder. This is just one of the principles behind "immunoregulation" therapy.

Sure, there's much more to it than that, but certainly this homeopathic principle is operative in a number of circumstances, e.g. your observations.

And, a proper inflammation response -- "on time and appropriate in its measure to the degree of insult" -- will be easier for the immune system to quiet down, hence no need for exogenous steroids -- the body produces its own and uses them to good advantage when systems are behaving properly.

Kristen, did you try the ones recommended by Shelley? Aquaphor and Shepard's Lotion have no fragrance. I've been very pleased with both products; they have really helped me control my eczema between serious outbreaks.

It's interesting to smell the Shepard's Lotion. My first reaction was, "Oh, so THAT'S what these lotions really smell like! No wonder they put perfume in them!" It smells basically like rubbing alcohol to me.

Perfume makes my whole body feel itchy now. I hate it when advertisers put samples of perfume into magazines and advertising pieces. I have to bury them at the bottom of my trash can so the smell doesn't leak out into the room.

Kristen, I have found a shampoo which is completely (to my burned out nose ) un-scented/fragrance free. My husband who has a very sharp sense of smell agrees with me. (We purchased it for him; he has no traditional allergy problems but does get migrane headaches from perfumes.) This shampoo contains only: water, laureth sulfate, coconut oil, vegetable protein, citric acid, sodium chloride. It is called Rich & Radiant Unscented ph balanced protein formula shampoo. I find it here in health food stores, but here's the manufacturers phone number: 1 800 366-1762 (Granny's Old Fashioned Products Box 256 Arcadia, CA 91066). They also make an unscented conditioner and maybe other products.

I don't know if I am allergic to perfumes, but I avoid them on general principles, (and also to keep my husband from fleeing). In fact, my allergist wanted to patch test me for contact allergens; it costs hundreds of dollars. I declined because I already stay away from dyes, perfumes, synthetic fabrics etc. I don't know how I could clean up my routine any further! 

Kristen:

You give a urine sample which is cetrifuged for purity and then reinjected into your hip. Like an allergy shot but stings. I think I went twice a week for either a month or two months. I received the treatments with B complex shots (I don't know if this is considered essential). I must say that the B complex shots were wonderful for a period of 2 weeks until my body got all the B it needed. The theory of urine shots is that the urine contains all the allergens unique to each individual so you don't have to mix and match sera and strengths of allergy shots. I cannot remember if the dosages of urine increased as therapy continued.

I think you may have something there... I recently spent a lot of time in the sun and burnt the hell out of my skin and after about three peelings the eczema subsided and I was basically free of it. At the same time I was in a relaxed environment which also may have contributed a little to a lot toward the healing process, but, surely the sun effects were very helpful. Your theory makes sense to me... I believe you have something there. The reason I concur is that while I was getting better, I was also itching alot at times, so my immune system was going haywire as well... therefore, it is likely that it finally got distracted and disoriented enough to leave its own skin alone.

Sam, I too have horrible reaction to chlorine in all swimming pools I've encountered. When I was a child I liked swimming in the pure salt water Atlantic Ocean, but could only do it rarely, when my skin was clear, because otherwise the salt burned my open wounds. 

Sam, I'm really glad that you mentioned this. I thought I was the only one who was obsessed, yet driven crazy by all the skin flakes in my bed. I can't stand it, so I try to get rid of it, making another level of disease focus in my life.

I would love to hear about what foods people have problems with.

Some allergy schools of thought believe that the foods one loves and craves are the foods one is allergic to. I noticed that I itched like hell after eating sugar and chocolate, so I took those out of my diet long ago. All caffeine too. My homeopathic allergist feels that I'm allergic to wheat, dairy, and yeastie products, so I'm on a somewhat limited diet now. I still itch all the time, but my skin is looking better and better and getting stronger. No more oozing sores.

When I sweat intensely I sweat all over, pits, back, arms, legs, under my breasts, and torso. Feet don't sweat - phew ;). And I itch like hell all over when I sweat. It's awful. The itching calms as I cool down, but during the hot salty periods I'm frenzied with itching. Try to keep it in check, as it happens most often in my aerobic Astanga yoga class.

Another point related to this is that people with eczema apparently tend to have more bacteria (staph. aureus, I think) present on their skin at all times. As far as I know, nobody knows why and what it is doing there.

Perhaps it aggravates the eczema in some way, and so the antibiotics would help temporarily by removeing this aggravation. I just made this up so it may be complete rubbish.

Hi Sam and Wren--yeah, isn't it wonderful to commiserate about sloughing skin? I remember as a gradeschooler leaving a pile of scratchings on the floor next to my desk--at that time my only med was some white thick chalky stuff that stuck inside the arms of my winter coat and everything else I wore. Winter/Xmas were always the months when I was at my worst, and I missed a lot of school. When I rubbed it off, leaving the pile of white stuff on the floor, my arms were raw and weeping. By the time I got home from school, my arms stuck to the lining of my coat from dried "weeping" which was crusty and left raw spots again. I absolutely despise those memories of misery. Haven't had those kinds of problems since I moved away from home--much later.

Sure admire your will power, Wren. I crave chocolate periodically, but my passion is bread. And the gluten in any grain product is used in 98% of stuff on the shelves in some form or other. Do you like Cream of Wheat, oatmeal, pancakes, pizza? All no-no's if you are gluten-allergic. Try to find anything else that isn't made with milk and eggs either in some form. It's hopeless--unless you are diehard vegetarian.

I haven't had oozing sores since I got out of high school. I honestly think that is because I left my youthful environment and moved to a different city where I could live my like on my own terms. The psyche again!

Kristen, There's a good article on Urine Treatments in the latest edition of "Yoga Journal". Urine treatments consist of gathering, then drinking one's own urine. Supposedly the health benefits come from a homeopathic type mechanism whereby the needed nutrients have been broken down by the body, then are easily used when reintroduced. Read the article. I have no idea or opinion about this treatment's efficacy, but the article's author was an enthusiastic advocate.

When I itch badly, I splash myself with alcohol. My derm dr shakes her fist at me for that, but it's better than itching oneself to death. It hurts at first, but it does kill the itch--and it's not as bad as scalding showers. I just got some Shepherd's lotion--new stuff, and am reserving judgment for the time being. I like the smell of alcohol--smells clean and antiseptic to me. 

Ann, I too have a belief in the idea of an "infection" superseding the eczema (I don't ever seem to catch the colds and flus that go around) but your point regarding the tattoos was one I had never thougth about. I too have a tattoo (also from my wild & crazy funster days) and I never get eczema on it. It is quite a small tatt but as I was reading your message I tried to figure reasons why I *wouldn't* get a rash where my tattoo is (eg, is it in a place that doesn't seem to itch etc). But when I thought about it, I always get rashes on corresponding sides of my body - my eczema is symmetrical ie, if my right ear gets a rash, I can be pretty much assured the left one will get it too. This doesn't apply to where the tattoo is. Mmmm... 

You also wrote about hand eczema. I feel that this is a horrible place to get a rash - you are so right in that it does seem to elicit much comment from the perfect skinned amongst us but I would still prefer it on my hands to on my face. Well, if the truth be know I would prefer it to bugger off all together but hell, life would just be too perfect then right? That aside, I do feel that you made a good point that those on the list that may not have eczema all over should please join in and share their experiences and things that they do to keep sane!

Shelly, If you get a reaction from the chlorine like me how are you going to handle the indoor swimming pool? I have been thinking of taking up swimming again in pools regardless of the rashes it causes as it is the only way I find I can exercise (it is just too hot to move most of the time). I feel that being healthier exercise wise could only benefit my skin.

Kristen, Sounds like that's the time for a cortisone shot (or pills). At least, I would consider one at that point. I don't know whether you've tried that. I view it as a desperate measure, but what you're describing sounds like a desperate situation to me.

I got my Aquaphor in a jar from the pharmacist, who uses it for compounding ointments. So I don't have a list of ingredients. But in the past I have bad reactions to almost every kind of emollient, including Eucerin, while Aquaphor is really benign on my skin.

The alcohol is an interesting method. It reminds me a bit of Wayne's rubber bands! Every time I've gotten alcohol on my hands, when they're cracked, it has hurt so much that I immediately rinsed it off. I guess I could try waiting a while to see what happens next.

Thanks for mentioning that, Ann. Actually, when I think back, I have had eczema on my eyelids (ouch) and legs (shedding into the bed, as others have mentioned) and a few other places in the course of my life. It's just that for some reason the other areas hardly bother me any more, while my hands have become more or less permanently bad.

I've been fortunate enough never to have had eczema all over my body at the same time. I really ache for the people (on this list and elsewhere) who have experienced that.

When my hands are bad, I tend to hide them at certain times. I worry when I have to sit in front of a computer, typing, while someone sits next to me. I've only gotten three or four comments about my hands, but I certainly remember them vividly.

Well now this is REALLY INTERESTING. This is how medical discoveries are made. Could something in the tattoo be suppressing the eczema?? Anybody else (other than Ann and Samantha) have a tattoo, or any similar area that doesn't get eczema?

Hearing Wren and Sam talk about skin flakes in bed really brought back memories. My skin doesn't do that any more, but every day of my childhood I would beg my mother to "Sweep the bed for me, please!" The entire bed would be filled with an amazing amount of skin, the sheets spotted with blood stains. It was a gruesome and repulsive experience to wake up and feel all those little pieces, like bread crumbs, underneath me. I would jump up and have to get away from it as soon as possible. I remember so clearly the sound of my mother's hand sweeping across the sheet in rhythmic motions. Just thinking about it gives me the creeps. For whatever reason, my eczema hasn't had that specific symptom in many years, and boy am I glad. I sympathize with you both, and anybody else out there, who is currently living with that. Bed skin is probably as bad as bed bugs. 

Kris: your story about miserable times when your skin was so raw and oozing that it stuck to your clothes really brought back memories. As a child I too had that same experience. My most vivid memory of that is from 7th grade school gym class. I remember we had to wear white knee high socks, and my legs were so badly covered with the "weeping" kind of eczema that when it was time to change back into regular clothes I would have to go into the bathroom and bite on a towel to keep from screaming as I had to literally tear these socks off my skin, and of course the socks were no longer white, and instead that horrible yellow/red color of blood and pus. I remember the sound of both sock and skin tearing and separating and the pain was excruciating and I would always be late to my next class because I would be crying so hard that I had to wait a little while to calm down. After that year, I made sure I never had to take gym class again. The socks sticking to my skin episodes are right down there with the definitive low points of my childhood. Kris, thanks for reminding me that I'm not the only one who went through that... In retrospect, I'm sitting here thinking, why did I take the socks off? Why didn't I just leave them on like bandages? I guess I was so hot and itchy that I was desperate to get everything away from my skin, but right now it seems like taking them off was the worst thing I could have done... 

Wow, this tattoo idea is wild! I've always assumed that a tattoo would be really bad for my skin and never considered getting one, but now I wonder whether one of us should volunteer to get a full-body tattoo and see if that keeps the eczema away! That would certainly be an experiment which would trigger interest from the medical researchers as well as the National Enquirer! Maybe the publicity would make some crazy millionaire give tons of money for research on our disease. Hmm, maybe an easier way to go would be to see if anyone already tattooed all over their body has eczema? .

Wren, thanks for the tip. Actually, the thought of drinking urine is more than repellant, but I forgot the name of the person who comment earlier that he had gone thru a series of shots whereby centrifuged urine particles were used. More palatable! 

The one area I've been told, read about, and heard about for eons is that when little kids have eczema, their diaper area never has the eczema. Maybe there is something to the urine theory after all.

>>Bed skin is probably as bad as bed bugs. <<

Hahaha that's funny, Shelley! Maybe that's the reason eczema always makes me feel like I'm dirty and need a bath. I don't think it's become a fetish yet, but who knows?

Ditto for me, Ralph. The comments that someone made years ago that made me cring still linger in my mind. One landlady I had in my 20s accused me of having erysipelas. It had never occurred to me that someone would think I was infectious. Another humiliation. 

Has anyone had an experiences with their pharmacy, like getting cheated out of a month's supply of pills, rather than 2 weeks? Or going to pick up meds and being presented with the small tube of ointment rather than the big 30 gram tube?

I belong to an HMO (thru my employer), and am discovering that they have more and more stringent and asinine rules--like when you need to take two meds together at the same time, they will allow you a 30-day supply for one, and a two-month supply for the other. It drives me crazy. 

The food that bothers me the most is peanuts. Chocolate and I think red wine also bother me. When my skin is in real good shape, these things don't have as much of an affect, but, I try to avoid peanuts and other nuts as well all the time.

From what I have seen on this subject I think I would go the injection route versus the drinking route. If I remember correctly, Ghandi used to do this.

Samantha, a while back there was a discussion between a couple of us about not getting colds... I don't get them anymore... I just feel something going on for about an hour or so, but then it is gone. I also get symetrical breaking out, with the exception of the bottom of one foot which gets a couple of real itchy spots when I am getting an onslaught. These spots appear to me as being attached directly to somewhere inside my body and almost need to be opened when this occurs-it is very strange.

AD Joke of the day -- You know you're in trouble when you use medicine tube corner as a scratching tool!

Anybody using or used METHETREXATE (sic). What is good about it and bad about it.

I started 2 weeks ago after cutting out cyclsporine (which was wonderful-- stopped itching completely. The problem was that it gave me headaches).

Actually, that did happen to me, with Diprolene. The pharmacist claimed they didn't have the large tube. I wonder if they billed the HMO for the large one anyway... 

I think the worst was when I was 17 and went to Europe after graduating from High School. I made it about 3 weeks before my skin started flaring real bad. My face was really dry and I was putting Albolene (which is vasoline's greasy cousin) on it. I flew straight home from Greece. When I got home I literally tore all the skin off my face. I remember it as bright red with a white patch between my nose and lip. My face was completely wet from the ooze. Needless to say, I was in bed for about two weeks.

To this day, I have to be careful with anything too greasy. I makes the itch worse.

Methotrexate (I think that's the correct spelling) is used as a chemotherapeutic agent (an anti-cancer drug). It's an "anti-metabolite" -- it slows down the growth of cells, especially those that are growing and dividing quickly. I'm guessing it would slow down the proliferation of the immune cells that "infiltrate" our problem skin.

Kris: Re your feelings about venting anger, and how it feels better than bottling it up. My upbringing likewise created a lot of anger in me that I too kept the lid on. I was always a pretty docile kid who said little.

When Nadia was born, the cap came off my anger... I've been dealing with the effects of it for years and making progress towards appropriate control.

The biggest problem with anger is that most of it is misdirected. I read a terrific book called "Anger" (don't remember the author, darn it) a few years ago. The author said that when you have the real cause of your anger in your sights, blast away! But since that's usually not the case, we angry people gotta try to understand the roots of our anger and take positive steps to prevent or minimize it.

My anger is like an oil well. I work on trying to see it as it begins to pool, before it rushes up the derrick and explodes. Good luck to you in finding peace.

Ralph, I don't think there's anything magic in the tattoo ink that repels eczema. I think it's just that the tatooing process stimulates an appropriate immune response (like Gil explained regarding infection or sunburn) that also clears the eczema. I have enough control, when awake anyhow, to not scratch the tattooed areas, so they never get torn up. I use potent steroid ointments nearby the tattoos so they are in the fallout range even though I don't think I ever put ointment directly on them. The skin was in good, almost clear condition, when I got the tattoos. I have 2 dime sized dark black stars,one on the front, and one on the rear trapezius area. I also have a tattoo on one thigh that is large but not dense (it looks like a charcoal floral sketch; it is there to cover unsightly veins,) I hope to cover up other leg veins I have on my legs pending skin condition and spousal approval. I admit to being vain (no pun intended). When the rash almost cleared ( from allergy shots?) I could really see the veins! I think the tattoo thing also involves some placebo effect; you feel good about the area ("I'm cool" or "No one can see that ugly scar/vein again") so heakling happens. 

Yes, I too have been cheated enough times by pharmacies that I ask if they have the large size in stock before I surrender the prescription. At my current small pharmacy, they know me, and there's less chance of them trying to get away with that, and if they really are out of a large size they will ask if I can wait for it to be re-ordered. But at other pharmacies I've used, the large discount places and the universities, where they really don't know their customers, it happened a certain amount. I also worked in a pharmacy for a year when I was a teenager and this practice was frowned on, but it was understood to be used by less scrupulous establishments. Ralph, you guessed it, they give you the small size and charge the insurance for the large... 

Methotrexate, as Ralph points up, is most often "heard about" as an anti-cancer (anti-neoplastic) drug, and it is an "antimetabolite" but is specific to interrupting the synthesis phase in a cell's cycle. Actually, it binds to an enzyme needed to manufacture "purine," which is one of the base groups used for forming DNA and RNA. Since the purine building block is locked out, the cell cannot manufacture a complete set of nucleic acids. Therefore the cell cannot proceed to the final growth phase and progress to mitosis (cell division) -- such a cell will have no progeny and its own life span will soon become crippled with old age since it wont be able to "repair itself."

This is the logic and expected performance range for methotrexate, so its application goes beyond treating only cancerous tissues. Other conditions where there is unwanted cellular proliferation can benefit from treatment with this extremely powerful drug.

Under the big tent of eczema, psoriasis (severe) can often be tamed with small doses of methotrexate. And, also pertaining to the skin, it can be used effectively to treat very advanced (and recalcitrant) mycosis fungoides.

It is also sometimes very effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis if it is both severe and refractory (nonresponsive to other, kinder treatments). It's in this context that I often have to work with the drug. Some patients do remarkably well with the medication; others do not.

Because of its manner of action, the drug is indirectly immunosuppressive.

Dear Kristen, I have what I am told is a typical range of AD syndrome symptons: asthma, allergies, eczema, some psoriasis. Allergies are to the usual suspects: egg and dairy products, wheat, especially whole wheat (try to avoid those 12 grain pizza crusts like manhole covers our health conscious bay area joints like to come up with), corn, especially corn fructose, and fish and shellfish (aggravated by a case of coral reef fish poisoning I came down with some 19 years ago--wierd business, temperature reversal on skin, sweated little bone like calcium? deposits, I alone out of six people who ate the same fish reacted). 

But I am intermittently and selectively allergic at different times. Important thing is not to overload or to take on several courses of the same substance over several days. Often tricky to manage since some allergic reactions can take one or two days to manifest themselves. But corn fructose gets me everytime-- an itchy breakout of rash in varying areas of the body. So I just try to avoid it. I guess I would say in my case the more simple and spartan the diet the better I feel. On the other hand, all those things that cause trouble seem to be just the things that taste the best to eat (although I have always been averse to grain cereals which were forced on me in childhood as part of the all american cuisine). I have had to learn that if I crave something badly it is because I am asking for an allergic reaction.

Hi eczema community: How is your skin right now?

My face feels a little dry. I'm thinking how to moisturize without getting face itchy. Also, it is time for a 40 minute bath. I scheduled myself yesterday but did not do it because I got a sore throat, and did not want to possibly cause more problems with a soaking and the old temperature outside (around 20 degrees F). I used to use oat meal as a cleanser, but lately I've found that I'm allergic to some- thing in the product so I just sit in the water and watch TV. While I'm in the tub I like to watch... ... ... 

About exercise: a real dilemma how to do it and not sweat. With our cold winter has not been a problem for me because walking to dog two times a day is enough to keep me in shape. When the summer comes I'll have to be careful what part of the day to walk. I used to ride bike before I got my beagle. I like riding a bike because if you don't go too fast you can cool down with the breeze. Tai Chi also helps. 

I am barely stable with my skin is red and dry (like a sunburn) over appx 75% of my body. The itching is barely tolerible. The weather is fluctuating from lowish humidity and warm to rainy and cool. I am taking a bath a day in Aveeno, slathering on Triamcinolone and putting on a sauna suit. Sleeping pills at night help. Right now I can't tell whether I'll get better or have to get a shot of KEN 40. My sense is that it's getting worse. I do best in mild coolish weather on the humid side.

Richard, I don't know what your cortisone history is, but your description reminds me of the time I overdosed on cortisone preps--the dry hot and red skin can sometimes be a product of cortisone itself. I hope you will get yourself to your derm dr fast and don't wait! 

Shelley, Like you, I wonder now why I lived like such a well programmed robot--all the niceties of life growing up wherein you had to do everything exactly the way you were told--instead of figuring out for yourself what worked for you and what didn't. I think it's all parental teachings--and some of us (like me) didn't figure out parents don't know everything, even when they act like they do. Especially about health. Ahhhhh, the freedom of adulthood--ain't it great not to be a kid minding everybody else's manners?

When HMO's were the big SELL in the news, I think they were okay. I got my meds w/o a co-pay, and the benefits were better. Now that everybody is getting on the HMO bandwagon and it's getting the hype from Clinton, and they've got employer plans dumped into their laps, they now charge a co-pay on meds up to $80 for the year (I got to that level this week), plus their rules/policies are getting more and more stringent--like if they give someone a 2 month's supply, they'll quit their job, and LO, the HMO has thereby given them a free month's worth. I can't believe that is all that big a problem, but I have to watch the dispensers like a hawk because now I feel like they are trying to cheat me constantly on quantities. I complained to our Trust Fund Group which oversees the entire health programs, and got an instant letter back. Only their analysis of my drug usage leaves a lot to be desired. It's a constant battle. On top of everything else. I'm tired of it all. 

Shelley, As a member of an HMO, I'm expected to get absolutely ALL my health care from them--unless I'm out of town and it's an emergency. Some pharmacies went out of business because we HMO people became captive consumers. That was before the co-pays. Sometimes I can get some things cheaper elsewhere, and the HMO has branch outlets all over town now, which wasn't the case 10 years ago. 

The biggest reason I stay with my current HMO is that my derm dr is a woman--and tons more effective, esp when I ran all over town for ten years seeing male dermatologists--none of whom diagnosed my overused-cortisone condition correctly. But she knew instantly, and I finally got some relief after years of anxiety and misery. Those male drs kept giving me acne preps--great stuff on top of what I already had. It was a real trial just trying to stay on the job and worrying about when I'd get wiped out next. But I don't trust my HMO pharmacy at all--sometimes good pharmacists can be more help than doctors for explanations and recommendations. Too bad. 

Kristen, Your advice to go see a derm dr brought up a thought. Namely, I see my dr every month maybe 6 weeks to 2 months when I'm doing well. 2 to 3 weeks apart when its bad but standable. Once a week or more when I'm out of control. I've been doing this for as long as I can remember. I do seem to remember times when I went 4 to 6 months without seeing the "doc". I'm curious as to what y'all are doing in the way of dr visits.

Wayne, Aren't you worried about being allergic to your dog? Although I know cats are a million times worse.

A favor please: I have a prescription from my dermatologist--she wants me to try the herbal tea. No one in this area has a clue about how to get it or make it. Do you know how I could get a supply? I would be willing to send a check to cover the tea and freight? Any ideas? Thx a bunch for any suggestions. 

Does anybody else have neuritis and/or neuralgia? A few years ago, I started getting horrible electric shock type pains in my legs. They didn't last long but they were so severe I was afraid I'd crash the car if they happened when I was driving. They were diagnosed as neuritis, which is, I think, a catch all diagnosis for unexplained nerve pain. My doctor said it was probably a virus or other bug in the nervous system that causes the condition. I remember asking him if there could be a relation between my leg eczema and the neuritis. (my legs were my worst eczema area then and I thought it was funny that I had two we-don't-know-what-causes-it -leg conditions.) He said that there was no connection. I rarely get the leg pains now.

A couple of days ago, I had a major scalp scratch attack. I usually have better contrtol when it comes to the scalp as I have very thin hair and I don't think scratching helps. But this time I really dug the nails in. The next day, that patch of my scalp was very sensitive in a nervy sort of way and I started getting sharp, stabbing headache pains in that area. The pains are intermittent ( I don't have a very good sense of pain because, I think the itch-scratch sensation pales everything else) but they have been happening for 2 or 3 days now. So I did some reading about headaches and my symptoms seemed to perfectly fit a neuralgia type of headache which is closely related to neuritis! So my theory is that a virus or bacteria gets into the skin via hardcore scratching and takes up residence in the nerve endings.

Wayne, If I were instantly cured of all my allergies (and my sons were too), the first thing I would do is adopt a beagle; they are just about my favorite thing on this planet! I'm sure yours brings you much happiness and healing.

Richard, I go see my homeopathic allergist every other week or less often when I'm doing better, and weekly when I'm doing poorly.

Wren

Richard, I absolutely hate schedules, esp. daily, which seems to be the way we are forced to live. I confess I don't see my derm dr unless I'm in trouble, although I have to pay attention to my medication durations. So I'm running to the pharmacy more often than I like. I honestly don't know how often I see my derm dr over the course of a year. 

Some very salient questions from Ralph

>>For example, at what age was the tattoo acquired? <<

18 years old when I was very young and silly (and I think Mr Jim Beam had a bit to do with it)

>>How was that area at the time the tattoo was applied (I'll bet it was good, not bad). <<

Skin was good - I was going through one of my "glory days" periods - I have had a few of these times in my past where I almost had normal skin.

>>Had there ever been an eczema problem at that site in the past? <<

I presume so - only because I get excema EVERYWHERE - no place is safe!

>>How large is the tattoo? <<

Small - about 1.5 x 2 cm

>>Is the skin totally clear there now, or just partailly clear? <<

Totally clear

>>What color or colors are in the tattoo? Is it heavily inked, or lightly? <<

Lotsa colours, white, purple, blue and red. It has faded over the last ten or so years so I'm not sure about the heaviness of inking.

Wayne, We were surprised to find that you have a dog. Our daughter wants more than anything in the world to get one. The allergist and the derm doc both insist that it's a bad idea, because her skin may get worse. Does your beagle make your eczema worse?

Also, is there any such thing as a truly hypoallergenic dog? The allergist said that after a few months our daughter might develop allergies even to a poodle.

Any wisdom on the subject? We'd also like to hear about other people's experience with dogs and eczema.

Richard, your hot and red skin sounds like it's infected. A lot of times people don't realize their skin is infected because they think infection means pus and ooze, but the red hot skin is another indication. People with eczema who have used a lot of cortisone over time often get infected because our skin is now so thin and tears so easily and sometimes so slightly that we don't notice it. I use an antibacterial roll-on liquid called Cleocin-T on those red hot areas. It has alcohol in it, and I always know when my skin is torn up because the alcohol stings. When it stings, I know I needed it. 

Anyway, right now my forehead is all red and hot, and I've been using the Cleocin-T but it's not helping. It has always worked in the past so I'm getting nervous. I recently had another bout of the same problem all over my body and got it to clear up with a combination of the Cleocin-T and aloe vera gel. So it still works on my body, but my face is a problem. The Elocon isn't working either so I'm trying Diprolene and Aquaphor. I only go to the doctor as a last resort when I've tried everything else, usually only once every few years, because I get so upset by the doctor's lack of concern and support that I always feel much worse after seeing them. I've tried so many doctors and can count on one hand the number who were appropriately sympathetic. My current HMO doctor is not in that select group so I avoid going unless I am desperate. 

About a year ago my two kids (then 6 and 9) were agitating fiercely for a dog after their parakeet died. I consulted with a friend who has a Bichon Frise (a small white dog with longish hair that doesn't shed). She swore that the dog was hypoallergenic.

We finally did get a bichon puppy and I have had almost no trouble from it -- so little that I can't tell whether I itch a little bit more after I've been petting him, or whether it might just be my fevered imagination. Nor has anyone in the house become allergic, as far as I can tell.

Based on our experience, I would certainly recommend a bichon to anyone with allergies that wants to try getting a dog. But of course, there are no guarantees. People can become allergic to anything.

My wife and kids do wash the dog every week or two, and then use a solution called Allerpet that is supposed to keep the dander down.

I will say that having the dog seems to be good for the psyche of everyone in the household. My daughter especially needed a "baby" to love, and the dog has really helped her at times when she is feeling low.

Shelley: Would oral antibiotics help at this point? I agree that hot skin is infected.

Recently I've been using Zetar soaks, followed by over-the-counter antibiotic ointment plus Diprolene, and now Aquaphor when things are just irritated (thanks, Shelley!). With these methods I have been able to clear up my infected areas without too much difficulty.

But when it gets really bad I will go to the dermatologist and get a prescription for Biaxin. So far that hasn't failed, and my hands remain better for several weeks after taking it for ten days.

I am very allergic to cats and dogs and never felt interested in animals in general. But two of my four sisters are angry, to this day, about the fact that they could not have any pets as children because of me. Both of them now have dogs, with the consequence that I can never visit them. It hurts to know that they've chosen the company of dogs over me. But what's interesting is that both of them say they have developed slight allergies to their dogs! They say they love them enough to put up with the allergies. And I know two other people who have cats despite the fact that they're allergic to them. I guess we all have our priorities... . 

That is a sad tale, Shelley. I'm sorry to hear that there were/are such deep divisions in your family. My kids have also been mad at me about problems with animal allergies. They got a guinea pig and I was really rather sick for almost a year, until we finally got rid of her. I even liked the guinea pig; I just couldn't tolerate her.

Now I like the dog, too, even though I think he makes me itch slightly. It may be more from his licking my hand than from the fur. I can live with that... so far.

It's very hard to have to deal with an illness within one's family. It's like a constant weight on everyone's shoulders. My only sister was chronically unwell in various ways -- emotionally and later physically. And all of us had pretty bad allergies, except my mother.

Doctors, the multitude of them, have been a real pain in the A-- over the years. I've found exactly two who were a godsend, and the rest weren't worth the powder to blow them to hell. You can tell I have a real irreverence for the medical profession--their arrogance and brushoff's still fire my anger after all these years. A university dermatologist and allergist here are the two worst I've ever seen--and they are supposedly tops in the area--I wouldn't give 2 cents for either one.

Get yourself referrals from your HMO to somebody else until you connect with a decent dermatologist. Demand, insist, after all--HMO's have a board that is responsible to its consumers. Write to your employer's overseers of the HMO. That's what I did--I get prompt response. Good luck. 

Shelley, apparently allergies/etc. run in your family history, too, or your sisters wouldn't be having problems now because of their dogs. If it's any comfort, maybe it's a measure of retribution for their pet preferences over contact with you! One thing, for sure, when people get past 30 and into their 40s and 50s, a lot of things become obvious that weren't so apparent in youth. At least, our ability to see the real dynamics in families comes to the fore, especially after 50. You will probably have some more revelations! I like dogs myself, but my eyes and nose run and itch something fierce after a couple of hours in their company.

Tonight my hands are very itchy. A while earlier I put on some Aquaphor, but I was still itchy, so I did a tar soak and rinsed off the Zetar with cold water. Some of the Aquaphor was still there, and it seemed to make a good combination with the Zetar. My hands felt better.

Then I made the mistake of eating some watermelon. Well, not a mistake, exactly, because the watermelon was very good, and it seems like a healthy snack, but the juice irritated my hands terribly, and I went into a paroxysm of scratching. I was rubbing my fingers against the arm of an upholstered chair. That is dangerous because it damages the skin so much, but I just couldn't stop, for a few minutes, anyway.

I've just bathed my hands in Zetar solution for a second time, and they seem to be settling down a bit. Actually I'm scratching more while I write this, because thinking and writing about the scratching has evidently made my hands itch again -- or is it because the coldness from the rinse water is wearing off?

Anyway, it's 11:45 pm, and I'm just going to try to download some more software, then go to bed. G'night everyone.

Ralph, your message about the Aquaphor and Zetar and watermelon was a classic description of the type of everyday difficulties that people with eczema encounter. There you were, treating yourself and finally getting to a comfortable feeling, and then you try to do something simple and ordinary like eat some watermelon and suddenly you have to deal with a disaster that may have ruined the whole night. 

People with eczema deal with this kind of stuff every day and when it's all over your body, you can imagine the multiplied degree of difficulty. No wonder we're irritable! It really helps to hear other people's experiences. When I hear about someone else it's easy for me to think How awful! and be sympathetic, but when I think about myself, I often think Why do you let it upset you so much? Why can't you get more done? I'm so hard on myself, always feeling disappointed that I can't achieve as much as my mind wants to, feeling angry that my body can't keep up with my mind, but when I read other people's stories I realize Well, of course, when your brain is dealing with all this skin stuff, it is limited in what it can focus on other than that, like that earlier message about kids with eczema who don't have a big appetite because their brain is too busy processing the itch problem to think about hunger. 

That really resonated with me. I've never been interested in food and it makes sense that my brain would be preoccupied with other things. BTW, my forehead is much better today. I figured out that my forehead was reacting to ANYTHING I put on it, so I just washed everything off and let it breathe in the open air most of the day and then before going to bed put on just a tiny bit of Elocon and in the morning it was much better. Hurrah! I think it was Wayne who started the series of How am I right now? messages and it's a great approach. It might even be a suggestion to new subscribers, to send a How is your skin right now? as a first message. 

To jump in, Ralph, it sounds like you've devised your own medicating procedure. The first thing I head for is water when I itch. Water and swimming are so soothing to bothersome skin--a powerful lubricator. Washing off the offending substance or irritant is most important to me, then applying goop for comfort so I can get back to what I was doing. The itch is such a tremendous interruption in one's thinking/action processes. Sometimes I wonder how much time out of my life I've wasted on this disgusting disease. I don't think other people have any inkling of the expense a chronic disease elicits from its victims--money, time, energy, work life, personal life. Health care is one of my biggest anticipated concerns, now, and it will be later. As people age, they acquire "skin problems" even when they have never had any. What do you think that bodes for AD people like us in old age? Horrors!

I've been trying the Cleocin-T and Shepard's Lotion. It's fine everywhere--except my face--the most prominent place I've always done my medicating. And the place where I seem to have the most problems with any medications. So now I've gone back to plain old washing everything off, water and a light film of vaseline applied together on my face just for lubrication. I've had a permanent case of "sunburn" facially for the last several months, so it's time to back off from everything.

Testing the Cleocin-T and Shepard's at another location didn't produce any problems at all. I need to test elsewhere before I try new drugs on my face. I get caught every time because I always forget. Not that testing elsewhere solves the problem. I like to ignore the eczema as much as possible, until suddenly I realize I must be using something that's giving me problems. By that time the "problem" is so prominent, I've already made a mess of things. It takes so long to recover that elusive "normal" appearance.

I want to say that I particularly enjoyed the thread lately on pharmacies. I've had those greed-based experiences to.

I don't hold it so much against the druggist, per se. They're just a small part of a whole $3 trillion system that is designed for the short-term high-tech treatment of serious illness at a profit, instead of being designed for the long term personal (hands-on) development of health, immunity, and prevention at a sustainable price.

And, society has always had those who can't help but further victimize the victims. I just pray that I can prevent *myself* from being one of the victimzers. 8=]'

My adult single years were my best skin years. I don't believe I lost a single relationship because of eczema directly. But I had nothing but disasters in terms of the man-woman stuff: I always got dumped early-on or things never really got going. I was always told that I lacked self-confidence. It wasn't until recently that I realized ( in therapy for mid-life crisis type issues) that my lack of self confidence most probably came from my rashy infancy and childhood. My parents were so overwhelmed with my skin problems (I almost died from a massive herpes infection) that I got the message that all I could handle in life was to hold an easy job and to take care of my skin. Anything extra, like sports or touching (let alone sex!) would probably bother my skin. I don't think my parents ever said those words to me directly; they probably weren't even aware they held those attitudes. But it got through to me anyhow. Plus, when your baby comes into the world covered with a red rash, you don't envision her as prom queen! Even though the rash wasn't there later in my life, my self-concept had been formed.

My skin went downhill shortly after I got married. But before you blame my marriage, realize that I moved into a mildewy carpeted house complete with cats! 

I have noticed from postings that some people had a reprieve in their early adult years... .for me, ages 20 to 30+, I dont remember exactly, were basically eczema free. Did others have the same experience?

Appreciated your summation on the pharmacy situation in a nutshell. It's easy to forget we're only cogs in the grinding machinery. 

Ann, Your upbringing certainly differs from mine. I envy you your solicitous parents. The job of parenting is a minefield. Guess that's why I passed on parenthood. Didn't want to do it like my parents, and didn't know how to do it any differently. The eczema didn't inhibit me physically when I was in good condition, but it certainly did stop me when it was bad. I feel more susceptible in middleage, but maybe that's because I'm more aware of the pitfalls and how miserable they can make me. My problem, when I was home as a kid, was treated with contempt; I was told it was all in my head, and there was no such thing as allergies. Still, you got the subtle message--attitudes are the most prevalent legacies one can get from one's parents. And also the hardest to get rid of or change. I never fit the stereotype of perfection that was expected by my mother. I was probably such a flagrant contradiction, it drove her nuts--which may explain our perpeturally antagonistic relationship from the day I was born. I decided in my teens that I would never be able to bear the stress of marriage.

I feel like itching at the mere mention of the Allergy Triumvirate!

Ann: I just read your reference to beagle dog. You are right about their disposition. She sleeps all day and night, so when I am tense I get instant relief by taking a sneak look at her sprawled out posture while she is sleeping on her spot in the house. They say dogs and cats lower blood pressure. You won't find this in the Merck manual. :'} 

Kristen: No I am not allergic to my beagle. She is allergic to me, I think. Occasionally she reverse-coughs, which may be a sign of inhaling something that bothers her. 

Richard: I know what you mean when you say skin is red and dry like sunburnt, and 75 % of skin is involved. Sounds like how I was in the middle of my flareup in July 95, except that I was oozing as well. When my skin is like that the burning may turn into a sting, adding to the conflagration. 

Wren, you ask how is the Chinese Herbal Tea (CHT) doing for skin. Well, at the height of my July flareup I was about 60/100on my scale. Now I am 87/100, and doing real well. Skin is clear with only a few small lesions. Face is itchy, but healing. Skin is rough and sandy but not silky. Hair is growing back on arms and belly. I can live with this. So CHT works for me. Big test comes with the summer approaching. My skin go in 6 to 11 month cycles. 

Kristen: There are 10 ingredients to the CHT formula. The stuff can be toxic quality control is ignored. 

Getting a dog was a big decision. It took me about a year to decide. I had memories of 3 dogs and a cat when I was 8 years old. Good memories. For the last 30 years I have not had a pet. One reason I did not get a pet was that I was concerned that when skin flares up, a lot of time goes to nursing the condition. Dogs need to be walked... so it was safer not to have a dog.

Then, I thought I may be allergic to dogs. I am / was to some breeds. As a kid I was not. I kept thinking "what if". I thought about it a lot. Someone at work said: Look, if you get a dog from the animal shelter, then at least you've saved a dog. You can always return it to the shelter (I didn't like that part). Anyway, after thinking about it I thought there was only one way to find out. If it did not work, I'd deal with the situation. I got my dog from the animal shelter in August 96, as my July flareup was quietening. We are both doing fine. 

Mike, My son Chistopher, age 2, has the same ethnic mix and the same symptoms! Including the loss of pigmentation. Strange to read it coming from someone else. We eliminated eggs and dairy from his diet pretty strictly but it didn't help. Currently he is cycling back and forth from really bad on his legs and face primarily to then nearly well. The cycle completes fully about once a week. We use the hydrocortisone when it gets really bad to take it off of the peak. We live in West Los Angeles and it is very moist since we are so close to the beach. We found he was allergic to molds and have since had spring cleaning to deal with a lot of mold that grows on our walls.

Robert: You asked about times in life when skin was virtually eczema-free. For me, years from ages 14 to 28 were times of minimal symptoms. I always had to be careful of environmental conditions and food/pet allergies and had minor rashes due to heat or other problems, and used Aquaphor and other minimal strength creams after shower every day, but basically during those years I felt I had outgrown the worst of it. 

At age 28 the worst symptoms came back suddenly and ever since then I've had to deal with it constantly just like I did as a child. I have a theory that during those years 14-28 my body was producing high levels of female hormones that kept my symptoms under control and then as aging process kicked in, and hormones began to decrease, the problems increased. I think that female hormones make eczema better. 

Most of the women I've spoken to have had improved conditions during those high female hormone years, whereas a number of men I've spoken to have said their skin was worse during those years of high male hormones. That's why I think menopause would be bad for my skin and why I will probably take hormone replacements when my time comes, unless I have other information that contraindicates that plan. In fact, I've always wanted to talk to an endocrinologist about the possibility of taking more hormones NOW, even before menopause, to see if it has a good effect on my skin, but my HMO won't approve of consulting a specialist just for checking out wild theories... 

While I agree about the absurdity of high drug costs to a degree, I can tell you the costs to MAKE drugs are very high. They have to pay for development, manufacturing, marketing, accounting, and legal costs, just to name a few. They have to pay for the salaries and benefits of writers, Quality Assurance personnel, the workers who actually make the drugs, the people who order the Raw Materials, the people who create the labels, the people who apply the labels to the containers, the people who put the finished containers in the warehouse, and the list goes on. Yes, I'd like drugs to be cheaper too, but don't want to sacrifice the education, experience, time, and care it takes to produce high quality medicine.

Okay, I'm off my soapbox now!

Wren

Ralph, Sorry to hear you were sick. Did it clear up your skin? I find that even short illnesses improve my skin, but the best results come from high fevers that last for many days. I think I mentioned recently that I had Chicken Pox when I was 40 and that those were some of my best skin days! The itch from the Chicken Pox was negligible compared to what I'm used to, and the eczema was gone and stayed away for days after the Pox cleared!

Kristen, You mentioned that your 40s were clear skin years for you. Did you also have clear sinuses and lungs? My good skin years were times of bad respiratory health. In other words, I'm always allergic, but shifts occur in me as to what organ is the primary target. Do other people experience this or do you have times when your allergies seem to go away entirely?

It certainly did clear up my skin. I wonder if the immunologists know about that.

I have tried to hint at this with doctors: "It's almost as if the allergies and eczema need to be doing something, somewhere, at any given time, but usually just one at a time." Of course they didn't pay any attention. That's not really a criticism of doctors; they're not really research scientists.

I am currently at the start of a flu that is going around town. Last night I slept without waking for a mega scratch session for the first time in weeks.

The flu is not too bad - I don't seem to get them very severely and this point has been discussed earlier, but, if I recall correctly, when I do have a touch of a flu or tummy bug or something my skin is much better.

My skin at the moment is not perfect but considering we are having unusually dry weather (which mostly means dry, flakey, itchy skin for me) I am surprised that it is not in worse shape. Could well be the flu. Mmmmm.

Shelly, could you tell me about cortisone injections? I have only ever experienced oral cortisone and when taking them having to stay on them for weeks or maybe months. Is it just one shot? How effective is it?

I am curious becuse it seems to me the side effects of just one shot would be less than the long courses of tablet I have been on in the past (and am on at the moment).

Ralph and Ann: I never noticed the effects you are describing but that doesn't mean they don't happen, I just haven't made that connection before. In the future, when I get sick, I will pay attention to my skin and see whether or not it is better at those times. I guess that when I'm sick, I'm too busy dealing with that to notice my skin. But with this theory in mind, I will make a point of remembering the before and after conditions. Of course, sometimes I take medication for one thing and it helps other conditions too. For example, when I take extra anti-histamine for my skin, my sinusitis is much better, and vice versa. But you're talking about illnesses unrelated to atopic conditions, without the use of medication, right? The only thing I can think of is a vague memory from childhood when my mother said something about illnesses being good for me because it distracted me and I scratched less, therefore my skin improved. 

Sam: You asked about cortisone shots. IMHO they are the best approach to a really bad flare-up. It's not good for your system to get them often, but my doctor said that once every 6 months is OK. I've actually only needed them once every couple of years when my skin gets so totally out of control that nothing external is helping. The treatment consists of one shot of Kenalog 60 mg. I believe it's injected intramuscularly in the buttocks. I also take one week of 250 mg. Erythromycin orally at the same time. I've been told that the oral medication gets it clearing right away and the shot is for long-term benefit. If you just got the shot without the oral medication it would take longer to see results, up to a month. Since I get the treatment as a last resort, I'm desperate at that point for immediate relief, so I take the oral meds too, despite the side effects of a yeast infection. What other side effects do you get from the oral meds? I've never had any side effects from the shot. My skin is pretty good for nearly a year after getting the shot, and then it goes into a slow decline until I'm desperate enough to get another one. Has anyone else out there gotten the shot and experienced side effects? 

I have gotten shots and taken cortisone internally since the 1950's. When I get cortisone, I can feel the healing almost immediately. I have had many side effects including: a. massive energy, including not needing to sleep very much, talking much more than usual, etc.. b. diabetic reaction-high blood sugar which seems to dissapate, although I am somewhat diabetic and don't know whether I would have been. c. some stretch marks I have found lately that cortisone does not rid me of the eczema completly of late which is a little scary because it has always been my surefire method of relief and clearing up. Just try to take it at extreme times... you will probably love the results.

By the way, I am currently getting high doses of UV light in bunches which is helping keep my eczema under reasonable control.

My skin is positively affected by getting a high fever and another person also noticed the same phenomena as well. It appears to be fairly prevalent among scratchers.

Did you ever try *just* the Erythromycin, plus your normal meds? I mean, without the shot? I find that my eczema is very much better when I take oral antibiotics -- especially Biaxin, which, as I understand, is a relatively new Erythromycin derivative.

The last time I took Biaxin, my dermatologist also prescribed an anti-fungal drug to prevent just that kind of side effect. Yeast is a type of fungus, I'm told, although that sounds odd to me -- but my ob-gyn wife just confirmed it. Also, the dermatologis said, fungal infections can sometimes be in the skin and make it worse.

Shelley, once every 6 months would be good. At times like these I am lucky to go 4 weeks. My usual dose is 1cc of Kenelog 40. The last time was 1 1/2 weeks ago. I used to get a cortizone high (uplifting feeling) after a shot, but the last one was barely noticable and did my skin almost no good. I try to stay away from prednisone because I have a tendency to overmedicate myself. Another problem besides the chronic dryness, itching, scratching and hurting is a mild depression (sadness and hopelessness) with the thought that nothing will ever change. 

I meant to explain (in my previous note on this subject) that when I take pills (mainly do this instead of shots), my side effects vary all over the place. I am.sometimes high and sometimes low for example. Also, there have been times when my eczema has been localized in many areas and the derm has made a mixture of alcohol and kenalog (3 or 4 needles worth) and injected multiple shots in the many flared areas into the surface skin instead of a single shot deep. This works when the eczema is confined to less than 10% of my body area.

>> I used to get a cortizone high (uplifting feeling) after a shot, but the last one was barely noticable and did my skin almost no good. I try to stay away from prednisone because I have a tendency to overmedicate myself. Another problem besides the chronic dryness, itching, scratching and hurting is a mild depression (sadness and hopelessness) with the thought that nothing will ever change. -Richard <<

Richard, How aptly put--the sadness and hopelessness--it drives me wild when people expect me to stick a smile on my face because they think I'm supposed to. Functioning below par one's entire life is more to cope with than anyone who is "normal" can fathon.

I've always felt wonderful on cortisone, or on prednisone--I don't care which when I'm in a bad way. It's so fantastic to feel like you can tackle the world because you feel so great--on this med. It may shorten my life--but I'm for quality rather than quantity. 

Ann, When I was a kid, the eczema was terrible on top of other illnesses. But I remember in my late 20s, I came down with something viral, and was sick for 3 weeks. I lost about 40 pounds and was nice and skinny, but weak as a dandelion--altho I did not have any eczema symptoms at all. I had forgotten about that. I ate nothing and drank orange juice for three weeks. For nearly a year now, I've been dealing with itchy eyes (blepharitis), blurry vision from all the constant rubbing and eye pain from pressure, and weird patches of dry skin on my neck and shoulders. And I'm having some kind of reaction facially--not sure if it's too strong or too weak cort preparations. Always the mystery of walking the tightrope with cortisone. 

Ralph and Ann, You are both so right. I never paid much attention to that factor, but it is very true for me as well. I think the bugs that drive us nuts with itching get sidetracked with another illness, and they chase off after those other demons and leave us alone in our skins! That has got to be a worthy premise for derm research, don't you think? 

Bob, I first started on cortisone about 1959, and absolutely loved it--no more facial inflammation. And it was CLEAN medication. I too felt absolutely wonderful--thot the world was my oyster--and could tackle anything (for a short time at least). It was the best high I ever had--I can appreciate people liking marijuana, cocaine, etc., even for its temporary effects. I never tried marijuana 'cause I never liked smoking. Not sure if I had a blood sugar effect--the boost in energy may explain that. But I do have stretch marks under my arms from tight skin that didn't want to participate in movement.

I've had the PUVA treatments and radiation for lichenified skin in the bends of my arms. I don't remember any specific benefits, altho when I would swim 5 days a week as a kid every morning, the sun must have been good for it because pictures of me back then show absolutely no evidence of any skin problem anywhere. I just had a nice tan. No more.

I have practically no inner arm itch any more; it's more apt to itch on outer areas. Strange--eczema seems to like the bends of the arms and legs. I remember itching it raw, and then having to limp around or keep my arms crooked so I wouldn't tear the wounds open by unbending arms or legs. I'd have to soak my arms in the morning before I went to school so I could function. But by the end of the day, my arms would be stiffened up, so I felt like a mechanized robot. Staying out of sight in class was my foremost objective, those days.

I certainly do think so, along with the possible tattoo connection. Maybe the two observations are related. Could the tattoo be keeping the skin very slightly busy with a mild internal reaction against the ink, thus clearing up the eczema in only that area?

I know it sounds far-fetched, but don't forget how Fleming discovered penicillin: he happened to notice that some moldy areas on his agar plates were no longer infected with bacteria!

I'm not sure how we can get the attention of a researcher, though... 

Has anyone heard of or tried milk baths for eczema relief?

It's very interesting to hear that many of you get psychological side effects from cortisone. I never had anything like that. The only medication I had a psych reaction to was Doxepin. I was told that it's actually some kind of horse tranquilizer (!) but is often used for eczema patients too. I made me feel very disoriented and I refused to use it after a couple of weeks. 

It was also interesting to have lots of people "come out" and admit that they used cortisone shots, yet that has not been mentioned before. Is it our dirty little secret that we rely on this stuff? Are we addicted to cortisone? Probably. I know I couldn't live without it. Richard mentioned his self-medication of prednisone. I got hooked on that stuff too for a number of years. Nearly got thrown in the psych ward when I refused to leave the building unless they refilled my prescription. (They wouldn't do it and I had to leave by the fire escape when they went to get a stretcher.) I ended up getting an Rx for more prednisone from my brother-in-law and eventually managed to wean myself off of it, but for awhile it was my drug of choice... 

P.S. Ralph, you said why not just use Diprolene instead of shot? Well, I wish it was that easy. It was great that the Diprolene worked this time, but usually it doesn't, and that's when I get a shot. As for just using the oral antibiotics, yes, I've tried that. But the flare-up just returns after a few weeks. The injection keeps it from returning.

I took a look at Skin Deep by Grossbart on the internet--I bought the book several months ago after Wayne mentioned it to me, and was busy so haven't cracked it. Now after reading the excerpts in Grossbart's home page, I'm absolutely enthralled.

http://www.grossbart.com

I love Doxepin (10 mg is for daytime, but 50 is better for night) which I take at bedtime. It knocks me out so I can sleep straight through. I never get the weird reaction you've had. If you think it's repellant to take a drug that is used on horses, wait till you find out where they get some estrogen pills!! I use the estrogen patch with progesterone--love it--it has completely rid me of my horrible migraines.

I never thot about the shots as a secret--all I ever cared about was the relief it gave me. Plus the utopian sense of well being. I don't think I'm addicted to cortisone except as a topical ointment. But I don't mess with self-medicating prednisone--I'm scare of that drug. But I self-medicate most everything else, which is dumb because the topical cort stuff has got me into big trouble, and I don't think out of the woods yet.

Diprolene is extremely strong medicine--I'm careful to use it only on my scalp in a drop bottle. My derm dr doesn't like to prescribe it.

I'm now on a 2-week trial of Biaxin (thanks, Ralph!), and when I'm done with that I go on a trial of an anti-yeast drug--forgot the name.

Well, I've been depressed and flaring for a couple of weeks. I made a list of the "stew" I'm ingesting currently which is protein powder, flax seed capsules (18 per day), Zirtec (the latest and greatest antihistimine), methotrexate, Ambien (sleep), homeopathic sleeps and Tylenol. My GP recommended a 5-6 day fast. My plan is to stop taking all but the methotrexate and see what happens. I'll let you all know if my skin gets better. The longest fast I've ever done was 4 days so I'm a little aprehensive. More to come... .. 

Richard: I'm curious to hear about the results of your fast. How long will you do the fasting? I know that my body prefers a simple range of food/drink/medication. When I have too much variety, my body seems to get overwhelmed and can't absorb it all or something. That's when my body feels overheated and the skin gets red blotches and is itchy. I haven't done much fasting, but it seems to help if I at least cut down on the number of types of food/drink/medication, and just ingest plain things like baked potatoes and water. 

Wren: you asked about milk baths. I've never taken a bath in it, but when I was in Italy I used a wonderful pure milk and honey soap that I have been unable to find here. If anyone out there knows about a good brand of milk soap that is available in the U.S. I'd like to know about it. Wren, let us know your results with the baths. Do you just pour a gallon of cold milk into the tub or what? 

Shelley, I still haven't learned anything about milk baths. I have no idea what they are. I'm following up on a tip from a psychic healer. Before you all laugh yourselves silly, please know that based on another tip from this woman, I'm trying some Chinese herbs and ointments from a Chinese MD I just saw last Monday in San Francisco. So far I've had dramatic improvement. 

The woman Chinese doctor says she thinks I can be much much better within 2 weeks just by tonifying my system and using the ointments. Wayne and Kristen - her "tea" consists of about 16 ingredients, including Cicada skins. Whatever. All I know is I feel better, have gotten several comments on how good my face looks, and have much less itching than I did just 3 days ago.

Hi everyone, The side effects of cortisone that I most love (apart from making my skin NORMAL, well, better than normal - it is actually exquisite sp?) is that amazing high - that feeling of being able to take on the world. I need no sleep and never get a hangover. It is bliss bliss bliss.

Coming off cortisone, however brings out the beast. I yell at everyone for no reason, get the most frightening feelings of murderous intent (ie, I seriously plot to have the checkout-chick knocked off for taking too long scanning my newspaper), I wish to kill all the other drivers on the road for not using their indicators and if anyone dares to ask me how I am well, heaven help them.

I actually feel extremely violent - I feel that I want to physically hurt someone, anyone that dares to cross me. I shake with this violence.

I weep at happy family advertisements for margarine.

Also I eat. Boy do I eat - I can have two huge helpings of dinner, wait 20 minutes and go for it again. I am always hungry. A loaf of bread a day is not unusual. I have put on a stone in the last two months on cortisone.

I HATE coming off cortisone.

That is why I have been on prednisone tabs for months and months and months and every time I try to reduce the anger comes flying in.

I am not a violent person. I don't know where these feelings come from. Others who have been on prednisone do not get these side effects. Good to see that I am not alone.

Hi Sam--join the club of witches! If I had lived in Salem, they would have burned me at the stake. I used to be very tolerant and easy going, and now I want bite everyone's head off for irritating me with their stupid comments and not following directions. It's really hard keeping a civil tongue in my head. Some suggested it is due to hormonal changes, but I know there's a deep-seated anxiety about facial bumps and inflammation that I can't get off my mind. When I read Grossbart's Skin Deep on his home page, he said--get this--itching is entirely psychological!!!!!!!

I do know that after I left home, and by living alone, I rarely itch, and haven't had much of that (except for the eyelid itching) for about 15 years. I made myself miserable a few times by taking scalding showers to kill the itch about five years ago, which naturally made everything worse. I know for certain that my mental status is key to my skin status. 

Marvin, I also have had scalp problems for the last year, as well as in the past. Right now my dermatologist has been giving me medicated shampoo samples--which are free--to see if I get better results from one versus another. I wash my hair in the shower at least every other night. Water really helps heal damaged skin and keep bacteria and the itch down. I've noticed an improvement in the thick scaling and itch, although the dryness is hard to deal with. I use Diprolene in the drop bottle right after each washing. T-Gel has been mentioned previously on this List. But do ask for the free samples for trials--it beats buying a big expensive bottle of something that doesn't work. If every other day washing doesn't help, do it on the hour! Washing is the most effective aid for skin problems I've found. Good luck. 

I think that you should be more fearful of the potential side affects of cortisone. For example, a liver doctor told me of the story about people with hepetitis ( quite a long time ago) who were treated with cortisone because when they took cortisone, their liver chemistry dramatically improved. Unbeknownst to the medical profession at the time, what was occuring was that their immune systems were being suppressed (which resulted in the good lever chemistry readings) and the hepetitus virus was running rampant through their livers resulting in a high incidence of death for those patients being "treated" by cortisone. I too have some mood swings when I come off of cortisone, but it would be in your best interest (in my opinion) to get thru the swing, and get off the cortisone. I also like the side affect of not needing to sleep and having oodles of energy. It is hard to tell what havoc is taken place within your body through the sustained use of this drug and the immune suppression for such long periods of time.

Wren, I'm glad to hear that your skin is better, but beware of "Chinese Ointments." I know of at least one person who had a miracle clearing of eczema following a similar sounding treatment from an alternativew healer. The results so impressed the patient's conventional derm doctor that the ointment was sent to a lab for analysis, and, you guessed it: the ointment contained the most potent topical steroid available!

Marvin, I too, have a chronically itchy scabby scalp. The base of my scalp ( just above the neck) often has painful cracks in it. T -gel shampoo (leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing) is sold over the counter and helps with the itch. I also need to use steroid ointments on the scalp, which for me is easy as my hair is pretty thin. Most people waste a lot of scalp ointment because it lands on hair, not scalp. I think scalp eczema is the most uncomfortable. (Hand eczema is a close second for my "most uncomfortable" award and gets a definite first for "most inconvenient." Of course, face eczema takes the cake for "most humiliating").

Sam and others discussing the systemic steroid high, Are you sure the rush doesn't sinply come from having better skin? And maybe you eat more just because without the tormenting, tantalizing itch-scratch cycle, a normal appetite emerges? I never notice anything mental or physical when on systemics except for the relief of being more comfortable and normal looking and the freedom to spend time doing things other that my usual "scratch (I.e. with nails) and patch (I.e. with ointment)" regime. I usually opt for the pills as the shot can leave permanent dents in the injection site. I admit, I still have shreds of vanity under my rashy skin! 

My best advice, and I'm an advocate of more natural, holistic methods, is to hold your breath, drink the Chinese herbs real fast, then eat something really tasty.

Do this for as long as your Chinese doctor recommends, then re-evaluate.

I realized the herb tea tastes terrible, but I'd rather have 30 gulping seconds of displeasure than day and night pain and irritation.

Marvin,

I just thought of one other thing that might help. Have you tried installing a shower head that has a chlorine filter in it? That helped lessen the irritation I felt from showering with chlorinated water.

I found the filter shower head at a local health food store.

Ann, Thanks for your warning about the ointment containing steroids. I specifically asked Dr. Yu if they contained cortisone. She replied no, that the strongest contains black beans (and smells like tobacco). The other milder ointments smell like Tiger Balm, which is a heat producing sort of mentholated Chinese muscle ointment. PLEASE DO NOT TRY TIGER BALM ON YOUR SKIN. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT DR. YU's INGREDIENTS ARE.

I'll ask her if there are any steroids at all in her goops.

Hello everyone

Well, I spent yesterday chatting with a woman from my very own town, in my very own house who is also afflicted with the dreadful skin thing.

It was amazing. I have never met anyone with eczema like mine (apart from my baby sister) and sat and chatted and laughed and drank and felt comfortable scratching in front of and didn't have to hide my patches of rash from.

This was a great experience for me to have found someone so similar here in the flesh - we both found that we had lots in common apart from the skin thing.

On the cortisone thing - I know it is so bad for me and I get very upset about being on it but I just find it so difficult to wean myself off it.

I am on 7mg a day now and in a few days I will go down to 5mg - this amount won't do anything for my skin but I will still feel the phychological effects. I am hoping I will be strong enough to get off it altogether.

Here's hoping that I can do it. It, to me, is the most addictive substance I have ever put into my body. Giving up smoking 50 a day was easy compared to the prednisone (however, taking up smoking 50 a day after giving up was pretty easy too, but that's another story - hey, please don't y'all ostracise me for being a smoker - passive smoking over the net? Promise I won't blow any smoke near the modem ok?). 

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