September 1997 Eczema Mailing List Archive

Brigit, In this day and age when it seems almost fashionable to complain about how much stress one is under, it is refreshing to hear that you are happy with and in control of your life. I agree: I have never subscribed to doctors' theories that eczema is obviously a reaction to stress except insofar as stress is caused by the eczema. I have even been to a hypnotist and a psychotherapist to try to uncover any stress that I might be hiding from myself, but we all concluded that I was apparently well-adjusted! 

Has *everyone* who has used Zyrtec (or Zirtek) experienced reduction in itching? I have been taking it for about 2 weeks, and am still very itchy. I try to tell myself that I would probably be even "more" itchy if I were not taking it, but it is such an expensive medication that I would like to be sure it is truly making a difference. (It is hard to do a controlled experiment, since inherent itchiness varies from day to day.) So far, everyone who has written about Zyrtec has extolled its virtues; I was just wondering if there were any of you who had used it but not had noticeable results. 

Scratching may cause much of the "damage" to skin, in the sense of it breaking and oozing, but the eczema itself causes the skin to react badly to scratching. For instance, I sometimes get extremely itchy when there is no obvious inflammation, and then even frenzied scratching does not do too much damage. Contrarily, my skin often gets hot, red and rashy even if it does not itch and therefore no scratching takes place. I place scratching in the category of one of those things that aggravates eczema (like wearing wool) but not something that "causes" it in any meaningful sense.

My Jodi has finally recovered from the MMR vaccine shot. She developed high fever right after the shot and later full body measles when the high fever had subsided. I was told 1 out of 5 kids would suffer from these side effects. Am just curious how many eczema kids experienced the same. She is now back to 98% clear skin after 2 very itchy weeks.

Am working on weaning her from her night feeding. She will be 18 months in a few days. She wakes once every night for her Alimentum. I have tried substituting her formula with a water bottle and comfort her by caressing her face and body but she would scream for hours at times till she is totally exhausted and dozes off finally. A few days in a row and I am completely exhausted as well. I am not so sure that's the right approach to wean her off her night bottle though the same method worked on my older kid. Advice anyone? I worry about tooth decay if she continues with this night time habit. I really don't think she's hungry, it's more a desire for that sucking sensation and the taste and scent of the formula she's going for.

I found that I was still itchy while taking the Zyrtec, but when I would go off it for more than a couple of days, the itch would get quite a bit worse. Yes, it is difficult to do a "controlled" experiment, but it might be worth trying to go off it for a full week. If, by the end of that week, you don't notice a difference, it may be that the Zyrtec isn't doing much or anything for you.

There have been a couple of times when I've been on Zyrtec when I've wondered if it's been doing anything for me, and I've tried the "week off" approach. I always went back to the stuff after about 3 or 4 days -- the itching was definitely worse without it!

It doesn't eliminate the itch for me, but it does keep it from being as awful as it has been...

Rita, Was it the high fever that helped with the eczema? It helps me and in the some others on the list have said fever helps them as well.

Andrew just had MMR last Friday one week after his 16 months regular check up. Actually he had the shot by his Allergist instead of pediatrician since MMR contains egg. He is fine now, but his allergist told me the fever or rash usually happens in 1-3 weeks if there is any side effect, I just hope this will not happen to him.

Just a report to all the E parents, he is clear now except his neck, I still used very small amount of Cortide (0.5%) on his neck once a while. He still on restricted diet, that makes big different. If I give him any small amount of food he is sensitive to, he will be itching the next day. Any food he is allergic to, like milk, egg, nuts and soy, he will have reaction in one minute. I hate having him on restricted diet, especially when we go out, to any party, he can eat almost no food over there. He doesn't like Lamb, but that is the only meet he is not sensitive to. Anybody has suggestion on how to cook lamb? The only thing makes me feel better is he grows very well now (90% on everything at 16 months).

Elizabeth, Zyrtec has not been cleared by the FDA for use in a child as young as your baby. If Zyrtec has been proven to be sedating in adults, just imagine what you are doing to your baby.

I suggest you try Claritin, Claritin has an indication for chronic urticaria (itching/hives) and is the ONLY antihistamine that is TRULY NON-SEDATING. The outside labeling says so. The FDA has allowed this company to put this on their labeling. You will never see a Zyrtec label say this. The law will not allow it. Go to your Pharmacy and ask you Pharmacist for the Package Insert on Claritin and also Zyrtec.

Elaine, Before using Skin Cap I encourage you to contact a Dermatologist or contact The National Psoriasis Foundation. The NSF recently issued a statement on Skin Cap.

Rita, I think your doctor needs to have his head examined, a child with problems like yours should be exempt from vacinations. My eczema baby is exempt!

This is a brief excerpt from the posting by the FDA but clearly states that Skin-Cap lied.

IA #61-06, 8/26/97 - IMPORT ALERT #61-06, "DETENTION WITHOUT PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF SKIN-CAP SPRAY, SHAMPOO AND CREAM"

PROBLEM: Product is an OTC product containing a prescription strength corticosteroid (clobetasol propionate).

REASON FOR ALERT: Skin-Cap, an over-the-counter (OTC) drug for psoriasis was found by FDA analysis to contain prescription levels of a potent medication, the topical steroid clobetasol propionate, which can cause serious side effects if used incorrectly or unknowingly. Users would be unaware of the presence of this ingredient, as it is not declared on the labeling for the products. Side effects from long-term use of potent topical steroids can include stretch marks, thinning skin, and tiny dilated blood vessels. Use of large amounts, overuse or long-term use of potent topical steroids can also cause more serious side effects.

Antihistamines are not sedating by drug but by action, by not allowing the brain access to histamine, which it needs for energy.

My daughter Delaney just had her three-year-old check up with her ped. Of course, her eczema cleared up the day before her appointment after being at its worst almost constantly for several months, so I found myself saying "but it really has been bad" a lot. As I imagined, the ped. was not very impressed that I weaned her off topical steriods. She did refer us to an allergy specialist this time, but it is not the eczema she's most concerned about... its the hives Delaney gets when she eats salmon. So she wants food allergy testing. Any advice from parents as we start down this path? If pricks/injections are our only option for this testing, is it worth the trauma of subjecting our three-year-old to it?

She (ped.) is very strongly recommending we give Delaney the chicken pox vaccine. Ordinarily she recommends parents skip this vaccine, but she says studies show children with eczema, asthma, diabetes and other conditions are at greater risk than others for severe complications from having chicken pox. Any parents or others with experience in this area? 

The only other time her skin has cleared in months was during a weeklong vacation in mid-August. Lots of possibilities for why clear skin: climate, only on the beach so a little cooler and more humid, esp. at night. Stayed in a cottage with no air conditioning and no carpet (home totally carpeted and air conditioned). Ate limited foods: fruit, sandwiches, cold cereal and nothing new. No corn or corn syrup, which are on our suspect list. No peanut butter, which wasn't on our suspect list but is now. Played on the beach and soaked in puddles of ocean water. Lots of showers and lotions. Stayed up late and slept in.. no stress over bedtime!

I tried ZYRTEC and CLARITIN when they first came out and found that neither did much good for the itching.

I think the allergy testing is worth it. Daniel was tested at age 1 for foods and some airborne allergens and once we stopped feeding him food he was allergic to, he was 80% better. If their skin is too broke out, the allergist could do a blood test instead of the skin test. You need to be very careful with peanut allergy. We carry an Epi-Pen everywhere we go.

My doctor didn't think the chicken pox vaccine was a good idea, but others on this list say their doctors recommend it. So I am not much help on that one...

I've been on Zyrtec for a little over a month. I take it in the evenings and have to cut the pill in half because full-strength knocks me out for the night, can't wake up for work the next day, let alone wake up in the middle of the night to take care of my son. I DO think it has helped my itching and definitely gives me a more restful sleep. But now when I forget to take it, I am more restless than I used to be. My eczema has been under control too, but I'm also using steroid creme in conjunction with the Zyrtec. So, maybe there is some ingredient in the Zyrtec that you're allergic to -- that could be why you are still so itchy. Maybe try not taking it for a few days or a week (rather than just one day) and see if there is any difference.

I have two exciting bits of information for everyone! First of all, I just started today on a trial of a new medication for eczema for the FDA.My derm has been waiting for this to come through for a long time - at least a year. She is one of the primary study conductors. The new medication is Tacrolimus ointment. Those invited to partake in the test must have eczema on more than 10% of their body and it must be severe and have resisted all known treatments. If you think you qualify, talk to your derm about it. Only 300 patients are participating. The study will take 14 weeks, but unless you have been given the placebo, you should see results in three weeks. I do not think I got a placebo because after the first applicaton, the redness subsided in less than an hour. What is this drug, you might be asking? The drug was being given in oral form to transplant patients. They then noticed that those transplant patients who had skin disorders had an almost instant remission of the skin disorder. The oral form carries a lot of side effects, so they came up with this topical form. The side effects I can expect are - stinging, itching, redness - How could I tell? That's what the eczema is like NOW!!!! It s to be applied twice a day at twelve hour intervals. I will certainly keep everyone informed on the progress.

Secondly, while I was chatting with my derm about the test, I asked her about SkinCap. She became livid! She is so angry about the recall. Here's the interesting part - the Dermatological society had SkinCap tested in several different laboratories and found NO appreciable amounts of steroids! I asked her about the clobestal and she said yes, they did find some, but first of all, it was in a very small amount and secondly, contrary to what others have said, clobestal is NOT one of the stronger steroids. Incidentally, she also mentioned that the stuff that has just been introduced into local US pharmacies, is a watered down version and not the full strength stuff that comes from the supplier. I wondered about that when I only paid $24 at my local pharmacy and they want up to $35 from the supplier. And my local pharmacy is notorious for high prices. I used the SkinCap for just a few applications. The first three applications did seem to help quite a bit, but I noticed that after that, it did not seem to make much difference. So I stopped using it. My E is of the numular type and is on well over 60% of my body. It weeps constantly (I change clothing twice a day or more and bedding every day). My hands and feet develop great blisters which then dry up, crack and bleed or become infected. If this new stuff works on me it will work on anybody. 

I am on Zyrtec. I also take over the counter Tavist-D, which seems to work well for my itching. In addition I don't think that Zyrtec contains a decongestant. My dermatologist and allergist said the two can be taken together without a problem.

I saw a post to the Usenet group alt.med.allergy regarding dermatographia/dermographia (a condition where scratching produces large welts on the skin, quite out-of-proportion to the force of the scratch). I responded to the person who wrote about it, but I was also wondering if anyone in this group thinks that they suffer from it. I know that if I'm carrying a large bundle of sharp-edged magazines in my arms, the pressure of the edges on my skin will produce raised, red welts which are pretty embarrassing. Also happens when I scratch the eczema on my hips. Maybe it has something to do with the tenderness of the skin.

Anyone noticed this or know anything about it? I first saw it mentioned in an article by Dr. Jon Hanifin, about managing eczema.

I also have nummular eczema. Have you used any thing else to control the itching? My eczema seems to be spreading and my derm isn't really able to tell me why. The itching is unbearable and the only thing the derm told me about was the cortisone shot. I'm wondering if there is anything I could get from the pharmacist that could help.

As for the welts being raised from very little pressure or scratching, I've had that my whole life. It doesn't seem to cause a great many problems, mostly embarassment. 

I used acupuncture a couple of years ago when my eczema was very bad and I was between cortisone shots (limited to 3 a year). It was sort of a 'last resort' for conservative me --- but --- it worked !!! After a few treatments my eczema was 95% better (have never been able to get rid of the eczema on my face) -- my back and stomach which had been covered with eczema were eczema free ! I have not had a cortisone shot since -- However, now I am again being ravaged by eczema. I tried Acupunture via four sessions and saw little if any benefit. I have the eczema again all over my back and stomach and can't seem to put a damper on it. 

I have an appt with a dermatologist on Tuesday where I plan to suggest a prescription for Neoral, which helped the eczema about a year ago (I had a facial infection that would not go away -- plus eczema acting up). I wish I knew more about the potential negatives of Neoral, but it helped before and I think I should try it again. Anyone have input on Neoral (cyclosporine capsules for microemulsion)?

My Mollie (age 2.5) has severe allergies (three episodes of unconsiousness to date - strawberries, peanuts and egg). We did the blood tests (RAST) three differenet times as I suspected more and more foods. It was extremely traumatic for her to be held down to have blood taken, but it had sounded to me like a less traumatic procedure than the skin pricks, so I chose the blood tests. Eventually, we saw another specialist, who talked me into the skin pricks. I'm so glad he did! It was very benign - she wimpered briefly during the actual needle application, and then she was fine. I hear differing opinions on this, but I hear that the skin pricks are more reliable than the RAST - I don't know, but I will definitely prefer the skin pricks in the future - so much less traumatic...

We received the exact same information and advice from the pediatrician, so we did the vaccine. And four hours later she broke out with chicken pox!! She had been previously exposed, but we thought (erroneously, obviously) the incubation period had passed. I called the pediatrician immediately and she started Mollie on two prescriptions: an anti-viral med which can reduce the number of pox IF it is started within 24 hours (or 18 hours?? - some very short time period) of outbreak and Tylenol with codeine. She had very few pox, and whenever she wanted to have a scratching frenzy, I gave her the codeine. I didn't want her to stay miserable, or infect the pox. For nighttime, a friend gave me an great tip: I put long socks on her hands and up her arms and then used duct tape to secure the socks to the upper arms of her pjs. This is the only time I have ever used this "restraint" on her scratching, I am opposed to this practice under normal circumstances. Fortunately, I only had to do it for 3 nights, and I only used it in conjunction with the codeine to relax her. She had a very mild outbreak, very few pox, and sailed through it with no infections and no scars.

Many people have remarked that their eczema clears when on vacation, and have speculated about what characteristics of the new environment may have helped.

In my own experience, my eczema has oftentimes cleared temporarily when I changed environments (went on a trip, moved...), regardless of whether the new place was a remote mountain hideaway or a big city, but it has always come back if I stayed in that place for long. My theory is that it is the change per se, rather than any characteristics of the new environment, that "shocks" the eczema into remission. I have this image that my eczema is a little gremlin who says, "Whoa, something new. Let's sit back and see how we're going to deal with this", and then, when it gets comfortable in the new place, retorts, "I'm baaaaack. Nyah, nyah, I was only hiding!"

The solution might be to move around a lot. (A prescription of "Lots of vacations" sounds good to me).

Hi, Judie, Your trial of Tacrolimus ointment sounds exciting. I think someone earlier (or was it you?) mentioned that treatment on this list, so we are waiting with bated breath to hear your longer-term results.

About your SkinCap comments: What is the Dermatological society? Is that US, UK or where? Have their results been published anywhere? (Perhaps you could ask your derm next time for a citation). Secondly, what pharmacy did you find your SkinCap at? (and what state are you writing from?) I could not find it at my local pharmacies.

Also, you write " the stuff that has just been introduced into local US pharmacies is a watered down version and not the full strength stuff that comes from the supplier."

I wouldn't be surprised if they have taken out the illicit active ingredient (clobetasol) to get it past the FDA. That's probably why it doesn't work as well. Why would they bother watering down the pyrithione zinc?

I've only been checking the list periodically recently as I don't really have eczema any more, but this has been my experience with Skin-Cap.

1. I couldn't believe it when it worked. Within 2 weeks my skin was clear. :-)
2. I couldn't believe it when I read it was a very potent steroid :-( I would never have used it if I'd known, as steroids have always made me worse. But then I got to thinking that for me it was probably a good thing. I only used it because I thought it wasn't a steroid, so if I'd known, then I wouldn't have used it, and I wouldn't be better. Which doesn't excuse what they did, of course, but at least my particular cloud had a silver lining.
3. I stopped Skin-Cap as soon as the eczema was gone. No flare up. HOWEVER, I began to get constant asthma attacks. I've had asthma for about ten years, but I've not had a severe attack for about 3. I was mystified as to why I was suddenly getting them again, but if Skin Cap was being systemically absorbed, then it would knock off my own immunosuppressants, so when I stopped it suddenly I had a rebound asthma reaction. I think this is the case as I have sprayed my knees twice since I stopped the regular use, and each time my breathing has eased. I'm SURE Skin Cap is absorbed into *my* body, as apart from the above, I only ever sprayed my legs, but my arms and face cleared too.
4. On balance I would use it again, even knowing what it is. It has changed my life. I'd forgotten what it felt like to be able to freely choose what clothes to wear rather than think 'I've got to wear black so the ooze doesn't show', I don't have a bed full of 'crusties' every morning, and I don't stick to my clothes. I can swim, I can wear shorts, I can try on clothes in shops. I've a secret stash of SkinCap in case it gets taken off the market in the UK. I'll just use it when I have to. Otherwise, I'm carrying on with my vitamins, oatmeal and aromatherapy routine, which generally is stopping small breakouts.

My daughter had allergy testing when she was 2. My only regret was not having it done sooner. The test was temporarily uncomfortable for her, but not unbearable. They did several pricks on her back at one time. Of course, she had to lie perfectly still so the test media wouldn't run together, so we watched Barney videos.

She's allergic to a zillion things, including lots of foods, so it's still a challenge to keep her e under control, but it has been so much easier now that we know specific culprits. Immunization therapy will probably eventually be started on my daughter, but that's because her eczema is so severe, and she has asthma, too.

My daughter hasn't had the chickenpox vaccine yet, but it's on my list to discuss with the allergist on her next visit. He also mentioned the flu and pneumonia vaccines on a previous visit.

When I have a rush of adrenaline (eg when a car cuts me off or if I am startled), I have a pins and needles sensation on my chest and back. Does anyone else have this type of symptom? My derm wonders if my eczema may actually be something besides eczema but he admits he is stuck (which I respect). If anyone has had or has any info on this type of symptom, it would be greatly appreciated.

Lynn, how much does Zyrtec cost? I take Claritin and it's about $2 a pill. It doesn't have an effect on the itch but it helps with hayfever.

Has anyone read the book by John Bradshaw called **Family Secrets: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You**? I'd like to discuss with anyone who has any interest. It's really a profound subject for anyone experiencing stress that defines explanation. He talks about self-mutilation. Anyone ever consider that scratching is self-multilation? 

In my case, scratching is not the same thing as self-mutilation at all.

Thanks to all who replied to my "kid stuff" questions. Was glad to hear that the "prick" test hasn't been as traumatic for the little ones as it sounds. I had visions of someone waltzing in the room with a tray full of hypodemic needles... Robin, I want to make sure I understand your comments about chicken pox... Did it appear that the vaccine caused the outbreak or the exposure prior to the vaccine cause the outbreak? And, I am fully in favor of Lynn's "lots of vacations" prescription.

Andrew, It's hard to gauge what exactly you mean, but I myself have a small spot underneath my right shoulderblade where I have intermittent sensations that might be described as "pins and needles", only much much stronger and extremely unpleasant. Not a pain, not an itch, something completely different. Nothing shows on the skin. It used to be more intermittent than it is now, nowadays it is with me very often (no link with adrenaline rushes or anything) and it's just beginning to ever so slightly worry me. I haven't taken this symptom to a doctor, as I cannot even describe it properly and nothing shows!

I agree with Lynn. I think you stated, in more helpful detail, what I said. I too, think the original statement that "Scratching causes eczema" is inaccurate, but still has a lot of truth to it, since scratching/rubbing is what causes most of the skin DAMAGE, i.e. , abrasions, scarring, infections, flaking, discoloration, thickening, accentuation of wrinkles, increased sensitivity and more.

While allergic reactions alone, do cause these things to happen, usually a strong allergic reaction CAN BE quickly TRACED to an allergen. Usually we will not allow ourselves to be exposed again to such powerful allergens - unless we are avoiding reality (I DO NOT HAVE ALLERGIES! I LOVE THIS FOOD TOO MUCH!) or have some other reason to continue exposure, knowing the consequences. I am not considering these last situations in my thinking here.

The bigger problem comes with exposure to allergens to which we react more mildly. These milder reactions are not as easily "traceable" and therefore exposure to them is repeated without knowledge. Their effects accumulate in the body after repeated exposure. They cause minor but constant itching which may build to major ... This is where the scratching takes over as a major factor in eczema.

Doctors who say, ( I read the following quote on this list.) "Don't worry about the minor reactions," I think are misleading their patients. These doctors cause a false sense of security and encourage patients to be be careless in observing their food intake and its relationship to their eczema "Flares". The doctors I see make little attempt at helping to find the cause of the problem (the allergen) probably because they know how difficult it is to trace the offender(s). The usual course of action is to prescribe medicine, hopefully the least harmful. Patch Patch Patch.

It is up to you to do the experimenting, observing, eliminating, challenging, record keeping, and discovering OR prolong your suffering if you do not. No one else can do the former prophylaxis or will have the resulting latter consequences. It's up to you to a HUGE degree. Ask for help if you are not sure how to go about doing this.

I have long stories to tell about this train of thought; stories from agonizingly personal experiences. I am sure nearly all of you have similar horror stories to tell. Sharing our victories will help us all.

There are other factors involved in scratching. HOW WE RELEASE STRESS is another factor. That is another story. Many many have mentioned this before but I think it is worth a look again.

It's been about 10 days since I tried Skin Cap and I still call it a miracle. According to my pharmacist, the FDA has found NO STEROIDS in it (the original stuff - not the watered down version) and told me not to believe everything you read. He said rumors were being started by a competitor. For me, Skin Cap has saved me! If there were steroids in it, wouldn't I be feeling the same side effects as if I were taking oral prednisone? I've experienced nothing of the kind. I bought 8 more cans which should last me about a year or more. I use it on my face by spraying it on my hands and then lightly patting my face. I can go the entire day (5am to 11pm) without one ounce of moisturizer. At least for now, I really don't care what is in it. Peace is good. 

Clobetasol Propionate, the steroid found in Skin Cap, is in the most potent classification for steroids.

I posted a few days ago from a FDA posting that indeed the FDA verifies that Skin Cap DOES contain the steroid in question. Your pharmacist may not be current on his/her information.

The FDA even state that the steroid was found at prescription levels.

Dear Richard, In a recent posting, you asked: Could you give some more details about the components of the medicine? What is the working component of it?

All I was told was that it was a drug used to treat transplant patients. I don't know if it was an anti rejection drug or or some type of antibiotic or what. It is only known by a code number which I believe was U40 or U50. I just looked through all the literature that I was given and ingredients are not listed anywhere. I can well understand the secrecy, as I am sure that whatever drug company is having this tested would not want anyone else to know. From what I understand it is simply this drug in a petrolatum base. For the rest of you following this, I have done three applicatons so far. I have noticed a marked decrease in redness and severe itching. Still some itch, but not the "stop what you are doing and scratch variety". It has not done anything for any infected areas and I have been applying hydrogen peroxide to those areas. On the very crusty areas, I have noticed that it seems to be sloughing the dead skin off, but when it does, the cleared area weeps. Not a lot, but enough to dampen clothing. As each of these spots dries and sloughs again, the areas get smaller. I have not noticed any area clearing completely yet. More as it happens. 

Like Claritin, Zyrtec costs about USD 2 a pill, which seems like a lot to pay for a product that doesn't much help with the itching. I will probably switch to Claritin, since it is at least partially covered by my health plan, while Zyrtec is not. Has anyone tried another new antihistimine called Allegra that is supposed to ressemble Seldane?

Andrew- Sounds more like your nerves are being tested- When I'm really stressed out, which is most of the time, anything, like an unpleasant sound, or making a quick turn in the car, or being taken by surprise, can shake me up. Sometimes my chest feels the strain, sometimes my skin crawls. In the past, I have been known to break out in hives when I felt overwhelmed by a situation. So, to make a short story long, I think it's just being a little high strung or stressed out. I know it's unpleasant, but just take deep breaths afterwards and it might help you feel a little better.

The FDA fellow I spoke to advised me to write to the FDA requesting the results of their investigation, which he said should be available under the Freedom of Information Act. He told me to ask them to report the exact concentrations of active and inactive ingredients they found. He said I could then use this information to have my derm write a prescription, if I wanted to try to replicate it. He admitted that he didn't think they had tested for every possible ingredient, and even intriguingly said that they had found "spikes" of three ingredients, two of which were zinc pyrithione and temovate (clobetasol), but that they didn't investigate the third. That would imply that there is a large concentration of something else in there; I wonder why they didn't pursue it? Maybe it was even worse than clobetasol.

I plan to write to them asking for whatever information they do have. He said it would take three weeks before they would respond, since legal issues are currently being pursued but should be resolved by then. 

Interesting. As I posted earlier to the list, I did a trial in Amsterdam concerning a new drug, developed by Sandoz, Switserland, also based upon something which is used (in bigger quantities) to surpress rejection after transplantation. This cream is based upon an antibioticum. I remember one reader replied emotionally that cyclosporine was causing cancer, but in this case of the new drug against eczema we are talking about much lesser quantities. One of the tests in de trial was if and how much af the drug was received into the blood.

You could ask if it's based upon cyclosporine, would be interesting. These kind of things are known in the farmaceutic competiters anyway, the only thing they keep secret are the results of the trials so far.

My experiences (and of the others on trial) where very positive: the excema was disappearing rappidly. It will cost anyway still some time and trials before registration is possible, unfortunetally.

I don't want to cause confusion in making your decision, but would like to share my experience with my son Brian (13 mos). I just took him to the allergist this week for more allergy tests. I thought it was quite traumatic for him. The previous time he had tests, they did the skin scratch tests on his back (cried a little). The second time was RAST blood test (he didn't even cry). Now this third time, they did 12 injections into his right arm and boy did he scream! I never saw him so upset, turn so red, and cry so hard! I even had a couple tears in my eyes from watching him go through it. He was fine after they were done with the injections, but those few minutes seemed like an eternity. The scratch tests done previously on the back were much less painful and bothersome to him. His allergist wants to see him in a couple months to pursue even more testing, but I'm not sure I want to put him through that again.

So my advice: talk to your doctor/allergist and see exactly what type of tests they plan to do -- the skin scratch tests or little injections. 

When my eczema was much more severe than it is currently, I would from time to time have the sensation Andrew described. I wasn't able to associate it with any particular circumstance, but my legs from the knee down would feel a stabbing sensation as from a needle.

I am very familiar with Bradshaw and his works as I do some counselling work and use his materials a lot. I also suffer with itching and eczema and don't agree with scratching as self mutilation. I work with teens who slash themselves regularly. Sometimes as deep as the muscle. That is self mutilation. The scratching and itching may have an emotional tie that it can be aggravated by emotions but certainly not the root cause of the itching. If I steer clear of foods etc., which I am allergic to , my itching stops. Self mutilation has to do with deep emotional pain not steering clear of foods or other substances.

That's my opinion for what it's worth,

Great to hear from you Judy. You've given me new hope again. I was getting depressed. What if the 9 cans I now have are the stronger version? My eczema is gone! I don't want it back! 

Date: 6 Sep 1997 From: Shelley Subject: Self-Mutilation

Kris: Yes, there are times when my scratching has been self-mutilation. Mainly when my skin is already so bad that it seems nothing could make it any worse and so I allow myself to take out my frustration and rage on myself, destroying my skin in the process. There have been other times when I clearly was angry with someone else and took it out on my skin instead, and times when I was a kid that I felt that I was trapped inside this horrible skin monster and wanted to kill the monster to save the ME inside.

I was socialized to consider anger an emotion that was not "nice" to reveal, and rarely witnessed anyone in my family getting angry. And no one in my family could even imagine the depth of the anger that I felt. So it was a double whammy. I was not only driven to high levels of rage and frustration, but left with no target but myself.

Parents need to recognize that this condition DOES cause rage, and give their kids an outlet for expressing it, like pillows or other soft things to hit or attack so that they can leave their skin alone. Kids should scratch only when they itch, not for any other reason. If they have no other emotional outlets, the skin can become a target for ALL negative emotional responses like fear, anger, sadness, nervousness. That's certainly my experience.

I used to work in a home for emotionally disturbed girls who did self-mutilation with razor blades, and their motivations had some similarities to what I felt when deliberately using my fingernails self-destructively. Few in the group will understand this problem because it's an extreme condition, but those of us who DO understand know it is a serious issue.

What is required is LOVE and affection and other people in your life who you can talk to about your feelings. Counseling is certainly recommended, but you need someone who can understand the special circumstances of this condition. I believe that a distorted relationship to the sense of touch has been developed in these cases. The problem with psychotherapy is that you cannot touch the therapist and they cannot touch you! So bodyworkers who DO touch the skin may be more helpful.

Massaging other people seems to be helpful for me. Touching "normal" skin feels so good, so different from my own horrible skin. Since I have had severe eczema since birth, I have never had normal skin. I seem to have a craving to touch normal skin. You have to have people in your life who are willing to let you touch them. This isn't always easy, since touching is generally forbidden in our culture.

Janice, I asked the pediatrician this same question - since my daughter broke out just a few hours after the innoculation, she said it had to have been from the previous exposure. It apparently does happen (rarely) that children get Chicken pox from the vaccine, but the pediatrician said that she would not have broken out so quickly from the vaccine.

Have you ever heard of an antihistamine called Atarax? If so, which do you consider to be the best out of Atarax, Clarantine, Polaramine, Dilosyn, etc....

Kay, I have a question. Re: "This cool spell is the first major break we have had with his (EJ's) skin." Did you turn off the air conditioning during this cool spell? I would assume so.

If you did turn off the airconditioner the improvement shown could still could be the airconditioner being off ... right? If you did (or did not) not turn off the airconditioner read on.

I have the following theory about heat and eczema which makes sense to me. It goes like this: When our bodies are hot we sweat a lot. The skin is our major excretion organ. When we sweat a lot, we excrete a lot of toxins. The toxins may be a result of the allergens to which we are exposed. These toxins may irritate our skin, if we are eczematic. Without the sweating, the toxins are thrown off through the other excretion organs such as the lungs ( asthma ).

I have not yet confirmed the "possibleness" of this theory with a doctor. I shall do that. In the meantime, if you do ask your doctor I would be interested in what he/she says. It may be that different doctors may have different opinions of this theory.

But... If this theory is true, it can be tested. When EJ's skin is clearer than usual, see how he does at the beach or in some other hot situation. Of course you would need to have access to a cool shower or some way of cooling him off in case he does get uncomfortable. (Take a few buckets of ice with you.) A better way to test this is to avoid all known food allergens and the air conditioner ( Use several more fans. ) for a few days, then observe him when he is in a heat situation.

Kay, As you have guessed, I personally don't think heat is the problem. I think allergens are the problem. So when I read your statement, "Clean air ducts are always *wise*." I hope your word "Wise" is meant to be synonymous with "Absolutely necessary to eliminate a major cause of allergies, mold, and mildew." Of course, if you know that EJ is absolutely not allergic to these inhalents and "contact allergens", much of the worry is reduced, but not all.

"Ducts" to me infers central airconditioning. I hope the "Ducts" are accessible to cleaning. If that is hard to do, airconditioners placed in windows may be a course that will ease EJ's suffering since they may be much easier to keep clean. Consulting with a few air-conditioning experts seems to be in order.

The environment inside air-conditioning ducts harbors evil such as the Legionaires discovered several years ago. There may be other stuff too. Who knows? Therefore I would clean the ducts and filters weekly with vinegar and with whatever else might be helpful. Ask your allergist about procedures.

You will not be surprised to hear that I do my best to avoid all air-conditioned places. I am very fortunate to live on the the 19th floor of a building which is exposed to constant winds. If I open a window on both sides of the aparment I may have a "hurricane" blow through on some breezier days. I am truly blessed in this way. 

I sleep on the vinyl tiled floor on washable paddings which I wash about every three weeks or less. I do my best to eliminate all allergens from my environment. Since I moved into this carpetless environment my skin has made dramatic improvement. It is amazing. Then came "SkinCap". Another blessing. I hope it is available to us again. I digress.

Yelling during a scratching episode is damaging and probably leads to more intensive scratching. I suspect that this is recognized when I read of the invocation of "Timeouts" for Mom. Indeed this is appropriate.

Yelling from frustration to me means, "I don't know what to do, so I yell." If this is true, the yeller needs to find out what to do. Yelling is damaging. One may yell because one cares or is worried, or for whatever reason, but the scratcher does not see it (feel it) that way. I think Mom realizes this.

If Mom does not know what to do I, recommend lots of hugs and massages and ice and vitamin C and more for the scratcher. Express love in ways that are clear expressions of love.

If disagreements result in scratching or more intensive scratching the above is most appropriate, and if yelling/scratching situation happens frequently perhaps counseling is worth considering.

Mallika, You should see results after three days of not having any cows milk or milk products. I predict the results will be very pleasing. Humans are the only mammals who drink milk after weaning. It is not necessary and probably does much harm to many babies who are fed it instead of mothers milk.

Some time ago someone asked what to do about a so-called 'red moustache'. I suffer from the same unflattering problem. Two weeks ago I saw a new dermatologist in an Academic Hospital and she told me something that made sense to me and I never heard of before, although I saw 5 derms already. 

She said that eczema is triggered by bacteria that cause inflammation. In your nose are bacteria and a certain bacterium is present in 90% of e-sufferer's noses and in only 40% of non-e sufferers. She recommended to use a desinfectant cream in my nose. I had red eyes as well caused by inflammation. I never used cortison-like products around my eyes because that's supposed to be dangerous. However she desrcibed me a mild version to stop the vicious circle. Now, after using the cream in my nose for about a week and the other cream for only a couple of days (more was not necessary) my moustache is gone and my ever-itching eyes are cured. If you don't like using steroids, just try desinfectant cream in your nose (3 times a day a little bit. Spread it through your nose by rubbing your nose) You can buy it OTC, simply at your local chemist's. 

Liesbeth, Your report is amazing to me. I have the same nose problem and my dermatologist prescribed "MetroGel" for my red swollen nose which had more problems than that. I used the "MetroGel" and my nose cleared up. My red eyes cleared up too but I did not associate the eyes clearing up with the "MetroGel" which I stopped. After stopping my eyes became red again and later the nose assumed the same symptoms again. I was just about to resume the "MetroGel" and see what happens. I look forward to the same results. My dermatologist did say that the nose problem might take months to clear up with the "MetroGel" but it happened much faster. "MetroGel" is marketed by Galderma Laboratories, Inc in Ft. Worth Texas and manufactured by DPT Laboratories, Inc. in San Antonio Texas 78215. The active ingredient is metronidazole. The base is an ointment with no lanolin. No steroids.

Leisbeth, can you tell us the active ingredient in your medicine? Ialso have this theory that orange juice each day helps. About one medium glass. But I am not sure yet.

In the UK terfenadine has regained its prescription-only status because of a potential risk of cardiac arrythmias. Clarityn is a suitable alternative which can be purchased over the counter and is not supposed to have these problems.

Claritin was NEVER taken off the market. The only antihistamine that has been taken off the market was SELDANE. Claritin has never had a Black Box Warning and has never been proven unsafe. Claritin has proven its performance. It is once a day. It has outstanding efficacy, safety and is nonsedating.

I've been on Atarax for the last 11 years of my life. Basically it relaxesyou at night so that you don't itch in your sleep. Eventually though tolerance develops. I'm not taking it right now and am doing fine. (whatever fine means!!) 

I have a son who is 3. He had severe eczema when he was an infant, but now it seems better since I found and now control the many things he's allergic to. Even though I watch his diet, every summer his legs and his feet especially develop eczema. The rash on his legs seems to go away when I apply cortisone, but the feet never seem to completely clear up all summer. At first I thought he was allergic to grass, but he's not. We apply cort. cream and it never seems to clear up. It doesn't seem to matter whether he wears sandals or tennis shoes w/socks. I know this scratching is very frustrating for him and sometimes his feet are open from his scratching. Is the application of cort. cream and an antibiotic when his feet are open the only answer?

I found Liesbeth's story extremely interesting. Years ago my GP had a mixture prepared of Bactroban (which is usually prescribed for nose infections) and a weak corticosteroid. The pharmacist found this so extraordinary that he even phoned to check the prescription. At the time my eczema was really bad, but only hours after the first application of this mixture it started to dry out and three days later I was "clean"...!

My husband and I referred to it as "magic cream". However, the next flare-up, months later, proved unimpressed by it...

For me Atarax is a gift from heaven. I take it only when the itch is unbearable, which is very rarely; but then one or two tablets take away the itch completely. Sometimes it makes me sleepy, sometimes it doesn't. To be on the safe side, I don't take it when I have to drive.

Again, I do *not* take this on a regular basis; only perhaps once or twice per month, if not less.

Chicken Pox Vaccine- A few weeks ago, at his 12 mos. checkup, my son had his pox vaccination. The doctor felt it was very important to protect against pox, cause if he got it on top of the eczema it would be horrible for him. Anyhow, she warned us that a side effect (fever, etc.) could occur 2-3 weeks after the the injection. Well, he ended up with a fever, bad cold, and rash (just looked like heat rash) on his back and stomach. He was pretty miserable for 3 days. The doctor's office told me there is a 3-day virus with fever and sore throat going around with children 5 and under.

So I think that's what he had, and teething, and possibly some side effects from the pox vaccine. But overall, I'm glad he had the vaccine to hopefully prevent any outbreak later.

Atarax (Hydroxyzine) has been used as an antihistamine for quite sometime. One of the major setbacks with Atarax is that is is sedating.

Since you suffer from eczema, I am sure that you have urticaria (hives/itching). Claritin is the only once a day, non sedating antihistamine with a indication for urticaria.

The red nose that metro-gel is prescribed for may be for acne rosecia (sp?). The antibiotic is the prescribed treatment, sometimes taken internally as well to treat this ailment. It is very hard to get rid of and is chronic in some people. Untreated, the nose can become bulbous and large (I believe WC Fields -actor- had this ailment).

I was recently diagnosed with rosacea also and have been using Klaron which is an antibacterial lotion. I was getting that along with the eczema. Since using it however, I can go about a week now without having to use any topical steroids and my skin looks and feels better than it has in a long time. By the way, my derm told me that there was a recent study that showed Cutivate to have less damaging effects to facial skin that hydrocortisone. That is what I have been using on my face since somebody here, Kelly I believe, posted an article saying that Cutivate had less damaging effects that other similar strength steroids.

This is mostly idle curiosity, prompted by a memory of a guy I knew in college who had eczema on his arms, eyelids and hands. A few months after I met him and learned about his eczema, he developed ulcerative colitis. I know that his mom tried to get him to quit drinking milk, because she thought that it was making the colitis worse, but he didn't want to give it up.

In addition to the college friend, I've been thinking about the messages regarding roseacea and psoriasis on this list. Is there a connection between eczema and other immune disorders? In other words, are we more susceptible to immune disorders (asthma and allergies aside; I'm sure we all know about that!) because we already have one?

I know, I know, you're all groaning because that's the last thing you want to know about. I'll be the first to admit that eczema alone is enough to deal with, without worrying about other medical conditions. But I am awfully curious.

For those of you following the FDA study on tacrolimus for eczema, I found the following links which may be of interest. If the links do not come through for you, do a search on tacrolimus and these and many more will come up.

http://www.biol.napier.ac.uk/BWS/COURSES/projects/eczema/CYCLOSP.HTM
http://www.centerwatch. com/STU704.HTM
http://www.at24thc entury.com/obesity/txt/2078.htm
http://www.med.umich.edu/trans/transweb/drugs/fkgeneral.html

Some days ago I told you all about a desinfectant cream to use to get red of the redness under my nose. The active ingredient in the cream is Bactobran. I got it on prescription. My derm however said that in fact any desinfectant cream is appropriate. I can't give any brands.

By the way, yesterday I saw the premiere of a movie called Career girls. It's about two thirty year old girls who shared rooms during college years, and look back on that period. One of the girls suffered from a skin disease at that time and that plays a role in the movie. It shocked my boyfriend when I told him I had the same feelings as that girl in the movie. The girl in the movie however 'grew out of it' , hmmm, not too realistic Probably not eczema!

I have completely stopped using skin cap and my eczema is now back in full force. Usually when you break a habit that is supposed to be bad for you, you get healthier or better, like if you quit smoking. Unfortunately the opposite is true here- my legs are looking pretty hideous (but I'm still wearing shorts, its hot) and people at work have asked in the last two days whether I have: been burned, rolled in poison ivy in the woods, had a tattoo removed, something contagious? (maybe I should start saying yes...)

Anyway, I was checking out the sos skin web site (where I purchased skin cap -- alright, I was trying to see if I could still get some) & they have the most amazing array of denials about this whole FDA thing. This is basically what they had to say:

1. That skin cap contains no steroids and that they are working *with* the FDA to prove this. 
2. That the tests in the Netherlands were false, and that skin cap would be available again there sometime in September. 
3. That they are *temporarily out of skin cap* (oh really, I thought it got banned?) 
4. etc...

They also provide a link to a site that sells dermazinc for $5.00 more a bottle than the place in Maine, so buyer beware. If anyone wants to check out their arguments/excuses, I think the address is

http://www.sosskin.com

A very belated update on CHT(Chinese Herbal Therapy). The second formulation I took was done with 2 weeks ago. The stuff looked foul and disgusting, not to mention the taste. It was almost pitch black. It gave me SEVERE diarrhea. It did not really help me at all. I felt quite ill while on it. I've decided to go back to the original formulation b/c it worked for me the first time around. This makes sense b/c for this formula, I actually went and saw the doctor/herbalist. They are supposed to be custom tailored for individuals. The black,foul, formulation was not custom made for me. I told my aunt to ask her herbalist and he made that up for me. I think my skin is getting smoother while taking the original formulation again. Who knows, maybe a placebo effect? I doubt it though. So, my words of advice. If you want to try CHT, see the herbalist/doctor first and make sure it is custom made for you.

I, too, have colitis ulcerosa. I asked my gastroenterologist and he said that there is indeed a statistically significant higher incidence of eczema in people with colitis! He then added that no-one has any idea what to do with this fact.

For me there does not seem to be a direct link between eczema flare-ups and colitis flare-ups. I may at any given time have either, or both, or neither. To my non-professional eyes in a way it seems that both diseases may indeed be one and the same, as both are an inexplicable and basically incurable inflammation of skin tissue -- inside or out.

When you returned to acupuncture therapy did you see the same acupuncturist?

It appears that some of you didn't understand the posting I made a week or 2 ago concerning the results, so I'm posting the report. Note the date of the report and that Skin-Cap is still denying steroids. Pay special attention to the Reason for Alert section.

IA #61-06, 8/26/97 - IMPORT ALERT #61-06, "DETENTION WITHOUT PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF SKIN-CAP SPRAY, SHAMPOO AND CREAM"

TYPE OF ALERT : Detention Without Physical Examination

(Note: This import alert represents the Agency's current guidance to FDA field personnel regarding the manufacturer(s) and/or product(s) at issue. It does not create or confer any rights for or on any person, and does not operate to bind FDA or the public.)

PRODUCT : Skin-Cap Spray, Shampoo and Cream

PRODUCT CODE : Spray: 61SAQ99, 61SAQ01, 61HBQ05, 62SAQ01, 53J02 Shampoo: 61HBL05, 62SAL01, 53E06 Cream: 62SAJ01, 53L03

PROBLEM : Product is an OTC product containing a prescription strength corticosteroid (clobetasol propionate).

PAC FOR COLLECTION : 61D800

COUNTRY : Denmark (DK, 315) Spain (ES, 830)

MANUFACTURER/ SHIPPER : Manufacturer: Laboratorios Cheminova Laboratorios Cheminova International Laboratorios Internacional, S.A. Madrid, Spain FEI# 3000384282

CHARGE : This article is subject to refusal of admission pursuant to Section 801(a)(3) in that it appears to be a new drug within the meaning of Section 201(p) without an effective new drug application (NDA)[Unapproved New Drug, Section 505(a).]

RECOMMENDING OFFICE : CDER, Office of Compliance, Division of Labeling and Non-Prescription Drug Compliance, HFD-310

REASON FOR ALERT : Skin-Cap, an over-the-counter (OTC) drug for psoriasis was found by FDA analysis to contain prescription levels of a potent medication, the topical steroid, clobetasol propionate, which can cause serious side effects if used incorrectly or unknowingly. Users would be unaware of the presence of this ingredient, as it is not declared on the labeling for the products. Side effects from long-term use of potent topical steroids can include stretch marks, thinning skin, and tiny dilated blood vessels. Use of large amounts, overuse or long-term use of potent topical steroids can also cause more serious side effects.

Skin-Cap is an over-the counter (OTC) drug sold in various forms (spray, cream, shampoo) that is manufactured by Cheminova International Laboratories, Madrid, Spain, and is available through several U.S. distributors.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder that can be painful and disabling. It is characterized by inflamed, red, scaly lesions, caused when affected skin cells reproduce six times faster than normal skin cells.

According to Cheminova International, the active ingredient in Skin-Cap is zinc pyrithione (ZnP). ZnP is the same active ingredient found in some dandruff shampoos, for which there is no history as an effective psoriasis treatment. Zinc pyrithione (ZnP) has never been found safe and effective for the treatment of psoriasis. ZnP is acceptable as an OTC product for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff only.

GUIDANCE : Districts may detain, without physical examination all shipments of Skin-Cap Spray, Shampoo and Cream.

For questions or issues concerning science, science policy, sample collection, analysis, preparation, or analytical methodology, contact the Division of Field Science at (301) 443-3320 or 3007.

If private laboratory analysis DOES NOT INDICATE the presence of clobetasol proprionate, please contact Robert Eshelman of CDER's Division of Labeling and Non- Prescription Compliance at (301) 594-1065.

PRIORITIZATION GUIDANCE : I

FOI : No purging is required.

KEYWORDS : Cheminova, dandruff, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, unapproved prescription drug, corticosteroid, OTC

PREPARED BY : Deborah Browning/Fredda Shere-Valenti, HFC-172, (301) 443-6553

DATE LOADED INTO FIARS : August 8, 1997

I read somewhere that there's a connection between eczema and arthritis, some forms of which are believed to be an autoimmune disease also. There is a specific form called psoriatic arthritis that is more common in people with psoriasis, I believe. According to some information from the Arthritis Foundation that I found on the internet at

http://www.orthop.washington.edu/bonejoint/wzzzzzzz1_1.html

(that's 7 "z" s; I am not making this up!), it is a relatively mild disorder. It was also unclear whether you develop it after having psoriasis, or if the psoriasis is just another manifestation of the primary arthritis. I did not research it thoroughly. I wonder if we eczematics are also susceptible; does anyone know much about this?

There is no need for yes-or-no games: Skin Cap was forced to take its product from the Dutch market because more than one research test, requested by the Dutch drug control administration, proved it contained corticosteroids. That Skin Cap is able to return with its product (already announced for August) is the freedom for every producer to deliver non-medicines without control or registration. But Skin Cap knows for sure it will be observed severely, if not by the official Dutch administration then by critical consumers.

Just to add to the information about the Skin Cap Case: on August 2nd there was a critical article about Skin Cap in a Dutch weekly. It said that the president of Cheminova Internacional, senor Santamarta, refused any comment.

They are shameless, aren't they? And pretty stupid if they believe (or think anyone else would believe) the manufacturers word over the FDA and the reputable Netherlands labs.

Anyhow, I'm sorry to hear your eczema has flared up without the SkinCap. But hang in there. We will hear the last word yet. As I posted the other day, I wrote to the FDA requesting their detailled findings under the Freedom of Information Act. If we can get close to figuring out what is actually in Skin Cap, we may be able to work out a comparable formula with our derms. and know exactly what the risks are.

I don't know a great deal about psoriatic arthritis, but my brother was diagnosed in '91. Apparently, there are two types, one which is as you said, relatively mild, and another which is severely crippling. Sadly, he was diagnosed with the second kind, but has made a miraculous recovery and is in remission. His (so-called traditional medical) doctors were astounded!

The arthritis preceded the psoriasis by several months. It started with pain in the balls of his feet which he initially attributed to too much roller blading.

Within a period of months, he could scarcely get out of bed. His doctors wanted him to start methatextrate treatments, a type of chemotherapy with potentially severe side affects that could shorten his life span. Also they wanted him to begin (methatextrate may be a variety of cortisone, I'm unsure) cortisone shots which he would have had to continue for the rest of his life because stopping would produce a rebound effect. He decided that before he would submit to such damaging therapies, he would research and exhaust every alternative medical treatment known to man. He tried acupunture, supplements, CHT, chiropracty, fasts, colonics, cleanses, homeopathy, kinesiology etc, ad infinitum. Like many of us, he eventually became better informed than many of the so called medical professionals he was seeing.

He got worse before he got better, but after about 1 year of these non traditional therapies, his xrays showed minimal joint degeneration, confined to his hands, and mild to severe psoriasis. He admits that he hasn't kept up with his regimen for some time. Currently, he still has the psoriasis and occasional mild to moderate joint pain.

When he last visited his osteopath, a man who fully expected him to be wheelchair bound, the doctor was astonished at his progress, but made no effort to ask him about the course of alternative treatments that resulted in his remarkable recovery . A very sad commentary on how threatening some medical professionals perceive alternative medicine.

I read a review of a new book that might interest some of us who are or have been on prednisone. It's called Coping with Prednisone, by Eugenia Zukerman and Julie Ingelfinger, M.D..

Zukerman is a professional flutist who developed a life-threatening lung disease that requires her to be on long-term prednisone. Dismayed more by the side effects of the treatment (puffy face, mood swings...) than by the illness itself, she undertook to work out a way to minimize its side effects, using diet and exercise and other lifestyle approaches. The coauthor, Zukerman's sister, is a pediatrician who consulted on the medical aspects.

The reviewer writes :"Ultimately, it's a weird little book, though a useful one... information for patients [on prednisone] can be hard to find. Zukerman's sister provides the medical facts. Zukerman furnishes exercixe tips, low-salt recipes and personal accounts of obsessive thinking, panic attacks and steroid rages."

I went to a new derm today. I didn't give him my diagnosis of eczema, just let him look at the nastiness on my feet. He was the first doc to ask what all I had used, then he took a scraping. He then informed me this was a fungus, and said I should be able to clear it up within a week with OTC cremes and powders. I then told him this had been diagnosed by another doc as eczema. He agreed it looked like it, but felt his ideas were correct. So we shall see. I'd hate to think I'd suffered unnecessarily for this long...

My wife only has eczema in her fingers, specially the ones she uses the most. It is a cycle of getting worst and better. The cycle may last 2 to 5 weeks and then its starts over. In winter time it gets worst, because of the dry weather we believe. She has seen numerous doctors for the last 6 years but so far no fix. Rosa has to use special gloves for every thing she does at home, even to take a shower. With these gloves made out of a special polymer her hands would be in real bad condition. For her water, dust, close or any thing that removes the little amount of grease that her skin generates is a big problem. Does any one have any clues to the problem? 

Part of the FDA Alert on Skin Cap posted by Kelly: "Side effects from long-term use of potent topical steroids can include stretch marks, thinning skin, and tiny dilated blood vessels. "

I knew about the thinning skin & stretch marks potential, but had never heard that topicals can cause tiny dilated blood vessels. (Maybe because, having used oral prednisone for so long, I didn't actually use topicals a lot and didn't pay that much attention to all the side effects).

Anyhow, what is interesting is that when I was using Skin Cap last spring and occasionally used it on my face, I did notice that I was developing tiny dilated blood vessels there. I had never had that reaction to topicals before, and wondered why they were coming about. This was before all the info about S.C. came out, so I pushed aside the idea that they could have been related to my use of that product. However, hearing this is, to me, is more confirmation that S.C. did indeed contain steroids.

(Fortunately, the blood vessels disappeared!)

I have been using essiac (a herbal tincture for cancer) for a week now. It contains burdock, sheep sorrel, slippery elm and Indian rhubarb. The patch of eczema on the back of my thighs, which was red, itchy and swollen a week ago has all but disappeared. My arms and the backs of my hands are free from eczema also, tho an occasional itching frenzy brings back the redness and under the skin bumps. My hands have improved a lot, tho I am in constant contact with water (no chemicals!) at work which seems to make it impossible to keep any kind of moisture in them. I have been using dandelion poultices at night on them and just plain zinc oxide or jojoba oil during the day. They always improve dramatically on my days off.

I am really impressed in the improvement of my eczema in just this last week. The last 2 days I have been itch-free!! Like so many of you out there (and for 34 years) I have used everything and anything to try and rid myself of eczema.

My herbalist wants to start me on a liver detox next week. Her daughter had full body eczema 15 years ago. Using essiac and a liver detox she has not had a recurrence in 15 years! This is the reason she got interested in herbs!

I am just really impressed and excited! Tho I do realize that with eczema, what works for one does not necessarily work the same for another. (And in my experience, what works today may not work tomorrow.) But I have seen more improvement with the essiac than I have with anything else I've tried in the past 34 years! Now if I could just lose 15 lbs. and 3 inches of tummy fat!!!?

Has anyone tried the NIKKON magnets? My 1 1/2 year old has been sleeping on magnets for 1 week and he does not appear to itch as much. Any adults familiar with this? Thanks. 

I think you are talking about magnetic beds. There is this new technology (well not so new as its been used in Japan for many years) beds which is supposed to enhance your health. The theory is that man's body relies on the earth's magnetic forces to regulate its blood system. The red blood cells contain iron and the magnetic forces act on the iron to push or pull blood flow to certain organs. When the blood gets "magnetised" it becomes a better carrier of nutrients and waste. With the advent of industrialisation and tall buildings, man tend to move away from the earth. The higher you go up a building the lower the earth's magnetic force. The bed is supposed to replace the lost magnetic forces. Its supposed to aid the system in clearing waste products, sleep better, be healthier. There is some research done by Japanese scientists. These are some of the things I know about the effect of magnets. I haven't used this method even though I am actively searching for alternative cures for eczema. I am currently trying snake gall bladder and pearl powder. Sounds evil...

I wanted to share part of a letter I received from my derm (after I had been sending him articles about Skin Cap for a few months):

"Thank you for your correspondence regarding SkinCap. I think that everyone feels betrayed by Nova Pharmaceuticals. I certainly became suspicious when other products with zinc pyrithione failed to give the results that SkinCap did. Also, one would not expect zinc pyrithione to work on eczema, psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis.

I imagine that SkinCap will return under prescription since it is so effective. However, its use will be limited to small areas of the skin and will be used in pulse dose treatment. Clobetasol should never be used over large areas."

I found this interesting because I imagine if it does return under prescription, the exact ingredients and mechanism of action (all that stuff in the PDR) will have to be specified to the satisfaction of the FDA. Then, if we choose to use it, at least we'll know the nature of our poison.

By the way, does anyone know what pulse dose treatment is? I would guess it means intermittent (every other day?), but I have not heard the term before.

Rita, I am very interested in this topic as my 19 mos. old daughter, Julia, is due to have the MMR in a few days. She was supposed to have it at 15 mos. but I held off--nervous about it. At around 12 mos. her RAST results showed a moderate allergy to egg white, which constitutes the base of the MMR, I've been told. The pedi said he attended some immunization conference earlier last spring and that the main doctor in this field of study claims it to be safe for babies with egg allergy...However, I do not trust my pediatrician's judgement on anything regarding her eczema so far, so I'm not going to start now.

She's had every other immunization so far, counting the chicken pox vaccine, with no apparent side effects. But I don't know what to do on this one.

Is it possible for one's allergy level to vary along with the state & severity of the eczema? Because she's been practicaly clear for months now, compared with how bad she was last winter when she had the RAST done. If there's a chance she's growing out of this allergy I would think it wouldn't be as bad...But then there's your whole problem of getting a case of the measles happening here too. I personally, have never heard of anyone I know getting the measles from the MMR, so that 1 in 4 stat seems unbelievable to me...So difficult to make some of these decisions, isn't it?

We're also working on the middle of the night--maybe twice a night--feeding issues. She's still nursing too. It's a vicious cycle of not eating enough food that's good for her, so I want to nurse her longer so she'll atleast have that. (She never took formula of any kind). I know letting them cry at night works after a few nights of being consistent, because we did it with our first child. But he was also only 6 mos. (took only 3 nights) and didn't deal with his distress by scratching all over! She no longer scratches herself to sleep (although she breaks out in a clammy sweat) so I hate to feel I'm causing her to start the eczema cycle with screaming fits. However, I've got to really think about it because something has to give. 

My pedi has told me the chicken pox vaccine is only 80% effective, but that 20% only gets a mild case when exposed, but can still pass on a full case to others. 

I suggest to have a allergist do the MMR. My son's allergist did test on the arm first, then give my son the shot 20 minutes later after the test showed negative. It has been two weeks since the shot, no side effect yet, although it could happen in 1-3 weeks.

I have read somewhere ( I think it was Stephen Terrass' "Healing Psoriasis:The Alternative Approach"?--but I'm not sure) that there's a link between psoriasis (an autoimmune disease) and other autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, MS, colitis, athritis, etc. If the body can start turning on itself in one way why not in other ways...Supposedly there's still some debate though on whether eczema is technically "autoimmune" or not... 

My daughter had this same exact rash at the beginning of the summer (at 16 mos.)! It was itchy for her too. Other than this she's never had any rash on her trunk so it was quite obvious. She also had the chicken pox vaccine the same week. I can't remember if she already had started it on the day of the vaccine or not, but she did definitely have it on the days following... hmmm...

Magnetic beds? I have enough trouble getting up in the morning. Can't imagine a magnetic bed would help much. Not too sure about the snake gall bladder or the pearl powder either. Does sound evil - and a bit quacky.

After a scratching spree (which are becoming less and less frequent thank god!) I seem to get little "bumps" on my skin. They kinda look like pimples but they are not. Sometimes they disappear a while after they appear but I have some that have been around for a month or so. Does anybody know what they are and/or what you can do about them? I have tried sequeezing them but as I said, there not like a pimple and nothing "comes out" so to speak! I have even tried pricking one with a needle but all that "comes out" is blood! 

Pulse dose treatment is another word for measured doses in a spray. The sprayer is fixed so that you can't apply a continuous stream, you only get how much is prescribed in a dose. 

There is a lot of conflict about the "true " formula for essiac. (Named after nurse Rene' Caisse----caisee spelled backwards=essiac.) You can search the net...a couple of good sites are

http://www.iinet.net.au/~essiac/

This site is really interesting, but hard to read.

http://www.ozemail.com.au/~ferntree/

The true essiac formula contains burdock, sheep sorrel, slippery elm and INDIAN rhubarb. I buy it from my herbalist, an elderly lady who, although she has a business, she is more interested in helping and curing people than in making money. I took a dropperful twice a day (under the tongue) for the first 5 days, then cut back to just one a day on an empty stomach with nothing to eat for an hour afterward.

Like I said the eczema on my thigh just disappeared! (tho still just a tad red-not itching!) I am just so amazed!!! My hands, especially fingers are like (for lack of a better word) drying and peeling (still some painful cracks) but the skin underneath the peel is not red.

When I was in China about 5 years ago, I went to a pharmacy and asked for a remedy for liver disease (I did this in more than one and got the same stuff). What I received had the primary ingredient of snake gall. While there, I religiously took it by mixing in with green tea twice daily for about 10 days. About a month later, I visited my gastroenterologist who periodically tested my liver ( It turns out that I have chronic hepatitis C). My liver chemistry was normal (it hadn't been normal for the previous 20 years). He laughingly said that he should start prescribing snake gall, but we both were not convinced that it wasn't the reason my liver chemistry was normal. I am still working on looking for a hepititis treatment (I am currently in a study which combines interferon (Intron A) injections with ribovarin). None the less, I am still not totally convinced that snake gall is not the way to go either.

Visited my derm yesterday...I had sent him info on Skin Cap about 4 months ago. His opinion was that Nova was stupid not trying to get it approved rather than not being up front about the ingredients. He told me that as far as he was concerned, I should use it instead of the topical steriods he prescribed since it was "the same thing" with the "same problems as other steriods."

I recently went back to the derm since I had some of those things on my shoulders. He said that it is seborrheic keratoses. He said that they aren't a big deal (yeah, to him!) and that if they get to be too bad that he can remove them, but in the mean time, leave them alone. I've been picking at them and I think that I actually got rid of a couple. He told me if I did that, that they would come back. We'll see.

After reading about Skin Cap and the possibility that it's "method of delivery" (apsorbtion in the skin) may be the key to its success, I tried an experiment of my own which seems to have worked.

I have been mixing my Triamcinolone (sp?), low potentcy steroid ointment which is in a petroleum base, with Vaseline Creamy formula. The creamy vaseline contains petroleum jelly but absorbs much, much, better than pure petroleum jelly. My hypothesis was that it may take the steroid into the skin as it absorbed.

It is never easy to make causal connections with eczema interventions, but, my skin has been 100% better for 10 days. I thought others might want to give this method a shot...?

Also, my derm took me on "grand rounds" which means that 50 derms put their heads together to discuss my skin. I hear from my derm tomorrow about what they came up with. I wanted to share this with the group b/c I though some of you may want to ask your derm if they would consider presenting you at their "grand rounds"...it was a nice, free way to get opinions of several derms...

I would like to share my experience with CHT. I've been seeing a Chinese dermatologist for about a month with great results. Along with a vast knowledge in Chinese herbs, she also has a western medical degree in dermatology.

During the first 3 weeks of treatment, I had to take Chinese herbs, either boiled in water for drinking or mixing it (in powder form) with water. I also had to go on a strict diet, eliminating sweets like chocolate and sugar, garlic, tomatoes, oranges, seafood, meat, etc. I was given some ointment made from herbs to apply on my skin. My skin cleared up 50% during the first 3 weeks. As of now, I am off the Chinese medicine, but I am still using the ointment and regulating my diet for another month.

I am impressed with my doctor's ability to calm my skin down in such a short period. I've seen western doctors in the past, and they would just dismiss my skin problems as a chronic disease, without any cure, except for steroids.

Many of her patients are referrals from other western doctors who were unable to clear up the eczema or psoriasis. Her father was a famous dermatologist in China. His training taught her to avoid the use of steroids, which impressed me a lot.

I know that this may not work for everyone, but I strongly encourage all of you to look into this area of treatment for eczema. 

I have found that udder cream works pretty good on my daughter's ankles after playing outside. I get it at Wal-Mart.

My daughter's allergist is considering starting her on allergy shots. She has eczema, asthma, and nasal allergies. The known culprits are milk, soy, wheat, yeast, eggs, peanuts, plus environmental allergens such as cats (we don't have one), dogs (we have one), dust and dust mites.

Is anyone else experienced with their child(ren) receiving allergy shots? If so, how effective are they? We are trying to decide if the effects of the shots would be worth putting her through them.

Shelley, your powers of observation are critically astute. I've blunted most of it. My youth was so numbed out, with no hankering to remember the suffering and misery, that it combines now in a miasma that I have little desire to recall.

Yes, I did the self-mutilation, too--I used to dread bedtime. All those long nights in the bathroom frenzedly itching and scratching down to raw tissue and blood until I hurt so badly I couldn't bear to wash it. But I knew if I didn't, in spite of the stinging, I'd hurt worse in the morning. Then I'd wake to arms dried in the bent position, the tearing cracks until I'd soaked them in the sink and greased up, then try to put clothing on that later dried and stuck in place, and go to school, spending all day in a frozen position until I could get home to soak again and relieve the bent arm position. Not to mention the weeping and crusted scalp with hair stuck to it in weird places. I detest remembering those days.

This sounds hard to believe, but I honestly didn't know how ANGRY I was until I was in my 30s, and had been sent to a shrink which made me even angrier! I was positive I didn't have a head problem! I had a "skin" problem, but I spent my visits cursing and swearing about family, until the shrink put a *name* (anger) on my feelings. What a revelation even then! Until then I had never identified any of my real feelings--the result, as you say, of being socialized that anger isn't nice or acceptable. Bradshaw talks about how families have unwritten rules of behavior even tho no one is ever allowed to speak them out loud. When my father was dying, I wasn't supposed to say out loud that he didn't have much time! Talk about living in denial! But that's another family trait that my siblings still observe and pass on to their kids. What a joke, these family patterns of behavior. Disgusting.

Shelley, My rage wasn't just skin-based; it was family-based. I was the model of level decorum as a youth, but not until I left home did the real rage surface. Away from my family, it was no longer necessary to pretend my anger didn't exist. I'm still a very angry person. The difference now is that I don't have to bury it for the sake of living the family lies. My siblings can't understand who I am now, but I don't give a damn--I no longer have to live with them. The facade I wore at home was preordained long before I got mixed up in that mess by being born into it.

We were to be seen and not heard. The Alice Miller books talk about this extensively--the old German method of childrearing. What puke.

I remember very clearly how I loathed my guts when I was 18 and 19. My real feelings didn't surface until I left the family environment. I used to write my dermatologist --he sent me to see my first shrink at age 18.

And yes, the no-touch environment--very sad indeed. There was never overt affection demonstrated in my family. The only time my mother touched me was she had to doctor my oozing sores because I looked so terrible, she was ashamed to have anyone see me. Or when I got a slap in the mouth. Today I am very uncomfortable with any outward show of affection from anyone--I never know how to react. But I suppose I was luckier than you--my mother didn't dwell on my problem the way your mother very benignly did yours. No one really paid much attention to me except to let me know I should be ashamed of myself. I lived with deep shame most of my life, until I finally got head help in my 20s, 30s and 40s.

Ah yes, normal skin--I stopped longing for what could never be. At different times mine is either leathery, dry, mottled-looking, too white, super sensitive, and sometimes clear and smooth.

When I finally understood that my skin wouldn't look so repulsive and I wouldn't feel so repulsive if I stopped scratching it, I began to look seriously for the real cause of the itching sensation.

Over Labor Day, I was working in my garage with fiberglas insulation, wearing a summer top and culottes, but otherwise with exposed skin. The following week I developed deep mottling and measles-looking spots from head to toe, redness and edema, but **no** itching! I doctored with my heavy cortisone again which is also very greasy, and in ten days time it has now receded to "normal for me," the usual stuff but it's not bumpy or irritated much. The chest, upper shoulders, neck and face that was affected by my antibiotic-induced burn last summer got fairly fiery but it did not itch either. I attribute this lack of itching to my basic discovery of the real cause of my itching, the rage that originated before I was age three. I know it is hard for most eczema people to buy the idea that itching is psychological, but I am living proof that the shrink I saw in my 30s was right--I needed head therapy really badly. It took me 20 years to get there, which says a lot about never too old to learn. Bradshaw says it took him until age 40 to understand the secrets in his own family, particularly with his mother, that had driven his choices most of his life.

I think Bradshaw's book is truly profound. It's just one of the several books I've read about the sources of psychological thinking that has unearthed my secret demons. When I purged the demons, I purged the god-awful itch 99 percent. I've been free of itching for about 10 years now, but it took a very long time. As a kid, I thought I was destined for hell on earth. I wish more eczema people would not reject psychology outright without digging up their inner demons--it is truly the real answer to itching. And one can only find the demons by looking family history square in the face.

Sorry if this got to be a sermon. I empathize so with your utter despair and horrible discomfort. I plead with you, Shelley, to analyze your family relations. Bradshaw's book has tremendous clues. Based on what you've mentioned to me since the start of this List, I know I read about your family in his book! I hope you won't think me presumptuous, but there is some of all of us in his book. We eczema people cannot afford *not* to be bluntly truthful with ourselves about our self and our families. No one has to know your family history except you. You owe it to yourself to take it apart, every last inch of it. I hope you'll tackle it--if nothing else, it will get your mind off your skin and your head off into other planes. 

We have had a really clear summer only one flare up around July 4. I am dreading the fall and winter. This goes to show how much eczema is different for everybody as many of you want the summer to be over. For the last year corn has not been in my son's diet, and I was serious. No way did he eat anything that even had the remote possibility of corn. After a bad winter I also removed dairy products, and eggs have been out of the question. Well, in August I relented to some corn on the cob. I could not say no because our family lives for the few weeks that corn is as fresh as walking across the yard. You guessed it, no reaction what so ever. OK, what the ---- does this mean? I have not given in to any of the foods but the real corn out of the field but now I am second guessing my self as to what the problem is.

Anyway, atleast 3 weeks later we are seeing eczema on the back of his legs and down one arm. So, is it environmental or is some food I never connected getting us. 

My daughter took allergy shots from the time she was 18 mo until she was 8 yrs old. The difference in the quality of her life was amazing. If I had it to do over, I would. 

I personally think that a reaction to egg white is one thing, developing measles after the MMR shot is another. Jodi is allergic to egg white. There is no doubt. I was prepared to suffer with her when I took her to the doctor's office. But actually coming down with full body measles was what took me by surprise. During the 2 itchy long weeks, I regretted every minute that I had taken her to the doctor's for the shot.

I did extensive search on the Internet and basically what I found was that only those with autoimmune disorder such as AIDS or have an illness such as a cold at the time of the scheduled shot should not have a MMR. Even highly allergic individuals are recommended by the manufacturers and medical profession to get the shot. Side effect including fever, rash, and even reaction to egg white should not stop a kid from getting the shot. The bottom line is - it's better to have it as a kid than as an adult.

True my Jodi didn't get anything beyond 2 weeks of very itchy rashy and sleepless times or suffered any brain damage from the high fever but if I can do it again, I'll definitely wait till she doesn't have eczema anymore. She is to get another MMR between 4 - 6 years, I hope she'll grow out of her eczema by then. And with chicken pox, unless it's required by law, my Jodi is not getting it. For some reason, my back aches everytime I recall the pediatrician's comment about postponing Jodi's MMR shot - "it wouldn't be fair to other kids!".

Difficult as it is, Jodi is now accepting, not without a fight, a bottle of water instead of her Alimentum when she wakes during the night. I am glad I stick with the "cold turkey" method. I am hoping soon she wouldn't want the water bottle altogether and can sleep through the night. Debbie, if you are still nursing, you can still use the "cry it out" method. Make sure Julia has a full dinner before she goes to bed. And you stay with her the whole time when she wakes at night. She can have your milk in the morning. She can actually grow better if she can sleep through the night. Research indicates that grow hormones are released when the individual is sound asleep. I didn't have the luxury to continue nursing beyond 7 months. I think it's wonderful Julia can still have it. She will tell you she is done with it when one day she refuses to take your nipple anymore.

I went on a "grand rounds" type of thing about a year ago. It was only 15 derms but they basically told me the same thing that mine has been telling me: nothing. They all agreed that they though it was atopic eczema and that I should try to limit steroid use. They also suggested long term antihistamine use. Needless to say, I was very disappointed. I was really hoping that at least one of them would have a new idea that would miraculously make it all disappear. Hope you have better luck.

Steven, I'm new to eczema and still learning, but if you mean a small raised bump under the skin so to speak, I think that is just a manifestation of the eczema. I have patches of them on various parts of my body. Sometimes they itch, sometimes they don't.

Try soaking in diluted vinegar for 10 min. For me it dries those bumps out and lets them heal (be warned, it will sting a bit). For me those bumps cause the worst itching. If they aren't there then I don't have that much of an urge to itch.

Hello, My little girl was diagnosed with eczema at 3 months. I've been putting cortisone on her and that helped she is now 9 months and I havn't seen a sign of eczema. What I'm trying to do is start feeding he egg yolk but I'm afraid that it will bring the eczema back.

Does anyone have any suggestions? 

Things have been relatively stable for my daughter Mollie lately. Not good, but at least not as horrendous as the long, hot summer was. I got an air filter for her room, which also seems to help. Last week she had her first appointment at the dentist (she is 2.5). She was sooo excited about it, we've been reading "Barney goes to the Dentist" for 2 months, and she was thrilled to be doing "just like Barney." 

Well, as I have repeatedly sadly learned, nothing is ever that easy. I told them about all the allergies, so they were very careful not to use flavored toothpaste or floss. The tech put on her gloves and cradled Mollie's cheek in one hand as she counted her teeth. As I watched, huge red welts spread across her face. The tech took off the gloves (latex) and switched to vinyl, within about ten minutes the welts subsided and were gone within about 2 hours. Latex allergy, apparently.

It did clear up one mystery - she has horrendous diaper rash that gets worse through the week and then almost clears up on the weekend. I asked the daycare to use the diaper ointment more liberally, couldn't figure out what the problem was. When I took her to daycare after the dental appointment I told them about the incident at the dentist and they all looked like a lightbulb went off - they change her diaper using latex gloves! I bought a box of vinyl gloves, and her diaper rash completely disappeared in two days. Sigh... I really am struggling lately with anger that nothing can just be simple and easy for my little one. 

Kim, A lot of times you can grow out of an allergy or sensitivity by avoiding the substance for a while, then reintroducing it in small quantities. So you apparently did the right thing! Don't berate yourself for thinking that maybe your son wasn't allergic to corn all along. It is also possible that, as he grows, his body is better able to handle foods he used to be sensitive to. Bravo for being so assiduous about his diet for so long -- it is hard to keep it up!

Eggs are one of the foods that a lot of kids wind up allergic to. Our son is highly allergic to eggs and had a big reaction to the marshmallow cream in some fudge he ate last Christmas, at 14 mos. old. Egg is one of the foods that I have read to hold off on until you have a Dr. approve it. Nine mos. old, might be a little young. With the eczema, I don't think I would take a chance without seeing a Dr.

His reaction was hives, and even the whites of his eyes turned red. He cried for about 30-45 minutes and wiggled like he had a real bad stomach ache. It was before we even knew that marshmallow cream had eggs in it. By the way, he is allergic to both whites and yolks---not so lucky! We were not at home when it happened and didn't have anything to give him, I think we should have given his antihistimine, if we had it with us. We just muddled through, it was before we knew the severity of his allergys, we had just began testing for them. We have him off of all the foods we know he is allergic to and he is off of all steroid creams and antihistimines at this time. He is 80% clear, and is finally sleeping through the night.

Kris: I agree that dysfunctional families exacerbate eczema. No question about it. Kids with eczema have a chance to lessen their problem when their families put effort into being supportive, as the parents on this list are trying to do.

Those of us who are adults, who have little or no contact with their families anymore, like myself, have a different situation. If you have no clue that your family may have contributed to your problem, you might learn something from books like Skin Deep.

However, I have studied psychology for many years and have seen psychotherapists a number of times. I started reading psychology books when I was 6 years old because I recognized my situation. For me, knowing that my family was part of my problem hasn't made me stop scratching. The psychodynamic approach is based on the power of "insight." I have plenty of insight, but it has had a limited effect on my scratching.

Other psychotherapy approaches have worked better for me. Behavioral psychology has helped me learn the self-control that I do have. I am planning to get a Ph.D. so that I can help people with this disease learn how to change their behavior. I am working on developing a behavioral program that is specifically designed for eczema patients. Eventually, I hope to become affiliated with MD's who treat eczema, so that when your eczema is diagnosed as a chronic case, you are automatically referred to someone like me. I believe that the medical treatments should go hand in hand with behavioral psychology treatments.

But behavior is not the only problem. I also believe in the power of cognitive psychology, which focuses on the way you think and what you tell yourself about what's happening. Eczema patients develop what's called strong "self-statements" which contribute to the problem. Over and over, we tell ourselves things like "I'm ugly," "I'll never look like normal people," "I can't go out in public," "I'll never find a mate," etc. There are thousands of insidious little statements that pile up in our heads and reinforce our scratching behavior.

Both behavioral and cognitive approaches have helped me more than the psychodynamic approach. And there are other approaches. The humanistic approach focuses on providing "unconditional positive regard," based on the belief that people inherently move towards improvement if they have someone who is totally supportive and makes no criticism or judgment on them, and doesn't question anything they do. Carl Rogers was a basic founder of humanistic psychology. Kris, you might try reading one of his books. From what you've said about your mother, it sounds like "unconditional positive regard" would be the opposite of her.

Anyway, I think that people with chronic eczema certainly would benefit from some form of psychotherapy, but I think people need to realize that there are many different approaches and each person will be attracted to one or more than others. 

I've been mixing Triamcinolone with Aquaphor for many years. I've also mixed Lidex cream with Shepard's Lotion, which I also used for many years. You can only mix ointments with ointments and creams with creams.

I don't know if it "delivers" the medication better. I've been told by a pharmacist that people do the mixing to "cut" the strength of the steroid. I just do it to get some steroid and some moisturizer at the same time.

I use those old-fashioned wooden tongue depressors to do the mixing because they are easily scraped on the side of the jar afterwards and thrown away. You can either mix both ingredients in a big jar in which you will keep the combined mixture, or if the jar you have isn't big enough to move around much in the mixing, and IF the ingredients are ointments, I often mix them on the top sheet of a stiff pad of paper. That way, I have more room to mix it around, and then when I feel it is mixed enough, I just scrape it off the paper with the tongue depressor and into the jar in which I will keep the mixture.

It's fun to make the mixture. I actually look forward to it. When I was a kid, my dad did the mixing, and I always enjoyed watching. Sometimes he would let me mix a little. So those with kids might find that it helps to get the children participating in the healing process...

Anyone have any luck using Glycerin? I am alergic to petroleum jelly so that cuts out a lot of emollients. I just saw Glycerin in the store listed as "Dermatalogical Emollient", so I thought I would give it a try. So far it is keeping my skin from drying out quite nicely.

My doctor has exempted Mac from all immunizations. How can a child with an overactive immune system (as he called it) tolerate the immunizations? I personally believe, when he can eat meat, potatoes and bread then talk to me about the immunizations. 

Kim, My son is allergic to yellow corn and not white corn. Perhaps he ate white corn. 

Not everyone with eczema has the same reactions to allergy producing foods. Just give a small bit to test reaction.

I have been here all summer but El has been doing so good that I didn't want to brag. But all things shall end, while the weather has not yet changed to fall he seems to have started to flare up. One of those just on the verg attacks. Anyway his daddy was in bed all day with sinis/allergy nasty feelings so I am thinking some particular weed is out just now. I have always felt that his big problem was food (because it was something I could control?) and I think I need to admit to some environment.

On another note, El's 3rd birthday is thursday and he was been prompted by the kids at daycare to bring a cake. So I am working out an eggless cake, any ideas on a real basic frosting? Even powered sugar has corn starch (for the time being we are still avoiding corn). Last year I sent some really "granola" cake with raisins. Of course El was the only one to like it. He didn't notice but I kind of felt that it might be an isolationist thing this year. I pack his lunch, so he already eats different food than the rest. So I thought I would give a "real" cake a try.

My son broke out in hives within 20 minutes of eating a scrabled egg. He was 2.5 years and before that had not had eggs for about 8 months.

I know very little about the subject of eczema. Actually, I went to two doctors who had no idea what I had until I saw a dermatologist, so maybe a LOT of people know very little about this subject. Everyone in my family has allergies of some type or another, and most of my mother's side of the family has asthma. Apparently this is very common in people with eczema? I read a post a day or two ago about autoimmune disorders - I have diabetes, does that count? Oh yeah, I am 29 years old and I just have had this eczema for about a month. 

First time I know of that I've had it, but this is one of my questions. Is it possible to get eczema in just one small itchy patch on one part of your body and nowhere else? For several years I have periodically developed a small itchy spot about the size of a quarter on one arm, in response to something in my diet, I suspect. Only in the last month have I had the rash on the rest of my body - that is my arms, chest, back and abdomen. 

My other question is, does eczema cause scarring, or is it just too much scratching that causes scarring? My rash is finally fading (after using betamethasone cream) but I can still see where the rash was before it got better, if you can understand what I mean. Just a faint reddish area where the rash was at its worst. Maybe this will go away when it is completely healed? 

About the use of glycerin as a moisturizer - I have been using a combo of Eucerin (10%) Glycerin (40%) and water (50%) as a moisturizer for about a year now. The pharmacist mixes it for me but it isn't a prescription item. It is the only thing that I have been able to find that keeps me moisturized and doesn't sting or cause an allergic reaction.

You may find this a little less "goopey" than the straight glycerin.

When I was a child, I had a 10-page list of all the foods I was allergic to. Now I'm still allergic to only three things. So take heart, allergies can change....

Has anyone ever followed a macrobiotic diet and if so, what has been the effect on your eczema?

I have been interested for a long time in the principles and practices of macrobiotics, but have always considered it too complicated and too much of a commitment. But last week I attended a lecture by a nationally known macrobiotic counselor and chef who teaches here in Austin and became very excited about its potential to heal eczema -- as well as all of my other health problems. The principles of it are so reasonable and work by strengthening your body so that it behaves like it was intended to (e.g. no allergies, no cancer), and doesn't have to waste its energy constantly detoxifying from environmental and dietary assaults. The counselor specifically mentioned that her father has severe eczema but when she visits him and he eats macrobiotically for a while, it clears up.

Yesterday, I had a personal health consultation with this counselor. It was eyeopening. I thought my diet was pretty good, but macrobiotics differs quite a bit from the conventional "eat more fruits and veggies" approach. For instance, it's best to eat foods that are native to one's climate, so that eating tropical fruits, for instance, should be minimized for those of us living in the "temperate zone".

There's a big emphasis on acid/alkaline and "expansive/contractive" foods, as well as on preparing foods in certain ways, eating food fresh and organic, a great emphasis on whole grains, and lots of other things (you could study this for 10 years). Many of the foods are Asian and not so commonly eaten in the US, such as seaweed (5 different forms), pickled vegetables & miso soup.

The consultation was very personalized -- she took a detailled health history and lifestyle inventory -- and made specific recommendations about which foods to emphasize and which to avoid. She emphasized that everybody is different and that within macrobiotics, there can be much variation in what you should eat, depending on your physical and emotional state. She also recommended for the eczema certain topical products, such as using rice bran for washing, French clay for controlling itching, and ginger compresses for increasing circulation and decongesting the intestines.

She also explained why salt water is healing, something that many of us in this group have remarked on. It is apparently because osmosis draws a small amount of water out through your skin, thereby concentrating the minerals in your body fluids. This concentration of minerals causes a slight rise in the body's alkalinity, which is beneficial, as eczema may be the result of an over acid condition (didn't Kelly tell us this?). Anyhow, slight alkalinity is better for all bodily functions.

The dermatologist gave me a prescription for Ultravate whipped up with Moisturel. The pharmacist said it was done to cut to the strength. Apparently, it's not unusual to mix the steroids with something else.

My dermatologist did something similar (triamcinolone and Sarna); I'm finding that this stuff makes me itch WORSE than nothing at all, and I don't have an ingredient list for either the triamcinolone or the Sarna (nor have I had an opportunity to ask my pharmacist for such).

Since then I've changed dermatologists (the first one stopped holding office hours in the one office of his I could reasonably travel to). This new derm suggested I try the T/S combo on the patch on my back, since she feels that the particular type of eczema back there responds well to steroid creams. When I see her again next month, I get to tell her that the T/S combo made it itch badly enough that it has now spread... The past day or so I've been using Eucerin on it, which feels better (still not itch-free, but better).

Now if I could just stop the itching in the genital region, I"d be a happy camper... 

About stopping the itching in the genital region: Not to be indelicate, but I've found that pure, organic aloe vera gel from Aubrey is very soothing. It contains organic aloe vera gel, aloe vera oil, and a citrus seed extract as a preservative. This is the purest aloe that I found at the local health food store. The other aloe mixtures all contained a paraben.

I'm finding that Aveeno anti-itch lotion (which contains calamine lotion, among other things) actually works fairly well in the genital area, as it seems to want to be as dry as possible (any moisture -- perspiration or even just post-shower -- seems to trigger the itch).

The whole tacrolimus report from the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) is posted on the Internet at http://www.nejm.org/public/1997/0337/0012/0816/1.htm

The European test has been completed and the NEJM report is on that test. I am in the US test. In my third week, all but the very severe lesions have cleared, so I must be one of the ones in the quarter that didn't show marked improvement for larger patches of skin. Where there were no lesions - just red scaly dry skin - it IS gone! My Dr. surmised that I may be testing the 1% solution and not the full strength 3%, but she feels that I definitely do NOT have a placebo. Yes, I have noticed the burning sensation they mentioned, but compared to the itch I have been living with most of my life, a burning sensation is nothing! It is supposed to be applied twice a day, at twelve hour intervals. I noticed that I start to become itchy at about the 8th hour and my Dr. told my to use a little of it on only the spots that itch, but to be sure and document it in the diary. She was puzzled that my hands broke out severely just after I started the test and was not sure what to do with that information until I mentioned to her that I had a mild flu for three days. She said that when eczematics get a flu, they can expect a flare. I thought that was interesting! The hands are much improved now - not perfect - but much improved. At least I can make a fist again.

I used to use Sarna as a cream because the menthol stops the itching when first applied. However, it too ended up making me itch worse. It is an over the counter prep so you should be able to find out the ingredients. It's not the menthol that's the problem since my CHT doc gives me creams with menthol which I apply over and over without any adverse reactions. BTW, Aveeno anti-itch cream seems to be pretty good for an OTC prep when one has an itchy spot.

Not to throw icy water on this, it would seem that such a drug would have the same drawbacks for certain people-that is, it suppresses the immune system which is the same thing that steriods do; therefore, if you have any type of chronic viral problem, this drug could potentially be harmful.

I am writing this message on behalf of my wife who is 8 weeks pregnant. She has been a serious ezcema sufferer for about 8 years and is now 26 . Her ezcema is not related to stress and she has tried all the usual cures over the years(ie streroid creams , bandages , chinese medicine , acupuncture , various diets etc). None seem to work and her shows extreme allergic reactions to many allergens.

Her eczema allthough by no means better was showing sighns of recovery before her pregnancy. The last 4 weeks have been hell for her , as it is getting much worse on her wrists and legs and goes extremely lumpy every evening. It is making her life a hell, so in desperation i have joined this mailing list. I am intetrested to hear from any sufferers who have any new ideas , alternative treatments, brainwaves etc that may alleviate itching or cure the ezcema. Has anybody experienced similar worsening during pregnancy and what did you do about it.

We have discussed tacrolimus before. Look at the studies on people with transplants who have taken this drug: it causes cancer! To me, it's much worse than steroids because it's *designed* to suppress the immune system. Seems like an atom bomb to kill fleas.

What I'm wondering is: in the form of an ointment rather than a pill, is it less of a weapon of destruction for the body as a whole? Perhaps as an ointment, one can get the benefits to the skin with less problems for the rest of the body. I assume that's the hype on this product.

However, I think anyone taking it is a guinea pig. I won't consider it until people with eczema have been in a longititudinal study, followed for their entire lifetime, to see how many get cancer or have other problems. On the other hand, I know how it is when your skin is so bad that you don't care if you get cancer. But I think the drug companies and doctors are preying on that desperation.

I recently took an anti-fungal pill called Lamisil for my feet. What's interesting is that my feet don't show much improvement yet, but the eczema on the rest of my skin has dramatically improved! It's weird. My skin hasn't looked this good in years. I'm not itchy and my skin looks beautiful. Since little else in my life is different, it's hard not to correlate the improvement with the Lamisil.

I did take antibiotics the week before the Lamisil and my skin had already improved to a manageable state, but I've taken antibiotics before and it never made my skin look this good. It would be interesting if an underlying fungal infection could contribute to eczema. Perhaps it's been undetected for years and been part of my problem all along.

Well, I'll see how long this beautiful skin lasts. In the meantime, I'm enjoying it. I'm going to take photos of every inch of me so I can remember what I look like with normal-looking skin....

I only caught the last part of a German TV program about dermatitis on satellite last night. They talked about Dermavit, a non-cortisone cream? which appeared to be really working well.

My heart goes out to you and your wife - I know how difficult it can be to control this condition when the hormones are raging. Take heart, after the first 3 months it may improve, (it did for me) once the whole hormone thing becomes a little more 'normal'.

In the meantime, here are a few things that I found worked for me: - cool oatmeal bathes, (I hated them before, but they seemed to help at little) - lots of moisturiser (I know you know that one) - my GP prescribed a cream (the name escapes me) that 'deadened' the skin in the places where it was applied. I used that at night when the itchy patches really got to me. He assured me that it could in no way affect the baby. - in addition to following my normal regime of cleansing and greasing, as my boyfriend so lovingly calls it, I found that cold compresses worked when the itching got really out of control. I found that dry compresses worked better for me, but you may want to experiment with damp as well.

I had a course of UVB phototherapy lasting about 6 months which ended about 1 year ago. I seemed to improved in the beginning but started 'burning' after only a small increase in exposure to the light. They kept me at fairly small dose for the 6 months but eventually I was burning almost all the time and they ended the treatment. I seemed to be improved during the therapy.

I was OK (not great) for a while, and then relapsed, and since then my derm has tried all the creams and all the allergy tests known to western medicine. I'm allergic to a lot of topical things and tend to develop sensitivities to things after extended use. Now, my derm wants me to start another run of UVB therapy. This happened when I went on vacation to the Caribbean and when I came back my skin was terrific. So of course she thinks AHAH! sun does the trick.

I'm just wondering what your thought are on extended UVB therapy, or just phototherapy in general. I'm not really comfortable with the idea but the steroids are not a favourite of mine either. I guess this is what they meant when they said "between a rock and a hard place".

Duncan, I have had eczema since I was a teenager, I'm now 31. When I was pregnant, my eczema flared up worse than EVER BEFORE. My dermatologist prescribed a topical steroid ointment, which is safe during pregnancy since it's topical (not internal). However, at 2 points in my pregnancy, my E became so severe and horrible that the derm put me on prednisone for a very short time (5 days) and that really helped calm things down. The derm. said prednisone is safe in pregnancy after the 5th month. Yes, it was a bit scary taking such drugs when pregnant and worrying about effects on the baby, but when you get to the end of your rope, you have to do something.

Anyhow, I suggest your wife at least try some type of topical steroid ointment, but talk to her doctor first. Also, an antihisthamine might help control the itch and there are certain ones that doctors allow during pregnancy.

Good luck to you both. It's hard to be suffering with eczema when this should be a wonderful time in her life.

Hi, Shelley, Tell yourself it's going to last this time. Hopefully you've uncovered a major clue. Go out and do something special, that makes you feel beautiful. Put on a bikini! Enjoy it!

BTW, Clinical Pathology Online says, http://www.cponline.gsm.com/scripts/fullmono/showinfo.pl?mononum=82&info type=1

"Following 2 weeks of therapy, terbinafine (Lamisil) remains in the skin for up to 3 months".

So hopefully you're in for a long respite, even if it is not permanent!

For myself, I have found that strong "pulses" of UVB therapy are best. In other words, 2 days in a row, where my skin burns and itches a lot, then with a restbit makes my skin most times feel better. I will go thru this routine for a few weeks. This is not the usual treatment with UVB (my derm has told me) but it works best for me. I discovered it by recreating what happened to me at the beach. The sun and salt water often has great results for me also. None are sure things, but they help me much more than they hurt me. I found that sustained (2 to 3 times per week) does little or negative for me. 

I confronted the derm who was in charge of a same research project with this 'cancer'-argument: the quantities of the anti-immune stuff is not to compare with and much less than what is used with transplant patients. To make comparisons with atom bombs and flies is therefore exaggeration. I mentioned the derm's argument before, but it doesn't seem to bother Shelley. Nothing against longititudinal research, the more the better, but we all know that those corticosteroids aren't a real solution. I myself was very satisfied with the first results of the research in Amsterdam, although by a different firm (Sandinoz) then mentioned by Judith in her research (the pharmaceutical company Fujisawa). May be there it is a rat race between different firms?

My 3 1/2 year old daughter has had eczema since she was 9 months old. I stopped using steroid creams because I was afraid of the damage it might do. My daughter is up most of the night scratching and screaming ( I am also up most of the night, holding her and walking with her). She will not let me try wet wraps on her. It is heartbreaking to watch her go through this. She is becoming increasingly irritable. I don't know what to do for her. I feel she is too young to experiment with herbal remedies or drugs. Our doctor is at a loss as to what to do.

A friend of mine recently told me that chiropractors can help. Has anyone heard of this working, especially with young children? I am also curious as to whether anyone has used something called "The Laundry Solution", which washes clothes without detergent (it's ionized water)? And finally, with my daughter starting school in another year, I was wondering what others' experiences have been as far as teasing and social interaction with eczema? I am giving serious thought to homeschooling, and wonder whether anyone else has chosen this option and how that has gone.

Rhona, We sound like twins!!! My son just turned 3, he was real bad last March and I took him to the Chiro, I really don't know if it helped. It did make me feel better than I was trying some thing. He was been a lot better all summer, I have had him on a real restrictive diet. Have you tried diet and enviromental changes? I was not ready to try the herbal/alternative treatments. Mostly because the people who do that kind of thing locally seemed to have gotten their training out of a cereal box. If you are new to the list check out the archives and if the "leaky gut" explaination sounds feasable to you. A couple of people on the list have been to see specialist on that subject and can help you with that. I am considering homeschooling (a mom on the list, Kaye O'Hare, I think does do that) My son currently has a stuttering problem. My dad has live with severe stuttering all his life and I have vowed not to send my son to grade school before I have had a chance to help him work through it if it becomes a persistant problem when he is school age.

Good luck, I know how hard it is not to sleep. I think guilt is magnificed by lack of sleep.

My 6 year old son has been suffering with eczema most of his life. With careful management the severe itching attacks are now confined to night time. This makes getting up for school very traumatic. I have tried giving him Vit C a few times but am afraid it may be too acidic. And in this regard, his general improvement I think comes from a higher raw food diet, not mixing protein and starch (which causes acidity) and keeping away from food allergens. Although the older he gets, the more difficult this is, as he loves bread and is averse to the alternative breads I make. Does anyone know how and why vit C works?

As far as I know Vit C is an antihistamine or has antihistamine properties (I could be incorrect on this one). Also if you take high doses of C don't stop suddenly - as crazy as it sounds if you stop taking high doses without tapering off you run the risk of getting scurvy!

Hi, I just thought I'd tell people I went to see a derm last week; first time in a good many years. She took one look at my eczema and gave me 3 choices: 

1. Hospital in-patient where someone professionally puts on creams and dressings all the time. No thanks - I have a life to lead.
2. Oral Immunosuppresents (Cyclosporin or Azothioprin) - with weekly blood tests to see if they are breaking your kidneys or liver; and see your doctor if you have a cold for more than a few days. Great - choice of a new set of diseases - and also I can't see how I cope since my Eczema is already infected I need the immune system to fight that.
3. PUVA - U.V. treatment - twice a week, long term for a few months. I don't fancy that since I'm paranoid about moles and things anyway, and we spoke to a women who was waiting and she said that she had to use dark glasses for a day after each treatment.

After telling the derm I fancied none of these she suggested Betnovate and Icthopaste (tar derivative) bandages - after reassuring me that we hadn't banned the use of tar while other contries had for fear of cancer.

I spent two years on the macrobiotics path. It took six months to train myself to be able to balance the meal with the days' climate. The next year was textbook Kushi macrobiotics-as compared to Zen macrobiotics.

It was very difficult. The meals are not quick to prepare, and there is no place other than your own kitchen to get a satisfactory meal.

The affected area receeded slightly during the two years. But the inflammation was horrendous. The stress of being in that much pain and itching and trying to maintain a diet that the rest of the family rejected was more than I could handle.

It took me six months to get off the diet.

I had much better results from the anti-candida yeast "caveman" diet (meat and vegitables-no fruit sugar or grains). That diet cured my bronchial asthma.

Don't assume your experience will be the same as mine. Our problems may be quite different.

Well it has been over 2 weeks since I started on essiac and my hands have really cleared up. No sign of eczema on my left hand (tho lines are still real defined) and my right hand is all clear except for the one finger that was infected.

Along with the essiac she mixed up a cream for me that I couldn't use at first because my hands were so raw and cracked, and it seemed to make the cracks worse. But after 5 days on essiac, my skin started drying out and then it seemed to help. Mix 1 (4.5oz.! ) jar of Un-Petroleum Jelly with 1/3 of a tube of 1% hydrocortisone cream (available at drug stores). Mix until creamy and changes color. She also suggests using virgin olive oil over jojoba or other oils... haven't tried that yet.

On my infected finger she gave me a drawing salve to use and MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) to take orally and to use in my wet wraps. Have been using peroxide on my finger also, not the kind in the brown bottle, she buys the pure peroxide (no additives or preservatives) and mixes it with distilled water. The infection is better and the swelling has gone down so much that I can bend my fingers and make a fist! (For the first time in about 9 months!).

I am just so happy to see continual improvement, without prescription drugs!

Does anyone out there have eczema most seriously on their head/face and shoulders and above? Although I am also affected on other areas of my body, my eczema is mostly on my face. When ever I fall back into remission, I know that I am in for another week of *HELL*. I normally have to stay at home for almost a week or so when this occurs. Unfortunately, this been happening too often since I travelled to the States in February. I have almost had severe reactions 3days after I have recuperated 60% everytime; That's just such a nightmare. Does anybody know what the yellow, slimy, sticky and smelly discharge is? I have heard too many versions to fully understand what it is.

I don't really believe western medicine is the answer to my problem and I am looking into homeopathy. I have just had my allergies tested. Test results are not out yet but homeopathic medicine will be prescribed once they are out. Has anybody been persistent with this method of treatment? Has it worked? I am running out of ideas but the last thing that anybody should do is to give up. I am getting a lot of support from a long time friend and what he's told me has been very inspiring. Some of my other friends believe any illness has to be 60% mental and only 40% physical. I believe that too since there was a period of over 1 year when my eczema did not recur, well at least not to extents that they do nowadays! During that period, I felt really good about myself and somehow thought my skin problem was definitely under control. I also exercised on a regular basis which I think really helped boost my immune system. I must start my regular exercise again

To let you guys know out there what I have tried: 

1. Western medicine (this can only wear you down in the long run, so don't think you have found a cure) 
2. Chinese Herbal Medicine (definitely can be helpful providing if you have a VERY good Chinese Doctor) 
3. Reflexology (this helps if you have digestive/sleeping disorders. You really need someone from Mainland, China to enjoy all the benefits)

Done the hospital in-patient thing twice. The good thing/bad thing was my eczema was soooo bad that i had to defer uni for 1/2 year. If you can do it, its worth it. For some reason it works. I spent 2 weeks in hospital in one go and sat around at did nothing! just ate and slept. but my eczema was never better!

I was about to go on immunosuppresents and may still do if my eczema gets worse again. My drug was called Immuran or something??? pretty heavy stuff that! As Dave said, blood tests, etc...

Donethe PUVA too, during my deferrment from uni. I helped a bit but I had to attend a small booth lined with flouro lights three times a week. After you took the tablets to make your skin sensitive to U.V light, you couldn't go outside unless you wore sunnies, body covering clothing and sun screen on exposed areas! this was in the middle of winter too! This treatment sucked and I had to stop because it started to burn my skin!

I've also done an elimination diet! I think its been said numerous times before but you could try a load of evening primrose oil capsules.

Now, one question. What is eczema? I know this sounds stupid but does anyone know? I know its usually an allergic reaction and that your immune system creates too many cells to combat the reaction. But what cells? How do they get to the skin? Why does scratching produce such a great sensation when you have an itch? are we releasing endorphines or something?

I was on 10 mg of prednisone daily throughout my entire pregnancy. Fortunately, my son, who's 12 now, suffered no obvious ill effects from it. He has been a bright and beautiful kid since birth. I'm not suggesting that anyone use prednisone during pregnancy; however, if it has to happen, I just wanted to present one "success" story.

When I was really flared-up and applications of Valisone cream didn't do anything for it, I went to see another derm., who put me on a 7-day regimen of lukewarm Balnetar baths (tar and moisturizer baths) every night for 20 mins., followed by betamethasone valerate ointment (topical ointment) on all affected areas, and a plastic dry-cleaning bag (new and unused) worn as a garment for 2-3 hours. Then, every morning, my S.O. applied the betaval ointment to the affected spots before we left for work. I'd return home at night, and do the bath & bag treatment again. Well, it was hell, but (and this is the key) the Dr. said that I could have gone into the hospital to have the same thing done, but it really wasn't necessary. And of course we'd rather all be at home than in the hospital! Maybe your derm. could start you on something like this. One beneficial effect was that all that sweat & greasy ointment kept me well-lubricated throughout the night! I cleared up on this treatment, but I do try to avoid doing it, because it puts a crimp in one's social life. ;-)

A side note: you'd think that the medical establishment/HMOs would rather send a home nurse around to apply ointments than put an otherwise-healthy person in the hospital for hundreds of dollars a day! ah well, who knows what motivates them...

I've never heard of the connection between cancer & tar preparations. Anyone else know about this? Now I'm curious.

Duncan, Is your wife taking pre-natal vitamins? I had an unpleasant reaction to the one pill a day prescribed by my obst. and changed to Optivite pre-natal vitamins. These vitamins are formulated differently than your standard one-a-day, so you can take up to 6 of them, divided between the morning and the evening, or two at each meal. The theory is that most of the water-soluble vitamins are excreted within 12 hours, so you're without vitamins for a half a day. These vitamins have made a world of difference in my eczema and they also had an immediate effect on my morning sickness (probably the extra B vitamins). They are also yeast-free. I originally thought it was the hormones that made my skin clear up. I did not have ANY eczema for eight months. (I have had eczema since I was three months old, not full body, but hands, eyelids, creases, elbows, and knees) 

After my son was born, I had eczema come back but only on my hands. I blame that on the frequent hand-washing after diaper changes. After I weaned my son then weaned off the vitamins, it got worse on my hands and came back to the insides of my elbows and backs of my knees. I have since gone back to taking 4 tablets a day of Lifetime Professional Prenatal vitamins, since I can't find Optivite any more. The non-hand eczema is completely gone, and if I am religious about using Eucerin after I wash my hands, my hands stay clear, too. I wish I knew what part of the pre-natals is helping the most - there's been several mentions of vitamins C and E here. I joined the list when my son developed eczema at nine months. His is nearly clear, too, thanks to the advice I've taken from the Digest. He gets vitamin drops, moisturizing at least twice a day, a HEPA filter on the air conditioner, and a dehumidifier. If it flares up again (we all know it will - sigh!), I am going to try the baking soda baths. 

I, too, would like to know if anyone knows how vit C works. My 3 yr old seems to still have awful eczema on his feet. It seems the worst in the summer. Where we live the summers are long. I started giving him Vit C and E for absorbtion of iron and allergies for the C and the E is supposed to help keep away infection. My son also suffers from severe food allergies, milk, egg, and peanut. Also, I started giving him Claritin every morning. Usually, his asthma has kicked in by now, but has yet to happen. Yes, this was all with the ped. approval and suggestion.

I am off the gamma interferon now and I hope forever. Before I started the gamma I had tried alpha with no results. The gamma has helped me tremendously. I was on it for about 4-5 months. I started out taking it 3 times a week and then tapered off to 2 then 1 time a week and now I am completely off it. I still get red in the face every now and then and I still itch but now nearly as bad as before the gamma. For me the gamma has been a life saver. I was ready to give up hope and my life before this turn around in my health.

My derm dr. said that if I ever do have a relapse then he would want to send me back to the immunologist dr. who recommended the gamma in the first place.

I not only owe this good health to the interferon but to my faith in God. If it were not for both I don't think I would be here today. Right now its one day at a time and I wake up every morning thankful for my health.

I know there has been some discussion about the possible negative side effects of interferon. All I can say is that every person has to weigh the risks with the benefits. Every person is different and what happens to one person does not necesarily happen to another.

My daughter's preschool class is going to the farm and pumpkin patch next week. She's allergic to animals, and her eczema really flared after holding a bunny and petting a goat at the petting zoo. Is there anything I can ask the allergist to give her beforehand to prevent a flare because keeping her away from the animals is probably easier said than done?

Thank you, Kim and Jolie, for responding to my questions about my daughter Bonnie's condition. It's comforting to know that there are people to turn to who have gone through this, and continue to go through this, with their children. I'm still not sure what to do about homeschooling, but Bonnie's not even four yet, so there is still time to decide. Thanks again to both of you for sharing your experiences - it makes a very difficult situation a little easier.

I thought I'd give you all an update on my skin. It's still looking great! And we've been having a heat wave here, which usually is really bad for my skin.

I feel uncomfortable in the heat, but I have a big fan in every room and I'm only a little bit itchy. When I do scratch, my skin doesn't tear open like it used to, and no frenzies have been triggered. My skin did react with blotchy redness to some lotion that it didn't like, but I washed it off and the reaction went away within a day. Aquaphor is the only moisturizer that it seems to like. But that's OK with me.

It will be amazing if a fungal infection has been triggering my skin problems for the last 12 years! I realized that I got my fungal toenail 12 years ago, within months of when my skin first flared up again as bad as when I was a child. But I did not connect the two things. It never occurred to me and no doctor ever mentioned the possibility that the toenail could be related to my eczema. The toenail was the least of my troubles so I just ignored it.

I start taking another week of the anti-fungal pill on the 1st. It will be interesting to see what happens. I may even try to wean myself off my twice daily antihistamine if this good skin continues. My skin right now is like it was when I was 14-28, when it required minimal care: using moisturizers, limited soap and water, avoiding heat, etc. but without causing constant distress like it has the last 12 years. I hate to get my hopes up and get disappointed once again, but I would be so grateful if I could have the minimal care situation last for years again. 

I was never allowed to be around animals because of my allergies. My mother would have just kept me home from the school trip to a farm. I avoid all animals to this day and used to think that someone would be crazy to let their allergic kid touch animals.

But I know someone whose daughter is allergic yet loves animals and she actually doesn't mind her allergic reactions to them. Well, she doesn't like them, but she'd rather tolerate them than have no animals in her life.

I believe that having no animals in my life has made a big impact on me. I see now how our society uses animals as the acceptable way for humans to express needs for touch and affection. Since I had no such resource, I kept reaching out to humans for touch and affection, with problematic results. My actions were always deemed inappropriate and misinterpreted as sexual.

So I am of two minds. My initial response was: Keep your daughter home from the school trip. Don't let her be around animals if she's allergic to them. But on second thought, I'd say, if she likes animals, let her go. She can take an antihistamine, which may or may not reduce the reaction, but if she'd rather have her reaction than miss the animals, that's her choice. And in the long run, it may be the healthier one.

I was just like that little girl you describe, but my mother would not permit animals in our household. I've had my cat for 19 years, and my dog often sleeps on my bed at night. I've had my horse for 1 1/2 years. I still often need Primatene when I ride, but, overall, my allergic symptoms are *very* manageable, and don't seem to directly affect my eczema as they did when I was a child exposed to animals. I can't even begin to express how much these four-legged friends have enriched my life!

When I was a child and I told my pediatrician I wanted to be a veterinerian, he sardonically suggested I specialize in reptiles, so I didn't pursue it. I still have allergic reactions (wheezing, nasal congestion, sometimes hives) when I am around other people's pets. I think I've somehow become comfortably habituated to my own.

I'd like to mention a software program that eczema sufferers or parents of children with eczema might find useful. It's called Life Form and has an interesting history. It was developed by Pete Petersen, one of the original founders of WordPerfect Corp, when he found he was having trouble losing weight and getting his blood pressure under control, despite doing everything "right". He concluded that people are very different in the way their bodies respond and developed this program that allows users to track any set of factors they choose and see simple correlations.

It has a large database of foods with their FDA information and, of course, you can add foods, recipes, and even typical meals. Where this program differs from other nutritional database programs, however, is in how you can enter all sorts of other health and environmental factors and track correlations. For example, you can create an eczema "indicator", where you can record the relative severity of your or your child's eczema over a time period you set up, like daily or weekly, then also record data for things that you suspect affect the eczema, like humidity or pollens or moon phases (who knows? <g>). You can also record other aspects of how you feel, like energy levels or digestive problems, so that you can see if there is indeed a pattern between the eczema and other physical symptoms. You could also track any remedies you are using, if you wanted to see, for example, whether the eczema was responding favorable to a treatment or whether it might be subsiding simply because the weather changed.

The program is very flexible and I think that is what recommends it the most for eczema sufferers, whose condition seems to be caused or affected by such a wide range of factors. I think it is relatively easy to use, although there is a bit of a learning curve. The hardest part of using it, though, is probably in finding the time and having the discipline to enter data every day. But, in the long run, I think it might save much time and effort in trying to identify causes or irritants. The biggest limitation of the program is that it tracks only the food properties that appear on the nutritional labels of foods (a US thing), thereby limiting the ability to track more discrete food properties, although I think you could configure it to track a lot of things of interest, such as consumption of particular foods thought to have a positive or negative effect.

I don't mean to sound like a sales person here. I have no affiliation with this company. <g> You can check it out at http://www.fitnesoft.com/ and download a trial version. It costs USD 49.

Until I read the two posts I never thought too much about what good was derived from pets that caused allergies...

It made me think back to when I was a kid and we had a cat and a Jack Russell Terrier. I remember being very ill with Asthma and Eczema, but also remember the joy and comfort they brought to me. When I was very bad they both would stay around me, as if they were looking after me and would sleep on my bed. Now I only remember the good times.

I came across this web site today and thought it might be interesting to others on the E-List: http://www.non-dairy.org. It seems rather mainstream, but has some useful information, recipes, etc.

I have just finished reading two books; The Eczema handbook by Jenny Lewis and Atopic Skin Disease by Bridgett, Noren and Staughton. There was something in both that got my attention:

They both mentioned that young children can be very allergic to foods which may cause or aggravate their eczema. However they say that eczema in adults is mainly irritated by contact with something that they cannot tolerate. In my case that is housedust and any chemical.

Now, ever since childhood I have tried to avoid the obvious foods that are known to be bad for people with eczema, with very little or no obvious success.

I am trying something else now. I eat what I like (in moderation). I try not to overload my digestive system by binging and GUESS WHAT. I am nearly clear. I have always been underweight and I wonder if malnutrition is a factor in causing eczema. I am starting to think so. I know that if you are low in certain vitamins or minerals then your eczema can become worse.

I am trying to eat five small meals a day, however my busy lifestyle has made that very difficult.

I must stress this is only my opinion and I might be off the mark here, but I am continuing with it. Gee I have had chocolate, milk,pizzas and sweets and haven't had a noticable response.

However, I did a major spring clean on my flat last week and ended up going to hospital after going beet red on my face and suffering my first Asthma attack in ten years. It was the dust and the cleaning substances which overloaded my body. I now have a cleaner who does that for me when I'm out and my Asthma has cleared, and my face is nearly there. Great I'm officially allergic to housework... See allergies can come in useful sometimes.

Inadequate nutrition could definitely affect how your body responds to toxins or irritants. I am trying to convince my SO that I, too, am allergic to housework. Finally, a legitimate excuse for hiring cleaning help!

Shelley, I was looking for eisenophillic foculitis information (the result of a biopsy that I had suggested that this may be what I have) and I came across a website dedicated to AIDS and Skin diseases. There was an article at this site in which a derm claimed a new antifungal (I can't remember the exact name but I think it is tegri-something) seems to be working to clear the skin with his HIV patients. However, he does NOT conclude that there are undetected fungal infections. He thinks that the result is due to some unknown "activity" (not the word he used) that is caused by the drug.

Whatever the reason, I'm glad to hear you are doing better.

I don't know Shelley but I think you will be pleasantly surprised. We're doing the same thing from 2 different directions, you by anti-fungal pills and me by Probiotics but we both still get to end up with considerable healthier skin.

I too am in the process of reading the Atopic Skin Disease book, after having waited for weeks for my library to get it through interlibrary loan. It IS interesting. I especially like the explanations of how the skin works and how eczematous skin doesn't work as it should. Also the pictures are enlightening. I thought my skin was about as bad as anybody's could get, but some of those pictures were even worse than mine! (I don't know if that's a comfort or a scare that there is room for deterioration).

My skin has been flaring lately :-( I had a prick test for foods, and of course it showed nothing. But the allergist wouldn't rule out a cumulative reaction to certain foods; he said I would have to figure that out myself :-P I'd like someone to figure it out for me! At any rate, had Kraft Mac and Cheese for 2 meals in a row and I attribute some of my flare-up to that. Gosh, artificial colors, dairy *and* preservatives all in one package. What's not to like? <g> Won't do that again.

Shelley, I had a garden-variety fungal infection (ringworm) once on some of my eczema spots, and I often wonder about the connection b/t fungi, yeasts & eczema. About 3 years after the fungus was treated, I developed a lot of eczema on my back, and it was originally diagnosed as pityriasis. The nurse even looked at a scraping under the microscope and declared that it was pityriasis and could be treated with prescription Selsun Blue. However, the derm. said it was eczema.. Supposedly everyone has some of the pityrosporum yeasts/spores on themselves, but I wonder if eczema people have more? Or if some types of eczema flare more in the presence of pityrosporum.

On another note: I wish that we could all see each other so that we'd know how flared-up our flare-ups really are (but can you imagine videoconferencing for a dermatitis support group? ha!). Sometimes I think that I'm complaining about a flare when someone else on the list would be glad to have the kind of eczema I have, or vice versa.

I have tried fungal medicine too. Once a week. And I find I am much less itchy when I take them. But some people who take mine have to have their blood monitored for liver problems. Is that true for you? What kind are you taking?

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