Need help BADLY re: excema

[Alicia64]

Hi Everyone,

 

Excema runs in my family. My poor sister practically has a Ph.D. in it. I control mine really, really well and haven't had much of a problem for 25 yrs.

 

Last month plumbers had to jackhammer into our slab and created tons of dust and I had an allergic reaction: excema (itching, red) all around my eyes.

 

To compound matters, my son has a pediatric opthamology surgeon who flipped out when I mentioned I wanted to treat my son's teeny-tiny bit of excema on his eye w/ 1% hydrocortisone.

 

So, guess what? The dermo is telling me to use 1% hydrocortison around my eyes. I can't get the image of the eye surgeon out of my head. He said, "NEVER, NEVER use that around your eye. It can cause glaucoma." My pediatrician had told me to use it on my son. The dermo told me to use it on myself. Even my obgyn said it was fine. Keep in mind, the eye surgeon is a total BRAIN.

 

I'm using cold compresses on my eyes, histamine drops, Benadryl at night, Aquafor around my eyes and tiny, tiny smears of 1% hydrocortisone -- simply because I don't know what else to do.

 

And, it's not getting better. The dermo basically said that without using the 1% hydrocortisone, it probably wasn't going to improve.

 

I've had this since early December and am going nuts.

 

If anyone has any suggestions that work, I will be stunned and impressed and massively grateful for life!

 

Thank you!

 

Alley

[Wyndie]

I use coconut oil on the bit I get around my eye.

 

FTR, the bit I get around my eye is from eating chocolate. If I cut out the chocolate, it goes away. Which is wrong on many levels... :lol:

[Caraway]

My son has this too. I am also stuck on issue of cortisone. I'll be interested to hear other suggestions...

[lisabees]

I have had terrible eczema on my eyelids and under my eyes since August (and behind and in my ears and a couple patches on my scalp). I have NEVER had eczema before. I made so many changes, including an elimination diet and tons of supplements. It made no difference.

 

I tried olive oil, vitamin E and Eucerin (Eucerin worked best to keep it moisturized).

 

I hated going out; everyone mentioned my yucky eyes. They were wrinkly and tired and peeling. I felt soooo yucky and ugly. So, I gave in and am using (prescription) topical steroids for the eyes. I never heard of a glaucoma scare, but I know it thins your skin. After the third day, I looked normal again. My eyes are bright and I can look in people's eyes again!!! I will only use the ointment for 9 days.

 

Please tell me it won't come back too soon! :tongue_smilie:

[Alicia64]

Lisabees ~ Which doctor prescribed the meds for you? A dermo? Or an opthamologist? I'm confused at this point as to which dr. to use.

 

Thanks!!

 

Alley

[Jean in Newcastle]

It might not be strong enough for you but we used a homeopathic cortisone-like cream called Florasone. That would be safe around your eyes.

[Peela]

Welllll, it depends on how much you want to take your own health into your own hands...and how much you want to just get rid of the symptoms. Excema is a condition that comes from within your body, and is a sign of being out of balance....usually allergies, often exacerbated by stress. My dd15 had it around her eyes a few months back..we tracked it down to oranges and sugar. It took a few weeks but it went when she cut them out. Now she can have them occasionally. For some it is dairy, others wheat.

I too would use coconut oil. I also buy my dd some creams that I think are only available here in Australia- Moo brand...but you must have the equivalent over there. All natural.

But thats me...I wouldn't use cortisone.

[Alicia64]

Thanks everyone. I've heard so much about coconut oil -- where do you buy it?

 

I'd love to try it.

 

Alley

[Caraway]

Welllll, it depends on how much you want to take your own health into your own hands...and how much you want to just get rid of the symptoms. Excema is a condition that comes from within your body, and is a sign of being out of balance....usually allergies, often exacerbated by stress. My dd15 had it around her eyes a few months back..we tracked it down to oranges and sugar. It took a few weeks but it went when she cut them out. Now she can have them occasionally. For some it is dairy, others wheat.

I too would use coconut oil. I also buy my dd some creams that I think are only available here in Australia- Moo brand...but you must have the equivalent over there. All natural.

But thats me...I wouldn't use cortisone.

 

Personally (not the OP) I would prefer to fix the actual cause, but I have no idea what that might be. We are already no dairy no gluten. There is only so much more to cut! :001_huh:

 

I worry that it is just stress and will never go away for my son. I feel awful that I don't know how to help him.

[Elohcin]

The thing that really helps my daughter and myself control excema is taking cod liver oil. Coconut oil (virgin and not refined) can help although for some it can be drying (seems contradictory, but it does). We make sure we have plenty of good fats in our diets. CLO works synergistically with butter, especially raw butter. Cortizones will treat the symptoms, which in the short term is great. For us CLO really gets to the problem. Excema is a derm problem if you ask a derm and an allergy problem if you ask an allergist. Personally, I think it is both or either. For some it is one and for some the other. Either way if you can figure out how to get to the root of the problem, ie figure out whether it is something you are coming into contact with or something you are eating or not eating, maybe that will help you find the solution.

HTH,

[sbgrace]

It's really hard to track the source sometimes. But in your case you believe the source was allergic reaction to the work done--is that right?

 

My son had a severe bout of eczema after an allergic reaction to oranges. It went on and on. I was doing benadryl and coconut oil and cod liver and on (none of that bad...) and he was dairy/wheat/all top eight allergens and corn free. Anyway, what helped him was Zyrtec. I think because it stayed in his system long enough to get the histamine under control.

I don't know if adding that will help you but it's certainly worth a try. Around here winter is a really hard to time to get eczema under control.

I found this link re: the steroids and glaucoma. It's a risk w/systematic too (which my son has had to do as have others) in those prone to. In reading it looks like it's not so simple as use cream around the eyes increase glaucoma risk. http://www.skincarephysicians.com/eczemanet/steroids.html

[Tap]

Can you call your son's surgeon and ask him what he would recommend? Even if it was a few years ago, he may be willing to give you a suggestion. I would ask his nurse to ask the dr. if he has a med that he typically recommends for eczema (include that a dr. diagnosed it/ it isn't just your opinion) in the eye area or if he has a dermatologist/physician that he would recommend for you to go to.

 

 

I would also recommend coconut oil. I buy the non-hydrogentated oil at most health food stores (I don't think that Trader Joes carries it here).

[lisabees]

It's really hard to track the source sometimes. But in your case you believe the source was allergic reaction to the work done--is that right?

 

My son had a severe bout of eczema after an allergic reaction to oranges. It went on and on. I was doing benadryl and coconut oil and cod liver and on (none of that bad...) and he was dairy/wheat/all top eight allergens and corn free. Anyway, what helped him was Zyrtec. I think because it stayed in his system long enough to get the histamine under control.

I don't know if adding that will help you but it's certainly worth a try. Around here winter is a really hard to time to get eczema under control.

I found this link re: the steroids and glaucoma. It's a risk w/systematic too (which my son has had to do as have others) in those prone to. In reading it looks like it's not so simple as use cream around the eyes increase glaucoma risk. http://www.skincarephysicians.com/eczemanet/steroids.html

 

Wow - thanks for that article. I had no idea there were possible side effects to the eyes, specifically.

 

OP, my optometrist prescribed it, after seeing me for a regular eye exam.

[proudmamma]

For my daughter, cod liver oil (nordic naturals), raw butter, and coconut oil (tropical traditions -extra virgin organic, order it online through their website...THE BEST coconut oil out there!) worked. It comes from not enough good fats in the diet.

[Ummto4]

Eczema runs big in our family. This is what I did with our family:

 

1. My son (now 8).

He got eczema when he was a baby. What I did:

--> eliminated dairy : worked somewhat, prevent it from becoming worse.

--> got him steroid cream from a dermatologist: worked to wipe out the biggest symptoms. But after that, he still got eczema regularly, albeit small amount. After a while the cream stopped working altogether.

--> got him homeopathic remedy from a homeopath to help with his allergy: this is what stopped his eczema from occuring regularly.

 

2. My daughter (now 5).

She got eczema after her asthma was better from a homeopathic treatment (when she was 2.5 years old). What I didL

--> got her steroid because the eczema started to be small: worked temporarily (like 3 days only) then I had to give her more and more.

--> got her homeopathic remedy from a homeopath who worked with her to cure her asthma: somehow the remedy she gave to my daughter didn't work at all.

--> try chinese herb: didn't work.

--> back to homeopathic remedy from a skin specialist homeopath in Canada: worked wonderfully. Her eczema's flare went from once every 3 days to once every week then once every two weeks and so forth. Right now, she only gets minor flare during winter months because of the dryness.

 

My advice:

- stop the symptoms with prescription medication. Our derm does not approve steroid for face and eyelids, but she prescribed this immunomodulator cream - protopic. It's weaker than other prescription steroid cream and is only recommended for mild eczema. The biggest eczema symptoms in other part of the body is usually handled by strong steroid for around 1-2 weeks, then the minor one is handled by weaker cream.

- if the problem persists (i.e. eczema comes in and out), contact a skin specialist homeopath. PM me if you want more info on this. It's possible your eyelid eczema is one off occurence though, so you might not need homeopathic remedy at all.

 

My other homeopath couldn't cure a major eczema flare, only a minor one. But this skin specialist homeopath can. Skin is the hardest thing to cure in homeopathy, so you if you want to try homeopathy, you should try to work with a homeopath which has vast experience on skin problems.

 

PS: we also went to a naturopath for my first son, and tried fish oil, vitamins, etc etc (A LOT) but didn't give any good enough improvement.

 

HTH

Edited January 13, 2010 by mom2moon2

[Avila]

I control mine by taking Flax Seed Oil. It is the only thing that has consistently worked for me.

[Hedgehogs4]

I second the coconut oil. Both my dh and my dd have eczema and this works wonderfully for them. Also, large doses of grape seed extract and Omega 3 oils taken together will help tremendously, as well as keep it away once it heals. There are certain brands that are better than others, pm me if you want a link.