HELP please... My eczema is so painful!!!?

Hi, I have severe eczema on my hands and I cannot get in to see my dermatologist. I have the strongest steroids known to man and I am completely unresponsive to all of them (i.e. betamethasone, clobetasol, etc.). It's to the point where it's not even itchy any more, just painful, stinging, sore, throbbing, burning, and BLEEDING. I look down at my hands and just from bending my fingers I have bubbles of blood pooling everywhere. Right now I put Eucerin Plus on my hands (slathered them in it) and then put rubber gloves on, just because I cannot bear to wash my hands again. Whenever I get something on my hands that requires washing, I just wash the outside of the gloves instead. Is that okay to do? Will it somehow "trap" the eczema in there and make it worse or suffocate my skin when it should be airing out?
Also, can food allergies cause eczema? I've recently found that certain foods make my lips purple and swollen, and I think that coincides with when the eczema flares up! Thnx!

wow, you poor thing. i thought my eczema was bad. i've never had the bleeding. i wish i new of something to help. are they sure it's eczema? you have a point with the food allergies. try keeping a diary of everything you eat. maybe that will help you figure out if there is any correlation. as far as the gloves, i think as long as you take them off to sleep so your hands can air it should be fine. i hope you find relief soon.

My friend has what you have. It looks SO painful! I'm really sorry for you! I wouldn't use ANYTHING over the counter for it because it might sting like crazy. Go to the deramtoligist and get help, even if you have to wait FOREVER. Don't keep the sore open or it will get infected.

allergies definately make eczema worse. as for the pain, try taking allergy medication (Benadryl). instead of the strong meds for the hands, try this mixture at night. slather it on and put the rubber gloves on.

1 cup vaseline (petrolium jelly)
2-3 tablespoons of corn starch

mix the 2 really well. Here in Canada it is sold as "bum butt-R"!!!

When I had those symptoms, the dermatologists had no idea what to do about it. It turned out that I had an allergy to petroleum products such as dish washing detergent. The solution was to avoid petroleum products, and to soak my hands in highly salty warm water. As hot as possible without being so hot as to burn, and as salty as possible. Purchase containers of salt and soak in the bathtub. The warm salty water drew the stuff out through my skin that was causing the bubbles, rash and bleeding. Also, don't use rubber gloves or other products with petroleum in it, use clean cotton gloves. Make sure that there are no petroleum products in the creams and medicines that you are using.

Eczema is an overactive immune system disorder. Your immune system does not have proper cell to cell communications and therefore it attacks itself. There are dietary supplements out there that can help the body overcome sicknesses. email me at glyco4health@earthlink.net if you would like further information

I had eczema when I was in my early twenties. I recall that it was so painful that to hold a glass, to turn a door knob, to drive, was impossible. And I was in cosmetology school. It was very upsetting to me and sometimes I'd use rubbing alcohol on my hands just to stop the itch.
I had to wear plastic gloves when I worked at a fast food place and I think it made the condition worse, but there wasn't a lot I could do about that. I used hydrocortisone cream, 2% and it helped but I had to use it all the time. I also had it on my face, which is terrible and I've still scars from it.

The only thing that really helped me get over it was a complete change of lifestyle. I think my eczema was my mind's way of telling me that something was wrong with the way I was living. I was extremely stressed out, but I was just used to it or thought that was how life was. When I learned to calm down the eczema went away and I also slept better and lost weight too.

I learned how to mellow out, stopped caffiene and processed foods and smoking. I started doing yoga and walking. I made some other changes to cut out things that stressed me out.

I'm in my forties now and there have been times when stress will get to me and sure enough, a few blisters will pop up in the same place that it used to start twenty years ago.

Good luck. Maybe medication these days is better than what dermatologists had twenty years ago, but really, take a look at the stress factor.

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I am not a doctor and cannot speak for your condition, but I too used to suffer from unexplainable eczema for about the last 10 years. In order to resolve my issues, I had to take some drastic measures. Since you seem to have it only on your hands, I would definitely stop using pretty much everything that you are currently using to wash or moisurize your hands. Do not touch anything (shampoo, soaps, steroids, medications, etc) with your hands. It should heal on its own.

1) No more steroids. Prescription or Non-prescription. Every time you use it, your skin will become weaker and yearn for more steroids. Train your body to use your own resources. If you are currently taking steroids, don't quit cold turkey; however try very hard to taper slowly off it and never go back on it.

2) Sleep. Make sure you are getting at least 8 hours of sleep every night. If you suffer from insomnia, take a benadryl two hours before bed. Sleep is extremely important for people who are very sensitive to allergens. Sleep builds up your natural cortisol reserves so that you don't have to take synthetic cortisone steroids.

3) If you have constipation issues, drink one little can of prune juice with every meal. Healthy digestive system = clean skin. Also incorporate healthy nuts and oils and yogurt to your diet.

4) Test all soaps and mositurizers. I was even allergic to Dove for Sensitive Skin as well as Eucurin. I currently only use Clearly Natural Glycerine Vitamin Soap. I use the soap to wash my hair as well. Stay away from antibiotic soaps. They tend to be harsh.

5) Dermatologists generally are no help with eczema. If you go to one and the only thing they do is prescribe more steroids ask for a refund. They are not helping you.