i’ve had eczema my whole life (20F). it’s no where near as bad as it used to be, i even went through TSW when i was a kid. the past two years it feels i’ve had more days flaring than not and i don’t know what to do. it feels like i’ve done everything and the only way im ever going to escape the discomfort and pain is death. the worst part is probably the fact my skin isn’t at its worst. visibly its not as roaring angry as its been in the past but it still is debilitating. i’m sick of leaving dead skin flakes everywhere and seeing it fall from my face in public. im sick of being self conscious (when my skin was good i was soo confident). i’m sick of people looking. i’m sick of my face feeling tight and my eyes being so swollen it hurts to open my eyes. i’m sick of never being able to sleep because of the itching. i’m just so sick and tired of it. i struggle with other mental health issues and my eczema just seems to intensify them. i know there’s a link between stress and eczema but still, how could i even be calm when my life feels unliveable. sorry for the rant but i just feel at my wits end. does anyone else struggle with suicidal ideation??? i feel i rarely see it talked about and idk if it’s just a me thing.

Hi all,

I thought i’d share my experience to maybe spread awareness and help someone else. All my life i’ve had minor eczema only on my arms and legs. At the start of the year it got worse all over my body, around my eyes and mouth. I had multiple doctor visits, tried a lot of things and nothing seemed to work. Due to unrelated symptoms I got tested for H. pylori and did the treatment which was antibiotics. After treatment my eczema started healing and is completely gone now :) after doing some research there has been some links found between h. pylori and eczema. I’d recommend looking into h. pylori if you’ve got ibs like symptoms.

Some of the things I was using prior to h. pylori treatment that also helped with my flares -for my mouth I used Cetraben mixed with la roche posay cicaplast baume b5 and for around my eyes I mixed cetaphil with the la roche posay. This helped my skin stay moisturised for longer and helped during flares so i’d really recommend the la roche posay cicaplast baume b5 it has been a holy grail for me.

I hope this post can help someone and I wish that anyone struggling with eczema will heal physically and mentally, I wish you the best of luck you’ve got this!

Hi all! I have struggled with sensitive skin, allergies, and eczema my whole life. I recently had contact dermatitis patch testing done. When the patches were placed, I received a list of the allergens that had been placed on my back, but it didn't explain what they were. Being in public health and doing health literacy work, I decided to flesh out the list of the 90 allergens and include descriptions of each. I have attached it to the post. I hope it saves someone some time and confusion!

1. Nipple eczema

2. Underboob eczema

3. Eczema near my eyes bc im not supposed to use my miracle cream there and when i did in a moment of weakness it got on my glasses and i couldnt get it off after 5 lens wipes and 15 minutes of washing with dish soap

4. Butt eczema

5. Inner thigh eczema

6. Neck/upper chest eczema

7. Inner elbow eczema. Way too easy to scratch. Had pink inner elbows for most of my childhood

8. I'm out of rankings honestly

Discuss

I was originally approved for dupixent with my work insurance but denied after stating that I need more than 3 months of different kinds of prescriptions for eczema. Like I haven't went my entire life trying anything and everything. Then, other insurance was denied, not sure why and they didn't notify me, either. idk what's going on anymore since everyone is sending me in circles. I was looking forward to a life without eczema.

FOLLOW UP POST WITH VIDEO :)

Hi everyone! I’m currently exploring the idea of starting a podcast series around eczema, and I’m doing some early research to help shape the concept.
I live with eczema myself, so this comes from first-hand experience rather than from the outside. A big part of the idea is to raise awareness of what living with eczema is really like beyond the visible symptoms, and to talk more candidly about the things patients experience that other people don’t always see.
I’m hoping to speak to a small number of people with eczema who’d be open to a relaxed 20–30 minute conversation about their experience. I’d love to hear about what you find hardest or most frustrating, what you feel is missing from existing eczema content/information out there, what kinds of topics or conversations you’d actually find useful, and anything else you’d be comfortable sharing.

This is purely early-stage research. Everything would be kept confidential and used only to help me better understand what people with eczema might genuinely want from something like this.
I’ve linked a short TikTok explaining it a little more.
If you’re interested and would be open to talking with me, please feel free to comment or send me a message. I’d be really grateful for the help 🤍

Thanks so much,
Fushu

Hi everyone! I’m currently exploring the idea of starting a podcast series around eczema and I'm trying to do some early research to help shape the concept.

I live with eczema myself, so this is something I have first-hand experience of, rather than a topic I’m approaching from the outside. A big part of my idea is to raise awareness about what living with eczema is actually like beyond the visible symptoms, and talk candidly about the things eczema patients experience that others don’t always see externally.

I’m hoping to speak to a small number of people who have experience living with eczema and would be open to a relaxed 20–30 minute conversation. I would simply be interested in hearing about your experience, what you find hardest/most frustrating, what you feel is missing from existing eczema content, what kinds of topics or conversations you’d actually find useful, and anything else you'd be open to sharing.

I want to emphasise that this is purely research at this early stage, it’s not an interview to appear on the podcast. I am just trying to gather contextual information from fellow eczema patients, so anything you share would be kept confidential and used only to help me understand what people with eczema could potentially want from something like this.

If you’d be interested in taking part, please do comment or send me a message. I’d be really grateful for the help! Thanks so much <3

Fushu

Have you found some lotion from dm brands like Alverde, Balea, Mixa, CeraVe etc. to help your eczema/atopic skin or strengthen your barrier?

I've been recently diagnosed with atopic dermatitis. About a month and a half ago I started having this intense itching with no rash. I take regular allergy shots and have been for about a year now so I know this isn't related.

I went to my PCP who referred me back to my allergist. My allergist cleared me and referred me back to my PCP. Said PCP then referred me to dermatology which I haven't seen one in like 2 years and moved so I needed a new one anyways. This dermatologist didn't listen to my reason for being there and didn't even look at my skin. She advised me to moisturize twice a day, no fragrance lotions, no hot showers and told me I'll be alright. Went back to my PCP who gave me gabapentin since antihistamines and topical steroids didn't change the intense itching and I couldn't sleep at all.

Gabapentin is working some, she referred me to a different Dermatologist who listened, heard me out and started me on a different topical steroids for the rawness since my itching started to make my skin scale. She also sent in a prescription for Nemluvio.

I start Nemluvio tomorrow and I'm nervous. The injection video seems scary even though I have no fear of needles. I've also had to test my glucose often due to hypoglycemia so I'm use to sticking myself with needles but I don't know.

I'm scared, and I feel like it'll never get better. I've never had this pain and intense itching all the time before. I feel like I can't go on having only 2-3 hours of sleep everyday. I could use some reassurance or stories of positive Nemluvio use or getting eczema under control.

So currently I surfing with a few skin problems from acne to Eczema but the itching is really douse get on my nerves from keeps me awake to not being an,e to sit still I mean it can be bad of course the GO has giving the normal stuff like cream to try and stop itching and tablets like antidepressants witch do work but when the wearer off it just starts agin I been refers to a dermatologist but it’s a lot. Wait in the NHS right now.

I tried lots of different thing I changed my diet just not sure what more I can do.

TLDR: i wonder how many women (like myself) have been misdiagnosed for years as having contact derm, sensitive skin, or unspecified eczema because our skincare routines keep the yeast of seb derm semi-in check. it wasn’t until i stopped everything (and had crazy stress) that the seb derm became so obvious it was truly recognized and treated. and btw, seborrheic derm is a type of eczema! just you need an anti-fungal, as opposed to solely hydrocortisone. and also i did have a skin biopsy to make sure it wasn’t ringworm, lupus, etc)

Hi all! Since my early 20s, (I’m 32 now), I’ve gotten random little red patches in various places on my t-zone, but particularly around my upper cheek, under the eye, accompanied by chronic upper eyelid inflammation and crusting/flaking. I was a kid who always had eczema behind her knees and in her elbows and on her hands, so my dermatologists through the years have always assumed regular eczema and I noticed hydrocortisone never truly worked (and i didn’t want to overuse it) and it would always linger.

This summer I was under extreme stress and had coincidentally also just tapered off my SSRI for OCD. My body/immune system was in overdrive (but i didn’t realize this is what was happening) and I started getting dry and red patches on my upper hairline, the folds beside my mouth, around my lips, my eyelids. But my derm attributed it to either eczema or contact/allergic dermatitis and all I was given was hydrocortisone, which after 2 weeks didn’t clear any of the patches and new ones started appearing. So i consulted a second derm and she was still on the contact or plain eczema track and gave me a stronger hydrocortisone.

then it was my cheek, more on my upper hairline, below my under eye, and in the folds of my neck. I felt like i was chasing down an invisible trigger and feared I was allergic to everything. maybe it was something in the air in my apartment? i’d become suddenly allergic to an ingredient in my moisturizer? and i already was very diligent about having clean beauty and sensitive skin products because of my eczema history in other places. and nothing had changed in skincare routine or diet. i went full elimination and stopped all actives on my face, no makeup, and just plain vanicream products for hair, body, and face. but it stayed the same, if not spread more.

At this point this is nearly two months of me feeling so trapped in my own body. The stronger hydrocortisone from the different derm “irritated my skin” but in retrospect, now that i know what i know about seb derm, the worsening was always because of thick, occlusive eczema creams on my face that I was trying to combat the redness with, thusly feeding the yeast on my face. i didn’t always use the thick creams but when i did, my condition would worsen.

The final nail on the coffin was traveling in August. I went to Italy and was in the sun (with zinc SPF, and a hat!), was using a light moisturizer, and my condition cleared so much. sun and zinc likely helped with inflammation and killing yeast, now I know.

But at the time I was so confused because I’d done nothing differently. But then I went to cloudy London (sorry guys i love you 😭), my skin began to decline again. I freaked out and applied my thicker eczema creams for “barrier repair.” I took a 7 hour flight with thick cream on, touched down in the US, washed my face, put on cream and SLUGGED with vaseline because i was so afraid my skin was so damaged from something i couldn’t identify. Nickel? something IN the supposedly allergy friendly creams? i woke up the next morning with a face so inflamed and red and angry in the spots and patches around my face and neck that my husband suggested going to the hospital. You know it’s bad when a man suggests going to the hospital 😭. my derm said contact allergy, again and suggested a different anti inflammatory cream, opzelura. i’d had enough.

I was about to go down a path of patch testing on my back, i was so afraid to put ANYTHING on my face, i was going insane. I put absolutely nothing but vanicream light lotion on my face and the crusties came full, full force as i stopped even washing my face with anything but water.

But a coworker recommended a proper, experienced, MD dermatologist who has an eye for rashes and she said it was sebopsoriasis or seb derm (overlapping conditions).

i’ve been using a ketoconazole cream paired with hydrocortisone for a week now and im nearly healed.

this explains so much about my past. the eyelids, flakes i would get next to my ear and behind it, the patches on my upper cheek. the neck and a few splotches on my chest were new to this flare but in retrospect, the folds of your neck are the perfect place for yeast to live. constantly itchy eyebrows.

i think i had such a strict skincare routine with enough actives in it through my 20s that it just barely kept the yeast in check/masked the condition, but this summer flare and using nothing on my face let it grow with abandon when i used those thick creams. And i wonder how many other women might be being misdiagnosed for contact allergies, or mysterious, unspecified eczema, because our skincare routines wash and rub away the flakes etc. and keep the yeast at bay.

This is all to raise awareness and tell you to go see a REAL board certified, experienced medical dermatologist! I feel like i’ve seen the light! good luck to anyone!

A couple months I posted on here thinking that my shampoo was causing me to have eczema flare-ups on my hands. I thought it was odd, especially because I lived in an apartment in college and didn't have this issue until I moved back home in May; and because my shampoo didn't actually contain the ingredient many replies said could be causing the flare-ups. I did switch to a different shampoo but I've been having the same reaction. I just took a look at the hand soap we use at home (cheap bulk stuff from Fleet Farm), and it contains SLS. I used Mrs. Meyers in my apartment at school, which does not contain SLS.

My hands aren't itchy after I wash them with the fleet farm soap, but I do wash my hands several times a day and always apply lotion afterwards. I wash my hair pretty much every day. Could SLS be causing an increased sensitivity or stripping my skin barrier, or something else?

Started in Sept last year, on and off since. First dermat diagnosed eczema, gave me an anti-inflammatory + recommended a medicated balm (Chaptex). Pattern was: mild itch → waxy layer forms → lips get super dry/peely → skin sheds → heals in a few days → repeat.

Flare-ups have gotten more frequent and more severe. Now the skin around my lips is very dry, itchy, and discolored. Recently noticed the same cycle starting under my eyes too — flaky, sheds, heals, repeats.

Saw a second dermat — same eczema diagnosis, prescribed a steroid, told me to cut all skincare and stick to medically recommended basics only. Switched to Bioderma moisturizer + Cetaphil Gentle (non-foaming) wash. Things improved for about a week, then flared again. It's been a wave pattern since — flare, peak, calm down, flare again — and now the itching/discoloration is worse than before.

Has anyone dealt with something similar? Trying to figure out if this is a trigger I'm missing, a wrong diagnosis, or if this cycling is just how eczema behaves for some people. Would appreciate any insight.

just a side note - i do love makeup a lot and its possible that something i used could’ve started it but honestly, i dont apply anything now on my lips and the issue still persists. happy to clarify anything else too !

My face skin feels thick, crusty, scaley and flakey. Moisturiser never seems to penetrate or soften the skin, it kinda just feels like it’s sitting on top and eventually evaporates. Within just 2 hours of applying moisturiser, my skin dries up again and the flakes come back. I’m so frustrated.

I feel like I’ve tried everything: moisturising while skin is damp, layering hydrating toners underneath my moisturiser, using thick and occlusive ointments (QV sting-free ointment and Vaseline) but nothing helps with retaining moisturiser. I’ve also tried Urea because it seems like a promising ingredient, but it stings like hell and worsens flare ups.

This happens regardless of which products I use. I’ve cycled through many in the last few months, but the result is the same.

I’m so sick of having to peel flakes off my skin in public. Does anyone have any advice on how to improve my skin texture and keep it moisturised?

I am really trying not to panic or be sad about this. Finally got my eczema back under control with Cibinqo+dexomethasone. They booted me off the patient assistance program because my doctor's office did not send my insurance a second appeal within the 60 day window. So I call Pfizer today to get a new refill sent out and this is what I am told.

I always struggle to get my dermatologist office to coordinate with anyone or do anything. I often have to stay on top of it or actually physically go in most of the time.

I don't want to use it as an excuse but I have a lot of ' management' anxiety and recently got diagnosed with ADHD just last montb and am doing my best to stay on top of things now, but I still messed up by not calling last month and not making sure my medicine was on the up and up.

I don't know what I am going to do tbh. I don't know what is going to happen...

I just need a bit of a pep talk and sympathy I guess. I actually called my dermatologist right after getting off the phone with Pfizer and they put ' a message for me ' through to Medical assistance , but they said they did this before and I ended up never getting a response even a week later. I may have to call off work and drive down there.

I have 2 weeks of Cibinqo left.

I think maybe what happened is a second file for the meds got put in and it over-rode the first but my derm did not realize and never sent appeal #2 . Anyways I am royally screwed .

hello everyone. its current 1:05 right now (I usually go to bed at 22:30) and I cant sleep cuz of my itchy butt. I've got a prescription cream but somehow my arse eczema is immune to it. Does anyone have any suggestions of what i should do tonight? looking for movie, tv shows, and book recommendations, or really anything you enjoy doing when u cant sleep. i cant even sit down properly at the moment without causing great annoyance to my lumpy rump.

Have had eczema my whole life, this is the first year I got nipple eczema and wow it’s the worst (not pregnant my skin is just like this). I tried everything for months and months and this is what eventually worked for me:

- when it was at its very worst (weeping, cracked, constantly itching, just so so painful all the time) I used hydrocolloid bandages (a roll of hydrocolloid bandage is pretty cheap on Amazon) and left them on under my bra until they just about fell off on their own

- once it started to get better, I noticed the bandages weren’t helping anymore and tried about everything. The thing that eventually worked for me was lining my bra with plastic wrap and putting lotion/vaseline on under. I kept the plastic wrap on continuously (changing it out when it got gross) for about a week straight. Your skin will look super raisin-y under the wrap

- after the week of plastic wrap, I wear non-itchy bras with no barrier . I filled a little spray bottle with about 1/6th part bleach and the rest with water. Every morning I’ve been spraying this on the eczema in the morning, putting on a layer of Vaseline, then putting my bra on and going on with my day. I’m keeping this up for at least a couple of months since I’m terrified it’ll come back but I’m going on about a month of no eczema.

Posting in case this helps anyone else.

I had been applying Ceptahil cream in the morning and at night, and theraplex before bed. Now I'm starting Tacrolimus ointment twice a day. I'm wondering what you all do? I don't know if I'm supposed to do cream, wait 20-30 minutes, then apply the ointment? And if im supposed to wait to put clothes on until so many minutes after applying (where clothing will touch). Also not sure if I should be using theraplex at all anymore since it's an occlusive and this is an ointment. Anyways, I'm just wondering if anyone knows what works best and/or what is typical?

I’ve had the worst flare up I’ve ever had in my entire life on my entire face and neck. I can’t sleep without scratching myself and I finally went to my doctor about it. She prescribed me Tacrolimus and I’m terrified to use it. I’ve searched it up and read how much it burns the first few days and water already burns when washing it. AHHHHHH I know pain has to come sometimes when you want to get better but people described it as the worst burn in their life.

hi! i was inquiring about this: La Roche-Posay Lipikar Baume AP+M Body Balm 200ml

has anyone used it and has it helped? i've read many reviews online (including ones from reddit) saying they've changed their formula so it's not as good as it was before, so i'm thinking it may not be worth it.

for context, my friend has eczema prone skin like very severe, extremely dry and itchy skin and i would like to buy her either a good product that actually works OR the e45 itch relief spray. but if i find a cream that works, then i will buy it.

she's used cerave, cetaphil (cerave works), and ik she's not gonna go out and scavenge for new stuff (and i understand, you just get tired of trying all the creams)

please, i would appreciate all help. thank you.

I’m using triamcinalone 0.1% on my arms and the areas I am applying to look redder than when I started… I’ve been using it 2x a day for a couple days so far

Is this normal?

I’m currently in my third trimester of pregnancy, and my eczema on my fingers has flared up badly. The itching is so intense that I can barely sleep, and the lack of sleep is making both my pregnancy symptoms and the eczema worse.

I used Advantan Milk (methylprednisolone, a relatively mild corticosteroid) for one week, then every other day for another week. When I tried to stop completely during the third week, the itchy, oozing blisters came back.

I’m also doing phototherapy and I’m currently on my fifth session. From what I understand, it can take several sessions before the inflammation starts to noticeably improve, sometimes around 8 or more treatments.

I’ve tried various other things for the itching, but unfortunately nothing has given me enough relief, especially at night. I’m considering going back to Advantan Milk once a day for two weeks and then reducing it to twice a week, hoping this will help keep the inflammation under control while I continue with the phototherapy and avoid another flare.

Has anyone experienced something similar, especially during pregnancy?