Anyone have eczema?

What is it like?

How do you know for sure that you have it?

How do you treat it?

I'm wondering because EVERY night, my legs start to itch and burn and I get these patches of red almost scaly skin and little bumps.

No lotion is helping.

My DH & my DS do. When it gets bad the only thing that works is hydrocortizone. We just get a 1% OTC cream at Rite Aid or CVS and that works within a few days.

Dh developed a horrible rash all over his back (and a few spots on his arms and legs). Over-the-coutner lotions were not working. The dermatologist wrote some prescriptions, and it's clearing up. One is Cutar, which is a liquid. I don't know the other name (it's a cream), cause I don't know where Dh put the tube. If I find it, I'll update my reply.

Sorry you're going thru this!!!

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Posted by CathyB

My DH & my DS do. When it gets bad the only thing that works is hydrocortizone. We just get a 1% OTC cream at Rite Aid or CVS and that works within a few days.

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I have it on my hands and in the elbow pit region as well.

Try the hydrocortisone and if it doesn't work, ask your doctor to prescribe something. Mine prescribed Triamcinolone and it works great for me.

Also, moisturize the areas a few times a day (at least 4) with a lotion like unscented Lubriderm, Eucerin or Aquaphor.

Also - take warm showers - not ones that are too hot (that's the hardest part for me).

I always get itchy red skin in the winter, sometimes it gets really bad.

I have always use Cortizone and it helps.

yes I have it and DS has it. I have it on my hands and DS has it on the back of his knees. We use Aquaphor and hydrocoritsone when it gets really bad.

I get it on my legs and my elbows when the temperature changes. I use Eucarin or Aveeno cream. Sometimes I even take oatmeal baths.

i have had a few spots on my legs here and there, very itchy, red and scaly/bumpy. i went to the derm, and they prescribed a cream for me (can't remember the name) - the best part was they gave me samples and i never had to fill my script!!

My friend has very bad excema. She swears by Aveeno Baby Wash and Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Moisture Cream

I recently just got it around my eye! I went to the dermatologist and she gave me a cream to put on 3 days a week.

My dermo gave me a prescription for Nizoral cream- it's an anti fungal and the only thing that seems to work on mine.

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Posted by CathyB

My DH & my DS do. When it gets bad the only thing that works is hydrocortizone. We just get a 1% OTC cream at Rite Aid or CVS and that works within a few days.

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I have it bad my whole life. Winter is a nightmare for me. I guess I just got used to it because it covers large parts of my body. My hands and arms are the worst. So dry and scaly. I use lotion all the time, it does nothing. Steroidal creams work, but I hate the long term use of them, so I don't really use them. I just make the best of it.

i have it on my elbow. My sister in a physicians assistant so she diagnosed me but I never went to a dermatoligst to have it treated. I am lazy.

Yes I have it same as the above posters worse in the winter. I get it on my eye lids new this year around my nose area and around my mouth area and behind my ears. All at different times and small amounts. I keep up on it. I go to the dermo every 6mths and get it checked out. Nothing will ever get rid of it. I have all the creams in the world for it.
Steriod creams which I hate using but that is the only thing that works.

I also take Biotin and swear by it. Drink alot of water too!!

I do. Go to the dermatologist... I got 2 eczema flare-ups last year and they are not fun. After the dermo gave me a strong cream I (knock on wood) haven't had any flare-ups and when I see a patch I immediately put the cream on it.

Cold air helps... I find when i'm really hot under the blanket I start to itch. Also I only use Aveeno products and only free/clear detergent. Aveeno oatmeal baths help too.

Dh has eczema. He uses a prescription cream and the doc also recommended Sarna (i think that's what it is) lotion. She told him to put the lotion in the fridge so it's extra soothing. DH says instant relief when he puts the lotion on.

She also told him warm showers, use a moisturizing soap (like oil of olay), moisturize while the skin is still damp, don't rub dry pat dry, and that seems to help him.

Thanks everyone.

Now that you mention some of these things I do get it more in the winter and I do take really hot showers.

I like really hot showers.

I'm going to get some OTC things first then try the doctor.

I have a friend who is covered from the top of her head to literally the bottom of her toes. I know she gets steroid injections for it along with a million different creams and nothing seems to help.

It just looks so painful and stops her from doing some much. She says sometimes she feels like her skin is going to crack.

I feel so bad for her....