Unexpected Remedies for Eczema

After 23 years of severe, chronic eczema that often required oral steroids and always need topical steroids, I have been 99% clear for more than 3 years. The first big breakthrough was getting a commercial water softener system.

The second was going on bio-identical hormone therapy. I also take fish oil, but that has been a recent addition. Must get some oolong tea -- though I seldom have flare-ups these days:) It is heaven being off steroids!

I have a beard and have had similar problems with skin on chin during winter. Dermatologiest suggested using Head/Shoulder shampoo (I use generic). It works.

a friend had very bad eczema on her wrists which responded to the elimination of milk from her diet. she had no other symptoms of milk sensitivity.

The first time I had a patch of Eczema on my leg, the doctor gave me a prescription cream to use daily. After two tubes and one month later, it finally went away.

Then I read in your column about using Noxzema. About a year later, I got another patch in the same place on my leg. This time I used Noxzema. I could tell the difference the next day! It was totally gone in about a week and a half and I haven't had it since. Needless to say, I keep a jar of Noxzema in my cabinet. It worked beautifully. Thanks People's Pharmacy!

I have had stress induced eczema for the past 2 years and suffered with it badly. I have it about 95% under control by drinking two cups of Chinese Oolong tea per day and using over-the-counter CereVe cream several times a day. When I stop either, the eczema returns. This works a lot better than steroid creams.

I suffered with roscea for 5 years and went through the regiment of 3 ointments or creams, tetracycline 3 times a day for 3 months.I did this routine several times with no improvement.

I purchased Acne Free and in three days it showed improvement and cleared in 2 weeks but I continued to use it for several months after clearing. Never to return after 2 years.

I had issues with eczema on the sides of my mouth and nose, and also in between my eyebrows for several years. I used an antibiotic lotion with a steroid cream, but it never seemed to get any better. Stress would cause it to get even worse, and I had to be very careful about using new products on my skin (and never get a facial). I went to one dermatologist who said it was acne (because it looked like little red bumps), but a second dermatologist told me I would have to quit the steroid cream cold-turkey.

She said that prolonged use of the steroid causes the immune system to be suppressed in that area of the skin, which allows bacteria to grow, but the immune-suppressing properties of the steroid keep the bacteria from getting out of control. It turns out that the very treatment I had begun using for the eczema was now in fact causing the "eczema/rash" I currently had.

She gave me an oral antibiotic to take for 2 weeks and said I could keep using the antibiotic lotion, and warned me that the rash would flare up really bad before it started to get better and that about 3 days into being off the steroid, I would want to kill her. She was right - it flared up really bad for about a week and a half, but then slowing started to improve. After 3 weeks, it was almost completely gone. My skin is now completely clear, and I have never had a problem with the "eczema/rash" again.

I had issues with eczema on the sides of my mouth and nose, and also in between my eyebrows for several years. I used an antibiotic lotion with a steroid cream, but it never seemed to get any better. Stress would cause it to get even worse, and I had to be very careful about using new products on my skin (and never get a facial). I went to one dermatologist who said it was acne (because it looked like little red bumps), but a second dermatologist told me I would have to quit the steroid cream cold-turkey.

She said that prolonged use of the steroid causes the immune system to be suppressed in that area of the skin, which allows bacteria to grow, but the immune-suppressing properties of the steroid keep the bacteria from getting out of control. It turns out that the very treatment I had begun using for the eczema was now in fact causing the "eczema/rash" I currently had.

She gave me an oral antibiotic to take for 2 weeks and said I could keep using the antibiotic lotion, and warned me that the rash would flare up really bad before it started to get better and that about 3 days into being off the steroid, I would want to kill her. She was right - it flared up really bad for about a week and a half, but then slowing started to improve. After 3 weeks, it was almost completely gone. My skin is now completely clear, and I have never had a problem with the "eczema/rash" again.

My Grandson was covered with dry itchy Eczema. His mother bought the Pro-biotic drinks. He loves them and drinks at least two a day, more if he can get away with it. His eczema is gone.

Earlier in my life I had eczema on my hands so bad that they cracked and bled and people thought I had acid poured on them. An herbist told me about Chickweed Tea, I drank it and have not had it since. The tea stops any itch (chicken pox etc.) I have referred it to people with psorisis also and it they have had unbelievable results. It is also a skin herb, very good for the skin.

I have been going to a dermatologist for one year now, and none of the prescriptions ever worked. So then she told me to try Crisco (the white kind in the can) on the spots and it cleared up in a week. If I put it on the same day the spot shows up, it is gone in two days.

For good measure, one a week, I add it to my lotion routine when I get out of the shower.

Shannon, I too have dealt with chronic eczema. It has recently gotten worse. Would you mind giving more detail about the commercial water softener system you got? Was that to remove chlorine? Also, any details about the bio-identical hormone therapy you've tried would be really appreciated. I really think my worsening eczema is related to hormones, but haven't figured out a solution yet. Thanks, Maggie

I have had an itchy rash on the tops of my feet and ankles for 6 months. Sometimes tiny bubbles appear because I have irritated it so much by scratching. Nothing seemed to relieve it. I mostly wear thong-type sandals, so it isn't due to shoes or laundry detergent. Then I read about putting vodka on it. I tried it along with tea tree oil and over the counter triple antibiotic ointment. It is going away after 3 days and the itching stopped immediately. I suppose rubbing alcohol might work, but the vodka sure did.

Acne Free what? I have the dame thing on my face and no matter what I put on there it makes it worse.

I am 63 years old and have itched all of my life especially during and after bathing. My 3 children had the same problem and now my 4 years old grand son is miserable. I also have eczema (for 11 yrs) and so does he as well as other allergies.

He takes Zyrtec or Benadryl everyday and his nose continually runs. I'm thinking this might all be related. I never thought my itching could be caused by allergies! We have checked him for pinworms and found none (he scratches all over!).

I've been wondering if it could be body pH. I tried a 10% vinegar solution after showering for the last 4 days and noticed a slight improvement. Can you help? The poor baby wakes up crying in the middle of the night. I remember being put on Valium when I was in college it was so bad!