Eczema flare ups

(Pat) #1

Hi, does anyone on this forum have eczema? How do you cope with flare ups?
I have always had very dry and sometimes itchy skin, but 2 years ago it went out of control and creams from the doctor did not fix it. No shower gels (QV E45 Moo Goo etc) relieved the itching.
In May I decided to get an allergy test and the results were I am allergic to 2 types of dust mite, dogs, several grasses and chickpeas.
I went to my GP with the results and she gave me some Advantan cream which did clear up the rash, but it’s now come back. I have more cream, but the rash goes and then comes back a few weeks later.
I have always been careful about what I eat and very rarely eat processed food.
I have been on and off Keto for a few years now and just recently in the last few weeks started back properly. I’m hoping someone is going to reply telling me that Keto will fix my eczema or at least make it less irritable.
I bought the anti-allergy pillowcase protectors and the mattress protector plus vacuum the mattress regularly.

Thanks

(Allie) #2

Don’t know if this will be any help to you or not, but I’ve found water to be a big issue for me. It sure exactly what in the water but suspect metals as I never used to be able to drink tap water at home until we got the old pipes all replaced with plastic ones, had to run it through a filter. My work replaced the kettle and water cooler with a combined hot / cold water thing that runs off the mains water but I’ve had to stop using it as my skin was flaring up again after years of being OK.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #3

I used to get an eczema-type rash on the backs of my hands, from the first sign of cold weather to the first warm days of spring. Cortisone ointment would control it but not cure it. Fortunately, after a couple of years on keto, the rash eventually stopped appearing, so long as I keep my carb intake low enough.

#4

I’m sort of the opposite.

I’ve never had eczema/dermatitus all my life until recently, but I can’t pinpoint what brought it on.

I’ve alweays had a dog that lounges about the house, so I know I’m not allergic…plus I treay Carly regularly and use special shampoo on her.

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I started gettin dry skin on my forehead, chin, nose and parts of my scalp.
I tried self treating with E45 Dermatitus cream and over the counter low strength hydrocortisone cream, with limited effect.

This seemed to develop during the pandemic…when all these things were going on:

  • I was stressed out with a troublemaker in work/HR.
  • I was mainly working from home in isolation.
  • I had 2 Covid vaccinations plus the booster (I’m not saying that was a factor, just a fact).
  • I was drinking way too much.
  • I started eating Keto and eventually lost just over 30 kilos. (Quit taking metformin).

So, what brought it on? I’m inclined to say probably a combination of stress, excess alcohol…and probably too many changes occuring all at once?

I don’t know, but until I eventually went to the doctor it wasn’t getting better.
This is what they gave me (to treat, moisturise, reduce inflamation, and prevent infection):
The Epaderm ointment is applied all over the face, forget about moisturising cream- this is king.
Apparently it allows the next treatment (Daktacort) to be more effective on the face’s dry problem areas (in my case was chin, nose and forehead). Daktacort, It’s hydrocortisone but also anti fungal and to be applied 3 times a day to face (told me to be used on face only not scalp, for some reason…maybe wanted to see which treatment was more effective?).
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They told me to take this course of 30 tablets, Fexofenadine hydrochoride (an antihistamine)
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They gave me this medicated shampoo for dry scalp.

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And then these creams for my scalp. Use Fucibet cream (corticosteroid/antibacterial) twice a day first, for 7 days, then switch to Fuciden cream (hydocortisone/anti bacterial) twice a day for a further 7 days
“Fucibet contains 2 different types of medicine. One medicine is called fusidic acid. It is a type of
antibiotic. The other medicine is called betamethasone valerate. It is a type of corticosteroid (steroid).
These 2 medicines work at the same time in different ways.
Fucibet works by:
• The antibiotic killing germs (bacteria) that cause infections.
• The corticosteroid reducing any swelling, redness or itchiness of your skin.
Fucibet is used to treat:
• Conditions where the skin is inflamed (eczema or dermatitis) and also infected by germs
(bacteria).”

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No joke, I noticed results almost immediately as far as not feeling annoyed by dry skin/itchiness.
Within 1 week to a week and a half I had totally cleared up.
I still have 5 tablets yet to take including today…so that’s 25 days since treatment started.

Now. It should also be noted that my stressful source at work has departed, I am no longer sat at home permanently working from home in isolation as I’m hybrid working, and I also completey quit drinking 26 days ago…one day before starting the above treatment!

So again, not a 100% controlled experiment where I can pinpoint what made the difference for me, but I can say that no doubt being less stressed, being out and about more, and quitting drinking is a health booster…but also the above treatment they gave me was a game changer in getting the eczema flare up under control.
I’m completely eczema free today, but the practice nurse advised to carry on using the Epaderm ointment frequently and the medicated shampoo once or twice a week.

I’m still Keto though- so I’ll rule that out as the source of the flare up!
Hope that helps, but probaly not :man_shrugging:

Maybe ask your doc about those treatments…

(Edith) #5

I get painful, scaly, itchy bumps on my scalp and back when I eat dairy. Maybe iyou have some kind of food intolerance. I also have trouble with gluten. These problems have never shown up on allergy testing.

#6

Don’t know. It is about your personal immune system and we don’t know if you take xyz meds for med issues? or your lifestyle and age or ?

key being…there is no magic pill…wait there is…STAY ON the keto plan all in, learn more about you and drink more water for hydration and then we got adaption time and ‘heal time’ as the SKIN IS THE biggest show of our life. We detox thru it which can inflame it, we eat abc which can ruin it and show us, then we got combine all that and it takes TIME on a healing eating long term lifestyle to ‘fix it’ up to your standards as ‘you personally must eat to handle it’ so…

I know I threw out alot there LOL

Go all in Keto and keep the sights as in ‘not crap keto’ but whole food keto and throw the big meat/fat at yourself first before eating the ‘possible veg and store bought’ stuff that can do??? to you. Only time and walk thru it does one learn real truths on one.

So at that same time you are detoxing off crap and the skin can get worse as one heals for many so…again it is a wham wham wham and we think WTH? but key is STAY THE heck on plan and find you.

simple as that, and yes it TOOK me a few years to finally understand that way forward for me and I got past it all to be better, still have some issues, but for me, OMgosh SO WAY better and you can find that also.

wishing you the best. just give it all some thoughts that I rambled off and think about things. sometimes the long journey fixes and corrects but no one ever truly wants to do it :wink: and the magic bullet to fix it all ain’t out there most times!

(Pat) #7

Thank you for that information
My first flare started in the pandemic lockdown 2020., which was quite stressful. I don’t think the stress of the actual dry/itchy/ rash skin helped. I have been taking antihistamines for 2 years. I’ve been taking the same medication (for other things) for years so I don’t think it’s the medication.
After I had the allergy test and the doctor gave me advantan cream I thought I was cured. But then it came back again, not as bad as before but it’s there nonetheless.
So, after reading your post Coopdawg, I think it some of it could be stress related. We do have issues going on with us that are definitely stressful and worrying.
I appreciate all of your replies they have definitely been helpful.

#8

@Jacaranda1
It took me a while to actually take a step back, stress wise, (metaphorically!), and ask myself:
(This isdirected towards me btw, and not meant to be patronising to any other person, just me.)

  • Why am I stressed?

(Identify the stress source.
Some cope with stress more than others at times, but I guarantee you that each and everyone of us have their moments when we let things get to us, no matter how massive or trivial they are. Some people actually do better in acute stressful situations, then later, the chronic accrued stress can build up and hit that someone out of the blue, knock them for 6, and they never saw it coming. A metaphorical mindfield.
So what I’m saying is, attempt to indentify situations, circumstances, behaviours, even people …that overly cause stress. Then mitigate.
As soon as you identify it, then you can figure out what to do about it in a measured and sensible way.
A lot of the time, just realising why you are overly stressed can be enough for one to reset, unwind, and put things into perspective.)

  • Not all stress is bad!

(learn to recognise, early on, and distinguish between everyday pressures that we all at times go through, and the maddness you watch on the news, which the majority of us have no control of. stress is only bad when not managed.)

  • Everything hitting you at once?

No problem- prioritise.
(Don’t worry about everything at once because that can be overwhelming at times.
Break it down, do what is important first or at least get it started before dealing with the low hanging fruit problems (although the easy solved problems will boost morale too).
No ignoring problems- hit them head on, in priority. You will feel better for not ignoring them.)

Take time out to relax and appreciate what is good.
(There’s areason why every major religion, trade union, benevolent society or institution insisted on having rest day(s) per week. We are not machines!)

(Pat) #9

Hi Coopdawg,
I know exactly where the stress is coming from and I didn’t realise that stress is probably the reason for my eczema flare ups. I thought it might be food/booze related. But I haven’t had a drink for about 3 weeks. I stopped eating the Coles low carb bread that someone mentioned could be inflammatory due to the ingredients. All my meals are made from scratch, so no processed or packaged food. I was advised not to buy the same antihistamines every time. I was also advised to buy an air purifier which I do notice the difference in the morning as I no longer wake up with a stuffy nose.
The cream my doctor prescribed helps so I’ll continue to use that.
I must say it’s not as bad as it was when I was working with dust and dogs.
Thanks for all your information it’s very helpful.

(Allie) #10

Excellent changes to make, good on you. Keep in mind that your body will take a little time to free itself from any detrimental effects caused by these things so they may still have been partially responsible even with the stress you’ve identified being the main culprit.

Can I ask, what steps are you taking to manage the stress?

(Pat) #11

It’s hard really as my husband has been diagnosed first with kidney cancer and just recently bowel cancer and is due for an operation soon. It’s not till at night when I start to think about it. I keep telling myself everything is going to be okay and I’m sure it will be, I am trying to be positive and so is he. Whenever I get to thinking I do the breathe in ‘positive’ out ‘negative’.

(Allie) #12

That’s a really difficult situation, I feel for you :sparkling_heart:
Do the best you can to take care of yourself, try to set aside five or ten mins each day to just breathe and calm yourself down. Maybe taking ashwagandha would be beneficial to you too, I find it helpful, and, although this is a keto forum, if you need to chat - we are all here to listen.

(Pat) #13

Thank you

#14

Stress is absolutely a part of it and I send hugs and hopeful great medical recovery for your hubby!

but it is what you are eating and drinking. simple as that. you are in flux. you hold plan and then eat off or drink off and at this point, one can not heal the body truly but your circumstances are so thru the roof on your life right now???

the skin is the biggest detox of our system. It is the biggest organ that can show truths. Of course stress is ALL in there but time off the eat/drink times we do indulge won’t help it, only hinder it…

but I feel in a way I can’t help cause staying on plan, all in thru adaption and detox times changes us but your plate to handle, yikes, I don’t know if I could handle that life force slamming me either cause I would be in a definite trainwreck frame of mind from what you are handling right now!

sending big hugs!!! wishing both of you the best and can only hope all hits well for your family!!! :100::heart: