Supplements To Help Eczema

[soapnumpty]

Hi all.
I've had eczema on my hands for over 10 years. The skin on my hands is dry, itchy and red, and often cracks. I've tried lots of steroid creams from my GP, none of which seem to help. I don't know if I'm allergic to one of the ingredients as they sting and seem to make my skin even redder.

I want to see if any other remedies might help it. I've been taking an allergy tablet once a day, (just in case it is an allergy) and a 1000mg capsule once a day of Evening Primrose Oil for the past month which has made my skin much softer and not as dry. After a week I was amazed at the improvement. My skin hadn't itched at all, the redness had gone down and I would say it was 90% better. But after about 10 days it started to get worse, and is now as bad as ever. I don't know whether to carry on with the Evening Primrose Oil capsules or try something else. Has anyone got any suggestions?

E45 doesn't seem to help. I've been using Palmer's cocoa butter lotion which is helping with the dryness.

I don't come into contact with any chemicals etc so I can't blame it on that.

Any help greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[Misky]

Hi, whereas I don't think my problem is eczma (no doctor or chemist has been able to give me a diagnosis), when my hands flare up I take a daily antihistamene tablet, and also use Inecto Pure Coconut hand and nail creme -it's only 99p and does my hands no end of good. If I've left them too long and they're cracked and leaking, i grit my teeth and put witch-hazel gel on first which stops the itching. I'm lucky that I only suffer on two fingers on my right hand. I hope this helps you.... X

[gingejbee]

In your situation, I'd be asking my GP to refer me to a dermatologist.
Sometimes, conditions like this need more specialist help than a GP can give.

[soapnumpty]

Thanks for your answers. I did see a dermatologist once when it was really bad, which I paid for myself as GP wouldn't refer me. I'll go and see the pharmacist and see what they say. My GP just keeps giving me more creams which aren't doing anything. I'll try and get some of that cream you suggest Misky.

[pastafreak]

Try just pure coconut oil...never mind products with coconut oil in them. Its usually sold in health food stores. I also found Bio oil to be good for recurring ezcema around my eyes.