The eczema on my hands is back, and it’s really doing my head in this time. 😡

Could be the soap I use to wash my hands, it could be because work is mental busy and I’ve not been sleeping well, or… it could be something in my diet that really doesn’t agree with me.

Willing to go for allergy testing to rule any food allergies out. (I have asthma as well, so it’s not beyond the realms of possibilty that something else disagrees with me.)

Anyone done it, and anything I should be aware of ? And can anyone recommend somewhere in the North West.

Not sure if this is going to be any help.
Firstly, I understand your position, thwe pain I have from the eczema can bring me to tears through pain and frustration.
Secondly, I did an allergy test, on the NHS in Spain, that didn’t find any significant allergies. I have, however, found one or two foods that either irritate the asthma or provoke very strong reactions.
I’m not too sure that and allergy test is going to help unless you have a clear idea about what you want testing.
Maybe taking note of the changes you’ve made recently and removing the elements one by one until you see an improvement, the one element that is difficult to test for is the stress. 😕
That’s the way I do it.

Hmm, not this test…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/02/food_intolerance_test.html

I have ezcema too and I saw a dermatology consultant a while ago. He did some blood serum tests that showed I have various pet allergies (which I already knew about…) not sure if there ate similar test for foodstuffs.

One sure fire way is to cut out virtually all possibilities, have a really restricted diet for a while. See if it helps you skin and then try reintroducing foods one at a time.

I bet its mostly the stress n tiredness causing it at the moment tho.

Go and see a proper immunologist. dont get conned by the quacks.

dairy and raw fruit tend to be the ones that make it flare.

Have suffered pretty bad for as long as can rememeber, tried various things, stopping smoking, dariy free, gluten free, caffine free, citrus free, air purifiers, anti-mold paint, foam matresses etc, etc. No noticable difference.

Did a home blood test hoping for an answer, results were a barely noticable egg reaction. Have found it to be almost gone the last 12 months not sure why. Now eat anything but avoid mayonaise, have black coffee and try to eat onions? Crazy anicdotal but there you go. Stress may magnify but don’t believe is the cause. Am also convinced the ‘pure’ soaps are the worst.

There are two types of alergy reactions / tests, the blood ones and the skin pricks. Hands sounds more contact? You can walk in to Superdrug and get them done, results are dubvious though.

My friends wife did this for Holland and Barrett, said thier system is all BS with no proper medical reasoning to back anything up, everyone tested would have something wrong that could be treated with a £20-odd supplement. As others have said get a referral off your GP or go to someone who has a medical background. Hope it clears up for you and you don’t get too stressed.

some elements of dairy and some raw fruit tend to be the ones that make it flare.

With dairy it could be either casein or lactose. I have an intolerance to casein, so soya drink for me.

Hmm… yes. Some interesting points there. I’m more than happy to do tests, but the thought of paying good money for snake oil is well..

There are so many poeple out there, I get the feeling I could be wasting my time going down that route. That link was very enlightening.

Go and see a proper immunologist. dont get conned by the quacks.

I guess this is a sensible idea. Would I do this by going through my GP ?

I bet its mostly the stress n tiredness causing it at the moment tho.

It almost certainly doesn’t help. October = holiday. Can’t frickin wait.

to be honest i would expect a food intolerance/allergy to cause a more widespread rash then just the back of your hands.

sounds like yo need a few weeks of strong topical steroids and emmollients to calm it all down

Immunology is viareferral from gp but waits are long as allergy specialists are few and far between on the nhs. I think there is only one immunologist for the whole of the southern half of wales for example!