Eczema

Think I have eczema. Any tips on treating it as its really itchy and annoying. Is it normal to catch eczema at 26 years of age.

It is on the back of my hands, was on the inner crease of the elbow (now gone) and at the very top of my inner thigh (not on my genitals)

Having looked online it appears to be eczema, think I may have caused it by cycling to work in tight boxers, jeans, non sweat wicking t shirts – generally non riding gear – then wearing it all day.

could be fungal rather than excema (back of hands is unusual – could be contact dermatatitis (sp?).

go to gp and get some cortizone cream – they may give you somethign antifungal too.

yep some HC45 should clear it up

and yes i get it on teh back on my hands, have to stop wearing gloves when biking and change my rubber gloves often, i work in a lab!

anti-histhamines may help too

i find it flares up up when the weather changes ie spring and autumn

eczema is sometimes related to asthma. I would suggest e45 cream, suddocrem, or go to the doctor for hydrocortizone or betnovate.

AFAIK you dont catch eczema, you either have it or you don't. More likely to be a fungal thing though. GP will try to sort it with something like Fucibet cream (you can get it over the counter – it's an anti-fungal and steroid cream – but be wary of the label, it's only for use on small areas and for short periods, it can trash your skin if you over-do it). I think it's also used on eczema also, but not sure. I'd see my GP if I was worried, but try the fucibet as a have-a-go-doctor-hero.

💡 Go see your GP

agreed with above you don't "catch" it. See your gp, they can prescribe cream. It's related to hayfever and asthma, do you get either of those? I am blessed with all 3.

It may be eczema or perhaps a sweat rash, what won't hurt is moisturising with an emollient called DiproBase, available from pharmacists. It's a heavy duty cream that eases all sorts of problems and is really effective for sore itchy patches. It's worth trying for a week or so before queuing at the doctors

Mine started a couple of years ago with asthma, so yes it can start in later life. I just use a normal hand cream as I can't be bothered looking fo E45, but I do know that it's effective.

Happy scratching!

E45 Cream when your skin is damp after a shower (You must use it every day though. Hydro Cortisone for flare ups 1 week max I was recomended, but I do have it on my face. I have Seborrhoeic eczema, find out which type you have as there can be varying ways to treat it. I also take vitamin B6 and B2 supplements which is great at keeping it at bay. However there is the odd nasty flare up. Resist the temptation to scratch it too, in case it is fungal you don't want it spreading, particularly to your head then it's a bugger to shift.

Thanks for the answers, well I have never had an asthma attack and very much doubt I have that. Plus I don't believe I have hayfever, as I have no problems with plants and don't have the classic symptoms.

Maybe I'll try a cream before docs.

I first got eczema when I was 38 and going through a particularly stressful period in my life. Was presribed Betnovate and also used Aqueous Cream by GP. Suffered with it on and off for a few years but haven't had a serious flare up, since I left a job that was one of the factors creating stress in my life.

Got something similar from not washing my bike gloves and the sweat got a bit minging.
Anyway, check with doc as quite possibly fungal.

Otherwise, I've always found that oatmeal based moisturisers are best, the others seem to block pores and make it worse.

Go and see your GP instead of taking medical advice from unknown people on the internet who have not examined your condition at first hand!

Mine's really bad at the moment but not fungal yet. I won't use steroid creams any more (at age 34) as my skin is very very weak on the back of my right hand. I just tape it up (currently 4 plasters on my right hand) and wear gloves a lot.

See your doctor if you've not had it before.

+1 for basic Aqueous cream for washing (big tub £2 from proper chemists, not Boots, not E45 either).

It sounds like a heat rash more than eczema, I get both (lucky me). But as others say go and get it checked out…

I get eczema but I found E45 made it worse. If it turns out you have eczema, try various scent free hand creams. The best treatment I ever found was a Boots own intensive handcream which was better than any product ever prescribed by the Docs. 10 mins of stinging then you could literally see the rash improving in my case – used to take days of treatment with mild steroid cream from the Docs.

Also keep an eye out on products you come into contact with – detergent, soap, fabric conditioner, household or garage chemicals you come into contact with at work or home. They can trigger off stuff. Worst one for me was Lux soap.

aloe vera gel. orally.

has had an amazing effect on my fathers hands.

Milk tends to set me off which is a bit of a bugger considering my job.