Sudden development of eczema

kassie

Hi all (bit long winded but bear with me)

Anyone any experience with eczema or get it out of the blue????

I'm 36 (37 in 2 weeks), never had any skin issues at all, taking no meds (other than the pill), no health issues, not pregnant, no change in diet, lifestyle etc etc etc.

About 8 to 10 months ago i developed a small red mark on my left boob in or around the area where the wire from a bra would sit. Watched it over the space of a few months and it slowly got larger and the skin got dryer. I tried over the counter skin creams/moisturisers while they helped a little it never went away and it continued getting bigger (its about the size of a 2euro coin now). I went to the doctor last December and she advised that it was a patch of eczema and told me to get a hydrocortisone cream, which I did and over a few weeks the patch reduced in colour (it was really red and the skin wasnt as dry). It never totally went away and its now back to square one.

I thought this was a one off patch that I had but over the last 2 months or that, Ive come to the conclusion that Ive patches of it elsewhere for as long as the other area, I just didnt make the connection. The back of my right earlobe has been dry and flaky, I just assumed it was from earrings and TMI COMING UP around my privates (down below :eek: ). Over the last number of months I had made a mental note of that area getting sore very easily, like the skin was dry and cracking and simple things like wiping after going to the loo was irritating the skin. I had put it down to change in hormones (now Im coming to my 40s) but it makes more sense that it could be eczema as the pubic bone area can get quite itchy at times.

Over the last number of days Ive developed small freckle size red flaky blotches in my pubic hair area and on my back, tummy, arms and legs and I think on my scalp. Im a bit bemused that a person can just "get" eczema mid life without any changes in diet/lifestyle etc. the only thing that has changed in the time the first large patch developed is that Ive started going to yoga classes once a week bar the stress of that on my body and sweating has brought it on further???

Anyone in a similar situation or any advice to give would be greatly appreciated (particularly for the private area!!)

Im making an appointment to see my doc next week anywho!

sullivlo

mod

On discussion we will allow the thread, however absolutely no medical advice. Experiences only.

kassie

thank you sullivlo

sullivlo

My experience over the past while:

I developed random patches of dry skin that wouldn't go away with moisturising. I was at my GP for something unrelated and she said that it looked like eczema and gave me cream. Cream helped - flaking stopped but still had discoloured skin. A few months on it came back with a vengence everywhere. The inside of my elbows, outside of my elbows, my arms, legs, behind my knees, my armpits, my groin, my tummy... everywhere. But just patches, not systemic. I tried the cream that the doctor had given me for 5 days and it went away, but when I stopped it it came back. I went back to the GP and she had a look at all of the patches and was very confused. Some of the patches she diagnosed as psoriasis, and I got a special cream for them (that worked a charm). Others are contact dermatitis/eczema that she said to just use moisturiser on.

In terms of how it came on - like you I had no major changes in anything. The main thing was an increase in exercise (and subsequent showering) so I had to be really careful after I showered (make sure I was properly dry, moisturise) and to get changed out of sweaty gear as soon as possible.

Seems to have helped. I have some patches that appear to be resistant to any sort of treatment. They randomly flare up but there's no connection to anything really. I'm going to get bloods done for another reason so they might show something up.

Not much help, sorry. But maybe it might be comfort to know you're not alone!!!

kassie

my doc said it is an outbreak of eczema and just gave me Daktacort cream for the worst patches and to use a moisturizer called Silcocks Base. Thankfully the patches are not overly itchy but that doesn't stop me feeling like a leper :eek: i'm armed with a special shower gel (Aveno Dermex) Silcock Base and Daktacort so with any luck the blotches will lessen over the coming weeks and normality will resume.

Still find it totally strange that someone can just "get" eczema/psoriasis out of no where without ever having any skin problems before! :rolleyes:

valerie

There's a good patient information leaflet on patient.co.uk about eczema about avoiding triggers for eczema and moisturising to prevent flare ups.

kassie

valerie wrote: »

There's a good patient information leaflet on patient.co.uk about eczema about avoiding triggers for eczema and moisturising to prevent flare ups.

Thanks I'll check it out

tanit

I had issues with what it was supposed to be an eczema when I was a child. The skin became very dry, it cracked and after a while it developed blisters that eventually broke and the whole thing became a mess. It turned out to be a nickel allergy and that I was very, very allergic to nickel so any area in close proximity to nickel (glass frames, jewellery, watches, metallic buttons, etc) developed the whole thing. Creams didn't work, nothing worked but avoiding anything that could have nickel on it and there are a huge amount of things that have nickel.

A friend of mine developed a thing more like you in the joints and places where the skin was very close to joints, bones. It turned out to be a moisturiser she was using.

My advice check if you have recently changed creams, shower gels, etc and check with a doctor. If you haven't had this issue before it shouldn't be an allergy like in my case but occasionally you do develop allergies to products when you are older, it's not usual but it could happen

jackofalltrades

kassie wrote: »

I'm 36 (37 in 2 weeks), never had any skin issues at all, taking no meds (other than the pill), no health issues, not pregnant, no change in diet, lifestyle etc etc etc.

Any increase in stress or bad news in your life? It's a know trigger for skin conditions.
I'd also second Tanit's recommendation to go through any cleansing/moisturising products that you use.

kassie

i wouldn't say i have any extra stress other than that of ordinary every day life (2 young children at home). when the blotches showed up it was a day or two after my parents moved house, while i would say the move wasn't stressful on me all the family were on hand to help move so it was tiring pulling and dragging boxes.

as for lotions and products i've been using the same products as i always have, chopping and changing between the same few regular ones - bar some of them have changed ingredients that i'm not aware of or else i've built up an intolerance to them.

i've been using a product called Moo Goo for the last week (shampoo & conditioner as my scalp broke out last week along with its body wash and moisturizer) and before that i was using Silcock Base lotion - the effected areas haven't gotten any worse as far as i can tell but they are still clearly visible and without itch for the most part. My right forearm was effected and the blotches are still visible but they don't seem to be as dry looking as the others... i'm hoping that its something that will just run its own course and will eventually disappear in time! From reading t'internet it seems there is not a whole lot else i can do bar i go down the route of having an allergy test.... although a few family members have recommended to go to a person who has "the cure" ... have nothing to lose!

tanit

kassie wrote: »

i wouldn't say i have any extra stress other than that of ordinary every day life (2 young children at home). when the blotches showed up it was a day or two after my parents moved house, while i would say the move wasn't stressful on me all the family were on hand to help move so it was tiring pulling and dragging boxes.

as for lotions and products i've been using the same products as i always have, chopping and changing between the same few regular ones - bar some of them have changed ingredients that i'm not aware of or else i've built up an intolerance to them.

i've been using a product called Moo Goo for the last week (shampoo & conditioner as my scalp broke out last week along with its body wash and moisturizer) and before that i was using Silcock Base lotion - the effected areas haven't gotten any worse as far as i can tell but they are still clearly visible and without itch for the most part. My right forearm was effected and the blotches are still visible but they don't seem to be as dry looking as the others... i'm hoping that its something that will just run its own course and will eventually disappear in time! From reading t'internet it seems there is not a whole lot else i can do bar i go down the route of having an allergy test.... although a few family members have recommended to go to a person who has "the cure" ... have nothing to lose!

The friend I was talking about before, she had also a dust allergy. I didn't know about it for years because she only had issues when she had contact with very dusty areas or items, like boxes in attics, or that had not been moved in ages. She had to be incredibly careful to wash her hands and any areas in touch with the dust immediately after or she developed a rash. You might have been in contact with something in the move that caused the rash I would still go to the doctor to check but if you don't have time go to the pharmacy and let them know what is going on and keep the area as clean and free of everything (I'd say even normal creams) as you can

cee_jay

I developed eczema in the past couple of years - like you, no major changes in my life, about 6 months younger than you.
I have developed it in my ear (of all places) - I was getting reoccurring ear infections (one so bad I wasn't able to eat for 3 days due to the shooting pain down my jaw). That was my 4th infection in around 18 months. Went to an on call doctor who finally diagnosed eczema, which was causing the infections.
I have it under control now with a cream, very particular about shampoos and conditioners, etc.

retro:electro

Do you have any pets? It could be an allergy causing the eczema. I had the exact same as you're describing- it just flared up out of the blue. I didn't realise what was causing it until my dog died, and almost immediately, my eczema went completely and never returned. I never put the two together as I'd had my dog for years at that stage, but the doctor told me allergies can flare up at any time, and something as simple as changing the dogs food could result in me being irritated.

Before this I had tried every cream going. It got to the stage where I'd been to the doctor so many times she told me she'd given me everything she could give me. I eliminated all perfumed body lotions, soaps, used only clear shower gel, used emoliants- the works. These changes helped somewhat but nothing eliminated it. This was going on for two years until my dog died and literally over a week my skin was back to normal. I'd say it's more than likely something in your environment causing it to trigger.

Cassie.B

Last year i had very similar pattern, starting with a blotch under my boob, then spreading all down one side and right onto my pubic area. Diagnosed as eczema but creams from the pharmacy did nothing except clear the flaking.
3 sessions of laser treatment finally rid it completely TG.