Embarassing Women's Eczema Problem - PLEASE HELP

[Aquarian310]

Hey guys! I am a 20 year old female who has been struggling with eczema since age 15.

It started on my inner elbows. Then I began to notice it above my eyelids. Then on the back of my knees and my upper arms- hard to deal with, but manageable using Triamcinolone.

About a year ago, I began to feel extremely itchy around my nipples. At first, I thought nothing much of it but as it persisted, I realized my eczema had spread.

It is AWFUL. They get so ridiculously itchy that I can't help but scratch- which forms sores that lead to crusty, flaky, surface on my nipple. My GP told me to use the Triamcinolone + Clotrimazole twice a day and see what happened. It offered temporary relief but I am back to the uncomfortable itchiness and eventual crusting and flaking. It is so unbelievably embarassing and unbearably uncomfortable.

So, I guess my questions are...:

Has/Does anyone else experience this?
- What works (if anything) for you?
- What should I avoid?

Could this possibly be something else?
- I get scared researching this online because of all the symptoms similarity to Paget's Disease..

I would really appreciate the insight and advice. I'm so, so desperate to see if this is at all curable- It's become an everyday struggle and has decreased my confidence significantly.

[Marcie Mom]

Oh dear, sounds awful, hugs!

I've no experience in this, am mom to an eczema gal. Moisturizing, and topical cream doesn't work? Check with doc on possibility of bacteria infection? Not sure if swimming is recommended for you..

Bra has mold and allergy? allergy tested?

So sorry, not much help, plenty of hugs..
Mei

[Aquarian310]

Thanks for the reply!

Have tried topical creams & moisturizers to no avail whatsoever. They simply moisturize but do not help the itching.

My GP noted that it might be a high deposit of yeast but the generic for Lotrimin does not help either. Am getting really worried

It may perhaps be an allergy to latex or the lace bras that I commonly wear as I did not experience this problem before I was wearing them, but furthermore it did not appear directly after I began wearing them regularly.

What was your note about swimming regarding? It the bacteria in any given body of water a threat to my eczema/condition?

The hugs are so appreciated. Thank you. Looks like I'm gonna have to take a trip to the GP.

[Marcie Mom]

Hi!

Swimming can kill the staph bacteria - the other way to kill the bacteria is via cleaning with chlorhexidine, but that's not recommended for genital areas, so I'm not sure if it's appropriate. The chlorine may irritate, but for my baby, it doesn't but helps to kill the bacteria while having fun!

Contact dermatitis may not occur immediately, as generally it takes a longer time to be hypersensitive to it.. so it's not uncommon to see a rash only after a period of contact. If it's latex, there is some cross allergy (meaning other substances have similar protein structure that the body mistake for the same allergen) with kiwi.. any experience?

More hugs, and do see a dermatologist if really concerned, get a referral from GP (not sure how health care system in your country works!) - dermatologist sees many more skin problems and thus can diagnose more accurately, more more hugs!
Mei
Singapore mom of eczema girl!

[allyjabocs]

Hey girl,
So sorry to hear that! It must be so uncomfortable. Hang in there, I’m sure something can be done to help. My sister has eczema and I know she definitely swims pretty often. I know you said you tried moisturizers/creams and they helped the dryness. Is it possible for you to combine them with itch-relievers like hydrocortisone? Have you scheduled a visit to the GP at all? OH also! Maybe this site might be helpful for you in the time you’re waiting to get an idea of what you have or should do: bit.ly/aohS8N. I use it to ask doctors questions and they always respond with pretty apt medical advice (for free too, wooo. honestly my favorite part about it ha ha, yay being cheap). Check it out and see if anyone tells you anything helpful. Good luck girl!
xoxo
Ally

[Marcie Mom]

Thanks Ally and hope Aquarian310 is better!

[ellsaroo]

hi, I also had a problem like this a while ago- my eczema seems to have moved elsewhere now- if you look online you can get 100% cotton bras-nit the most attractive but might tide you over until it calms down a bit. I used to be awful- lying in my bed top off having a wicked scratching session.
maybe try showering then getting some steriod cream and moisturiser on it then just stick a 100% cotton top on with no bra?
also you can try a kind of wet wrapping thing by putting a damp vest on thats been dipped and wrung out in warm water- with another 100% cotton top over the top of that. unpleasant but may give you some relief!