lindsay
Member
I had bad eczema on my face as a child (and sports induced asthma). I no longer have either. I learned to control the asthma years ago (basically, by not allowing myself to get worked up about things and breathing calmly), but the eczema got really bad in college. For me, it was this crazy outbreak on my face that was itchy and looked like acne, but with dry skin (weird, I know).
Anyhow, because I was not at home and could go to my doctor to get steroid cream (which I now realize is a good thing), I randomly began applying vaseline on it to sooth it, and voila! Eczema gone.
I now take some thyroid and try to eat a fairly RP diet and keep the gut as clean as I can. My last outbreak was when I got appendicitis, so yes - it was infection related. If you haven't tried antibiotics, I would give that a whirl. It went away after I had surgery and was put on minocycline. That being said, I still use petroleum jelly (I'm sure it's terrible, but it works for me) - the Bag Balm brand in the green can - every night on my upper lip, eyelids, hands, and corners of the mouth. This is where my outbreaks were the worse. As for dry skin, unless you want to stop bathing regularly, lotion is kind of necessary. I do much better if I skip showers, but I know that stinks when you have to work.
Also, I don't know if you eat gluten or starch, but eliminating both definitely helps for me. You may consider applying topical vitamin A as well - and vitamin E. But I do think thyroid has a lot to do with it.
Anyhow, because I was not at home and could go to my doctor to get steroid cream (which I now realize is a good thing), I randomly began applying vaseline on it to sooth it, and voila! Eczema gone.
I now take some thyroid and try to eat a fairly RP diet and keep the gut as clean as I can. My last outbreak was when I got appendicitis, so yes - it was infection related. If you haven't tried antibiotics, I would give that a whirl. It went away after I had surgery and was put on minocycline. That being said, I still use petroleum jelly (I'm sure it's terrible, but it works for me) - the Bag Balm brand in the green can - every night on my upper lip, eyelids, hands, and corners of the mouth. This is where my outbreaks were the worse. As for dry skin, unless you want to stop bathing regularly, lotion is kind of necessary. I do much better if I skip showers, but I know that stinks when you have to work.
Also, I don't know if you eat gluten or starch, but eliminating both definitely helps for me. You may consider applying topical vitamin A as well - and vitamin E. But I do think thyroid has a lot to do with it.