Eczema

[JeepGirl]

Anyone else have eczema that is worse since getting pregnant? I've had it since I was a kid, but it has always been controlled with prescription creams. But now the creams don't seem to be working.

 

[Jess&Jay]

ah! YES! I've had it as a kid, but it ever came back till I got pregnant! As a child I've had it on my arm and under my eyes. Being pregnant has cause it to come back but only under my eyes, it itches and it looks like I have bags under my eyes. I have cortazone, which is an over the counter med, and it burns but it works for a little then i have to put more throughout the day

Weird, isnt it?

 

[lisaf]

I'd be careful with the OTC stuff near the eyes... they usually have special creams that are for use near the eyes.
If you're careful though no harm done... just not a great idea.

Mine was horrible while TTC... no sign of it yet.. .Had it all my life and only got control of it when the super super strong prescription stuff... scared to use it while pregnant even though 2 of my docs say its fine Luckily I haven't needed it yet!

When I used to get it really bad, I would put on my cream, then a layer of vasoline to seal it in.. then wrap in gauze or wear cotton gloves if it was on my hands... do that before bed and it can really help! (this is what I had to do when it was so bad my hands were cracking and bleeding)
Also, lots of regular lotions have alochol in them, which will make eczema worse... I only use rich creams, not lotions because of this.
Also if its your hands, avoid washing your hands unless you have to, don't use the hand sanitizers etc...

If its on your body.. an Aveeno oatmeal bath can help.

Sure you guys know some of this stuff, just thought I'd throw my tips out there after fighting this darned condition most of my life!!

ooh and if you can't fight the itch... slapping is better than scratching as it doesn't damage the skin but kills the itch feeling (won't work under the eyes though )

 

[Jess&Jay]

lol ! Yeah, I'm pretty sure my otc medicine isnt for the eyes, cause I bought it for my arm. Hence the burning lol. but it worked for a little. it does say avoid eyes, but its all i got and i make sure i use a tiny bit. I need to go to the doc and get a prescription, for sure. that damn eczema makes my eyes itch sooooooo much, i swear i have like 4 eyelashes left on each eye!

 

[lisaf]

cold compresses or hot one can help relieve the itch... but hot stuff can dry out the skin further...
Maybe vasoline would be safer around the eyes?
Also maybe try to block your eye with a cotton ball while you put the lotion on or clean the rim of the lid with a Q-tip to keep it away from the eye itself?

 

[Jess&Jay]

I was thinking of cutting my skin off because it sooo annoying. haha JOKE
why do childhood allergies, diseases etc pop back up when you're pregnant? I'm just waiting for my asthma to come back =/ assuming it will.

 

[lisaf]

lower immune system when pregnant
and diminshed lung capacity kicks in as the baby takes over where your organs are... so you'll probably have asthma issues then.

 

[Jess&Jay]

lower immune system when pregnant
and diminshed lung capacity kicks in as the baby takes over where your organs are... so you'll probably have asthma issues then.

Oh joy
I always tell myself when I feel a certain pain, cant eat a certain food etc, Going through all of this IS WORTH IT.

I actually enjoy what my little one puts me through. Is that weird? haha

 

[lisaf]

nah, not weird at all...even when I'm miserable, just knowing that I'm pregnant cheers me up... took me a long time to get here!

 

[lisaf]

do you guys think its creepy how the ads at the top and bottom are always tied to the topics? I knew that in TTC it made sense to have IVF ones and to have babystuff ones in Pregnancy threads...
but the ads right now are all about eczema so they actually do keyword searches or something.... big brother and all that, lol.

 

[Jess&Jay]

hahaha i just looked at it, thats so true.

 

[JeepGirl]

I'd be careful with the OTC stuff near the eyes... they usually have special creams that are for use near the eyes.
If you're careful though no harm done... just not a great idea.

Mine was horrible while TTC... no sign of it yet.. .Had it all my life and only got control of it when the super super strong prescription stuff... scared to use it while pregnant even though 2 of my docs say its fine Luckily I haven't needed it yet!

When I used to get it really bad, I would put on my cream, then a layer of vasoline to seal it in.. then wrap in gauze or wear cotton gloves if it was on my hands... do that before bed and it can really help! (this is what I had to do when it was so bad my hands were cracking and bleeding)
Also, lots of regular lotions have alochol in them, which will make eczema worse... I only use rich creams, not lotions because of this.
Also if its your hands, avoid washing your hands unless you have to, don't use the hand sanitizers etc...

If its on your body.. an Aveeno oatmeal bath can help.

Sure you guys know some of this stuff, just thought I'd throw my tips out there after fighting this darned condition most of my life!!

ooh and if you can't fight the itch... slapping is better than scratching as it doesn't damage the skin but kills the itch feeling (won't work under the eyes though )

Vasoline helps a bit. The doctor told me to be careful which rich cream I use, Many have essential oils that should be avoided when expecting.

 

[lisaf]

ooh, interesting about the cream, didn't know about that... any idea which oils to avoid? Mine is a Hemp cream made by The Body Shop

 

[Lucy0945]

I had eczema as a young child, and it hasn't bothered me since. Until I got pregnant. It's back which is pretty annoying after not having it for 20+ years.
I've also had asthma since a child, but the last year it has almost gone, but I've noticed the last few days having to take my inhaler a bit more - my doc said this is to be expected during pregnancy.
All fun and games!

 

[MilosMommy7]

i've been meaning to post a thread about it. mine was super bad with my last one. and flared up again this time around too. it's miserable

 

[JeepGirl]

ooh, interesting about the cream, didn't know about that... any idea which oils to avoid? Mine is a Hemp cream made by The Body Shop

The following oils should be avoided:
Basil, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Clary sage (OK during labour), Clove, Cypress (OK after 5 months), Fennel, Hyssop, Jasmine (OK during labour), Juniper, Lemongrass, Myrrh, Parsley, Pennyroyal, Peppermint ( also advoid when breast feeding), Rosemary, Sweet marjoram, Thyme.

Last time I had my nails done, I gave this list to the girl doing them. The cream she usually used on me had some of these in it.

As far as the asthma, I didn't know it may come back. I had it as a child, but haven't had a inhaler in many years. Maybe I should ask about that at my next OB appt. Don't want to need an inhaler and not have one.

 

[Widget]

Oddly enough my eczema has cleared up... not sure if it is because of the pregnancy but I don't have to use any creams at all right now.

 

[Jess&Jay]

I havent had asthma in 7 years, but with my 1st pregnancy is came back STRONG. I had5 different meds BUT i didnt know I was pregnant ill I wen to the ER cause i could breathe properly and i was told i was so i only used my inhaler.

 

[welshmammy11]

i have never had eczema only since being pregnant, itson my arms and the midwife said e45 cream is the best for it

 

[armywife13]

I had eczema around my eye when I was a kid and elidel cleared it up. I hadn't had it since I was 10 and now that I'm pregnant it came back with a vengeance! It hurts so bad...annoying and quite ugly :/ Elidel is a no-no during pregnancy so, like I was advised to by the doctor I put coconut oil on it and it made it soooo much worse. Regular, even unscented lotions BURNS! I read a girl's blog about her struggle with the same problem and her solution was Dr Organics Manuka Honey Rescue Cream. I ordered some online...costs about 8 bucks. Fingers crossed that this stuff works!