Constant Eczema On My Face, And A Questionable Case Of Contact Dermatitis?
Posted by: Alan in Contact Dermatitis, tags: Case, Constant, Contact, Dermatitis, Eczema, Face, Questionable
I have eczema on opposite sides of my mouth (on the left edge and on the right). I didn’t have a real problem with it until I went to the Philippines over the summer in ‘07, and it just got so agitated and red as I had no remedy on hand, and mistakenly tried using chapstick to calm it down (to keep it from flaking, etc), which really made it worse.
I managed to see an on-hand doctor on campus and she prescribed the hydrocortisone cream. She warned me not to use it unless necessary as it is a steroid cream, but I find it hard to live without on a using it every other day, every other two days at longest. After such, the areas start to get red, irritated and itchy again.
Is it really that bad to continue using the cream? It definitely keeps it at bay. I kinda just want to just stick with it until it possibly dies off altogether.
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December 8th, 2009 at 5:21 am
I’m not sure about the eczema stuff, but I think I know what you are talking about on your hands. I had something like that about 5 years ago on my thumb. It ended up being some kind of fungus, similar to athletes foot. The only thing that would get rid of it was prescription Lamasil. My whole thumbnail got messed up and looked kind of gross, that’s what made me go to the doctor to figure out what it was.
Anyways, hope this helps.
December 8th, 2009 at 8:24 am
Hi kim,
i hope ur good. Thats a fine detailed question u have got.
Eczema in the lip edges is quite bad, i can feel what your suffering from. Kim its ur skin which is hypersensitive and reacting to some allergen, your body immune system being hypersensitive itself creates lymphocytes to fight against the bad guys i.e. Allergens and these lymphocytes starts an inflammatory reaction. Normally those allergens would not cause any reaction in others like myself. Hydrocortisone is a corticosteroid whose apart from anti-inflammatory function another function is immunosuppressing. So it decreases ur immunity, so lymphocytes arent formed, no redness, no itchyness, no scaling, and no bleeding if severe or scratched. But your body is not protected against other pathogens and microbes as your immunity is reduced. Its one of the side effects.
But is good to use when symptoms occur and only mild steroid ointment for eg. 1% hydrocorticosterone or 2.5%. Should try to lessen the use as u can as it can be atrophic.
It would be bad if i prescribe u being in med school and half a doctor and without checkup but if u can ask ur doctor about pimecrolimus cream or tacrolimus ointment. I hope it works for u. Its milder than steroid and less side effects.
Also more important is to find out the cause. Is it fur? Happens in winter only? U gota cat at home? The soap u use? Other chemicals and washing detergents? Dust? Happens after cleaning? Or after eating certain food, spicy? Woolen clothes? Shouldnt lick it even.
I wish u good health.
Shan.