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The only thing that cleared mine (though doesn’t sound as severe as your sisters) was a very strong steroid cream from the doctor and diprobase ointment. It cleared it up completely and hasn’t come back. I still use the diprobase ointment now on dry skin - it’s thick and greasy but it works great. Maybe try it overnight with gloves on? Think you can get it in boots, isn’t expensive. Never rated the diprobase cream but might be an option if she doesn’t get on with how annoyingly messy the ointment can be!
I have had eczema for years - the doctors prescribed really strong creams, I had special shower gel and bubble bath prescribed to me, used no fragrance hand wash etc but it didn’t touch the sides. At the beginning of 2020 I completely cut out dairy and my skin has never been better! dairy intolerance is a common cause of eczema so could be worth looking into 
Babyyoda88
VIP Member
A fair few years ago my hands were so bad and sore (and infected) it was only antibiotics and steroid cream which helped calm it (nothing over the counter bought would help) tried aveno, E45 etc but it was too bad. It eventually cleared up and came back once so I got more steroid cream off the GP and it went again. Luckily haven’t had it back since late 2016 and was discharged from the hospital. I’m just careful what I use on my hands now. I use Green People antibacterial soap when washing my hands and aveno occasionally when they start to feel dry.
Curly Top
VIP Member
Apple Cider Vinegar is good for this type of problem because it is acidic. Healthy skin has an acidic barrier which protects it but if you have eczema your PH levels are elevated so this barrier doesn't work properly. This means that moisture escapes and irritants are allowed in.
To help this situation mix one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a cup of warm water and apply to affected skin with a cloth and wrap it round them. Better still, soak a pair of cotton gloves in ACV, squeeze them out a bit and put them on.
Hopefully this will help.
To help this situation mix one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a cup of warm water and apply to affected skin with a cloth and wrap it round them. Better still, soak a pair of cotton gloves in ACV, squeeze them out a bit and put them on.
Hopefully this will help.
Trixabellee9393
Well-known member
My sister (29) has severe cracked skin on her hands, rashes and it’s really really itchy. It’s all blistery. She’s had it for a couple years now. Does anyone have any tips? She uses all the obvious sorts of creams and stuff from the doctor to no avail.
littlepup
VIP Member
Has she had it diagnosed as anything specific?
My partner uses Epaderm and that's the only one that helps him out of Cetraben, Aveeno, Dermalex, Diprobase etc. Might be a case of trial and error to what suits her specifically. Nothing 'cures' it though, just provided relief and less symptoms.
I've read good things about salt water bathing, Egyptian Magic and Burt's bees multipurpose ointment, they are next on the list to try to actually eliminate it if/when it flares.
If you haven't already, look at everything environmental that could be causing it. Does she let toothpaste get on her hands in the morning, maybe uses a certain polish on her steering wheel, started using a different washing up liquid, shampoo etc. Also did she start taking a new pill or supplement or switch diets before it started etc. There can be the most unusual triggers.
My partner uses Epaderm and that's the only one that helps him out of Cetraben, Aveeno, Dermalex, Diprobase etc. Might be a case of trial and error to what suits her specifically. Nothing 'cures' it though, just provided relief and less symptoms.
I've read good things about salt water bathing, Egyptian Magic and Burt's bees multipurpose ointment, they are next on the list to try to actually eliminate it if/when it flares.
If you haven't already, look at everything environmental that could be causing it. Does she let toothpaste get on her hands in the morning, maybe uses a certain polish on her steering wheel, started using a different washing up liquid, shampoo etc. Also did she start taking a new pill or supplement or switch diets before it started etc. There can be the most unusual triggers.
emmer_moans
VIP Member
Perhaps take a look at the formulation of the soap your sister is using - quite a lot of soaps have harsh ingredients which strip the oils from your hands and that caused me a lot of issues at the start of the pandemic with my excema, because i began washing my hands twice as much. I have recently switched to Simple’s bar soaps and they seem to be a bit better. I would avoid any soaps with lots of perfumes etc as they might be drying the skin too much. Moisturiser wise I use Aveeno, made with oatmeal and it is quite soothing.
Begborrowsteal
VIP Member
When mine is really bad, Weleda Skin Food helps. Otherwise, its just constant moisturising 
its so sore!
its so sore!
Trixabellee9393
Well-known member
Thanks all really great suggestions appreciate it xxxx
appreciate it xxxx
emmer_moans
VIP Member
I’ll have to check that out
No worries, dry chapped sore hands are miserable to deal with, and at the moment not helped by using hand sanitisers (ouch!).Thanks all really great suggestions
Londoncailín
VIP Member
Aveeno cica balm is excellent
Bae56
Chatty Member
A good emollient wash works well with an emollient or steroid cream on afterwards. Especially with all this handwashing just now. E45 do a wash that comes in a pump. Hydromol can be used as an all rounder. Mix it with water as a wash. Try not to use hot water.
I find Cetraben best out of the cream emollients & top it up all day. A steroid cream before bed is good because it gives it a good chance to work. It's trial & error with emollients, she should ask the dr to change her prescription to something else if the one she has doesn't work.
If she's going to use childs farm or aveeno it needs to be the unperfumed ones, even if it's marketed for babies or it'll make her so much worse.
I find Cetraben best out of the cream emollients & top it up all day. A steroid cream before bed is good because it gives it a good chance to work. It's trial & error with emollients, she should ask the dr to change her prescription to something else if the one she has doesn't work.
If she's going to use childs farm or aveeno it needs to be the unperfumed ones, even if it's marketed for babies or it'll make her so much worse.
Minky McMoneypenny
Well-known member
Google Dr Aron regime - it's long term use of small amounts of prescribed steroid and antibiotic creams mixed in with a base cream (eg Cetraben) and used regularly. So instead of using the full strength steroid for a short period, you use a highly diluted steroid for longer and eventually reduce dosages.
HoneyBee29
VIP Member
She needs to keep going back to her doctor and don’t leave it. I was using a cream my doctor had initially given me and it wasn’t helping at all. Mine got so bad on my hands at one point it got infected and I had to take nearly 3 months off work as it was so badly infected and constantly have my hands wet in work from cleaning. I was on antibiotics and had to use various creams for weeks. It took nearly the whole 3 months for it to clear up. The only thing that cleared it up was a steroid type cream that had an antibiotic in it and you can only get that prescribed by a doctor but they’d given me all sorts of other creams to try
Dana Scully
New member
Has she had a confirmed diagnosis of dyshidrotic eczema? Does she have it on her feet? The correct emollient for all eczema is vital. What works for one person might not for another. Aveeno - unscented with oatmeal (porridge) in has a reasonable success rate, E45 less so. Oversized rubber gloves for housework involving any chemicals including wipes. Make sure she keeps her hands cool if possible. First line steroid cream would be Betnovate. If she has tried these things (and others) then asking her GP for a referral is reasonable. The National Eczema Society is helpful too. https://eczema.org/
Pixie06
VIP Member
For cracked skin use metanium nappy ointment. Its the only thing that works for me, its a yellow colour but gets in cracks like a kind of cement! Heals so fast! You only need the tiniest amount. I've used it all my life I have severe eczema and icthyosis. Childs Farm products are also good. If my skin is really dry I put ointment then wrap it in cling film which retains moisture. Also soaked porridge oat water is very soothing in a bath.
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