What are your eczema triggers?

Options
ShinySkyShaymin1994
ShinySkyShaymin1994 Posts: 105 Member
edited January 2017 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello I have been battling genetic eczema for almost a year now and I had enough I know for sure one of my triggers is water but I can't cut that out since I intern at a Children's Hospital. I would love to know everyone's triggers/flare ups food environmental etc so I can figure out my triggers. It came 2 months after I moved out of my mom's house 20 minutes away I changed my hand soaps and body wash although I tried Dr Bronners body soap but it made my skin itch in the beginning not anymore though I'm only still using it to not waste my money I don't think it's good for my skin I tried Olive and Coconut oil but it didn't help I heard it helped people first day I gave it a few days and nothing I use CereVe lotion and a aloe cream they were advertising at Costco which helps a lot when I'm not working I am considering cutting out gluten to see if it's a cause but I need to make sure I can replace those calories first
«1345

Replies

  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,134 Member
    Options
    Food doesn't trigger my eczema. It's weather, harsh cleaning chemicals, and too frequent hand washing that causes mine. Lotions/creams work for a few days, then stop helping.
  • ShinySkyShaymin1994
    ShinySkyShaymin1994 Posts: 105 Member
    Options
    zyxst wrote: »
    Food doesn't trigger my eczema. It's weather, harsh cleaning chemicals, and too frequent hand washing that causes mine. Lotions/creams work for a few days, then stop helping.
    zyxst wrote: »
    Food doesn't trigger my eczema. It's weather, harsh cleaning chemicals, and too frequent hand washing that causes mine. Lotions/creams work for a few days, then stop helping.

    If you use gloves does that help with the chemicals? Or have you not used gloves?
  • comptonelizabeth
    comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
    Options
    I've had eczema all my life. I haven't noticed any foods that trigger it -usually it's triggered or made worse by heat or cold, stress, lack of sleep and some allergens (cats,grass etc) The most important thing for me is to use lots of heavy duty moisturizing cream and a non-soap based product for washing (eg aqueous cream) and yes,wear gloves if you're using detergents. My skin also improves over time if I take omega oils but I never manage to keep it up!
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,139 Member
    Options
    are we debating this?
  • LiftingRiot
    LiftingRiot Posts: 6,952 Member
    Options
    No BS... My ex
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,134 Member
    Options
    ShinySkyShaymin1994 wrote: »
    zyxst wrote: »
    Food doesn't trigger my eczema. It's weather, harsh cleaning chemicals, and too frequent hand washing that causes mine. Lotions/creams work for a few days, then stop helping.
    zyxst wrote: »
    Food doesn't trigger my eczema. It's weather, harsh cleaning chemicals, and too frequent hand washing that causes mine. Lotions/creams work for a few days, then stop helping.

    If you use gloves does that help with the chemicals? Or have you not used gloves?

    I use gloves, but it's difficult to tell if something is clean (like the dishes) with a disposable glove on. It gets more fun when my sweat reacts with the glove and more eczema happens.
  • ShinySkyShaymin1994
    ShinySkyShaymin1994 Posts: 105 Member
    Options
    zyxst wrote: »
    ShinySkyShaymin1994 wrote: »
    zyxst wrote: »
    Food doesn't trigger my eczema. It's weather, harsh cleaning chemicals, and too frequent hand washing that causes mine. Lotions/creams work for a few days, then stop helping.
    zyxst wrote: »
    Food doesn't trigger my eczema. It's weather, harsh cleaning chemicals, and too frequent hand washing that causes mine. Lotions/creams work for a few days, then stop helping.

    If you use gloves does that help with the chemicals? Or have you not used gloves?

    I use gloves, but it's difficult to tell if something is clean (like the dishes) with a disposable glove on. It gets more fun when my sweat reacts with the glove and more eczema happens.

    Ah OK the reason I asked is because I applied for a position at work which would involve me using gloves and alcohol to clean medical equipment
  • deputy_randolph
    deputy_randolph Posts: 940 Member
    Options
    My daughter's eczema was triggered by an allergy to milk, eggs, coconut, and nuts. If you haven't been tested for food allergies, that might be worth looking into. The dermatologist recommended Cereve. Avoiding the foods cleared the eczema...mostly.
  • ShinySkyShaymin1994
    ShinySkyShaymin1994 Posts: 105 Member
    Options
    deputy_randolph wrote: »
    My daughter's eczema was triggered by an allergy to milk, eggs, coconut, and nuts. If you haven't been tested for food allergies, that might be worth looking into. The dermatologist recommended Cereve. Avoiding the foods cleared the eczema...mostly.

    Yes I have and I'm allergic to Bananas and kiwi
  • Nony_Mouse
    Nony_Mouse Posts: 5,646 Member
    Options
    I seem to have developed a seasonal thing (summer, which it currently is in NZ), which then results in intolerance or lower tolerance to things I normally seem fine with. So far eggs and tomatoes (gee, only a staple part of my diet) are definitely on the list. Heat aggravates it of course (which goes well with the summer thing...), I've always been very careful about detergents, soaps, cleaners etc, have to be careful with sunblock choices (also awesome in summer, esp. when you're a pasty redhead). Oh and wool is one of my historical triggers, luckily not an issue in summer (different story with winter outbreaks). And stress.

    But basically, everyone is different. You'll just have to work your triggers out. I'd ditch that soap that's making you itchy though, or give it to a friend.

    Key thing with eczema is to keep your skin moisturised. I'm currently using cetemacrogal cream. You may need to try different things until you find something that works for you.
  • warrior_goddess
    warrior_goddess Posts: 53 Member
    Options
    Corn and gluten trigger my eczema. Since I limit myself, I've seen immense improvement in my skin.
  • ladyreva78
    ladyreva78 Posts: 4,080 Member
    Options
    Oddly enough, synthetic fabrics. A little bit of spandex or similar is okay (like max 5%) anything more and my eczema gets out of hand. If on top of it I start sweating it gets to the point that I have to go to the doctor's to get a prescription cortisone cream to treat it or I'll be scratching my skin off.

    And not so oddly... stress. You can see how stressed I am by how bad my eczema is...
  • Misspinklift
    Misspinklift Posts: 384 Member
    Options
    Change it weather. Especially when it is winter.
  • ShinySkyShaymin1994
    ShinySkyShaymin1994 Posts: 105 Member
    Options
    ladyreva78 wrote: »
    Oddly enough, synthetic fabrics. A little bit of spandex or similar is okay (like max 5%) anything more and my eczema gets out of hand. If on top of it I start sweating it gets to the point that I have to go to the doctor's to get a prescription cortisone cream to treat it or I'll be scratching my skin off.

    And not so oddly... stress. You can see how stressed I am by how bad my eczema is...

    What kinds of synthetic fabrics irritate your eczema besides Spandex?
  • Aine8046
    Aine8046 Posts: 2,122 Member
    Options
    Alcohol, especially red wine... :(
  • RoyalFitnessFreak31
    RoyalFitnessFreak31 Posts: 13 Member
    Options
    Weather makes it worse for me! And usually when I sweat
  • ladyreva78
    ladyreva78 Posts: 4,080 Member
    Options
    ShinySkyShaymin1994 wrote: »
    ladyreva78 wrote: »
    Oddly enough, synthetic fabrics. A little bit of spandex or similar is okay (like max 5%) anything more and my eczema gets out of hand. If on top of it I start sweating it gets to the point that I have to go to the doctor's to get a prescription cortisone cream to treat it or I'll be scratching my skin off.

    And not so oddly... stress. You can see how stressed I am by how bad my eczema is...

    What kinds of synthetic fabrics irritate your eczema besides Spandex?

    Polyester mixed with sweat is actually the worst culprit, according to the dermatologist it's something in how my sweat reacts with the polyester. Spandex is meh but okay in small amounts. It's bloody annoying for bras. I end up having to wear a cotton camisole underneath since there's not really any good cotton alternatives for me, especially for sport. It sometimes really sucks to be big-busted.
  • crackpotbaby
    crackpotbaby Posts: 1,297 Member
    Options
    Soaps or cosmetics with purfume.
    Oats.
    Wheat (also cause GI upset for me)
    Too many oranges (one or two are ok).
    Dry air, especially in winter.
  • JustMissTracy
    JustMissTracy Posts: 6,339 Member
    Options
    My allergies trigger my eczema really bad! Anything with wheat and most seasonings will cause a bad breakout within 10 minutes, lasting for days, leaving me looking like a teenager with acne everywhere......The only thing I find that helps is avoiding anything with wheat/flour/seasonings in it.
  • girlinahat
    girlinahat Posts: 2,956 Member
    edited January 2017
    Options
    wool and lanolin. A large number of moisturisers, including pretty much ALL of the ones recommended for those with eczema, contain lanolin.

    I use Diprobase cream from the chemist which is paraffin based but lanolin-free, and ensure I am fully hydrated as dehydration tends to make my skin itch more. As does stress.

    Took me years to work out what my triggers were, until I noticed a distinctive pattern along my arm from the seam of a wool cardigan. That and the fact that I seem to be allergic to my parents house with wool carpets throughout.

Categories