Eczema in Pregnancy

[Ko]

I'm just wondering if anyone who has suffered from this has any recommendations, particularly for a specialist?

I suffer from eczema anyway, but the pregnancy has made it a lot worse due to not being able to use the usual steroid creams (apart from hydrocortisone sparingly when absolutely needed). However my skin is now red raw, not helped by the hot weather, cracked and bleeding and very painful. Its not been this bad in about 8 years!

Just wanted to see if anyone had any recommendations before I go along to the GP. I know that any help they can give will be limited, but I am willing to try anything at this stage!

Many thanks

[hanstands]

Hiya - that sounds awful - I've not had any experience specifically with eczema during pregnancy but have you tried a cream called 'Hope's Relief'. It costs ?12.95ish, quite pricey but worth it in my experience - you buy it at shops like Healthmatters on Lordship Lane or online, Holland and Barrett don't do it. I bought some for my baby's eczema and it worked better [no exaggeration!!!] than the Hydrocortizone, which was the only thing that worked before I tried this [and I tried alot of prescribed creams and lotions too]. If you're strapped for cash you're welcome to borrow ours for a while and therefore try before you buy. It has pretty much cleared up my baby's eczema, and all natural ingredients so won't harm little baba inside. Whatever you do, hope you find some relief from the horrid itching soon.

[sillywoman]

I've no idea whether it's ok for use in pregnancy, so you'd have to check it out, but I use Kukui oil from Hawaii on my sons excema. It works just as well as the hydrocortisone cream and feels so much nicer. I get it from Oils of Aloha (I know, I know). If you google "Kukui oil" they should come up. It's hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and isn't tested on animals. So I should imagine it's OK during pregnancy, but best to check with the manufacturer first.

[plimsoul]

my sister tried everything, i mean everything that she could find, her hands were really bad. in the end the gp told her to use a steroid cream and that it was fine. the eczma cleared up and the kid was fine.

i know many people will disagree with this but just incase you really want to clear it up this was all that worked for her.

[????'s Mrs]

I have very bad eczema (18 weeks pregnant). I have found Allergenics,non steroidal, cream in Health Matters soothes it but to be honest nothing really works for me other than very high doses of evening primrose oil (which ripens the cervix- so not recommended in pregnancy). Unfortunately, I fear, it is a really horrible thing we will just have to live with for 9 mths.

[Ko]

thanks very much for all the tips - its really appreciated. i went to healthmatters this morning and got some hope's relief. hanstands - thanks for the offer of trying yours first - you are a real sweetie x. i will also try to get some of the kukui oil - i much prefer the natural stuff because the creams from the gp really sting.

plimsoul - good to hear what your sister's gp said - good to know if you get really desperate that there is something!

???? Mrs - i saw a couple of other creams in healthmatters so will give them a go if the hope's releif and kukua don't work. i too used to take a high dose of eveving prim oil pre-pregnancy which my skin misses!

[KateMontero]

I got eczema on my face during pregnancy, around the eyes and mouth (it was horrible) and I spent a fortune on alternative remedies. Nothing made any difference. I used a steroid cream very sparingly in the end, maybe for a couple of months on and off) and it was the only thing that helped. Bad luck. x

[The Nappy Lady]

Maybe check out Purepotions www.purepotions.co.uk lovely stuff, very natural and I know a few people who swear it cured their eczema...worth trying.

[Ko]

Thanks for all the tips - any relief at all is worth it!

I too have it around my mouth (as well as lots of other places). In the morning after waking, my mouth is so stiff and sore and if i open my mouth too wide without putting cream on, the skin all cracks and bleeds! Yucky and very painful. Oh well, at least there is the baby to look fowrad to at the end of it all!

[Curly]

Buy Evening Primrose Oil in capsules. Break the capsule and spread the oil onto the skin. I don't believe in alternative remedies usually, but this does work - especially for infantial eczema.

[Ko]

Oooh, will give that a go. I have plenty of evening prim oil capsules as used to take them everyday for my skin. A GP prescribed them to me years ago but I never really gave them a go. Then a couple of years ago a friend said I should take e.p.oil for something or other (can't remember what - good hair or something) and I suddenly noticed a big improvement in my skin. So i definitely think it does something, although like you Curly I was sceptical first. Thanks for the advice xxx

[Curly]

Please let me know if it works for you - I've only ever used it on children but thought it might help you as you're pregnant and limited to what you can take.

[Ko]

Hi Curly - yes I'll let you know. I know for sure that it works if you take it orally. It doesn't get rid of the eczema, but it does help control it - it makes your skin considerably less dry. The GP recommended that I take something like 6 of those big capsules a day!! Although I only ever took 2 a day.