The cavalry! (Originally posted 17th July 2013)

THIS IS A REPOST OF A BLOG POST FROM BEFORE I STOPPED TOPICAL STEROIDS. (I am posting it in it's original form because I wanted to give context to how I felt about my skin before I realised it was addicted to topical steroids)

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As everyone with eczema knows, we have to make quite an effort to make our skin anywhere close to being both socially acceptable (kudos to those of you that don’t let that sort of thing bother you) and more importantly, to avoid discomfort, itching and pain.

Here is my ammunition I use in my fight against my eczema.

• Diprobase ointment, very greasy! Used at least once daily, twice if I have a bath.

• Aquadrate cream (no cetyl alchohol, I’m allergic) with maize extract, used whenever my face feels dry but not so bad it needs the Diprobase. It has the strangest feeling, like powder.

• Dermasilk garments (Oh how I love you!). Currently using the face mask, long necked/sleeved ladies top, leggings and gloves (both with fingers and without).

• Steroids – a touchy subject perhaps, but I’m currently using them as I always have. My standard is Hydrocortisone 1% ointment which I sadly have to use on my face every night. Less commonly used is Eumovate 0.05% ointment which I use on my non facial areas and very rarely on my face and neck if it’s incredibly bad. Lastly I have Elocon 0.1% ointment which is only used on my body when my skin is either incredibly flared up, or the skin is unresponsive to anything else. I now realise that my skin was showing symptoms of topical steroid addiction (TSA), hence the reliance on the steroids. (21st Feb 2014)

• QV range – Gentle wash is an awesome foaming soap substitute and I can not stress how much I love this stuff. The bath oil I only just started using, but it shows promising results, much like the Oilatum I had when I was a kid.

• Oilatum scalp shampoo is for my very itchy scalp with no rash to speak of. Feels very cooling when you apply it but it takes ages!

• Sunsense suncream – I never leave home without it! They both are 50+SPF, perfect for letting my skin soak up some rays without damaging it or getting a nasty burn. Comes in sensitive body cream and tinted facial cream varieties.

• Atarax antihistamines (Hydroxyzine Hydrochloride) 25mg, once a day before bed to combat allergies in general.

What’s your skincare regimen?