I am so miserable with my hand (it was NOT eczema)

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Permalink Reply by Suzanne on August 29, 2009 at 8:09am

Oh, Marie, I hate to hear your hand is bothering you so much! I have a theory on what may be keeping it so itchy. The neosporin, believe it or not! My pharmacist told me she has lots of patients who are allergic to one of the 3 antibiotic ingredients. She said she notices diabetics are more prone to be sensitive to it. I know I am allergic to it, I get a bumpy, itchy rash when I use it that becomes dry and icky looking as it heals. Maybe you could try bacitracin instead, it is all I use anymore. It may not help but you sound so frustrated I wanted to share this with you....

Another product I use for super dry itchy skin is called Flexitol Heel Balm. It is for the feet but can be used anywhere, I use it on my hands because in the winter they crack and bleed from Rauynad's syndrome. It soaks in better than Aquaphor and I think it works better.

Hang in there!

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Permalink Reply by Robyn on August 29, 2009 at 6:22pm

Oatmeal soap and lotion help my mother-in-law. Aveeno.

I have used "Scalpicin" believe it or not...for itchy scalp. It helped me and isnt greasy. Just clear and seems to stop the itch.

Good luck hope you get some relief!

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Permalink Reply by Tribbles on August 29, 2009 at 8:43pm

I cheat and have a topical steroid my dermatologist prescribed. Usually clears it in about a week.

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Permalink Reply by Terrie8 on August 29, 2009 at 9:39pm

Geez, I'm sorry to hear that Marie, especially with the thorns. That sounds Terrible. :( My Dr. prescribed Hydrocortisone cream(1% or 1.5%, I forget). Yes, a steroid. It cleared up in about a 1.5 weeks. Mine was caused by a drug.

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Permalink Reply by Teena on August 29, 2009 at 9:50pm

Hello Marie. Im so sorry about the skin problem. I can perfectly understand. When I was confined to a hospital for a back accident a year ago, I noticed itchy scaling redding lesions at my back. Turned out to be psoriasis, its an auto immune disease. The dermatologist prescribed medications that helped me a lot and controlled the lesions after a month. The medication is also used for patients with Eczema. The soap prescribed was called Polytar bar. Its main and active ingredients are tar and coal. Its also available in liquid, I also used a steroidal anti-inflamatory antipruritic ointment Clobetasol propionate (its by Glaxo SmithKline pharma). It definitely helps with the itching, redness, dryness and inflamation. Hope this will help a bit.

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Permalink Reply by Ideen on August 29, 2009 at 11:20pm

I agree that you should a dermatologist. I've had some crazy skin problems (eczema included) the past year and I've been on every different type of topical steroid cream/lotion/ointment that's available. The only way to cure the itchiness and redness is to use a topical steroid to reduce the inflammation. Don't feel bad seeking medical help, at a certain point the over the counter stuff and moisturizing just wont cut it. My biggest mistake was waiting so long to see a doctor.

The steroids come in different strengths ranging from hydrocortisone (weakest) to clobetasol propionate (strongest). Some of the others mentioned (betamethasone, fluocinolone, desonide) are all just somewhere in between when it comes to strength. The doctor will judge how severe your rxn is and deem which potency of steroid you'll need. And I know, ointments suck...they're so impractical especially on the hands. Luckily all these are made in lotion, cream, foam, and spray form. Speaking from experience, I've tried all of them haha.

Ask the doctor about the best kind of moisturizer. Probably a cream is what you need. It's expensive ($12-15 a bottle), but check out CeraVe at your local pharmacy. For people with dry, sensitive skin it's amazing and comes dr. recommended.

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Permalink Reply by Marie B on September 27, 2009 at 12:33pm

update: it was not eczema, and it was infected. It was cellulitis, or close to it, which is a very serious thing that often requires hospitalization. I had to use a steroid cream (clotrimazole/betamethasone) for 2 weeks, which unfortunately coincided with my trip to San Francisco. It got better, but there is still a place in the very middle where the deepest splinters were that is not healing up. So a few days ago when I was at the doc, he gave me a scrip for Mupirocin, which is a generic for a strong antibiotic cream. If it doesn't heal soon, he says I should go to a wound care center. We don't have one of these nearby, and I don't know anything about them.

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Permalink Reply by Terrie8 on September 29, 2009 at 1:20am

Yes, you're right Marie. Cellulitis is serious and even worse than Eczema, especially for a Diabetic.. My Hubby was dxd. with Cellulitis due to his motorcycle accident last year. He had the choice of staying in the Hospital for an extra 6 weeks on antibiotics or to have the line put into his arm with the antibiotic pump attached. He was also on Oxycodone for the pain from his other injuries.

You've also had your injury for a long time. I do pray that you will be able to heal from your wound Very soon.

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Permalink Reply by Lizmari on February 28, 2010 at 2:38pm

Not to seem dumb, or simplistic...but... they can't operate that, and remove the splinters?

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Permalink Reply by Doris D on February 28, 2010 at 2:20pm

Marie, I don't know what to tell you! All I can do is say I'm sorry!! Hope the best for you!

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Permalink Reply by Lizmari on February 28, 2010 at 2:36pm

I had to use over the counter Cortaid (hydrocortisone cream) for those severe, itchy skin situations... Nothing, and I mean nothing else worked. Luckily they had a 2 for 1 deal on it, at the pharmacy.

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