Swollen Eyelids aczema outbreak help please.

[easyride]

I have been a long term sufferer of exczema on my hands which I have solved by washing with emmollient ointment instead of soap.

But I get this other intermittent problem that most recently occurred after a long cold bike ride. My eyelids swelled up and exczema outbreaks cropped up all over my face and a few other parts of my body. The doctors don't have much of a clue, & I cannot narrow it down as it only happesn every now and again.

I also get a violent reaction to scuba diving in the red sea with a wet suit, which stopped me diving all together. All in all these allergies are driving me to despair - instead of creams and nasal squirts I would like to find a real rememdy, such as a vitamin supplement or an anti-histamine or something that I could take every day and would also help with my blocked nose. Does anybody have any bright ideas please?

Otherwise I am very fit & healthy and a keen sportsman who watches his diet, competes at National level etc.

[olibella]

Try covering your skin with Vaseline when you go out in the cold and moisturize as much as you can. You can also try Elidel on your eyelids. A doctor friend of mine told me that Elidel's cancer links are unfounded. You are supposed to use Elidel like a moisturizer (every day) for it to work.

[easyride]

Originally Posted by olibella

Try covering your skin with Vaseline when you go out in the cold and moisturize as much as you can. You can also try Elidel on your eyelids. A doctor friend of mine told me that Elidel's cancer links are unfounded. You are supposed to use Elidel like a moisturizer (every day) for it to work.

Thanks for the reply. I am looking into Elidel. Is it possible that I am allergic to cold weather - it is just that the eczema outbreak was in many places no only the eyelids - also on my hands although they were gloved with silk liners, and I did not get cold hands. Do you think that the cold could trigger a general outbreak - perhaps if my core body temperature dropped?
And also why would this be intermittent - it would surely happen every time I was out in the cold, but it doesn't. How perplexing.

[olibella]

Oh, I forgot to mention last time. We give my daughter a Zirtek (antihistamine) each night before she goes to bed. It helps with the itching. Zirtek is a 24-hour, non-drowsy antihistamine which was perscribed for long-term use.

The only thing I can say about your cold weather excema outbreak is that over-heating your home during the winter months can dry out the skin and make it prone to excema. Also, if you are getting sick, you could get an outbreak. Also, sweating can do this. Make sure that your clothes are washed in a mild detergent (for sensitive skin) and make sure that you have your washing machine set on a high rinse setting (don't use the permanent press setting on cotton). Don't use fabric softeners. Perhaps, an allergy to dust mites could be causing some of this. If your winter clothes were sitting in storage during the warm and humid summer months, they could have gotten a bit mildewy and could be harboring some dust mite residue. Try washing all your winter clothes before wearing them each season, or pack them away in hair-tight plastic when not using them.

[easyride]

Thanks again! RE: Excema tips. I started to wash my hands using emulsifying ointment and this cured it after many years of hydrocortisone creams such as eumovate (in the UK) have been tried, as well as de-sensitising injections when I was much younger. The eyelids swelling and outbreak have dissapeared now (phew) until next time that is. The only long lasting problem I am left with is almost permanent congestion, whcih I am taking a nasal squirt for - without much effect. So on to the specialists I will go, as well as a new vacuum with HEPA filters, if that does not work then I wil remove the carpets in the bedroom, or perhaps just buy a tent or emigrate to siberia or somewhere too cold for dust mites to survive. Wonder if there is any kind of fumigation techniques for house dust mite (have not googled this theory yet)?