susanna_29

I got contact dermatitis when I was teaching preschool years ago. From excessive hand washing.....harsh soaps! Well, I did go to a derm and he gave me a prescription for elidel. The following is what he had me use.

wash hands with Cetaphil gentle cleansing soap (liquid)
apply Elidel 2x daily

for dryness use the hand cream (Cetaphil)
for fissures use Polysporin and wrap a bandaid around finger
Theraseal (barrier) works well.


I don't think it'll ever go away. It did for a couple years but then it would flare up and I'm not going back to the derm unless I can't handle it. And believe me I know what you're going through. I've had my finger itch so bad, I'd rub it til it was raw. Now I try to wash my hair with my left hand and not use anything else. Plus, I still wash my hands quite a bit out of habit and i think the constant washing is aggravating it. If you use the theraseal use it after washing. Don't dry your hands just work it in your hands til your skin absorbed it. GO to your derm too, maybe he/she will give you elidel. good luck. Definitely try the soap, it's so much calmer on the skin.