Eczema - Skin Care

My wife has bad Eczema on her hands.  What makes matters worse is that she is a CNA, a Certified Nurse's Aid.  This requires her to wash her hands several times a day.  She is constantly scratching or rubbing at her hands when she is at home, complaining of a severe itch that will not go away.  So I figured I would do some research on Skin Care to treat this issue.

Doctors prescribe her topical ointments and other skin care solutions that only relieve the problem short term.  Her hands were cracking, bleeding, itching to no end, and are becoming a hinderance to her work.  So what do we do about her Eczema?  Heck, I didn't even know how to spell Eczema before I knew my wife!  I don't want this to become a problem that my baby suffers from later in life - he already has very dry skin.  What Skin Care options are out there?  Are there any homeopathic cures for Eczema?  This Hub will give you some common types and causes of Eczema, some common remedies, homeopathic remedies, and cures that have worked for us.

First of all, when I began writing this Hub, I fought the urge (and still fight the urge) to type Eczema with an X. I will continue to fight this urge as I write :)

So what types of Eczema are out there, and what causes it? Is it genetic, because of my lotion or soap, or something much more insidious?

Doctors will typically tell you to moisturize well, don't wash your hands as often (not an option for some professions), and suggest a Hydrocortisone cream, a liquid bandaid, finger condoms, or if the case is really bad, they will suggest and prescribe either a topical or an oral steroid.  At least in my wife's case, she does moisturize, and while a Hydeocortisone cream helps in the short term, the long term it is only a ripple in a bucket of water - it doesn't cause waves.  Unfortunately, because (at least in my wife's case) it is localised to just her hands, and even though it can sometimes be open sores, it has never been deemed to be serious enough for steroids.

Because the doctor couldn't help, we had to look for cures on our own.

Well, you should start out in a similar way that your doctor would suggest. Shower, dry yourself off very well, and use a moisturizer or lotion. Husbands, if this is happening to your wife, buy her a gift card for Bath and Body Works, she will know what to get :) Wives, you know what to get, so if it is happening to your husbands, you know the best stuff to get them. If you don't know, I would suggest a hypoallergenic lotion or soap with menthol, or camphor like a good calamine lotion. Try to stay away from the smelly oils or lotions, this may be caused by an allergy after all.

Benedryl may help with the itching. It does make you tired, though, so be careful - and TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR, FIRST!

Find someone on Etsy who makes Salt Soap, or a soap or hand lotion with honey in it. Doing research, both of these options have helped a lot of people, and they are widely suggested. Tumeric or Graphite supplements have helped us, and many others as well.  Finally (and probably most importantly), try to live low stress.  Reduce your stress as much as possible.  Back rubs work wonders, folks!  This will have several other help and relationship benefits as well.  Stress does BAD things to people.