Eczema Support Group

Hi ive had eczema since i was 2 yrs i am now 46 and still have it,but since the doctor give me oilatum plus for the bath ,special soap,cream for the face, and a ointment for legs and arms its healing,a lot i know but its worked,and concentrate on something else instead of itching rub instead and cut nails love shirlxx

Hi, I have just found your post via google as I was looking for any known links between the pill and eczema. I have just gone back on the pill after 3 years off whilst having a baby, and although my Eczema was mild for the last few years on the pill, it did go completely whilst I was off. I never made the connection until I went back on it 5 months ago and now I'm right back to the most serious it's ever been, all over and needing strong steroid cream just to get up in the morning(not ideal when you have an 15 month old). Now thinking back to when I first went on the pill some 15 years ago it was not long after this my Ezcema flaired right up and I ended up in hospital, at the time it was put it down to stress at work, but I am now beginning to wonder. Needless to say I have stopped the pill immediatley and will let you know how things work out. Your post has given me real hope I may have got to the cause for my more servere eczema!

3 types of estrogen. The type you have on the pill is 1000 types stronger than the estriol. The type of estrogen you have when you are pregneant. This lower dose they are finding HELPS certain autoimmune diseases like MS.
I have a THEORY too and it is that certain hormones, stress(whcih induce hormones), antibiotics and highly acidic (low pH) foods KILL the good bacteria in your gut. You REQUIRE GOOD bacteria in your GI track to absorb the nutrients in your food. If you add PRObiotics, reduce eating acidic foods (sugar, etc) increase eating base/alkaline(above 7.0 pH) foods like VEGGIES and fruit help promote good bacteria balance. ALl your organs should improve including your largest.. your skin. This approach looks at the root problems vs applying lotion to a symptom.

I have my son on probiotics, give him a fruit slushie with spinish, cabbage, apple, pear and FROZEN strawberries. All these ingrediants make your body more base/alakaline. Veggie FIBER promotes good bacteria growth. PLUS, both my kids love it!! It really seems to be working.

Oh yeah make sure to see an allergist to make sure you are not around an allergen that will make your eczema worse.

PS Please post what your eczema was like while your pregnant. Want to know if the estriol that helped MS seems to have some applicability to this skin issue.

You know birth contol pills and antacids BLOCK vitamin absorption!! I truely believe that Eczema is a problem ABSORBING nutrients. I confirmed with my doctor my thought that he had eczema. I asked if there was anythign other than lotion and the doc said that is all you can do. After 4 months of get JUST GETTING WORSE I did some research. I started giving my son PRObiotics, good gut bacteria that help with absorption. I swear to you within 3-4 days 80% of his Eczema was GONE!!!! If I stop giving him probiotics, for even two days, his eczema starts to come back. I think for him it may be an issue of his body running a bit on the acidic(too low pH). Gut bacteria like it more base/alkaline (higher pH normal blood pH is 7.34). I want to have a arterial blood gas draw on him to find out if this is ACTUALLY the case. For now I am keeping him on the probiotics and making sure I give him a fruit slushie (with ice and some spinich) every few days.
IF I am correct absorption problems can be due to not enough intrinsic factors in stomach, imbalance of R protein(R4, R1 most prevalent and most pepsin sensitive), H Pylori infection in intestines.. Basically for different people they may have a DIFFERENT absorption problem that leads them to be UNABLE to absorb or utilize the vitamins they are eating.

THUS If you believe my THEORY (I am NOT med prof)when you to take the birth control pills you reduce absorption and make your eczema worse. If this is tru for you then taking high potency antacids will also have the same effect on you.

- Best wishes to you
I hope between you and your doc you can find something that works better for you

Hi EczemaParent. I am in the UK, the pill I take is mostly progesterone and I think it is this causing the problem. I was absolutely fine whilst pregnant, in fact the best my skin has ever been, needing no treatment. It was also fab whilst I was breatsfeeding. I have only just stopped the pill 2 weeks ago so it's too early to tell yet, but I have felt better in myself since stopping.

When you are pregnant you produce more Estriol (three types of estrogen and this is a GOOD type) that helps you ABSORB more. So yes this would seem to bakc up my THEORY of absorption problem being at the heart of the problem.

Talk to your doctor about it.
Maybe you don't have enough GI bacteria (ie probiotics), if your estriol count is too low, if you have enough intrinsic factors and balanced amount of pepsin in stomach to help breakdown and absorb nutrients. Maybe see an absorption specialist..maybe a gastrointestinal specialist?

-Good Luck to you