Case Summary  |  Eczema Treatment

I was born with eczema but did not start having flare ups until I got into elementary school. It got so bad that I would be up all night, miserable, with itchy legs. I would scratch so hard that I would cause blisters. My mother finally took me to the doctor and he diagnosed me with eczema and gave me prescription for the topical steroid Decadron (dexamethasone). The cream worked great and I had very few if any flare ups, if any. Unfortunately, though I had to stop using it because I was kicked off my parents insurance once I turned 18 and could no longer afford the expensive cream ($100+), not to mention the cost of an appointment.
So I started using hydrocortisone. The good thing about it is that it was inexpensive and easily available at a drug or grocery store. It helped somewhat but not nearly as well as the Decadron. It helped me not itch so badly that I would cause blisters and helped get rid of the redness but my skin was still very dry.
I live in a West Texas town that has a very dry, windy climate and extremely hard water, which makes my eczema worst. I have actually had a doctor tell me that eczema means “bad water”. When I moved away for college I was living in a town with a humid environment and soft water. While living there my eczema seemed to disappear and I was able to quit using hydrocortisone and just use a regular lotion; but as soon as I moved back to my hometown my eczema came back with a vengeance.
I decided to purchase a water purification system for my home and it has helped tremendously. With the help of a Shea butter lotion my eczema has gotten much better. I would strongly recommend getting some type of water softer if you live in a place with hard water. There are many different types at a variety of prices. I purchased a rather expensive purification system that purifies and softens all the water in my home, but there are many less expensive options. If you are on a budget I would suggest getting a shower head that has a filter on it. I have seen them on the web and Culligan also has a wide variety of water purifying products.
Well I hope that I have helped someone. I know how miserable eczema can make your life.