TOPIC:

Hi,
Just want to check if anyone else suffers from eczema and what you use to keep it under control.

I'm not on treatment, but have itchy skin with red patches. I have a sweet tooth, difficult to refuse a biscuit. I want to try to improve the skin before I start tx(possibly mid November).

I bought some calendula oil, use aloe vera gel. Gp only prescribes steroid creams.

Maybe a tea tree antiseptic cream
i used this ages ago (probably around the time I became infected)
It stung a little and made it more red for a little while, but it cleared it up
Though I can't say if it was this for sure, or just a change of lifestyle

Sunshine can help and also swimming in salt water.

Can vouch for the sunshine and swimming in salt water. Meanwhile, seeing as you're not in a sunny warm country, keep your skin moisturised well with a non-toxic natural moisturiser. Drink plenty of water. Use non-toxic laundry liquid. Keep skin clean before moisturising or eczema can become infected -- No fun!

Hello Dan, if you can put your sweet tooth away and keep hydrated the eczema could settle. Dairy products can also be problematic with HCV.

HCV is badly named. It definitely infects Langerhans Cells - these do antigen presentation so .....

Get treated!

Just need a UK prescription dear Dr F and everything's a go-go !
(including eczema).

Mm.. agree with Dr Freeman, treatment is the goal to alleviate the symptoms that can be caused by hcv. Until then though, diet needs to be managed along with environmentally friendly products where able. Not all can afford the generic versions but it is lovely to know about this forum where there is guidance and resources in accessing generic treatment for hcv, should people choose to.

Thank you all for your advice, very helpful. Treating HCV is my priority as well.

I wouldn't mind a bit of sunshine and warm sea water. Need to buy some dead sea salt and create a micro holiday in my bathroom.

Get one of those beach murals with palm trees ....

Can HCV be infected by scratching the skin until it bleeds?

I now am suffering from eczema. I have not suffered from it until the last couple of years. It seems to be worse since I started treatment. This has kept it under control for me of late:




Mike

Hi Dan,

As you already have HCV, scratching your eczema until you bleed won't have any effect on you personally.
However, you need to continue to practice normal safe hygiene, the same as if you cut yourself, ensuring your blood is cleaned up, surfaces that it has been on are sterilised and the open wound is covered to avoid risk to others. Obviously, avoiding breaking the skin in the first place is preferred when possible.

I get that on my lower legs, primarily on the shins where there is not much between the skin and bone. Have subconciously scratched it till it bleeds a number of times. Aloe vera gel seems to work quite well, alleviating the itching almost immediately and reducing the severity after using 2 or 3 times a day for a couple of days.
I also get seborrhoeic dermatitis on my face, which is dry scaley, oily (yes both) and shows as a reddish rash similar to rosacea. It seems to respond to cortisone cream to some extent, but it's not a cure and I don't want to use steroids regularly.
I'm very curious to see if these skin problems reduce after the DAA treatment. Fingers crossed!