Eczema

Recently talking with someone, I came to the idea that it would be nice to hear from others who have eczema and what things they do or have done (with and without success) for their treatments.

So, what have other people done to help alleviate symptoms of eczema (perhaps cure?).  What have you done that did NOT work for your particular case.  Realizing that eczema medications don't always work for everyone and those that don't work for some work for others.... let's see if we can create a list of things that work and absolutely don't work (even old wives' tales) ....

Me:  Suffered from contact dermatitis on the exterior elbows, knees, and ankles most of my childhood; grew out of all but my elbows which are worse during the summertime.

Prescriptions:  Synalar
OTC:    Tide Free, Cetaphil cleanser

Things that sorta kinda worked:  
   mayonaise with wrapping with saran wrap
   tar oil  (smelled awful but with some success)

Daughter (3 yrs old now):  Suffered from moderate to severe eczema brought on by nervousness and allergies and hereditary since she was about a year old... mostly red raised areas all over, behind knees, in bends of elbows, tops of feet and wrists...very itchy, prone to open sores or cuts from nails... rapid appearance when hot, outside or nervous.... possible water issue.

Prescriptions:
   Elocon -- sorta worked for a while when first appeared
   Elidel  -- worked for a while after Elocon stopped working
   Atopiclair  -- used for a while for face (pretty good stuff)... my niece says it has worked for her face
   Protopic  -- used for a while on body (eh, it's ok)
   Hylira  -- overall moisture for the body; good but burns if there are open wounds
   Triamcinolone (with and without being combined with Eucerin)  -- used for a while, stopped working
   Betamethosone  -- used for a while, stopped working
   Desonide  -- currently using, has worked better than others
                     (face only to start, now all over body 3x week for maintenance)
   Desoximetasone -- currently using for hot spots; has worked well for now
   Mupricin (for staph)
   Clotrimzole and Betamethasone Diproprionate -- using for yeast with eczema spots on neck and diaper area
   Atarax (oral med) for itchies

OTC:  
   Freederm (did not work well)
   Tide Free
   Cetaphil
   Eucerin Cream (my preference and hers)
   Eucerin for Itchy Skin (awful when the skin is open)
   Cetaphil lotion/cream
   Aquaphor

So, what has anyone else used and to what success or failure?

[Hailiesmama]

Recently my daughter had her 2 year old check up and her doctor suggested putting vasoline and a good amount at that on the area when its red or starting to flake. Something simple but it has seemed to help I have only used it for the past week so I dont know how long it will work for and she also only has a mild case I think.

[lhughes]

Aquaphor is an expensive version of vasoline.  Neither would work in our current state of breakout.  it might work if the case was minor, but not once it gets hold (or at least in our cases).  My skin could never tolerate vasoline for some reason.

One more in the "maybe/depends" pile!

[henrybub]

right now my son (16 months) has been battling eczema since 3 months old... none of the steroid cremes have worked, except as a very temporary relief...

extreme diet changes... all acids cause a flare (citric, oxalic, etc) and many other foods. we avoid all: dairy, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, some beans, corn, and all nightshade vegtables/fruit: tomatoes, mushrooms, eggplant etc....

we do a 3 step skin treatment after bath and all day long:
coconut oil, lotion of choice and thick vasaline like cream...

the main thing that is helping now is a homeopathic doctor using remedies: sulphur and graphites...

good luck!