I figured out what's wrong with me. Red Skin Syndrome

Also known as Topical Steroid Withdrawal.

Basically, when you've used steroids (oral and topical) to suppress eczema, your skin can become addicted. In my case, the lower doses stopped working, so my derm prescribed higher and higher amounts. I used topical steroids on and off for YEARS - everything from OTC hydrocortisone to prednisone oral.

When you stop taking/using the steroids, your skin erupts. Red, hot, burning, oozing, flaky, swollen - everywhere. No matter where you used the steroids. One classic symptom is red skin stopping at your wrists. This pic isn't me, but it's exactly what I look like:



It's awful. It's so itchy, I want to rip my skin off. I'm so gross, I hate being in public. My face isn't too bad (today), but my arms and hands are horrible. My neck is a mess and my lips are swollen. No lotion or cream is enough to help - I went through a tub of raw shea butter in about 1.5 weeks. The only thing that will cure it is time. I have to let this all get out of my system. No clue how long it will be Some people get better in a few months, some take a year +.

I guess I'm sharing this b/c I know a lot of posters have eczema and/or your kids have it, so PLEASE try to avoid the topic steroids. Here is where I'm finding a lot of my support: www.itsan.org/eczemacure.html