Houston and eczema (Dallas, West: house, allergies, softener)

[Ellen Pitts]

I have always gotten small patches of eczema, mostly on my hands when I wash them too often. But it's pretty easy to clear up if I'm faithful to keep my skin hydrated. Since I moved to Houston last June a tiny patch of eczema that had been on my lower legs (much smaller than a dime) has spread all over my legs up to my knees and I now have patches on my arms that is spreading all over. (I have been to the doctor to confirm that it is eczema and nto something new going on.) This has never happened to me before and I'm wondering if there is something climactic about Houston that makes it worse for some people?

[tstone]

Perhaps it's because the oak trees are pollenating (early) right now?

[crone]

Two in my family have eczema. Same thing happened to son and DH. Tiny, tiny and then it exploded all over their lower leg. Through the years they have figured out that it is a combination of something blowing in the wind, and a little bit of stress with the job. Keep track of what is in the air and maybe you can pin it down. Good luck. Jimmy Schmidt is a good Dr. if you need one.

Dogs get it, too.

[kreeyax]

Hard water tends to dry my skin out. Since we got our water softener a few months ago I don't have the dry skin problems I used to. Do you have a water softener?

[Yonkers]

Originally Posted by kreeyax

Hard water tends to dry my skin out. Since we got our water softener a few months ago I don't have the dry skin problems I used to. Do you have a water softener?

That's a good point. Houston does have very hard water. My brother has it and I don't think he has a water softener. I'll suggest it to him.

[houstonlol]

I had eczema really bad for 15 yrs. dry skin, cracking skin...I got it all cleared up now by 1> avoiding triggers (for me it was wheat, especially those saltine crackers. your allergy may be different try a diary and see what causes flare ups) and 2> essential fatty acids (use flax seed oil every day a couple tablespoons, if I don't eat it after a while my eczema will return).

good luck.

[Ellen Pitts]

We did put a filter on our shower head to get rid of the chlorine, but I don't know if that would do anything for hard water? I would think so since the hard water is just mineral deposits but I really don't know. I don't have a whole house water softener because we rented this year to get used to the area. I'm wondering if there is residue in my clean laundry from the water that may be affecting me.

I have had food allergy testing and know what my allergens are. Figured all that out years ago. I make almost everything from scratch so I know what's in my food. Fish oil and coconut oil definitely help but haven't cleared it up.

My two thoughts are that it is something in the water or something in the air. I have definitely had more wheezing since we've been here.

[Seoid]

Wow, that sounds a lot like what happened to me- only I went from no Eczema to my whole leg and lower arms and a spot on my face.

For me, I'm pretty sure it's a combo of allergies and stress. Hoping the stress is alleviated soon because the allergies are not going anywhere.

[crone]

Juniper from Central and West Texas starts giving people fits in December some years. It may well be a contact allergy. Two doctors have told DH is it something blowing and stress. He got some really heavy duty steroid cream that he uses like hand lotion. No problems this year. His started when we moved to Dallas from St. Louis. It is not as bad in Houston.

[Ellen Pitts]

Seoid, did you get eczema as soon as you moved to the area?

There has certainly been enough stress in my life since the move that at least some of it could be attributed to stress.