contact dermatitis is of the devil

[edenfalling]

I cannot believe it has taken me two whole months to think of using topical cortizone cream on my contact dermatitis. I mean, its purpose is to stop itching. And often itching specifically related to environmental irritants. I only bought it in the first place when I was having hideous itching problems that I think, in retrospect, were an allergic reaction to my deodorant.

So using cortizone to counter dermatitis caused by lack of humidity? OBVIOUS, RIGHT?

And yet, it only occurred to me this morning. *headdesk*

On the upside, it seems to be working! Half the problem with the dermatitis is that even when I use moisturizing lotions to combat the dryness, my hand still itches like I have fire ants under my skin and I cannot always consciously stop myself from scratching. Scratching is only a temporary relief. In the long term, it exacerbates the problem -- raises the welts, distorts skin texture even further, creates open wounds, etc.

Today, my hand has not been itching. :-D

Comments

[marycontrary]

I once had a rash that was like tiny bloody footprints down the outside of my arm -- I hadn't seen it there, so it had gone weeks unattended. I slathered it in hydrocortisone cream and then wrapped it loosely in cellophane for the night, and it was new pink skin in two days.

[edenfalling]

Cortizone cream is very nifty stuff. :-D Two years ago when I was having problems with my deodorant, I am pretty sure it was the only thing that kept me from scratching myself absolutely raw and bloody from the inside of my upper arm to halfway down my sides. And now it is doing an excellent job helping the abused skin on the back of my hand settle down and remember what its normal texture is supposed to be.