Dealing with Neurodermatitis

Anonymous VeteranOP

3.6K messages
joined May 2005

#1 · Aug 24, 2003

Hey everyone, I really need some help here because fall is right around the corner. I’ve been struggling with this skin allergy that shows up as redness on my major joints—for me, it hits my neck, around my elbows, and even my ankles. It’s basically neurodermatitis. The weird thing is, I live on the coast, so during the summer, my skin clears up completely. By the time autumn rolls around, the flare-ups start again. I’ve tried pretty much every over-the-counter remedy out there, from antihistamines like Claritin and Benadryl to various steroid creams, but nothing seems to work. Has anyone else dealt with something similar? I’d love to finally get rid of this. Not only is it incredibly irritating, but it doesn't look great either. I’d really appreciate any advice you guys might have.

Lisa Ortiz17 Active Member

50 messages
joined Sep 2003

#2 · Aug 24, 2003

A friend of mine has a daughter who was born with neurodermatitis. After three years of bouncing between specialists—and honestly, this disease is just nightmare fuel for a toddler, especially with her skin being covered in rashes and the constant, agonizing itching that forced them to put mittens on her just so she wouldn't scratch herself raw...—they finally decided to try a macrobiotic diet.
She’s starting school now, and the issues have completely cleared up. Her husband also switched his diet to match hers because he was struggling with psoriasis—and just like her, his condition vanished entirely.

Casey Palmer5 Regular

470 messages
joined Jan 2016

#3 · Aug 27, 2003

A close friend of mine deals with neurodermatitis. She manages it by completely cutting out animal proteins from her diet. Every time she eats them, she breaks out in this terrible rash and starts itching like crazy. Seriously—no meat, no dairy... and a whole bunch of other stuff too. Nothing processed, either.

I actually went through that when I was a baby, and honestly, I wish I hadn't. It just left me being allergic to just about everything now...

Karen White13 Member

13 messages
joined Oct 2003

#4 · Aug 27, 2003

blayhod said:Hey guys, I need some help before fall hits. I’ve been dealing with this skin allergy—neurodermatitis, I think—that shows up as red patches on my major joints. For me, it's my neck, elbows, and ankles. Here's the thing: I live on the coast, and during the summer, it completely clears up. By the time autumn rolls around, the trouble starts again. I’ve tried everything from antihistamines like Claritin and Benadryl to topical creams like Beladerm and Afloderm, but nothing sticks. Has anyone dealt with this? I really want to get rid of this. Besides the irritation, it just doesn't look great. Any advice would be appreciated.

So you've got neurodermatitis, and it stays quiet while you're at the beach all summer. I can't speak to diet, but those pills you mentioned are for allergies, not neurodermatitis. You need to find a good moisturizer or an oil and keep that skin hydrated. Just try it and see if it works, because clearly, being by the ocean helps. As soon as you head back home, the symptoms return. After you shower, rub a lotion or milk deep into your skin. Do it constantly until things improve.

Anonymous VeteranOP

3.6K messages
joined May 2005

#5 · Aug 28, 2003

I’m dealing with pretty much the same thing. I actually gave up on seeing my doctor because nothing they prescribed was working, so I started experimenting with all sorts of remedies just like you have—honestly, even more than you. Some made me feel super drowsy, and others had steroids in them, which you definitely shouldn't be using long-term.
Basically, here is my current routine: I’m using walnut oil (bought at a local pharmacy), which can be taken orally or applied directly to the skin (I checked with my doctor first). It’s pricey, but hey, it's worth it. For washing, I use a neutral shower gel from CeraVe—which is a bit of an investment—and then I follow up with an Olive Garden cream I picked up at Walmart, which is much easier on the wallet. There’s this other cream too—it’s totally hypoallergenic and specifically recommended for both kids and adults dealing with neurodermatitis—but I don't have it handy right now, so I'll let you know the name tomorrow.
If you're interested, I can send over some other product suggestions later!
Besides the walnut oil, I’ve also been taking Black Kim oil.
Most of these are plant-based supplements designed to boost the immune system to help manage dermatitis and eczema, and you can find them at any pharmacy. My skin has cleared up almost completely—not quite 100% yet, unfortunately, but at least it’s under control. We’ll see how things hold up once winter hits!
Best,

Karen White13 Member

13 messages
joined Oct 2003

#6 · Aug 28, 2003

Lisa Ortiz17 says:
There's this other cream, but I can't recall the exact name—it’s totally neutral and recommended for both kids and adults dealing with neurodermatitis—but I don't have it on me right now, so I'll let you know tomorrow.

Yeah, you're probably thinking of LINOLA Fett n. It's great! You can pick it up at any local pharmacy.

Lisa Ortiz17 Active Member

50 messages
joined Sep 2003

#7 · Aug 28, 2003

Maybe try adjusting your diet first—start by cutting out tomatoes and milk...

frozenbear49 Newcomer

1 message
joined Sep 2003

#8 · Sep 2, 2003

My little girl has dealt with this since the day she was born, and now at eighteen months, it’s still her reality. The worst part is when she gets those intense waves of itching and redness right after her shots—it usually hits her about a day after the injections.
We’ve switched her over to soy milk, and if we do dairy, it’s strictly yogurt with live probiotics. We stick to whole grain bread too, only touching white wheat bread once in a blue moon. Honestly, whenever we cut out the wheat and the dairy, everything just settles down. I also make sure we use hydro-based creams instead of anything oil-based; those heavy oils just clog up the pores and stop the skin from actually "breathing" and clearing itself out naturally. Practically speaking, you have to watch the liver health and keep up with plenty of water to keep the kidneys moving. And yeah, cutting out sugar is pretty much non-negotiable.
At the end of the day, dermatitis is tied to the nervous system too, isn't it? It flares up whenever someone is stressed or just feeling run down, which brings us right back to the liver connection and all that.

Karen White13 Member

13 messages
joined Oct 2003

#9 · Oct 6, 2003

Hey, Irema!
What was the name of that cream for neurodermatitis? You said you'd let me know, but I haven't heard anything yet. Please, give me a heads-up when you can!!
Thanks in advance!
Also, if anyone else knows a solid cream that actually works—for both kids and adults—please drop a comment below!!!

Karen White13 Member

13 messages
joined Oct 2003

#10 · Oct 8, 2003

Hey ladies, where you at?

So, I finally found a solid cream for neurodermatitis—it's called Excipial. You can grab it over at any CVS without needing a prescription. They have two different versions: one is more of a heavy ointment and the other is a lighter lotion. I’ve been using the lotion version on my son, and honestly, just one day of applying it and he's already looking better.👍 👍

Austin Fisher81 Newcomer

1 message
joined Oct 2003

#11 · Oct 15, 2003

I truly empathize with everyone dealing with this issue.
I've been fighting neurodermatitis my entire life—from the day I was born until now.
Doctors used to tell me it would just clear up once I hit puberty.
Well, things calmed down, but they never actually went away. Over the years, the flare-ups have fluctuated in intensity and shifted locations, mostly affecting my arms, skin folds, and neck—for a few years, it even hit my face.
It tends to subside during the summer, but then it flares up again once winter hits.
I’ve gone through endless testing and tried countless creams. I’ve noticed that a specific cream might work for a while, but eventually, its effectiveness wears off, and I have to hunt for something else. As for corticosteroids—they work fast, but the condition often ends up being even worse after you stop using them.
The timing and severity of the rash are also deeply tied to stress. During college, especially during finals week, my skin would get so bad that I was actually afraid to go out in public.
I really do feel for all of you.

Anyway, I won't ramble too much—I just wanted to offer a little bit of what has worked for me.
Right now, I'm using the CeraVe collection designed for dry, sensitive skin. You can find it at most pharmacies, though I have to admit it's quite pricey. I believe a single 50mL tube of cream costs about $30, and that doesn't even include the toner or cleansing milk. But if it works, I'm willing to pay double if I have to.

rowdydriver11 Member

10 messages
joined Mar 2009

#12 · Mar 25, 2009

Hey there... I was wondering if anyone here has had any real-world experience dealing with ichthyosis or neurodermatitis? I'm curious about how people actually react to it—like, how does the public generally view or perceive someone living with those kinds of skin conditions? Have you ever run into awkward situations or faced any friction with people because of it? Also, just wondering how you all manage the day-to-day struggle and what your go-to treatments are...

Matthew Grant77 Newcomer

1 message
joined Mar 2009

#13 · Mar 26, 2009

To be perfectly honest, I've never heard of it... regarding ichthyosis.

Kate Wilson7 Member

11 messages
joined Apr 2009

#14 · Apr 3, 2009

rowdydriver11 said:Hey there... I was wondering if anyone here has had any real-world experience dealing with ichthyosis or neurodermatitis? I'm curious about how people actually react to it—like, how does the public generally view or perceive someone living with those kinds of skin conditions? Have you ever run into awkward situations or faced any friction with people because of it? Also, just wondering how you all manage the day-to-day struggle and what your go-to treatments are...

As for neurodermatitis, there is actually quite a wealth of information written about it, and you can find plenty of resources online to dig into. Personally, my symptoms are mostly confined to the knuckles on my hands, and it tends to flare up most significantly during the winter months. Dry air definitely makes things worse, but if I'm being completely honest, stress is the biggest trigger for me.

rowdydriver11 Member

10 messages
joined Mar 2009

#15 · May 11, 2009

Honestly, I am just completely miserable whenever summer rolls around... and even during the spring months, too... I think my sweet spot is definitely during the winter...

Justin Martinez3 Active Member

127 messages
joined Nov 2008

#16 · May 15, 2009

I’ve honestly never even heard the term ichthyosis before... wow. For me, the worst part—the absolute nightmare—is the skin between my knuckles and my fingers. It gets so bad that when people catch a glimpse of my face, they look genuinely horrified. But honestly? I don't even care about how it looks anymore. I’m used to it. What actually drives me insane is the itching. One minute it's manageable, then it retreats, and then—boom—it comes back full force. It’s exhausting. After playing around with my diet and cutting certain things out, it turns out dairy is the main culprit behind all this.

rowdydriver11 Member

10 messages
joined Mar 2009

#17 · Jun 3, 2009

That’s actually pretty interesting... do you happen to have any meds for it?

Kate Wilson7 Member

11 messages
joined Apr 2009

#18 · Jun 4, 2009

For managing neurodermatitis, Beloderm cream is a common go-to. You really ought to consult a dermatologist first, though—honestly, even your primary care physician can write you a script so a local pharmacy can whip up a custom compounded cream just for you. One thing you absolutely have to keep in mind, however, is where you're applying it. You can't just use the same strength everywhere; the stuff meant for your body shouldn't be used on your face, as those facial formulas need to be much gentler.

Justin Martinez3 Active Member

127 messages
joined Nov 2008

#19 · Jun 18, 2009

rowdydriver11 said:That’s actually pretty interesting... do you happen to have any meds for it?

I’ve just been using some Eucerin cream—well, either the ointment or the cream version—and some Beladerm.

quietbear29 Newcomer

1 message
joined Jun 2009

#20 · Jun 26, 2009

rowdydriver11 said:Hey there... I was wondering if anyone here has had any real-world experience dealing with ichthyosis or neurodermatitis? I'm curious about how people actually react to it—like, how does the public generally view or perceive someone living with those kinds of skin conditions? Have you ever run into awkward situations or faced any friction with people because of it? Also, just wondering how you all manage the day-to-day struggle and what your go-to treatments are...

I've got ichthyosis myself. It's honestly so annoying when people stare... just makes you want to lose it, ya know? -.-' But eventually, you just kind of get used to it x)) .. Ugh, for my face I use this ointment, though it feels a bit heavy in the summer so I swap it out for a Garnier cream for super dry skin .. For my body, I swear by CeraVe 10% Urea Lotion and it's seriously awesome.. it actually works .. there you go..

Dealing with Neurodermatitis

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