Comment by Tracey on October 7, 2012 at 2:34am

Eczema here, too. I've had one very stubborn patch for at least 8 years now! I can only get it to simmer down for a week or so via steroid cream, and then it's back. Mostly I just try to ignore it. I've also been tested for food sensitivities- soy was high on my list. Did elimination for 2 weeks, then ate it 3x/day for 3 days and didn't notice anything UNTIL a week later when my shedding doubled. Connection? Who knows. Back off of soy for a few weeks now and still shedding heavy, hoping it will calm down!! Too freaked to challenge myself with the other foods that tested high, just avoiding them, too. :-P Also starting an anti-inflammatory diet at suggestion of my dermatologist. If nothing else, I will be eating healthier!!

Comment by Alliegator on October 9, 2012 at 3:40pm

I have AGA and I have eczema. I think that eczema is tied into Alopecia as a whole, not just AA. It seems to be a large trend. I use Cetaphil products. I use their soap, lotions and creams. I'm not sure if you have thought about it, but try to stay away from some products that aren't for sensitive skin. For example, I used to use shower gel and lotions from Bath and Body Works on a daily basis. My eczema was very irritating. Then, I stopped using it on a daily basis, and I don't ever use the shower gel anymore, and my skin is so much better. I have found that taking a bath has helped as well. Aveeno products are great too. This may sound gross but I take a bath every other day. I think taking a shower each day was making it worse as well.

Comment by Christine on October 9, 2012 at 10:46pm

I've had eczema most of my life, and Alopecia for the last ten years. Eczema is auto immune, so it makes sense that there is such a strong connection but I know some just have AA, and some just have eczema. I've used a lot of steroid creams, and still do when it's bad, the best thing I've found that really helps, is primrose oil, and fish oil. I was skeptical, but it really does work, it doesn't hurt to try. The dryer my skin the more apt. I am to get a flare up, also lotions with fragrance seem to make it worse.

Comment by Amarie502 on October 10, 2012 at 12:06pm

I have eczema also...just recently though along with AA

Comment by Amarie502 on October 10, 2012 at 12:09pm

My mother has thyroid disease, but i have been tested for it and they said I do not have it....But I think I do because my weight changes almost everyday like a huge difference....

Comment by Blue tulip on October 11, 2012 at 8:26am

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences with ezcema. I do believe there is some link with Alopecia. What it is who knows!!!

I too stay away from perfumed body produtcs. I was using the QV range as advised by dermatologist. I had everything in this range, lotions, creams,facial scrub, eye creams the works. My bathrooms is full of skin products. I have tried Aveena products, didn't like the smell. Though recently my naturopath has steered me away from these types of products. To only use almond oil for my skin, but I think it made it worse.
Have you heard of Avene thermal spring water? It's mineral water from France. People with really bad ezcema can go to France to these thermal baths and it helps the ezcema.
So I am trying out some of their range. It's only been a week seems to be ok, though food sensitivies is a major cause for me.

Comment by Blue tulip on October 18, 2012 at 5:23am

Hi Kathy

Interesting about the birth control!!. I went overseas for 8 weeks in 2010, when I got back my menstrual cycle was soooo out of wack!!. Doctor siad it's because I had been travelling and this can cause it to be irregular. It continued for months, so I went on the pill to try to get it back to regular. So I was on the since end of 2010 and most of last year. There could be a connection to that. I have gone back to my regular cycle only in the last 2 months and stopped the pill early this year.
I just had blood work done and now have found I have an underactive thyroid. Doctor has prescribed to take Thyroxine to take.
The thing I have been asked about for alopecia, is have I been stressed, suffered a trauma. We think we are not stressed but our bodies are put under stress, who knows, I throw my hands up in the air now!!! :-)

Comment by Blue tulip on October 19, 2012 at 5:52am

Hi Kathy

I have had a quick look over the link, but will need to read it more thoroughly. I am trying to take a step at a time approach, to both AA and ezcema, though the ezcema is secondary to AA. I can live with ezcema long term, would love my hair back more importantly.
I saw the naturopath today, regarding my health, she has gone back to the fact that I have a "leaky gut" and therefore not absorbing the nutrients. I got to cut out sugar as well. Also she has suggested using tumeric in my foods, as it is also anti-imflammatory. So I will revisit what I am eating and review again soon. As for the thyroid issue, she prefers I not take Thyroxine and review in 3 months. My doctor would like me to take it asap!!. In the end it's up to me I suppose. Thoughts??

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