I have never had eczema, but I do have some suggestions as a friend of mine also suffered from this.

If possible since you are a hairdresser, try wearing vinyl gloves when you wash hair and avoid using hot water, instead wash with cool to avoid further irritation and inflammation. Also try and keep hand washing to a minimum, and keep water temperature luke warm when you do.

Try applying moisturizers after washing, ointments that are clear and sticky seem to work the best but may not be practical, so maybe try using a skin protectant with petrolatum or silicone, ie Vaseline or Prevex. Try putting your hands in Vaseline and wearing spa gloves at night while you're watching TV or something? This might help the irritation. My friend also found Emu oil to work wonders, it's one of the mildest around and will help soothe cuts and cracks in the skin. If you apply this stuff consistently, you should notice a huge difference.

If nothing seems to be working for you, I would suggest seeing a derm specialist for perhaps prescription products to help with your discomfort.

Good luck hun!

i know they make "barriers" for hairstylist hands ... i saw it at a show once but of course i can't remember the name for it....

it's a lotion but it coats your hands so you don't get irritated by the water as much ... i've never tried it though but you could look into it .. i'll try to see if i can find the name for it.

they can give u creams at the derm for it though i'm pretty sure...


otherwise i think u need an assistant

I use it for painting and staining as well, its called liquid gloves. Its in a small bottle and you just rub it onto yourt hands and its an invisible barrier for like almost a full 24 hours

Theres also a cream thats used on cows of all things called "Bag Balm", I got some for MISSPOOKIE when her fingers would crack and flake during the winter, its unreal stuff. I have never seen anything better. I would use it at night, at it has a bit of a smell, but it works very very well


If you want some of either of those products, let me know and me and MISSPOOKIE can order some for you and ship it your way

Heres the particulers

http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page...55&cat=2,42551

Heres the glove formula ( now called gloves in a bottle and it lasts for 4 hours before you need to re-apply)

http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page...=2,42407,33246

peteralexia wanted me to post this..

thanks cutup! that's the stuff!

I am just like you and have had eczema when I was born. I have also outgrown it but still get it on my fingers. Try avoid getting it wet as much as possible but I know its probably hard since you're a hairdresser, wear gloves if you can. I have prescribed ointments from my doctors, I find the products without prescription don't work whatsoever. You should see a doctor and they will most likely prescribe you some ointments, the ones that work for me are Betnovate, Lotriderm, Ratio-clob (really strong). If you see these water bubbles on your hands try your best not to pop them because it makes it worse. Also I noticed that when I eat any shelled food, such as eggs, lychee, durian, longan and any kind of seafood my eczema breaks out, try avoiding them, or try to notice when it breaks out and see what kind of food you've ate that day.