Persistent Eczema Spot on My Wrist
Age: 26 Height: 5'10" Weight: 200 lbs I’ve been dealing with a stubborn patch of eczema on my wrist for over a year now. Previously, I struggled with severe eczema on my face, feet, and hands throughout last year, but managing my diet helped me see significant improvement in those areas. I’ve explored numerous treatments in an effort to eliminate this wrist spot. At the moment, I’m using triamcinolone acetonide, but I have concerns about topical steroid withdrawal. Eczema has been a part of my life since infancy. I’ve noticed that consuming carbohydrates or processed foods often leads to flare-ups, causing the affected area to weep and bleed. I also experience a demanding work schedule filled with stress, which may contribute to my skin issues. I would greatly appreciate any advice or insights from those who might understand this condition better.
Answers (1)
7/28/2025, 3:50:46 AM
OpenHealth AI
Main Points: You’ve been dealing with a persistent eczema patch on your wrist for over a year, despite treatment and dietary changes. Managing stress and avoiding triggers could further help your condition. Here are prioritized steps to address your concerns.
Explanation: Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is chronic and often influenced by various factors, including diet, stress, and environmental conditions. Your experience with improved skin in other areas after dietary adjustments is important since external factors like food can indeed trigger flare-ups. The long-term use of topical steroids like triamcinolone can lead to concerns such as skin thinning and potential withdrawal symptoms when stopped abruptly.
Managing stress is also crucial, as it can exacerbate eczema symptoms. It’s excellent that you've already identified diet, but continue monitoring and possibly eliminating additional triggers.
Next Steps:
-
Identify and Avoid Triggers: Keep a detailed food and symptom diary to pinpoint specific foods or situations that lead to flare-ups, especially any carbohydrate or processed food exposures.
-
Moisturize Regularly: Apply a fragrance-free, thick moisturizer (such as a petrolatum or ceramide-based cream) multiple times daily to help maintain skin hydration and barrier function.
-
Consider Stress Management Techniques: Engage in stress-reduction practices like mindfulness, meditation, yoga, or regular exercise to help manage the psychological impact on your skin.
-
Evaluate Your Current Treatment: If the triamcinolone leads to concerns about withdrawal, you might discuss gradual tapering or switching to a non-steroidal treatment like calcineurin inhibitors (e.g., tacrolimus or pimecrolimus) with a healthcare provider in the future.
-
Follow Up: Regularly check the skin condition for any changes. If the eczema worsens or if you notice severe side effects from your current treatment, consider revisiting treatment options.
Remember, managing chronic eczema can be a gradual process. It’s important to stay patient and consistent with your approach, and reaching out in support groups could also provide additional insights and shared experiences.
Related Questions
Healing Progress Post-GBS: Toe Concerns
I am a 28-year-old male, measuring 5 feet 10 inches and weighing 131 pounds. My current medications include Fomadatine and Zyrtec, prescribed due to my ongoing battle with Chronic Gastritis and SIBO. I maintain a healthy lifestyle, abstaining from both smoking and alcohol. My health concern revolves around the toe adjacent to my pinky toe on my left foot, as well as my pinky toe on the right foot. Since August of last year, I have been on the mend from Guillain Barre Syndrome. Recently, I've noticed that at night, the skin on my feet tends to turn a reddish pink, although this usually improves after I walk around. However, two of my toes have remained red, with one appearing slightly swollen. Generally, my pinky toes are quite thick, but the condition of my left foot's toe is worrisome for me. It seems that I'm unable to upload an image to illustrate my issue.
Challenges with Appetite and Discomfort While Eating — Difficulty in Gaining Weight
As an 18-year-old male, I find that I become satisfied after consuming rather minimal amounts of food. This situation presents a considerable challenge, particularly since I only need to have a standard breakfast, lunch, or dinner to feel completely satiated for the remainder of the day. My goal of increasing my weight has made this issue even more complicated. When I limit myself to one meal per day, I often face weight loss or an uncomfortable sensation of fullness that leaves me feeling sluggish. Opting for two meals makes me feel excessively bloated, distracting me from my daily responsibilities. Moreover, I suffer from an unusual issue with my throat, where almost any food I consume causes discomfort, as detailed in the list below. I have contemplated focusing on having just lunch while continuing my weightlifting regimen to maintain my current weight and gradually build muscle. What advice could you offer? Could there be an underlying cause for these symptoms? Lastly, would it be wise for me to consult a healthcare professional? Foods That Cause Discomfort: Bread, flour, pizza, fruits, sugary or starchy items, seed oils, chips, and essentially everything else. Foods That Are Tolerable: Rice, salads, chicken, fish, and vegetables. Overall Symptoms Include: * Quick satiety after normal meals * Challenges in gaining weight * Bloated and lethargic sensations when consuming more than one meal * Persistent throat sensitivity to a wide variety of foods
Seeking Insights: My Journey with Undiagnosed Neurological Symptoms
Hello everyone, I'm a 34-year-old female grappling with neurological symptoms that first appeared in October, and I’m eager to hear from anyone who might have faced similar challenges. My journey began with unexpected migraines, blurred vision, and an ongoing sensation of being off-balance or intoxicated. Gradually, I began experiencing mainly sensory-related symptoms, such as tingling and burning sensations, feelings of extreme heat and cold, sharp pains radiating in my arms and back, as well as discomfort in my hands and toes, alongside intermittent numbness. I also endure varying degrees of weakness and heaviness in my right side, specifically my arm and leg, although I haven’t suffered complete functional loss. The nature of my symptoms is erratic; they fluctuate rather than consistently deteriorate. An MRI revealed mild, scattered lesions in the white matter, which were deemed nonspecific. Further tests from a lumbar puncture returned normal results, showing no markers of inflammation, and the oligoclonal bands were not present. A thorough range of lab tests yielded no significant findings. After evaluating my case, the neurology team suggested a possible diagnosis of MS and administered a three-day course of intravenous steroids. While I noticed a slight improvement in some sensory pain, my symptoms persist and continue to vary day by day. I still experience headaches and pressure in my head along with episodes of blurred vision, but there have been no new deficits since treatment. I am reaching out to connect with others who have had similar experiences. I would like to learn about the insights or diagnoses you encountered and what treatments proved beneficial (such as those related to migraine disorders, dysautonomia, or sensory neuropathy, for example). If you have navigated a similar path, I would greatly appreciate your sharing your story. Thank you!
Concerns About Angular Cheilitis
I’m a 23-year-old woman with no history of smoking, and I’m seeking assistance regarding a health issue. Back in January, I experienced angular cheilitis three times, each episode involving a minor crack at the corner of my mouth that healed within a few days. Following the last occurrence, I became quite anxious due to saliva accumulation in that area. I found myself frequently brushing my finger along that spot. After a few days, I observed a small area forming that appeared white and had a rough texture. Eventually, I realized it was not just a coincidence, and I started taking action, but only after it became noticeably larger. To address it, I cleaned the area with a mix of alcohol and apple cider vinegar. I’m uncertain about what this issue could be, but I’ve recently begun using over-the-counter Clotrimazole cream while also keeping the area moisturized with either lanolin or petroleum jelly. Unfortunately, I haven’t noticed any improvement, and I’m concerned as it seems to be expanding. The patch continues to be rough and excessively dry. Although I can open my mouth wide without any cracks forming, I do feel tension in the skin, similar to having a bandage over that location. At times, I experience a burning sensation after thorough washing, and I’ve noticed tiny red spots appearing on the outer edges of the patch sporadically.
Unusual Heart Sensation
I’m an 18-year-old, weighing 50 kilograms and standing at 170 centimeters (and yes, I’m aware that I’m quite slender). For the past couple of years, I’ve developed a habit of smoking about half a pack of cigarettes each day. So, the other day I was lying on my left side, relaxing, when I stumbled upon an unusual sensation. It felt as though my heart was pulsating so intensely that it was almost outside my body. Out of curiosity, I pressed a bit on the area and was instantly hit with a rush; my head started to tingle, my vision momentarily blurred, and it felt as though my heart dropped. It was as if my entire system had malfunctioned. Just for context, I’ve experienced something similar before after a ketamine overdose, and it persisted for about a month afterward, occurring occasionally while trying to sleep or during random moments in bed. This current episode has me quite anxious, especially since it hasn’t happened in a while, but this time felt particularly alarming.