For me, it’s sunflower oil — the most common one where I live. Because of it, I avoid eating out, even during social gatherings. The hardest part isn’t just skipping the food; it’s the constant need to explain that I really can’t eat anything due to my allergy, followed by pitying words or endless recommendations. That part is exhausting.
Have your eczema improved during pregnancy and spike up during postpartum? Please share your experience and advice.
My eczema improved during pregnancy but I am now seeing some flares 1 month into postpartum. I just wanted to know what to expect and how to manage it.
Have your eczema improved during pregnancy and spike up during postpartum? Please share your experience and advice.
My eczema improved during pregnancy but I am now seeing some flares 1 month into postpartum. I just wanted to know what to expect and how to manage it.
Have you figured out what’s causing eczema on your lips? I finally did, but it took me ages.
As a kid, putting honey on overnight was an easy fix. Lately, though, it stopped working — in fact, it started making things worse. I eventually learned it was related to my pollen allergies.
Whenever I catch the flu or a cold, my lip eczema flares up and takes forever to settle. I used to think it was just from blowing my nose constantly, and that did play a part, but the main issue was breathing through my mouth when my nose was blocked. The same thing happens when my sinuses are inflamed during allergy season. My solution: I wear a mask to retain moisture and use hydrocortisone. For the record, no moisturizer works for me because of my countless allergies.
I never used to read toothpaste ingredients. Out of suspicion, I checked, and most didn’t indicate they were sulfate-free. It turned out I was using toothpastes with SLS. Once I switched to SLS-free toothpaste, my lips stopped cracking.
One additional point, I have countless food allergies too. And the most serious ones cause flares on my lips and face. If I occasionally decide to have good food and take a ‘calculated’ risk. I make sure I take my anti-allergies and put on hydrocortisone.
There’s no single solution for everyone, but the key is to listen to your body and cautiously experiment to discover what works for you.
Who here struggles with nickel allergies? I do, and it has kept me from wearing most makeup; nothing glamorous like eyeliner, mascara, or lipstick. And it’s not just nickel; my body seems to reject so many “good” things — coconut, shea, olive, honey, and more.
So whenever I attend weddings or go out, I often feel underdressed. I only have one eyeliner that works for me, and I’ve stopped wearing it daily so that when I do, it truly uplifts my look compared to my usual casual style.
This might feel like a small or irrelevant issue to most, but it really does affect how one sees oneself. We can adapt, of course, but it’s not something you can simply dismiss from shaping how you feel. I do miss the days when I could put on lipstick and instantly create that touch of glamour!
I use Aquaphor and paraffin for my baby, but unfortunately I’m allergic to both. Gloves help protect my hands, but the bigger challenge is my right cheek and neck area. Since my baby is less than two months old, I can’t avoid his face touching mine. I love the skin-to-skin contact—it calms him and comforts me—and his neck isn’t strong yet, so he often leans against my face or neck for support while burping or comforting him.
I’m considering applying a lighter lotion to his face, though I haven’t decided which one. Because I have many triggers (especially with oils), the product needs to meet those criteria. I’d really appreciate recommendations for hypoallergenic baby products to start with!
Based on my doctor’s recommendation, I began using prescribed ointments along with edible olive oil to moisturize my skin. At first, I didn’t realize I was allergic to olive oil. By the time I understood, my body had become almost unrecognizable. Each day it worsened — peeling, oozing, and eventually developing an infection. Although my follow-up appointment was scheduled for a month later, I tried to return a week early. Unfortunately, the nurses told me my condition wasn’t “emergency” enough to see the doctor sooner. Heartbroken, I left in tears and sought help elsewhere.
The doctor I visited next gave me sick leave to reduce work-related stress and prescribed prednisone, antibiotics, and Beprosone cream. These helped, but the side effects — weight gain and hormonal changes — were frustrating. I continued prednisone with a gradually reduced dosage for a year and used Beprosone cream for a long time. During this period, I felt completely out of control. My only known triggers were oils (olive, castor, coconut, cocoa, shea, petroleum, etc.), which made daily life very difficult.
In November 2023, I traveled to the US and did allergy testing. I discovered significant environmental allergies, especially to dust mites and mold, along with several food allergies. Lifestyle changes helped somewhat. Then, in September 2024, I visited an allergist in Dubai, which brought the biggest breakthrough. I was diagnosed with contact dermatitis and identified with four major allergies: potassium dichromate, nickel, hydroperoxides of linalool, and Peru balsam. With this knowledge, I made important lifestyle adjustments — wearing gloves, switching detergents, avoiding perfumes and body sprays — and finally began to see real improvement.
Still, this wasn’t enough. I continued documenting everything and suspected that certain foods were also triggers. Over time, I realized that foods high in nickel and spices related to Peru balsam were significant causes. I also suspected dairy products, eggs, and some fruits. At my next check-up, I insisted on food allergy testing. Out of 26 food items, I was allergic to 15. Most results weren’t surprising, though a few — like coffee — were very disappointing. It didn’t stop there. My doctor ordered another test and discovered that my IgE count was more than triple the normal range, meaning my body was treating almost everything as an enemy. The doctor recommended Xolair, though I haven’t pursued it due to feasibility concerns.
There are many more small steps in between, but this is the highlight of my journey with eczema. I share this story in case it offers someone else a pointer, and also as a way of celebrating small victories. I prayed to be in control, and now I mostly am. I still struggle, but I’ve learned to live with it.
There are two things I haven’t figured out yet:
- I still have no oil or moisturizer that works for me.
- I need to determine which supplements can help control eczema while also closing the nutrition gap caused by my dietary restrictions.
I would be happy to hear your reflections. In case it helps some of you, I will continue to share more but it will not be as long as this! 😉
I’m looking for a suitable moisturizer or oil. I have very sensitive skin with eczema, which I’ve managed to control through medication and by identifying my triggers. The biggest challenge I face now is that I’m not using any moisturizer or oil for either my body or scalp.
Here are the ingredients I avoid: olive, castor, shea, coconut, cocoa, sunflower, mineral oil, dairy products, and fragrance.
I’ve already tried many options, including Eucerin, Uriage, Vanicream, Sebamed, CeraVe, Cetaphil, Aquaphor, and more. Unfortunately, none of them have worked well for me. I also have nickel allergies, so products with high nickel content are unsuitable.
That’s why I’m reaching out for help: I’d really appreciate recommendations for products that fit my restrictions and could work for my skin. Thank you in advance!
Part II
I had my second baby at the end of 2022. By then, I still hadn’t figured out the cause of the flares on my hands. The only pattern I noticed was that they became more intense during weekends. I suspected it was related to weekend activities — bathing my daughter and cooking. Since I was using Aquaphor Wash and ointment, which worked well for eczema, I ruled out bathing as the trigger.
One day during maternity leave, I noticed that the skin on my right cheek looked wrinkled, while the other side was perfectly fine. I tried to recall what I had done differently. To my surprise, I realized that my baby boy often leaned against my right cheek when I held him. And guess what — I had been using Aquaphor and paraffin oil. That was the moment I discovered the underlying cause of my allergies: mineral oils.
I went back to check the products I had been using, and sure enough, many of my creams and lotions contained mineral oil. I added it to my allergy list, which already included coconut, shea, castor, and products with sulphates. This meant I was left with extremely dry skin but no oils I could safely use to treat it.
During maternity leave in the COVID period, my father and aunt were hospitalized (unrelated to COVID), and my nanny left. Suddenly, I was at home with both an infant and a toddler, with my support system dismantled. I wasn’t prepared for this scenario, and it turned into a very stressful postpartum period. That was when my body started to itch — not just my hands anymore.
A few months after returning to the office, my condition worsened. I decided to see a dermatologist, who came highly recommended. I explained my history, and he prescribed ointments. He also suggested I use edible olive oil on my body. And with that recommendation, everything spiraled out of control.
By the way, we don’t have allergy testing in Ethiopia. No patch or prick tests — it isn’t a priority for the government. Only very recently have a few labs and hospitals started sending blood samples to Dubai for allergy testing.
In Part III, I will share the lowest point of my life with eczema. In the meantime, I would love to hear about your journeys — especially from readers in Ethiopia or other countries where health systems often limit the possibility of uncovering underlying causes, leaving doctors to focus mainly on treating symptoms.
I outgrew a horrible asthma by the time I was about 14. But I always lived with sinus issues, which flared seasonally. I thought I had learned to live with it (more on this later).
When I was in law school, my nipples started becoming itchy and flaky most of the time. Looking back, I think stress was a contributing factor. I also noticed flares on my legs. I mentioned it to my mom, and she advised me to see a doctor. But I, in my youthful “genius,” didn’t take it seriously. The symptoms came seasonally and disappeared whenever I moisturized more frequently.
Something that still rings in my ears is my mom’s concern about the pores on my nipples being blocked — because eventually, that happened.
Fast forward: I only decided to get checked about 5–6 years later, when my nipples began oozing. At that point, I wasn’t sure whether to see a dermatologist or an internist. I ended up with a dermatologist, who ran a few tests and diagnosed me with eczema. That was the first time I had ever heard the word. The doctor prescribed an ointment for my nipples and legs, and the flares disappeared within days of using it. I didn’t dig deeper into the condition then, and I didn’t realize its severity until much later — about six years afterward.
In 2020, after having my first child, I began experiencing allergic reactions on my hands. I struggled to identify the cause. Hydrocortisone helped manage the symptoms, but they never fully disappeared. It sounds simple, but it was difficult. People often asked what was wrong with my hands. I even stopped doing manicures to avoid drawing attention. The itching was so intense that I found myself scratching during meetings or conversations, only noticing when colleagues gave me awkward looks.
These reactions persisted, and I never identified the cause — until after I had my second child.