Eczema in older relatives
Discussion
Does anyone have any older relatives with severe eczema.
I'm starting to think that I won't be living to a ripe old age of any significance as im pretty fit and eat very healthly (in general) jsut now but I can't see how my body will cope with old age and eczema.
Please no comments on have you tried this have you tried that blah blah blah Ive heard it and tried it all.
I Just want to find out if the constant strain on my body will have an effect on my lifespan.
I'm starting to think that I won't be living to a ripe old age of any significance as im pretty fit and eat very healthly (in general) jsut now but I can't see how my body will cope with old age and eczema.
Please no comments on have you tried this have you tried that blah blah blah Ive heard it and tried it all.
I Just want to find out if the constant strain on my body will have an effect on my lifespan.
Think your attention to a certain section of the Finance forum will get you first 
Seriously, as I get older, I'm find I'm getting dry skin on the top of my head, mainly due to years of open top cars and the sun (that's before I moved to Scotland). The skin is very thin there and easily cut too.
Excema itself runs in our family, tied to asthma which also runs in the family. I've suffered occasionally but it's usually brought on by something like a woolly jumper. I'm 69.
Seriously, as I get older, I'm find I'm getting dry skin on the top of my head, mainly due to years of open top cars and the sun (that's before I moved to Scotland). The skin is very thin there and easily cut too.
Excema itself runs in our family, tied to asthma which also runs in the family. I've suffered occasionally but it's usually brought on by something like a woolly jumper. I'm 69.
I've had it on and off over the years, but the most recent treatment completely cleared it up and I've been eczema free for about 4 years now. I mostly get it on my hands which is pretty rough as you can imagine.
Not aware of anything specific linked to it, but obviously stress is not good for you.
Not aware of anything specific linked to it, but obviously stress is not good for you.
vulture1 said:
What was your treatment? Mines is never cleared up. Yes stress is a big trigger along with heat. its part psycological as well as at times its not itchy but feels good to itch.
Tried all the steroids, not really effective. Eventually got to see a dermatologist who prescribed Protopic ointment. It's this stuff: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/TacrolimusAbsolute magic, cleared it up in a matter of weeks and it's barely recurred.
My 82 year old dad has eczma. It's not severe but it does impact his life. He has a great life and is very active - a better social life than me.
My mum had severe psoriasis (similar) all her life, unfortunately she passed aged 63 from an unrelated disease. The severity of her psoriasis ebbed and flowed over her life. She'd be on a drug that worked, then it would stop working so would switch to something else and have a merry go round of treatments until she found one that worked and then it would all start again. Again, she had a good life and no doubt would have thoroughly enjoyed her later years with my dad.
With regards to doctors being reluctant to prescribe certain drugs - do your own investigations. My 82yr old dad has had problems in his shoulders over the last 5 years. When it flared up he would be totally incapacitated, they'd put him on steroids, it would subside, he'd get back to life as normal and then they'd ween him off the steroids and it would flare up again. This was a man who's never drunk alcohol or smoked, has a super healthy diet, cycles everywhere (including food shopping), plays table tennis twice a week, bowls twice a week in the summer, climbs mountains with me, and volunteers at several charities - basically one of the fittest 80 year olds you could find. The doctor was worried about the side effects of the steroids, so refused to let him take them long term. He ended up in this cycle of pain and recovery, which was difficult to watch. The impacts of him not taking them were far worse than the "potential" risks of taking them - he'd slump into a sedentary lifestyle as he couldn't do all the things he loved, gained weight and his mental health suffered significantly. It took a relative (a doctor) to write a letter to his GP explaining that my father fully understood the risks of long term steroid use and that those risks were far more preferable to the actual real world pain of the impact of not having them. He's been on them for a few years now and his blood pressure hasn't ballooned, he hasn't got diabetes, he's not depressed, doesn't have osteoporosis and he's lost weight. I suspect some doctors may assume the worst and perhaps not believe that you are super healthy. Be forceful if you need to be.
My mum had severe psoriasis (similar) all her life, unfortunately she passed aged 63 from an unrelated disease. The severity of her psoriasis ebbed and flowed over her life. She'd be on a drug that worked, then it would stop working so would switch to something else and have a merry go round of treatments until she found one that worked and then it would all start again. Again, she had a good life and no doubt would have thoroughly enjoyed her later years with my dad.
With regards to doctors being reluctant to prescribe certain drugs - do your own investigations. My 82yr old dad has had problems in his shoulders over the last 5 years. When it flared up he would be totally incapacitated, they'd put him on steroids, it would subside, he'd get back to life as normal and then they'd ween him off the steroids and it would flare up again. This was a man who's never drunk alcohol or smoked, has a super healthy diet, cycles everywhere (including food shopping), plays table tennis twice a week, bowls twice a week in the summer, climbs mountains with me, and volunteers at several charities - basically one of the fittest 80 year olds you could find. The doctor was worried about the side effects of the steroids, so refused to let him take them long term. He ended up in this cycle of pain and recovery, which was difficult to watch. The impacts of him not taking them were far worse than the "potential" risks of taking them - he'd slump into a sedentary lifestyle as he couldn't do all the things he loved, gained weight and his mental health suffered significantly. It took a relative (a doctor) to write a letter to his GP explaining that my father fully understood the risks of long term steroid use and that those risks were far more preferable to the actual real world pain of the impact of not having them. He's been on them for a few years now and his blood pressure hasn't ballooned, he hasn't got diabetes, he's not depressed, doesn't have osteoporosis and he's lost weight. I suspect some doctors may assume the worst and perhaps not believe that you are super healthy. Be forceful if you need to be.
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