Breast/areola eczema
I had this issue when I was 14/15 with a patch of eczema on my areola kept drying and weeping yellow liquid. It would keep sticking to bras and ripping of the skin. Truthfully, I never did anything to it at all and I was too scared to go to the doctor so I just left it alone and accepted my fate - weirdly enough it went away by itself. Now, about 10 years later, it has come back with a vengence and this time (I think?) it may be paired with a staph infection. When I go into a warm shower, there are small pustules that appear and then disappear when I'm dry. The area doesn't weep like it used to 10 years ago, but I never had those pustules. I also have small coin sized patches of eczema on my chest, and on both arms that started out the same but have joined together in places to make bigger patches. I've also had intertrigo under my breast and my belly fold too.
So far, since August 2024, on my areola patch I've tried:
• hydrocortisone
• antibiotics
• clomitrazole cream (as one doctor said it looked fungal, used it for 7 days, came back)
• Nizoral shampoo with 2% ketoconazole; I think it worked slightly on my arms and breast area, but areola wise, not much.
• Dermol 500; absolutely irritated the life out of it as an antibacterial body wash.
• Bactiscrub (Hisbiscrub), made my skin so so so dry and cracked, but kept me clean, less irritated, and didn't hurt when washing.
• Coconut oil mixed with tea tree oil; just make it weep more and look more red.
• Head and Shoulders shampoo as many people with seborrheic eczema have claimed it helps stop flaking; it does after a week or so, but this is now my new body wash for the forseeable. On the patch, no change.
• Aveeno (dermexa, skin relief, and daily use), they moisturise well but isn't slowly taking the patch away.
Edit: I have also been using sunbeds in moderation as I know they are not the best. I've been doing 5mins weekly on a stand up tanning bed, and I have seen improvements, but I know I shouldn't be reliant on them.
Just to clarify, I did see my GP who just gave me more steroid cream which I refuse to use in fears of TSW. So they gave me Protopic; again, I have heard and seen it have adverse affects therefore I do not want to risk it. I was referred to an NHS dermatologist who refused to refer me to the immunology department as 'my eczema isn't that bad' - a direct quote by the way! So all I was sent away with was a repeat prescription for the same steroids and creams I've had which I said either caused me irritation or I just refused to use them, and sent me on my way.
So any help or recommendations, please do help if you have been through a similar situation. I would much appreciate it :)