Sympathy for you h-h, I know 2nd hand how nasty eczema is - my 13 year old scratches himself to bits when it flares up. What starts as a little itch idly scratched, can turn into unbearable itching and pain. Applying ointment to your back yourself is difficult. Epaderm is soothing but quite messy. In the past he's had oats in a muslin in the bath which make a lovely soothing emollient.

Depending on the strength of the steroid cream it's important to reduce it gradually - eg if you're using a strong one to start with such as eumovate or betnovate, after a few days/week or two using that, reduce to 1% for a week or two, then go down to ½% for a while. An eczema nurse stressed the importance of this as, if, after using a strong cream the eczema disappears, it can flare up again even worse if you suddenly withdraw all steroid.

Apologies if you know all this already! Hope it soon goes.

Piffle!  As our dear late aunt Maureen used to swear, there's nothing to beat a good old-fashioned gin bath as a panacea for what ails you.

Much better thanks.

Oops - shouldn't have asked!

Tinners, after seeing the film I felt so ill the only thing I could eat was   Still, we all have our funny ways, look you   Sorry Ian

I say, Marbs old boy, I hope you`re not referring to the BB incident at the croquet match? As you are well aware. it was an unfortunate misunderstanding further complicated by the mussels and croissants issue which was not helped by the intervention of the  Vox Pop Shepherds R Us Glee Singers. The goat in question was a Lib Dem and was placated with custard creams and Rich Tea biscuits. The accordian player rejoiced.