Eczma and Turbo Training

[rob]

Bit of an odd one.   I developed adult onset eczma 18 months ago.   Started in small patches on legs but, at its worst covers most of the top half of my body, particularly bad around shoulders, lower neck and back.   I have seen the GP and have been using Diprobase emollient a couple of times a day and showering with Aquaeous cream 1/2 times a day.   If it goes untreated for a few days it goes pretty red and sore so I have to keep on top of it.

What I have noticed is that it seems to be made worse by the fact that I spend 3-4hrs a week soaked in sweat on the turbo.   I now remove all kit straight after a session and throw it in the washing machine (it helps that both the turbo and the washing machine are in the garage).   I then shower about 10 mins later once I have cooled off a little and managed to walk up the stairs.

I am a little impatient and used to medical issues that can be treated and cured but this one is proving a bit difficult.   I also can't quit the turbo work without sacrificing racing goals.   Has anyone else suffered something similar and should I consider :-

- change of treatment
- change of diet
- alter washing/hygiene of body and clothing

Any help appreciated.

Thanks


Rob

[chrisbainbridge]

you may have already tried all this but it sounds as if something is perhaps causing the problem.  Your own sweat should not be aproblem but if it is dissolving somethingin your clothing then that may be causing problems.

I would suggest buying a brand new Merino wool top, rinsing in clean water a couple of times and then wear that on the turbo and see if you get less or more of a problem.

More suggests that it could be a wool allergy which some people do get.

Better would poin t me towards an allergy to washing powder something in the clothing, etc.

you could als ask for referral to dermatology for skin testing,etc.

[Plug1n]

I don't have a solution, but you have my sympathies.

I also get problems with turbo sweat but clearly not on the same scale.  I've wondered too whether my sweat is toxic!  Problem areas for me are my calves and face.  Showering ASAP keeps it under control.

Only suggestion I have is to move the turbo outdoors if possible  to keep cool and sweat less.

[hellymedic]

I am not a dermatologist but I am VERY suspicious of your washing habits!

Are you using ANY soaps or gels other than Aqueous Cream?

What about shampoo and shaving goo?

[Otto]

I suffer from Eczma especially on my hands .... any household chemicals set it off, (rumbber gloves are my friend) I have a few patches on my body but nothing bad. My sister suffers much like yourself and has had numerous tests, she finds that limiting the intake of dairy foods helps, and certain cloths washing detergents make it worse. Have you tried the simplest 'chemical free'(if any such this exists) washing powder /liquid you can find, my sister says the ECOVER one helps.

[hellymedic]

Whatever else, give an extra rinse to all your clothes.
Detergents persist!

[Ningishzidda]

My father developed adult eczema in his fifties. I had it too on my hands.
My father's was quite bad. On his hands, elbows, wrists, knees and ankles. He was prescribed Diprobase.

Strangely, mine cleared up. What I was doing was applying Brooks Proofide to my saddles regularly with my bare hands.

I showed my dad and he said “Its worth a go.”

Three months and half a sample tin of Proofide later, my dad’s skin was as good as new.
The Diprobase went in the bin.

He lived another thirty years without any more eczema problems.

[LittleWheelsandBig]

When I turbo-trained, I just wore knicks, socks and shoes. Why do you need to wear a top? You're sweating plenty anyway, so don't need a top to keep warm.

[rob]

Thanks for the help.

I turbo in the garage which, despite being attached to the house, is a bit chilly, particularly as I tend to train about 5am before riding to work.   I train wearing some of the old jerseys I have that are beyond wearing on normal rides but not worth throwing out.   Last night's was a 99 AUK PBP jersey.   The pockets are also handy for the iphone to provide motivational tunes.   In the Summer I don't wear a top and have the garage door open.   This may cause the neighbours a bit of distress but there are worse sights out there.

In terms of washing I am just showering using the aqueous cream but was also using some zero additive shower gel (Sanex ?) before that.   Maybe I should alternate.   I do use shampoo which I suppose runs over me before I use the cream.   I wash all kit on a 40 degree cycle and have been using the same washing liquid for years (persil).   What about washing all kit through on a hot wash every now and again ?

The use of a merino base layer may also bear fruit.   I did change my base layers some time ago from some old hellys to some new Peter Storm ones for day-to-day and audax use.   I might cut these out for a while and see what difference that makes.

I'm not entirely sure if the proofide advice is a gag or not, although I do need a new pot.

Rob

[T42]

Not all detergents etc are the same.

The old bio powders - Ariel etc - used to give me eczema, ditto certain fabric softeners.  Got rid of bio, & missus cast about for different softeners, finally got one that was OK.

[L CC]

Persil might be non-bio but they do change the recipe from time to time.

No point in a hot wash- it's unlikely to be bacterial, it's much more likely to be allergic.

FWIW I'm a bit reactive to my own sweat, but only on my face. I slap on creams when it flares up, and winter's worse, for all I'm sweatier in summer.

[hellymedic]

Even without additives, Sanex contains a detergent, which can degrease your skin for ages and is almost impossible to rinse away fully.

You might be better off with a mild bar soap, especially if you're in a hard water area, where soap forms a non-degreasing scum.

[Kim]

I have very little ecema now that I'm an adult (actually, I've just realised that the patch on my arm that usually appears over winter hasn't this year), but my philosophy in life is "use as little Products as possible".  Fabric softener can go, for a start - it serving only to make towels less effective and clothing marginally more tolerable for autistic children.  Double-rinse everything (bedding, as well as clothing!).  Being sweaty (or rained on) would always make it itch like a bastard when I was a kid, so maybe try to reduce that somehow?  Use a fan, have a shower immediately after using the turbo, that sort of thing?

Tactical abuse of steroid cream can sometimes be effective... 

[hellymedic]

I rather like  wet flannels.
Maybe wipe sweaty areas at intervals. Sweat and condensation make me itch.

[trekker12]

I suffer with Excema, particularly on my hands and neck. I don't train indoors, only ride my bike outdoors which means I get wet in winter and hot and sweaty in summer.

My hands had just started to clear up last week when I did 100K on Saturday in my neoprene winter gloves which turned out to be overkill and I ended up with hot sweaty hands all the way round which have now brought the excema back.

I'm afraid you may not want to hear this but it's something I have learnt to tolerate rather than try to cure completely. The advice above is not bad regarding dairy and also consider how much wheat you eat. I find showering in natural products rather than soaps to be better. SANEX no soap is evil and proved to make my symptoms much worse. I use Body Shop olive oil shower gel. As has been said above use rubber gloves when washing up and also when you wash the bike and car.

Interestingly, my doctor told me that Aqueous cream should be avoided, then prescribed me with Cetroben cream for use twice a day (at least). I compared the ingredients and although they don't have quantities by percent, the active ingredients are practically the same. I suspect pharmecuetical persuasion at work here!

When it's particularly bad I try to alternate between a gel called Eumovate and cream called Fucibet (both prescription). It seems to help but doesn't ever fully go away.

I saw a specialist a few years ago who said I would just have to live with it and treat it. I think in general the NHS aren't interested and I haven't found the time to go and find an alternative.

Sorry, in reading your OP I suspect it's not what you wanted to read but this is my experience.

[Chicane]

I had a similar thing about 6 years ago and now believe it was an extreme emotional reaction to something or perhaps you would call it 'stress'! It was the most uncomfortable thing I have ever experienced, couldn't bear anything touching my skin, couldn't sleep and came to understand what those poor kids go through. At one point I went and stood in the sea it was so uncomfortable! Whilst I agree with all the others I would also say to look at it in a holistic way. I had weekly sessions of acupuncture, used herbal remedies etc and it was gone within about 6 months, maybe less.(Also especially good was the pure olive oil baby cream from Waitrose).

An acupuncturist might also say that turbo training is creating a lot of heat - everything is looked at in a kind of yin/yang way so you have to balance this by cooling the body, perhaps by eating certain cooling foods, checking your diet etc. There is much more to it than that but really it all makes sense and an expert would give you lots of advice. Good Luck 

[HarryF]

I developed an itchy, spotty rash on my torso last year. Did the usual soap powder, anti-histamines, giving up some foods, etc. None worked. Doctor wrongly thought it was Guttate Psoriasis. He wrote his name on my back with his finger on my raised red skin! I finally clicked that my lovely yellow cycling top was part of the problem. Everytime I wore anything manmade and then became hot, the rash developed. Now that I only wear cotton tops the rash is long gone. Fleeces don`t seem to be a problem, oddly.

[Ningishzidda]

Thanks for the help.

I turbo in the garage which, despite being attached to the house, is a bit chilly, particularly as I tend to train about 5am before riding to work.   I train wearing some of the old jerseys I have that are beyond wearing on normal rides but not worth throwing out.   Last night's was a 99 AUK PBP jersey.   The pockets are also handy for the iphone to provide motivational tunes.   In the Summer I don't wear a top and have the garage door open.   This may cause the neighbours a bit of distress but there are worse sights out there.

In terms of washing I am just showering using the aqueous cream but was also using some zero additive shower gel (Sanex ?) before that.   Maybe I should alternate.   I do use shampoo which I suppose runs over me before I use the cream.   I wash all kit on a 40 degree cycle and have been using the same washing liquid for years (persil).   What about washing all kit through on a hot wash every now and again ?

The use of a merino base layer may also bear fruit.   I did change my base layers some time ago from some old hellys to some new Peter Storm ones for day-to-day and audax use.   I might cut these out for a while and see what difference that makes.

I'm not entirely sure if the proofide advice is a gag or not, although I do need a new pot.

Rob

Maybe a cat has been spraying round your garage door.