By Emma on Friday, December 08, 2000 - 07:20 am:

As a child I suffered greatly from allergies to any lotions other than sensitive types, or even nylon. My mum claims on wrapping me in a nylon shawl, I became a belisha beacon!

Now I suffer with such dry skin, I have to use E45 as just a moisturiser, but lately, (I am not sure if stress doesn't help) but I have an odd rash on my neck and upper chest.

Does anyone else with HMS suffer from this, if so please help?

By Elle Elàn on Friday, December 08, 2000 - 10:50 am:

Hi Emma

I too am allergic to every lotion, soap or even long showers and my own sweat(- just to sweat , not to doing hard work!).I use a prescribed hormone-creme called celestoderm. It doesn't prevent the rash but it does cure it very fast.About the neck and chest-rash: have you by any chance been wearing a necklace lately?.Allergies usually build up in your body's immunesystem .So even if you weren't allergic to jewelry up till now, that doesn't mean you can't become allergic!Hope this helps.

By Beth on Saturday, December 09, 2000 - 11:54 am:

Yup, I have had allergies to metal for years. I also have very dry skin.

I use a product called Udder cream. It was designed for milk cow udders but it works on very dry skin as well.

Hugs beth

By Emma on Monday, December 11, 2000 - 05:28 am:

Thanks Elle & Beth, I have to admit that I have not changed or worn any jewelry around my neck. I think some of it may be due to stress, as I am in full time employment with a lot of people leaving, and me having to learn their jobs!

Oh well I will be slapping more cream on it, and hoping for the best!

By Patty on Monday, December 11, 2000 - 06:13 pm:

My daughter has had some strange rashes (and dry skin on her legs same as every other family member with EDS) and the derma told us not to use anything with lanolin in it. She told us to put olive oil on at the end of our shower and then briefly rinse off in lukewarm water. It has made an incredible difference!

By Sheena on Monday, December 11, 2000 - 11:50 pm:

I suppose we would all know if there was any link between HMS/EDS and having red hair and freckles? I often get slight skin irritations, from soap or working with my hands, but always put it down to the "delicate" skin that goes with Celtic colouring.

I don't know if this counts as fragile skin, but lately I can't use my bare hands to open plastic bottles, as the tiny ridges on the cap (which are there to give you grip) tear my skin. Is this just another example of badly-designed packaging?

For dry skin on my hands, a doctor recommended Neutrogena hand creme, which is very effective. I also use Neutrogena soap, and it does not irritate.

By Nicole on Saturday, January 13, 2001 - 11:53 am:

yea, those tear my skin a bit too. my hands are always too moist and soft, from the ethlers, except on rare occasions. the skin on my legs though, i am allergic to anything, i cant use soap or shaving cream to shave, and i cant use raizors with the aloe on them, makes my legs break out.

By Sharon on Monday, January 15, 2001 - 07:31 pm:

Like you all I too am allergic to Soap, Tapes, Creams and it seem like most things even some of the weeds in my yard. I have had eczema since the day I was born (I was allergic to the baby was that they washed me when I was born) is this also a symptom of EDS ????

By Bridget on Thursday, January 18, 2001 - 10:52 am:

Both my husband and daughter have gone through periods of trying to learn guitar. Both of them have HMS/EDS, and neither could stick with guitar, because the fingers never became sufficiently calloused. In other words, even after playing for weeks, it still hurt quite a bit!!

We also went to a gentecist who passed off all their symptoms due to lack of stretchy skin. Although my 9 year old, who now has symptoms also, can make the most horrendous face by stretching her lips apart with her fingers, far wider than i've ever seen anyone else do! So i'm wondering if you can have stretchy skin in patches, and not everywhere?

Bridget, Tucson

By Vicky on Wednesday, January 24, 2001 - 07:51 am:

I have found that as well as what Sheena described with the bottle tops, when my joints are really bad, my skin splits every time I catch it, and sometimes, just on it's own. Also, since the HMS developed, I have burned really easily in the sun; I have fairly dark colouring and never used to.If you are in Britain, Superdrug do a great sensitive skin moisturiser that is really cheap; cos when you use so much it can get pricey. Then I use the money I save to treat myself to clinique make up. Well, you gotta treat yourself sometimes!

By az on Monday, December 30, 2002 - 02:43 am:

I also have red hair, freckles and super white skin. Unlike most ppl of this colouring I never ever burnt in the sun no matter how long I was in it and never had to use a sun screen, but since been pregnant 7 years ago just 10 minuets in the sun unprotected I frazzle nearly as bad as a vampire. My skin has always been sensitive though to most products like material/clothing and soaps and shampoos. I have found the Dove products to be a god send for my skin and use the deodrant, shower wash, bath creme (Their spelling not mine ) and lotion. For shampoo I have found tea tree shampoo to be good although on three occasions it burnt my scalp, at the moment Im using baby shampoo, but the best thing to stop the scalp burning (If you have this with shampoo) is to rinse you hair several times with luke warm (Tepid) water after washing. When you get out of a shower/bath do not rub skin with towels, dab dry and smother yourself with body lotion (Dove or baby lotion seems the best for me and mum) As for other sensitivities I find most none precious metals to be a problem including low grade gold and avoid them. I had my eyebrow pierced and it became infected due to the bar been titanium although my navel piercing is fine and thats surgical steel (Did take a year to heal though) If you want to wear watches/earrings that contain non precious metal, but dont want the irritation then you can get a special varnish from chemists to paint onto backs of watches/studs of earrings so skin isnt in contact. A symptom of HMS is soft smooth peach like skin so maybe we should treat it like a peach
Az