The erythema nodosum (the name of her skin problem) she has because of her disease apparently only affects around 15% of people with it. :[ Here are some tips I found to help relieve her skin. I added my comments next to them in
red.
Quote:
*Use an air-purification system to filter out particles in the air that may initiate inflammatory skin reactions. Make sure the air purifier is cleaned and/or replaced often.
*Use a humidifier in the home to help prevent skin from drying out.
*Take brief, daily baths or showers using lukewarm water. Use a gentle soap (or no soap at all). Pat affected skin dry with a towel and immediately apply an emollient, perfume-free moisturizer. Obviously she can't take a shower because she can hardly stand, so you or your mother should help her with bathing/drying if you don't already. It would be easier for someone to help her apply the moisturizers. She might not be able to reach certain areas affected with eczema by herself.
*Try an oatmeal bath. Natural pharmacies often sell colloidal oatmeal bath treatments. A cup of baking soda in your bath water can also bring relief. Once again, she'd most likely need help with this.
*Apply calamine lotion. A thin layer of calamine can help stop persistent itching. It would probably be easier if you assisted her with applying it.
*Ask your doctor, or other health care provider, about hydrocortisone creams and mild antihistamines to relieve itching.
*Avoid wool and acrylic fabrics next to the skin.
*Avoid using harsh chemical cleaners that may irritate the skin.
*Try to eliminate your intake of the disease-promoting hydrogenated oils (trans-fatty acids). Add hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds and flax seeds to your diet; these foods contain health promoting omega 3 fatty acids, to help reduce skin inflammation. I really think you should discuss nutrition with your doctor if you haven't already; certain foods do seem to help relieve the symptoms of Crohn's Disease (such as ones with vitamin C and zinc). |
Also, is she already taking colchicine? That's been effective in treating the skin problems she has. You can get those in tablet forms (preferably) or by injection (I doubt she'd like that). Hot and cold compresses may relieve her discomfort, so you might want to try that. If you haven't done this already, you should gently massage her skin.
Here are drug treatments for it:
Quote:
Drug Therapies
Healthcare providers may prescribe various medications in the appropriate clinical setting, including:
Antihistamines for itching
Antibiotics to treat particular infections
Antiviral medications such as acyclovir and valacyclovir
Burrow's compresses—a solution used to soothe skin conditions, particularly blisters These are made of aluminum acetate dissolved in water. It has astringent and antibacterial properties that are used to treat many different skin inflammations. Bayer sells them under the name Domeboro.
Immune-suppressing drugs, such as azathioprine, have shown mixed results
Intravenous immunoglobulin has been used experimentally for SJS and TEN |
The last list also said that steroids could help, but obviously they're causing the problem. I hope that some of this helps & that she feels better soon. :[ <3