Hi.
My wife thinks that lanolin is causing her hands to have symptoms like excema. We keep goats, and the final step to milking the animals is to massage their udders with udder balm, which invariably contains lanolin. She is very sensitive to wool clothes (itchy), if that is relevant.
She also tends to get dry skin/excema like symptoms if she does dishes without gloves.
Any ideas?
Thanks.
REPLY ------
Great question. She almost surely has atopic dermatitis. This is also sometimes called eczema or atopic eczema. The best bet is to see a dermatologist and discuss both treatments and prevention or recurrences. Lanolin and wool sensitivity is very common in people with atopic dermatitis, as is general skin irritability, a family history of the same skin problems and a personal or family history of asthma.
Until then, avoid lanolin, use unscented moisturizers without lanolin (watch for the words wool alcohol too), and try over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams or oinments. Good luck. Eliot
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Dermatology Online: Served by Eliot N. Mostow, MD, MPH
NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
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