^Thanks for sharing above sis.
You and I have the same case. Mine started in a small wound on my left leg naman. It was weeping and everything that I do, it keeps on weeping and everyday my officemates would notice why my pants were wet and at one area only. I was assigned in Cebu at that time kaya I had no access to medical care. It slowly spread on my other leg, my arms, behind my knees, siko (those hard skin areas) and eventually my face - cheeks.
I also tried different dermatologists. What I didn't like is they always say the same, to try their own medicines. Pag di tumalab, they let me try again another medicine of theirs. So I buy again from them. Ok sana if those were cheap but at that time, one small ointment from derma would cost Php150. I was just earning little back then kasi newly grad. It became cycle, if by three weeks di ako gumagaling at continue ang pagprescribe sa akin ng gamot, I go to another derma in the hopes of making sure that the new derma will have the correct analysis on my condition. I went to Oblepias in Paranaque Med, she even prescribed so many medicines. I would even wait for 2 hours just to have appointment with her for a 5 minute consultation. I ended up with cabinet full of medicines that were just used once up to 10 times only. All of which I ended up throwing in the trash. I also resorted to steriods. Lahat ata ng brand ng steroids na topical I tried such as clobetasol, cortisones basta prescribed by derma. When my skin doesn't react to topical application anymore, I resorted to injections. Everything was worse, I would shy away from wearing sleeved blouses kahit mainit. Everyday, I would cover my legs and arms. Long sleeves and pants all the time.
Until I had my vacation in US, I tried my tita's lotion, it was aveeno moisturizing lotion. It was winter back then so I thought my dermatitis would become worse. I bought then one big container as I cannot afford to hoard at that time. When I came back to Manila, and I ran out of Aveeno, I blindly switched to Physiogel lotion. Then I realized, that's the only "medicine" I need, apart from Dove sensitive skin Soap (green one). The pustular bumps suddenly disappeared. My legs were slightly lightening. Sine then, it has been 7 years ago since my last steriod application.
Up until now, I am still faithful to Physiogel Lotion. I hoard them when I am in the Phils because its sold here in SG for SGD24 (Php 792) But in mercury drugs, its only Php 600. I still have three bottles in my cabinet as I have fear of running out of it. Also, whenever my aunt comes home to Manila, she never forgets to bring me 2 14-pc packs of Dove for Sensitive skin soap as I also don't want to run out of it. It is sold in robinson's for Php180 for two bars. For 7 solid years, I have never switched to a different soap and lotion (except when both are not available, I just make sure that I switch to dove and physiogel once available).
I tried to use victoria's secret, L'Oocitane, Johnson's and Johnson's Milk lotion, still I would feel my legs become scaly again. I then switch back to Physiogel. I guess, what those dermatologists failed to tell me is that all I need is to moisturize. I do not need their own concoctions - their own medicine. I just needed a special lotion with the correct pH, non fragrant and specially dedicated to dry skin -- not just for marketing purposes like other commercialized lotions.
Now, I can wear skirts, shorts as before, I avoided showing my legs because of the scars caused by atopic dermatitis.
