Dear Lucky: How can I deal with my eczema?

by Jean Godfrey-Juneillustrations by Lauren Friedman

Q: I had eczema as a child, and it pops up in fall and winter—my inner eyelids get dry and form flaky patches. Eyeshadow makes it stand out more! How do I get rid of it? —Pam

VMV Hypoallergenics Two True Hues Eyeshadow Duo in Life’s a Beach, $40, vmvhypoallergenics.com

A: Dear Pam,

When my son was three months old, he had terrible eczema, all over his body. Nothing worked. The doctor finally suggested alternative therapies; though it’s not really my thing, I went to a homeopath, and when I say she completely cured him, I mean: After a month it was gone. I stopped the homeopathy—it was back in force the next day. “One more week,” advised the homeopath. After the week it was gone—forever. So I always tell people with eczema, try homeopathy. It isn’t cheap, but could there be a more-worth-it $150 or so?

In addition, there is a new beauty company for sensitive skin, and they formulate makeup, skincare, baby stuff—all with no known irritants. They make all manner of balms and salves, which I super-recommend; they even make very pretty eyeshadows, pictured here!

The last-ditch solution any dermatologist will tell you is cortisone cream, used judiciously. You don’t want to overdo it, as overusing cortisone can thin your skin (seriously, there is a permanent little dent on my calf from a cortisone patch), but it should clear it up overnight.