I am a 65 year-old male, on the whole in normal good health. I used to suffer from asthma as a child and very rarely, symptoms of respiratory allergy for which I carry a bronchodilator-nasal inhaler (Asthalin). I always had dry skin and used to rub myself lightly with cream or an oil in winter.

About 10 years ago the skin dryness became worse and led to local eruptions, redding of the skin and intense itching, mainly on the arms and legs, but also on the feet. Topical application of Flucort ointment got rid of the symptoms but left behind dark pigmented spots. The situation has recurred but only once each winter or so.

Now, since about six months, I have exprienced quite different skin-related symptoms. They include drying, a tendency to crack and, occassionally, a prureint discharge or bleeding, mainly on the hands and fingers (which were previously unaffected). When this happens on the fingertips it is also painful.This has been diagnosed as atopic dermatitis and eczema. Rubbing Clonate-F (twice daily for ten days) on the affected spot cleared up the problem initially but is not doing so now, when the situation has recurred. At the same time, the older symptoms have come back. I keep using a skin moisturiser and, immediately after bathing, an emollient cream. Both seem to help but the condition persists.

Is it safe to use Flucort and Clonate F simultaneously (though at different places)? If so, for how long? Is there any diet- or life style-related long-term measure to control the situation? Or is there some other, more efficacious, treatment?