New Sections Being Created

I thought I wanted to finish with this blog as my skin overall feels pretty awesome though I do need to continue to keep up the life regime to keep the "rash" from ever smacking around my system ever again......but a dude whose code name is Rick researched "eczema" for his PhD and asked me if I'd be interested in seeing if his thesis can help someone out in the big wide world. I thought about it and thought it would be useful to compare the views of those who have tried to understand this disorder and compare it from my own experience.

So am going to share what his research has understood about chronic eczema........atopic eczema.....atopic dermatitis.

However think these are pretty good as stickies. So enjoy the new posts as pages :)

The Train Man

As I commuted on the train back from work, I noticed a man incessantly scratching and applying a "nasty cream" (that is my opinion as it did not help relieve his vigourous scratching on his face, ears and hands). His skin had that odour of skin that had been weeping.....I felt sad as I watched him fight himself. So I thought I'd provide myself as a distraction.....I sat next to him and talked about his condition and my condition. He asked me what I did to drastically reduce my symptoms and I said "hard work/trial and error". I started off with my diet and immediately he told me how he loves his food and likes a couple pints of beer after work. He wouldn't want to change that.

So I told him, at the end of the day it is your choice about whether you want to heal properly or not. The quick "medical" fixes will only be temporary for our long term eczematic conditions. I am thankful that I am able to adapt and change. Not wanting to change and adapt your lifestyle is an obstacle to your healing ability. The sooner you get over it, the sooner you will find out how you can heal yourself.

He then shared with me that the doctors had "given up" on his condition and the only thing was to increase his steroid dosage to get temporary relief.

I smiled and told him to write a blog about his condition so that he can observe/reflect on what is going on. At the end of the day, it is down to you to fix it. The doctors really can only guide you and give you a quick fix.

In my opinion the quick "medical" fixes are a waste of money. I am so much happier with the long term healing I have found in diet, herbal teas, non-usage of soaps, washing powder (non bio), keeping the dust levels low in my room and so many more things.

Anyhow the distraction worked and as we conversed he scratched less and less. By the time he had come to his stop, he had completely stopped scratching :) Distrations are great when we're itchy so that we focus less on the itch.

Ahhh I have not defeated winter yet.

Before I continue this post, I want to talk about the folk who are leaving comments. Firstly thank you for reading my blog posts. However to commenters who want to give me sample products, that is great.  Let's list some of the freebies you have offered:
- Soaps: I am not using them any more except on my hands and down below!
- Creams: I tried using "natural creams" when my eczema was improving, (only ingredients were jojba oil and shea butter). I was so itchy after using it. I will now only use creams that have gone through my test. No itchiness

Winter has always meant my skin quality worsens and the skin seems to tingle more with itchiness with the short days of sunlight, the cold dampness and the dreaded heating. This is true of this winter, however with the healing of my skin going into winter, it has been more resistant to the winter effects. Thus I slackened.

DIET
Last year I had learned about a ketosis diet and so I increased my medium chained triglycerides (MCT) fats in my food (uncooked olive oil; rapeseed and coconut oil for frying) and eating less carbohydrates. This may have added to my skin feeling silkier.  I did not gain or lose any weight. The verdict on whether carbs reduces inflammation or not seems to have a mixed response when researching on the web and might be due to who is sponsoring the research! Anyhow you might find these 2 articles of interest:
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/83/4/774.full
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140508095415.htm

Though the last study is a conclusion of patients with type 2 diabetes we can learn from all disorders that are food related as think these will exerate the things that are going on in our own bodies.

Notice-ably I have been "carb-bing" much more over the festive season and had a whole load of cakes and "crap" left over from the Christmas period which I didn't want wasted. There would appear to be a down turn in my skin quality since the change over of a higher carb diet.

Am now returning to my pre-festive diet - higher in MCT fat and veg and much less carbs and some protein.

OUTDOOR/EXERCISE
I was out most of the time last year winter, doing something. This time round the grey days and rain has kept me inside. The rashes have reappeared on my face and will need to return to taking vit D3 suppliments again or get me arse in gear to get outside. Endorphines are great too to help beat the winter blues.

I am very specific about the sun's effect on my face as I have found that if am indoors for a couple of days working (am a computer programmer), my eyes, cheeks and forehead can become itchy. The sunshine on my face tends to relieve that itch!

SLEEP
Eczema sufferers tend to lack good sleep. I have been taking a quarter of an anti-histamine pill when I feel any itchiness at night. This normally happens 2 weeks before my menstruation but has been feeling a little more regularly itchy with the increase in carbs.. Am now playing with arnica pills to see if that will ease off the itchiness and thus the skin inflammation.

Wishing those who are true eczema sufferers, less itchy days and enough distractions to scratch less.