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.