Gone and Back Again

 I cycled to COP26 and back. 22 days out as we were visiting schools and collecting Climate Action pledges and 14 days back home. Before COP26 my skin had returned to be a mess and both my eyes had become puffy and sticky. On the journey back, the skin had calmed right down and the eczema had pretty much disappeared.

On my way back I visited an Uncle who is an optometrist and he said I had Blepharitis. 

So back home, 3 days later and everything starts back up again. I am blaming the place I am living in. Perhaps it is stress. The skin around the eyes are awful and looks like I have dandruff on my face. Just looking back at my previous blog posts and will be re-trying some of the things. My skin on my arms is desperate and rash has reappeared all over my body. It is so frustrating to have this condition return so quickly. More detective work required....

Something Under Your Skin

Some say Eczema is due to something getting under your skin.

I defo have a number of issues / concerns getting under my skin

Am so glad to have finally got one of those issues to the surface and passed it on.

Skin already feels psychologically better :)

Dead Skin On the Bed

.... am sure that should feature in a hard rock song.....

Many look at the skin on their body

I look at the skin on the bed and am amazed

Everyday, since December, I have scratched off an amount of skin every night. In the morning I awaken to small puddles "puddles" of skin.

I air my bedding out every day, shaking out the skin and imagine it is a feast for the bugs waiting on the lawn.

Even when it rains, I go outside to shake out my sheets.

I look forward to the day when my skin is smooth and I can find very little dead skin on my bed

Foods That Make Me Hot

For the last couple of nights I've been hot. Maybe woman issues or maybe things am eating.

Notably on the Friday night had a lot of cheese and rich food; on Saturday night had a lot of foods high in fat: corn on the cob dripped in butter; greasy fried noodles; greasy eggs; chips with lots of butter. My liver was having a hard time and I oozed heat at night.....sweat.... and itchy skin.

So no more fatty foods and cheese for me!

You Scratching? Don't Touch It

You wanna scratch cos you felt your skin and it feels rough?

You wanna scratch cos your skin feels a little bit itchy?

You scratching cos you ain't felt your skin for a wee while?

You scratching cos you feeling a little bit clammy?

Then it's time to rap?

My Eyes and Catch Up

 In 2020, my mother suggested I try Lutein. 

This appears to have worked to reduce the eye irritation and hence me scratching the surrounding skin and causing poor skin health. The skin around my eyes are now great :)

At the end of 2020, the skin on my back decided to ..... well I have no idea how that happened...

...then it went back to the arms, front, groin, now legs and neck.... oh and parts of my scalp.It is end of August and I have let things get a wee bit out of control. So much has been happening despite Covid.

At least I can appreciate that the skin around my eyes is great :)

So what is happening. I have noted that am clammy in the night and appears due to when I have creamed myself. Just before bed and my body is sweating. Never used to happen so I combine this with being a certain age and hormones going awol. Haven't killed the other person in my life, so at least the mood swings are not sooo bad.

What else is helping?

1. Sunlight & Hydration are my top 

2. Sleep (if I can get it but the itching is keeping me up). 

3. STOP touching the bad skin and focus on the lovely good skin. Everytime I touch the bad skin, I want to scratch it off. So have to find things for my hands.

4. Try to have a a good proper exercise sweat every now and then. It feels totally cleansing. A spin class helped calm my skin.

5. Take a cold shower / or end with cold water at the end of a shower

Though I did do a naughty thing and ate loads of dorito chips at my Aunt's. I ripped my neck up and dug holes into my back. Oh well sometimes have to be stupid to become wiser!

Taking Oil of Evening Primrose and Starflower Oil and this certainly again seems to be calming things.

So where ever you are, who ever you are, it may seem bad but keep your mind focused on what has healed and the nice parts.  Let's do it :)

What Is Happening to My Eyes?

My eyes have been red and irritated for so long. An itchiness below the left eye has now been around for sooo many years. It goes away when am in the sun.

Watching something and looks like what I have - periorbital dermatitis
https://www.facebook.com/kerwinrae/videos/572651766905444/

Maybe it goes away when am in the right place and it returns when am out of place.... hm

Making Environments Less Conducive to Eczema Outbreaks and Itching

House Dust 

House dust aggrevates my eczema and can only think this might be due to the dust mites. Of course the obvious solution is to ensure the environment is as dust free as possible. Seems am okay with other types of dust. Perhaps house dust has too much human skin circulating with it.

Dampness 

Many sufferers will tell you sunlight, sand and sea have been helpful in reducing eczema symptoms and thus the skin begins to heal.  Of course there will also be the exceptions. My cousin has recently found sunlight makes her skin erupt in rashes.....

However I now wonder about that.

I had a eureka moment. Had been in an environment that was damp and cold. My skin is great in the cold without the heating, so I continued living in this place for a week without the heating on. Unfortunately I was breaking out in rash spots and thought it was due too diet.

Back in my own home, the outbreak of eczema that I had in the other place worsened. It was always itchiest after a hot shower and getting into a cold bed during winter.

As I reflected, one thing I had noticed was the dampness of my skin and this was before digging into the epidermal layer.

Solutions

1. Make sure the room is dry. Have invested in a dehumidifier and this makes a difference to the room environment.

2. Make sure have had a wash way ahead of bed time. Previously a warm body getting into a cold bed would mean there is a certain amount of condensation being formed (that's what I think). Hence having a wash ahead of time means the body has had time to cool down.

3. Make sure the sheets have been warmed on a radiator before getting into bed. I sleep on the floor so it's pretty easy to warm up the bedding on a radiator without too much work.  Again as in the previous point - my body + warmed up bedding makes it easier to create a non-condensing environment in bed.

So now I wonder if my cousin's sudden allergy to sunlight could also be due to dampness on her skin and perhaps talcum powder might help her.

Antihistamine and Cognition

I am a long term user of anthistamines and use antihistamines for at least 2 weeks of the month before my period when everything just itches, although do tend to reduce the dosage by splitting my tablets in 1/2 or if it is easy into quarters.

One of the things I observed is that I tend to be more forgetful and wondered if this was a sign of dementia. Had also noticed when am off antihistamine, the cognition improved and my memory was far better.

Interesting to read this article that appears to confirm my observations:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10856168

Here is another article you might want to look at if you use Anthistamines:
https://www.mdedge.com/edermatologynews/article/10460/atopic-dermatitis/most-antihistamines-cause-some-cognitive-impairment

Remember to drink more water (find using a bottle helps me) and to eat more greens (thankfully I grow my own)

Stay Dry to Overcome Dampness Itchiness

Every night my legs and torso have been feeling itchy. I couldn't understand why.

And I scratched more than I should have converting the initial reactions to eczema.

I blamed this on winter. I dislike the heating drying out my skin

I also noted after having a shower and getting into a cold bed seemed to make me itch. (I do like a cold bed)

It was only by chance that having heated up my blankets on the radiator and feeling dry that I discovered there was a distinct lack of itching. I slept well for a change.

So now understand that dampness is rubbish for my skin and need to find strategies to replace dampness with dryness such as after playing sport, my damp clothes make me itch. Now change clothes as soon as possible to ensure less itch time.

Diet and Eczema

This is a great post on Phytochemicals and Eczema:

https://kylejnorton.blogspot.com/2013/11/phytochemicals-and-depression_21.html

My observations on myself from the author's post:

- Peanut oil certainly does cause outbreaks with me.

- Probiotics - may have an effect. Hadn't thought about it but I have increased my probiotics and now when I think about it, is most likely to have a positive effect on the skin as this would affect the gut bacteria and hence related toxins that would be generated

- B6 and B12 - have been taking tablets on occasions - and skin has responded well.

Hmmmmm

Parabens, Phthalates & MSG

I recently have had a series of aggressive reactions:

- After eating Chinese take away
- When helping someone hang their laundry on a line

Having much better skin than in the past, I have become complacent. The worst thing about eczema is when you go into "destroy mode", it is hard to break yourself out of the deadlock hold of "the scratch" especially when you're trying to sleep.

MSG Destruction

The work place wanted to have a Fat Friday as a team meal and was persuaded to partake in a Chinese take away. I have avoided foods that have chemically laced MSG such as Chinese restaurants for such a long time and the skin condition was pretty good, I thought why not. It tasted quite satisfying.......but then the aftermath of an MSG feast. Headache, restlessnest and a darn itchy neck. My neck is an MSG / dehydration detector and it doesn't take long to destroy skin that has mostly healed.....red, raw and sore before I got up had lots to drink and an antihistamine to stop the itch attack that had now alerted the inner arms, the legs.....everywhere wanted to join the itch party.

The next day found several of my colleagues had suffered dehydration symptoms which I can only suggest it is MSG related.

* MSG = mono sodium glutamate. It is a naturally occuring substance added as a flavour enhancer.

Anyhow no more Chinese Take Away EVER for me.....as well as any other foods that contain MSG as an added ingredient (like crisps, processed meats, pot noodles and some seasonings). Me poor neck is a mess.

Parabens & Phthlates

The other day I helped someone put out their laundry, was over powered by the heavy fragrance, and broke out in rashes during the handling of their phthalate / plasticiser infested clothing….(yeah I am sensitive).  Why do I blame the phthalate? Cos the smell irritated me. In fact it could also be due to parabens still on the clothes. Parabens and Phthlates are 2 chemicals that is in many liquid soaps (body, hand, hair) and laundry detergents:

• Parabens: preservative to stop the product going mouldy + potential carcinogen + potentially reduces sperm count (endocrine disruptor) + skin irritant.The FDA think Parabens are safe:
  https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/productsingredients/ingredients/ucm128042.htmThe EU bans 5 types of parabens in cosmetics such as from body creams but still allows it in shampoos/conditioners: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-1051_en.htm
• Phthalate: helps to preserve the fragrance in the product. It is used to make plastics and is a potential carcinogen + suspected hormone disruptor

Ref: US National Library of Medicine
The FDA’s think it’s safe https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/productsingredients/potentialcontaminants/ucm128250.htm

However the EU thinks differently on this and will be restricting the use of 4 types of phthalates: https://www.env-health.org/resources/press-releases/article/europe-finally-recognises-four

Additionally Phthalate exposure has been linked to an increased occurrence of atopic diseases including allergic rhinitis, wheezing, and eczema

FYI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4626318/

The person had told me they had added double the recommended dosage as their clothes were stained with a dye.  Unfortunately I had an aggressive itch attack and again only did something about it when I was tearing into my skin making myself feel un well.


Oh well back to the drawing board. Glad the sun is out.....

Hydrogen Peroxide

Have had one of those episodes of strange rashes. On one side of my face, have been suffering from hives or urticaria which swells, burns and stings. It looks almost as if someone has punched me at times. It later proceeds to continue with with a niggly itch as if insects are walking on my face, and then goes scaly. This tends to happen in winter and goes away for a couple of months in summer (GP said it's eczema). Been off and on since December.

In February, another rash formed on the inside of my thigh and was mirrored on the opposite thigh. I wish I had bothered to take photos.Anyway it has been itchy everyday and wondered about it occurring from lack of sun.

Anyhoo, I found a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and thought I'd apply it on the rashes. Have been using a dilution of 1-2. The hard redness of both rashes has reduced after two days of applying. Maybe it has bleached the skin. Will see after a week of application. Makes me wonder if it is some type of fungal infection instead.

BTW if you do decide to try this. Hydrogen Peroxide stings like #$%# if you have any cuts.

Wishing you happy healing

The Tale of Two Rashes

Rash 1:
Sleep and regularly getting out in the daylight has been difficult. During Nov I was on a project, I got up sat on my computer, for lunch I went outside for about 20-30 mins and then continued back on my computer until the early morning before forcing myself to bed.

With everyone back in the house, the heating had been turned back up to 17 degs by the beginning of Dec (I had it down to 14 degs when I was by myself for a month).

By mid-Dec a small dry area appeared on my let cheek. It burned and spread to around my eye. I thought it might be some type of fungal infection, so applied some anti-fungal cream for about a week. At first it improved the condition and then spread even more around the cheek and forehead. Tried longer bouts in the outdoors hoping it needed infra-red. No real joy. Applying lots of cream soothed it and sometimes felt it was burning the skin. Recently also took a quarter of an anti-histamine our nights in a row as the cheek rash had become itchy and I started to scratch the neck.

Although the skin looked dry and red at times, nothing was improving it until I started doing some exercise that made me sweat!

Sweat has made the face skin feel better and having done 3 days of sweating, it is now improving! Have to force myself to do some more indoor spin sessions.

Rash 2:
Soon after the first week of the face rash, a small itchy red dotted rash appeared on my left thigh. It was itchy when I was hot and sweaty!!! I thought I might have spread the face rash somehow to my thigh. So I applied the anti-fungal cream there too! Another patch on the left thigh appeared and now a patch has appeared on the right hand side.

Two days ago when the sun was shining and the day felt kind of warm, I bared my legs, going for a long 2.5 hour walk in the park. The itching has eased and the patch has dried. Today has been another one hour session and the rash patches feel like they are healing!

At the same time have been trying to keep to a better diet during winter. This has been hard at times especially with the Christmas period of festivities. Anyway back to chewing through some lovely greens, increasing the protein and reducing the carbs.

Hope your itches are all under control.

Holistically Heal Yourself

The best cures are natural that allow your body to do the work.

Recently I discovered I have inadvertently been following a methodology that has helped to heal my skin. It's called the MAF Method, developed by Dr Phil Maffetone.

I did not follow his method to get to where I am now but his philosophies certainly align with what I have done to heal myself. If I could have written what I have done into a framework, then the MAF Method would be it. Although it is written with athletes in mind, this could easily be reframed to refer to eczema/allergy sufferers.

Would certainly recommend eczema viewers of this blog to seriously consider following his method if you want to begin to heal and stayed healed and tell me about it. I will link to your blogs

It will begin to hone your proprio-perception of healing yourself instead of a random "let's try this".

Eczema sufferers hope this helps you to follow a holistic approach to you healing yourself. If ever you were to try something for a long term heal, then I strongly suggest you try this. You can do the quizzes first and then read the information. Then it's up to you to make those changes.
https://philmaffetone.com/method/

Otherwise here is a summary of foods:
https://philmaffetone.com/basic-eating-guidelines/

If you are suffering now, I want you to know that after 25-30 years of suffering with full body eczema, I am now enjoying soft smooth skin and use moisturisers on it about once a day after a shower (where once before I used to moisturise continually). Changes were:
- Nutritional (see MAF method) - greatly reduced the junk food
- I wash my hair only with water
- Sunshine - force myself out even if the weather is cold and freezing
- Sleep at regular hours
- Drink much more water

Wishing that for Christmas and 2018 that you are free from the skin urghs and itches

Keeping Clear Skin in Winter....

Was reminded that I should post something on this blog. Am sitting here with soft, smooth, clear skin, rarely scratching and haven't had to take a 1/4 of an anti-histamine tablet for a month. In summer my skin tends to heal. Winter will slowly undo the good work of summer, with a small patch under the left eye that likes to rear its ugly head.

In the midst of winter, the normal niggles will appear. Last winter I tried vit D3 suppliments with perhaps some success, but the eczema still took hold of my inner arms, the left side of my face, and my groin. By the end of autumn my skin had mostly cleared and continued to clear.

The contributing factors could be more natural foods as we continue to grow our own during spring to autumn and have an abundance of tomatoes, fresh greens, courgettes, aubergines, beans and now butternut squash.

This winter the changes are currently as follows:

1. Reduced the heating (12-15 degs C) and put more layers on....probably means guests will avoid staying at my place. Initially it was uncomfortable, but the thermostatis of my body is kicking in to make it feel comfortable. Of course having a colder place means bathing is different. This is still in hot water until I learn the Wim Hof method and can take a cold shower!

2. Forced myself to go out everyday for at least an hour in the daylight. The skin loves light, the eczema seems to shun it. The eyes also loves light.

3. Sleep more - it's better in those days when I suffered much more. Natural daylight apparently helps improve sleep

4. Water more. Having suffered for nearly 4 months with a urinary tract infection (UTI), I was forced to drink much more and have now kept up the drinking.

So will be back in Spring to report if have finally been able to keep the itch at bay and enjoyed clear smooth skin throughout the winter. It should be noted am using any moisturiser other than the prescribed emollients. Have found the prescription stuff (like emulsifying ointment & diprobase) provides a superficial sense of moisturising and after say about 15-30 minutes, the skin feels a mild irritation, when it was calm before I had put the stuff on.

Now use one of the shop brands such as St Ives, Jergen, cocoa butter, or nivea - anything that keeps my skin feeling calm after I have put the "stuff" on. My skin has a tendency to be on the dry side.

****Takes deep breath to take the plunge****

To everyone reading this blog for the first time. 

Remember to try something different because the stuff the doc gives is only temporary. If you want to truely heal and reduce the nasty itch, change the way you're living.

I definitely have and used this blog to continually address and document what have done to reduce the eczema and am hoping this winter it stays away.

Have blocked comments from folk who tell me about their miracle creams. When you investigate further, they have steroids in them. Too much BS from companies wanting you to be addicted to their cream. Please go away and hope

For a REAL cure - you should be able to use any cream

Will Ya Moisturising Cream Kill Ya?

Just read in the Evening Standard, a local London newspaper, that fifteen people have died in London in the past three years after using flammable moisturisers that "turned them into human wicks,"


Source: The London Fire Brigade

So what moisturisers are these? The type that are prescribed by GPs for Eczema/Dermatitis that is the emollient creams - paraffin and petroleum-based moisturisers.

Typically elderly patients are prescribed these as well and if apparently according to the London Fire Brigade, if you smoke you could light yourself up as well!

I don't smoke but the really bad eczema that used to be rampant all over my body, started healing when I gave up the prescribed emollients.

Source of article:
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/fire-brigade-issue-warning-over-flammable-moisturising-cream-after-15-deaths-a3563161.html

Currently only the inner elbows, neck and a bit on the face have eczema :)

Who Wants to Be Free From Eczema Naturally?

What if we, the skin scratchers, the ones with skin that gets inflammed and itches crazily and we can give it sweet temporary relief by scratching the hell out of it. What if we could be free of this disorder naturally? I started this blog giving up steroid cream, aqueous cream, diprobase, pharmaceutical emollientsand wanting a natural heal.

I have always found my skin is better in summer than winter. So now understanding what is happening better.

Healing Our Skin Naturally

Those who have been following me will know there are two main "Not enough" in my life:
- Not enough sleep
- Not enough sun

I have found out that the two are intertwined. When you expose your skin to sunlight, vitamin D is generated and it is thought the brain releases a hormone called serotonin., which is supposed to be responsible for helping a person feel sleepy and go to sleep.If you have low sunlight exposure (such as in Winter), a person’s serotonin levels and vitamin D productions can dip low.

I thought by boosting my cod liver oil and vitamin D, and being in well lit areas would help me. It might have done some minor help but the significant player here is sunlight. Have certainly found am sleeping better with more sunlight.

When we deep sleep we produce healing chemicals (growth hormones) that reduce the inflammation in our bodies and heal our skin. That is why when you have actually slept well your inflammed skin can feel rested. I take a 1/4 of an anti-histamine now if am being disturbed by itchiness to "get into" sleep.

Reducing the Inflammation

Sure there are a number of external factors that really don't help us. For me it is a dusty environment, wearing certain fabrics like wool, and stuff that does not allow my skin to breathe.

Trash the Plastic
I used to use panty liners and pads. These have a plastic liner, it's like wearing a nappy. Now I understand why babies suffer nappy rash. Our skin needs to breathe. I've stopped using them, and "down below" (groin area) is no longer as embarrassingly itchy as it used to be. My doc had just given me steroids as per normal to control that itch.

For those with babies, try Elimination Communication and ditch the nappies! You can then also boast that you're helping the planet as you will never ever have to use a nappy and your child will be naturally using the potty far sooner (1 +) rather than having an incontinence issue!

For women wondering what else they can use. If you are a "pad" user try reusable pads, or menstrual cups instead of tampons. Here is a nice article about it: https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/05/28/flowing-pride-two-women-fighting-menstrual-taboo-hong-kong/

Again you can boast your eco-consciousness to reducing the amount of plastic trashed that takes hundreds of years to decompose.

Inflammation & What We Eat
Currently I believe I have an auto-immune disorder on the left side of me. The left side of my face starts feeling like it is burning, swells and then the skin dries and it looks like eczema. The fingers on the left hand have been feeling arthritic. Having looked up these symptoms and feel it is an auto-immune disorder, I found on the web different ways to heal the disorder and it looks like the marketing ads that started 20 years ago have made us think certain foods are the right foods.

Most of us have been eating food that "inflame" our bodies all the time. Hence you can expect our bodies will have responses to this like eczema and other inflammatory disorders.

Here is an article from the NHS about sugars:
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/sugars.aspx

Here is an article about diet and inflammation:
http://thatsugarfilm.com/blog/2016/03/27/diet-and-inflammation/

From what I have seen in most people's shopping baskets we have too many foods that cause inflammation. Let's start with processed sugars. Next time look at the ingredients and remove all the foods that contain processed sugar and find replacements for example I eat bread without sugar and only eat processed food when am out and about and am hungry!

Plus we receive sugars in our fruits and honey. If you're really craving to make cakes, look at using natural sweetners like Stevia. Do remember that an ingredient with an "ose" at the end is probably a sugar like lactose, fructose, glucose. (I don't drink milk either).

For those who think this is too much effort, and "what's the point of living if you cannot eat or drink your favourite whatever" then you're not ready to heal yourself. Go live do whatever, use pharmaceutical medicines and then come back here when you're ready to change yourself.

So I've got my foods under control. Just the sleeping and sunlight to improve. My skin is hugely better than when I first started this blog. But this time am going for the full heal instead of an intermittent skin healing. The buck stops here.

Let you know when that happens. In the mean time may your skin healing journeys also progress forward :)

Skin Update!

End of 2016:

Throughout 2016, I've been suffering from urticaria as well as eczema. At the end of 2016, decided it must be a mineral deficiency of some sort and decided to do some pill popping of fish oil and vitamin C.

1. Face was a wreck. Welts kept popping up. When they reduced, they caused dry skin and a rash. Welts would appear after a night of no sleep. Around the eyes worsened, and tears burned the skin. Have been applying loads of mosituriser and forcing myself to rest even if am not sleeping. Facial skin is much better. Think the cod liver oil tablets have also been helping as everything is much more stable. Scalp seems to be improving as well.

At the worst of it, found the gel from the aloe vera leaves had a soothing effect on the facial skin when it was itchy.

2. Back had a rash and dry skin. Mid summer, had welts appear on the back, turn into water blisters and left the back in a mess after. Still sorting this out but it is healing. Have recently been finishing off my shower with cold water which has helped the skin to feel better. Heat makes the skin itch!

3. Front of torso has been red and there appears to be some light swelling. Probably end up as dry skin and rash.

4. Legs have had some welts but seems to have become stable with the cod liver oil


5. Eczema rash on inside of elbows and neck still around. Haven't focused on this much due to sorting out everywhere else. Mainly itchy at night when I become hot. Am learning to like being a little cooler.

Having struggled with various rashes in 2016, and now having taken suppliments, I think some rashes may be a symptom of some sort of deficiency. The skin appears to have stabilised and improved since taking high dosages of cod liver oil. Will look at increasing it to 3 tablets of 1000mg now and continue with the vitamin C (2 x 500mg). Recently have included Magnesium for constipation and Zinc to help healing (wounds have been healing very slowly).

I should also include that it would appear having a diet high in vegetables also helps keep my skin calmer.

Kevin and many others

Sat in Kuala Lumpur airport enroute back from New Zealand to England. Glad I found your site as I've been pretty dispondent about my ezecma, even simple things like getting your wallet out your pocket becomes a challenge. I don't think steroids do much but you become psychologically reliant on them.although I've never tried wrapping cling film over it.I've tried them all from weak over the counter hydrocortisone to stuff like cobitisol and betnavate. I think that they take the redness out of sores but perhaps it's wishful thinking? Hydrocortisone defiantly works on allergic rashes but these are unrelated to ezecma, I know got one now probably from a plant!not scratching ezecma is very important as it breaks the hives causing a large blister to form but easier said than done blowing or a gentle rub is better.I see no connection between ezecma and weather as I've had break outs in hot and cold countries. Strangely enough nor does it seem to run in my family although I can only go back to my parents and sister.I think also that due to it weakening the skin it allows fungal infections in to the feet.moccasin athletes foot is at a guess the one I've got. As it reacts to daktarin I'm guessing it's fungal,well a mixture of fungal and ezecma, and generally only oral antifungal creams will fight it,although daktarin does destroy it where it can get into the skin through cracks

Once upon a time, I used to be like Kevin and many others. I believed in the GPs advice and opinions. After all they're the experts right? Holistic healing stuff used to be mumbo jumbo and voo doo magic.

Now I have an appreciation of holistic healing methods, having had both carpel tunnel syndrome and frostbite healed by holistic methods. The neurologists wanted to cut my hand open to heal my carpel tunnel syndrome. The hand specialist in a London Hospital wanted to cut my finger off as he had zero understanding of frostbite.

Currently I use a blend of GP understanding of what the condition is and holistic methods. Holistic methods are more time consuming but they heal the body better than taking a chemical pill or applying chemicals that burn our skin off. The chemicals that the pharmaceutical produce for eczema are short term solutions. Read through my blog to take control of the situation. Though some of you might not like that it requires some lifestyle changes!

It should be noted that I still take anti-histamine tablets quite frequently during the night though this is a reduced dosage of 1/3 or 1/2 of a tablet.. If I have not slept well, I am itching like crazy the next day. It is on this night that I would take my 1/3 or 1/2 a tablet.

Anyhow since 2014, my scalp has been clear of eczema and dandruff, since I gave up shampoo-ing my hair! Though this year, my face & scalp has suddenly become dry and itchy! (I do blame urticara for this) Moisturing has certainly helped the scalp and face, especially round the eyes.

Anyhow - thanks Kevin for sharing and hope you find what is "getting under your skin".

Namaste