Slow Reactions

I am 99% sure now that I have been having a slow reaction to Emulsifying Ointment. It is now placed in my "evil list" along with sudocream. Neither actually helps reduce the symptoms of eczema nor do they help moisturise the skin. Sudocream acts more like a barrier cream and is just expensive crap. Emulsifying Ointment just seems to be another toxin to my skin and is cheap crap.

I started using Emulsifying Ointment (EO) in February when I finished my last lot of Epaderm Emollient. My skin was soooo much better then. I foolishly thought that it would be okay to go back to my previous emollient of EO. It seemed to moisturise the skin and I really had no reaction to it, so I thought.....

My skin became progressively worst over the next couple of months. I blamed it on everything from the weather to food to my room being dusty. I improved all these and although that helped a little, my skin was still feeling rubbish and began to continually flake. Soon my body was infected from scratching it so much. Spots with heads/pus were appearing all over the legs, arms, torso and some on the neck and face. I started salt baths again. The condition was worsening. I began to think the unthinkable, that I'd have to start applying an antibiotic steroid cream to get my skin back under control but I was admanant that I would keep off that stuff as I had not found what was aggrevating my skin. Using the stuff would only be a desperate measure for temporary relief. I had to understand what was causing the relentless itchiness especially when I went to bed.

Note: doctors prescribe steroid creams and antibiotic because they are treating the symptoms. They are not attacking the source. Using the steroid creams is pointless and damages the skin. Yes it stops the itchiness temporarily and is appropriate for folks who have had an unexpected temporary reaction to something. Eczema sufferers have to become detectives and understand the factors that are exacerbating their own conditions. These factors need to be removed/changed in order for any real long term healing to occur.

It was only a week ago when I had forgotten the EO at home and was working away. Went to the pharmacy for some more EO. They had no more and so I asked for a tub of Epaderm. After I got off the floor when they told me how much a tub cost, I purchased a tub. I needed an emollient desperately as my skin was dry and still flaking. After a couple of days of usage the flakey skin stopped. Yes the flakey skin stopped and the skin actually began to feel moisturised. I now think the body has to work on expelling all the EO that I applied for the last 3 months.

For the infection, I wiped a disinfectant on them. Doc has warned me about doing that as it is harsh on the skin, but sometimes I get a little desperate. I have now calmed down about it and am clearing up the infection with:

- sleep - I am knocking myself out for the week with anti-histamines as I keep waking up at night finding myself gouging out skin. The antihistamines are a necessary evil for with a lack of sleep, the body feels constantly itchy. With sleep, the skin feels rested!

- drinking a teaspoon of tumeric. My mother recommends I also apply it on my skin for its antiseptic properties and it does appear to dry up the spots faster. However it does make your skin yellow and can stain your clothes.

- bathing with coal tar soap.

Reducing the Itch
With having swapped the emollient out, the itch intensity has definitely reduced. However I try to aid the healing process.

Food definitely plays a role in how itchy I am going to be when I exercise and sweat. Eating salads does help as well as trying to drink at least 2 litres a day. I actually have not got to this "magic" 2 litres but at least I am drinking at least a litre, where once upon a time I only used to drink a couple of glasses of water.

Someone has switched off the heating outside despite it being summer and one wonders if the volcano has a role here, spewing particles into the sky that reflect the heat back. However managed to go for a run in my shorts. The legs have thanked me for giving them a little sunlight by also reducing the itch intensity at night. It could also be again because it is colder at night.

I am also cleaning my bed clothes regularly (every other day) and vacuuming my room due to an increase in skin droppings.

The skin is slowly improving again. Sleep helps a lot but I believe when the toxic Emulsifying Ointment is totally out of my system I will get back to a state that I was earlier on in January.....less itchy days and better skin.

So check what you are applying to your skin if your symptoms are still persisting. Temporarily change your moisturiser to see if it is your moisturiser!

Moisturising Effects

I think Emulsifying Ointment is terrible and in fact promoting the eczema condition. I have an infection in the body that ain't good and the skin is constantly drying out.

Back to doing a dual lotion plus Epaderm.

Also drinking a teaspoon of tumeric in hot water with honey. Both are suppose to be inflamatories and the tumeric is also said to work as a natural antibiotic.

Salad Diet

Raw food is said to have a detoxifying effect. Sleep also has healing effects.

Been sleeping better (with Antihistamine help) and eating mainly raw food for the last three days seems to have eased the itchiness. Have got the seedlings in to grow my own veggies for the summer.

I now believe I had blown out my system a little with the consumption of 5 mars bars. Going to have to find a substitute diet when running marathons.......since the aim is to do one a month!

Struggling.....

Decided the change in weather from UK's cold weather to Rome's hot weather was the factor in keeping me itchy. This in turn caused sleep deprivation from trying to control the itch. Sometimes I try to hold out as long as possible before taking an anti-histamine.

Last weekend I did a marathon and ate 5 large mars bars. Okay was not the wisest thing to do but it was all I had to keep tiredness and hunger at bay. This may have ODed my poor liver. Have had one itchy week and poor sleep. Last night I decided for the next 3 days to take 1/2 an antihistamine before sleep just so I know I will sleep and that the skin could rest.

So weather change somehow has an effect on my system as well as being slack on my diet!
I will return to a salad diet to clean out the system.....

New Sights New Sounds Bad Skin

I have landed in Rome and after a day I am itchy.

I cannot seem to calm it down and it is starting to stress me a little. My skin is almost healed and it is now taking a back step. I think it is thru change in diet and weather, and perhaps even the soap the bed linen is washed in. So no more eating out, am going to have to settle for supermarket shopping and some fresh greens.

Taking an antihistamine now. :o(

Soon The Sun Will Come

It's been cold, it's been grey.
Am waiting for the sun to shine.
I haven't seen no buds on trees
And soon it will be March.

Come Spring, Come Spring
Warmer climes and sunshine
My skin, it longs for thee
To churn out lots of Vitamin D

.....can someone please put the plug back in the sky!

Work Distractions

My worst stress is lack of sleep.

I want more sleep, but have to balance this with work demands. My work has ramped up and so it has been easy for me to spend less hours sleeping, especially when have had to spend time in hot hotel rooms. I like cold hotel rooms! The colder the better and hotel staff don't seem to understand that and repeatedly close my windows and turn up my heating.

So now a flare up has occurred under my eye. I felt a slight irritation but ignored it, or thought I'd been ignoring it, but in truth I'd been touching it and then giving it sneaky short scratches. It feels like I have an insect moving around under the skin. Grrr. The skin is now a little inflamed.

And when am tired my scalp also likes to join in the itch party.

Have also noticed a small patch on the crease of the bum and thigh.

Can't let up even for a little while! GRRRR

Dear work - I need sleep in order to remain healthy and focused.

Right now that I've got that off my chest - time to get sleep back into order.....