Oh well.....After an allergic reaction to prawn paste, my entire face decided to have a melt down.
Oh well.....so now fighting to get my face back to normality. Red, flakey patches are being hit with tons of cream. The worst for me are the itchy eyes.
Oh well.....as I said before atopic eczema always hangs around. So will have to be on my guard.
Taking vit E and cod liver oil for the winter period
All the writings are my own thoughts from observations I have made as I have suffered eczema for 20-30 years with it infesting 90% of my body. If you are reading my blog, you need to do detective work for yourself to identify the factors that worsen the condition. Some factors are not immediately obvious, but once you have identified them, you can then start enjoying less itchy days. Do read my observations about the different factors that can cause us to itch in Dec 2008.
Thursday, 20 December 2012
Tuesday, 6 November 2012
Still Free?
There has been a lack of blogging because my skin has been totally free of eczema. It has been feeling smooth and silky, back to normal since June this year.
Having reflected on this year, there appears to be one thing that stands out for me - transitioning from prescribed emollients/creams to mineral commercial creams. At first I would use up a 250 ml bottle in one week with continuous use. Now it takes about 2 months for me to use up that same bottle as my skin has been incredibly good.
Why should this be the difference? My year has been dogged by a lot of stress and it is often said that stress brings out eczema. Perhaps I have dealt with my stress by not taking anything personally and letting it fall off like "water off a duck's back"......but it sure has been an extremely stressful year and therefore I should be covered in eczema.
Perhaps my skin is good due to a combination of changes since starting this blog and thus has made the last transition possible. Or perhaps really the prescribed emollients/creams, although initially were good, were actually poisoning my system or making my system addicted to it. After all those who use lip balm find they have to use more of it as their lips feel continuously dry. Bet if they stopped using a paraffin based lip balm and use a mineral based lip balm, their lips will feel better.
My cynical view is, make a customer addicted to a product means you sell more product!
I recently tried a commercial paraffin based cream for the winter months, my skin give me "danger" indications. I have thus decided to not use it any more. So perhaps I can ascertain that the paraffin based "stuff" is certainly bad for me long term. I have heard other eczema sufferers say the same thing!
BUT the winter months are upon us and that means the dreaded heating is back on.
You will know that if I have not written anything here then the skin has managed to combat the drying effects of winter heating.......Let's hope I have nothing more to write about except to say "my skin is feeling GREAT!"
Having reflected on this year, there appears to be one thing that stands out for me - transitioning from prescribed emollients/creams to mineral commercial creams. At first I would use up a 250 ml bottle in one week with continuous use. Now it takes about 2 months for me to use up that same bottle as my skin has been incredibly good.
Why should this be the difference? My year has been dogged by a lot of stress and it is often said that stress brings out eczema. Perhaps I have dealt with my stress by not taking anything personally and letting it fall off like "water off a duck's back"......but it sure has been an extremely stressful year and therefore I should be covered in eczema.
Perhaps my skin is good due to a combination of changes since starting this blog and thus has made the last transition possible. Or perhaps really the prescribed emollients/creams, although initially were good, were actually poisoning my system or making my system addicted to it. After all those who use lip balm find they have to use more of it as their lips feel continuously dry. Bet if they stopped using a paraffin based lip balm and use a mineral based lip balm, their lips will feel better.
My cynical view is, make a customer addicted to a product means you sell more product!
I recently tried a commercial paraffin based cream for the winter months, my skin give me "danger" indications. I have thus decided to not use it any more. So perhaps I can ascertain that the paraffin based "stuff" is certainly bad for me long term. I have heard other eczema sufferers say the same thing!
BUT the winter months are upon us and that means the dreaded heating is back on.
You will know that if I have not written anything here then the skin has managed to combat the drying effects of winter heating.......Let's hope I have nothing more to write about except to say "my skin is feeling GREAT!"
Wednesday, 22 August 2012
Sunshine & Summer
It is so good to be able to wear shorts and t-shirts day and night
To have cold showers makes me feel quite right
My skin looks good and am able to apply a light lotion
Instead of depending on the doctor's potion
Yes - at the moment my skin has been really good since May
Have been physically very active and have seen a vast improvement.
Hmmm - let you know when winter comes along
To have cold showers makes me feel quite right
My skin looks good and am able to apply a light lotion
Instead of depending on the doctor's potion
Yes - at the moment my skin has been really good since May
Have been physically very active and have seen a vast improvement.
Hmmm - let you know when winter comes along
Thursday, 8 March 2012
Detox Teas
"Drinking detox teas are supposed to help increase general health and the sense of well being by helping to remove toxins from your body."
My mother introduced me to "detox teas". Did I believe they would help....no not at all! Just another marketing fad. However, I do believe that part of the cause of eczema is from the body's lack of ability to effectively and efficiently remove toxins. Have always toyed with the idea of "colon cleansing" but truthfully it's an expense that seems un-natural to do.
Anyway personally have found "detox teas" appear to have a calming effect. Perhaps this might be psychosomatic but if it helps - why not. So now I have a stash of detox teas in my cupboard that are drunk when am feeling tired itchy/menstrual itchy.
Though have noted on the box that if you are pregnant - you shouldn't drink some of the herbs in the detox bag's concoction.
My mother introduced me to "detox teas". Did I believe they would help....no not at all! Just another marketing fad. However, I do believe that part of the cause of eczema is from the body's lack of ability to effectively and efficiently remove toxins. Have always toyed with the idea of "colon cleansing" but truthfully it's an expense that seems un-natural to do.
Anyway personally have found "detox teas" appear to have a calming effect. Perhaps this might be psychosomatic but if it helps - why not. So now I have a stash of detox teas in my cupboard that are drunk when am feeling tired itchy/menstrual itchy.
Though have noted on the box that if you are pregnant - you shouldn't drink some of the herbs in the detox bag's concoction.
Friday, 17 February 2012
Are the Vitamins Working?
Nails and hair are growing. Skin has had less dry patches so yes I believe they have made a difference. Now just doing damage control from scratching.
Clean sheets and a clean room definitely make a difference :-)
Clean sheets and a clean room definitely make a difference :-)
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Vitamin D3 + Vitamin E + a good dose of Exercise
Vitamins
Since Thursday 22nd December, I have regularly been taking Vitamin D3 and Vitamin E. So after 2.5 weeks, the skin texture does seem to have improved. Itching has lessened and dry spots havenot been appearing as frequently if at all.
If I can bear a luke warm shower, than the skin is certainly calmer than taking a hot shower......
I know, I know.....if you have been following me, you will say I should know better. After all a hot shower strips away the moisture your skin needs to keep. Discipline has been lacking.
Exercise
Yes - the sweat has again been bothering me. After giving away my water bottles on an expedition, have been drinking about two cups a day, which is hardly drinking. But it feels like my sweat is kicking out whatever garbage I've been eating over Christmas and it does leave me with an itch free night. I have taken 1/2 an antihistamine before sport which does seem to ensure (maybe it might be psychological) I am less itchy when I sweat.
Anyway I've got to do more training. I have a long 135 mile race to prepare for!
Naomi - I will write something for you from my own experience about helping your child cope with eczema on my next post.
Since Thursday 22nd December, I have regularly been taking Vitamin D3 and Vitamin E. So after 2.5 weeks, the skin texture does seem to have improved. Itching has lessened and dry spots havenot been appearing as frequently if at all.
If I can bear a luke warm shower, than the skin is certainly calmer than taking a hot shower......
I know, I know.....if you have been following me, you will say I should know better. After all a hot shower strips away the moisture your skin needs to keep. Discipline has been lacking.
Exercise
Yes - the sweat has again been bothering me. After giving away my water bottles on an expedition, have been drinking about two cups a day, which is hardly drinking. But it feels like my sweat is kicking out whatever garbage I've been eating over Christmas and it does leave me with an itch free night. I have taken 1/2 an antihistamine before sport which does seem to ensure (maybe it might be psychological) I am less itchy when I sweat.
Anyway I've got to do more training. I have a long 135 mile race to prepare for!
Naomi - I will write something for you from my own experience about helping your child cope with eczema on my next post.
Thursday, 22 December 2011
Trying to Survive Winter
Summer was really good. Had many days out in the sun in shorts and t-shirts to make the eczema hide away.
I dread the Winter's short days and the heating. The eczema curse has come out of hiding and now sits in my arms, on my neck and behind my neck. Am amazed at the dry spots that continually plague me at the moment. And my naughty fingers seem to find them and scratch them. At times all I long for is a nice ice block room to numb the itching.
So what is different? I have not been taking any vit D or omega oils for such a long time that I think I need to go back on them and see if that helps. Running marathons has been good, for on those days I am warm enough to put on shorts and t-shirts and be bathed in some winter sun. On those days, my skin can return to being calm. Is it the sun or is the sweat?
Hmm perhaps it is both. The sun for vit D to help skin repair and the sweat to help remove the toxins from poor eating habits at times (you'd think I'd learn).
I need to treat myself more like a plant - need to water myself to stay moisturised inside and sun myself to produce vit D to aid skin repair.
Ok I've written it, now to begin taking the suppliments to see if there is any difference. Will let you know in 6 weeks time.
I dread the Winter's short days and the heating. The eczema curse has come out of hiding and now sits in my arms, on my neck and behind my neck. Am amazed at the dry spots that continually plague me at the moment. And my naughty fingers seem to find them and scratch them. At times all I long for is a nice ice block room to numb the itching.
So what is different? I have not been taking any vit D or omega oils for such a long time that I think I need to go back on them and see if that helps. Running marathons has been good, for on those days I am warm enough to put on shorts and t-shirts and be bathed in some winter sun. On those days, my skin can return to being calm. Is it the sun or is the sweat?
Hmm perhaps it is both. The sun for vit D to help skin repair and the sweat to help remove the toxins from poor eating habits at times (you'd think I'd learn).
I need to treat myself more like a plant - need to water myself to stay moisturised inside and sun myself to produce vit D to aid skin repair.
Ok I've written it, now to begin taking the suppliments to see if there is any difference. Will let you know in 6 weeks time.
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