'By 'Ec '. . . . or alternatively. . . . 'Bleedin' Hell' (My Experience of Eczema)

Member Name: themoomin

Product:	My Experience of Eczema
Date:	18/05/01 (530 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Are you serious?

Disadvantages: Yes. Lots.

Welcome to the Itchy and Scratchy Show. Come in, pull up a chair, and listen to the tale of The Itchy Moomin.

(I see hardly anyone has given this subject more than 1 star. Now isn't that a surprise?)

I was one of those kids. You know the type - allergic to everything, constantly sneezing and wheezing, eyes streaming, and generally unable to play outside like ordinary kids. You name it, I suffered from it - Asthma (undiagnosed until secondary school because my Mother refused to take me to the Doctor) allergic reactions (to hazelnuts, hay and horses especially), and skin problems. I was always developing a rash somewhere or other, and being treated with Vitamin E and Herbal Remedies by my well-meaning Mum.

Now 25, I have lived with my eczema for exactly that many years. Sometimes I can go for weeks without a single outbreak, at other times I am literally a hive (geddit?) of inflamed activity. My hands, my face, my arms, even my ears get affected at times. It's not nice.

The triggers to my eczema are many and varied. At one time during my student days I became so stressed that I developed weeping rashes up the entire length of both arms, and had to literally wear bandages from wrist to shoulder all the time (even in bed - how lovely) to stop me scratching. I went to the Doctor, and was prescribed a cream called Betnovate - a steroid cream that effectively banishes the rash so that it lurks under the surface of your skin until you stop applying the cream, then comes back with a vengeance. It stops the visible symptoms, but not the underlying cause. This has all sorts of side-effects, including thinning the skin and apparently being carcenogenic - something this moomin could well do without.

Recently Mr Moomin and I removed all the ancient, black loft insulation in our house, and replaced it with new, fibreglass insulation. Despite going up there looking like some sort of crazy Bedouin - mask, socks tucked over trouse
rs, scarves tightly wrapped over nose and forehead, jumper buttoned up to my chin and only my eyes visible - I began to itch straightaway. The whole job took 3 days, and afterwards my eczema was back, looking lovelier than ever and itching so much I could have screamed. This time it appeared on my neck. All over my neck. No long shirt sleeves to hide it this time, and polo necks made my neck all hot and sweaty, causing me to scratch more. I tried high strength Aloe Vera Gel - but instead of moisturising this just made my skin more dry and hence more itchy. I put the Betnovate on, which worked for a while, but as soon as I stopped using it the rashes returned. I've tried doing nothing at all, and leaving it to heal itself, but it is so difficult not to scratch - sometimes I don't realise I'm doing it until Mr Moomin points it out.

Although triggered by contact with animals, iritants and chlorine, unlike other sufferers my eczema does not seem to be affected by any food triggers. By this I mean it's the same whether I eat a whole block of Feta, or have a dairy-free day. Weird - yep - you said (thought) it!

Unless you've experienced this condition, you can't really know how irritating it is. As any of my friends/colleagues will tell you, I am usually a sweet rational being who is never angry with anyone (!!!), but this constant itching turns me into a monster. A big scary monster with sharp pointy teeth. I feel unattractive, I feel self-conscious, and worst of all I feel sore. Really sore - not like an itch that you scratch once and it goes away, but a constant burning feeling that leaves you wishing you could just cast off your skin completely like a snake, and start again with a new layer.

'But this isn't like you, moomin', I hear you cry. 'What about all that positive thinking??' Well I tell you that I find it almost impossible to be positive about this infernal itching. It's driving me mad!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Whew. I'm glad I got all that off my chest. Now I can tell you what I'm doing about it. Apparently asthma/eczema sufferers often have a shortage of GLA in their body. This enzyme is found in Evening Primrose Oil, and by boosting my level of this I hope to help my skin to recover. From reading the other opinions on this subject, I see it hasn't worked for everyone, but I have decided to give it a try. So I have started taking this supplement daily, and will give you an update when I notice any effects.

I'm also trying to eat more healthily. I have known for years that my diet is poor - as you know from my profile I have a strange aversion to anything green, which I have had since I was old enough to feed myself. Any holistic healer will tell you that diet plays a big part in overall well-being, and I am now seriously trying to eat more fruit and veg. It's early days yet, and I don't think I'll ever get a stick of celery down me without being sick, but I'm trying.

I don't bathe/shower any more than is necessary (yes folks, that what the smell is!), and when I do I use products that help keep my skin moisturised and soft, without irritating it further. I cannot use strongly perfumed products, or ones that contain animal ingredients such as lanolin, but I use plant-based cruelty-free products which don't make me itch so badly.

I am trying very hard not to get stressed about this, or about anything really. It's a vicious circle you see - you itch, you scratch, you bleed, you get stressed about it, you itch more, you scratch more, you bleed again (all over the clean sheets) and so it goes on. You scratch my back, and I'll scratch my back too.

I'm seriously trying to do the positive thinking thing as well. I strongly believe that you can influence your own health, and that you can help yourself to get better, whatever the problem. So I'm visualising the
rash disappearing, and willing myself to stop scratching. Hey - it worked for my tumour!!

When Summer finally comes I will be in the sun and in the sea as much as my skin can stand. Don't worry, I'll be careful, but the sun seems to have a good effect on my rash, as does salt water. Unfortunately, I live in the furthest place in the UK from the coast - but by hook or by crook I'll swim in the sea somehow . . .

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

If you're reading this and you have eczema - you're not alone. Writing about how you feel may help a little bit - it will certainly help take your mind off the itching for a wee while, at any rate.

If you don't suffer, but know someone who does, I have one plea - never, ever tell them to stop scratching. They will not appreciate it! I have to try really hard not to snap at people when they say 'Don't scratch, you'll only make it worse.' I feel like screaming 'Don't you think I know that?? Of course it will make it worse but I can't help it!!' ARRGH!

Fellow dooyooer and all round good egg sue.51 has lots of information about eczema on her site, and in her opinion which she updates regularly. Do have a look - I certainly found it VU. And there are many many resources available on the web - just type in Eczema in any search engine and follow the most likely links.

As always, comments are welcome. Thanks for reading. Now I'm off to sit on my hands and think some more positive thoughts. Wish me luck!

Summary: