Just a Mo, Cor that's better! (My Experience of Eczema)

Member Name: SallyP

Product:	My Experience of Eczema
Date:	06/07/01 (157 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: There's a load of us out there

Disadvantages: That Itch

I have just read the other ops on this subject and my heart goes out to them all. We all have one thing in common, the dreaded itch.

Mine started as a 2 year old, and has carried on ever since. Admittedly I have never been swathed in bandages primarily as I'm too stubborn to wear them, secondly if I get too hot I itch even more! But i've been there with the steroid creams, unguents, bath oils etc.... It all made it worse.

My eczema seems to go straight to the "wet" type from nowhere and I have found that a cool bath in Tea Tree and Dead Sea Salts does the trick. I had a barny once with a doctor on the "salts" thingy. She blew a fuse and told me that Eczema was a dry skin condition and that I should coat my skin with emoulients not salts. Well that just made it worse as my skin was so sensitive the creams just sat on the top of it and made me scratch! The salts didn't dry my skin out, but did dry the wetness of the condition so that I didn't scratch which in turn allowed my skin to recover. The Tea Tree has a cooling effect and is a natural antiseptic, so it helps on 2 levels, taking away the heat and stopping any germs getting into the broken skin.

As for moisturising - a light body lotion is far better for me than a heavy emulsion which makes me scratch. A light perfume I can tolerate but some of the more harsher ones on the market, well forget it.

However, over the past few years my eczema has decided to make it's home on my scalp. I've switched to Aveda products which are 100% organic and plant based. It has made a huge difference and when I have a breakout on my neck I just shower in Aveda's shampure. It doesn't make me scratch and I then follow up with Australian Bodycare Tea Tree body lotion.

My eczema never really goes away but with a bit of jiggery pokery I can keep it to minimum disruption. Also, keeping as stress free as possible helps. I have developed a very
laid back attitude to life now.

Many years ago I was told that hay fever & asthma are also related to Eczema. Well my hay fever developed when I was 7 years old and finally abated in my 30's when I was diagnosed as asthmatic..... so den't be too disheartened if you get on the same path as me. Forewarned is forearmed.

Also as a final note I have found that taking omega 3 fish oils coupled with Oil of evening primrose has really helped my skin. It's made my nails good too !!!

Each and everyone of us has favourite remedies but what works for one may not for another. I hope that my experience can help someone somewhere and don't forget you are not alone. Welcome to the scratchy club...

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