My eczema story: How I look after my skin & my top tips for you
I have been through the wars with my skin throughout my life. I went through really bad colic the first few months of my life, and then I developed the eczema around 3 months. I woke up throughout the night because it was very uncomfortable. I scratched myself bloody, head to toe. My mum would wrap my whole body (even my head) in tar bandages (an old fashioned remedy) as she went against doctors advise for steroids. Every night I would go to sleep with bandages and gloves/ mittens on my hands, so I couldn’t scratch. I bathed in emollients, and Chinese herbs (the herbs cured me, for a week). My mum has said she got many unpleasant comments about what was wrong with me. Then came the anaphylaxis, and my eczema reduced itself to only certain areas of my body.
Throughout my teenage years I was still scratching and making myself bloody but the eczema was mostly located on my knees, elbows, hands and scalp (for the longest time I thought I had dandruff or nits but I know now I get very dry if I don’t moisturise my scalp). It was very hard to me to wear t-shirts of shorts (I had body image issues but the eczema made it so much worse). When I was around 17 I made a pact to myself that I was going to have good skin, smooth skin, soft skin. I moisturised every day when I got out of the shower. I drank a lot of water, and I did not scratch (this is easier said than done, and there were times I did but I tried to just put cream instead). After a few years I had the skin I always dreamed of, but that wasn’t the end of my eczema story.
In my early 20’s I began developing eczema on my hands. It was the horrible. I would scratch all day, my hands would be bloody. Being more conscious of my allergies (and the fact that I was an adult) I was washing my hands more often which meant they were a lot dryer. I also started weight training and exercising more. Sweat, for me, makes my eczema worse. I sweat and in cool down it dries and then I scratch - the cycle repeats itself.
I am now 27, and it my eczema still rears its ugly head but I have learned ways to deal with it, prevent it or “cure” it when it gets really bad.
My major take away is - simplicity is key. I didn’t need a magical cream, I just needed something that could work for me for the long run. I don’t assume it’s gone if I don’t have a flare up; just like I don’t assume my allergies are gone because I haven’t had a reaction in a while. I keep doing the things that made my skin smooth. What I do to “cure” it is slightly different to what I do to manage it but both are very simple.
Top tips
Soap or body wash for dry or eczema skin
Not all soap is the same. I used to use dove but it dried my skin instantly.
There are many in bath/shower soaps for eczema that dont contain a lot of ingredients.
Speak to your GP (doctor) or pharmacist to help you.
Find a moisturiser that is right for your skin
Some will dry it out, some will make your skin oily. It is trial and error but if you listen to your skin, it will tell you straight away.
Less ingredients the better. (less is more)
Try to find one that you could find anywhere in the world - especially if you are a traveller.
Keep it with you all the time! (Small pots are the best)
Drink water
Drink at least one more glass water than you think you need.
Hydration is key for your overall health but the skin contains 64% of water.
Exfoliate
When you have dry skin, exfoliating can break through the dry surface layer which promotes the moisturiser to hydrate your new skin cells.
Do this on your whole body, after a bath or shower (depending on how bad your eczema is at that time)
Use sunscreen
In the summer my skin dries out quicker. It is more exposed and I sweat more.
Use sunscreen on your face all year round (the sun is still there even if you don’t see it)
Most people have really bad eczema when they go out in the sun (I don’t but I take precaution). Learn your body and now when to be more vigilant.
Topical creams for eczema skin
I do not mean steroids. I mean eczema cream (especially at night when it can penetrate your skin better).
Stop scratching
This is the biggest one, and the hardest one.
The pain can be unbearable. I have used brushes, door edges, forks… anything to relieve the itch.
It is so hard but that’s what has worked the best. I scratch over my clothes or use my knuckles so it doesn’t break the skin and I put my oils or moisturiser over it the itch immediately or use my exfoliator (those brushes are safer and I know it will benefit my skin as well).
I sometimes still scratch but it is a lot better.
For instant relief I use Jade rollers for my face and body. It is a tool that goes in the fridge or freezer, when placed on your skin it has a calming sensation! (My YouTube video about them is at the end of this blog)
Products I use
People to follow or look up if you are still stuck
Ruth Holroyd: Allergy Award winning eczema & allergy blogger, patient expert - She documents her journey with topical steroid withdrawal
National eczema society: UK charity for everyone affected by eczema. Provides information & advice for people living with eczema & their families.
Rebecca Bonneteau (The eczema expert): Supporting parents of children with eczema to eliminate the reliance on creams and steroids by helping them discover the root of the problem
The Itch Podcast: The episodes on eczema. #25-28
That is from my Fitbit. - I had to change hands and take it off every night!
References:
https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/water-you-water-and-human-body?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects
https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/meaning-of-exfoliating#how-to-choose-an-exfoliant
In the light of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) we are required to wash our hands more than what we allergy folk already do. That is taking its toll on my hands. What I do is immediate after washing put coconut oil (the little jars) on my hands. Over night I add a double layer of Sudocrem and oil so it will seep in during those precious 8 hours when I can’t wash my hands.
Be careful in this time. Make sure you are protecting your self but also your skin. It will be drier so be more careful with it!