WEEK 1 (OCTOBER 1-6): #THEREALTRUTHOFECZEMA
- Share eczema facts.
- Tell us: What is one thing you wish people knew about life with eczema?
I’ve had eczema since I was a child and throughout my life I’ve dealt with it in varying degrees. The one thing I wish people knew is how much of a nuisance it can be! Every flare up is different and it often goes beyond having itchy, scaly and bruised skin.
Sometimes it can leave a long lasting mental impact.
Growing up, I was covered in eczema – it was all over my arms and legs and to this day, I still have the scarring. While it’s much improved, I’m still apprehensive about showing my bare arms and the chances of anyone seeing my bare legs is very slim. Right now, I’m dealing with a dyshydrotic eczema flare up on my hands (think tens of tiny blisters under the skin ready to burst in 3, 2, 1…) and it looks like I have bruises all over my hand. Short of wearing gloves everywhere, there’s no way of hiding it. Not that people should hide it.
That’s just one side of it.
Last winter, I was struck by a flare up so terrible that it wasn’t really the eczema that had me in discomfort but a combination of constant itching and poor sleep. Eczema tends to act up at night a lot. I need good quality sleep to function and for those two months, it was non-existent. Luckily, I managed to finally find a lotion that provided some relief.
Speaking of relief, one more thing that I’d like people to know is that there is no cure for this thing. I’m in my twenties now and I’ve received so many different treatments – steroid creams, ointments, antibiotics, etc. I’ve tried various over the counter products such as E45 and Dermalex and if you asked me to name the most effective one, I would not be able to.
This is because what works for one flare up might not necessarily work for the next one. With eczema, it’s trial and error. Every. Single. Time. It can be frustrating, painful and extremely itchy, but I’m lucky in the sense that it’s nowhere near as bad as it was when I was younger. Not everyone can say the same.
#TheRealTruthofEczema
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