New Eczema case; would love your input
Hi everyone. I just joined after reading some posts on here, and
hope I can get some help. My Eczema started about 5 years ago as a
mild and seasonal condition that occured on the back portion of each
underarm. For the past 18 months, I’ve had it on my face as well,
and more recently, (within the past 5 months), get a flakey, itchy,
bumpy combination on the outer corners of my eyes, my eye lids, under
my eyes, sometimes all places at the same time. After a week or two
the condition gets better, but the look of my skin changes to a
leathery or shiny, burned look.
I’ll state at this point, that I have not been to a dermatologist in
over a year regarding this, in case anyone needs that info or
suggests that I do so. I am very interested in remedies that can
help to either prevent or lessen the symptoms naturally. I hope that
some of you are willing to share with me what does work and what does
not.
I am sensitive to several foods and have eliminated them (almost
completely) from my diet. I am a huge coffee and chocolate fiend and
have not tapered back on either…..yet! LOL
Nothing else in my diet or environment has changed, but I do feel
that "allergic haze" quite often the past few weeks.
On my face, I use ‘African Formula’ Therapeutic Botanical Skin Wash,
which is really gentle, and vitamin E oil (from a capsule) seems to
keep my skin protected without irritating it. A friend told me that
Cortisone creams are not good to use, since they ‘thin’ the skin.
My aim is to keep this condition from getting worse. My hope is to
resolve it completely. Any information you can share will be greatly
appreciated. Thanks!!
April 4th, 2004 at 12:55 am
I was a huge coffee drinker also and I like chocolate too. I have also quit
both! Since August! One of my favorite things is cheesecake but I stopped
eating dairy as well. I do drink peppermint herb tea now though.
April 10th, 2004 at 11:33 pm
Hello.
I can empathize with you. My skin has done something
very similar to your with it starting out mild and
becoming severe and a serious issue.
The interesting thing is that historically I really
haven’t had a problem with my eyes and having eczema
in or around them (other places on my face but not the
eyes). However over the past year or so it’s begun to
focus there. At first my eyes were mostly runny and
wet, just a little red. Now they are flakey and dry
all around. They irritated and watery most of the
time.
I’m interested in how many other people out there are
experiencing similar symptoms, or have in the near
past.
As I stated in another email I sent today on this
group, I feel that my emotions are directly connected
to the condition of my skin. Diet and environment are
also factors, but emotions drive it.
I’m trying to be more conscious about what I attach my
emotions to. These are things that take a lot of work.
It’s going to be all right.
Shannon
April 13th, 2004 at 4:18 am
Shannon,
You described the condition around my eyes exactly. Sorry to hear
you have similar! When it flares up badly, I feel quite embarrassed,
because it is very noticeable, and when I’m on the subway, I can’t
help but wonder what people may think? (swollen, red and flakey, and
lucky me, I have dark circles beneath from allergies)….. I probably
looked like I got into a very bad fight!
I believe I do have problems with my skin that are allergy-related as
well as sebum/keratin related. What a combo.
I make sure to keep my skin clean, but not over-dry. My
dermatologist was good for loading me up with a bunch of medicines
that I’d have to alternate to treat the variety of conditions. I
want to find the best way to either heal completely or alleviate most
of the symptoms, from the inside out.
What you said about emotions definately makes sense. My mother
passed away 4 months ago, and while I mourned for only the first
month, I know I’m keeping it bottled up inside now. I’m sure that
does not help my condition.
Anyway, thanks for your response. I’ll check back here when I have
any additional "clues" or "advice", and hope you do also.
Take care.
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April 13th, 2004 at 10:58 am
Shannon,
You described the condition around my eyes exactly. Sorry to hear
you have similar! When it flares up badly, I feel quite embarrassed,
because it is very noticeable, and when I’m on the subway, I can’t
help but wonder what people may think? (swollen, red and flakey, and
lucky me, I have dark circles beneath from allergies)….. I probably
looked like I got into a very bad fight!
I believe I do have problems with my skin that are allergy-related as
well as sebum/keratin related. What a combo.
I make sure to keep my skin clean, but not over-dry. My
dermatologist was good for loading me up with a bunch of medicines
that I’d have to alternate to treat the variety of conditions. I
want to find the best way to either heal completely or alleviate most
of the symptoms, from the inside out.
What you said about emotions definately makes sense. My mother
passed away 4 months ago, and while I mourned for only the first
month, I know I’m keeping it bottled up inside now. I’m sure that
does not help my condition.
Anyway, thanks for your response. I’ll check back here when I have
any additional "clues" or "advice", and hope you do also.
Take care.
=====================================