Eczema

Hello world!

Decided to take on the topic of eczema today! Nowadays, there are actually quite a number of people who have eczema problem. Some minor and some major problem.

For me, I have a major problem. Sometimes I find myself scratching in the middle of the night unconsciously. And that is terrible. Eczema has actually integrated into my life that I have gotten used to it. It gives me ugly legs that makes me always envy other girls who have flawless legs. After many years, I have learnt to live with it. That it will always be a part of me that I can't change.

I had eczema ever since I was in primary school. When all of us were made to sit under hot sun and all, that's when all the perspiring came and the eczema came. Initially it wasn't such a big deal, I thought it was normal and people perspire a lot and itch at the back of the knee. My arms too at the joint. So began the scratching until my mum noticed the red splotches at those particular places.

She then brought me to see a skin specialist, and to me that was "Eczema" cream. From then I knew I had eczema already. But as I grew older, I became more active, running around, exercising, producing more sweat. So I guess sweat was one of the causes of my eczema. Also, prawns started to become one of the things that makes my eczema active :( I know, that's really sad. So I try not to eat so much prawn, more or less stay off it, and only eating it on rare occasions.

Eczema has been such a pain in my life. Honestly there was a period of time I was so ashamed of my legs. I can't control the itch, I would unconsciously scratch it be it when I am awake or sleeping, more of sleeping because when I am awake if I am very much aware, I try not to scratch. But if I am concentrating on something then I might scratch because I wouldn't be aware.

With this problem, I know I can't be a model. Yes I know, I used to want to become a model. But because of my ugly legs, I don't think I would ever be able to become one. Also, I wore pants, jeans, practically stayed away from shorts, skirts and dressed because I was so ashamed of showing my legs to the public. I didn't want people to know I had this problem, I didn't want to see people judging because of my legs.

I am very thankful for the constant support of my boyfriend Moses, because he always kept pushing me to wear dresses for him when we go out. He accepts that I have ugly legs and loves me for who I am. This gave me the confidence and the attitude to not care about what other people think. My mum has been quite critical about my eczema,and she touches it too when I tell her not to because honestly like the simplest touch can set my eczema spots itching.

Recently I have also went to the National Skin Centre as my eczema was getting way worse than before. Like there were lesions and all. The thick ones that ooze out clear liquid. So the doctor gave me a not so strong steroid cream, and also she and her mentor explained to me about my body, that I have more 100x more IgE in my body. IgE are actually things in our body that react to allergens that our body touches or encounters, be it environment, the things we touch. So my body goes on crazy mode and reacts like a mad .... how do I call it, mechanism? So thus the itch comes.

Eczema can't be cured yet, but it can be controlled. These are the few things I've picked up and would like to share with those who have the same problem;

1. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize
I get patches on my hands as well also because I think I am allergic to latex gloves, and me studying science means gloves on during practical sessions. But nowadays I use non-latex gloves to prevent the itch. I always bring a tube of hand cream with me everywhere I go because it is really good and helpful to curb the itch. Also nowadays I bring a small tube that I bought from daiso and stored aloe vera gel in it. For me aloe vera gel has been pretty effective, even though it may not work as well for other people. I am also using QV cream, that is my night cream before I sleep, to put on the eczema patches to keep it moisturized throughout the night, as I sleep with air conditioning as I will perspire if it gets too hot and stuffy and eczema will become worse.

2. Shower with WARM water
Hot water actually makes the eczema become more active.

3. If you know what triggers the eczema, be it food.. try not to eat them so often
Well, it helps to control the itch...

4. Take showers often (with warm water)
It is good to keep yourself clean especially with eczema, because you need to wash away the sweat.

5. With steroid creams, they do help, but apply thinly
Steroid cream curbs the itches, they really do, but because they thin the skin, so use sparingly. I know it's difficult to stay off the cream but yeah. Moisturize after the cream dries!

6. Go swimming often
The chlorine in the pools actually help to dry up the eczema spots! But for girls, maybe just take a dip without wetting your hair because chlorine damages hair.

7. Refrain from wearing thick clothing on eczema spots
Wearing thick clothing, for me on the legs where my eczema is at the worst, it makes it worse as it gets really hot in the middle of the day and my legs will start sweating and the itching will come.

I think that is all, but to those who have eczema, don't be ashamed. It is what we are born with (: I sometimes also do get it on my face when the weather in Singapore gets hot and humid, it goes to my neck and sometimes back.

When I feel like the eczema on my face is coming back (starts to have little spots) I stay off makeup for like a week and just use sunblock on my face.

Don't care what other people think. There are many of us with the same problem! Don't be ashamed of yourself. Love yourself for who you are, the scars and the spots on your body caused by eczema don't define you.

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