A Letter to My New Dry Patch

Hi there, 

I noticed you a few days ago. You landed on my face, under my left eye, and haven’t left. I have to say, I’m uncomfortable with you staying so long. I’d rather not see you at all, but definitely not for more than two days. You’re probably thinking, “What’s the big deal? I’m tiny and basically unnoticeable.” Well, I know your game. You’ll make yourself at home and get louder every day. You’ll get bigger and bolder.

At your worst, you’ll be noticed by everyone I meet and you’ll be itchy, oozy, red and swollen. And then you’ll bring your friends and they’ll cozy up on my face as well. Eventually, you will all take over my face, inhabiting it for months or even longer.

I don’t want you on my face and want you to leave. You can go to any other spot on my body. How about my left arm next to my super red, itchy and bumpy tricep? Or maybe my lower back where you stayed for a few years and left a permanent reminder through darker skin pigmentation. Seriously, you can go anywhere but my face.

I hope you respect my wishes and leave before it’s too late. I’m not ready. I’ll never be ready.

Someone Else's Eczema Cure

Do you Reddit? I do and I stumbled upon a great eczema post tonight around 4:30am as I distracted myself online to avoid scratching. These tips have helped others, so I will share them on behalf of a Reddit and @metalola.

Read here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/SkincareAddiction/comments/3y0cps/skin_concerns_eczema_ive_practically_cured_myself/

A Letter to My Dog

From an Ezcema Fighter to a Tibetan Terrier Mix

Dear Chester, 

Don't Wake Me Up in the Middle of the Night.

I don't care if you have to pee. You just peed a few hours ago. How do you hold it all day while I'm at work, but then need to pee every few hours as soon as I get home? Wait until the morning! And don't you dare pee in the house.  

You see, while you may go right back to sleep afterwards, I'll stay awake with a hundred little itches all over my body, keeping me awake as I see the clock tick tocking towards the early morning. I have work in the morning, for crying out loud! 

Sleep is a luxury for me and my eczema-covered body. So don't wake me up! 

Stay Away Sometimes, Time it Just Right, and Keep Loving Me

I love when you cuddle with me on the couch, but at this very moment I'm convinced that my flare-up was caused by you. Do you have allergens on your fur? Is it just an on/off dog allergy? I don't know, but you're making my skin itchy and my eye is swelling up. Try again next time; I'll probably be fine then. And keep loving me in the meantime.

Don't Expect to Go on a Walk - It's Too Hot Outside

Have you felt the temperature outside? We live in Houston and it's the summer! I can't be out there; my skin will get all sticky and itchy! I have eczema, remember?! Can you run around the back yard instead? That's good enough, right?

Remember That I Love You 

You must be totally confused. I give you so many mixed signals! I'm sorry. I love you to the moon and back. And I'm very lucky to have you. My eczema tends to take over my life at times and I haven't yet figured out how to balance it. Thank you for your patience and love. Tomorrow will be a better day; I'll give you lots of treats and hugs.

Love, 

Helen

Genetics, Eczema and Skin Allergies

Today is my mom's birthday.  I love her to pieces. When my mom was in her early twenties, she went through serious skin issues, mainly on her face. Huge chunks of her skin would peel off and her scabs would ooze. She tells me it was horrible and she wouldn't wish it in her worst enemy - not that she has one. My mom is Mexican and when this happened to her, she went to a Mexican allergist. She found out she had tons of food allergies and begin to take allergy injections. Here's where I get confused. My doctors tell me that food allergies aren't treated by allergy injections. There is no treatment, they tell me. Well my mom was cured with whatever injections she took in Mexico. Don't get me wrong, her skin isn't perfect and new skin conditions have taken over, but the horrible eczema she had as a young adult disappeared and has never returned. (Knock on wood.)

I worry that if / when / if I have kids, he / she / they will inherit my skin issues. It's definitely possible and I would feel terrible if it happened. My mother feels very sorry about my eczema, dermatitis and skin allergies. It's not her fault. The thing is, eczema and skin allergies seem to be more and more common these days. Babies left and right have eczema. My adorable one-year-old niece has it, even though my sister has never had eczema. A part of me wonders if the family eczema gene passed onto my neice or if she's just another, albeit adorable and amazing, baby with temporary eczema. I really, really hope it's the latter.

In the meantime, my mom and I will continue to have the eczema-sufferers bond. The "I know what you're going through" bond. It's good to have her support and understanding. Happy birthday, mom.