Eczema is such a terribly annoying thing to be afflicted with!
My history with eczema
I had my 1st brush with allergies when I was 8 or so. My lips would itch, peel and swell. The only solution back then, as now, is the infamous steroid cream. Somehow, the itching and peeling disappeared. But it re-surfaced as patches of eczema rash on all the joints of my body (elbow, knees, finger joints) when I was in JC (17, 18yrs old). Then it went away until 1995. It flared up real bad on our honeymoon. Then it went away only to surface when I was pregnant with our 2nd child. It cleared up sometime later but came back as itching and peeling lips after I had my 5th child. I had to go off wearing lipstick. But no body rash. I have not worn lipstick since 2005!
Then last year when I was pregnant with #7, my finger joints started itching. And to add to that combo, I developed an allergy to my own sweat! So miserable.
Increased sensitivity to everything!
To make me more miserable, the stuff that I am allergic to has increased! It used to be just shellfish (prawns, crayfish, lobsters, oysters, etc.). But now, I am allergic to sweat, dust and MSG – natural or man-made! Which means every time I eat out, especially at Chinese restauarnts, my lips itch and peel. I can actually measure the amount of MSG in the food by the reaction of my lips 😀 Seriously. If it is a little, I may not even itch. But if it is a lot, woah! Almost immediate itching and swelling.
MSG
The same reaction afflicts me when I take foods with naturally occurring MSG too. So I can’t take mushrooms or tomatoes. And sauces that are made with them. If I really, really want to eat the beef stew that dear Aunty Helen (Angie‘s mom) cooks, I have to take an antihistamine prior to the meal. Or I’ll have to pay for it. And you can’t hide and lie to me either. My body knows!
Dust
As for dust – it just means that everytime I de-clutter or shift furniture around, I break out. Actually just normal dusting cause me to break out. I have to do it very, very gently making sure nothing falls on the sensitive areas.
Stress
What’s frustrating is that even when I avoid all offending foods I can still break out in an itch/rash and that’s when I know I am stressed. Even if I don’t feel stressed, my body is telling me that I am. So I have to step back and rest in the Lord – waaaay easier said than done!
Passing it along
Sadly, this heightened sensitivity to foods and dust has been passed on to dd#1. It pains me to see her scratching and picking on the scabs.
For her, it is worse since dh’s side of the family has a history of allergies and eczema too! Double whammy 🙁
So what do we do?
I have read and researched so much about allergies and eczema (allopatic and alternative medicines) that I think I am more knowledgeable on this topic than most doctors! I have also seen doctors and taken different medication/supplements over the years that now whenever someone swears by a certain product, I am totally unmoved. Why? Well, most likely I have tried that product before and it either did not work or it worked but not in the long term.
PRAY unceasingly
This is what I do – PRAY! 🙂
While we do try to avoid steroids as much as possible, since the side effects are as bad as the itch, BUT I have found that despite all the bad press it gets, it is the ONLY thing that helps when the itching gets really, really unbearable. And I have also found that if I “attack” the itch with steroids before it gets really ugly, it helps shorten the whole cycle. Taking an antihistamine before de-cluttering or eating out also helps. *
Control it before it controls me
But that is my offensive technique 🙂 Once it is under control, I moisturise and moisturise and moisturise. Not with over the counter creams anymore for I discovered that the stuff in them aggravates the itch, but with the expensive organic, au natural ones. 🙂 Since I believe that it is an internal “fault”, I have also added coconut oil, Evening Primrose Oil and flax-borage oil combo to help strengthen the skin.
Products used
In case this helps anyone, here are the supplements (that I can remember) I have taken over the years besides avoiding the offensive food/trigger as much as possible –
Supplements
Taken orally :
- Vit E
- Evening Primrose Oil
- Flax and borage Oils (recent)
- Extra Virgin Cold Pressed Coconut Oil
- Fish Oils
- Piriton (an antihistamine – Chlorphenamine)
Creams, lotions and body wash
Used externally :
- Nutiva Extra Virgin Cold Pressed Coconut Oil (also taken orally as is or used in cooking)
- Manuka Honey Creams (Manuka Magic Oil, Magic Cream, East Cape Manuka Cream)
- California Baby products (Shea Butter, Calendula Cream, Sensitive Body Wash, Super Sensitive Everyday Lotion)
- Badger Balm
- Badger Lip balm
- Plain oatmeal (to soak in to relieve itching)
- DermaVeen products (bought from Unity Pharmacy)
- MooGoo products (Milk Wash)
- Four Cow Farm Tea Tree Remedy
Rotation required
They all have worked in various degrees and for short periods of time. Meaning I would have to rotate them around since there isn’t one product that works all the time.
I buy most of these online at iHerb, and Milagro Trading Otherwise I buy them at pharmacies or GNC. If you are a 1st time customer to iHerb, you can use my referral code LIM018 to get US$5 off your 1st purchase!
Despite the misery my dd and I suffer I know it isn’t as bad as what some other eczema/allergy sufferers go through. So we are thankful for that. But when an attack occurs, we forget to be grateful coz all we can think about it alleviating that itch! 🙁
* I no longer believe in this strategy. I avoid steroids unless absolutely necessary. I have learnt since this post that steroids can be addictive and stopping it can cause a rebound effect and cause withdrawal effects. If you want to learn more, visit the ITSAN website for heart rendering stories of even babies who have to go through withdrawal symptoms because of heavy prescription of steroids by doctors and dermatologists.
10 Comments on Scratch, Scratch, Scratch
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My symphaties to you. I can relate to this esp in researching and trying out the products available to either take orally or externally. But my experience only started 3 yrs back when ds had ezcema after we came back from US.
NOw that we are in US again, the ezcema seem to be mildler even tho drier, maybe due to less sweat and definitely not as bad as in Spore.
One question though, which brand do you buy for EPO, flax seed and borage oil? Also, have you tried vitacost.com? I think it may be cheaper than iherb. Just sharing!
Jen
Hi Jen
EPO – I am using GNC’s. Flax-Borage, I am using Barleans. Never head of vitacost before. Will go check it out! Thanks! And yes, I am sure if I move to a less humid climate it would help the rash on my neck which is triggered by sweat BUT I wonder if the drier air would cause another problem for my hands/lips?! Oh well. I’ll never know til I move 🙂
I feel your itch, Serene. We’re an eczema family here too (DH, me, 4yo DS and 2 yo DD), but on a smaller scale. I’ve had eczema all my life (my parents still joke at the amount of money they have paid out to dermatologists) but DD seems to have gotten it worst. 🙁 Even at such a tender age of 2yo, she gets red, itchy patches on her neck and arms when she’s feeling warm. So far, I”m only using California Baby stuff on her (and steroid cream, of course when nothing else works). I think I need to look into using some other products for her or more preventive measures. But for older kids and yourself, have you tried Aveeno products? They are pretty good, especially their body washes which has colloidal oatmeal in them. I’ve never tried their moisturizing lotion though, but I’ve heard it’s good too. I’m not sure if Aveeno is available in Singapore. I usually get them from drugstore.com .
No Aveeno is not available here but a similar poduct by Dermaveen is available here. I have also used that as mentioned and again, it gives some relief only.
Hi! I just wanted to mention that Dr. Jeffries found in his patients that these skin and allergic reactions are usually a form of adrenal fatigue. He wrote a book called “The Safe Uses of Cortisol.” Here in the states, it’s a pretty expensive book, but maybe you can find a place to borrow it. It has a chapter on allergies.
I wrote a summary here on my website:
http://anneshealthplace.com/adrenalfatigue.shtml
and also on my blog (but it’s not done, LOL):
http://anneelliott.com/blog/?p=666
Loved your post on getting your baby to sleep, by the way. Our 7th baby was just born this week, and I so much needed your reminder!
Hugs,
~Anne
Congrats Anne! Is it a boy or girl baby? 🙂 Ya – I know I am probably a perfect candidate for Adrenal Fatigue 🙁 And I did read your article before! Good to re-read it. Thanks for dropping by.
The ” Punggol Clinic” was really good for allegy. He is a GP, and my newphew condition was under control under his care. He always told him, no coloriing, no persevation and no diary food.
You poor thing! Me too! After the birth of child no. 3, I can’t eat out too! my friends in church laugh at me and think I am a health nut and no one understands. I am a bother to others cos i can’t eat this and that. I also have red lips but its not so bad for me in that I can still eat some natural msg. I am allergic to barley malt though in some organic cereals… I had eczema for 30 years until I discovered that it is milk. that means NO dairy of any sort. watch out for any packaged food as there is often milk in them sometimes in strange sounding things like whey (especially in packet biscuits!) i can’t take any of these or my skin starts of get dry and itch… even my BABIES get it if they drink my breast milk 🙁 I am praying that God will show me WHY that has happened and how to fix it! (Will look up the link on adrenal fatigue in the comments…)
Milk allergy is bad but wheat is worse! It’s even in our most needed ingredient for Asian cooking – soya sauce! Its alternative, tamari is so expensive!
Hello Serene..
I’m not an ezcema sufferer but I am prone to allergies so have been taking antihistamines and steriods (prednisone). I had adrenal fatigue, so much so that my menses can go missing! I found out when I detoxed I had accumulated quite a bit of Chlorphenamine and steriods in my system (tasted them on my tongue on the first day!). Things got better for me after the detox and after I started managing adrenal stimulants like caffeine (caffeine stimulates the adrenals. if you have adrenal fatigue, it’s like kicking the dead horse..)