The story so far
I'm Scarlett and I'm 27years old and I have had eczema all my life, atopic eczema to be exact.
Current Treatment: Diprobase, Epaderm, Betnovate steriod ointment, hydroxyzine tablets 10mg (when I can), paracetamol and ibuprofen
Past two days: Coconut Oil
Yesterday: Herb Drink
2 days ago: Acupuncture
Skin: Full body flare up, bright red, hot inflamed, sore to touch, bruised, feels like sun burn, itchy scalp.
Drink:3 days no alcohol.
I have tried countless treatments non to which seem to have helped me. At the moment I am going through a severe flare up is thought I would note down what was happening and my experiences.
My latest treatment was the PUVA light treatment in which I had to take 4 tablets 2 hours before light treatment to make my skin sensitive to light, by taking this tablet it also caused my eyes to be sensitive to light so I was to wear glasses everyday I was on my treatment, (3 times a week) to stop a possible side effect of cataracts in my eyes.
This treatment has given me an allergic reaction and doctors believe I may have been allergic to the light or the proteins in my skin are allergic to it? Anyway it was caused my skin to come a whole lot worse, it is harder, itcher and now my full body is covered. My scalp is peeling, with cuts and even cysts appearing due to the change in my skin.
I decided to come off this treatment and I am so bloody glad I did! The last light treatment of UVB I received also never helped my skin I felt it caused my skin to dry out even more and I ended up getting severely burnt through mix of timings on the lights. So overall I hate light treatment. I also tried the soaking PUVA treatment on my hands years ago and now cant remember why but it clearly didn't work either.
Previous treatments include:
I think nearly every steroid cream there is. My skin at one point became addicted to steroids. I have been looking into Topical Steroid Addiction as I am wondering if right now I am experiencing a flare of this.
Protopic ointment - I was tested on this when it was new to the market, it caused me to having burning sensations around my eyes and gave me hot flushes, (especially when I drank alcohol).
Toctino Tablets - they have another name I am unsure of, these tablets had severe side affects causing me to have blood tests and pregnancy tests every month. I was unable to get pregnant on these tablets if I did I would have to terminate the baby incase of disfigurement. These tables also caused the skin on my hands to peel off daily making me nearly unable to use my hands, I couldn't open a bottle.
Patch Testing - Has shown I'm allergic to lanolin, gold (very bad times as I am a jeweller) I can wear gold fine its just when I file it the particles attack my skin.
UVB, PUVA tablet and PUVA soaks - not keen on any light treatments - dried out skin, burnt skin and caused allergic reactions - always make sure you have a light test done before treatment I was unable to have one as I had no clear skin on my body. Im sure if I had had the test before my PUVA we would have known it would cause a bad reaction and not have to wait 3 months to realise when it had got to its worst state.
The next stage for me at the hospital is to have a 2 week stage in hospital to have a eczema supression treatment ( I think this is what it is called) What I no of it so far I am monitored and they try and get some clear areas on my skin so they can do further light tests to see what lights may work for me. I think there is now one light treatment left I have not had. I am unsure if I want more light treatment but feel the 2 week stay could help calm my skin down. The doctors say some people have had calm eczema for 6months to a year after it!!
I am now looking to try alternatives and have met with the Chinese Medicine Clinic this week. I had my first experience of acupuncture - people say it doesn't hurt? Well its not sore but you can definitely feel the needles going in it was a weird experience I fell asleep during the first batch in my back and the second half on my legs are arm was ok until I got a wee bit uneasy and wanted to move but felt restricted as I had needles in me. I don't feel a huge difference as of yet as my skin is too bad atm. I also received my first batch of 'herbs' its like a bag of potpourri I had to boil it up with 3 pints of water and strain it then drink it! And OH MY what a taste... I cant even explainbut a mixture of perfume, chemicals and euch! Mainly the aftertaste/hit that it gave you. I tried to drink a cup of it hot as this was recommended I seriously struggled. I then decided to have shots of it cold for the whole day which I managed a little easier.
I have also in the past two days tried out coconut oil on my skin. I have been rubbing it in my hands and using it as a moisturiser. Tonight I put 5 teaspoons in my bath. I feel it settles the itch slightly but my skin is still epically red. I might need to try it for a little longer to see how it reacts with my skin.
To date one of my favourite things to do is put porridge oats/ oats in tights and let the juices seep out in the bath. I usually have a 20-30min bath ( I am now wondering if it should maybe be 15-20 and not as long) and then come out and moisturise I feel it calms down the redness.
Current Treatment: Diprobase, Epaderm, Betnovate steriod ointment, hydroxyzine tablets 10mg (when I can), paracetamol and ibuprofen
Past two days: Coconut Oil
Yesterday: Herb Drink
2 days ago: Acupuncture
Skin: Full body flare up, bright red, hot inflamed, sore to touch, bruised, feels like sun burn, itchy scalp.
Drink:3 days no alcohol.
I have tried countless treatments non to which seem to have helped me. At the moment I am going through a severe flare up is thought I would note down what was happening and my experiences.
My latest treatment was the PUVA light treatment in which I had to take 4 tablets 2 hours before light treatment to make my skin sensitive to light, by taking this tablet it also caused my eyes to be sensitive to light so I was to wear glasses everyday I was on my treatment, (3 times a week) to stop a possible side effect of cataracts in my eyes.
This treatment has given me an allergic reaction and doctors believe I may have been allergic to the light or the proteins in my skin are allergic to it? Anyway it was caused my skin to come a whole lot worse, it is harder, itcher and now my full body is covered. My scalp is peeling, with cuts and even cysts appearing due to the change in my skin.
I decided to come off this treatment and I am so bloody glad I did! The last light treatment of UVB I received also never helped my skin I felt it caused my skin to dry out even more and I ended up getting severely burnt through mix of timings on the lights. So overall I hate light treatment. I also tried the soaking PUVA treatment on my hands years ago and now cant remember why but it clearly didn't work either.
Previous treatments include:
I think nearly every steroid cream there is. My skin at one point became addicted to steroids. I have been looking into Topical Steroid Addiction as I am wondering if right now I am experiencing a flare of this.
Protopic ointment - I was tested on this when it was new to the market, it caused me to having burning sensations around my eyes and gave me hot flushes, (especially when I drank alcohol).
Toctino Tablets - they have another name I am unsure of, these tablets had severe side affects causing me to have blood tests and pregnancy tests every month. I was unable to get pregnant on these tablets if I did I would have to terminate the baby incase of disfigurement. These tables also caused the skin on my hands to peel off daily making me nearly unable to use my hands, I couldn't open a bottle.
Patch Testing - Has shown I'm allergic to lanolin, gold (very bad times as I am a jeweller) I can wear gold fine its just when I file it the particles attack my skin.
UVB, PUVA tablet and PUVA soaks - not keen on any light treatments - dried out skin, burnt skin and caused allergic reactions - always make sure you have a light test done before treatment I was unable to have one as I had no clear skin on my body. Im sure if I had had the test before my PUVA we would have known it would cause a bad reaction and not have to wait 3 months to realise when it had got to its worst state.
The next stage for me at the hospital is to have a 2 week stage in hospital to have a eczema supression treatment ( I think this is what it is called) What I no of it so far I am monitored and they try and get some clear areas on my skin so they can do further light tests to see what lights may work for me. I think there is now one light treatment left I have not had. I am unsure if I want more light treatment but feel the 2 week stay could help calm my skin down. The doctors say some people have had calm eczema for 6months to a year after it!!
I am now looking to try alternatives and have met with the Chinese Medicine Clinic this week. I had my first experience of acupuncture - people say it doesn't hurt? Well its not sore but you can definitely feel the needles going in it was a weird experience I fell asleep during the first batch in my back and the second half on my legs are arm was ok until I got a wee bit uneasy and wanted to move but felt restricted as I had needles in me. I don't feel a huge difference as of yet as my skin is too bad atm. I also received my first batch of 'herbs' its like a bag of potpourri I had to boil it up with 3 pints of water and strain it then drink it! And OH MY what a taste... I cant even explainbut a mixture of perfume, chemicals and euch! Mainly the aftertaste/hit that it gave you. I tried to drink a cup of it hot as this was recommended I seriously struggled. I then decided to have shots of it cold for the whole day which I managed a little easier.
I have also in the past two days tried out coconut oil on my skin. I have been rubbing it in my hands and using it as a moisturiser. Tonight I put 5 teaspoons in my bath. I feel it settles the itch slightly but my skin is still epically red. I might need to try it for a little longer to see how it reacts with my skin.
To date one of my favourite things to do is put porridge oats/ oats in tights and let the juices seep out in the bath. I usually have a 20-30min bath ( I am now wondering if it should maybe be 15-20 and not as long) and then come out and moisturise I feel it calms down the redness.
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