I must say that I have reached a stage in my life where I have managed to come to some kind of terms with the fact that I suffer from severe eczema. I’ve stopped giving a damn about how I look without make-up if I need to leave the house and I know I will never be able to wear or even do some of the things that I used to. This does not however mean that I have become completely immune to some of the comments and looks that people give when I’m having a bad flare.
Working within retail can be really difficult sometimes. You are faced each day with a plethora of customers, some kind, some not so kind. I get quite a few inquisitive remarks asking if it is eczema that I have, alongside some downright filthy looks when they see my hands and arms as I’m packing away their precious new items of clothing.
When this happens, you just have to think that we as people are ignorant and will judge by appearance. Everyone does it. Hell, even me. It’s just within our nature as human beings to see something outside of the norm and to not completely understand it. However, it’s what you do with your initial judgement that really counts. Some people will look away, some will be rude and stare and even comment, some will look at you sympathetically and others will ask you why you’re different.
I don’t mind explaining my condition to others, as you can see from the fact I’ve made a blog to promote awareness, I am more than happy to talk about it. I’m not embarrassed at the fact that I can’t control my body, I just become agitated more than anything as I know that when I do flare I will get comments and questions that I know I will no doubt have to answer. A lot of other people I speak toΒ areembarrassed about their eczema but they shouldn’t be. You can’t help that you’re having a flare, it just happens. Sure, it’s annoying as hell having to walk around with a blotchy red face but don’t be embarrassed, you are you, you’re much more than just the way you look.
Happiness is one of the key ingredients to living a less stressful life, and can even help to regulate your condition, and so it is paramount to not let people belittle you just because you have an illness that is difficult to control. If you are bullied because of your eczema then these people just aren’t worth an ounce of your time. These people promote toxicity and need to be severed from your life else they will no doubt allow you to feel terrible about yourself. You don’t need that. At the end of the day looks are just looks and don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things if you are just able to alter your perception of life; beauty is in the eye of the beholder after all.
Basically, don’t let people get you down about the fact that you’re living with eczema. You’re already going through enough of a battle with your condition to let these added extras bring you down. You are more than your condition. You are you and you can succeed.
I really hope this helps, not just eczema sufferers, but anyone who is facing a hard time with their appearance. π
Visit my blog: http://i-have-eczema.blogspot.co.uk
Hi, I have been suffering with severe eczema for a good few years now, I go through big flares and then calmer times, it all seems like a vicious circle π but just last week I went to go see a different doctor about my eczema again because I felt the more cream I put on, the worse it got. She prescribed me a very short course of 5 days of oral steroid tablets in the hope of calming the eczema down. After the first day I saw an improvement and even now when I have been off them for 4-5 days it has almost gone and I feel like a new person!
Don’t get me wrong, I have not been long off them but I truly feel like they helped a lot! I would plead to anyone with severe eczema to ask their doctors about oral steroids!
I have also been using double base gel as an emollient at night and mornings and anytime I need it in between which leaves my skin so soft!!
I urge anyone with severe eczema to try this!!!
on April 17, 2013 at 9:50 pm LauraHi Laura,
Thank you for your comment! I’m afraid that oral steroids are not the right way in dealing with eczema, or so I have found out for myself. The thing with them is that when you finish the course the eczema will certainly come back. It is usually recommended that you taper the course to prevent the rebound from occurring e.g. x for 5 days x for 4 days x for 3 days and so on and so forth until you are then weened off them.
I found that they were my only form of true relief when I was really bad however I then started to develop the dreaded eczema herpeticum. Every time I went to take steroids the EH would start. Not good.
There are also many risks involved with taking oral steroids, especially if taken over a long course, which you will certainly need to, to be weened off them.
on April 18, 2013 at 7:25 am Jenny SHi i just remembered about a chineese medicine Doctor i saw on TV a long time ago.
Hewas helping a child with severe eczema ,he recomended using oatmeal in the bath .
Putting a muslin bag with oats in,tied under the tap so that it made a liquid .
He recommended doing this for a bout three weeks i think i t was,not for very long anyway
but what a difference it made to her the eczema had almost gone.
you could always try this into the sink instead and was your arms to sample if it works for you.
on August 13, 2013 at 11:16 pm l.mageeoats are a soothing balm and calm the skin,the oil in them helps to stop the dryness .
It does sound hard to believe but the Mother of the child said her skin had never been like this before and had been painful .I had changed the little girls life around she could play properly and wasnt kept awake at night with discomfort.
hope this helps someone best wishes Lynda