eczema
A blog about eczema, dry skin and sensitive skin issues.
Pak choi, nut lovers and tinned grub – the pitfalls of dating with allergies!

Ruth"s second dating account recounts the most random and socially inept things men have said on dates, and includes some valuable advice!
Continue ReadingNavigating the dating game with allergies and TSW

What Allergy"s Ruth Holroyd on dating with severe allergies.
Continue Readingtalkhealth meets…Ruth Holroyd, blogger and founder of What Allergy

What made you decide to start What Allergy? Starting the blog was a bit of an accident really. I wanted to do something but wasn’t sure what. Originally, I planned to create a website with reviews and safe places to …
Continue Readingtalkhealth Eczema Twitter Chat highlights

On Friday 13 September, we hosted an Eczema Twitter Chat to mark World Atopic Eczema Day (14 Sept) and the start of National Eczema Week (15-22 Sept). We’re very pleased to report the chat was a great success! In total, …
Continue ReadingJoin us for our Eczema Twitter Chat Friday 13 September

To mark World Atopic Eczema Day (14 September) and National Eczema Week (15-22 September) we’re hosting an Eczema Twitter Chat Friday 13 September between 1pm-2pm GMT. We’ll be discussing topics such as eczema triggers, care routines, self-esteem and managing eczema …
Continue ReadingHeatwave health warning, babies eating too much sugar, cervical cancer decline, eczema & more

Have you missed the latest health news this week? There has been a lot happening and we’ve summarised it all for you here. Have a lovely weekend and make sure you stay safe in the sun. Met office issues health …
Continue ReadingHabit reversal for atopic eczema

Our 12 year old patient was delighted when her previously troublesome chronic atopic eczema quickly cleared using habit reversal for habitual scratching using The Combined Approach. We asked her what part of the treatment …
Continue ReadingShould prescriptions for eczema treatments be cut by the NHS?

Are you aware the NHS might stop prescribing certain treatments for eczema and other chronic conditions? We are interested to understand what you think about the proposed changes and the impact this could have on you, as either a patient …
Continue ReadingHerbal skin cream found to contain steroids
MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) have warned the general public that a skin cream claiming to be a natural Chinese herbal remedy for treating eczema contains a potentially harmful steroid and should not be used. Zudaifu cream Zudaifu …
Continue ReadingMy first dermatology appointment
Welcome to my second blog… Like many other eczema sufferers I have often visited my GP with irritated skin, often leaving their office with a prescription, whether it be bath creams, antibiotic creams or moisturising lotions. The one thing I …
Continue ReadingManaging eczema while looking after children
Hi everyone! My name is Rebecca and I suffer from eczema. I have had eczema since I was a baby but I remember the first time I had a major break-out, I was about six years old and I missed …
Continue ReadingEczema isn’t just for one week a year

This year’s National Eczema Week, which actually took place over nine days, comes to a close today, 25 September. However, as many people know all too well, eczema doesn’t just affect sufferers for one week per year. talkhealth works with …
Continue ReadingThis week in health – 21 September 2018
The wind has picked up and the nights have cooled down since our last health news round-up, but we’re still enjoying the odd sunny hour or two at talkhealth headquarters, too. The week’s health news has been as mixed as …
Continue ReadingThis week in health – 08/06/2018

We’ve come to the end of another week and, as such, talkhealth will be looking through all the top news stories from the world of health. This week’s roundup includes new treatments and research, and overview of the summer months …
Continue ReadingNew evidence challenges use of bath emollients for children with eczema

A study published today in the BMJ suggests that there is little good evidence on the benefits of emollient bath additives, although the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends regular use of “emollient wash products” for children …
Continue ReadingDon’t let dry skin spoil your little one’s adventures: tips & solutions for winter

Over 1 in 5 children have eczema or a dry skin condition. Winter is often worse with wind-chill, cold, and central heating triggering flare ups. The associated itching, irritation and poor sleep can really spoil little ones fun, so dry …
Continue Readingtalkhealth Allergy and Eczema research published in Mail On Sunday

In September we ran a survey to see if patients suffering with eczema are more likely to also have allergies or sensitivity to foods such as eggs, nuts, diary and wheat. The aim of the research was to find out …
Continue ReadingManage your health with Patient support Programmes

For those living with chronic health conditions, self-management is crucial for managing and controlling symptoms day to day. Protecting your own health is a responsibility that can require some help and guidance to ensure you pursue the right treatment for …
Continue ReadingParaffin in skin creams linked to fire deaths

You may have read in the news this week (19 March 2017) about the link between people using paraffin based skin creams and dozens of fire deaths across England. People living with conditions such as eczema and psoriasis who use paraffin based …
Continue ReadingIntroducing Action Against Allergy – our latest charity forum partnership

talkhealth are excited to announce that we are now hosting the forums for the charity ‘Action Against Allergy’. Log on to the AAA forums to join the general discussion, view charity news and individual to talkhealth we are especially delighted to announce a forum …
Continue ReadingBSF – Pollution: How it affects our skin

Concerned about the effects of pollution on the skin? Dr Anjali Mahto, Consultant Dermatologist & British Skin Foundation Spokesperson discusses the measures you can take at home to protect your skin. Dr Mahto explains, “As skin is your outermost barrier, …
Continue ReadingCould microscopic worms help rebalance your biome?

Autoimmune illnesses and allergies are becoming a more and more common occurrence. We regularly hear about people with food and seasonal allergies. Many of us know someone who suffers with migraines, Crohn’s disease or eczema. And the increase in the …
Continue ReadingAsk the Expert: Children’s Skin Conditions

Last week saw the launch of our latest venture – Ask the Expert. The one day clinic, which took place Wednesday 18th January, was the first in a series of Ask the Expert sessions which will run in partnership with …
Continue ReadingCaring for a child with eczema: Jasper’s story

Looking after a child with severe eczema can be exhausting for parents as well as the child. There’s so much to consider, environment, clothes, weather, treatments, financial implications – the list goes on. Sorrel Ronan faces a relentless battle every …
Continue ReadingIntroducing the British Skin Foundation
Established in 1996, the British Skin Foundation (BSF) was set up to raise money for research into skin disease and skin cancer. Our mission is to find cures and better treatments for all skin conditions. We receive no statutory funding, …
Continue ReadingAn interview with Dr Andrew Thompson: Support for dermatology patients

Back in July, talkhealth published an article which highlighted the need for psychological support which dermatology patients are severely lacking. The article was inspired by the team of experts from the Severe Eczema and Psoriasis Team at St. John’s Institute …
Continue ReadingHow a skin condition like psoriasis can affect your body image and what to do about it
Your body image is how you perceive yourself when you look at your reflection in the mirror or when you think about the way you look. How accurately your body image matches the way others actually see you is dependent …
Continue Reading7 Things I Have Experienced About Red Skin Syndrome
Red Skin Syndrome is resulted from Total Steroid Withdrawal. I am currently going through it and it is like living hell. My neck, shoulder, chest and hands are the worse hit areas. There are 7 things I have experienced during …
Continue Reading3 Ways To Manage Total Steroid Withdrawal Symptom
Total Steroid Withdrawal Symptom is one of the hardest thing to manage because of the physical, physiological and emotional can be badly affected. Recently I have decided to stop applying steroid totally and I experience Total Steroid Withdrawal Symptom. I …
Continue ReadingEmma-jane – a serious good news story!

It is always so nice to get good news stories, isn’t it? So, I was chuffed to bits to get an email from a proud gran who had been a subscriber to the Foods Matter magazine way back in 2002. At …
Continue ReadingEpaderm Twitter Chat

On 16 September 2015, talkhealth and Mölnlycke Health Care collaborated to run a Twitter Chat. Using talkhealth’s hashtag #talkskin, talkhealth, a number of specially-selected skin care experts, and members of the talkhealth community all took part in a lively discussion …
Continue ReadingIs beauty only skin deep?

Today marks the the start of Talkhealth’s week long clinic on skin problems. The skin is an amazing organ. The largest in the human body, providing a number of functions including protection from infection and water loss, insulation and …
Continue ReadingEczema: 5 dilemmas for parents in summer

Eczema is a pain any time of the year and each season brings it’s own problems – too hot, too cold, too dry, too wet (and too much time indoors!). Summer though, seems to bring most of my dilemmas over …
Continue ReadingStress and atopic eczema

from AtopicSkinDisease.com When we ask someone in clinic what seems to bring on their eczema or make it worse, almost always stress is mentioned. This is can also be the case with the other two common skin diseases, acne …
Continue ReadingAtopic eczema and topical steroids: not too much, not too little

Being creatures of habit is usually useful, but nature can get the better of us. Anything that is done on a regular basis can become a habit. A habit is a behaviour that we lose conscious control over. Sometimes then …
Continue ReadingHandling soft play with an eczema child

If your child suffers from eczema, beware the soft play party invite if you’ve never been before. Soft play places are noisy, full of kids going crazy and lobbing plastic balls at each other and therefore usually one of the …
Continue ReadingEczema: Finally some true respite!

Since November 2014 we’ve had an amazing breakthrough with MyItchyBoy’s eczema. MyItchyBoy has had eczema for over five years. Not just a little bit, but the kind of eczema that takes over the life of the whole family. The hospital …
Continue ReadingWinter skin and emollients

Many people have naturally dry skin, and this can be made worse by cold weather, central heating at home and air conditioning at work. Dry skin is often rough and scaly, feels uncomfortable and tends to be itchy. Coping with …
Continue ReadingChristmas 2014 – allergies and eczema

A bumpy start to the holidays MyItchyBoy missed the last few days of term before the Christmas holidays as he was running a high temperature and was clearly not well. In an attempt to bring the temperature down, I gave …
Continue ReadingAlcohol and atopic eczema

Some trigger factors for acute atopic eczema flare-ups are easier to recognise than others. Those that are better known are stress, season, and allergies. Others include air-conditioning, sleep-overs, and drinking alcohol, for example. Alcoholic drinks like beer, spirits and wine …
Continue ReadingEczema: guilt-ridden, relentless helicoptering!

There has been much talk over the years of allergy parents being forced to become the much-mocked ‘helicopter’ parent out of necessity and panic over their child. Watching everything your child eats and touches and is given to avoid an …
Continue ReadingHow we’re preparing for winter 2014 – Eczema & Allergies

This week is Indoor Allergy Week in the UK and comes at the time of year that we’re all starting to realise that winter really is on its way. I thought I’d share a few things that we’re doing to …
Continue ReadingChronic atopic eczema in early childhood

Atopic eczema easily becomes chronic, or longstanding, in early childhood, partly because of inadequate use of conventional topical treatment, and partly because of habitual scratching. The skin becomes thickened, or lichenified. Chronic eczema is established. What to do about …
Continue ReadingSeptember’s online clinic on skin conditions

We hope you managed to catch our talkhealth online clinic on skin conditions. It was a lively clinic with questions being answered by experts Dr Alison Layton, Dr Jonathan Bowling, Dr Christopher Bridgett, Dr Walayat Hussain and Dr Stephen Kownacki. …
Continue Readingtalkhealth news

As usual we’ve been busy in the talkhealth office. Last week our online clinic on skin conditions opened, and on the day of the opening we ran a Twitter chat all about sensitive skin which kick-started the conversation amongst people …
Continue ReadingPerceptions of living with a Skin Problem

Alongside our online clinics we run monthly surveys. August’s survey was on skin conditions. We wanted to find out about how living with a skin condition can affect someone’s life. From our results, we found that living with a skin …
Continue ReadingAttitude and Atopic Eczema in the Elderly

At all ages the personal experience of chronic atopic eczema can lead to passive pessimism, a mindset that may need taking into account if treatment is going to be successful. Atopic eczema in the elderly has the added challenge of …
Continue ReadingHow emollients work & how much to use

If you live with eczema then you know that using emollients regularly is a vital part of an overall routine. But do you know how they work, and more importantly how much emollient to use? Molnlycke Healthcare, manufacturers of the …
Continue ReadingFrom living with eczema to living without eczema

Learning how to live with eczema is important. Living with eczema means understanding what eczema is, and what needs to be done about it. Living with eczema also means discovering how to get on with life regardless, and not …
Continue Reading94th BAD Conference in Glasgow

On Wednesday this week talkhealth was invited, via our lovely client Intrapharm Laboratories, as their guest at the 94th BAD (British Association of Dermatologists) conference, held this year in Glasgow. The day started early with a 9am flight from Southampton …
Continue ReadingWant to know the latest news on talkhealth? Here’s what we’ve got coming up in May…

National Epilepsy Week National Epilepsy week for 2014 is running from 18th – 24th May – and talkhealth will be doing everything we can to help raise awareness during this time. We are very excited to be running the FIRST EVER …
Continue Readingtalkhealth visit the Natural & Organic Product Show

Last week talkhealth went to the very busy Natural & Organic Product Show up in Olympia. We were so pleased to see so many friendly faces including Pravera, silicolgel and Salcura to name but a …
Continue ReadingWill my son make a great pharmacist one day?
MyItchyBoy’s arms and legs are itchy and sore and it seems nothing we are doing is helping. Our last appointment with the dermatologist, lots of scary-sounding solutions were brought up. Since then, he’s been on a two month course of steroids. …
Continue ReadingA Skeptical Approach to Medicine – Part Three – What’s the harm ?
It’s been a while since I had the opportunity to post on Talk Health Partnership. This is despite a range of subjects interesting and moving me to want to comment. As ever, time is one of a select few commodities …
Continue ReadingEczema and Scratching

In 2013 NursingTimes.Net reported a survey that showed one in five eczema patients scratch “at least 10 times” a day, and of the 500 questioned, a third said they go to “extreme lengths” to hide their symptoms. Our experience …
Continue ReadingEczema is bad for my health – part 2

Ok, so I might be admitting here what a twit I can be, or maybe just highlighting what a danger nocturnal parenting can be. The other night I’d just started to drop off when the inevitable ‘Mummy!’ came from the …
Continue ReadingHabit scratching causes chronic atopic eczema

The itch-scratch cycle is familiar to everyone who knows about atopic eczema. When eczema flares up, it itches – a feeling, which leads to scratching – a behaviour. The scratching irritates the skin further, then there is more itching, …
Continue ReadingDermatology appointment – debrief
Well, it didn’t help that last time (4 mths ago) as well as this time, MyItchyBoy was seen in the Dermatology Department. Sound odd? No, I know, a dermatologist in the dermatologist department, right? Well, yes, but when you have …
Continue ReadingDermatology appointment this week
We have a consultant dermatologist appointment this Wednesday. It doesn’t seem to be the same person we saw last time. I started making a list a few weeks ago about the things we want to ask about. I contacted the …
Continue ReadingEczema warning: cold snap on the way!

My skin is like my piano: in cold weather it goes out-of-tune. The piano is an old upright: the strings are held tight by metal pegs that are fixed by brute force in a piece of wood, the soundboard. Wood …
Continue ReadingHow quick is your morning routine?

Do you know how quickly 4 year olds can get dressed? Did you know they can get dressed by themselves? This wa s all a bit of a revelation for me last week. We stayed with friends who have a …
Continue ReadingWho’s responsible for my son’s eczema?
Last night I went up to clean my teeth on the way to bed and passed MyItchyBoy’s room. That sinking feeling came over me as I heard the *khuh-khuh* noise of MyItchyBoy scratching his skin. I poked my head round …
Continue ReadingBananas, Pineapples and Eczema
Does Pineapple make eczema worse? For a couple of years now, MyItchyBoy has been eating and enjoying dried pineapple. It never seemed to cause a problem for his eczema. Or did it? He’d usually have the crispy type of dried …
Continue ReadingPainting Over The Walls To Hide The Cracks

Shane used a brilliant phrase in his post last month entitled “What If Everything You Thought You Knew Was A Lie?” describing how Doctors tend to paint over the cracks rather than fixing the problem to get to the root of the …
Continue ReadingA Self-Hypnosis Sensory-Imagery Technique For Skin Conditions

Further to my previous blog entry here, citing some of the research supporting the use of hypnosis for help with skin conditions, as promised I am going to share a couple of self-hypnosis techniques in coming days. Today is one …
Continue ReadingThe Evidence for Using Hypnosis with Skin Disorders
As of today, I am again part of the online clinic here at the TalkHealth Partnership. This particular online clinic is looking at skin disorders. Those familiar with this site will know that the clinics offer lots of support from …
Continue ReadingThe magical benefits of Salt for Asthma, COPD, Sinusitis and other respiratory and skin conditions

We are all familiar with the benefits of sea air and natural salt caves, but did you know that salt has also been used for over 200 years as a natural therapy for respiratory ailments and skin conditions? Salt therapy …
Continue ReadingHow do you take emollients out with you?

So we can manage MyItchyBoy’s eczema properly, we have always taken a small bottle of decanted emollient out and about with us. We use it quite often, especially on long days out when he needs a cream top up during …
Continue ReadingAllergies and eczema: starting school
So, over the next couple of weeks, we are going through all the necessary preparations for school. MyItchyBoy starts this September but not before I seriously get my act together (I hope!). MyItchyBoy at school Prior to the end of …
Continue ReadingSummer Sports Camp

Over the first two weeks of the summer holidays, MyItchyBoy spent 5 days at a local sports camp. The 5 days were spread over the fortnight as he is still only 4 yrs and I figured that with such a …
Continue Reading3 things we use to deal with eczema

Our super useful supply of cloths 1. Cloths to wipe our hands on We are still using the packs of muslin cloths that we bought before he was even born. Thankfully they are still in one piece, despite endless laundering, …
Continue ReadingSwimming and eczema
Parents worry about taking a child with eczema to a swimming pool, but let’s face it swimming is fun and good exercise – it also saves lives! So I have checked this out, and the good news is swimming …
Continue ReadingHuge improvement for MyItchyBoy

MyItchyBoy’s arm last week This morning, putting cream on MyItchyBoy, I felt very emotional. Why? Well, this morning, about 80% of his skin feels weird. Yes, weird. Perhaps not to a parent whose child has never suffered with eczema, but …
Continue Reading5 Things I Hate About Eczema

I hate eczema. It really sucks. Aside from watching MyItchyBoy suffer on a daily basis and the feelings of desperation, helplessness and failure that goes with it, there are a few other things that I really hate about eczema too. …
Continue ReadingDoctors call for a ban on face cream chemical blamed for an epidemic of skin allergies

It is estimated that 1 in every 10 people affected with eczema or dermatitis is allergic to a preserviative known as MI, or to give this preservative it’s proper name methylisothiazolinone. Methylisothiazolinone has been increasingly used in a range of …
Continue ReadingDermaSilk in long-term treatment of infantile atopic dermatitis

A recently published paper has reported how DermaSilk may help in the long-term treatment of infantile atopic dermatitis. The double blind, placebo controlled comparative study was carried out with 20 children using either DermaSilk or identically styled cotton underclothes for …
Continue ReadingMy Super, Super Itchy Boy
We don’t usually get much sleep as it is but this last week or so has been harder than normal. We have been struggling with MyItchyBoy’s itchy eczema a lot over the past few months as it is, but at …
Continue ReadingWhat my son’s eczema taught me about my own skincare
There are very few positives I can take from having a child with eczema, but learning about my own skin and how to treat and protect it has been one of them. We moved house last year and lost an …
Continue ReadingFeel the eczema and do it anyway

Do you want to hear something really sad? This is what one woman told an All Party Parliamentary Group looking into the effects of skin disease on a person’s physical and psychological well-being – “I feel like I am disgusting. I feel …
Continue ReadingAntibiotics increase eczema risk in children

Use of antibiotics in early life may increase the risk of developing eczema by up to 40 per cent, according to a new study in the British Journal of Dermatology. The research also found that each additional course of antibiotics …
Continue ReadingHospitalised with Eczema Herpeticum

Sorry I’ve been rather quiet recently. I actually spent last week hospitalised with a sudden and extremely dangerous bout of Eczema Herpeticum and Periorbital Cellulitis. For those not in the know, EH is when the herpes simplex virus occurs, but …
Continue ReadingOur adventure into a salt cave

We live not too far from a couple of salt therapy places, but have never actually been before. However, it has been a tough week or so for MyItchyBoy with his eczema and so I thought that it would be …
Continue ReadingTopical steroids for atopic eczema

Despite the revolutionary benefit of topical steroids in the treatment of atopic eczema, they are often feared, and may be avoided or used only cautiously. They seem to be seen more as terrorists than freedom fighters. Understanding how they …
Continue ReadingEczema friendly bedding: What I’ve learned so far

For a child with eczema, like MyItchyBoy, having the right bedding is key to a good night’s sleep. Tiredness makes an already itchy child more itchy and tired, grumpy parents will find coping with the daily trials of eczema harder …
Continue ReadingA study that’s found the chemical that makes us scratch

A story on the BBC News website last week reported that researchers have discovered the chemical that is necessary in order to feel the urge to scratch and itch. This could be good news for people with chronic skin conditions …
Continue ReadingEczema: the impact on family life

MyItchyBoy has suffered atopic eczema since he was a few months old. His wrists are almost always dry and itchy but eczema on the rest of his body depends on so many other things. He has food allergies and …
Continue ReadingEczema is giving me piles – of laundry!

There are so many times that I wish MyItchyBoy had ‘normal’ skin. However, this week, my sighs and desires for normality come from the combination of a backlog of laundry and the change in weather. Due to the eczema that …
Continue ReadingLiving With Eczema
As with any illness eczema can range from mild, moderate to severe but not many people seem to realise this. Here, I’d like to talk about how eczema as a condition can be debilitating; making leading a “normal” life difficult. …
Continue ReadingEczema Egg Challenge
So, did I mention, we can now give MyItchyBoy eggs? Well, when I say eggs, I mean we can bake cakes and buns and things and actually put real egg in. Yes, real egg, from chickens. It may sound like …
Continue ReadingMaking others aware of allergies
Over the next few weeks MyItchyBoy’s nursery are covering the topic of food and healthy eating. I’ve asked if they could take the opportunity to introduce some food allergy awareness to the older children as part of this. Like many …
Continue ReadingEctodermatology

Psychodermatology always gets a spell-check dotted red line under it on my laptop! The term has been around quite a while in various guises, including psychocutaneous (another dotted red line!) medicine and psychosomatic dermatology (that’s OK!). Part of psychological …
Continue ReadingDon’t Let Them Bring You Down
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 …
Continue ReadingStress and Life

“Stress is the spice of life” Hans Selye (1980) It was Walter Cannon (1871-1945) who first described the physiological fight-or-flight response to a threatening situation. The term stress was introduced by Hans Selye (1907-1982). Stress in small doses has an …
Continue ReadingHelp! I’m allergic to my BlackBerry!

Nickel is one of the most common contact allergens, affecting 17 percent of women and 3 percent of men. According to a study presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), nickel …
Continue ReadingHelp me! What is he allergic to???
Right, a few weeks back I got a call from MyItchyBoy’s nursery. I was told that he had a red eye, that it possibly looked a bit swollen. They were concerned enough to call, weren’t sure what had happened. They …
Continue ReadingSolving the Sleep Issue

For a while now, MyItchyBoy has had trouble sleeping. That is to say, he has no trouble sleeping when he’s asleep and is settling as well as can be expected from a procrastinating genius that all 4 year olds are. …
Continue ReadingAdult Atopic Eczema
As an adult sufferer of severe chronic eczema it’s often hard to feel accepted and to know that other people are suffering the exact same thing due to the fact that most people’s view of eczema is only from knowing …
Continue ReadingThe FreeFrom Skincare Awards 2013 shortlist is announced!

Almost 80 products from over 50 skincare manufacturers have made the shortlist of the second annual FreeFrom Skincare Awards, which has been announced today. Five brands lead the way with three shortlisted products each – Barefoot Botanicals, Botanicals, Green People, …
Continue ReadingLondon takes its place among healthcare innovation elite cities of the world

Jeremy Hunt launches London Centre of Innovation Excellence and new app library to help people live well. The UK’s worldwide reputation for innovation in healthcare will be sealed today as Jeremy Hunt launches London’s new centre of innovation excellence established …
Continue ReadingFood scares – time to think about every ingredient in every bite
In the wake of the recent revelations about horse meat finding its way into the food chain, it is not surprising to see that the supermarkets are releasing sales figures that show that our shopping behaviour has changed already. For …
Continue ReadingHello, I am an eczema sufferer

My name is Jenny and I have had eczema, asthma and hay fever since birth. I had been able to mostly manage my conditions by taking a steroid inhaler and applying hydrocortisone when it flared up. However it wasn’t until …
Continue ReadingEczema is bad for my health
And at the moment, it’s not even my eczema. I read the reports in the press earlier in the week about how all parents are pretty much screwed as a lack of sleep is apparently so bad for your health. …
Continue ReadingSleep is apparently great for you – if you can get it!

I am getting fed up with New Year! New You! magazine articles telling me that the secret to happiness, health, success is a good night’s sleep. Simple! Great! How??? The only suggestions they have on how to achieve this are …
Continue ReadingEczema and the sun

Three members of my household have eczema, my toddler has a semi diagnosis and we’ve been referred to a dermatologist today to have it confirmed along with a plan of action. We have just returned from our annual week long …
Continue ReadingSeven years in the making …
Seven years in the making … that’s how I see my blog … Our little family has lived with a skin condition for many years, but it’s my first born, Chloe, who copped the worst dose of it … atopic …
Continue ReadingEating habits – Old versus New
Since starting my blog about my son and his food intolerances many people have contacted me with articles they have seen discussing theories surrounding nutrition and intolerance. A while back, my Mum also came across a thought provoking article which …
Continue ReadingNalcrom (sodium cromoglicate) ? should we try it?
When Zac, my ‘intolerant child’ had his appointment at Great Ormond Street hospital, we were told of a drug that might help him – Nalcrom. The consultant, who I respect and trust, said he thought it was something we should …
Continue ReadingA break from breakfasts – now for the science bit
As I have recently worked my way through ‘inventing’ 15 gluten free and dairy free breakfast options, I think it is time to bring a bit of science back to my blog. Don’t worry, the food will be back, but …
Continue ReadingOnline clinic on allergy NOW OPEN
The talkhealth / NHS Choices online clinic on allergy opened today. The clinic is supported by Action Against Allergy, the Allergy Academy and MedicAlert. Our panel of leading allergy specialists are waiting to answer all your questions about all aspects …
Continue ReadingWater dries skin

Understanding how moisturizers work means they can be used effectively. Last week there was a flurry of interest stirred up by the publication of the results of an experiment investigating the function of the “prune” effect on skin caused by …
Continue ReadingWhat to do with too much cake?
As a family, we’re not so easy to accommodate for food if you’re not used to catering for allergies. Unfortunately dairy and eggs are so prevalent that label reading is essential. For someone not initiated into the world of scrutinising …
Continue ReadingCrisis intervention and atopic eczema

Life transitions, like leaving high school and starting college, and transitions in t, like birthdays, and the start of a new year, are sometimes seen psychologically as “crises”. They are cross-roads, and can be times of heightened awareness, and …
Continue ReadingHabit reversal for passive pessimism

“Behaviour” commonly means what we see people doing. As a behaviour modification technique, habit reversal can be used to tackle nail biting, thumb sucking or scratching that have become troublesome habits. Habits start as conscious behaviours associated with specific triggers. …
Continue ReadingLichenification

The epidermal layer of skin reacts to repetitive mechanical trauma by thickening up (hypertrophy), with an accumulation (hyperkeratosis) of dead cells (keratinocytes) sticking to the skin surface. The appearance is called lichenification by dermatologists. The similarity to the bark of …
Continue ReadingThe skin as a battleground

Sometimes in clinic we talk about how the skin can become a battleground. Perhaps as a territory that is the boundary between ourselves and our surroundings, it is easy to see how this can be. The scratching, picking, rubbing, biting, …
Continue ReadingExciting discoveries in Gran Canaria

Earlier in December we were lucky enough to spend a lovely, sunny week in Gran Canaria. This post is about a couple of the products we enjoyed discovering on this trip. As mentioned in the previous post, we were lucky …
Continue ReadingFun in December Sun

A holiday in December is always good I reckon, especially somewhere warm and sunny. We recently spent a week in Gran Canaria and we had a great time. It was a great holiday for MyItchyBoy. He was easily amused with …
Continue ReadingStressful Times?

Modern life is sometimes thought of as particularly stressful, compared with life in previous times. These days seem to have more pressure, more demands, and more complexity to contend with. Modern life is hectic, while perhaps previous times were at …
Continue ReadingIt’s Time to Advocate for Eczema
This has been adapted from an early draft of a speech I wrote for the Eczema Society of Canada’s Patient Education event in Toronto in November 2012. I ended up giving a different talk, but still felt attached to this …
Continue ReadingEczema: what is it, why do I have it and how can I treat it?

Why have I got eczema? Eczema or dermatitis, is a condition where your skin becomes sensitive and inflamed as part of an allergic reaction, this is called atopy and you may hear this condition being called atopic eczema or dermatitis …
Continue ReadingChelsea Physic Garden

In deepest Chelsea, London UK, there is a gem often overlooked by international visitors. In the picture DrB stands between the Psychiatry and Dermatology beds in Chelsea Physic Garden. Containing almost 5000 plant species from all over the world, the …
Continue ReadingItching has a visual trigger, new research reveals
Watching another person scratch causes itchiness without any physical trigger, new research suggests – a finding which could be of benefit to skin disease patients. Most people are familiar with the ‘contagious yawn’ sensation, where watching another person yawn causes …
Continue ReadingAtopicGirl’s Little Secret
First, I will apologize for my absence. I’ve moved a couple times and my time has been taken up with new jobs (yes, plural) and a lot of volunteer work. The latter is the point of this post. Over a …
Continue ReadingThanksgiving and Thankfulness
I know Thanksgiving is a North American thing and just to fragment that a little bit more, Canadian Thanksgiving is over a month before American Thanksgiving. Personally, that works well for us since coast-to-coast, Canada is stunning in autumn. Yup, …
Continue Reading101 Ways to Prevent Asthma, Allergies, Eczema and Hayfever
Okay, if you got here because you think I’m going to offer you advice on how to prevent anything, I’m not. The title is entirely facetious. If you’ve read my blog, you know that I don’t believe in cures for …
Continue ReadingQV Helps Eczema Sufferers During National Eczema Week
This year’s National Eczema Week, raising awareness of the skin condition, takes place from 15 –23 September 2012 and has the theme ‘Fighting For An Eczema Free Future’. Eczema is a dry skin condition that comes in many different forms, …
Continue ReadingA quiet few weeks
So, I’ve not really had anything to blog about, eczema-wise, for a few weeks. I’ve been trying out various skincare products over on my main blog and not even those have really interfered with my skin. In fact, I even …
Continue ReadingToxic Chemicals found in Scented Laundry Products

I was interested in a University of Washington study of top-selling laundry products which found they emitted dozens of different chemicals. All six products tested, including dryer sheets, fabric softeners and detergents, gave off at least one chemical regulated as …
Continue ReadingHello!
Hi, my name is Paige and I am 16 years old. This blog is for anyone but especially for teenagers because I know that having eczema is hard enough let alone having it whilst going through teenage problems! So, a …
Continue ReadingTaking allergies on holiday

Having recently tried to book a cheap break in December for the three of us, I have once again been left debating with myself about what risks I want to take when it comes to food. Staying somewhere ‘safe’ is …
Continue ReadingAllergies, Atopy and Television
I’ve written a post with my PR cap on. This time, I’m writing it with my media cap on since I have a ridiculous amount of media education. I find it interesting whenever I see a character on television or …
Continue ReadingLOSING IT…MY HAIR

At this moment, while writing this blog post…I am doing something I don’t like to do: getting my hair done. I would rather sit in a dentist chair than spend the many many hours it takes to get my hairconstructed. …
Continue ReadingMy hot night of three in the bed
Yes, we had another hot night down south – over 20 degrees. MyItchyBoy was already suffering an eczema flare-up from Friday so the heat was not at all welcome. We had all the windows open throughout the house as well …
Continue ReadingAUTOIMMUNE OLYMPIADS

Well, the Olympics are over. Thank God! Now I can get some sleep. I was so sleep deprived. I could have won a gold medal in crankiness. I am in awe when I see the super-human type feats executed by …
Continue ReadingMy eczema and Prom
I had eczema when I was a young baby and luckily that fizzled out before I started school but when I started my GCSEs aged 13, the stress of it all made my eczema come back again. It started just …
Continue Reading
I have had a lot of empathy with my son and his eczema this week due to the insect that has had a few bites out of my leg. I’ve woken up three days in a row with a new …
Continue ReadingGrr, my eczema is driving me mad!
So, my eczema seems to be on a yo-yo at the moment, but not enough to give me respite for more than a day or so. To be honest, I’ve never known it to be so persistent, but I think …
Continue ReadingGood cotton pjs for eczema kids

After the usual hunt for pyjamas for MIB that are the right size, 100% cotton and not extortionate in price, I was really pleased to find a two pair pack in the supermarket. I usually find it so hard to …
Continue ReadingKim Woodburn’s first blog

Hello my loves, I’m Kim Woodburn. You probably know me best for my cleaning expertise and time on Channel Four’s “How Clean is Your House” and ITV’s “I’m a Celebrity”. I’m well known for not using nasty chemicals and instead …
Continue Reading10-ish Things Allergic & Atopic People Don’t Want to Hear
If you read my blog, you know I’ve had allergies and atopy for a very long time. So, I’ve had to tell a lot of people about my conditions. This has certainly become easier as I’ve gotten older, but there …
Continue ReadingMy first eczema blog
My name is Steph and I am an atopic eczema sufferer. I have suffered with it, on and off, for the best part of my life. I’m now 28 and I can’t remember a time where I went more than …
Continue ReadingKeeping Cool With Eczema
I’ll be honest. Summer has never been one of my favourite seasons. I’m not a big fan of heat in general. I have no reason to tan, since I’ve got a built-in self-tanner. Most importantly, I have eczema. My skin …
Continue ReadingHow to treat Heat Rash/Prickly Heat?
When the summer months arrive everyone wants to go for a walk or a jog, but the thought of a heat rash turns people off. You should not fear because heat rash can be easily treated. Summertime can either be …
Continue ReadingHarlequin ichthyosis featured in Channel 4’s Beauty & The Beast: Ugly Face of Prejudice on Tues 17 July 2012
Twenty-one-year-old glamour model Holly Kent meets 27-year-old Nelly Shaheen. Nelly was born with harlequin ichthyosis, a rare skin condition, which makes Nelly look like a burns victim. Nelly’s skin could literally suffocate her if she doesn’t take care of it. …
Continue ReadingItchy Skin week here
A tough few days with itchy skin for MyItchyBoy at the moment. A bit of a runny nose and chesty cough and he’s flared up quickly in about 24 hours. It doesn’t help that he had one night with a …
Continue ReadingWhat to Avoid in your Body Washes & Shampoos
If you are interested in natural beauty products you’ll no doubt have a keen interest in the ingredients that go into your body washes and haircare products. If you have skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis, sensitive skin then it …
Continue ReadingSticky Child
Finally, the sun is starting to shine. And with it, comes warmer weather. Hot days and nights are not always a good thing for a child with eczema. We are fairly lucky that heat itself doesn’t seem to worsen MIB’s …
Continue ReadingBOOST YOUR IMMUNE

This week’s blog is dedicated to those who suffer from one or more autoimmune diseases. I take my hat off to you! Having to endure the daily struggles of your respective invisible illness is truly a heroic feat, and in …
Continue Reading5 Common Myths about Treating Eczema
I want to clear the air regarding common misconceptions about eczema. Here are 5 common misconceptions that I hear a lot. Knowing what’s real will help you to heal! Myth #1: Eczema is a skin disorder: We are so used …
Continue ReadingAtopy and Ocular Conditions
Why Your Optometrist Should Know That You’re Atopic Before I continue, I would like stress that nothing you read here should cause you to stop using your medications as prescribed. I am not a medical professional and I am not …
Continue ReadingMake your own herb-infused base oils

I’ve just made two herb-infused base oils, Marigold and Lavender. Base oils are great for making your own creams, massage oils, salves, liniments, plaisters and even suppositories for your first aid kit. You can also make your own skincare products …
Continue ReadingWaiting, waiting, waiting.
Unfortunately I still have not got my results back from the allergy test! I went to the hospital a few weeks ago and he said I need to leave it a few more weeks before I can get my results …
Continue ReadingEczema & Exercise
Growing up I was always quite athletic and enjoyed playing sports. When I was little I did ballet, then we moved to Vancouver where in the summer I would play baseball and in winter I would ice-skate. Then we moved …
Continue ReadingAllergies, Atopy and Health Care Reform: Why You Should Care
I’ve written about why public relations matters for atopic and allergic people. This post will deal with why allergic and atopic people need to get involved with government relations, specifically health care policy. While this post is about the future …
Continue ReadingMoving towards your 20% improvement with eczema
There is nothing worse than not being able to remember when you felt like yourself, when you were able to function without restriction. As an individual who has been afflicted with sensitive skin and atopic dermatitis for most of my …
Continue ReadingSunscreen vs. Eczema
Have sent MIB (my itchy boy) off to nursery today with a hat but no sunscreen. Am I a bad mother? Nope, just an indecisive one. Too early in the morning to decide whether or not he’ll definitely need it …
Continue ReadingSeaweed cuts acne spots by two thirds

Acne, a distressing complaint largely affecting teens and young adults, has been shown to respond well when treated with seaweed. A new clinical trial of acne treatments containing seaweed extract has confirmed the healing power of seaweed. In the trial, …
Continue ReadingCentre for Appearance Research International Conference
The Centre for Appearance Research is pleased to announce Appearance Matters 5. This two day international conference will be highlighting the current research and good practice around psychology and appearance, including body image, visible difference, the role of the media, …
Continue ReadingStop the scraaaaatching!
These words will forever be ingrained in my mind! My nan would say this on a regular basis when I was a child. Although she meant it lovingly and said the scratching in a very exaggerated way, she even added …
Continue ReadingRosacea and my eyes
Sorry its been a while since I have written on this blog- life has been very hectic and very stressful. With lots happening within my business and personal life my stress levels have been going through the roof and my …
Continue ReadingI’m back & better than ever!
Hey guys 🙂 Okay, I know I haven’t posted in a loooong time and, I’ll be honest, I forgot about blogging for a while! I’ve been back and forth to the hospital for check-up appointments in between finishing projects in …
Continue ReadingKeeping Eczema at bay
Hi Everyone I can’t believe it is so long since I last blogged but after the very, very, bad episode of Eczema some months ago, I sort of lost the will to write about it, which I’m sure you will …
Continue ReadingWhy Do I Have Sensitive Skin?
I have always had sensitive skin from a very early age and dread to think how much I have spent over the years. Buying the latest claimed product for sensitive skin to find that I react and it goes into …
Continue ReadingSo much to say, so little time!
Hi all, I’m a mother of four and wife to one! I have a very busy, naturally stressful life and living with eczema is no picnic, let alone the fact that my middle daughter and 10 month old son suffer …
Continue ReadingSo…
Just realised how long it’s been since I last posted. To be fair, I did spend 2 months of that time in Europe, which, by the way was amazing! And it’s what I’m here to talk about. Before I left …
Continue ReadingIs your life affected by acne, eczema or psoriasis?
IWC Media make intelligent and thoughtful documentaries including Terry Pratchett: Living with Alzheimer’s and The Secret Life of a Manic Depressive with Stephen Fry, as well as blue chip science programmes such as Brave New World and Stephen Hawking – …
Continue ReadingA bad time
Hi everyone Sorry its been so long since I last blogged but the eczema went mad so spent most of my time trying to sort it out as best I could. I’m not sure how it all started but two …
Continue ReadingTop 10 Mistakes I Made
After writing the post ‘Can You Prepare to be a Mom of an Eczema Child’, it got me thinking how I can do better with hindsight. While I can’t re-write history, I want to list down the mistakes I made …
Continue ReadingWaiting sucks!
Hey guys So basically this is what has happened: My skin was not getting any better from the last time I blogged, and the itching at night was becoming unbearable and because I was scratching my skin was unable to …
Continue ReadingDoes makeup really cover up spots and disguise eczema no matter how thick you apply it?
When I was a teenager I was one of those unfortunate people who suffered with both acne and eczema. My spots were fairly mild and the eczema was mainly round my mouth. My eczema always flared up with stress and …
Continue ReadingThoughts on Eczema
Hi everyone Its blogging time again to which I must admit to putting aside, as I get on with all the other things that go with looking after the flare ups of eczema, running a home, business, writing an essay …
Continue ReadingChoosing Childcare for Your Child (Part 2 of 2)
This post continues to explore childcare alternatives for your child and in greater details, how pre-schooling has turned out for my baby. For a mom with eczema child, sending your child to a preschool may be fraught with anxiety and …
Continue ReadingYour A to Z of nasties in the chemical world
Skin allergies are often triggered by the use of chemicals on the skin and in the home and workplace. Around 6 million Brits, that is 1 in 5 children and another 1 in 10 adults, all suffer from Eczema. Why …
Continue ReadingCall the Midwife
A series of books written by former AAA patron, Jennifer Worth, have been transformed for the small screen. Call the midwife begins on Sunday 15 January at 8pm on BBC1. As an eczema, asthma and allergy suffer Jennifer decided to …
Continue ReadingChoosing Childcare for Your Child (Part 1 of 2)
For a mom of eczema child, probably one of the toughest decisions is whether to entrust others to take care of your child. Will another caregiver remember to moisturize? Will he/she decide to try out his/her own eczema cure? Will …
Continue ReadingHospital visits are no fun. At all!
Hey guys 🙂 Long story short, my little flare up got a bit worse, I kepy scratching it in the night & it ended up getting infected. But no worries! I had a little emergency visit to the hospital today …
Continue Reading2012 here we come
Hi everyone Happy New Year to you all, hope its a healthy one and that the Eczema improves. Well Christmas has now been and gone, did I really run around the supermarket trying not to forget everything with a trolley laden, …
Continue ReadingFriendly bacteria can help your acne
New research suggests that friendly bacteria may not just be beneficial for the digestive system but also for your skin. It is believed that good bacteria can help plump and smooth the skin whilst re-hydrating it therefore helping improve the appearance …
Continue ReadingSo much going on at once!
Hey guys 🙂 Good news! My blood tests were all clear, no diabetes!I’m gonna have to go back to the doctor though, just to see what these little ‘annoyances’ are, but other than that I’m good 🙂 My skin has …
Continue ReadingPoem: I Need A Friend
This poem is inspired by my stay-at-home-mom experience taking care of Marcie, from the time her eczema started at two weeks old till her first birthday. SAHM faces greater stress, being relatively isolated and bearing the full burden of childcare …
Continue ReadingBREAKING NEWS! & a very nice Christmas :)
Hey guys! I have some (possibly) shocking news for you! But firstly, MERRY CHRISTMAS! I had a great day, which included a delicious Paleo-friendly Christmas dinner! The contents of this meal is in the previous blog post 🙂 Anyway, on …
Continue ReadingDealing with Blepharitis
Over the last few years I have suffered on and off with Blepharitis. Blepharitis is when the rims of the eyelids become inflamed. This can make your eyes red, irritated and itchy. Dandruff-like crusts can appear on your eyelashes. It …
Continue ReadingAllergy hazards at Christmas

Christmas Tree Allergy We’ve been warning AllergyBestBuys customers to the allergy problems posed by indoor Christmas trees for years. Now scientists confirm that the traditional fir or spruce, left in a warm room, releases mould spores that can trigger watery …
Continue ReadingLips Fingers Knees & Toes ……Knees & Toes…
It’s almost Christmas and the tree is up, the lights are twinkling and bright and all I am wishing for is that my little girl will be well enough to unwrap her pressies. Christmas is such a special time and …
Continue ReadingSeaweed bath could help your skin
Having a seaweed bath could do wonders for your skin including relieving the symptoms of psoriasis. Seaweed has antiseptic, skin soothing properties which make it a popular natural treatment for temporary relief from itchy or painful skin conditions. It is believed that …
Continue ReadingCan You Prepare to be a Mom of an Eczema Child?
As I’ve shared in my first post, my husband and I are seriously thinking of stopping at one child because we don’t think we can go through the trials of taking care of a severe eczema baby the second time. …
Continue ReadingSome recipes for you!
Hey guys 🙂 This post is going to be dedicated to giving you a few of my recipes of meals that I eat on a regular basis, and are so so so delicious! The first recipe is banana pancakes! I’m …
Continue Reading…
Hey guys, AGAIN, I am so sorry for the delay between posts! I swear I’m not slacking it’s just that my life has been so hectic now, and when I do have the little breaks from the stress I get …
Continue Reading23 and 1/2 hours: What is the single best thing we can do for our health?
A Doctor-Professor answers the old question “What is the single best thing we can do for our health” in a completely new way. Dr Mike Evans explains …. Dr Evans is founder of the Health Design Lab at the Li …
Continue ReadingOne of those weeks!
Hi everyone I’m getting later and later with doing my blog but at this time of year it’s a nightmare trying to fit everything in, as I’m sure you will agree. This afternoon is my daughter’s nativity play, the first …
Continue ReadingEczema and Immunology – The Sleeping Secret …..
Hello everyone, it has been a while since my last blog and much has happened in the household of the girls of 82! As you are all aware my little angel Issi-May who suffers very badly with her eczema on …
Continue ReadingFingers & thumbs
Spent most of the day counting gloves. We sell hundreds and hundreds of pairs of white cotton gloves which we have specially made for AllergyBestBuys.com with long wrists and comfortable boxed fingers for customers with eczema and dermatitis. A fresh …
Continue ReadingFirst blog
Hi I’m Lisa and this is my first blog for TalkHealth. I have very sensitive skin, particularly on my face. Certain facial creams cause aggravation resulting in areas of itchy, dry eczema which now has been diagnosed as Rosacea along …
Continue ReadingSorry!
Hey guys, I am so sorry I haven’t posted a blog post in a while but so much has been going on in college & I’ve been coming home everyday literally shattered from all the walking around and work I’ve …
Continue ReadingMould spore test results shock
Crikey, I wasn’t expecting this. The mould spore count in the MouldCheck petri dish showed a level between Poor and Very Poor. Which means that there is an unacceptable amount of mould spores in my Dad’s flat that could be …
Continue ReadingTubifast® Gloves Help Hand Dermatitis
Tubifast® Gloves with 2-Way Stretch® Technology, from Mölnlycke Health Care, can be used to manage hand dermatitis, which causes anxiety and discomfort to sufferers. A report entitled: ‘Skin Conditions In The UK: A Health Care Needs Assessment’ (Schofield, Grindlay & …
Continue ReadingDoes Eczema stop us having fun?
Hi everyone This week I wanted to start on a positive note and tell you about the things we try to do as a family, because sometimes living with eczema can get you down, with the constant scratching when you have …
Continue ReadingBeing ill can suckkkkk…
Hey guys 🙂 As you can tell by the title I’ve been ill! I’ve recovered now, and it was a surpirisngly short peroid of illnes – about 4 or 5 hours long. It was really odd! Basically, I was in …
Continue Reading