Curing my eczema... Hopefully
Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 5:00 pm
Well, I've decided this isn't going to clear up on it's own. I'm going to start recording everything I can about my eczema, and documenting my experiences with different potential cures until I get it solved. I'd really love input or suggestions from anyone reading this. I really don't know where to start on solving it. If anyone has had a similar experience and found a solution, please share. So, here is all of the relevant background I can think of:
I'm a 27 year old male. Back in February of this year, I began to notice my complexion getting rough. I don't recall exactly when I noticed it, but it seemed to happen very quickly. I've seen a dermatologist 3 times now, and he believes it's Eczema. I assume he's correct. I have had rough, dry patches appear on my elbows occasionally, but they don't itch that much, and without scratching, they usually clear up in a few days. This is different.
I guess my Eczema is a mild case. It doesn't look like the photos I see of Eczema. It's not very red, and it's not patchy. My entire forehead, cheeks, and chin are moderately rough, and my overall complexion is a little more red than normal. This is the only place on my body that I have Eczema, except for the rare case on my elbows. The Eczema on my face is constant. It seems to fluctuate up or down no more than 30%, and I haven't had a single day that it's been completely clear since it first appeared 7 months ago. I haven't noticed much itching before, but since I stopped taking Zyrtec a few days ago, the condition has gotten about 25% worse, and I do notice it itching, although it's mild.
Doctor has prescribed me Desonide, Elidel, and Finacea. I've seen little improvement from any of these, and some have caused my face to become irritated, dry, and tight.
My complexion usually looks best in the morning. Each evening, I wash face with Purpose Cleanser, and then moisturize. I just started trying Aveeno Eczema Therapy for moisturizing in the evening, and I'll follow up once I know how it's working. When I first wake up, it all looks about 30% calmer. After I take a shower its back to it's usual level of roughness. I speculate this simply has to do with increased blood flow in the face. I take luke warm showers, and I don't think I'm using any products that contribute to this. The shampoo I have right now is Vidal Sassoon Pro something, and I use Old Spice body wash. I don't wash my face in the morning, just rinse. I dry face with a towel that I only use on my face, and wash all towels weekly.
A couple observations: Sun exposure seems to improve the condition some, maybe 30%. Sweating (I run and workout regularly) seems to make it about 20% worse temporarily.
I understand that there may be some link between eczema and allergies. Interestingly, this Eczema first appeared on my face within a couple weeks of an allergy test I had. I was having seasonal allergies worse than usual, and decided to have it tested. The allergies have since gotten better, but the eczema is still here. Based on my allergy test, doctor tells me I'm in the worst 10% of patients he sees. I'm highly allergic to nearly all of the trees, grasses, weeds, dust mites, molds, and pet danders he tested me for. He was surprised that all of the large hives that appeared on my arm where he tested didn't seem to bother me more. I guess I have a high tolerance to itching. My seasonal allergies (sinuses, itchy eyes) don't bother me that much. I take zyrtec as needed, and flonase if my sinuses get bad. I currently live on a farm, in an old house, with a couple of cats (my roommates). I can't control the allergens I'm exposed too here without living in a bubble.
Also, I've never been tested for food allergies, but I wonder if they may play a roll. From what I've read, Eczema usually flares-up and then clears. Does anyone else experience the consistency with their eczema that I describe? I think it suggests I'm consistently exposed to something that is contributing to my eczema. So, I thought it is worth mentioning that my diet is very consistent. I work out and run regularly, and the only way to get all the calories I need consistently is to prepare meals in advance, and eat the same stuff all the time. My diet mostly consists of oatmeal, greek yogurt, blueberries, eggs, spinach, cheese, milk, whey protein powder, peanut butter, pasta, chicken, brown rice, broccoli, sweet potatoes, and tuna. Seriously, I eat every one of these on a daily basis. The only thing that makes me doubt a food allergy as a potential cause is that the eczema only appears on my face.
Thanks for reading this loooooong post. Please share if you have any suggestions for what I should try first, or if you have had a similar experience with eczema as I have. Thanks!
I'm a 27 year old male. Back in February of this year, I began to notice my complexion getting rough. I don't recall exactly when I noticed it, but it seemed to happen very quickly. I've seen a dermatologist 3 times now, and he believes it's Eczema. I assume he's correct. I have had rough, dry patches appear on my elbows occasionally, but they don't itch that much, and without scratching, they usually clear up in a few days. This is different.
I guess my Eczema is a mild case. It doesn't look like the photos I see of Eczema. It's not very red, and it's not patchy. My entire forehead, cheeks, and chin are moderately rough, and my overall complexion is a little more red than normal. This is the only place on my body that I have Eczema, except for the rare case on my elbows. The Eczema on my face is constant. It seems to fluctuate up or down no more than 30%, and I haven't had a single day that it's been completely clear since it first appeared 7 months ago. I haven't noticed much itching before, but since I stopped taking Zyrtec a few days ago, the condition has gotten about 25% worse, and I do notice it itching, although it's mild.
Doctor has prescribed me Desonide, Elidel, and Finacea. I've seen little improvement from any of these, and some have caused my face to become irritated, dry, and tight.
My complexion usually looks best in the morning. Each evening, I wash face with Purpose Cleanser, and then moisturize. I just started trying Aveeno Eczema Therapy for moisturizing in the evening, and I'll follow up once I know how it's working. When I first wake up, it all looks about 30% calmer. After I take a shower its back to it's usual level of roughness. I speculate this simply has to do with increased blood flow in the face. I take luke warm showers, and I don't think I'm using any products that contribute to this. The shampoo I have right now is Vidal Sassoon Pro something, and I use Old Spice body wash. I don't wash my face in the morning, just rinse. I dry face with a towel that I only use on my face, and wash all towels weekly.
A couple observations: Sun exposure seems to improve the condition some, maybe 30%. Sweating (I run and workout regularly) seems to make it about 20% worse temporarily.
I understand that there may be some link between eczema and allergies. Interestingly, this Eczema first appeared on my face within a couple weeks of an allergy test I had. I was having seasonal allergies worse than usual, and decided to have it tested. The allergies have since gotten better, but the eczema is still here. Based on my allergy test, doctor tells me I'm in the worst 10% of patients he sees. I'm highly allergic to nearly all of the trees, grasses, weeds, dust mites, molds, and pet danders he tested me for. He was surprised that all of the large hives that appeared on my arm where he tested didn't seem to bother me more. I guess I have a high tolerance to itching. My seasonal allergies (sinuses, itchy eyes) don't bother me that much. I take zyrtec as needed, and flonase if my sinuses get bad. I currently live on a farm, in an old house, with a couple of cats (my roommates). I can't control the allergens I'm exposed too here without living in a bubble.
Also, I've never been tested for food allergies, but I wonder if they may play a roll. From what I've read, Eczema usually flares-up and then clears. Does anyone else experience the consistency with their eczema that I describe? I think it suggests I'm consistently exposed to something that is contributing to my eczema. So, I thought it is worth mentioning that my diet is very consistent. I work out and run regularly, and the only way to get all the calories I need consistently is to prepare meals in advance, and eat the same stuff all the time. My diet mostly consists of oatmeal, greek yogurt, blueberries, eggs, spinach, cheese, milk, whey protein powder, peanut butter, pasta, chicken, brown rice, broccoli, sweet potatoes, and tuna. Seriously, I eat every one of these on a daily basis. The only thing that makes me doubt a food allergy as a potential cause is that the eczema only appears on my face.
Thanks for reading this loooooong post. Please share if you have any suggestions for what I should try first, or if you have had a similar experience with eczema as I have. Thanks!