General Note – My Journey

I assume if you are reading my blog you are somehow interested in what someone else is using or doing for their eczema.  Or, you are just looking to see that you are not alone.  Of course you are very welcome here.

You will notice that I am posting MY journey with eczema.  I have used UV indoor tanning as a control measure for me with great success.  I do say that people should try it but please don’t do it just because I am.  You have to know what is right for you and be willing to make an informed choice for yourself.

5 Responses to General Note – My Journey

  1. Heather says:

    Hello! I am friend of Steph’s & saw your blog on her Pinterest board. I started reading it because my partner also suffers badly with eczema on his hands and is slowly coming to the end of his tether with it! I thought he was joking when he told me a few years ago that he was allergic to both detergent and rubber gloves….ha, if only I had known then the close link between housework and a dermal flare-up 😀 I’ve passed the link on to him & am sure that he will follow your continued journey keenly 🙂 All the best, Heather xx

  2. Jennifer R. says:

    Hi. I’ve been suffering from severe eczema for 2 years now. I had it bad when I was younger but from 1988 – 2009 I never had a breakout just dry skin. In 2009, shortly after I became engaged I got a few spots on my legs that quickly spread and now I’m completely covered and my arms and hands look similar to your photo at the top. I’ve been wearing long sleeves in 90′ weather but now it’s starting on my face. I’ve been so miserable the last few years and no doctor can help.

    I went tanning yesterday for the first time because I read that it can help. I did 6 minutes on a 10 minute stand up bed. I will be going again today during my lunch hour.

    How long before you saw an improvement?

  3. Sally Erroa says:

    Hi,

    thanks for posting your story on the Internet. I have had eczema on my hands since 2006. I saw a few dermatologists and they said that their was no known cause or cure and of course they offered me steroid creams. I always blamed it on my occupation as a cook and the constant exposure to foods, latex gloves, different soaps and constant hand washing. It got worse over the years. To make a long story short, I finally realized that citrus oils in any cosmetic product, laundry detergent, and cleaning product were affecting me. I went on an elimination diet and also rid my home of any citrus or citric acid containing products. I started feeling better and much less itchy. After that I decided to see an allergist and they patch tested me. Turns out I am allergic to “colophony/rosin” which is found in so many products including paper and paper products, inks, adhesives (bandaids) lots of cosmetics, etc I’m finding it’s everywhere. Just knowing what the cause is has been very helpful and I’m on my way to making my environment colophony free. It’s impossible to eliminate paper and books, but I am doing my best to avoid direct contact by wearing our treasured thing cotton gloves! My hands are healing now and I would encourage all eczema sufferers to go on on elimination and definitely see an allergist. This situation is difficult and it can feel very isolating. Any other colophony allergies out there? Thanks, Sally
    P.S. Citrus fruits are coated in colophony/rosin!

  4. Carrie R says:

    Was searching around today for support from other suffering from eczema. I don’t have a severe case at all, its only on 3 fingers, but my 2 year old has it head to toe and looks a lot like yours. I have some recent pictures on my website. We are trying something new that I am now excited about because after 3 days it has cured the eczema on my hand, but it is still too soon to see if it will help my boy. We’ll see. The website I am following now to help us is ***. Have you heard of it or tried this method? It is basically getting rid of all traces of detergent in your home, switching to soap. I first came across this idea over a year ago but brushed it off thinking it was too expensive and involved, but having done a million elimination diets since then and no improvement I will try anything. It is starting to make sense to me now how it could help. Just wanted to pass the website along in case you are interested in looking. Please forgive me for being presumptuous, I know it is probably frustrating to some degree to suffer with something so long and everyone wants to offer this or that great solution, and you are probably tired of getting your hopes up! But I couldn’t read your blog and not at least mention it. Best wishes to you, I do hope you will someday find the answer you are searching for!

  5. Angela says:

    I just found out I am highly allergic to colophony. I have figured out the products it’s in but I am having a tough time with the foods. There are many natural and organic that still contain it. Reason being is it is from an evergreen plant and many fruits and veggies are evergreen. Any help would be appreciated.

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