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Oct 11, Eczema Awareness Month – US

In the US, October is Eczema Awareness Month. I love that they have dedicated a whole month to raising awareness of eczema. Visit the website and find out how you get involved. They have some great ideas on how you can do something to help, and they will even send you some materials to get you started.
Eczema Blog

Oct 28, What is Eczema Newsletter

What Is Eczema sends out a monthly newsletter. It features
– A Monthly Featured Articles
– My Favourite News Article
– Tip of the Month
– 5 ways to….. November’s edition is due out in the next few days. To subscribe, fill in the box in the right hand column. As a thank you when you subscribe you will get the free mini e-guide, ‘Ditch Your Eczema Itch – 10 simple ways to help stop the itch-scratch cycle’
Eczema Blog

Mar 2, Fitness Band Recalled Due To Allergic Reaction

The makers of the popular Fitbit activity tracker, have recalled their Fitness Force band. There have been reports of it causing an allergic reaction in some users. This reaction is most likely to be Allergic Contact Dermatitis. It is not clear why the reaction is occuring. It is thought it could either be the nickel it contains, or adhesives or materials used. Users that have been affected are able to get a refund for the band. You can read more about this in this CNN article
Eczema Blog

May 5, Top Dermatolologist May Of Found A Reason For Eczema

Dr Emma Guttman-Yassley is a dermatologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center. She is being credited with research that is said to be ahead of others, in understanding and treating eczema. She has identified molecules that may cause eczema. This has led her to find medication that could treat it. Testing is being done on this new medication. It is reported that if testing is successful, the treatment could be available to the public in a few years. If the testing is successful, this could be hugely important to eczema sufferers. Though as with any reports of research and tests being done, we need to wait to find out how huge it could be. I will let you know of any updates to this story. You can read more about it below
Eczema Blog

Becoming Resistant To Antiviral Treatment

So I guess it is of no surprise when I inform you that I am faced with yet another bout of eczema herpeticum? I’ve actually lost count now of how many times I’ve contracted it (Maybe getting close to 15 times in 2.5yrs?) but this is definitely the second time within just over a month.

I asked at my most recent consultation what the likelihood was of me becoming immune to antivirals and was told that it couldn’t happen because they’re not the same as antibiotics. I’ve also asked in the past and have always been met with a resounding “no”.

Well I did the stupid thing of trawling the internet and came was unfortunate to come across this article about resistance to antiviral treatment.

I am now terrified :(

Taken from the website


I now just feel full of regret and also anger for being allowed to have even reached this state. I have a derm appointment this morning but I have no idea how it will go seeing as the herpeticum I have isn’t fully fledged because I was already taking the maintenance dose of 400mg x2 daily, which may lead them to assume from first glance that it isn’t herpeticum. However, the tingling and areas of pain suggest otherwise.
Ideally it’d be nice to come off the Ciclosporin again now that my skin is back to a reasonably good state, but it depends if my skin worsens or not in the mean time. My neck is already starting to react but I think that’s because I’ve been scratching it due to stress. Must stop scratching out of habit!
It just annoys me so much how my skin can change in a matter of days. It was only this Sunday past that I was celebrating the fact that I could wear an all black outfit without having it covered in skin flakes. Now I’m undergoing another bout of herpeticum. Ugh.
I also forgot to mention that since I upped my medication I’ve been experiencing hair loss and did lose my appetite but it does appear to have returned. The hair loss is baffling me because Ciclosporin induces new hair growth however I did notice one of the rare side effects of Aciclovir can be hair loss so perhaps the cocktail of drugs is too toxic for me. We’ll see what is said at today’s appointment anyway.
Allll black 
Showing off the white arms for good measure.

I Have Eczema

Woops….

Well, it’s currently day 341 and I didn’t blog my whole 11th month.  It’s been hard to find time lately cause I was sick and now we’re in the process of moving.  😣

Anyway…  I’ll blog all of the last month and a half as soon as I get some down time.  Until then, things are dry and flakey, and sometimes red, but fine otherwise…  
Come back, brows…..  

Peace Out Eczema