MedShadow (blog) |
Managing Eczema: Are New Treatments Like Eucrisa Worth It?
MedShadow (blog) They are generally inexpensive, and for the vast majority of patients, that's how we start treatment,” explains dermatologist Amy Paller, MD, director of the Northwestern University Skin Disease Research Center in Chicago. American Academy of … |
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Managing Eczema: Are New Treatments Like Eucrisa Worth It? – MedShadow (blog)
MedShadow (blog) |
Managing Eczema: Are New Treatments Like Eucrisa Worth It?
MedShadow (blog) Eczema (atopic dermatitis) can feel like a moving target for people who live with it. They get control over one flare, only to have eczema redden and irritate another patch of skin. For some patients, changing their bathing and beauty habits along with … |
What Does Eczema Look Like?
Well, eczema is an unwanted and unhealthy skin condition that affects how the skin looks and also causes itching and irritation to the person suffering from it. Not only is this skin condition uncomfortable but it also embarrassing. This is especially the case if you develop eczema on exposed body parts like face, neck or hands. In fact, there have been cases where people suffering from eczema have faced a dip in their self esteem because of deterioration in their looks and appearance. At times, such a problem can lead to problems that are not only physical but have a deep psychological effect and people end up hating themselves. So it is very essential for you to know what does eczema looks like.
In most of the cases, eczema shows up or occurs as a condition that is characterized by dry and flaked skin. There is a strong tendency to scratch these itchy and affected areas and this can lead to redness of the affective area and also develops into a rash. One of the most popular ways to combat the itch is to keep the skin moisturized at all times. Application of creams and lotions can mitigate the itch to an extent but does not help you to get rid of this condition because all it takes care of is the visible symptom and not the actual cause of the skin condition named eczema. Hence it is very essential to figure out the actual reason of eczema.
Once this is done, you can obviously find a way to curb it. It could be due to something as simple as a response to a particular food item or unbalanced diet or for that matter, stress as well. Now the best way to combat eczema is to understand that anything that can possibly dry the skin up can lead to or aggravate eczema. So there you go! You know what to do. You should avoid all those items, be it for eating or applying on the skin. This also includes perfumes and deodorants which can further aggravate the condition. For instance, seborrhea eczema is a type of eczema that is visible as a scaly patch around the head and face. It is considered that this eczema is a result of allergy developed to some external agents which eventually causes the reaction within the immune system of the body.
It is advised that you should know how eczema looks like. Hence, it is very essential for you to figure out the actual reason of eczema and then isolate the reason from them. This will not only combat the existing problems but will also help to avoid further complications.
Monica Spears, Founder of The Organic Make-up Company, has been researching and developing all natural skin care discoveries. See all of you can on http://BeatEczemaNow.com/ or exact answer the question: “What does eczema look like?”. This is guaranteed will help you.
What anaphylaxis feels like and how to live with the fear
I could probably write a whole book about this and maybe I will, but for now this is more about a kind of therapy for me. In September I ate out in a cafe in America and had the worst allergic reaction of my life.
I often joke about it when anyone asks me, “When was the last time you had a reaction?”
I’ll say something like, “A few years ago, I’m due another one!” and try to laugh it off.
Because that’s how I cope with it.
I have to live with it so I kind of ignore it. I never stop being vigilant but I always think that nothing bad will actually happen to me.
Well this time it did.
My previous reactions have been terrifying.
They’ve been painful.
I’ve felt scared and fought for my breath and wondered if this is the time. If this is the reaction that will get me.
But I’ve never had a reaction which came so suddenly and out of the blue.
One that left me with literally only minutes to react.
An attack which floored me completely.
Left me unconscious and meant my friends, who I owe so much to, had to take over and get me the help I needed.
I am so very very grateful that they were able to get to me and phone for help.
I did try to but after administering two adenaline injectors I knew I was passing out.
I knew I had moments left. Nothing was helping. Inhalers, antihistmines… nothing made any different.
The last conscious thing I did was send a whatsapp message to my friends. We had a chat group to help us meet up while we were away. And I wrote these few words.
“Help me. I’m having an allergic reaction…”
As I sent this message I had the sense to prop my door open and I don’t remember much after that. I had managed to crawl to the bed, to the hotel room phone, but I was phoning the wrong number. The UK emergency number.
Nothing prepares you for the crippling fear of knowing you might be dying.
And that, my friends, is as far as I’ll go on this subject for now.
Because I can’t talk about this yet to anyone with out breaking down in tears. Writing about it is strangely calming. I can delete, rewrite, think and understand how I’m feeling. Faced with another human and I just get so emotional.
I’m slowly pulling together interviews with all the people involved so I can make sense of what happened and learn from it.
I have lots of upbeat, happy, helpful posts planned too which have nothing to do with allergic reactions, but for now you’ll have to join me in my therapy. I think writing about this is going to help me recover, come to terms with it and move on.
And if it helps anyone else who has had a similar reaction and feels fear, anger and rage like I am, you can work through this with me.
I’m hoping to find a therapist and some counselling as well as reading about anger management. Talking and writing have always helped me so this will be key to my future health and well-being. Don’t bottle it up. Talk about it. Tell people how you are feeling. Don’t suffer in silence like I’ve been doing. You don’t have to do this alone.
Special thanks to Hazel and Rebecca who both helped me to realise I need to get some help this week. Angels.
This Is What It’s Really Like to Live with Severe Eczema – Reader’s Digest
Reader’s Digest |
This Is What It's Really Like to Live with Severe Eczema
Reader’s Digest eczema courtesy Regeneron and Sanofi GenzymePeter Moffat, award-winning writer and the executive producer of HBO's The Night Of, knows a lot about what life is like for one of the integral characters in the UK series—lawyer John Stone (played by John … |
What it’s like to be a mom to a child with eczema – BabyCenter (blog)
BabyCenter (blog) |
What it's like to be a mom to a child with eczema
BabyCenter (blog) My son loves the extra attention — he totally hams it up — and I'd honestly say our eczema challenge has had a positive side, forcing us to slow down and give our third child some extra TLC. As long as we keep the itching down and nip any flare-ups … |
What does today’s tech-savvy, self-caring, knowledgeable patient look like?
There’s little doubt that the 21st century patient is very different to the 20th century patient of my era. Much has changed and technology has been the key driver for change.
So what does the modern, tech-savvy, self-caring, all-knowing patient look like? What part will they play in shaping the industry in the future, and how should pharma utilise these patients?
Today’s patient is more informed. The Internet provides access to a wealth of information enabling patients to better understand their condition. It has empowered them. They talk with like-minded patients in online communities, and engage with others across social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter. They are honest and open about their physical and emotional symptoms, sharing information and supporting each other.
Responsive websites that adapt to the device used, mobile ready websites, and faster 4G and Wi-Fi connectivity now provide quick and easy access to health content at any time from virtually anywhere, with millions of pages only a search-string away.
As for the future?
Research has shown that informed patients are more proactive in decisions about their health often leading to improved adherence and better health outcomes. Therefore, patients should be at the centre of what happens next. Pharma need to engage with, and listen to patients so they can provide them with what they want and need.
There’s much talk about patient centricity. Now is the time for healthcare and pharma to become truly patient centric by involving the patient at the very start and the very heart of everything they do.
What would you like to read about?
As a reader of eczema blogs, I wondered what you wanted to know most about my eczema journey. Is it about products? Is it about my diet? Is it my go tos for different types of eczema? Clothes? Feeling self-conscious? There are so many aspects to eczema that it would be great to get your … Continue reading 
My Eczema Tales
Looks, toasts and tastes just like REAL crumpets!
This week we tried the new Newburn Bakehouse Gluten Free Crumpets and we were very impressed. Thank you for sending us a free sample 
Look, toast and taste just like ‘real’ crumpets! Newburn Bakehouse #GF crumpets
So what’s in them? The ingredients…
These delicious crumpets are not only gluten free but also dairy free. Those with a cow’s milk allergy will know what I mean here – many normal wheat containing crumpets still contain dairy so it’s been a long long time since I ate anything like a ‘normal’ crumpet. My dairy allergy started much earlier than my problems with wheat so this is good news for both coaliacs and those avoiding milk and dairy for whatever reason.
Here are the ingredients: Water, Rice Flour, Maize Starch, Potato Starch, Raising Agents: Sodium Bicarbonate, Ascorbic Acid; Whole Egg Powder, Egg White Powder, Salt, Preservative: Calcium Propionate (added to inhibit mould growth); Stabiliser: Xanthan Gum; Natural Flavouring.
Be aware these do contain egg so are not suitable for anyone with an egg allergy
Something in all freefrom baked gluten free food exacerbates my eczema and can cause a flare of nodular prurigo and I suspect it’s either the Calcium Propionate or the Xanthan gum. These two ingredients are not going to go away any time soon and I wasn’t too itchy so I would eat these as a treat. Crumpets are a treat food anyway so what’s not to like?
Are they healthy?
I try to eat a processed food free diet most of the time so that means lots of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and fish. But everyone needs treats sometimes. And treats are not meant to be healthy… right? It’s why when I bake a cake or flapjacks I end up eating the whole lot! Don’t know why I get a tin out to store them in really. It’s hardly work it… ha ha.
I am also pleasantly surprised at the simplicity of this product. There isn’t a huge long list of unidentifiable ingredients and it’s not high in salt or sugar either and at just 144 calories a crumpet I’m sold!
Firstly, ‘normal’ wheat and gluten containing crumpets nutritional information
Nutritional Info for Warburtons normal wheat containing crumpets
Looking at these normal crumpets you can see that the fat and sugar content is marginally lower. Just 98 calories per crumpet.
So whilst there is a slight increase in fat and sugar both the normal and gluten free crumpets have similar nutritional profiles. The gluten free was just slightly higher on all the warning measures, including salt but this is probably to be expected when you’re baking without gluten. When you’re looking at a baked product like a crumpet you’re not looking for zero calories you’re looking for that crumpet heaven. The gluten free variety were still only 121 calories per crumpet which isn’t bad for a tasty treat snack.
Gluten free baked goods have had a bad reputation in the past for being high in fat, salt and calories and sometimes 4-5 times the fat content but things are obviously improving.
Nutritional Info for Newburn Bakehouse gluten free crumpets
How did they taste?
They were so tasty and really, they were just like how I remember crumpets should be. A bit of a crust but soft and fluffy inside and it’s even got those holes. Memories of Saturday afternoon walks with my family and tea in front of the telly, a large board resting on two chairs and hot buttery crumpets while we watch Dukes of Hazard. Ahhhhh crumpets…
We will definitely be buying these when we can find them in the shops but oh how I mourn butter.
Even ‘husband who can eat everything’ enjoyed them. Just as well as I am not good at sharing. He had this with butter (the swine) and marmite (yuk!) and I settled for just Flora Dairy Free spread on the first one and then this morning, the ultimate crumpet taste sensation…
Soft boiled egg with dippy crumpet soldiers! The soldiers were rendered unfit for battle once soaked in egg, they did go a bit soggy, but the whole combination was just so tasty. I was licking my fingers and the plate to hoover up every last crumb.
Top marks to Newburn Bakehouse. These are amazing!
How 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 on many factors such as gender, media and cultural influences and illness.
Having a skin condition like psoriasis, vitiligo or eczema will most definitely affect your body image. It’s important because a negative body image is associated with an increased risk of depression, low self-esteem, eating disorders and even suicide.
In people with psoriasis, a negative body image can have even more adverse consequences. In 2014, researchers at Copenhagen University Hospital interviewed 8 people with psoriasis to see how the condition affected body image. They found a link between a negative body image and increased tendency to cover up, sexual inhibitions and reduced exercise.
Research in the general population suggests body image is remarkably stable throughout life, despite changes in appearance as we age. When you have a skin condition like psoriasis your physical appearance can change drastically from month to month. Sometimes your condition may be in remission but even then it’s likely your body image will remain negative rather than improving as your skin does.
Research tells us that people who develop psoriasis later in life are far less likely to be affected by anxiety, stress and depression than those who were diagnosed in their teens and one theory for this is their body image developed before their skin was affected. If this is the case, then your body image is based on the way your skin looked during your formative years. If your psoriasis was severe in your youth, you may be left feeling badly about the way you look even when a treatment has been successful and your skin has improved.
But if you have a negative body image can you do anything to change it? The answer is a definitive yes, but it will take a bit of work and effort. There are many self help books (try Cash as a good starting point) and Changing Faces is a good resource for anyone with concerns about their body image. Visit my blog www.copingwithpsoriasis.com for more advice on how to cope with psoriasis.
It’s also encouraging to know that whilst body image doesn’t seem to change over time – unless we actively engage in strategies to change it – as we age we place less importance on appearance and thus may be less unhappy about the way we look as we mature. Well that’s something to look forward to.
Jo Jenkins
www.copingwithpsoriasis.com
Reference
Cash, T. (2008) The Body Image Workbook: An Eight-Step Program for Learning to Like Your Looks. New Harbinger.