Lifestyle Sports: [New post] The Every Year Itch

Respond to this post by replying above this line

The Every Year Itch

by J E N N Y

OK, stepping away from the mental health stuff, I want to look at the physical health side of things, as it does go hand in hand with mental health.

I am a lifetime sufferer of Eczema.

Yes, it is a condition that I truly suffer. Both physically and mentally.

Physically, it is understandable. The unsightly red, scaly patches. The dry patches all over. The constant itching. Then the sores from scratching.

It has been an ongoing issue for me. Thankfully it has calmed down a lot since I grew out of it.

Finding the right treatment has always been hard. Especially growing up in a small town, and before internet, my mum just used to trusty old rubbing alcohol.... Which burned ALOT. I would dread it and try and hide my arms and legs from her, just so that she didn't see that I was scratching.

Any fellow Filipinos feel me on this one?

The doctor I grew up with always told me to stay away from the cat and other animals. But I never listened.

But then there is the mental side of things.

I was painfully shy as a kid, sometimes when I had my little spurts of energy and confidence, I was boisterous. But then came the embarrassment. The blood stains on my school shirt from my arms. The constant messy looking face with red patches. I looked like I wasn't well taken care of. But that is far from the truth.

My mother tried everything. Took me to a dermatologist even. Nothing really helped.

I hated how I looked as a kid. It was bad enough that culturally I looked different to my peers. Even worse when I was a messy and itching looking mess.

Just. Constantly. Scratching. Until I bled.

I look back at those days and hated it all. The looks from other students, the looks of disgust from their parents. I don't even know.

But suddenly. I grew out of it.

It cleared up. Well the worst of it did. I didn't get the hard scaly skin on my arms that caused the bloodstains on my shirts. I no longer had the itchy patchy skin on my face. It simply vanished.

I do still however, get the occasional flare ups. It is a work in progress.

Through the years, I learned all kinds of remedies that would work for a while but then I would end up back at square one.

Cutting down on dairy as much as possible - now I only drink soy or almond milk. Still love my cheese an yogurt.
Went on a gut health diet - a lot of saukraut and fermented foods. But stopped when my previous housemates complained of the smell. So wasn't allowed to eat that anymore.
Cut down on drinking - But now end up with a cheeky drink once in a while due to work.
Using more oils - Recently tried apricot kernel oil, definitely helped soothe flare ups and retains moisture after showers.
Using less chemicals on my skin - moved back onto Wild Nature Australia productsfor their pure aloe products to help with soothing and redness. Still getting my skin used to it again.
Stopped hot showers - so that way, I am not stripping natural oils from my skin.

The list goes on.

Unfortunately, there isn't a cure for this. It is something that I have to live with forever while trying to maintain as best as possible. My mother and her sisters all had it, and growing up in the mountains of the Philippines, doctors were not an option.

It is prevalent in Filipinos and I do know very few people who have it that I share stories with, or have had an emotional conversation with. It is small things like this that can affect a person.

Admittedly, with my current flare up, I hate seeing my reflection. I hate that I don't have that clear skin, or that I have these red rashes on my wrists or that I spend so much time just scratching and/or sneezing from my allergies.

Now, I am not going to complain and say my life sucks or anything like that. Because really, it isn't that bad. It is just one of those setbacks we learn to live with. Something we acknowledge is a part of us.

It might take a lot of work and plenty of doctor and dermatologist appointments, but that is OK. I choose to live a more positive life no matter what I have or whatever is thrown my way. Working hard, keeping busy and plans to get back into my therapy and martial arts training is a long road, but a worthwhile trip to travel.

Red patches and all