It's Getting Hot In Here

IT GOT ME.

I STOPPED TAKING VITAMIN C LAST WEEK AND I'VE BEEN SMOTHERED BY THE COLD.

I FEEL LIKE CRAP.

MY EAR HURTS.

AND I'M STILL ITCHY!

My skin is still red, I'm still uncomfortably itchy all the time and I'm still walking around make-up-less looking ill on a daily basis.

I read online a good while back about how some people find bathing in a salt water bath not only relaxing but soothing on the skin.  So me, wanting to believe every possible cure that I read about online in regard to eczema, I went and ordered some from Amazon for just £3.50! (50 p for the salt, £2.99 for delivery.) 

The 100% pure organic Dead Sea spa bath salts arrived just a couple of days after placing the order – which I was really happy with considering I didn't expect them till at least sometime after Christmas! 

I tested them out last night – and to be completely honest, I just wasn't feeling it.  The water stung for a little bit, mainly because I've been hacking at my skin in my sleep again – so I have a lot of cuts and scratches across my body.  When I got out of the bath (about an hour later) I felt uncomfortably dry – my skin felt tight and dried out, which meant that I had to apply more cream than normal.

I am going to give it another go though, maybe at the end of the week, just to be sure that it’s defiantly not going to benefit me. 

I've been using a lot more cream as of lately, purely because my skin is so dry and irritated.  Every time that I apply it to my skin, it absorbs really quickly and still feels really uncomfortable.  So because I've been using more than usual, I've been running out a lot quicker – which is not ideal when Christmas season is in peak and it would appear that my usual chemist comes to a standstill, (irritating isn't even the word.)

I've just over a week to wait until I have my appointment with the specialist, which I'm still really excited about.  Yesterday my skin was burning up to such an uncomfortable temperature – nothing that I tried, even an ice pack, helped to cool me down.  I think this means that it may be infected, which of course is not ideal, but it will emphasise to her that I have been suffering for some time now.

I hope you all have a fabulous Christmas, and I’ll update you on my trip to the specialist next week! 

Ice pack at the ready 

I just can't seem to make it shift :(

Same Old, Same Old...

So after another busy couple of weeks of deadlines, works, birthdays and UCAS.. (just the thought of it gives me a headache).. I’ve finally managed to scrape together enough time for a little update! 

So a couple of weeks ago I was told by a doctor that I would be referred to a skin specialist at the beginning of the New Year, and so I was delighted when I received the letter to confirm this, on the 31^st of December!  I’m super excited to get to speak to someone who specialises in this area, and who can maybe help to cure my condition.

Since last time, I’ve given up on make-up for the time being.  I bought a Simple tinted moisturiser from Superdrug a couple of weeks back, thinking that it would be kinder on my skin than my regular foundation as well as being a lot easier to apply.

I was so wrong.

The stuff is so sticky.  It doesn’t take to my skin very well, and I’m lucky if I get about two hours coverage before my face gets patchy and greasy looking.  The skin around my eyes is very sensitive all the time.  Even when I was little, before I got eczema, my eyelids used to be really dry –the only thing that would help was when I applied Vaseline to them before bed and let it absorb into my skin.  So because my eyelids are so red right now, I’m thinking that au natural for the mean time is for the best.

I have however been told on several occasions since I ditched the make-up that I look very unwell, tired, run down and exhausted – so cheers for the confidence boost guys! J

I just kid, I probably do look all of the above... I just currently don’t have the effort to care. 

I have also decided to ditch the organic hair products, purely because I’m a full time student whom is working part time for next to no dollas during the festive period.  The stuff hasn’t stopped my flare ups, and my skin has been a constant red colour for the past two months now, and so I am beginning to doubt that the SLS is playing that huge a part in my eczema.  It is however probably one of the best shampoos I’ve used on my hair – and so I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a more natural remedy for their hair!

Although I have still managed to avoid the god awful plague that is STILL circulating both the college and my home – I’m not sure that I am going to continue with the mega doses of omega 3 and evening primrose oil capsules.  It’s been a good 2 and a half months that I’ve given these time to kick in, and although some people may argue that I would have to give it longer to see results, I’ve quite frankly given up hope in finding any success with my own remedies.  I will be continuing with the vitamin C however- the longer I can avoid this winter flu the better!

My skin hasn’t changed since the last update…

Still red. 

Still sore. 

Still itchy.

The stronger antihistamines that the last doctor gave to me have done nothing to help.

The 31^st of December can’t come soon enough!

My arm was looking better last week...

And then this morning I flared up like nobody's business!

My chest, stomach and lower back are all pretty bad right now too - can't a girl get a break around here?!