Summer is Here - Eczema Confusion

So recently the weather got hotter here in Toronto and finally I can say that we have summer weather. Of course I love the heat more than the bone chillin' weather we have here in T.O. but either way my skin is subjected to constant abuse...mainly by my own scratching! I can't help it, it's like the itch is just so insanely intense. I am feelig it on my fingers and both my arms right now. Typing is the only thing stopping me from reaching over and scraching both my arms. (Okay, I just stopped typing for 3 seconds and rubbed by itchy spots just now.)

Anyways, I found a video on youtube.com and it show how others are suffering from the big E.

I'll post it up later when I figure out how. But the video just makes me think how others must feel when they look at me sometimes. Now that I'm much older it really doesn't bother me as much anymore what people think when they look at me. I'm envious when I look at other people's beautiful clear skin...like my brother's or my boyfriend's. I tell my boyfriend to stop looking at me sometimes though but he's really sweet, he would tell me that he loves me and that he knows I have a skin problem but it's who I am inside that he loves. Just go and get your cream and you'll be good as new. :)

I recently got a new perscription from my doctor and it's called Elcocom cream - 0.1%. It's supposed to be stronger and I only have to put it on twice a day. I didn't use my perscription correctly last time because my doctor gave me a cream that I needed to put on 4 times a day. Who the heck has time for that? Even if I did, what a bother. So now I'm hoping it will work out bette for me. It seems to be working because my legs are not as red and raise anymore.

It's really hot today...I gotta get out of the house. See you.

To Take Antihistamine or Not To Take...

It's a question I ask my self every day.

Should I take the antihistamine or not? If I take it, then it will stop my itchy face and body within half an hour or so. However, after taking it I feel tired and weak. I can't think straight and I don't want to do anything but sit and stare into space. It's okay if I don't have to talk to anyone and I don't have to work but atlas I do. So? It's Sunday today and I have a lot to do for work but I can't right now. Aargh. I hope this stops soon so I can get back to it. To be honest, if I have to choose I have to choose me and my skin.

The worst feeling is when my face is itchy. I try not to scratch but it's so itchy so I end up rubbing it. You can't really use your fingers to actually scratch it! Well, except my forehead and then it gets scratched up. When I rub it it turns all red, raised up and that's what looks like right this minute.

I'm trying not to do it anymore so I'm writing in here to share my thoughts and to stop myself from touching my face. I mean, if I'm concentrating on typing I can't be touching my face right? Also by putting my feelings down I'm trying to calm my nerves. It's stress induce and I create the stress for myself. That's what I believe. I need to not get worked up over anything and just chill. It's not the end of the world if everything is not done. There are limited amount of hours in a day. Some should be spent resting and others from Monday to Friday should be on work. So if it spills over and it cuts into your life then you've got a choice to make. You? Or work?

Me.

So here I am writing to calm my nerves and to tell you that it is working. Of course, I took my pill so now I'm also feeling a bit drowsy. I'm not very good with drugs. When I asked my doctor why the Non-drowsy makes me drowsy, he said every one reacts differently to drugs. When the label says Non-drowsy doesn't mean it doesn't contain the ingredients that make you drowsy. It just contains less of it. What?! But it's true, it makes me drowsy and the ones that doesn't say Non-drowsy just knocks me right out. Sigh* You would think taking them all these years would make me less affected by it but nooooo.

This is the time I think about sitting in a chair on a deck looking out at the ocean. I think of Phuket, looking out from my hotel deck. Nice and calm and beautiful. I feel the cool mist. I'm calm and relaxed. No worries, no problems, no one bothering me, no one asking me any questions. It's just me, myself and I. Aaaaaaah.

Hmmm, this visualization thing really works. You've just got to take a little me time to do it.

Okay, so that's that for today. I'm trying out a new organic shampoo and conditioner right now. I'll share that with you next time. I want to make sure they work well. So far I love it becauase it smells great and my hair actually feels really soft.

Till next time.

Ups and Downs of Eczema

Well, I'm glad to say that my eczema seems to be subsiding a bit this week.
It's probably because I went to my doctor to ensure I got my medicated cream refills. No manner what you must have medicated cream around for flare ups before it gets out of hand.

One of my kind colleague at work gave me her tube of Lyderm ointment and it tied me over a bit before I was able to see my doctor; but, the Betamethasone Valerate Cream .1% is still works the best cream for me. I don't put it on my face though, I use Protopic on my face when it gets itchy and flaky.

After my flare up clears up within usually three days, I then switch to using the Tortuga Super Emollient Lotion. I just got my new supply yesterday!! Was so excited. I also ordered the Luminos Hydrating Moisturizer for the day time. It's suppose to give you a soft focus effect like foundation but it kind of smells weird. It doesn't smell as delicious as the Tortuga.

However, Luminos does give me a nice foundation looking finish. I can use it to mix with mineral foundation. Pretty cool. I just feel better using products that are natural when I don't have to use my medicated cream. Peace of mind.

I'm glad to say that the Eye Butter still helps me through the day when I'm really dry and when I'm not, it works like wonders! Didn't peel at all the whole day today. Hmmm, maybe because it was raining outside? Not sure.

I also got the Tortuga Intensive Therapy roll on so I can bring it with me everywhere I go. It smell really nice...like a spa. :)

So all in all, the All-Natural Keys products are still working well for me! I love them.

If you are looking for All-Natural, Gluten-Free and Chemical-Free products please try these products. I hope they work for you like they do for me. Super great for super dry skin!

Well, back to work...or better yet, I better get myself to sleep soon. Till next time.

Constant Change of Weather and Eczema

The weather here went from Spring to Winter to Spring to Winter! So, my skin is just not loving it at all. Plus, I started working again so I'm stressed and the office is super dry. My colleagues are cold so little heaters are running and the little moisture I have is sucked right out. The combination of not having the time to put on my moisturizer on properly and the dry air has left me red and peeling again. Hopeful work will calm down a bit and my learning curve improves so I'm less stressed.

In any case, I made another order for my Tortuga and the Eye Butter the other day to ensure I don't run out. Without them I'll be worse off. This time I also ordered the shampoo and conditioner. Can't wait to receive them!! :p And I will bring my Avene Thermal Spring Water into the office and that should help. It's all about adapting and keeping my skin moist. :)

My Curel is still working for me so that's cool, I just got to leave time to put it on properly.

I haven't found anything else interesting, but will definitely update once I do.

In the meantime....MOISTURIZE!

Hydrated Face - Me?

Wow, I can't believe this I walked around all day long. Inside the shopping mall and outside for two hours and my face is still hydrated. It's incredible. Me of all people.

My eye lids and the skin around my eyes have been continually flaky since this winter. Actually, my skin around my upper lids have been dry for long time now ---but not anymore.

I didn't believe the write-up on the Keys website about their Eye Butter Cream, but I ordered a sample to try because it's all natural and we all know how I'm into the all natural products and the 0 to 3 rating on Skin Deep website. :) I'm so glad that I did because it's all true, my eyes haven't looked this good for a very long time. So it goes without saying I'm going to order the real thing before I finish my sample trail size. It's going to last for awhile I think. I've been putting it on for one week now and I still have a lot! I'm so happy!

So that's that. Using the Tortuga for my face and using the Eye Butter has hydrated my face to my total satisfaction. I think I'm going to see if I can put in a testimonial on their site!!! I love the products they have. In LOVE.

Natural Cleaning Ingredients

So I've been reading about all the wondering things about Baking Soda and Vinegar for cleaning and decided to try it out today, to prove to myself that they work. Plus, the more chemicals I can eliminate from my home the better it will be for managing my eczema. The bed sheets and duvet cover sometimes irritate my skin. I'm sure when that happens bleach was used. Even though we use hypoallergenic detergent...I don't know, sometimes wearing my washed clothes just sets me off itching.

I started with the kitchen sink and oven and WOW, it really works. No chemical smell and the peace of mind that I'm using stuff I can actually eat. I didn't follow any directions, just sprinkled some baking soda and wet the sponge with some vinegar and water to clean the oven. After 3 minutes, it was looking so clean and sparkly! And no yucky chemical smell. For the sink I just used the baking soda to clean it and it's shining in the kitchen right now!

My goal is to slowly change out all our household products to all natural ones. My obstacle is going to be my man. He's quite skeptical about this stuff. So I'm going to show by example. I'm just waiting for him to see how sparkly the sink is and the oven is right now. Then I'll tell him what I used and then I will figure out how much getting these products would cost and I'll have him in riding on my Eco-friendly bus.

If the whitening happens with the vinegar and baking soda mixture, instead of the Javex, that would be great. My skin is so sensitive to the bleach. Even though my robe is nice and white after it has been bleached, once my wet skin contacts the freshly washed robe, I can feel my skin getting itchy in seconds.

Next room to try out the natural cleaning agents is the bathroom, I'll do that tomorrow. If the solution gets rid of the mildew I'm a HERO!!! Plus, eliminating the chemicals in the air inside the house, my man's allergies may get better. I hope that happens. He's been having eye and nose allergies lately and I really think it's the stuff we are using...plus smoking doesn't help!

One day at a time, I'll have my way. :) I'm going to http://www.goneshopping.ca/ to get that Eco-friendly starter kit. It will tell me exactly what to use and apparently it comes with essential oil that will make everything smell really nice, disinfect and the essential oil mixture has anti-bacterial properties. All natural, good stuff.

It's only $34 so it's affordable I think, considering it will last for awhile. I mean, other chemical products out there are like at least $4 to $9 and they smell like death. Plus, you have to buy a different product for the kitchen, bathroom, living room...you get the idea.

My friends just moved into a new condo and this is what I'm going to get as a housewarming present. I think it's going to be great! Hmm, I may have given the surprise away if they see my post. Anyways, no matter, I still think it's going to be cool. I'm going to get one for myself too while I'm at it. :)

So excited. I'm going to do that right now. I'll give an update on how it works once I have a chance to use the solutions.

Eczema Friendly Products

Since I'm always looking for new products for Eczema or any news that may help with managing Eczema, I thought I would start adding some information in my blog just in case it may help others find the right products. If it's going to be good for Eczema sufferers then you'll find it here in my blog somewhere. :) I'll also have my own opinion on what others may claim is good for Eczema. Here are some information I read this week, hope it may help you cope with your Eczema.

Borage Dry Skin Therapy

This is supposed to be a really good product for children with Eczema. I found this tidbit from the following blog: http://www.quintooples.com/2009/03/endorsements-eczema-and-shoes.html

It seems this product worked really well for two of her kids.

And I checked the rating for this product on Skin Deep. It's rated 2, which is a low hazard rating. So thumbs up.

You can read more about this product here. http://www.shikai.com/publications/borageChildrenSkin.htm

There's also a version for Adults from the same manufacturer but the rating on Skin Deep is 3 to 4. Which is a bit higher in hazardous ingredients than the children's formula. The lower the rating the better though. The Curel lotion I'm using is rated 3 which is a moderate hazard rating. :)

I don't think Borage Dry Skin Therapy lotion is available in Canada though. I haven't seen it in stores, maybe it's available near you in the U.S.

Mangosteen Fruit/Juice

Hmmm, have you tasted a mangosteen? It's a delicious tropical fruit. I was first introduced to this fruit during my stay in Singapore. It takes a bit of skill to break open the skin to get to the good stuff inside. If you are not careful the purple colour just inside of the skin will stain your clothes. So I recommend that you don't eat it wearing anything white!

I just read that this fruit is supposed to be good for Eczema sufferers but it didn't do much for me. I only eat one to three at a time because I was a bit allergic to it. (If you've been reading my other updates, you know I'm allergic to a lot of food. :p) But some are testifying that it improved their Eczema. Check out the site to read more...