The last time I posted was on June 18th. I haven't actually started blogging because, to be honest, I was not in the mood to do anything. My skin was getting worse, my life was changing dramatically, I was depressed and didn't feel like doing anything.
But since I began doing a lot of research and understanding my body, I've beaten the blues! And I am back to wanting to blog...for real this time.
Now that I've finished school, and am home with family, I feel like I can finally focus on healing in a stress-free environment.
Here's a basic summary of what's going on with my skin…
After continuously using topical steroids for 20 years, I stopped in June 2010. I've been having many many episodes of flare-ups since this day, up till June 2012 (2 years). If they were small flare-ups, I let them get out of control and then naturally recover. For the bigger flare-ups, unfortunately I resorted to using steroids. Actually, going back to using topical steroids was not my choice. I did believe in natural healing and was determined to beat my eczema without topical steroids, but it was extremely difficult due to me still being in university and living the student-life. I ended up getting dragged to the hospital multiple times, where they slathered topical steroids on me, and I also ingested steroids orally.
Every time I left the hospital, my skin was so much more damaged!!!
That's when I found out about Red Skin Syndrome & Topical Steroid Withdrawal!!
Dr. Rapaport recommends cutting topical steroids out completely instead of weaning off it. I didn't know this at the time I decided to stop/cut down on using steroids, so I thought I was on a road of recovery…unknowing that the use of steroids is cumulative.
I have not used steroids at all since June 2012.
End of October 2012 now...I am having the biggest flare-up!! Ok not the biggest...but everytime I have a flare-up it feels like the biggest...
The biggest problem I am having right now, is my face. The skin itself may not be as worse as it is on some other parts of my body, but the fact that it's on my FACE is just so annoying.
Let me show you...
My face & neck is leaking yellow liquid, juicy red, hot and itchy...is probably the most annoying thing right now because I can't sleep in a comfortable position. I just feel so gross and I don't want anything to touch my body...
I can wrap my body up without irritating the skin too much, but if anything touches my face or neck it just gets soo itchy.
Positive thought of the day: I've never been one to spend much time by myself. Before my skin issues, you can find me out all day all night, surrounded with family and friends. Being alone all the time now, I can really reflect on myself and think about my values and goals in life. It's been refreshing!
