Eleven weeks ago, I was diagnosed with Eczema and Urticaria (Hives) possibly due to high stress, weather changes and anxiety. It was such a piece of distress news for me when I found out. I honestly don’t have any clue what Eczema and I only know a few things about Hives. It was devastating and yet I still need to fight it.
The purpose of creating this blog is to raise awareness. I notice that not many people are aware of this skin problem. Ever since I got Eczema and Hives, I have been researching and reading plenty of articles to know more about this skin problem. This condition that I have got me inspired to write a blog about my battle with Eczema and Hives.
FIRST OF, WHAT IS ECZEMA?
Eczema is also known as Atopic Dermatitis. It is a condition that makes your skin red, itchy, rough and inflamed.
Eczema is very common with young children. However, adults may get this skin problem too. Dermatitis can occur to anyone in any ages.
Believe it or not, Doctors don’t exactly know what causes Eczema. Chances are it is due to genetics, stress, abnormal function of the immune system, bacteria, weather, pollution and super dry and sensitive skin.
There is no known cure for Eczema. However, treatments are possible, and you may conduct them at home, you don’t have to stay in the hospital for treatment unless it is a severe skin condition.
Eczema is not contagious, and you will not pass it or get it from someone who has Eczema.
WHAT ARE HIVES?
Hives are also known as Urticaria. Hives appear anywhere in the body. Some hives are itchy, and some do not. Unlike Eczema, Hives does not usually stay on the skin for more than 24 hours. It usually goes away after some time and will not leave any scars, unless you scratch them too harshly.
Just like Eczema, children, adults and even the elderly can get Hives. Acute Hives usually last for more than six weeks. People who suffer Hives typically take the anti-histamine pills to prevent any Hives from growing any further. Be mindful that the tablets must be taken on a regular schedule. Another treatment could be avoiding some food and drinks that could trigger a flare-up such as, eggs, milk, soy, wheat, shellfish and many more.
WATCH OUT FOR SYMPTOMS
LOOK FOR SIGNS
Monitor your skin and what you consume on a day to day basis. If you see any red spots or bumps on your skin, check if it is either just a mosquito bite or if it is infected. When your skin is infected, that is where bacteria starts to come in so make sure not to scratch yourself too much. Avoid scratching until you bleed. Instead, you may tap them gently, soak in cold water, apply moisturising lotion or put on a pair of gloves when you sleep at night to avoid sleep-scratching yourself.
CONSULT A DERMATOLOGIST
When you think that the symptoms are getting worse, e.g. swollen spots, non-stop itchy feeling or skin infections due to scratching, you must go and see a dermatologist. Seeing a dermatologist is usually expensive so go only when you need it. A dermatologist will usually first look at your skin and the affected area to diagnose what you have. Some dermatologist will ask you to do a blood test for skin if you haven’t done it before. The purpose of this is to see if you are allergic to any food. However, a blood test is not cheap either.
A dermatologist will usually prescribe you a set of anti-histamine pills to calm and help ease your skin from the allergic reaction, lotion or cream for moisturising your skin and steroid cream for treatment. Steroid cream works very quickly. However, there are some disadvantages too. Applying steroid cream onto your skin affects your blood vessels, it thins your skin, and there is a high chance that your spots will come back after some time. I wouldn’t recommend steroid cream unless it’s mandatory.
Make sure to prepare what to ask your dermatologist and ask as much as you can.
WHAT CAUSES THESE SKIN BREAKOUTS
The causes of skin breakouts can be from many things. It can be from food or drinks that you consume, the weather, the pollution, the dust/ mites, stress and even your moods and feelings. Here are some of the leading causes of skin breakouts.
FOOD ALLERGY
If you are allergic to any food such as shellfish, nuts, beans, milk and many more, then you must avoid them. Not avoiding foods that trigger your skin to flare will only make it worse and you will suffer even more. If you have never done a blood test for skin or when your blood test said negative for any allergies, sometimes your skin is still sensitive to specific food or drink.
How will you know if you’re allergic to anything? Try monitoring what you eat and drink every day. Write them in a piece of paper and check if you start having flares, spots or itchiness. I know I can’t eat food with cow’s milk and cheese, raw beef, shellfish, chicken meat and nuts because I always feel extra itchy after taking a bite of these products, so I try to avoid them.
What you eat and what you drink daily may reflect your skin breakout so make sure that you know what you are eating and don’t overeat raw food.
STRESS
Stress portrays a big thing in our daily life. When you are stress and fatigue, your body is more likely going to fell ill. I was super stressed a few months before I got my breakouts. I was agitated, and I was mentally exhausted. My mental health has resulted in my skin breakouts. I seek advice from my dermatologist as I do not have any food allergy so he suggested that I should relax more often and not stress myself too much because stress can be one of the most cause of my skin outbreaks.
Being angry all the time is not healthy for our skin too. Our body reacts according to our moods and feelings.
CHANGE OF ENVIRONMENT/ WEATHER
Another possible reason for your skin breakouts would be the weather. Some people are extra sensitive during the cold, and dry weather while some are more sensitive to hot or humid weather. Try to avoid too much sun exposure as this may irritate your skin and cause your skin to be red and warm. Remember this, when your body is warm or hot, then that is when your skin will start to feel itchy that would make you want to scratch your skin which is completely not a good thing.
During cold and dry weather, your skin will be extra dry so you must hydrate and moisturise your skin by applying lotion at least two times daily - one in the morning and one in the evening. Some people use cream three times a day, depending on how your skin is.
IMMUNE SYSTEM IS DOWN
When your immune system is down, there is a high chance that your skin would be affected. When this happens, you feel extra vulnerable and sensitive. The best way to prevent this from getting it worse is to eat and drink more nutrients and foods with omega 3 and plenty of vegetables and fruits. Drinking antibiotic could help too but do not mix it with Antihistamine pills when you are also taking that.
HOW TO PREVENT THEM
There is no cure for eczema, but you can always prevent them from getting it worse by following the steps below.
FOOD AND DRINKS TO AVOID AND MAY CAUSE FURTHER TRIGGERS
Here is a list of food and drinks to avoid:
MEAT: Chicken (skin and fried), raw beef, marinated pork or any meat that are too saucy
DAIRY PRODUCTS: Cow products such as milk, ice-cream, cheese, butter and margarine, eggs, milk tea, salad dressing
GLUTEN: Pasta, noodles, bread, cereal, flour products, soup with cream, dumplings, ramen noodles, sandwich, wheat products
NUTS: Peanuts, almonds, walnuts, other types of nuts
FISH & SHELLFISH: Fish, shellfish such as clams, oyster, scallops, shrimp, crab, prawns, etc
DRINKS: Beer (except gluten-free beer), tea and coffee with high caffeine, sodas, smoothies with milk, alcoholic drinks
VEGETABLES: Beans, eggplant, celery, squash, peas, seaweed, broccoli, some mushrooms
FRUITS: Citrus fruits such as lemon, lime, and orange, kiwi, avocado, grapefruit, grapes, tomato, mango, strawberry, pineapple, watermelon
CONDIMENTS: Soy sauce, chilli sauce, ketchup (because of tomato)
SOY PRODUCTS: Soybean, edamame, tofu, soymilk
OTHERS: Fast food such as burger, French fries, fried food, junk food, chips/crisps, sausages, hotdog, cakes, candies, chocolates, biscuit, crackers, wheat
FOODS AND DRINKS TO HELP FIGHT ECZEMA AND HIVES
Here is a list of food and drinks to take:
MEAT: Pork, fat fish with high Omega-3 such as salmon, tilapia, sole, sea bass, halibut, cod, milkfish
NON-DAIRY PRODUCTS: Yak milk, non-cow milk, coconut milk, rice milk, yoghurt, oats
SOUP: Miso soup, chicken and beef broth soup base, pork bone soup, vegetable soup
CONDIMENTS: Vinegar, olive oil, sunflower oil, flaxseed oil, saffron, turmeric
NON-GLUTEN: Rice, rice noodles, buckwheat noodles, sourdough bread, soba noodles, vermicelli, pho noodles, rice cakes, grains, quinoa
DRINKS: Tea such as chamomile, ginger, peppermint, hibiscus, oolong tea, cranberry juice, honey, dates, herbal drink, watercress, mocktails
VEGETABLES: Spinach, okra, cabbage, morning glory (Kang kong), lettuce, bitter-melon, carrots, potatoes, green onions, onions, garlic, mung bean sprouts, bell peppers, shiitake mushroom, kale, beets
FRUITS: Papaya, apples, dragon fruit, blueberries, cranberries, banana, lychee, coconut, cherries, pears
DISHES: Baked potatoes, salad, fresh spring rolls (using rice flour), open-faced sandwiches and burger (bun on the side), sweet potatoes, many more
USE TOPICAL CREAMS, LOTION AND OILS
When your skin is dry, you must hydrate no matter what. You must apply topical lotions, creams and oils to your skin. Leaving your skin dehydrated and dry will make everything worse.
Here are some suggestions of what to use on your skin:
LOTION
CETAPHIL ULTRA HYDRATING LOTION
CERAVE LOTION
AVEENO MOISTURIZING LOTION
DOVE DERMASERIES LOTION
BIODERMA
MUSTELA STELATOPIA EMOLLIENT BALM
ST IVES NATURALLY SOOTHING OATMEAL AND SHEA BUTTER BODY LOTION
CREAMS
AVEENO ECZEMA THERAPY
AVENE SKIN RECOVERY CREAM
COCO DERMA CREAM
CERAVE ECZEMA SOOTHING CREAMY OIL
EUCERIN ECZEMA RELIEF BODY CREME
VASELINE ORIGINAL PETROLEUM JELLY
MANUKA HONEY MOISTURIZING CREAM
LA ROCHE-POSAY LIPIKAR ECZEMA SOOTHING RELIEF CREAM
OILS/ GELS
VIRGIN COCONUT OIL
PRIMROSE OIL
ROSE OIL
MANUKA HONEY OIL
ALOE VERA GEL
CACTUS GEL
JOJOBA OIL
LAVENDER OIL
CALENDULA OIL
SUNFLOWER OIL
TAKE ANTI-HISTAMINE PILLS
Anti-histamine pills help calm your skin breakout. It does not make eczema nor any other skin allergies go away, but it helps to prevent it or make it worse. Most doctors recommend a 5mg or 10mg one dosage per day. Make sure you don’t overtake the pill. One pill for 24 hours is the standard. Make an alarm to help remind you when to take medicine and follow that routine at all times and for as long as you are required to take the pill. Always consult with your doctor first.
AVOID USING STEROIDS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
Sure, steroids provide fast effects and can let your red spots go away in a matter of 1-2 days, but the chances of having your allergies come back are high especially when you’ve stopped applying the steroid cream or taking steroid injections.
Avoid having them in your body system as much as possible. I believe steroids are only necessary for a severe skin problem.
RELAX MORE, AVOID BEING STRESS
Highly avoid being stress out as this can worsen your eczema or hives. Try your best to always think positively and avoid overthinking too. You can get a stress ball to help you calm you down every time you feel like you are going to be stress about something.
Relax more by rewarding yourself more to the spa and get a pleasant and relaxing massage. Hot stone massage helped me a lot because it’d helped me released my toxins from inside. Just to let you know that you will fart a lot when doing hot stone massage. Think of it as a good thing.
Yoga also helps with relieving stress, and it calms your nerves as well. It is peaceful and makes your mind clear and refreshed.
STAY HYDRATED
Drink plenty of water at least eight glasses per day. When you are dehydrated, your body becomes warm, and you will start to feel itchy because your skin is dry.
DON’T SCRATCH
I know this may sound hard to do but scratching your itchy spot will not help your skin situation get any better, perhaps it might get worse. Every time you scratch, you are allowing the bacteria or the infected area to spread around your body. The reason why you feel itchy is that your skin is becoming dry. So every time you feel itchy, compress your skin with a cold, wet towel and apply lotion, cream or oil.
GO FOR SAUNA
Sauna works for some people while some people find it not so compelling. I tried the sauna, and so far it helped me relax, and I feel somehow refreshed especially after working out at the gym.
Sauna is a good detox therapy for your skin, and it brings out the toxins out from your system. However, some people cannot handle the heat and humid temperature in a sauna room. It is essential to test this a few times and see the results.
AVOID DRINKING TOO MANY ALCOHOLIC DRINKS
When having eczema, avoiding alcoholic drinks is probably the best. However, a glass of wine or beer per day or occasionally wouldn’t hurt if you are suffering from mild eczema. Just make sure that you have water on the side.
I love drinking, and for me, it was hard to stop for some time. When I started introducing alcoholic drinks again, I give myself a limit up to two bottles or glasses on a night out, and I drink water every sip of an alcoholic beverage.
Drinking alcoholic drinks make our body warm. Hydrating yourself with water is probably the best to avoid any bad flare up.
MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
HOW DID I FIND OUT I HAVE ECZEMA AND HIVES
Finding out what I was having was probably the most crucial matter. It all started with a frequent sore throat, runny nose and coughing followed by a high fever which resulted in my first sick-leave from work in 3 years. My body was feeling very weak, and on top of that, I was super stress as well mainly with work. I started having red spots around my legs, thighs, arms, wrists, tummy and soon on my neck and chest area. The red spots spread quite quickly, and the itchiness went worse in a few days, so I decided to see a dermatologist.
I’ve done some research before seeing the dermatologist. I was expecting Hives due to my symptoms, and the spots appearance. I was shocked to hear that I got eczema as well. I never knew I could get eczema at this age. I was 27 years old at the time by the way. I was dismayed but at the same time relieved because at least I found out what was wrong with me and it is not something super serious. The dermatologist told me that my eczema was just a mild one, so I still got plenty of chance to improve my skin problem.
THE STRUGGLES ARE REAL
The first three weeks after I was diagnosed with eczema and hives, I was devastated and agitated.
I avoided several food and drinks that may cause even more triggers. I was on a strict diet. Eating out was very hard. I stopped going to the gym because sweating is not ideal at that moment while the red spots were still around my skin. I quit drinking while taking anti-histamine pills. I have to apply lotion and creams onto my skin now and then throughout the day for as many as I needed. I cannot wear anything too tight, and I avoided any fabrics that will make my skin itchy. I have to stay out of sunlight as much as possible and avoid making my body warm. I got rid of most of my beauty products that didn’t imply “hypo-allergenic”. I got rid of my old beauty products, and I spend so much money buying new beauty products that have hypo-allergenic. I switch to Cetaphil, Aveeno and so on.
Lastly and probably the hardest to handle was having to avoid feeling stressed, unhappy, angry and restless. Dealing with emotional feelings was not easy because we cannot control what we think. We may be able to control it, but it’s harder to control your emotions when you are dealing with something else. In my case, it was a struggle, but I am glad I got through my nightmares. After two months, I have begun to see some improvements.
HOW DID I HANDLE IT
So right after I found out what was wrong with me, I immediately started researching about eczema. I read so many different articles, and I wrote that information down and started making a list of things I have to avoid and food and drinks to avoid. It was crazy. I felt even worse. However, I did not let myself lose hope just yet. I tried to follow whatever tips that I think are reasonable and comfortable for me.
It was complicated at first, especially in the first three weeks. I struggle a lot. There were many nights where I couldn’t sleep and would cry myself to sleep. I suffered from insomnia as well. It affected my daily life. You can say I had a mild-depression at the time.
THINGS I DID PERSONALLY TO PREVENT IT
I did so many things, tried so many things, spend plenty of money buying treatment creams, oil, lotion, nutrition drinks and many more others. Below are the steps I did to prevent my eczema and hives.
Step 1 - I avoid many food and drinks that could trigger a flare-up for at least six weeks, and I started re-introducing some food and drinks again slowly after eight weeks.
Step 2 - I started taking nutrition drink from EXCEL daily.
Step 3 - Daily topical treatments. I apply Cetaphil Ultra Hydrating Lotion every day right after a shower. I use Aveeno Eczema Therapy at least three times a day. I apply Coco cream at least twice a day to the itchy and scars area. I apply Evening Primrose Oil before I go to sleep at night.
Step 4 - I take one Aerius anti-histamine pill at 11:30 pm daily
Step 5 - I ditch intense working at the gym and stick to Yoga classes for six weeks
Step 6 - I go for the steam sauna at least twice a week for 10 minutes
Step 7 - I avoid wearing tight clothing for six weeks
Step 8 - I make sure I drink 7-8 glasses of water a day every day.
Step 9 - I relax more and avoid being stress and angry. I try to be sane and confident about my situation.
Step 10 - I go for hot stone spa once every month which I personally think is very effective.
I still have eczema and hives up until this moment. However, I felt a lot better. My eczema and hives have improved rapidly because of the steps I did. Many people told me that there is no cure and it is a long-term sickness. However, I did not let that stop me from getting better. I don’t believe I will have eczema and hives forever. In time, they will fade away slowly.
For those who are suffering from eczema, hives or any other skin disease, always remember that there is always a solution to your problem. Don’t lose hope and don’t give up. Try and try everything until you see the result. Being patient is also very important.
I hope this blog is helpful. If you need any help or advice, feel free to leave a comment below. I will be more than happy to help.
Yours Truly,
Michelle Chan
