Saturday 29 March 2008

Rangers Legend



Glasgow Rangers Legend Andy Goram and myself in the Quarry Bar in Glasgow last week.

Thursday 27 March 2008

Here is an interesting article for those of you who suffer more during the summer!

It is summertime and you ought to be enjoying the sunny weather and all. Yet, for those of you with eczema, that is hardly the case.

Eczema usually worsens this period because of the heat and humidity. You tend to get excessive sweating if you have the most common kind of eczema called atopic eczema or atopic dermatitis. You are inclined to scratch yourself due to the itch caused by the sweat on your skin. Of course, on the reverse end, there are those with eczema that experience greater discomfort during the cold and dry months of winter.

For those of you that get intense itches during summer, here are some tips to help you control your eczema during summer.

It is important to avoid the heat as much as possible in order to avoid overheating. Staying cool will ensure that you sweat very little. Sunlight during summer is strongest between the hours of 10am and 4pm with the 12pm to 2pm period being exceedingly hot especially in the sun. Try to schedule your outdoor activities like lawn or gardening work, walks, etc. either in early morning or in the evening when things are cooler. Apart from the heat, direct sunlight also saps your strength and people with weak immune systems will overheat faster. If you feel tired, then take a nap in the afternoon to recover lost energy.

Itching is not easy to control for everyone. For those who find they just cannot help itching, please keep topical medication close by. However, make sure that you use them as sparingly as possible. There are also some new anti-inflammatory drugs, like Elidel and Protopic that contain no steroids that are very good at controlling eczema.

If you are going to be exposed to direct sunlight, always wear a hat and sunglasses. You have to be extra careful about using sunscreen as they may worsen or irritate your skin if you select the wrong brand or type. You may wish to try out several brands of sunscreens to find the one that best suits your skin. Best is to avoid being in direct sunlight altogether if you are not able to find a suitable sunscreen.

Do not be fooled if you are in water. Sunburn while swimming is usually faster than in dry direct sunlight. So if you are in a pool, ocean, or lake then you may even have to consider wearing a tee-shirt over your bathing suit. Keep your arms and chest areas covered. Even on cloudy days, ultraviolet rays can cause a burn. On cloudy days wear long pants and full-sleeved garments to cover up.

Hot days can also mean make you thirsty. Drink plenty of water to keep your body temperature cool. Unsweetened drinks are best; so plain water is recommended above ice cold lemonade.

It is not easy to keep your eczema itches under control during summer. You may even feel depressed especially when everyone else appears to be enjoying the good weather outside. It is therefore important to take things in stride. Adopt the above tips and you will begin to feel much better!

Monday 24 March 2008

Still tea total

High chaps
Well I am back from Glasgow, had a great time and managed not to have a single beer so I am well pleased with that. The lack of alcohol in the last 3 months has definately helped my skin.

Wednesday 19 March 2008

Working hard this week

Sorry not much time for me to post this week. I am working hard with Parky in Swindon all week then I am off to Glasgow for the weekend.

Sunday 16 March 2008

Friday 14 March 2008

A herbal 'cure' for eczema

I read an interesting Article in the Daily Mail today about treating eczema with a combination of Chinese herbs.Read on below:

A herbal 'cure' for eczema
A cocktail of Chinese herbs used by the Chinese for thousands of years could combat the painful skin condition of eczema, scientists claim. They say the potion containing five raw herbs reduced suffers need for conventional medicines and improved the quality of life for those being treated for atopic eczema.
It is the most common form of skin condition, affecting 10 per cent of children and around 3 per cent of adults. Dermatologists at the Chinese University of Hong Kong found the mixture- which contained Japanese honeysuckle, peppermint, root bark of tree peony, underground stem of the atractylodes herb and bark from an Amur cork tree - had a dramatic improvement on eczema sufferers aged 5 to 21
During the study, 85 patients were given either a tablet containing the herbs or a placebo.
Those who took the traditional Chinese medicine said their quality of life improved by a third, while those taking the placebo reported no improvement, the British Journal of Dermatology reports.
Researchers also revealed the herbal remedy reduced patients need of conventional treatments such as steroids, by an average of four days a month.
It is thought the herbs reduced the effects of four proteins and cytokines believed to cause eczema, they added.
Nina Goad, of the British Association of Dermatologists welcomed the findings but warned against using the herbs without first consulting a doctor. 'Some retailers may not be reputable and the product maybe of low standard' she added.

Stressed and itchy

Had a stressful day at work today nothing is going right on the new job Parky and I have just started and the price is rapidly going out of the window. I have been very itchy today and I think it is the stress that has caused it!!!!.

Tuesday 11 March 2008

Eczema: More on the dust mite

Dust mites love your mattress because it's the perfect environment for them. It's warm, tends to be moist, and what's more, it's replete with their favorite diet - human skin flakes. The Mayo Clinic estimates that you may be sharing you cozy bed with anywhere from 1 to 10 million of the critters. And though they're microscopic (500 could fit on the head of a pin), they may be causing you big problems.The reason why these tiny creatures are so virulent is that they are a source of allergens. These allergens come from many sources including the dried body parts of the mites themselves and their fecal matter. The typical dust mite excretes 200 times its boy weight in fecal matter.One reason this is such a problem is that mites lack a stomach. So digestion occurs outside their bodies. The mites secrete enzymes and deposit the fungus Aspergillus Repens on dust particles. Then the fungus predigests the food for the mites. The dust mite's partially digested food, and fecal matter make up the most major sources of allergens.The allergens then enter your body at night. As you shift in your sleep, the tiny allergen particles waft into the air and hence into your breathing passage, lungs and ultimately your bloodstream.Perhaps you think you can clean your mattress or change your sheets and they're gone? Unfortunately this is not the case. Dust mites are tenacious creatures and they're very happy just where they are in your mattress or borrowed into any number of items in your home. Standard vacuuming doesn't work. Traditional household or commercial vacuum cleaners don't have the power to suck out the dust mites and their debris from deep in your mattress. Bleaches and strong soaps won't kill them either. So what will work? Fortunately, there are a few things that the mites hate.Extreme temperatures, either high or low, are generally fatal to them. However they reproduce quickly and will soon return. They have a life spans of about 30 days and the female lays up to 300 eggs during that period. Then there's sunlight. Mites hate sunlight because it's a natural form of ultra-violet light, which is harmful to dust mites and their eggs. That's why they like to burrow deep into your mattress where they're safe.

Monday 10 March 2008

No Eczema when I am abroad!!!

Finally sorted out my photos from my holiday to Natal in the North East of Brazil in January. I always try and go on Holiday in January as by then my skin has usually deteriorated through the winter and a good blast of sun seems to work like nothing else does. I never have problems with my eczema once I have left the country!!

Eczema Bio

I would like to thank Goldie Abrin for forwarding her bio for the www.our-eczema.com site. Thanks Goldie

Sunday 9 March 2008

Bio's for our-eczema

I would like to thank Ben Harrison for submitting a bio for the www.our-eczema.com site

Your stories for our-eczema.com

I would like to thank james Ead for forwarding his bio for my our-eczema site. The more information I can collect the better for all concerned!!

Saturday 8 March 2008

Retail Therapy this afternoon

Moisturisers

Well so far so good with the moisturiser. I am using My Baby's Petroleum Jelly B.P from Tesco. It is very greasy but seems to be doing the trick but as mentioned in my previous post they normally work for a few weeks before they begin to irritate.

Thursday 6 March 2008

Moisturisers

1. Moisturising is essential for eczema sufferers. Many moisturisers have been proven to protect the skin by adding a barrier against irritants that people with the eczema condition lack. However you must be very picky with what type of moisturiser you use as many contain irritants themselves defeating the purpose.Try to avoid moisturisers which are perfumed or contain soapy products, the less additives the better but products that re-hydtrate are excellent. I always find moisturisers seem to work well for a couple of weeks and I think I have found the one for me then it starts to irritate me. I have been using a moisteriser from Salcura but I have just started using plain vaseline and will see how i go.

Tuesday 4 March 2008

Water softeners

I live in Salisbury in Wiltshire and the water here is very hard. I used to find it extremely drying on my skin. It also used to taste awful. I have recently had a full system water softener fitted into our home. This has made a great difference to the taste of the water and along with the bath salts to the effect the water has on my skin at bath or shower times.

Monday 3 March 2008

Eczema Diet – 3 Ways That Wheatgrass Heals Eczema

Wheatgrass is a very powerful tool for the curing of most skin diseases especially that of eczema. Wheatgrass contains healing powers unlike other plant foods. It contains enzymes which work to facilitate digestion, elimination and healthy energy.Wheatgrass is a superior detoxification agent and will wash away all traces of drugs and toxins in your body within a short period of time.Wheatgrass will also purify your liver. It works wonders as an antiseptic and it neutralizes infections, heals open wounds and hastens skin repair which is very important for eczema sufferers.It has very powerful anti-inflammatory benefits and eliminates scabby eruptions. It eliminates parasites and germs and works wonders at returning your general health to normal.Wheatgrass is one of the richest natural sources of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, sulfur, zinc and so many other nutrients.
There are three very important beneficial ways that wheatgrass will heal eczema:
  • Wheatgrass will help heal your eczema because of the chlorophyll content. Chlorophyll stimulates the production of red blood cells in your hemoglobin. The healthier the red blood cells the more oxygen will be carried to every cell in your body including your skin cells.
  • Wheatgrass will help heal your eczema because it keeps your colon healthy and clean. It contains fiber which maintains colon health and regularity.
  • Wheatgrass will help heal your eczema because it is a complete food. The more complete and healthy the meals you consume are, the less likely you will be hungry and eat foods that deliver little to no health benefits.

Sunday 2 March 2008

Should never be working 9 hours on a Sunday

Title says it all folks, I'm off to bed!!.

Saturday 1 March 2008

Dust Mites

Our new Leather furniture has just arrived. This is great news as it means the old ones can go and we will no longer need throws to cover them. The throws are bad for me because of the dust mites they contain. Eczema is often triggered by Dust mites in your home. The Dust mite is the number one eczema trigger. About ten percent of the general population develops an allergy due to dust mites. An allergic reaction to dust mites is characterized by eyes that are itchy and watery, sneezing, a runny nose, nasal congestion, ears that are blocked, chronic respiratory problems such as head colds and post nasal drip and asthma. The most common form of eczema, atopic dermatitis, develops next.
Dust mites are not visible to the human naked eye. When viewed under a microscope, they are extremely small. Dust mites are shaped like an oval, have eight legs and are cream in colour. Dust mites have sticky pads on their feet that enable them to burrow into almost any kind of fiber in your home. They are most often found living and breathing in your furniture and carpeting. It is only the particles of dead dust mites that can efficiently be cleaned up with a vacuum cleaner.
Dust mites thrive on consuming the shed skin ( there is lots of that in my house ) of people as well as human fingernails and hair. They also eat animal fur, bacteria, fungi and pollen. Dust mites thrive in environments where the humidity is anywhere in the area of seventy to eighty percent. They also require temperatures anywhere between seventy-five and eighty degrees. A humidity level of below forty will not allow dust mites to live or thrive for very long. Thus, if you stay in fairly humid environments, you should keep dust mites out of your home as much as possible to avoid eczema flare-ups. As such, it is best to avoid having carpets in your home. I have laminate flooring in the majority of my home and I am now looking to start replacing all curtains with blinds
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