When My Eczema is Gone, It’s Not Fully Gone
Does anyone stress when their skin has cleared? People might assume that when we eczema warriors look clear and healthy, then all our problems vanish into thin air. This is very stressful for me. Mainly because it just isn’t true.
How do I feel when my skin is clear?
My eczema is more than just dry, cracked, and itchy skin. Of course, when it clears up, I feel happier than when it is present, but living in a body that has been traumatized all its life, you feel the itch is still present. The dryness makes it awkward to do anything. Knowing that one wrong move, whether that could be diet related, choosing the wrong clothes, going into the wrong environment, etc., could cause a sudden flare is always gnawing away at the back of my mind.
Why do people get complacent?
On the few occasions when my body does clear up, and by clear up, I mean around 65-70%. It’s never ever 100% clear. But when my body is at its best, friends will start enticing me to have ‘just one drink’ because ‘you look fine.' I don't blame them or feel any animosity toward them. They are just pleased for me, I guess.
I am thinking of the last weekend out celebrating my friend’s 50th birthday. We got to the pub around 8 pm, and everyone wanted to sit in the pub garden. I did not! I could feel my eyes starting to itch. I just went with the flow, but this is what I am talking about. Had I been my usual self, everyone would have said, what about Pete? I got my way in the end because everyone could see the effect the garden was having on me.
What will my next dermatologist appointment look like?
My next appointment with my dermatologist is yet to be arranged. I know what to expect from this appointment. He will follow up on the phototherapy sessions that I was having. He will notice that my eczema is slowly returning, and I’m sure we will discuss further treatments, such as the new biologic meds currently available. These are powerful drugs that we do not really fully understand the implications of after years of usage.
Should I try biologics for my eczema?
I know that managing my skin is probably the answer, but I am nervous about trying these new medications. If I do decide to try these new drugs, I will need constant monitoring because the side effects could have a big impact on my liver and kidneys. The idea of sorting one problem and developing another is not very appealing. I have spoken to many who have tried Dupixent, and similar treatments, and overall, the feelings are mainly positive. We are all different, and what works well for some does not for others. That said, I would like to know if members of the community think I should go ahead and just take the plunge. I certainly have a lot of thinking to do.
“You can't stop the future; you can't rewind the past; the only way to learn the secret...is to press play.”― Jay Asher, Thirteen Reasons Why
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