โจKimberley ReardonโจAKA @kimreardonx is the first TSWS SKIN STORY we are sharing for #EczemaAwarenessMonth
We cant talk about Eczema Awareness without talking about ๐ง๐ข๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ ๐ช๐๐ง๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ช๐๐.
OVER TO KIM๐ฅโฌ๏ธ
๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐ก๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ข๐? + ๐๐๐๐ฉโ๐จ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐ก๐๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐ข๐๐ข๐ค๐ง๐ฎ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ฉ?
Iโve had moderate/ severe eczema my whole life that got worse when I hit high school and the stresses of being a teenager hit. However, after 20+ years of progressively strong topical steroid use, my skin stopped responding and became much, much worse. So, although my skin was always bad, it was manageable up until about 5 years ago.
For me, especially over the last few years, everything has been about my skin. Iโm constantly worrying that people are looking at me thinking I look awful and wondering what is wrong with me, but then I see other people with skin conditions and wonโt even notice their skin. I think when you have a skin condition itโs so hard not to think that people can only see your skin when they look at you because if you are self-conscious about it the way I am, itโs all you see when you look in the mirror. When realistically, most people wonโt even notice. I remember being out one night and having a girl constantly looking over at me. And I cried in the toilet thinking she was looking at me because of my skin, only for her to come over to me later and comment on my long eyelashes and ask if I had lash extensions or not.
๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐ก๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐?
I have been dealing with topical steroid withdrawal for approximately 5 years. Iโve used almost all the medications that they can give you. Immunosuppressants, pro-topic cream, biologics, the lot. Iโve gone as far as being hospitalized due to severe side effects from azathioprine. And only now am I realizing that I just need to be patient, stop trying to apply plasters to a deeper problem, and to just let my body do what it needs to do to heal. Iโm trying to focus on exercising if and when I can, reducing my stress (definitely challenging during this process), eat good food and drink plenty of water.
I think doctors are quick to not investigate the reason for skin conditions and skin flares, and instead provide medication to get rid of the flare rather than investigate the cause.
๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ค ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ฅ๐๐ค๐ฅ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ?
I think the suffering that can come as a result of using steroid creams over several years is not stressed enough. I always had bad skin, but I would take my old skin back in a heartbeat to be done with TSW. I think there is absolutely a time and place for steroids, but with skin conditions, they are fluctuating conditions that can be triggered by so many factors and are chronic, so the fact that steroids should not be used long-term should surely tell you that the treatment for eczema needs to change as this is a long-term condition. I think the skin is reacting for a reason so trying to identify the cause and eliminate triggers is a better way to go rather than ignoring the skin flares.
HINDSIGHT – What do you want people to know? What has been your lesson? What has your skin taught you?
The biggest lesson from my skin, especially in recent years, is learning to be patient and listen to my body rather than hating it for trying to tell me something. Just now my skin is as it is due to years of not listening and just plastering on different medications.
For me, Iโve realized there is unfortunately no magic cure and time really is the biggest healer. Itโs awful to hear when you are in the thick of it and suffering immensely, but it will get better and more manageable as time goes on.
I think the suffering that can come as a result of using steroid creams over several years is not stressed enough. I always had bad skin, but I would take my old skin back in a heartbeat to be done with TSW. I think there is absolutely a time and place for steroids, but with skin conditions, they are fluctuating conditions that can be triggered by so many factors and are chronic, so the fact that steroids should not be used long-term should surely tell you that the treatment for eczema needs to change as this is a long-term condition. I think the skin is reacting for a reason so trying to identify the cause and eliminate triggers is a better way to go rather than ignoring the skin flares.
EDUCATION – What has your TRIAL & ERROR taught you? What are your top ingredients to avoid when it comes to flare-ups? Your all-time ride-or-die brand/accounts for TSW skin?
My trial and error taught me that there is no miracle cure, and what may work one day may not work the next, and it is so important to try and not get disheartened by this as a result. Iโve learned that I cannot tolerate chocolate (heartbreaking, I know!), tomatoes, and eggs, and for some reason, if I try and incorporate vitamins into my diet in forms such as capsules that can make me flare. I think my system is so out of balance just now that it overreacts to so much.
I was using Balmondโs Skin Salvation which helped my face immensely for months. However, like everything else, my skin is not tolerating that now. My life savers now have been dead sea salt baths and a small amount of hyaluronic acid for my face after. Otherwise, I canโt use anything, and no moisturiser seems to be the only way forward for me now.
I have followed @Lougi.skin from the very start of my journey, and her account has gotten me through some of my worst times.
๐ฏ๐ถ๐ด๐ด๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐ฝ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ณ-๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ/๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ?
For me, my worsening skin has come hand in hand with severe depression and anxiety. Itโs been hard to feel like myself, and the feeling of being a burden is my biggest hurdle for self-love and acceptance. The constant โwhy do people want to stick around and deal with thisโ thoughts are a daily battle for me. But you are still you underneath all the sore skin.
All those qualities that make up your personality and make you, you, do not disappear as a result of your skin.
It cannot and does not define who you are as a person and is only one part of you.
And you are worthy of love.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY KIM,
love always,
Katie
