To launch the website my good friend Loz and I have both written blogs about our personal struggles up to this point. Our experiences have been very different and I in no way want to suggest my problems have been anywhere near as severe or problematic as Loz’s. There are, however, some commonalities in what we have experienced and many of the things we are now interested in to try and help manage our respective health issues. My first blog is an explanation of how severe and chronic eczema has negatively affected my physical and mental health.

Subsequent to a recent chat about social anxiety I had in the New Forest it became clear that it did have some hold on me during my teenage years. I remember being so scared about the prospect of socialising at break that I would hide in the toilets until it was time for my next lesson. By no means a debilitating form of anxiety but there is no doubt it was consistently having a negative impact on my social life. 

Fortunately, once I left for Cardiff University, I settled in quickly and any small anxiety issues I was experiencing receded soon enough. My halls were very sociable, and I found a decent group of mates in freshers. Everything was going well, I liked my course, loved going out and playing football. The night it began Loz and my other friend Toby came to visit me. We went out to Retros, a filthy club with £1 Jagerbombs and we were having a great time until Loz tried to be a hero and break up a fight, resulting in him being thrown out instead. The next morning, I woke up with an uncomfortable red rash all over my neck and face. That’s weird I thought, I must have had a reaction to something last night, I’m sure it will go away. It did go away, but to my displeasure, would intermittently return.

A visit to the doctor resulted in me being diagnosed with Eczema. They gave me some steroid creams that worked a treat. It would be fine for a while but come back again which prompted another doctor visit, and another prescription of the miracle cream-Thanks Doc. After a while, though, it became clear that my bouts of eczema were becoming increasingly frequent and severe as it spread to all over my body. I saw a dermatologist but even he was no help. He, like other doctors told me there was no cure. That it would come and go and is not something I could control.

The reality is, for those who rarely have a severe flare up steroid creams are a viable treatment for eczema, but excessive use can cause more problems than it solves for those with flare ups as frequent as mine. It should never be viewed as long term solution. My skin is now thinned in the most severe areas which makes it more vulnerable to further damage. I have gone through topical steroid withdrawal multiple times which can include side effects like increased itching, excessive sweating and lack of sleep amongst other things. 

When I’m going through a bad flare up, I am much less likely to: 

• Exercise (or move in general). 
• Get adequate sleep.
• Want to go outside the house. 
• Want to socialize with my friends.
• Be confident, especially around new people. 
• Be productive. 

It also causes me to be more snappy, irritable and to avoid seeing my reflection as much as possible. Not looking in mirrors did serve to help slightly as I had less reminders about what I look like but it’s not ideal when the sight of yourself fills you with anger, embarrassment and feelings of failure.