Eczema and your Emotions

Dr. Nasir, in his book Eczema-Free For Life, discusses the emotional toll that eczema can have on patients. The unpredictability of flare-ups can be stressful, and as all patients know, the itching can be overwhelming and the lack of sleep can cause irritability. Stress also makes eczema worse. Dr. Nasir explains that when you are stressed, your blood vessels attract white blood cells, which cause inflammation. For eczema patients, stress leads to inflammation being triggerd inside and outside the body. Thus, finding ways to combat negative feelings is essential.

The first step is to take control of your eczema. Develop a careful skincare routine and stick to it. Make any lifestyle changes necessary to improve your condition. Learn about your disease. Read some of the great books written about it. Find a dermatologist you like and trust to help you manage your condition.

Second, accept your emotional responses as part of the disease. Dr. Nasir notes that patients may develop self-loathing about the way they look, anger at having to suffer from the condition, fear at facing a life having to cope with unending itching, stress about flare-ups, and also depression when it seems like no treatments help and the suffering has no end in sight. Accepting these emotions instead of suppressing them is critical.

Next, try ways to improve your emotional outlook when your eczema gets you down or angry. Maybe there is music that lifts your spirits or funny movies you enjoy. Make a list of positive things in your life. Perhaps guided meditation tapes or yoga classes can recenter you and take your mind off the eczema. Be kind to yourself. If your anger or depression becomes severe, be sure to find professional help. A professional that can help you improve your mental outlook will also improve your skin.

Finally, develop a support network of friends and family to help you cope. Educate them about eczema and about what you need from them to be able to handle your condition better. Be sure to explain to them the challenges you face in dealing with your eczema. Non-sufferers will not fully understand what it is like to live with the condition. Being clear and honest can be the most effective. Dr. Nasir recommends being able to say things like: "My rash is acting up, I feel uncomfortable and itchy. I'm sorry, I'll have to stay home, but I'd love to talk to you tomorrow."

Also, make sure you get enough sleep. This can really alter your emotional response and thus the condition of your skin. If you are having trouble sleeping, ask your doctor about an antihistamine to make you drowsy.

Can Acupuncture Cure Eczema?

After Western medicine failed to provide sufficient relief for endless itching and sleepless nights, I decided to try acupuncture. I did not know anyone in my city that had tried acupuncture before, so I went on Yelp and read reviews. I found an acupuncturist whose patients all said good things about him and who also had an MD, which made me feel more comfortable. I called his office. Before scheduling an appointment, he asked about what was bothering me. I described the itch and the eczema, and he thought he might be able to help. At his suggestion during the first consultation, I started with appointments twice a week for two weeks, then decreased to once a week for a few weeks, and then spaced it out to between 10 days and 2 weeks between appointments. He also gave me Chinese herbs, but they made me nervous and I ultimately did not take them.

First, the experience of acupuncture.
When I was called to a room, I would lie down on my back on a table that was like a massage table. I had to roll up any sleeves and roll up my pants to my knees so he could access certain points for the needles. My acupuncturist would put needles at my ankles, on the side of my shin just below my knees, right above my knees, in the crease between my thumb and second finger, at my wrist, to the side of the bend in my arm at my elbow, and then sometimes on top of my head and/or on my forehead. Inserting the needles never hurt, maybe just an occasional prick. After all the needles were in, however, he would manipulate them slightly. This could cause a range of sensations from tingling to slight pain - mostly at the site of the needles, but occasionally it would induce a shock of sorts up my arm or leg. He would then leave me lying on the table for 20 to 30 minutes. I would try to relax while I stayed very still. The needles could lead to a variety of sensations. Sometimes the site of the needles would tingle, sometimes it would burn, sometimes I would feel a dull ache. Most times I felt calm when the needles were in and tried to meditate or clear my mind. A couple times, the needles made me feel like I had nervous energy and those times I was more than ready when the doctor came back to take out the needles.

Did it help?
While the needles were in and I was lying on the table I experienced no itching (except, every so often, on the side of my nose). This was absolutely astonishing and marvelous. I think it is the only time in my life where I have been perfectly still, focusing on my skin, and actually NOT itched (even when I was on strong oral steroids my dermatologist claimed would get rid of the itch, they did no such thing). I loved going just for these few minutes of relief. After the needles came out, though, the results were more mixed. I think in general it probably did relive my itching somewhat, in the days after the treatment, but it certainly did not eliminate it. After the first two sessions I was still having trouble sleeping because the itch was so bad. I mentioned this to him and he added 3 new points to the treatment, 2 sort-of below and to the side of my ears that he did on both sides and one on my stomach. The first time after this, I was immediately very tired. I was glad it was an end-of-day session! The next few times did not have such a drastic effect, and I started going in the morning, but my sleep did noticeably improve.

The End Result
If acupuncture was free and acupuncturists made house calls, I'd have it done every night before sleep. It relieved the itching during the treatment and then left me relaxed (and actually tired when certain points were used). But, the treatments aren't free and my insurance did not cover them so it was a large out-of-pocket expense every month and when I had them in the morning, the effect was much reduced by the end of the day. So I have stopped going. But I am still very glad I tried it and I know it is there if I ever want to resume. There is also a physiological benefit to knowing that there is something that does relieve itch, even it costs $100 for 30 minutes and requires lying totally still with needles in you!

Recession Induced Flare-ups?

Most eczema patients will tell you that stress exacerbates their itching, scratching, and rash. I just came across an interesting news blurb that reports on recent research that claims the recession and the stress it causes has led to an increase in skin diseases like eczema. Apparently lots of people are suffering from economic anxiety induced flare-ups. In times of stress, be extra vigilant about maintaining good skin care routines and try hard not to unconsciously scratch as this breaks the skin and leads to the itch-scratch cycle. Common stress reduction techniques can help these types of flare-ups (just avoid other triggers, like scented bath oils or long hot showers!). Try:

• meditation tapes
• deep breathing
• focusing on things you are grateful for
• happy music
• quiet walks
• funny movies
• exercise (but shower off sweat quickly and apply moisturizers!)
• find support in friends and family
• biofeedback
• get enough sleep