A Day in the Life: Child versus Adult Eczema

Dear Recovering Eczema-Addicts:

Yes, my name Lhea J. Copeland and I am a recovering Eczema-holic. I have lived with Eczema my entire life. And, I have become addicted to it's misery. Eczema is my crutch. If I don't interview well, it is because of my eczema. If a man doesn't return my phone calls, it is because of my eczema. If I can't sleep, and I usually can, it is because of my eczema. If I'm unhappy, it is because of my eczema. When I fight with my father, my eczema flares up. If I don't drink enough water, my eczema flares up. 

In the past, I have been my eczema's bitch. And, I have become addicted to this co-dependent relationship. 

For, if I truly cured my eczema -- what excuse would I have? I would lose all my excuses for why I am not productive when I procrastinate. I would lose all of my rationales for why I am single. I would have no excuse to be unhappy.

When I was a child, I had acute eczema. I had a reoccurring rash on the inside of my elbows and the back of knees by the time I was 8 years old. And, by the time I reached middle school (around 10 years old), I had a permanent rash above my upper lip. My older brother, Lee, conveniently called this my "Rash Mustache". 

That comment alone was the beginning of my life as a cry-baby. Oh, he would say those two words and the tears would instantly flow. 

Anyhoo, since my senior year of college (21 years old), my eczema has become a wide-spread condition. Now, I develop rashes on almost every inch of my body at different times. When my whole body breaks out, my eyes develop large, puffy bags. These wide-spread reactions are usually perpetuated by an infection-cycle circulating with my immune system. It usually takes a nice antibiotic to stop the reaction, and return my eyes to normal. 

Through out my childhood, all of my dermatologists told me that I would out-grow my eczema. Each year, I waited and waited. Each year I waited for the rashes to go away. Most children, indeed, outgrow their eczema.

Unfortunately, I am part of the 1-2% of the world that lives with chronic eczema. 

This is my story. This is my song. 

Love, 

Lhea J.