A Day in the Life: The Skin Log

Dear Bloggers,

We are approaching one of the four worst times of the year for eczema-folk: the seasonal change. Does it seem that every time you get your skin under control, the season changes, and there are a whole host of new issues to deal with?

Winter brings the driest months which irritate the skin

Spring brings the pollen and insects to ignite the allergies

Summer brings the heat and humidity and sweat just makes everything worse

Fall brings its host of allergens as well.

Well, the best thing we can do is learn our bodies, our skin, our immune systems as best we can.  

If I have a large enough argument at night, I know I will break out over night. I know that I can normally handle orange juice, but if I am already broken/breaking out-- citris will worsen my skin within 24 hours.  I know that caffeine is one of the only things strong enough to break me out immediately, whether I am previously broken out or not. I know that when my skin is normal, I could sleep anywhere and not be disturbed. But, once I have broken out, even jersey sheets make me itch.  I know that if I am broken out long enough, I will get an infection. And once I get an infection my eyes will swell up. 

You may know similar things about your skin or your child's skin.

So, what we must learn is how to prevent it.

If you've had an argument of monstrous proportions with a parent or spouse, is there anything you can take at night to prevent break out in the morning? Once you are broken out, can you avoid citrus (or whatever your irritants may be)? Can you cut caffeine out of your diet completely (or whatever your allergens might be)? Do you know what sleeping conditions you need, so that you can sleep without scratching in your sleep? What temperature the room should be... what material the linen should be...  

Today, let's  begin to pay attention.  Let this be the first day of your skin log. At the conclusion of every day, record what you ate, any changes in mood, duress, if you have contact dermatitis you may even want to record what materials you wore, how often you scratched, figited.  And immediately when you wake up in the morning, take note of how your skin has changed from the night before. Take note of any medication atopic or oral that you've ingested over the course of the day.  And take note of how you cleansed, what you cleansed with, and what you used for moisturizer. Take note of the weather, and the inside temperature and how that affected your itchyness.

Yes, I know, it's a lot of notes. 

But for the largest organ of your body, it deserves it. You deserve it. Your skin is the gateway to the outside world. If you can not protect your skin, you can not protect your internal organs. Let alone the fact that your skin affects how you are considered, judged and treated by others.

Hope this helps!

Love,

Lhea J.