Had a guy write a long message to the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/eczemasupport 

About how debilitating his skin was. About how he was starting to feel reclusive as it encroached more and more on his life. He’s a postman. I know how painful it is to walk when skin sore. Can you imagine posting letters and sorting through mail with sore hands?

I felt sad that the only person I trust to help him, charges about £200 for first consultation as he no longer does NHS, only private. He will reduce costs because ultimately he cares about the psychological damage this disease does. Unlike many others. 

So I tried to offer support and a new regime to help him get better meanwhile.

Weirdly, despite many external stresses – job, buying flat, sad daughter… My skin is so much better. I’ve even had my legs and arms out!

Went to Crete – with skin not so good – 37 degrees – bit too hot for me! But as long as I can dunk myself in water, I can usually manage. But boy did the sea burn! “Doesn’t the sea heal your skin though?” That common question!  Well – yes – salt heals… Provided you get to rinse it off as soon as you get out either with a fresh water beach shower (if you’re lucky), or with bottled water – so that basically you don’t end up scratching with the stickiness and ruin all the ‘healing’! “Oh but doesn’t the sun heal?” Yes if you have the type of eczema that likes the sun, and if you don’t get too hot with it and then of course, itchy! My Professor specialises in eczema in sunlight as there are those who can’t have sun on skin as it reacts badly. OH BUT AREN’T THOSE WITHOUT #ECZEMA SO QUICK TO OFFER SO MANY ‘SIMPLE’ SOLUTIONS? ARGHHHHH! (Yes I know they mean well…)