Living With Eczema (and how to reduce scarring)

I used to suffer really bad with Eczema, in the past I've had it all over my body but especially on my arms and legs. With my first pregnancy, my eczema was the worst it had ever been, I didn't even want to leave the house. My skin honestly felt like it was on fire, and it smelt like it too. TMI. But since then it's got a lot better, thankfully. 

Although my eczema has got a lot better, suffering so much with it has caused me a few problems - including scars. 

Between the ages of about 10-25, my legs were absolutely covered in scars. More scars than skin visible at one point. I never ever wanted to show my legs, I would wear tights even on hot Summer days, or I'd wear jeans under dresses and that'd aggravate my eczema even more. I'd never let anyone see my legs, no matter what. 

I remember a moment that really stuck in my head from when I was a child, I must have only been about 10 or something. I remember there was one time I showed my legs, it was probably a hot day and I put on some shorts or something. But I remember some of my family members being shocked at what my legs looked like. There were almost worried. As if I'd harmed myself in someway. It made me so sad, and even more determined to keep them covered up. 

As I grew up, I tried many different things to help my eczema and reduce the scars. Moisturisers, fake tan, "scar reducing lotions". My eczema wasn't always bad, I suffered from flare ups now and then, but it was really the scaring that got me down. I would do anything to improve the look of them. 

I figured out over the years that my eczema was triggered by the environment I was in. Dust, damp, mould, grass would all send my eczema haywire, and as soon as I was no longer around any of those things - my eczema did in fact clear up.

I haven't had a flare up in 7 years, and guess what - my scars have almost completely healed.

Patience, regular moisturising and removing any triggers from my environment and it feels almost like I never suffered in the first place. I feel free from it all to be honest.

If you are still reading, and this is something you are suffering with too, trust me, it gets better.

Figure out what triggers your eczema, moisturise multiple times a day, avoid perfumed products as much as you can and let your scars heal on their own.
They will eventually, I promise.

 

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