This sounds horrendous! I'm so sorry you've had to be so uncomfortable and hope that the new dermatologist was able to help long term. I really love how you've drawn this, though, especially the first four panels with the pink square background. Very clever use of colour throughout!
I am a very itchy person, too, and I am sorry you had to go through this. It is so uncomfortable. My son had oozing eczema as a baby, and we completely got rid of it by washing him in the corn flour bath (no shampoo or washing stuff) after none of the medication worked! I figured I itch when I eat high amounts of sugar, like in chocolate! Anything with artificial sweeteners also makes me itch ( including xylitol). I hope you can find relief from your itch.
My GPs never gave me the very basic management advice that later day dermatologist provided. I always made to feel like why was I bugging the doctor with such a minor complaint
Oh Candy! I can completely relate being a lifelong eczema sufferer! I’m having a breakout this summer and never know what causes it, but menopause seems to have made it worse! Maybe I should go and see someone about it too… until then Emollients and hydrocortisone cream for me!!!!!! Ugh 😣 I hope you have found a way to ease your scratching now?
It's a lifelong struggle! I have wounds that never heal. They get better with steroids but you have to take long steroid holidays during which they fester. I'm so much better informed now though and I know how to keep infection at bay.
Speaking of emollients, that dermatologist in the comic was the first one to inform me how dangerous emollients in tubs were to sufferers like me! Tubes and pumps henceforth!
Goodness what a nightmare Candy, I am sorry you had all of those words to deal with on top of the sticks and stones. I’ve had eczema since I was a baby, worst always on my hands , but at least my family and friends were supportive and understanding. I’m so glad you found a good specialist.
My first specialist encounter was my absolute worst skin experience. We had just moved to Edinburgh, knew utterly nobody, my husband was working lots and I was caring for three lively pre-school children. My skin was a wreck, especially my hands. I went to a specialist (arrogant man in his 60’s) who gave me a massive lecture about the damage I caused to my skin by using baby wipes (without giving me a moment to say that I never did on health and environmental grounds) then told me that to get better the only thing I could do was to go away from my family for at least two months and look after myself! I cried so much after that appointment. He did send me for patch skin testing though and I’m also allergic to hydrocortisone. With time I’m learning all the things that are my triggers; my guinea pigs are worst but next it’s water, then stress. Happily I’ve not yet found any dietary triggers.
Oh Candy, this is lovely and funny and heartbreaking. Words are so powerful, aren't they? I'm so sorry you turned out to be allergic to hydrocortisone, but I'm glad you know it now!
Oh no you poor thing! There’s nothing worse than an ailment which is constant - be it pain, itchiness, buzzing etc. It can really really wear you down and make you miserable. Are you actually allergic to hydrocortisone??! I hope stopping it helped. The body is such an odd contraption, isn’t it? We’re all unique so it can be hard to find the right thing that works for you. James was really itchy as a teen then we discovered he was allergic to dog dander… but when he went vegan for three years (unrelated to his allergies) he reset something (maybe his gut microbiome??) and he no longer reacts to dogs even though he’s an omnivore again… but strangely he now sneezes with pollen whereas it had no effect before! Very unexpected and bizarre.
Oh Candy! Bloody hell. All the way through childhood, teenage years, motherhood adulthood and it took until the storms of the menopause to find a good doctor who really understood what a horrible thing you’d been suffering. And uncontrollable itching is horrible-totally inescapably nasty.
Sending a big air hug- anything else might set off the itch monster. Your drawings are ACE , so funny but also so very heartfelt. Bravo! Xxxxx
Thanks for the sympathy. Mind you it takes a period of exposure time for plant allergies to trigger. My hayfever only came to the blazing fore after three years of living, allergyless, in England
Ohhhh that’s interesting. It took him around 5 years ! It’s odd though, as we live on the edge of the forest and the trees burst into flower here every year and he’s now sneezing with them too, but he had nary a sniffle for all the years he lived here, it was always the skin. Now the skin doesn’t react at all! Hope your beautiful white flowered tree and the glorious garden isn’t giving you too much grief!
My white flowered tree has lost all its flowers and is now creating sticky fruit to drop on our heads. I'm in full management mode though, in this season!
Holy hell, Candy! I've never heard of anyone being allergic to hydrocortisone.
I so identified with the itching (not the family meanness). I have eczema or dermatitis, which just seems to be doctor speak for you itch and I don't know why. Lots of things seem to make it flare. But worst of all is coffee.
Love this one.
Thank you
This sounds horrendous! I'm so sorry you've had to be so uncomfortable and hope that the new dermatologist was able to help long term. I really love how you've drawn this, though, especially the first four panels with the pink square background. Very clever use of colour throughout!
Thanks, Martina! I'm very insecure about using colour so you've made my day!
I am a very itchy person, too, and I am sorry you had to go through this. It is so uncomfortable. My son had oozing eczema as a baby, and we completely got rid of it by washing him in the corn flour bath (no shampoo or washing stuff) after none of the medication worked! I figured I itch when I eat high amounts of sugar, like in chocolate! Anything with artificial sweeteners also makes me itch ( including xylitol). I hope you can find relief from your itch.
We've tried everything with my kids too. It feels like a life sentence.
Oh this was so sad to read... but I absolutely loved the punchline at the end! Your artwork is great, I really enjoyed reading your comic.
Thank you!
I LOVE your drawings but this made me so sad. I itch. My grandchildren itch. It's horrible! It's an area that definitely needs more research.
My GPs never gave me the very basic management advice that later day dermatologist provided. I always made to feel like why was I bugging the doctor with such a minor complaint
Oh Candy! I can completely relate being a lifelong eczema sufferer! I’m having a breakout this summer and never know what causes it, but menopause seems to have made it worse! Maybe I should go and see someone about it too… until then Emollients and hydrocortisone cream for me!!!!!! Ugh 😣 I hope you have found a way to ease your scratching now?
It's a lifelong struggle! I have wounds that never heal. They get better with steroids but you have to take long steroid holidays during which they fester. I'm so much better informed now though and I know how to keep infection at bay.
Speaking of emollients, that dermatologist in the comic was the first one to inform me how dangerous emollients in tubs were to sufferers like me! Tubes and pumps henceforth!
Yes I have learned of the tub dangers too, and now only buy pumps and tubes! The quest for the miracle cream continues 😬
I can't believe GPs still prescribe aqueous cream in tubs!
Sorry, I wrote you an essay there! This comic is just fantastic, can you please publish it somehow for itchiness sufferers of all types?
Goodness what a nightmare Candy, I am sorry you had all of those words to deal with on top of the sticks and stones. I’ve had eczema since I was a baby, worst always on my hands , but at least my family and friends were supportive and understanding. I’m so glad you found a good specialist.
My first specialist encounter was my absolute worst skin experience. We had just moved to Edinburgh, knew utterly nobody, my husband was working lots and I was caring for three lively pre-school children. My skin was a wreck, especially my hands. I went to a specialist (arrogant man in his 60’s) who gave me a massive lecture about the damage I caused to my skin by using baby wipes (without giving me a moment to say that I never did on health and environmental grounds) then told me that to get better the only thing I could do was to go away from my family for at least two months and look after myself! I cried so much after that appointment. He did send me for patch skin testing though and I’m also allergic to hydrocortisone. With time I’m learning all the things that are my triggers; my guinea pigs are worst but next it’s water, then stress. Happily I’ve not yet found any dietary triggers.
I feel for you re your specialist encounter. People are strange about eczema.
Even skin specialists are sometimes, which is especially unhelpful!
Water! That's so unfair!
Oh my, I enjoyed your drawings while feeling the pain and agony you went through. Thank you for sharing.
Salamat. The skin stuff continues but at least the pain and agony is in the long ago past
Oh Candy, this is lovely and funny and heartbreaking. Words are so powerful, aren't they? I'm so sorry you turned out to be allergic to hydrocortisone, but I'm glad you know it now!
They prescribe Protopic instead of hydrocortison now, but it makes my skin itch more.
Thanks, Joy. Sticks and stones don't hold a candle to words!
Oh no you poor thing! There’s nothing worse than an ailment which is constant - be it pain, itchiness, buzzing etc. It can really really wear you down and make you miserable. Are you actually allergic to hydrocortisone??! I hope stopping it helped. The body is such an odd contraption, isn’t it? We’re all unique so it can be hard to find the right thing that works for you. James was really itchy as a teen then we discovered he was allergic to dog dander… but when he went vegan for three years (unrelated to his allergies) he reset something (maybe his gut microbiome??) and he no longer reacts to dogs even though he’s an omnivore again… but strangely he now sneezes with pollen whereas it had no effect before! Very unexpected and bizarre.
Oh Candy! Bloody hell. All the way through childhood, teenage years, motherhood adulthood and it took until the storms of the menopause to find a good doctor who really understood what a horrible thing you’d been suffering. And uncontrollable itching is horrible-totally inescapably nasty.
Sending a big air hug- anything else might set off the itch monster. Your drawings are ACE , so funny but also so very heartfelt. Bravo! Xxxxx
Thanks, Debi, air hugging you back!
Thanks for the sympathy. Mind you it takes a period of exposure time for plant allergies to trigger. My hayfever only came to the blazing fore after three years of living, allergyless, in England
Ohhhh that’s interesting. It took him around 5 years ! It’s odd though, as we live on the edge of the forest and the trees burst into flower here every year and he’s now sneezing with them too, but he had nary a sniffle for all the years he lived here, it was always the skin. Now the skin doesn’t react at all! Hope your beautiful white flowered tree and the glorious garden isn’t giving you too much grief!
My white flowered tree has lost all its flowers and is now creating sticky fruit to drop on our heads. I'm in full management mode though, in this season!
Holy hell, Candy! I've never heard of anyone being allergic to hydrocortisone.
I so identified with the itching (not the family meanness). I have eczema or dermatitis, which just seems to be doctor speak for you itch and I don't know why. Lots of things seem to make it flare. But worst of all is coffee.
Imagine my shock when the results came in. I had no idea.