Skin Diaries | My Eczema and Acne story

Happy Thursday everyone!

This is a very new and very scary post for me... but also something I've thought about sharing for a very long time. Those who know me will probably already know most of this story, and probably don't need to hear it again! But I don't know many people who have struggled with BOTH of the skin conditions that I have struggled with. I decided that now that things are starting to get under control, it would be a good time to share this part of my story, knowing that it's not the end and probably something I will suffer with forever.

For a very long time now I have had challenges with my skin, particularly on my face.

I have suffered with eczema all my life. When I was younger I'd get patches between my elbows and behind my knees, and on my hands, and still struggle with this if I don't look after myself properly.

When I was a teenager I suffered with the normal acne which comes with hormonal changes, but generally this cleared up towards the end of my school years.

Towards the end of 6th form and as I went to university, my eczema got pretty bad on my face, not something I had experienced before. My skin was very dry, it would flake off so easily. It also then got very itchy and weepy, particularly around my hairline, something that only healed up using strong hydrocortisone creams. I'd wake up with my eyes swollen up, and red enflamed skin all over my face.

I kept going back to the doctors and I'd just be given more steroid creams to manage the flair ups. You can see in these pictures the flaky and weepy skin and swollen eyes, all something which became part of my normal routine. You can also see in the top left picture it continued down my neck, and I remember being at work with my lanyard on and it just feeling so sore. I generally used my hair to cover my face as I couldn't wear make up to cover it. All the while also having acne flair ups, which continued to make it sore. Generally the winter months are worse than the summer, but I found and continue to find that Aveeno is the best moisturiser for my face. It didn't sting and it stopped it from feeling dry. And when I do have a flair up, I put on some steroid cream to take away the infection. 

One reason why I try and avoid the doctors, as mentioned above, is that I'll be given another steroid, which works, but I know that continued use isn't very kind on our skin. Over the years I've continued to try hard to drink enough water, which to be honest when I'm working I'm really not very good at! I'm aware that actually so much of what our skin shows is a reflection on what we are eating, so I'm conscious to make sure I'm eating all the right foods. I know that nightshades have an impact on inflammation and try to avoid these as much as I can. I've started to take probiotics and also take a fish oil supplement. I've also started looking into oils, serums and acids, after some research into Caroline Hirens and her wealth of skin wisdom! These are all things I've researched into myself, I'd love to have more professional information on all of these things!

Through 2019 I started to have some issues with the hormones I had started taking. At the beginning of 2020 I went back to the doctors and was given some more hormones, which made my skin even worse. Nothing had changed other than the progesterone so I put it down to that. See the photos below.

I tried lots of things before going back to the doctors, when I decided I had to see someone for it. They prescribed me some antibiotics to help clear up my skin, and so far it has definitely helped. They also suggested I use Epiduo, which I have used before, and the purpose of this is to dry out acne prone areas. However, this completely flairs up my eczema as it is such a strong cream. I mix it with my moisturiser to try and lessen it's strength. This is something I've constantly found hard, having severe combination skin. It's both oily and very dry and sensitive, so what do I treat first?! See the photos below which I took each week to see the change in my skin. 

Seeing this altogether makes me realise how much has changed in a short space of time! I haven't been wearing make up much a at all being at home, so this has been a chance for my skin to breath.

SO. I realise that's a lot of info to take in. I thought I'd do a summary about what I'm doing right now to continue to look after my skin:

• Drinking water
• Eating well (mostly... I do love a banana bread)
• Keeping my skin clean e.g. changing pillow cases often, using cleanish make up tools, trying not to touch my face (I'm pretty bad at this one... but am trying!)
• Caring for my skin with a proper skin care routine which I do morning and evening (perhaps I'll talk a bit about this in another blog post?)
• Taking fish oil and probiotic supplements
• Getting sleep
• Exercising

What can be really challenging with both of these skin types is it's not completely obvious what makes in angry, and generally it can be a combination of these things. Here's what I think affects me the most:

• Stress
• Not sleeping enough
• Alcohol
• Unhealthy food
• Exercise (sweat and redness tends to make it sore!)
• Dirt
• Hormones!

And this is what my skin looks like right now, without any make up. This is me fresh faced!:

I wanted to share these pictures and this part of my story so that people can see and understand that sometimes social media doesn't show the whole story! I'm also aware that people have got both of these skin conditions much worse than I have experienced, and my heart completely goes out to you because I know how sore and crushing even this can be. Wanting to cover up my face, knowing that it'll only make it worse has been a horrible position to be in. Know that you are not alone. 

I really hope this brings you some encouragement, whether this is something you relate to or not. I'd like to keep doing posts as part of this new 'Skin Diaries' series to keep track of my skin, and to potentially help others who might be suffering too!

Thank you so much for reading, I hope you have a great week!

Emily xx

*Photos have been edited with a preset but nothing has been altered on my skin!