02/01/2011 by Nicki.

Well I have just been on a lovely trip to Austria skiing! It is only my second time and I really enjoyed it although it takes a different kind of planning from the summer holidays.

For a start I instantly felt grateful for the indoor smoking ban in England as in Austria smoking is permitted indoors and is quite common. Combine that with exercising in the cold conditions and your eczema can be quite bad.

For some reason my skin managed to hold off and I only had a few dry patches where all my heavy ski wear would rub. I was lucky and (if I say so myself) fully prepared for all kinds of eczema that cropped up. Something has to be said as well for letting your hair down and not stressing about these kinds of things!

 Nicki x

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21/11/2010 by Nicki.

I am going maaadd in this weather! Trying to wrap up work before Christmas means that I’m more stressed than usual and the harsh conditions aren’t doing anything to help.

 As many of you will know the constant change in temperature doesn’t help, outside in the bitter cold and straight inside to a heated house is very confusing for the skin! I’ve now made a rule for myself that I won’t go outside without being fully kitted out in gloves (someone asked me if I work in the fields at the weekend as my hands are so ruined!), scarf and hat. I also carry moisturiser religiously in my handbag so I can top up during the day.

 I have always sworn by layering so I can quickly adjust to the temperature. For me, wearing a thick jumper and coat for example has never worked, especially in London on the tube and running around the whole time! I literally layer up; top, thin  jumper, thick caridgan, thin coat, as the constant changing in temperature has an instant effect of my skin and I can quickly adjust.

 My fingers are just crossed the temperature doesn’t dip anymore!!

Nicki x

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24/10/2010 by Nicki.

Sometimes when your skin is really bad everyone is trying to solve it in the most logical way but really when you take a step back other things can help.

 Pilates has really helped me de-stress, or Yoga as Clare mentioned before, focusing on something else for an hour can really take your mind off the itching and calm you down. It also helps that you don’t sweat as much as usual doing this kind of exercise, so you can still work out but without driving your skin mad…It’s important to find something to take your mind of things and I know that when my skin was really bad I didn’t want to go out or see anyone, but it really makes you feel better!

One of the best things I discovered, albeit a bit late at 21,was anti-itch cream. I had never thought about it before, just using creams given to me by the doctor and always complaining they didn’t stop the itching, without thinking they often aren’t designed to stop the itching…I think it’s also good to give your skin from heavy-duty creams and use something basic!

 Nicki x

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12/10/2010 by Nicki.

One of the most successful treatments I’ve had is the wet bandage method, has anyone else tried it? It all seemed a bit strange when it was explained to me…cover yourself in emollient, then put warm damp tube bandages over the top. My bandages had punched holes in the end so every evening they would be tied together, so all in all I had them on my torso, legs and arms linked with string under my nightie.

My Mum tells the story of my Nan hitting the roof when she told her of the method and she thought we had all lost the plot, however something so simple was so relieving! It cooled my skin down and didn’t dry it out (due to the thick layer of emollient first) and an added plus was that I couldn’t itch my skin whilst I was sleeping.

 I’ve heard a couple of people use the method since, has it worked for anyone else? When I had a relapse of bad eczema at university this was something I revisited and remembered why I loved it so much!

Nicki x

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