Category Archives: Eczema

TEEN Mom 2 Kailyn Lowry shared her fears for baby Creed, 11 months.

Her youngest son has been suffering hives and eczema from a mystery allergy.

Follow all our latest news & stories on Teen Mom.

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Kailyn told her co-host Lindsey Chrisley on their podcast Coffee Convos: "I've been really really weird about certain pictures that I post where people can be like is that a shadow? Or what is that?

"...Creed is allergic to something or somethings. We have not figured out what it is exactly, but basically, I've taken him to the allergist before we left for our trip. And he said the eczema that he had is an underlying sign that he is allergic to other things.

"And basically, it's a double edge sword because he has the eczema, and obviously, that makes him more prone to worse reactions. The skin doesn't know how to handle the allergins, and it makes it worse because it's hives on top of his eczema.

Kailyn shared how Creed will soon go for allergy testing to rule out certain food intolerances and she confirmed: "He's definitely allergic to something. We just haven't figured it out."

The mom-of-four also recently told Lindsie on the podcast she had to rush Creed to the emergency room during their Punta Cana vacation after the child injured his head.

TheTeen Mom 2star flew to the tropical location with family and friends for what she hoped would be a relaxing vacation with her four sons.

Kailyn shared: "Let me just say, Creed is fine. He's perfectly fine. But he's scaling things. I went to put him down and he went to go grab the edge of the table to like scale it," she explained.

"The table caught the corner of his eyebrow and they did take him up at the emergency room. They put little butterfly stitches on him.

"He's good, he's fine, but what an amazing trip so far," the reality star added sarcastically.

Kailyn also recently discussed the guestlist for Creed's upcoming first birthday on herBaby Mamas No Dramapodcast with co-host Vee Rivera: "I invited you, and I did invite Javi. And I invited a couple members of Chris' family but I did not invite Chris.

"But things are not good. So it's to be expected I feel like... He'll do his own situation, which is fine."

The TV personality is also the mother to sons Isaac, 11, with ex Jo Rivera and Lux, three, and Creed, 11 months, with ex Chris Lopez.

On last week's episode of Teen Mom 2, Kailyn refused to discuss her explosive custody battle with Chris.

Early on in the episode,Kailynand Chris got into an argument that took place off-camera.

Chrisargued he wanted 50/50 custody of their sons, Lux, three, and Creed, 11 months, while Kailyn insisted he negotiate with the lawyers so they can settle the matter out of court.

However, the exes ultimately ended up fighting it out in court.

Following the virtual hearing, theMTVstar told a producer: The judge made a ruling and I just dont want to talk about it. It just is what is it.

Kailyn further explained that the judge stated in the court documents that this is not to be discussed or shared on social media or the TV show.

She continued: I definitely think Im trying to handle things better now.

I think it wouldve been much more explosive if this was five years ago or ten years ago, but Im able to kind of deal with my emotions differently and navigate through tough things like this a lot differently with the help of therapy and really committing to that

The custody battle between Kailyn and Chris is not the only drama between the exes.

Last year, Kailyn wasarrestedafter "punching Chris several times with a closed fist"over their eldest child's haircut.

The Sun revealedin February that the charges against the MTV star were dropped.

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Teen Mom Kailyn Lowry fears for youngest son Creed, 11 months, while he suffers hives and eczema from... - The US Sun

Sunburn, scratched by a cat and itchy eczema are just some of the unbelievable 999 calls to ambulance service during its busiest ever week.

West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) has highlighted that demand for the 999 service has risen by more than 50 per cent compared to levels that would normally be expected at this time of year.

In fact, last week WMAS saw a 57.9 per cent rise in emergency calls, with 40,839 emergency calls made compared to 25,870 for the same week in 2019 before the pandemic.

READ MORE: Mapped: The areas in Coventry and Warwickshire with the highest Covid rates

Call handlers have reported some extraordinary 999 calls for non-emergency issues such as sunburn, someone who had been scratched by a cat and a case of someone whose eczema that was particularly itchy.

It has been stressed that while all may have needed clinical help, they were not appropriate for a 999 call and bosses have urged people to use the 111 online service.

WMAS chief executive Anthony Marsh said: We are rightly prioritising those patients that are the sickest or most severely injured; everyone who needs an ambulance will get one, but in some cases there are some patients who could access the care they need using other options other than dialling 999.

"Our ambulance crews, 999 and 111 call handlers, volunteers and the many other teams who ensure we can respond to patients as quickly as possible, are working flat out as we see increase demand for our services.

"As has been the case throughout the pandemic, the public can play their part by using 111 online for urgent advice but calling 999 in life threatening cases."

He went on: "I would also ask that patients and their loved ones also only call us back if the patients condition worsens, not to check what time their ambulance will arrive. We simply cant tell you the answer and while we are answering that call it may delay us answering a call such as a cardiac arrest where every second counts."

WMAS urges that people contact 999 if they experience:

WMAS say a number of factors are behind the rise in calls including the warmer weather, an increase in Covid transmission rates in the community, an increase in the public spending time outside as restrictions ease.

Also more demand on hospitals mean its crews cannot offload patients quickly which has a knock-on effect on the Trusts ability to get to patients quickly.

"This is a really tough time for ambulance staff and the volunteers who support us, who are working round the clock to deal with the huge increase in call numbers, and Id like to pay tribute to their continued efforts to ensure patients get the care they need," the WMAS chief said.

"With pressure on services still high, the public can help us to help them by using 111 online to get medical advice, and of course the most important thing we can all do at the moment is get the COVID-19 vaccine - both doses - which protects us, our families and friends and will help to reduce pressure on the NHS as well."

People can access 111 online here.

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Scratched by a cat, sunburn and itchy eczema: Some of the unbelievable 999 calls to ambulance service - Coventry Live

A meta-analysis by Australian researchers found no link between childhood vaccinations and an increase in allergies and asthma. In fact, children who received the BCG vaccine actually had a lesser incidence of eczema than other children, but there was no difference shown in any of the allergies or asthma.

The researchers, in a report published in the journal Allergy, said, "we have found no evidence that childhood vaccination with commonly administered vaccines was associated with increased risk of later allergic diseases."

"The epidemic was first noted in developed countries, but developing countries are catching up,"said Caroline J. Lodge, PhD, principal research fellow at the University of Melbourne inAustralia, and one of the authors, in an interview with Medscape Medical News. "In developing countries, it is still a crisis." No one knows why, and that was the reason for the recent study, she said.

Allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis and food allergies have a serious influence on quality of life, and the incidence is growing. According to the Global Asthma Network, there are 334 million people living with asthma. Between 2% and 10% of adults have atopic eczema, and more than a quarter of a million people have food allergies. This coincides temporally with an increase in mass vaccination of children. "This is especially true of asthma and to a lesser extent, food allergies," Lodge said.

Unlike the controversy surrounding vaccinations and autism, which has long been debunked as baseless, a hygiene hypothesis postulates that vaccination may influence children's immune responses to become more allergic.

That immunity leads to suppression of a major antibody response, increasing sensitivity to allergens and allergic disease. Suspicions of a link with childhood vaccinations has been used by opponents of vaccines in lobbying campaigns jeopardizing the sustainability of vaccine programs. In recent days, for example, Tennessee has halted a program to encourage vaccination for COVID-19 as well as all other vaccinations, the result of pressure on the state by antivaccination lobbying.

But the Melbourne researchers reported that the systematic review of 42 published research studies doesn't support the vaccine-allergy hypothesis. Using PubMed and EMBASE records between January 1946 and January 2018, researchers selected studies to be included in the analysis, looking for allergic outcomes in children given BCG, or vaccines for measles or pertussis. Thirty-five publications reported cohort studies, and seven were based on randomized, controlled trials.

Vaccination was compared with placebo or with no vaccination. "These represent the best objective evidence," Lodge said. "They showed no increase in allergic disease and suggested protection from eczema."

The Australian study is not the only one showing the same lack of linkage between vaccination and allergy. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood found no association between mass vaccination and atopic disease. A Swedish study of 669 children found no differences in the incidence of allergic diseases between those who received pertussis vaccine and those who did not.

"The bottom line is that vaccines prevent infectious diseases," said Matthew B. Laurens, MD, associate professor of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, in an interview with Medscape Medical News. Laurens was not part of the Australian study. "Large-scale epidemiological studies do not support the theory that vaccines are associated with an increased risk of allergy or asthma. Parents should not be deterred from vaccinating their children because of fears that this would increase risks of allergy and/or asthma."

Allergy. Published online March 20, 2021. Abstract

Lodge and Laurens report no relevant financial relationships.

Joel Shurkin was a national reporter for Reuters in New York and covered the space program. He was science editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer and science writer and instructor in science journalism at Stanford University, the University of California Santa Cruz, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He was part of the team that won a Pulitzer Prize at the Inquirer. He is the author of 10 books on science and the history of science.

For more news, follow Medscape on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

The rest is here:
No Link Between Childhood Vaccinations and Allergies or Asthma - Medscape

Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are plants that can cause an allergic skin reaction. These poisonous plants contain an oil that can trigger the bodys immune system and produce a rash. Becoming familiar with the appearance of these plants can help a person identify and prevent an allergic rash from exposure.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that while the expression leaves of three, let it be can be helpful for identifying poison ivy and poison oak, this is not true for poison sumac, as this plant usually has clusters of 713 leaves. Additionally, some species of poison ivy and oak may also have more than 3 leaves.

If a person suspects contact with one of these plants, the CDC recommends they wash the exposed skin and scrub their nails. When a rash appears, applying wet compresses or hydrocortisone cream can help reduce itching and blistering. However, if the rash is severe or if someone is having trouble breathing, they should get immediate medical attention.

In this article, we discuss how a person can identify poison oak, poison ivy, and poison sumac, as well as symptoms, treatment, and prevention of the rash.

Toxicodendron is a group, or genus, of woody plants belonging to the Anacardiaceae family. The name derives from the Greek words for toxic tree. The Toxicodendron genus includes a number of plants known for their toxicity that grow throughout the United States.

The key to avoiding exposure to poison oak, ivy, and sumac is being able to recognize them. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides the below information on how to identify the plants:

Poison oak grows in long vines or tall clumps on the Pacific Coast. It is also present in the southern and eastern United States as a low shrub. The plant has fuzzy green leaves, usually in groupings of three. The leaves of poison oak are typically either deeply toothed or lobed with rounded tips. Yellow-white berries may be present.

Poison ivy grows throughout the 48 contiguous states except for parts of the West Coast. It grows as a small shrub or vine trailing along the ground. The plant may also grow on low plants, poles, and trees.

Every leaf has three glossy leaflets that have toothed or smooth edges. The leaves are green in summer, reddish in the spring, and red, orange, or yellow in the fall. Whitish-yellow berries and greenish-white flowers may be present.

Poison sumac grows as a small tree or tall shrub in swamps or bogs in the Midwest, Northeast, and parts of the Southeast. The leaves consist of clusters of 713 leaflets with smooth edges, which are green in summer, orange in the spring, and red, orange, or yellow in the fall. Yellow-greenish flowers and clusters of whitish-green berries may be present.

When poison oak, ivy, and sumac are damaged, bruised, or burned, they release an oil called urushiol. If it gets on a pesons skin, most people experience an allergic reaction that manifests as an itchy, red rash with blisters or bumps. Exposure to just 50 micrograms, which is less than one grain of table salt, can trigger a rash in 8090% of adults.

Exposure may result from:

Following exposure, the time it takes for a rash to appear depends on whether a person has had a prior rash from poison ivy, oak, or sumac. Typically, if an individual has not had a previous rash from the plants, the rash usually appears within 23 weeks. In someone who has experienced a previous rash from the plants, the rash may manifest within 448 hours.

Symptoms may include:

Most people who get the rash experience the following course:

The CDC recommend these measures if a person is exposed to poison ivy, oak or sumac:

If a rash appears, take the following steps:

A person can do several things to try and prevent a rash. The FDA advises the below practices:

The FDA recommends seeing a doctor if:

Sometimes a person may need more urgent care. The CDC advise immediate medical attention if the rash is severe or if it is on the face or genitals.

If a person has a severe allergic reaction, such as difficulty breathing or swelling, or if they have had a severe allergic reaction in the past, they require immediate help. Call 911 or take them to a hospital emergency room.

Toxicodendron plants, such as poison oak, ivy, and sumac are poisonous plants that can secrete a toxic oil called urushiol. Learning to identify these plants and being able to differentiate them from similar plants is the most important way to prevent exposure. It is also important to remember that exposure can be indirect, such as touching garden tools and pets that have had contact with the plants, or from inhaling smoke from burning plants.

Following contact, a rash may appear within a few hours to 23 weeks. The rash will typically go away without treatment, but medications, such as hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion, and antihistamine tablets, can relieve itching and make a person feel more comfortable.

If a person has an extreme reaction to these plants, it is advisable they receive immediate medical attention if an exposure occurs.

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How to identify and treat poison oak, ivy, and sumac rashes - Medical News Today

Beauty is a full-blown obsession for Charlene Ng, who admits to having spent a substantial part of her youth in Watsons stores poring over the labels of skincare and haircare products as a hobby.

It comes as no surprise, then, that the communications graduate headed straight for the beauty industry upon completing her studies working in various beauty-related professions, including as an aesthetician, beauty consultant and skincare trainer and later went on to acquire a diploma in beauty therapy.

The idea of starting a skincare brand had quietly sat in the back of her mind since those years. Its the ultimate dream for any beauty junkie an aspiration that Ng realised as she became a mother of two, and discovered how she could finally apply her passion and knowledge to solving a personal issue.

When her baby son had bad skin reactions to the products she was using on him, she realised how young childrens skin had very specific needs that were still not being fully addressed by existing products in the current market.

My son had an eczema flare-up due to two different brands of organic skincare. They are very well-loved brands, but unfortunately, just not suitable for him. There could be many reasons for it for example, the combination of essential oils. Not all natural, organic ingredients are always suitable for everyone they can cause skin irritation in some, said Ng.

My son had an eczema flare-up due to two different brands of organic skincare.

The only thing that worked for her son were dermatologist-prescribed products, which were costly, especially with high-frequency usage. Ng felt that theres a market for more-sophisticated formulations gentle enough for newborns skin which are easier on the wallet at that. This spurred her to start her own skincare brand, A Tapirs Tale.

MAKING SKINCARE BETTER FOR BABIES

Just recently launched online, her line of gentle skincare formulations currently consists of four products designed to cover an infants essential skincare needs.

ButA Tapirs Tale is far from being basic Ng raised the game by also utilising premium ingredients that will benefit babies delicate skin, but are uncommonly found in other childrens skincare brands in the market.

We are applying the innovation that you are seeing in premium womens skincare to baby and family skincare, which is a rarity.

We are applying the innovation that you are seeing in premium womens skincare to baby and family skincare, which is a rarity. I went in this direction because baby skincare is hardly innovated upon, and I wanted to bring something new to the table," explained Ng.

"A lot of brands do not use these ingredients as they can be expensive to procure and use in baby skincare, which is a market that tends to be sidelined in favour of the bigger adult skincare market."

A Tapirs Tale uses ingredients such as hydrolysed hyaluronic acid, soybean peptides, ceramides and squalane, which are more commonly found in adult skincare as they are lab-tested and have proven efficacies and benefits for the skin.

In addition, we use skin-comforting, nature-derived ingredients traditionally used in Japan and elsewhere to treat sensitive skin. For example, we have Prunus Yedonesis (cherry blossom leaf), Scutellaria Baicalensis, and Centella Asiatica, which are antioxidants that provide anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing properties," she said.

"I worked with a Japanese pharmaceutical manufacturer to formulate them into a gentle skincare line suitable for the sensitive skin of newborns, even those with atopic conditions."

A BALANCE BETWEEN PRICE AND QUALITY

Skin issues, such as eczema, are getting very common in Singapore. Children, particularly, seem to be increasingly afflicted by them, while parents are also more aware of such conditions these days and actively search for products or treatments that help alleviate and prevent them.

As I did my market research, I was surprised to see that there isnt as much innovation in baby skincare as there is in adults, especially when baby skin is more delicate than adult skin," revealed Ng.

"Additionally, I found out some adults do want to use baby products as a gentler alternative, but feel that they will not be able to provide any additional benefits for the skin except for basic moisture. I wanted to try and create something new yet gentle and effective."

Many women (and even men) are using the latest and best skincare products. When they become mothers, they do not want to compromise that expectation of quality and efficacy for their children.

She pointed out the existence of a huge range of price points in the market, including mass-market and luxury brands.

These various brands do meet different needs and preferences. For A Tapirs Tale, I wanted to bring in innovation at what I call a premium but still affordable price point, which is below US$30 (about S$40), she shared.

A lot of consumers care about brand quality and innovation. You see brands such as The Ordinary and Drunk Elephant getting a lot of fanfare. A Tapirs Tale does not compete on price necessarily, but our value is in the quality and innovation in our products," she said.

"Many women (and even men) are using the latest and best skincare products. When they become mothers, they do not want to compromise that expectation of quality and efficacy for their children."

HANDLE WITH CARE, PLEASE

We all know that babies skin is delicate but did you know that it is physiologically different from that of older children and adults?

Babies skin is not yet fully developed and has a thinner skin structure, making it easier to get skin irritation. There are many causes and allergens, such as soaps, pollen, pet dander, foods, pollution and even the weather. Hence, sometimes parents might find their babies with an unexplained rash or skin irritation, Ng said.

Babies skin is not yet fully developed and has a thinner skin structure, making it easier to get skin irritation.

Because of its delicate nature, an infants skin will thus require regular but gentle cleansing and adequate care. The oil glands in babies skin are less developed than an adults and function poorly. Hence, their skin can get dry quite easily. Long baths, hot water and strong cleansers that degrease the skin are unnecessary and irritating to babies and younger children, she explained.

Ng also stressed the importance of putting sunscreen on babies and children.

Their skin has less melanin than adults. Melanin is the pigment that gives colour to the skin and protects against cellular damage from sunlight exposure. In addition, kids may spend large amounts of time outdoors playing, which means many of them may receive more than triple the UVB exposure, compared to the average adult.

This explains why A Tapirs Tale's initial launch has all the fundamentals babies and children need a hair and body cleanser, moisturisers in two different texturesand a sunblock.

We do not want to extend our product range too fast, preferring to just focus on releasing one or two products a year. I do have some ideas in mind, but more research is needed, shared Ng. Shes also had many requests to ship her products internationally, which she plans to do so in the near future.

A Tapirs Tale is among the first Singapore brands to offer baby skincare, but Ng believes it is the first that is formulated and manufactured in Japan. Starting up is not entirely a bed of roses but she takes comfort in the fact that she can finally accomplish what she hasalways wanted to do.

The tough part about starting your own brand is that you are a small fish in a big pond, and, because of that, it is not easy negotiating. Sometimes, youd also worry if your idea will be well received. However, every time I look at my kids, I am reminded of the fact that I am doing this because I wanted to create a skincare line that I would be happy to use on them, saidNg.

Available athttp://www.tapirstale.com/.

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The Singaporean mum who started a skincare brand that's safe for babies - CNA

Barney Raes painful eczema (Picture: Mercury Press & Media)

A 14-year-old boy with severe eczema has begged to be placed into an induced coma to escape the pain of the skin condition.

Barney Rae, from Bristol, Avon, was diagnosed last year, and the eczema has left him covered head to toe in itchy rashes and unable to sleep.

Despite trying many different remedies some which mum Miranda, 50, claims left him looking like hed been in an acid attack Barney is still in agony, telling his mum that he cant deal with the pain anymore.

The single mum is now desperate to help her beloved son get back to his normal self, by raising money for urgent and fast-tracked treatment to calm his skin once and for all.

Miranda, a radio broadcast manager, said: Barney is at his wits end. He just wants to go to sleep and wake up when the eczema is all gone.

Hes even said to me that he wants to be put in an induced coma because the pain is that bad.

Hes got to the point where hes too scared to sleep. He scratches himself unknowingly when hes asleep and will wake up bleeding head to toe.

Mum Miranda has said the past 10 months have been torture for Barney, because of his sleep deprivation and the fact he even blames himself for his skin issues.

Its heartbreaking to see my child go through this, especially at an age where hes so aware of what he looks like, she said.

Because Barney is allergic to many ingredients in home remedies and over-the-counter creams, hes struggled to find relief from the itching and cracked skin.

Prescribed creams also left him red and in excruciating pain, and long NHS waiting lists mean the family are now looking at private options.

Miranda said: Its got to the point now where Im so worried about him. He never used to have eczema on his face until now its everywhere and hes so self conscious about it.

Weve been putting bandages on to help him stop scratching but one night he came into me shocked and it looked like he had seen a ghost.

He was shaking and bleeding from his neck downwards, saying he couldnt believe what hed done to himself.

Because of the exhaustion, he doesnt realise hes itching and scratching himself red raw. Its a completely uncontrollable urge.

The side effects both short term like nausea and sickness, and long term like brittle bones of his current medication are difficult to deal with.

Oral steroids and leukaemia drug, Methotrexate,can be dangerous for Barneys immune system, meaning he has to isolate while he takes them. And after he finishes courses of meds, he often finds that his skin goes back to how it was before.

Miranda has now set up a fundraiser to raise money for a private specialist medical consultation which costs 300, and means she will have to pay for any prescribed treatment.

She added: Ive got to do whatever I can to improve Barneys situation and Im willing to do whatever it takes.

I just want to see him back to his normal self and I would give anything to take it away.

Seeing your child suffer like this on a daily basis is horrific.

Donate to Barneys private eczema treatment here.

Do you have a story youd like to share?

Get in touch at MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk.

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MORE : Can essential oils really help to boost your wellbeing?

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Boy with severe eczema begs to be 'put into coma' to escape pain of condition - Metro.co.uk

Q: We have several cats, and we provide foster care for kittens from a rescue organization. I am pregnant with my first child, and we don't want our child to grow up allergic to cats. While our child is young, should we stop fostering and limit access to our family cats?

A: Quite the opposite. For years, physicians have recognized that allergies are rare in children who grow up on farms.

More recent studies have shown that pets inside the home protect children from allergies, and the protection increases with the number of pets.

One study followed nearly 1,300 children from age 6 months through 8 to 9 years. Researchers noted the number of cats and dogs in the home and tracked the children's allergy symptoms, including asthma, eczema and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, a cause of sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes.

Nearly half the children without pets developed allergies. Significantly fewer children who lived with pets from infancy experienced allergies as they grew up.

Having more pets in the home was associated with a lower incidence of allergy. Children who lived with five or more pets were generally free of allergies.

Intriguingly, these children were protected from animal and pollen allergies, suggesting that the children's immune systems learned to tolerate allergens from the animals themselves and the pollens they carried on their fur.

Thus, allowing your child to interact with the family cats and foster kittens will be like a vaccination that provides protection from allergies.

Q: Katie, my cocker spaniel, has goopy eyes. Her veterinarian diagnosed dry eye and prescribed an eye ointment. If her eyes are dry, why is there so much thick goop coming from her eyes? Please explain dry eye.

A: Dry eye, officially called KCS or Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca, is dryness (sicca) of the clear surface of the eye, called the cornea (kerato-), and the conjunctiva, with subsequent inflammation (-itis).

Katie's eyes exude the goop you describe because her tear glands no longer produce enough of the watery portion of her tears to balance the mucus and fat components of the tears.

Clinical signs include a thick ocular discharge; redness and swelling of the conjunctiva; a dry, lusterless cornea; and red blood vessels or dark pigmentation on the cornea. KCS induces pain, so most affected dogs squint.

The disease has many causes, including a genetic predisposition in some breeds, destruction of the tear glands by the immune system, damage to the nerves controlling the tear glands, hypothyroidism, diabetes, Cushing's disease, surgical removal of the tear gland on the third eyelid, some viral infections and some drugs.

The most common treatment is an eye drop or ointment that increases tear production, such as cyclosporin or tacrolimus. These medications minimize pain and manage the disease well, but they don't cure it, so lifelong therapy is required. Dogs with eye infections secondary to KCS also need an antibiotic eye drop or ointment until the infection clears.

In rare cases when these medications are not effective, surgical treatment is helpful.

Without adequate therapy, the pain of KCS continues, and many dogs lose their vision. So, if Katie's eyes don't return to normal and remain that way, ask your veterinarian to recheck her eyes or refer you to a veterinary ophthalmologist.

Lee Pickett, VMD, practices companion animal medicine in North Carolina. Contact her at

vet@askthevet.pet

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Living with pets reduces future allergies in kids - Arkansas Online

On paper Jessica Livingstone has a perfect life. She has a good job, a partner who loves her and while her choice of pets - chickens - is unusual, but chooks can be the most affectionate pets and to Jessica, 25, they are family.

Even her partner has become used to the feathered friends walking into the couple's home and jumping on Jessica for a cuddle.

But Jessica's life is anything but perfect. For as long as she can remember Jessica has suffered from debilitating eczema and a bone growth disorder that sometimes sees her scratch her skin raw.

"I remember my mother telling me when I was born I was purple for about three or four days," the Queensland woman tells 9Honey.

The purple pigment started to fade but Jessica's mother was told to keep an eye out for any other skin issues and it wasn't long before they presented themselves.

Eczema is more than just itchy, flaky skin.

"It messes around with everything," Jessica explains. "It messes around with your mental health and your day-to-day life. You don't feel like leaving the house because everyone stares at you. I can't war a bra because it is too uncomfortable, especially when I have rashes so I don't want to leave the house."

Even having to wear a face mask during the coronavirus pandemic has proved challenging for her sensitive skin. Thankfully she works outdoors as a heavy machine operator so doesn't typically have to wear a face mask on the job.

RELATED: 'If we have sex, we'll have to turn the lights off': Melbourne woman's experience of dating with eczema

"Also I get no sleep," she continues. "As soon as I get a rash my body temperature flares. I go from hot to cold to hot constantly. Some mornings I wake up in agony because I have spent the whole night scratching in my sleep, tearing up my body."

It's hard for Jessica to decide which is worse for her condition - summer or winter.

"During summer I scratch and sweat and my body temperature is high," she says. "So the scratching is continuous. In winter my skin is so dry no matter what I do, I can't keep on top of it. Wet wraps, lotion, it's never enough."

Her school days felt like torture.

"When I was in primary school I remember being bullied," she says. "Kids would say I've got a disease that is contagious and disgusting... constant stuff. Basically I didn't have any friends in primary school or high school."

After finishing school Jessica became used to going to work and then heading straight home to be alone.

"That's when the depression and anxiety kicked in."

It was finding her partner and her beloved chickens that helped her find the strength to continue on.

"I ended up finding different outlets [to deal with my depression] including gardening and my chickens, my girls, they changed my life."

Jessica says as soon as she gets home they "come running up to me."

"As soon as they hear the garage door go up they come running up as if to go, 'Where's the corn?'"

She's even started an Instagram account for her "girls" @behindthelivesofchickens.

Jessica has explored every single avenue for treatment for her condition and dermatologists have reached their limits as to what they can offer.

"I completely despise steroid creams," she says. Steroid creams for eczema are only recommended in the short term because they can thin the skin.

"If I use them long term I'm not going to have any skin layers left," Jessica explains.

Simple beauty treatments such as squeezing a pimple or waxing the hair under her arms and her legs results in skin coming off.

She's also lost most of her nails as a result of the condition.

Severe eczema, the kind that Jessica suffers from, is a severe auto immune condition. Out of options, a dermatologist suggested Jessica undergo chemotherapy which would serve to strip her body's immune system back and force it to rebuild, hopefully to a point that her skin settled.

"It hasn't worked yet," she says. "I feel really sick so I can't eat and my hair is falling out."

Jessica is worried she is out of options.

"It's terrifying, but I'm left with no option," says Jessica, whose skin is so delicate she can't even wear underwear when she has a flare up.

"The doctors say I'm a 'ticking time bomb' and my immune system is going into seventh gear, so it needs to be addressed now before everything else starts shutting down.

"I've tried everything bleach baths, UVB light treatment, steroids and so many different creams and ointments, but steroids no longer work and have totally ruined my skin and immune system.

"Oral steroids and creams used to calm my flares for a month or so, but now it's only for a week, two if I'm lucky, but they're damaging my skin, my eyes, my nails and hair.

"My eyes are getting so bad the sunlight tears them apart and makes it painful to see, and my skin and nails are so fragile they're tearing. I even have to wear gel nails so I don't rip my skin apart when I scratch."

Melody Livingstone, CEO of MooGoo, an Australian skincare range treating skin issues including eczema and psoriasis, says she's seen a dramatic rise in the number of people suffering from allergies and skin issues.

"Australia has one of the highest incidences of eczema in the world, and it is only getting worse 50 years ago, only one in 10 Australian children suffered from it," said Ms Livingstone

"Eczema can develop for a number of reasons, including climate, lifestyle, hygiene and genetics. The skin can easily become infected, causing pain, inflammation and lack of sleep," she says.

"Research shows the number of cases of eczema is on the rise worldwide, but we don't know why that is.

"There are more people with eczema than ever before - we're selling an eczema cream every two minutes.

"As there is no proven cure for eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis, education and keeping the symptoms under control is critical."

Jessica is sharing her story not only to raise awareness of chronic skin conditions such as hers, but also to raise the awareness of the extraordinary expense that comes from living with the disease.

"I spend $600 a month on skin products," she says. "It needs to be heavily subsidised. I remember my mum struggling to balance work and her income for food and rent and my skin products. It's expensive and doesn't work half the time so it's a waste."

Jessica doesn't qualify for disability payments and is working two casual jobs as often as her condition allows to pay for her ongoing treatments.

Jessica and her partner would like to start for children, but she has been told she needs to wait.

"My doctors have said we have to wait for at least two years as the treatment can cause miscarriages and defects in the baby," she says.

If you or someone you know is in need of support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

Continued here:
The chronic condition that has left Jessica a relative recluse - 9Honey

Wei Chern Gavin Fong describes what it is like to grow up with eczema and how health professionals could have supported him better

I was diagnosed with eczema as a child and have lived with it for two decades. My journey has not been smooth sailing. The itch of atopic eczema was often debilitating, incessant, and intrusive. I remember clawing myself at night and struggling to sleep. At times I even physically hurt myself to distract from the itch. I was often told to simply stop scratching, which was like being told not to sneeze.

At most of my eczema clinic appointments I felt like I was being giving instructions rather than having a conversation. Any discussions were brief and mainly with my parents. No one truly spoke to me about my condition. I was involved only during a quick examination of my skin. The lack of explanation resulted in my parents and I not understanding the condition nor the treatment. We began to worry about becoming dependent on topical treatment, especially the steroids. I started refusing to use these sticky and uncomfortable therapies as I did not understand how they would help. This led to me being admitted to hospital to manage my condition and I missed three months of school. It also led us to explore expensive and unhelpful alternative therapies, some of which made my skin worse.

I wish health professionals had explained what caused the itching and why the topical therapy would help. Having a better understanding of the biology of eczema would have helped me learn how to manage it and improve my adherence.

With my skin so visible, the eczema had a profound impact on my mental health. Growing up, I remember receiving glances that were a mixture of pity and disgust. I hated my appearance and would not even look people in the eye because of how ashamed I felt of my skin. I had persistent low mood, low self-esteem, and even had some suicidal thoughts.

I wish clinicians realised the full impact of eczema on mental wellbeing. I want them to consider assessing the mental health of people living with eczema as well as their skin. I would have appreciated my doctor asking me how I was coping psychologically with my eczema. I also wish they had signposted me to support groups, as knowing that I was not alone would have given me hope and made me feel less isolated.

My parents and I were told by many clinicians that I would outgrow eczema. Yet with each older milestone, my eczema persisted. The unmet promises made me frustrated, desperate, and further distrust health professionals and their treatments. I wish our expectations had been managed appropriately. Knowing thatwhile my eczema could not be curedI could control the condition and live a normal life would have helped me hugely.

As an adult my eczema is well controlled and has a minimal impact on my daily life. This is thanks to those health professionals who did take the time to educate me about the biology of eczema.

Sharing details on the biology of eczema may help a patient accept and manage their condition

Setting realistic expectations, such as explaining that creams wont work overnight, may help patients feel informed

The impact of eczema is beyond just skin deep: the psychological burden of this highly visible disease is profound

When might you explain the biology behind eczema to a patient and their family?

How could you explore the concerns of a patient living with eczema?

When might you ask a patient living with eczema about their mental health?

How could you support someone living with eczema who is struggling with their mental health?

Original post:
Just another eczema case for you, but to me it's the world - The BMJ

A boy who is crippled by excruciating pain caused by his extreme eczema has said he wants to be put in an induced coma to stop the agony.

Barney Rae is just 14 and was diagnosed with severe eczema last year, which has left him covered head to toe in itchy rashes and unable to sleep.

Despite trying many different remedies - some which mum Miranda, 50, claims left him looking like he'd been in an acid attack - Barney is still in agony.

The youngster from Bristol, Avon, has even told his mum that he wants to be put in an induced coma because he can't deal with the pain anymore.

His mum Miranda is now desperate to help her beloved son get back to his normal self, by raising money for urgent and fast-tracked treatment to calm his skin once and for all.

Miranda, a radio broadcast manager, said: "Barney is at his wits end. He just wants to go to sleep and wake up when the eczema is all gone.

"He's even said to me that he wants to be put in an induced coma because the pain is that bad.

"He's got to the point where he's too scared to sleep. He scratches himself unknowingly when he's asleep and will wake up bleeding head to toe.

"At the worst points he blames himself because of it, even though it's not his fault at all.

"The whole process has been torture for him for the last 10 months. He barely gets any sleep which affects him on a daily basis.

"It's heartbreaking to see my child go through this, especially at an age where he's so aware of what he looks like.

"He's allergic to almost all of the prescribed treatments and ointments, and home remedies don't work well.

"One new cream was tested on his face but he had a bad reaction to it and it looked like he had acid thrown at his face. It was awful.

"The NHS have tried so hard to help him and are doing their best but it's a very slow process of working through different treatments.

"He can't carry on like this and he needs something that works, so we want to go private and try to find out exactly what's going on. We really need help."

Barney started suffering with eczema aged 4 to 11, but after seemingly disappearing, the condition came back out of the blue in October last year worse than ever.

Miranda believes there is no obvious trigger for Barney's skin condition, and he has had many inconclusive allergy tests and follows a strict diet with no dairy.

She said: "When he first had eczema, one topical steroid ointment worked and he got better, but that no longer works for him, along with many other creams and alternatives.

"It's got to the point now where I'm so worried about him. He never used to have eczema on his face until now - it's everywhere and he's so self conscious about it.

"We've been putting bandages on to help him stop scratching but one night he came into me shocked and it looked like he had seen a ghost.

"He was shaking and bleeding from his neck downwards, saying he couldn't believe what he'd done to himself.

"Because of the exhaustion, he doesn't realise he's itching and scratching himself red raw. It's a completely uncontrollable urge."

Oral steroids prescribed by doctors appear to temporarily help Barney, his mum says, but doctors were unable to keep him on them.

He is now trying a leukaemia drug, Methotrexate, which takes months to work and has potentially dangerous side effects.

Miranda said: "When he was put on a strict regimen of oral steroids, had to shield and do online school because it affects the immune system.

"He has a week or two of peace when having oral steroids but as soon as he finishes the course, it comes back worse than ever and he's absolutely terrified.

"He can't always be on steroids because it will affect his bones, give him diabetes and lots of other horror stories, and the Methotrexate makes him sick and nauseous, so we're at a loss for what to do."

Miranda has now set up a fundraiser to raise money for a private specialist medical consultation - which costs 300, and means she will have to pay for any prescribed treatment.

She added: "I've got to do whatever I can to improve Barney's situation and I'm willing to do whatever it takes.

"I just want to see him back to his normal self and I would give anything to take it away.

"Seeing your child suffer like this on a daily basis is horrific.

"Not only has he got the daily pain and agony, it's the sleep deprivation and psychological feeling that it's his fault that affects him as well.

"The NHS has been great but he needs a quicker process. I've been told by lots of other people that when they've gone private, the eczema has been sorted immediately.

"We have no immediate family and no one to support us, it's just me and Barney, so the support we've had from others has been really amazing so far."

View original post here:
Boy, 14, in pain with extreme eczema tells mum he wants to be put in induced coma - The Mirror