Category Archives: Eczema

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We all know that social media is not real life, but it's so easy to start comparing yourself to all of the flawless images out there. Well, one Instagram fitness star wants you to know she doesn't always look so #nofilter perfect.

Carys Gray, 20, is a fitness blogger and student from Cardiff, Wales in the United Kingdom. She regularly posts gorgeous, empowering photos of her toned physique on her Instagram page, where she has more than 140,000 followers.

Recently, Gray shared a very personal photo about her ongoing struggles with eczema, a condition that can cause inflamed and itchy skin.

Gray posted two side-by-side photos of herself, one labeled social media and one labeled reality. On the left, Gray looks like she often appears in her social media posts, with smooth, clear skin. On the right, she looks just as beautiful, but has some red blotches across her cheeks and forehead.

RELATED: Why sleeping on your side is a bad idea and other dermatologist skin secrets

Slightly different #REALITYCHECK today! Gray wrote in the caption. We all have good days and we all have bad days. I have a skin condition called eczema and sometimes my skin is happy as Larry and sometimes it has flare ups.

Gray noted on the photos: Both me, both real and both totally acceptable.

She wrote that she shared the photos to remind her fans that what you see on social media doesnt always reflect reality.

Instagram will show the good days and thats okay!! Thats what social media is for! she wrote. But heres a reminder that the next time you see something on social media that you think is goals that its not the full story.

RELATED: The inspiring way this woman conquered her dressing room 'demons'

After she posted the pictures, praise poured in from her fans. To date, the post has received over 80,000 likes and thousands of comments.

Thank you for being vulnerable in such a public way, one woman commented. A lot of us suffer with skin conditions and it can be tough to manage and deal with the flare up in such a social media/image obsessed society. Thanks for modeling how to accept and love yourself as you are.

I also have eczema on my face and neck, another fan commented. It's comforting to know we're not alone.

Eczema is a very common skin condition. More than 31 million people in the U.S. have symptoms of eczema, also referred to as atopic dermatitis, and nearly 18 million of those people suffer from it moderately or severely, according to the National Eczema Association.

There are different types of eczema, but common symptoms include patches of red, dry and very itchy skin. In some cases, excessive scratching can make the skin rough and leathery.

There is no clear cause of eczema, though it typically begins in childhood.

Normally, the skin has special cells that retain water, but for many people with eczema these skin cells don't react as they should.

Without the ability to hold in enough water, the skin dries out and becomes weaker. And in turn, when the skin is more fragile, its more vulnerable to allergens and infections, which can make eczema even worse.

RELATED: Probiotics during pregnancy may protect baby against eczema

Eczema can appear all over the body, though people often have flare ups on the elbows, the backs of the knees, the wrists and the face, said Dr. Cameron Rokhsar, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital.

For people prone to eczema, a range of environmental factors can cause breakouts. One big trigger is cold weather.

In the winter, eczema is always worse, Rokhsar told TODAY. The moisture in the air is less ... All the forced-air heating that we have dries out the skin.

Certain perfumes, detergents, fabric softeners and harsh soaps, as well as coming into contact with wool and other irritating materials, can also lead to an outbreak. And, everyday allergens like pollen and pet dander can also trigger a flare-up.

RELATED: Lawsuit claims St. Ives Apricot Scrub actually damages skin

To keep eczema under control, one of the most important things to do is prevent your skin from drying out.

Moisturize your room with a humidifier, Rokhsar said. Dont stay in the shower for more than five or ten minutes and dont use hot water, use warm water. Moisturize your skin constantly, especially on damp skin when you come out of the shower.

When moisturizing at home, oil-based ointments are often more effective than water-based creams and lotions, Rokhsar advised.

And, he added that while its possible to manage your eczema at home, when things flare, you need to see a dermatologist. Dermatologists can prescribe medicated creams, pills and even injections to keep symptoms under control.

For many people, including Gray, managing eczema can be an ongoing battle, and the struggle is often mental as well as physical.

RELATED: 8 tips to keep skin healthy during the winter

With her recent, honest photo, Gray reminded her fans that its perfectly normal to feel insecure sometimes, about eczema or any other physical difficulty.

I'm still struggling to accept myself on the right [photo], it's a big insecurity of mine and that's fine, she wrote on Instagram. I'm learning to accept myself knowing that everyone has their own struggles and insecurities and that's what makes us unique and special.

Excerpt from:
Instagram star Carys Gray opens up about her eczema struggle ... - Today.com

Looking to find the most effective probiotics? You may need to look no further than your own body.

This approach is inherently superior to current pharmaceutically derived antibiotics, the authors conclude. Unlike bottled antibiotics that may kill microbes indiscriminatelyfriends or foesthe patients skin bacteria selectively killed off harmful S. aureus and left the protective community intact.

The researchers, led by dermatologist Richard Gallo of the University of California, San Diego, developed the treatment approach by first noting that people with healthy skin have a bunch of normal skin bacteria that seemed to keep S. aureus in check. But on people with atopic dermatitis (AD)a type of eczema that results in dry, itchy patches of skinthose helpful skin bacteria are less abundant. This squares with what the dermatologists already knew: people with AD are more likely to carry around S. aureus, which can spur and exacerbate those itchy, dry skin patches.

When the researchers took a closer look at those beneficial bacteria S. epidermidis and S. hoministhey found that the microbes were oozing out antimicrobial compounds that selectively kill S. aureus. The chemicals were strong enough to fight off even the dastardly Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). And when those compounds mixed with antimicrobial compounds made by the human skin, the compounds worked synergisticallythat is, together they were more deadly to S. aureus than the sum of their independent killing abilities. Yet, they still left other benign and beneficial microbes unharmed.

Scanning the arms of five AD patients with S. aureus, the researchers could find a few drug-pumping S. epidermidis and S. hominis coloniesbut they were rare. Nevertheless, the researchers grew the strains in lab, creating vast quantities. Then they mixed the microbe slurry with a standard moisturizer. The result was five patient-specific lotions brimming with helpful, personally derived microbes.

Next, the five patients slathered one of their arms with plain lotion and the other with their personalized probiotic lotion. The final concentration of microbes from the slathered lotion was around 100,000 colony-forming units per square centimeter of skin. This is about the same density of bacteria that youd find on healthy skin.

After 24 hourswith no bathingS. aureus levels dropped significantly on the arms of three patients with microbe-laden lotion. The harmful germ disappeared completely on the treated limbs of the other two patients.

Overall, the authors conclude these findings not only demonstrate the therapeutic potential of our own microbiomes, but also the damage that an out-of-whack community can cause.

Science Translational Medicine, 2017. DOI:10.1126/scitranslmed.aah4680 (About DOIs).

See the rest here:
Eczema patients treated by drug-producing microbes found on their own skin - Ars Technica

Metro

Fitness blogger shares photo of the reality of having eczema Metro Fitness blogger shares photo of the reality of having eczema. Ellen Scott for Metro.co.ukFriday 24 Feb 2017 11:28 am. Fitness blogger shares the reality of having eczema. (Picture: Instagram/busybeefitness). We've said it before, and we'll keep saying ...

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Fitness blogger shares photo of the reality of having eczema - Metro

Fit blogger Carys Gray recently hopped on board the body-positivity train, showing what it's really like to live with eczema. The founder of Busybee Booty Building Guide shared the refreshingly honest reality check to debunk myths about the seemingly perfect and flawless skin you see on social media every day.

In a side-by-side comparison on Instagram, Gray shows what her skin looks like most days with makeup, but also what it can look like naturally. "We all have good days and we all have bad days," she writes. "I have a skin condition called eczema and sometimes my skin is happy as Larry and sometimes it has flare ups."

Eczema affects more than 31 million Americans, yet it's not often discussed and is highly stigmatized. That is why it's so awesome for young people with far-reaching influence like Gray to speak openly about it and raise awareness. (Check out these natural eczema remedies you haven't tried yet.)

"Social media/Instagram will show the good days....the good parts of people and their lives and that's ok," she continues. "But here's a reminder that next time you see something on social media that you think is 'goals' that it's not the full story, it's not how that person will look or be alllllll the time!"

That said, Gray admits that accepting your imperfections is much easier said than done.

"I'm still struggling to accept myself on the right," she says of the makeup-free selfie. "It's a big insecurity of mine and that's fine. I'm learning to accept myself knowing that everyone has their own struggles and insecurities and that's what makes us unique and special."

Gray's powerful message has already garnered more than 80,000 likes, causing her followers to share an overwhelming amount of support.

Thank you, Carys, for reminding us to celebrate ourselves and that we are all beautiful just the way we are.

See more here:
This Blogger's #NoMakeupSelfie Shows the Reality of Eczema - Shape Magazine

We all fall into the ugly habit of believing everything we see on social media is real life.

And for many of us, this means scrolling through images of clear skin, flawless makeup and bodies that appear perfect. But British-based fitness blogger Carys Gray wants to debunk this myth and prove not everything you see online is "the good."

"Slightly different #REALITYCHECK today! We all have good days and we all have bad days I have a skin condition called eczema and sometimes my skin is happy as Larry and sometimes it has flare ups," she wrote on Instagram.

"Social media/Instagram will show the good days. The good parts of people and their lives and that's ok!! That's what social media is for!," she continued.

"But here's a reminder that next time you see something on social media that you think is 'goals' that it's not the full story, it's not how that person will look or be alllllll the time."

In the pair of photos, one shows Gray wearing a full face of makeup, while the other is makeup-free. In the second picture, you can see Gray's eczema and red skin.

"When my eczema isn't under control, it's very blotchy, sore and I can't wear any make up," she wrote. "both me, both real and both totally acceptable."

She adds she is still struggling to accept the photo on the right, and it continues to be an insecurity for her.

"I'm learning to accept myself knowing that everyone has their own struggles and insecurities and that's what makes us unique and special."

Eczema appears in both childredn and adults, and can lead to itchy, inflamed and uncomfortable skin. While there is no quick-fix for the condition, there are precautions people can take.

Using calming creams, supplementing your diet and stepping away from the shower occasionally can help.

Originally posted here:
Blogger's Eczema Post Reminds Us Social Media Shows Off 'The ... - Huffington Post Canada

In the last year alone, we've witnessed more and more body positive fitness bloggers come out on Instagram and make a point of how deluded it can all be. Myriad of these bloggers have even taken to their 'grams to debunk the myths about perfection on social media, proving no one is as "fit" or as "flawless" as they might seem in their photos 24/7. Let's see: there was the lovely Milly Smith who showed us the transformative power of a pair tights, Charlotte of GirlxFit who confessed how easy it is to fake abs in a pic just by flexing, and countless more eye-opening revelations like the aforementioned. We're so on-board for this because it means one thing: girls are slowly but surely turning to self-love and acceptance, instead of feeling the need to hide behind certain filters. The message is clear; this is me, this is the truth, and that's more than OK.

The same proves true for other aspects of our aesthetic, like skin. In a perfect world, we would all have smooth, unblemished complexions and limbs, and skin concerns wouldn't impair people's lives. But sadly, they impact way more than one might think. Eczema is a chronic condition that affects over 30 million Americans alone, yet it still remains stigmatized in mainstream society. Because similar to a "flabby stomach" or "rolls" or "cellulite," it's been deemed a "flaw" by society that we're supposed to cover up and not talk about.

However, some amazing souls are stepping up using their platforms to show that they're proud of their skin conditions and that no one should have to shield who they really are from the world. (Psh, if someone doesn't like what they see, they can hit the unfollow button.) For instance, British-based fitness blogger Carys Gray of @busybeefitness who's also a major propionate of self-love and body positivity took to her 'gram to give her followers a bit of a reality check. Posting two selfies side-by-side, one of the images shows Carys rockin' a full face of makeup, while the other displays her without a drop and with various eczema patches. In the caption, she opens up about having eczema and how everyone has good days and bad days. "Social media/Instagram show the good days. The good parts of people and their lives and that's ok!!," she writes. " That's what social media is for! But here's a reminder that next time you see something on social media that you think is 'goals' that it's not the full story, it's not how that person will look or be alllllll the time! "

She adds that she's still struggling to accept herself in the photo with eczema, but that she's learning because she realizes everyone has their own struggles and insecurities, and that's ultimately what makes us individuals. Whatever your insecurity whether it's your skin, your hair, your body, etc. it's these kinds of uplifting posts that show how social media can truly be used for good, to lift others up and share experiences to create connection and togetherness. No one likes feeling alone, and Carys just did a very important thing for people with skin conditions by sharing her story. Keep doing you, girl.

Related: Meet 5 Girls Who Are Breaking Down the Stigma of Skin Conditions on Instagram

See more here:
Blogger Posts Photo With Eczema to Instagram | Teen Vogue - TeenVogue.com

A picture says a thousand words, but onsocial media, they dont always tell the whole story.

Gray posted two side-by-side photos on of her face last week, calling the post a reality check. The first image, she wrote, ishow you see me when my eczema is under control, Ive done my makeup and Im feeling sassy. The second, she said, was taken when my eczema isnt under control, its very blotchy, sore and I cant wear any makeup.

Gray acknowledged that social media is a great way to show the good parts of people and their lives, but she wanted to use this image to remind her 139,000 followers that what you see on social media is not the full story, its not how that person will look or be alllllll the time!

Indeed. Eczema is common skin condition that affects over 30 million Americans. Symptoms can include redness, itching, inflammation, oozing and swelling of the skin. Promising trialsshow that relief may be on the way for some, and there are dermatologist-approved remediesand productsthat help people with eczema cope. Still, theres currently no cure.

The condition is still a big insecurity for Gray, she admits, but she said shes learning to accept myself knowing that everyone has their own struggles and insecurities and thats what makes us unique and special.

Read more:
Woman Proudly Shows Off Her Eczema To Prove A Point About Instagram - Huffington Post

Eczema is an allergic condition known as atopic dermatitis, or AD. Atopic means the tendency to develop allergies. An antibody known as IgE triggers allergic responses, including eczema.

Eczema is an itchy, scaly, red rash that can show up on the face, hands, arms, legs and other parts of the body. Eczema is linked to dry skin. Scratching eczema can lead to red, broken skin with oozing and skin infections.

Eczema usually starts in babies. Eczema in babies can often show up on their faces. Children and adults also can have eczema. It can appear different at times or show up on different parts of the body. Eczema is usually linked to a personal or family history of allergies.

There is no cure for eczema, but you can control it by:

Treating eczema is important because it can:

Work with your allergist or dermatologist (a doctor who specializes in skin conditions) to create a treatment plan to meet your needs.

Medical Review October 2015.

Go here to read the rest:
Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) | AAFA.org

ModernMedicine

New hope for eczema ModernMedicine New hope for eczema. Approved treatment is the first new prescription for chronic, inflammatory atopic dermatitis in kids in more than a decade. February 01, 2017. By Lisette Hilton. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced its approval ...

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New hope for eczema - ModernMedicine

Everyone struggles withtheir own body insecurities, and most of us wouldn't dream of broadcasting them on social medialet alone to more than 135,000 followers. But that's exactly what Carys Gray, a fitness Instagramstar from Wales,did when she shareda photo ofan eczema flare-up on her face yesterday.

Gray's post featured two side-by-side selfies:In the snapshot on the left, her makeup is on point, and she looks, well, flawless. In the picture on the right, the upper half of her face is covered in red patches.

We all have good days and we all have bad days," Gray wrote in the caption. "I have a skin condition called eczema and sometimes my skin is happy as Larry and sometimes it has flare ups!!

RELATED: 10 Surprising Beauty Benefits of Coconut Oil

Eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis) is estimated to affect as many as 35 million Americans. "[It's]a genetic condition where the skin barrier is not functioning as well as it should, making it more susceptible to environmental allergies, irritation, and infection," dermatologist JoshuaZeichner, MD, explained in a prior interview with Health. "The skin cannot maintain hydration and becomes inflamed, leading to characteristic red, scaly rashes as well as significant itch."

In a cruel twist, the mental toll of living with the conditioncan exacerbate the symptoms. "Stress can certainly impact the disease and make it worse," said Dr. Zeichner, who is the director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in Dermatology atMount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

Gray noted that when her eczema isn't under control, her face is "very blotchy, sore, and I can't wear any makeup." She called it a "big insecurity," and said she struggles with self-acceptance during a flare.

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The Instagram star ended her post with a reminder thatthe pictures wesee on social media don't show how people look "alllllllthe time." She hopes her side-by-side selfieswill serve as a reality check. "I'm learning to accept myself knowing that everyone has their own struggles and insecurities," she wrote,"and that's what makes us unique and special."

Read the original post:
This Instagram Star Showed How Painful It Is to Have Eczema on ... - Health.com