I think I need to give up caffeine, chocolate, alcohol and spicy food - help me with will-power please!

[jamaisjedors]

Maybe I should just become a Mormon...

I am finding that all of these things are aggravating my eczema (along with changes in temperature and exercise but not giving those up).

I'm not "allergic" to them as such but they seem to aggravate my already terrible burning, itchy skin.

But I am GUTTED to have to give up my Friday night (one) beer and snacks and of course chocolate will be tough.

Not sure I can do this.

Who would like to inspire me?

If 'terrible burning, itchy skin' is as bad as you're making out you should have no trouble giving up the stuff that makes it worse. No-brainer really, isn't it? Most people have to make adjustments and choices to keep themselves in good health.....it's just a question of priorities.

i did this to help with dermatitus on my face. really helped, more than any medication. i now am back on caffeine and occasionaly drink but if i have spicey food my face will flare up again.

do it. you will lose weight, save money and feel better.

It's a cost benefit analysis - I shouldn't have chocolate but I do because it makes me feel better (even if it makes my eczema worse).

What kind of eczema do you have? I find I get terrible dyshydrotic eczema but only with lots of caffeine.

Yes that's what I've been like until now frakkinaround.

I have atopic eczema, I was born with out so obviously it is not caused by any of these things, but aggravated by them.

I think also that after years of steriod creams on my face, I now flush very easily (alcohol, warm rooms, hot drinks) and then this seems to turn into a burn - dries up, itches, swells).

to Chil1234, unfortunately plenty of people do things or eat things that are "bad" for them and find it hard to give up.

I think the thing is that it won't "cure" my eczema, so it's harder to get the incentive to live like that when I will still get the symptoms if I'm stressed for example.

sorry, "born with IT (not out)"

I flush with alcohol - it's awful and I don't drink any more because I just turn red. A 'burn' like that sounds really painful.

What's dyshydrotic eczema?

It's a particularly nasty kind where you get blisters and it itches like mad.

Here - the pictures are not nice...

I've had to give up dairy (chocolate), gluten & nuts to keep my BF DD's colic and reflux under control. I sympathise entirely, it is so hard giving up the things you hold dear. And they appear all the more dear to you when you decide they have to go!

The first couple of weeks are the worst - it's like cold turkey - and then the cravings ease and you're more in the way of it. Make sure you've plenty of other 'allowed' delights in the house. When I stopped dairy, I OD'd on flapjacks. When I stopped gluten my vice was roasted salted nuts. Now it's tesco finest lightly salted crisps. Less and less interesting, but all the more lovely given the circumstances!

Good luck.

That's a good tip hobnob, will try and get some good snacks and interesting juices in.

Frakkin that looks so painful, I hope you are never as bad as that?

Mind you my hands bleed regularly from the cracks on them...

if you need to avoid caffeine have you tried white chocolate?

i am unable to have caffeine or another condition and so no chocolate but white chocolte is fine in small amounts.

ooh i think i need a couple more squares now...........

that's a good idea moocowme - will try it.

jamaisje... Have you heard of the blood type way of eating? it is an amazing system for discovering which food you should avoid, which is good for you and which is neutral. it makes sense 'cos we all have foods which we know we can't eat but that others are fine with.

The author is dr. peter D'Adamo. if you combine that with the Hay diet (not eating protein and carbs together) AND (sorry but all this does work for good health) always eat fruit on an empty stomach you should feel and see a great improvement.

For relief that is natural. Try: A. fresh lemon juice B. 99% Aloe vera gel C.A few drops of tea tree oil mixed with water or neat if you can take it!

Echinacea is a brill nat. anti biotic, Camomile is good for female balancing.

Good luck and post to say if anything has worked!

No I've never heard of that ppeatfruit, will look into it.

Not sure I'm up for the HAYS diet tbh!

I didn't know about the fruit thing either, I always tend to have it as a dessert at the end of a meal rather than on its own.

I have some echinacea and tried it recently when I was coming down with DH's sinusy-cold - I didn't worsen which was great.

I am already taking a multi-vitamin with pro-biotics because I heard they help eczema, and I take evening primrose oil but haven't really seen an effect on my skin.

Even DH does the fruit thing and says he feels loads better .It's 'cos the fruit is semi digested anyway so after a meal you don't get the benefit of the vitamins 'cos it rots!

That might be yr problem!!

Sounds nice!!!

Am doing well with the no alcohol, DH had a beer last night and a little cider the night before with panckes, I had none.

Not so good on the chocolate, I have a eaten a bit but am trying to limit it.