This 101 series is OVER. Will this ECZEMA FAMILY Break? Suspense: for the next series Where it all Begin
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This is a series focused on personal journey with eczema while managing a certain aspect of life. Today, we have Rebecca, who has eczema and shares how she manages her self-confidence. Rebecca blogs at Beczema on her eczema journey.
Marcie Mom: Hi Rebecca, thanks so much for taking part in my Friday blog series ‘Someone has Eczema’! Let’s start with you sharing a little of your eczema history, when did you get eczema?
Rebecca: Hi Mei, thanks so much for asking me to contribute.
I have actually had eczema all of my life and I can honestly say that, now I am in my 40s, I am finally coming to terms with it. But, I think that 40 years is far too long for anyone to spend in crisis about a skin condition. Yes, it can be physically debilitating at times, but mostly our lack of self confidence as eczema sufferers is related to a perception of how we think we look – so I started the Beczema blog in the hope that I can go some way to changing the way fellow eczema sufferers think and feel about going out into the world.
My eczema has not always been severe. I have had months where you would not even know I had it, but then it hits me out of the blue and really takes hold. When I was a child, it was mostly located in the usual spots – inside of elbows, backs of knees, feet – but also some very visible patches around my mouth and eyes. In recent years, it has struck my face more than it has anywhere else.
Marcie Mom: Share with us the visibility of your eczema: Is the eczema in patches, lesions or visibly apparent?
Rebecca: These days my eczema affects mostly my face. Flare-ups usually begin with intense itching, swelling and the appearance of random hives. Then it gradually worsens as the days go on, the swelling becomes more pronounced, deep creases develop around my eyes and my skin dries out to such an extent that it becomes visibly flaky, red and very sore.
Then my skin will crack – which is the painful part – sometimes making it very difficult and painful to even smile. Which is something I have had to teach myself to do even when I am feeling at my lowest.
Marcie Mom: How did your eczema affect your self-confidence?
Rebecca: During my school and university years my eczema was probably the biggest cause of anxiety for me. At school, I was called ‘porridge face’ and ‘E.T.’! Then in later years when friends all started using make-up, I was well and truly left behind. I couldn’t use anything on my skin except the big pot of white grease as prescribed by the doctor.
I think kids are actually much kinder these days; they seem to have a respect for others and a perception of people’s differences that seemed to pass people by completely in the 1970s. But, even so, the emphasis on appearance seems to have been heightened considerably in recent years – perhaps because we are ‘mis-sold’ an ideal of the perfect body by the media? The link between looking good and feeling good certainly seems to have taken hold.
According to a report in the UK, 60% of people have at one time or another felt ashamed of the way they look – and these are people with perfectly healthy skin. So, who can blame sufferers of eczema for wanting to hide away from the world. If folk with lovely stretchy, elastic, non flaky, non red skin are hiding themselves away because they don’t live up to the ideal – then, frankly eczema sufferers have a much better excuse.
Except, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that by withdrawing from the world, you are stirring up eczema symptoms and creating a situation for yourself whereby your condition is likely to get worse.
Two dermatologists from the US, Dr Richard Fried and Dr Fran Cook-Bolden have looked closely at the ‘Skin-Mind’ connection in the treatment of eczema. They have evidence that patients with eczema actually get worse when they are under times of depression or anxiety.
Not surprising to any of us who have had the inevitable eczema flare-ups around exam time, interviews, wedding days! But, while a withdrawal from public life might seem like the most comfortable option during really bad bouts of eczema, the sense of isolation that results from hiding away can contribute significantly to longer term depression.
The self-perpetuating viscous cycle that exists between skin and negative emotional states is a real problem and one that, if you can tackle and overcome to some degree can actually help and improve your eczema symptoms.
It has taken me nearly 40 years to get there myself and I know that it takes a massive effort to be confident with problem skin – lots of talking to yourself into things that you find uncomfortable.
But, take it from me, the pay-off is huge. I don’t know what my face will look like when I wake up in the morning, some days it’s fine but some days it looks like I’ve been stung by a swarm of bees and been given a chemical peel during the course of the night. But, one thing I can guarantee is that at least one day out of seven, I’m not going to look good.
So, after decades of hiding I have made a huge effort to break that link between looking/feeling good.
Marcie Mom: One final question – How is your confidence now and how has this journey changed your view of yourself?
Rebecca: I would love to say that I have totally tackled and completely conquered my lack of self-esteem and confidence as a result of my facial eczema, but the truth is – it is a daily battle.
If I am honest, I have to give myself a pep talk before any public events when my eczema is at its worst. For example, this weekend I had a party to go to – a garden party in the middle of the grass-pollen season! Naturally, my skin allergies and resulting eczema showed up right on cue. My skin was angry, red, and unbelievably itchy.
But, I put my best foot forward. Put a smile on my face and introduced myself to lots of new people – asked them questions about their lives and totally ignored the elephant in the room (well, the garden). And it worked. I didn’t allow myself to hide away in a corner like I might have done some years ago or make excuses for the state of my skin, I didn’t let it rule my life. Not only did the satisfaction from winning that particular battle feel amazing – I had a great time!
Marcie Mom: Thanks Rebecca for taking time to share your personal story.
Update May 2015 – Rebecca has shared her story on Mirror UK
Last Saturday’s forum and Art Therapy was a success with over 100 participants! This month of July we are back to our monthly sharing session and this will be over Friday lunch on 26th July 12pm.
It’d be the first where we have special guest- Senior Pharmacist Winne Li. Winnie will be sharing her experience and knowledge as a pharmacist who has worked at National Skin Centre for 5 years. Topic “General Tips in managing Eczema in children with over the counter products”
More on Winnie Li: She is the Senior Pharmacist experienced with Eczema and Itch Management. She was an invited speaker for a regional Congress organized by Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore on the topic “Off-label Uses of Oral Drugs in NSC for Pruritus and OTC Itch Relief Remedies “. She was also the speaker for annual NSC Pharmacist Seminar on the topic “Products of Itch Relief in Atopic Dermatitis”
26 July 2013 (Friday) – Venue, NSC Room 401, 12 noon to 1pm
1. 12.00 – 12.15pm Introducing Ourselves – we can do this with our mouths full (lunch provided).
2. 12.15 – 1pm I’d be facilitating the discussion and Winnie will share her experience as a mom with daughter with eczema, followed by tips on itch management and selection of OTC products.
There will be balloons for sculpturing, puzzles and coloring to occupy your children. Same note: Information shared is not medical advice, please still see a doc. No selling anything or pretending to be a parent of eczema child. Information on my blog is not pre-approved by NSC.
3. What’s for Lunch – Very likely, pizza.
4. YOU MUST RSVP – Our medical social worker who is helping with the Eczema Support Group will be in-charge of confirming your attendance, which isn’t confirmed till she says so! If you’re coming, please email me ([email protected]) your name, mobile and email, number of adults & kids coming, so that I can get her to contact you.
Look forward to seeing everyone! Mei
Their eyes hurt from lack of sleep
Their ears ache from being forced to constantly listen out for scratching (and our nagging for them to do so!)
Their mouths drain from having to keep saying ‘No Scratching’, as instructed by us!
Their tummies burst from lack of exercise (counting calories may be harder for men, is it? lol)
This is the BEST – their fingers hurt from being scratched or peeled by our eczema toddlers, endorsed by us because better to peel yours than mine! (My girl does love to peel her fingers, and sometimes content herself with peeling her dad’s)
This is the 100th of my “101 Things that Moms with Eczema Child Do Differently“, a tongue-in-cheek look at the many unique situations that we face. For more cartoons, click here to view.
Watch out for next week’s FINALE 101th, it’s a SHOCKER.
Don’t forget to join the US$25 Cash (Paypal money) Pinterest contest to celebrate the finale series of this 101 cartoons! Contest ending 8 July.
This is a special sharing by Bruce Sallan, the host of every Thursday ET 9-10pm Twitter #DadChat. I’m super privileged to have Bruce share his tips on Being a Better Dad, something I feel is so important particularly after I’ve evaluated my own Parenting Incompetency. Furthermore, parents of eczema children often spend so much time and energy on managing eczema that we forget to do the real parenting. Husbands are expected to take a leadership role in the family (biblically), sons are expected to take care of aged parents, men are expected to excel in their career – leaving our dads’ today treading a difficult line to balance all that are expected of them.
Bruce had been in a similar situation (though his family did not have eczema) – on his website BruceSallan.com, he shared about being a single dad, taking care of his sons after his wife left, and leaving showbiz to take care of his ailing parents. Bruce writes a weekly column from a Dad’s Point of View, has his own comic strip Because I Said So, radio show and wrote two books.
Marcie Mom: Hi Bruce, thanks again for being my guest! I love your #DadChat on twitter and it really got me thinking about the roles Dad play in today’s parenting. Let’s do a reality check – What do you think is the Top Parenting Activity/Task/Role that Dads are doing today and what do you think is the one that is most important, yet overlooked?
Bruce: First, thank you MarcieMom for being such a great new friend. I love your coming to #DadChat every Thursday while commuting to work. I love that the Internet allows us to “connect” with people we might not otherwise ever meet. You’re a great example of that and a blessing.
As to your question, it’s ironic that my answer comes back to something very simple. It also really applies to both dads and moms.
In our very busy world – busy lives – it is a myth to think that parents can schedule “Quality Time” with their children. Quantity Time is what works. It’s simple. Kids open up on their schedule, NOT on yours. The more time you spend with them, the better you will know them, and the better chance they’ll open up and hopefully reveal things you need and want to know.
Marcie Mom: There are a lot of tasks that dads have to do, take for instance a dad of eczema child (ahem.. without naming who!):
- Work – 9am to 9pm
- Visit parents, if they are ill (which is highly probable given our generation’s parents are close to their eighties) – an hour per day or 8 hours per week
- Do housework – either one or more, but hopefully not none! Washing dishes, laundry, ironing, sweeping, mopping, cleaning toilet – 4 hours per week
- Spend time with child – two hours per day
- Spend time with wife – probably only in the car! Commuting time, 1.5 hours per day
- Spend time managing eczema – skincare, bath and sleep routine, likely 2 hours per night
All in, that’s 19 hours, leaving 5 hours for sleep! What would be your take on how to be a Dad for our child despite the demands of the day?
Bruce: It’s funny that, so far, each of your questions really don’t inspire a dad-specific answer. I believe my answer to this will equally apply to moms.
Your husband’s situation is perhaps a bit more extreme than many overwhelmed and busy dads or moms. When there’s a sick parent to add to the mix of a full-time job, life is hard and time is precious. There is no simple answer for those situations except to remember the old biblical saying that “This Too Shall Pass.” Therefore, for someone like your husband, all I can suggest is to endure, do the best you can, and be patient for easier and better times. I also would urge your husband to get more sleep. It will do NO ONE any good if he gets sick.
But, most people choose to be busy. It really is all about time management and so many people waste so much time. Once you’re married, working full-time, and then have kids, your life is going to be hectic. The challenge is to be smart with your time. Efficient. And prioritize.
Before I was married or had kids, when all I had to worry about was ME, I took a Time Management class. It was invaluable. When you really analyze how you spend your day, there are almost always many ways you can make better use of your time.
With parenting, it’s about priorities. For instance, maybe during some of the parenting years – when the kids may need you most – you don’t put your work ahead of everything else. Maybe you don’t choose to take on that extra assignment that might get you points with your boss. Yes, you still do a good job, but maybe you just have to wait a few years before accelerating your career. Will you go to your deathbed saying you wished you’d worked more or wish you’d spent more time with your family?
Marcie Mom: I always ask myself how I’m worshipping the Lord with my heart, my mind, my body and soul. With that in mind, I find that I’m grossly overlooking growing my child’s heart and soul. What do you suppose to be a baby step that Dads can step in/ step up to groom our child’s heart?
Bruce: Ahhh, such a complicated question and, maybe, one that would only be asked by a woman? I do think – generally – that women look at the soul of their children’s lives with concern and that this is so important, too.
Religion has been marginalized by contemporary society but organized mainstream religions, in which G*d is the centerpiece and, at least for me The Ten Commandments have meaning, is one of the only ways we can teach our children true values and to care of others. Otherwise, it’s just opinion and about what feels good. Feelings have replaced values far too much in our world.
Marcie Mom: One final question – what do you suppose a wife can help her spouse to Be a Better Dad?
Bruce: This question made me smile. I will first answer simply of my wife and myself. Personally, I need validation. When my wife praises me, it reinforces my good behavior. When I’m doing a good job, I want to know that those around me – especially my wife – not only notice, but appreciate it. So, verbal affirmation is very important for me.
That said, just as we often say that what we parents “model” is what our kids will learn, I think a wife modeling good parenting will rub off on her husband. But, men tend to be dense and sometimes we men need to be hit over the head to get a point. So, this is where communication comes to bear. Sit down with your husband and talk. Never assume he will simply know what to do – or what YOU want him to do.
If there’s tension in your household, seek others for counsel. Even other couples friends can be of great support, as can clergy or a good therapist.
Men need to feel they are contributing to the world and doing a good job – both at work and at home. Let him know that. My wife bakes me pies when she either wants to praise me or as a sign of apology. She’s Chinese so verbal affirmation comes hard for her. But, she shows it in other ways.
Marcie Mom: Thank you so much Bruce, I love hearing from a dad’s point of view because it just reminded me that dads have different thoughts, responsibilities and pressure and I’ve to be mindful of these and work with my husband for the family to thrive!
Last updated on 22 November, 2024 3:45 pm
This is a quick post, as a study had just been released about the new coins in UK, where “nickel-plated coins deposit higher levels of nickel onto skin than cupro-nickel coins, and hence pose an increased allergy risk“. It could also trigger dermatitis/eczema.
Got me interested to dig a little into nickel allergy, and here’s a quick snap shot of what I’ve found:
1. Once sensitized to nickel, it’s usually persist life-long; more common in women with ear-piercing and fashion jewelry and also for certain occupation like hairdresser (article ref). Spectacle frames induced allergic contact dermatitis (study)
2. It can take time to be sensitized to nickel – I’ve often seen people asking if their bra could cause the rash, but they have been wearing a (different) bra months ago and rash only started to appear = it is possible that it’s really the bra cos sensitization takes time. Some bra hooks contain nickel (note: the latex in some bra can also trigger rashes.)
3. A diet low in nickel can improve the eczema – less of cocoa, chocolate, soya beans, oatmeal, nuts, almonds and fresh and dried legumes.
This is the 99th of my “101 Things that Moms with Eczema Child Do Differently“, a tongue-in-cheek look at the many unique situations that we face. For more cartoons, click here to view.
Don’t forget to join the US$25 Cash (Paypal money) Pinterest contest to celebrate the finale series of this 101 cartoons! Contest ending 8 July.
This is a series focused on personal journey with eczema while managing a certain aspect of life. Today, we have Ee Laine, whose 1st and 2nd sons have eczema since 6-month old and 3-month old, and share how she manages taking care of two children with eczema.
Marcie Mom: Hi Ee Laine, thanks for taking part in my Friday blog series ‘Someone has Eczema’! Let’s start with you sharing a little of your children’s eczema history – when did eczema start and what’s the severity?
Ee Laine: Most of my struggles happened while we were still living in Australia (we moved to Singapore in Oct 2010). I started noticing red itchy marks on my 1st son after he turned 6 months. His legs especially behind his knees, around the ankles and wrists became either itchy, red and broken, or dry with the skin having a texture of sandpaper.
Our 2nd child had more issues. We started noticing redness at 3 months which could only be controlled by steroidal creams. At 6 month-old after going on solids, his cheeks were red, raw and so bad that one gentle swipe of his fingers will send the skin tearing and bleeding. I remember stirring my corn and pea mash on the stove while keeping a close eye on our baby seated on the high chair right behind me. Just a few seconds of not watching him, he managed to scratch his cheeks and blood went all over his fingers, cheeks and shirt.
Marcie Mom: I had the same experience! I was cooking and turned a few seconds away, and my girl scraped her own neck against the high chair till bleeding!
Share with us: Was it tough to take care of your first child while you were pregnant with the second? And how did you manage when the second child also had eczema?
Ee Laine: It was tough. There was one incident during my second pregnancy that I remember well: my then two-year-old ate a little too much nuts and broke out in hives, rashes and swelling in his lips. I had to rush him to hospital for an Adrenalin jab. Actually my second son had a similar experience in Singapore too, when he managed to eat some Nutella while no one was looking. He too broke in hives with swelling in his lips and was quickly taken to the neighbourhood clinic for a jab.
When we were still in Australia my first son attended childcare while I worked, and the staff was very helpful in applying lotion and making sure he’s okay. Nights were tough because he would wake several times crying from the itch. My husband and I took turns applying more cream and stroking to soothe his skin until he fell asleep. I could not remember ever having a good 7-8 hours sleep. This continued even after we had our 2nd baby.
I stopped work shortly after my second pregnancy. Having 2 young ones with me, I had to multi-task a lot of the time. I think the worst was the lack of any break from the children as we were in Australia without any family support. Church friends as well as mums I knew from my mother’s group were our greatest support and I’m grateful for that.
Marcie Mom: We really share much similar experience! I was also very grateful for the support that my home group fellowship gave me when I was going through the toughest first year of taking care of my baby. So you relocated from Australia to Singapore, how was the adjustment?
Ee Laine: We were hoping the move to humid Singapore will improve my older son’s dry skin but it didn’t. Thankfully, although his skin is still dry around the joints and itchy at night, it is not as bad as it was before. We moisturise faithfully after shower, and if it gets really bad, I do an oatmeal soak in the pail for his legs. Exfoliating those dry bits with the oatmeal does wonders.
For my 2nd son, his skin condition was related to the food allergies so the change in environment and climate did not affect him much.
Marcie Mom: One final question – how did you manage your 2nd son’s allergy?
Ee Laine: I started to notice his eczema worsen after introducing solids. After the bleeding incident and a trip to Emergency, the doctors referred him for allergy testing. As I was still breastfeeding then, I randomly picked 2-3 foods to avoid for myself, hoping to identify the triggers going through the breast milk. I went off eggs, nuts and dairy for about a month. The allergy test confirmed his allergies to wheat, eggs and nuts. It was hell as our diet had many things with wheat in them. And I had often fed him bread. But we noticed some improvement after removing the food allergens. It was tough though – when we went out and his baby food finished, the only thing we could feed him was fries. We couldn’t have any Chinese meal outside, as every dish has soy sauce in it and wheat is one of the ingredients found in soy sauce. For home cooked meals, we had to buy tamari sauce instead and have everything wheat free.
Soon after our move to Singapore he grew out of his wheat allergy. Although he is still allergic to eggs and nuts, we find life more manageable. My mom-in-law, who helps look after him on occasions, understands his condition and keeps him safe. As he grows older, we ensure he learns and remembers what he cannot eat and his older brother helps look out for him too. We have to be very vigilant about him accepting food from other people who may not be aware of his allergies. He knows to ask first before putting anything into his mouth, which is good. Every now and again, I get him to ingest a tiny amount of nuts or eggs just to see if he is still allergic to those foods (still some skin reaction around his mouth but no hives and swelling). I hope he’ll overcome his allergies one day.
Marcie Mom: Thanks Ee Laine for taking time to share your journey on both your sons’ eczema – am sure many moms can identify with them!
Last updated on 21 November, 2024 7:59 pm
This study is published in June 2013 British Journal of Dermatology and I think it wasn’t reported as much as many are reporting the link between antibiotics and babies developing eczema. But I do think this study is interesting:
1. Study is on “Gender differences in chronic pruritus: women present different morbidity, more scratch lesions and higher burden”
2. A study of 1037 patients
3. Found women had more “localized itching occurring in attacks, with stinging, warmth and painful qualities”, more visible scratch lesions and greater impact on their quality of life
4. Study is useful in future sex-specific diagnostics or even therapeutics in pruritus.
This is a new study published in the British Journal of Dermatology, & thank you to EndEczema for directing me to the original study. From what I’ve read in UK online news, the results of the study are:
1. Babies given antibiotics in the 1st year are more likely (40%) to develop eczema
2. The reason is not fully known, though “One potential explanation is that broad-spectrum antibiotics alter the gut microflora and that this in turn affects the maturing immune system in a way that prompts allergic disease development,” said researcher Dr Teresa Tsakok, who works at St Thomas’s hospital in London.(taken from Guardian).
3. Study is based on systematic review of 20 studies, not a ‘study’ in itself.
4. Nina Goad, spokeswoman for British Association of Dermatology, said this study did not imply withholding antibiotics when necessary, but instead provide insight into possible causes of eczema.
5. Caution is this review does not necessarily indicate a causal relationship, because it could be eczema children require antibiotics as they have a higher chance of skin infection.
As to the gut flora being linked with eczema, there’s increasing evidence of there being a link between gut flora, skin flora and immune system though the exact mechanism of how it affects and what to do to prevent eczema is still not known. For more on diet studies, refer to Diet and Eczema Studies.
Update on July 2015 study that concluded eczema could lead to an increased infection risk, with a possible reason due to lack of microbial exposure during critical periods in early postnatal life… and overprescription of antibiotics could have a direct effect on the susceptibilities of organisms to commonly used antimicrobials.
Last updated on 22 November, 2024 3:03 am
Jennifer Iserloh, also known as SkinnyChef, is a trained chef, certified health coach and healthy cooking celebrity. She is a bestselling author, including 50 Shades of Kale, The Healing Slow Cooker. She graduated with honors from the Institute of Culinary Education, worked as a celebrity chef and became a certified health coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition.
This was originally a three-post series that had been combined into a single informative post. I got to know Jennifer via Twitter and asked her to share her anti-inflammatory recipes, including broccoli which is a super vegetable that my daughter still loves.
Broccoli with Garlic Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 large bunch fresh broccoli, (about 1 1/3 pound)
- 3 large cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup fat-free, low-sodium beef or vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar or sugar substitute
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon canola or corn oil
- 4 scallions, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons chopped almonds
Instructions
- Trim broccoli and cut into florets. Peel stalk with a vegetable peeler and slice thinly. Set aside.In a medium bowl, stir garlic, broth, soy sauce, cornstarch, sugar or sugar substitute, and sesame oil.
- Heat a large skillet over heat high and add the canola or corn oil. When the oil is hot, carefully add the broccoli. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring continuously until the broccoli begins to brown slightly. Reduce the heat to medium and add 1/4 cup of water. Cover and cook 3 to 4 additional minutes until the broccoli begins to soften.
- Lower the heat to medium low. Pour sauce over broccoli, cook 2 to 3 minutes longer until the broccoli is tender-crisp and the sauce thickens. Sprinkle with scallions and almonds if using. Serve immediately.
MariceMom: Thanks Jennifer for sharing the above yummy and healthy broccoli recipe. Now, I usually chop off lots of stalk and only cook the floret; I noticed that you peel the stalk and slice it thinly.
Is there a different cooking time for the stalk vs the floret?
Jennifer: They cook up well together as long as the stalk is thinly sliced, that cuts back substantially on cooking time.
When broccoli starts to brown, does this mean that part of its nutrition is lost?
Jennifer: No vitamins are lost after about 20 minutes of high heat cooking. Also I never boil my veggies. If you boil vegetables in high amount of water, vitamins like vitamin C – which is water soluble will leach out into the water.
If you boil vegetables in high amount of water, vitamins like vitamin C – which is water soluble will leach out into the water.
MarcieMom: How do you gauge which is broccoli is fresh? Is there a best way to keep it? I noticed that broccoli kept in plastic bag tend to turn watery for the parts touching the plastic bag.
Jennifer: Florets should be tightly closed and dark green, with no yellow spots. Also look at the end of the stalks, if they are hollow or look dry that is a sign that they’ve been in transit too long.
Sunny Side Up with Kale
Ingredients
- 3 cups Kale, chopped
- Non-stick cooking spray
- 1 egg
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons chipotle mayo or barbecue sauce
Instructions
Rinse the kale under cold running water, drain in a colander. Heat a large skillet over high heat. Pull it off the heat to coat it with cooking spray. Carefully add the kale. Cook 2 to 3 minute, pressing down the kale with a spatula. Move the kale to the side and add another spray of cooking spray in the center of the skillet.
Crack the egg in the center of the skillet and sprinkle it with the salt. Reduce the heat to medium. Continue to cook 3 to 4 minutes, until the white part of the egg is cooked through. Top with mayo and serve immediately.
Can kale be eaten raw?
Jennifer: Yes kale is delicious raw but the baby varieties are best for this preparation.
MarcieMom: How do you usually wash Kale? It is quite soft and sometimes I find that I over-wash it after running it under the tap and soaking it! (I’m one of the really paranoid moms who keep washing everything, even when it’s labelled pre-washed!)
Jennifer: Kale is hearty and it doesn’t absorb water when it’s washed. You can clean it in a 1-4 water to vinegar ratio water bath if you like, dry it well with a towel before making my kale chips so it crisps properly.
MarcieMom: How best to spread the oil if one has no cooking spray?
Jennifer: Be sure the pan is hot first, then the oil will coat the pan more efficiently.
Mushroom Stuffed with Sausage and Goat Cheese
Ingredients
- 4 ounces spicy turkey sausage (about 2 links), crumbled
- 24 white button or Cremini mushrooms, stems removed and reserved
- 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary, one sprig left whole, plus 2 teaspoon minced
- 2 tablespoons white wine (optional)
- 1/4 cup low-fat, skim milk
- 1 6-ounce package of fresh goat cheese
- 1/4 cup reduced fat Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Heat a large heavy bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage, stirring occasionally, breaking it up with a spoon as it browns. I like my sausage well-done, so I cook for about 20-25 minutes until the meat is a rich golden brown.
- While the sausage is cooking, prepare the mushrooms. With a damp paper towel or dishcloth, wipe off any dirt clinging to the mushroom caps and stems. Remove stems, mince them and set aside. Place mushroom caps, stem side up in a 9-inch baking dish with one of the sprigs of rosemary. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of wine or water and bake 8-10 minutes until the mushrooms are tender.
- Once the sausage is to your liking, turn off the heat and drain (if it is too oily). Add 2 tablespoons of the milk and scrap any brown bits sticking to the bottom of your pan. Place the sausage and its juices into a large bowl. Stir in the goat cheese, Parmesan, minced rosemary and season with salt and pepper. If the mixture seems heavy, add the remaining milk.
- Fill each mushroom with 1 teaspoon of sausage mixture. Bake the mushrooms for an additional 10-12 minutes until the filling is hot. Serve immediately. Warning: These guys move fast so if you might want to prepare a back-up plan or make double!
MarcieMom: In this recipe, I noticed you suggested wiping the mushroom. I always run it under the tap, does that affect the texture of the dish?
Jennifer: Yes mushrooms are like a sponge and they soak up a lot of water. This keeps them from browning properly when you cook them.
MarcieMom: Is it possible to overcook mushroom? What to watch out for to ensure that it doesn’t become too soft or get too dried out?
Jennifer: If you over cook mushrooms they can taste a bit spongy but usually they do well in all cooking preparations since they are high in water content to start with.
MarcieMom: Which mushroom cook best with soup, and which one best in oven, and which for stir-frying?
Jennifer: All mushrooms do well in soup and in the oven, for stuffed mushroom Cremini, portobellos, and white button are best. I prefer shiitake for stir frying since they have this delectable meaty texture and taste amazing after they are properly browned.
Thanks Jennifer, I love shiitake as a superfood that is linked to strengthening immune system against flu (boy, my family sure needs it!).
Last updated on 23 November, 2024 7:57 am
No Tea Break = Fatigue
No Coffee Break = Malfunction
No Toilet Break = Constantly thinking ‘I’ve got to Pee’
No Career Break = Sometimes lapsing into depressing self-depreciating thoughts
and oh no Exercise Break? Don’t look below the head (at my body).
This is the 98th of my “101 Things that Moms with Eczema Child Do Differently“, a tongue-in-cheek look at the many unique situations that we face. For more cartoons, click here to view.
Don’t forget to join the US$25 Cash (Paypal money) Pinterest contest to celebrate the finale series of this 101 cartoons! Contest ending 8 July, see here!
This is a series focused on personal journey with eczema while managing a certain aspect of life. Today, we have Gibz, to share how she manages her eczema, a side effect of the treatment for her thyroid cancer. Gibz is a lovely young lady, and works full-time and blogs to share and encourage others.
Marcie Mom: Hi Gibz, thank you so much for for taking part in my blog series ‘Someone has Eczema’ and I’m so glad to have jumped into your twitter chat and got to know you. Before that, I had no idea that eczema is a side effect from thyroid treatment. Do share with us your medical conditions, and in particular, when skin rashes first appear?
Gibz: I had thyroid cancer so I have to take thyroxine daily to stop me becoming hypothyroid. I’m also hypoparathyroid which means I can’t manage my blood calcium levels; this was a complication of the cancer treatment. Skin rashes first appeared after I had my thyroid removed and started my thyroxine and calcium pills.
Marcie Mom: How did your skin react during the treatment? Do certain drugs trigger a rash and is that a side effect you knew before it happened?
Gibz: My skin became really dry during certain points in the treatment, but I didn’t pay much attention to it. As time went on my skin got worse and I started getting rashes. Skin rashes appear when my thyroxine dose is changed, whenever you go on a new dose your body needs around 8 weeks to adjust, and in that time everything goes a bit crazy! I knew dry skin was a side effect but I didn’t realise eczema could be triggered by it.
Marcie Mom: You have reached out to others via your blog, and I saw that your best friend is also a cancer survivor. Is skin rash common in cancer treatment?
Gibz: I don’t think she’s had any problems; it’s not something we’ve talked about! That depends on the treatment you have, with some treatments it’s probably very common, I don’t think it’s common during thyroid cancer treatment but I could be wrong.
Marcie Mom: One final question – what advice would you give to another who suffers eczema as a result of treatment or another medical condition?
Gibz: Talk to your doctor about it, chances are you shouldn’t be getting that kind of reaction and they might be able to give you different tablets or a new dose that will suit your body better. If they can’t do that they should be able to help you control your eczema.
Marcie Mom: Thanks Gibz for taking time to share your journey with us, I really enjoy connecting with you and it added another dimension to my understanding of eczema.
This blog has featured many experts and there are still many more who are working on bringing you a themed series to help your eczema child. There are yet many many more who are helpful over social media, and so for the past weeks, I took to Twitter and Google Plus to ask nutritionists ‘What Foods do you recommend for Eczema Child?’. Many nutritionists and dietitians kindly offered their take, so much that pediatrician and skin experts also chipped in!
Nutritionist PhiVan Ha at Nutrition4Women
My theory for eczema is caused by high acidity in the body. Recommendation: eat more alkaline foods & try magnesium supplement (65mg is the safe dosage for kids). Green vegetables, beans, peas, seeds, nuts and unrefined grains such as brown rice and whole-wheat products are high in magnesium. Some people also swear by magnesium oil as a topical treatment. My problem is acne and magnesium has helped a lot.
I’ve found an article on magnesium on Livestrong here.
Dietitian Judy Converse MPH RD at NutritionCare RDs often don’t realize dairy proteins frequently cause eczema, how to test, & that soy is not always ok as a substitute.
Judy has previously helped with Eczema Kids Nutrition Series, and a relevant extract below:
Anti-inflammatory, probiotic foods are good for everyone. Though there is plenty of debate on this topic, this generally means eating a plant strong diet: Lots of fresh raw organic vegetables, greens, and fruits, along with traditional fats like those from organic meats or dairy products, butter, whole unprocessed, unsweetened organic coconut milk, olive oil, and oils from organic raw nuts and seeds. Humans have always made and eaten fermented foods. If you don’t like or can’t eat yogurt, kombucha, kim chee or sauerkraut, naturally cured meats, poi, or other fermented foods, or if you don’t have access to safe raw dairy products (which contain healthful fats and enzymes that are altered or lost when pasteurized), you can supplement with probiotics. There are now hundreds of probiotics products available. Look for diverse strains and high potency, over 15 billion colony forming units (CFUs) per dose. I often use much higher doses than that in my practice.
Dietitian Maryann Jacobsen at RaiseHealthyEaters Eczema is usually not related to diet but one study showed organic milk may help prevent it
Nutritionist Mary Hartley at AskMaryRD It’s an individual thing. Know which foods bother you, don’t mistake a diet cause for stress.
Dietitian Kelly Jones MS, RD at EatRealLiveWell
Try eliminating dairy & increase intake of omega 3 and water. Any food intolerance could possibly be related though can have reactions to dairy that don’t seem like true allergies. Water intake can relate to inflammation and the immune system.
Nutritionist Jan Katzen CN at NutritionforLearning High vitamin or DHA cod liver oil & other anti-inflammatory essential fatty acids (EFAs) (with supplementing nutrients for utilizing from whole foods) helps eczema.
Dermatologist Cynthia Bailey MD at DrBaileySkincare Vegetables, carrots, no cow dairy, watch the gluten, minimize refined sugar. This is my opinion and not based on science.
Pediatrician Cigal MD at MomMedicine Foods should be individualized by an allergist.
Laura VR Bertotto at VMVHypoallergenics I know nutritionists live the Mediterranean diet for kids, too. My mom’s very big on healthy oils for eczema for sure! 🙂 (side note: Laura’s mom is Dr Verallo-Rowell, dermatologist who on worked on Sensitive Skin Product series with me here)
Nutritionist at FitnessRepublic
Although most foods and supplements have not shown promise in eczema research, research is ongoing. For example, some studies suggest that probiotics may help relieve the symptoms of eczema in children. Probiotics are a type of live bacteria. They can be found in foods like yogurt and in some supplements. Most of these studies were done in other countries and tested different kinds of probiotics. So it is not clear what type of probiotics are most useful. “More research in this area is surely needed before we can make a definite recommendation,” says Cambio.
Another food being studied as a benefit for eczema is tea. Although there is no definitive evidence, a few studies suggest that drinking black, green, or oolong tea may help relieve eczema symptoms. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and fish oil, which help fight inflammation, are also being studied for eczema.
Note: above tips may not have been conclusively proven in studies but are friendly suggestions given over social media. For eczema and diet studies, see here.
Come and join me and the Eczema Support Group in National Skin Centre on 29 June (Sat) 9.30am to 1pm, includes an art therapy session for children from ages 6 to 12. Register via this form, and sending email to the rsvp contact.
Hi! My 101 Things that Mothers with Eczema Child do Differently cartoons are coming to an end, and I thought running a Pinterest contest with US$25 MONEY (from my paypal) would be a neat way to thank you for the support and have some fun!
Steps and Contest Rules
Step 1: Create a board named “EczemaBlues Cartoon” and pin your favorite cartoons from the 101 cartoons, full link here: http://eczemablues.com/category/101-things-that-mothers-with-eczema-child-do-differently/ If you find other cartoons outside of my blog, feel free to pin too! Oh, also, dads can take part too, anyone (with or without eczema) can.
Step 2: Leave a comment in this post with a link to your EczemaBlues Cartoon board (be sure to enter your email address so that I can contact you to redeem the prize) If you can’t manage to get the comment through (it’ll be moderated, so check back within a day), tweet me (@marciemom) to let me know.
The contest ends on 8 July (whichever time zone you’re in), judging will start from 9 July and the winner be announced in this blog on 11 July. The winner will get USD25, direct transfer from my paypal to yours! If for whatever reason the paypal transfer couldn’t get through, I’d use the US$25 to purchase something you want (including delivery charge) from a site that accepts paypal.
Something for Everyone: If you’ve taken part in this contest and like to have an electronic version of my A to Z Animals are not Scratching! book (selling at US$1.99), please leave a comment asking for the ebook in this post (with your email filled in) so that I can send it to you.
Make my day – while you’re on this site, do subscribe to my email list and newsletter (at top right side banner). I’m not making this part of the contest, cos I know parents are busy, but if you can find the energy to submit your email, I’d be very happy!
Judging: Judging for the Winner will be by Marcie’s Dad, who will decide based on which board tells a compelling story of your family life, few pointers:
1. Name of board must be correct “EczemaBlues Cartoon”
2. Description of board is relevant
3. Sufficient number of pins to tell your family story
4. Description for the pin that tells why that particular pin applies for your family
5. I’m (of course) assuming that you know how to pin. Pin from my website, and NOT save the cartoon to your computer then load it back to pinterest.
For sample board, see mine http://pinterest.com/EczemaBlues/eczemablues-cartoon/
It is amazing isn’t it? I’ve managed to draw 101 cartoons that Moms with Eczema Child do Differently! This last segment is the final season, and aptly terms FINAL BREAKS where the focus is on all sorts of breaks!
The most obvious being – THE LACK OF COFFEE BREAKS!
And I didn’t even think of EXERCISE Breaks, only goes to show how long I haven’t had the chance to do so!
This is the 97th of my “101 Things that Moms with Eczema Child Do Differently“, a tongue-in-cheek look at the many unique situations that we face. For more cartoons, click here to view.
This is a series focused on personal journey with eczema while managing a certain aspect of life. Today, we have Stephanie, whose daughter has eczema since 18-month old and shares how she manages wet wrapping for her. Stephanie is the founder of Allerchic, an online store for eczema, allergy and asthma.
Marcie Mom: Hi Stephanie, thanks for taking part in my Friday blog series ‘Someone has Eczema’! Let’s start with you sharing your family eczema history, who has eczema and what’s the level of severity for your daughter?
Stephanie: Thanks Mei!
Sadly the eczema comes from my side of the family, I had eczema as a child not what I would class severe, more the typical spots you expect, backs of knees, elbow creases. It disappeared for a long time then came back in my 30s on my eyelids.
My husband & my other daughter don’t have eczema (Thankfully)
My beautiful girl Jade has the triple threat of atopic conditions she has anaphylaxis, asthma & moderate to severe eczema.
Marcie Mom: I understand that you believe that wet wraps had helped improve your daughter’s eczema. How did you discover wet wrapping, and what improvement to your daughter’s skin did you notice?
Stephanie: Wet Wrapping has made a Huge difference to my daughters eczema! I first discovered Wet Wrapping when working in Children’s Ward (almost 20yrs ago), thankfully things have changed a lot since then – there is no more wresting a small child while trying to wrap bandages! For my daughter the Wet Wraps have an overnight effect on her eczema. The next morning without a doubt we see improvement, It may still take a couple of nights to get a flare up under control, but it is definitely quicker than cream application alone.
Marcie Mom: Quality of life is a big issue for eczema families. What do you think about your quality of life and your daughter’s before and after wet wrapping?
Stephanie: Before I started Wet Wrapping during a flare up neither of us had a great quality of life (or sleep!). Jade was often crying during cream applications, she was itchy, hot & irritated during the night & although fast asleep I knew she wasn’t getting the deep restful sleep needed as she was so agitated all night. This then of course flows over into the day, Lack of concentration, irritability & of course constant irrepressible scratching was sending us both crazy. As a mother it breaks your heart to see your child like this, so of course I had to find better way.
Wet Wrapping took the sting out of cream application, they take the heat of the rash & seem to generally make her a lot more settled & calm & as we apply her wet wraps before bed they without a doubt have improved her quality of sleep too. So once again this flows into the day. Now I have a much happier, less itchy & irritable little girl. And a happy eczema child = a very happy mummy!
Marcie Mom: One final question – did you daughter take well to her first wet wrap? Any tricks you used?
Stephanie: The first time I applied the Wet Wraps she was very miserable & irritated but it was almost like someone had waved a magic wand & she calmed very quickly once they were in place. Because we started using Wet Wraps fairly early on my daughter she is happy with the process, she knows it makes her feel better & so she is happy to wear them.
The advice I always give people when starting to Wet Wrap is:
- Watch the Youtube Video on how to Wet wrap, do this a couple of times until you feel comfortable with the process.
- Use the Tubifast Garments they are so much easier to use than bandages
- Plan to Wet Wrap about an hour or two before Bedtime for best results
- Have EVERYTHING ready to go before you even bath your child – This includes thinking about where you are going to apply Wet wraps, for little ones also think about a song you can sing or put their favorite movie on to help keep them distracted.
- Explain to your child that it will feel a little funny at first, but it will stop them feeling so itchy.
- Get them to have a good soak in either a water soluble bath oil (or bleach bath if prescribed)
- Apply the steroid (if prescribed), thick Layers of emollient, Wet Wrap & clothing
- For Babies feed them straight after Wet Wrapping (Breast or bottle) to help them settle, For older children a reward such as a game on the ipod, a special story & cuddles are a great idea. I truly believe, It is so important to set up positive reinforcement around Wet wrapping.
- For Parents – Don’t stress or beat yourself up about getting the technique perfect. You will figure out the best routine for you & your child!
Eczema parents are so amazing & I think sometimes we all just need to be told that 🙂
Marcie Mom: Thanks Stephanie for taking time to share your wet wrapping journey, indeed many have positive feedback on it.
Stephanie: Thank You Marcie Mom its been Great Talking with you!
Last updated on 22 November, 2024 3:03 am
This is a post to share my food grading system that I use with Marcie (my eczema toddler). Now that she’s older (3+), she certainly knows what’s good and what’s not good. We play a simple game with her, especially during buffet, by going through the dishes and saying, this is GOOD! (THUMB UP ACTION) or this is NO GOOD< THUMB DOWN! Those on the good list, such as broccoli and shiitake are also anti-inflammatory foods, which though no study confirmed benefits for eczema, certain compounds of the food are anti-inflammatory, read more here and here (from Julie Daniluk, TV nutritionist’s recommendation).
This is the 96th of my “101 Things that Moms with Eczema Child Do Differently“, a tongue-in-cheek look at the many unique situations that we face. For more cartoons, click here to view.