FREE FROM ECZEMA
MY STORY
If you had offered me a new treatment that would cure my atopic eczema two years ago, I would have smiled politely, and run the other way. Eczema sufferers are sceptical of all new treatments, and not without good reason. The last time I tried a so-called �cure�, my skin condition got worse beyond belief and took years to recover. I was diagnosed with mild atopic eczema when I was six years old. During my teens it progressively worsened until it covered most of my body. I tried everything: steroid creams and injections, light treatment, bandages, immuno-suppressants, and even homeopathy. They all had varying degrees of success. Despite the fact that itching paralysed my days and insomnia plagued my nights, I was consistently given the unwelcome news that eczema was incurable. Two years ago, though, I read and followed The Eczema Solution by Sue Armstrong-Brown. It has propelled me on a journey to live a life free from eczema and to encourage others to do the same.
The book is based on a programme developed by a leading team of dermatologists and psychiatrists at the Chelsea and Westminster hospital. Its revolutionary message is that persistent scratching leads to chronic eczema, and therefore needs to be eliminated. Using a simple but effective behavioural technique outlined in the book, it is certainly possible to achieve this seemingly impossible task. For me the transformation was phenomenal; I saw an astonishing 80-90% improvement. I still have a small patch of eczema, but I�m currently working through a booster session of the programme.
In practical terms, the programme takes longer than the six weeks stated in the book, and it may not cure your eczema. It is, however, a simple, safe and cost-effective technique. There are no side effects, no potions or lotions involved, and the only cost is the price of the book, which is a little more than a single prescription.
I suffered hugely because of my eczema, as did the author of the book, who is now free of the condition. I am so close to a life free from eczema that the only thing that keeps me awake at night now is the plight of those still suffering.
[Published in the www.talkeczema.com April 2004 newsletter]