Issue #038 - Eczema and Hypnotherapy
Welcome to September's edition of the Eczema Bulletin e-zine, and thank you for subscribing.
This is the 38th edition of the Eczema Bulletin. It will bring you articles and news about eczema, and also any updates to what-is-eczema.com. If you would like to add any suggestions for articles or news, or even add your own then I would love to hear from you
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This month's Eczema Bulletin includes
- September's Featured Article – Eczema and Hypnotherapy
- My favourite eczema news article
- Tip of the Month
- 5 Ways To.....manage perioral dermatitis
Eczema and Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is a complimentary therapy that uses hypnosis to help with the treatment and management of conditions and illnesses.
Hypnosis is used to access the subconscious part of the mind to change habits and behaviours. There are many reports that say that hypnosis does seem to help a lot of people, but there are some differing reports on how it works.
So how is hypnotherapy used to help eczema sufferers?
Hypnosis is used to help patients deal with the physical and psychological aspects of a condition. With eczema it is commonly used to deal with the psychological side. Eczema can have a negative impact on a sufferer's self-esteem and confidence. In turn this can cause anxiety and depression.
Hypnosis can help to alleviate these negative feelings. It is said to help lower stress levels, and to help an eczema sufferer to work through the negative feelings.
In some, stress can make the symptoms of eczema worse. You may find that
your skin is more inflamed and itchy. If hypnosis reduces your stress this will help your symptoms to improve.
Hypnotherapy is also used to break habits. The most annoying habit for eczema sufferers is scratching. If the itch-scratch cycle can be reduced, then your skin will have more time to heal. This will help in the long term as your skin won’t get so inflamed and damaged, reducing the chance of an infection occurring.
You may find that when your symptoms improve that any stress and anxiety you feel also lessens, as your self-confidence improves.
If you feel that hypnotherapy is something you’d like to try, then the most important is to find a registered hypnotherapist. It is also important that you find one who you feel relaxed enough with to be honest about how you feel.
When you first meet them they will do a consultation. This is when you’ll know if they are the right hypnotherapist for you. If you’re happy then you’ll arrange the
frequency of any further appointments with them. Remember to ask as many questions as you want.
I’d love to hear about your experiences of hypnotherapy, and if it has been beneficial for you.
Eczema News Article
Researchers have been looking in to the medical records of nearly 400,000 patients to see if there is a link between allergies and the use of antibiotics.
They found that if a patient had been given antibiotics numerous times in their early life, it increased the risk of allergic conditions developing. These conditions include eczema and hay fever.
The report found that the risk of developing eczema increased by 41%, and 56% for hay fever.
The researchers say that this maybe because the antibiotics change the immune system. Also that the immune system’s responses are reduced.
Health organisations worldwide are trying to reduce the number of antibiotics used. It has recently been found that when they are over used they become less effective.
The key is then to find a way to deal with infections, especially if reoccurring, without the use of antibiotics. If you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor or midwife.
Tip Of The Month - Eczema and Hair Colouring
The timing for this is very apt, as my grey hairs are starting to become more widespread! I’m trying to leave colouring it for as long as possible, but it will happen at some point. So if you are at that stage now or you just want a new look, what is the best option for you if you have eczema.
Firstly, if you have a flare up of eczema, especially on your scalp or face, then I’d advised that you leave colouring your hair until the symptoms have cleared. From personal experience many years ago, it really hurts and made it ten times worse.
The main issue with most hair dyes are the chemicals they contain. The main culprit is Paraphenylenediamine (PPD). It is found in most dark hair and permanent hair dyes.
It is known to cause severe sensitivities in some people. Because of this some alternatives are used in some products.
The alternatives include Para-aminodiphenylamine (PADA) and paratoluene diamine (PTDA). These are a safer option but in
people with a strong sensitivity they may still cause an irritation.
In non-permanent hair dyes azo dyes are used. These are also said to be a better alternative to PPD, but again can cause some irritation to some people.
Henna and vegetable dyes are thought to the safest option. You will need to check the ingredients of them though, as some of them still contain azo dyes.
There are some things you can do to reduce any negatives of hair dye on your skin:
- Patch test some of the product you’re looking at using. Place a small amount of the dye on your skin, behind the ear is often recommended, although you’ll need someone to check it for you. Leave it for 48 hours and if there are any signs of irritation, including a rash or itchiness, then wash it off and don’t use it. You may find that you have to check a few products before you find the right one
- Have an allergy test done. You can find a hospital or clinic
with a dermatology unit that does allergy testing. They will test the different chemicals found in hair dyes, and if you’re sensitive to any of them you’ll be able to avoid the products that contain them
- Use non-permanent hair dyes. Even if your skin isn’t over sensitive to the chemicals used in hair dyes, it is always best to use a safer option. The chemicals in non-permanent hair dyes are less abrasive
- Avoid using hair dyes. This is the easiest and safest option, but if you want to hide your greys it isn’t the option you want to follow! Avoiding putting chemicals on your scalp will definitely ensure that there isn’t a reaction, but if you really want to colour your hair take as many precautions as you can
I coloured my hair when I was in my 20’s and never had any issues with hair dye, unless my eczema had flared up. I’m trying to avoid it as long as I can as I am concerned about how my skin will react to it,
so if you use a product that you’d like to recommend, or if you have any tips that help, please share them with us :)
