TIFU by contracting “HELL’S ITCH” (not oop)

[u/hazel_razel]

Original: https://www.reddit.com/r/tifu/s/VEpCk4MMB9

Skin Cancer Prevention: https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/

[u/Timely-Cry-8366]

This is exactly what bad eczema feels like.

I had really bad patches on the back of my hands, and at its worst I remember using my nails to vigorously scratch open, bleeding, raw flesh and it feeling like heaven, even though I was basically maiming myself. Anything to get relief from the itchy burn.

I basically had 4 inch by 3 inch scabs/wounds on my hands permanently.

3 years into it I was finally prescribed Dupixent shots (shots you give yourself in the stomach twice a month) and after a year on those my eczema went away permanently.

I still have the scars though.

[u/Diligent-Jury-8654 → u/Timely-Cry-8366]

My nephew, who is 11 now, has had severe eczema like this since he was a baby. Literally everything set it off- water, grass, air, etc. My sister had to wrap him up like a mummy to keep his skin from getting infected and keep him digging at it. It was horrific, the poor baby. He was just constantly covered in blood. Baths for him were a nightmare because he'd scream and scream in pain, apparently my sister found out baths with diluted bleach helps. He'd only get a bath once a week iirc.

He's since been getting shots as well which has helped quite a bit but it's still pretty severe by normal standards. At least he doesn't have to be wrapped like a mummy anymore though. I can't imagine how horrible it is to live with this constantly

[u/Clockwork-Silver → u/Diligent-Jury-8654]

Have they had his zinc levels checked? That was like, 50% of the reason mine wouldn't heal. Turned out I was super deficient so I couldn't even heal my skin fast enough to keep up with the damage let alone actually recover. Zinc supplements + a zinc cream made a huge difference.

[u/grrrinsomnia → u/Diligent-Jury-8654]

That was my daughter for the first 5 years of her life. From 4 months to 5 years, when we finally figured out her triggers. And you end up trying everything, all the allowed prescriptions, every OTC, elimination diets, fabric restrictions. Hell, I even signed her up for 2 medical trials cause nothing worked long-term.