WHEN Lottie Rainbow got engaged it was a wonderful, happy occasion.
But it also brought a feeling of dread as the painful eczema on her hands left her too embarrassed to flash her diamond ring.
The 26-year-old has suffered with the agonising skin condition since she was a child and tried virtually everything she could to clear it up.
But it wasn't until her doctor recommended a £5 cream that she finally cleared her up her cracked skin and felt able to show off her rock.
I would feel uncomfortable when people asked to see my engagement ring if I was having a flare-up
Speaking to The Sun Online, the personal trainer, from London, said: "I’ve had eczema for as long as I can remember.
"As a child, I experienced very severe flare-ups on so much of my body from the arms to the hands to the legs to even around my eyes and mouth.
“My eyes would often look red raw, as if I’d been crying for hours on end.
"This affected my confidence and may have contributed to me being a very shy and nervous child.
"I felt self-conscious of the red patches on my skin – so much so that it often stopped me from going swimming.
“There was a time during my teenage years where I thought the condition went away.
"I thought I had grown out of it but it came back with a vengeance in my twenties."
Recipe for disaster
Working in a sweaty gym is a massive trigger for her condition and can spark painful flare-ups.
Lottie explained: "The hot environment combined with air-con, tighter clothing and need for frequent showers can quickly trigger a flare-up.
"Getting sweaty in the gym is a recipe for disaster and a flare-up on my hands, fingers and arms is almost inevitable.
"It just feels like my skin is red-raw – the itching sensation is unbearable and my skin looks and feels flaky.
"It’s very frustrating when people don’t understand the condition. I’ve had people ask if it’s contagious – which it categorically isn’t.
"On another occasion, I’ve had someone ask if I was wearing lipstick, but in fact It was eczema around the mouth."
Feeling low
Lottie says that it's not just the physical pain that she has to deal with, but the emotional impact which can be "much worse".
And her self-consciousness about her eczema was amplified when boyfriend of 10 years Sam Walters proposed in July, last year.
She said: "Eczema can make me feel really low and I feel other people are looking and possibly passing judgement.
"The comments people make, sometimes they can stay with you forever.
“When I got engaged I would sometimes feel uncomfortable when people ask to see my engagement ring if I was having a flare-up as my hands would be covered in eczema patches.
"Nonetheless, over time I’m learning to not take what people say too seriously and be confident no matter what my skin is saying."
'Miracle cream'
But after years of misery, Lottie says she has finally found a solution that works for her – and it costs as little as £5.
She said: "Eczema’s not curable but the right creams, lifestyle changes and sometimes topical steroids can soothe the skin, prevent flare-ups and just make the condition more manageable.
“I have tried so many things over the years from a huge number of creams to essential oils to a variety of topical steroids.
"But my GP recommended Cetraben and finally I found something that worked to soothe my skin and keep the flare-ups at bay. It’s my number one maintenance cream.
What is eczema?
Eczema is a condition that causes the skin to become itchy, red, dry and cracked.
Atopic eczema (the most common form of the condition) is more common in children, often developing before their first birthday.
However, it may also develop for the first time in adults.
It's usually a long-term condition, although it can improve significantly, or even clear completely, in some children as they get older.
The exact cause of eczema is not known.
Symptoms:
Some people only have small patches of dry skin, but others may experience widespread red, inflamed skin all over the body.
It can affect any part of the body but it most often affects the hands, insides of the elbows, backs of the knees and the face and scalp in children.
There are many different treatments to help control eczema, including:
- self-care techniques, such as reducing scratching and avoiding triggers (babies and small children may need to wear mittens to avoid scratching)
- moisturising on a daily basis
- topical corticosteroids to reduce swelling, redness and itching during flare-ups
“If I stop using it I get a really bad flare-up, so I have to use it twice a day, everyday – especially on the areas that are most sensitive including my arms and hands.
"I’ll also make sure to apply it before and after each gym session as it will soften and protect the skin from the elements.
“I have also made a few lifestyle tweaks by identifying my eczema triggers.
"I try and consume as natural a diet as possible, drink lots of water and limit my intake of dairy.
Eczema can make me feel really low and I feel other people are looking and possibly passing judgement
“Now and again, when I have uncontrollable flare-ups I have used prescription steroid creams from the doctors, but of course you can only take them for a certain period of time.
"Alongside this, I’ll continue to use Cetraben Cream two to three times a day and apply Cetraben Ointment overnight.
"This will help ensure that my symptoms lessen within a week or so.
“However, it’s always best to avoid the flare-ups as much as you can. All too often we only look for solutions when a problem presents – which is much harder to treat.
"Prevention is all about being consistent – I consistently use Cetraben, monitor my diet and am careful at the gym – including taking cooler showers.
“I feel I’ve found something that boosts my confidence and helps me control the condition as much as I can.
"Most importantly I now feel more comfortable in my skin, which I’m so grateful for."
Lottie and James are getting married in the Cotswolds in November.
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