My eczema was so bad I had to take days off sick – but cancer drug has ‘cured’ it
Amy Tuck's eczema attack got so bad that she couldn't even wash herself
FOR Amy Tuck her eczema flare-ups were so bad she was forced to take sick days from work.
The 26-year-old, has lived with itchy skin on and off since she was a child, but a painful outbreak a few years ago left her unable to shower or dress herself.
The digital marketing executive from Leamington Spa had gotten away with only the occasional flare-up in recent years.
“As a child my eczema was mostly on my arms and legs, so was fairly easy to cover up," she said.
"Physically it was itchy and uncomfortable, but it didn't really affect me much mentally as a child.
“My mum and dad helped a lot with the application of creams and lotions and kept me in a strict routine to ensure my eczema stayed manageable."
At school, it was only during PE that she had a problem as her legs and arms were exposed.
"It was during this time at secondary school that I became a lot more aware of my eczema as other people noticed it and asked questions about what it was," she said.
"Luckily it wasn't too severe during my teens so it wasn't much of an issue."
But in 2017, something changed and she suffered a massive episode that couldn't be controlled with her usual creams.
She said the flare made her feel "defeated".
It kept getting worse - affecting her face, neck, chest, back and limbs.
The crippling pain made it impossible for Amy to go to work or perform simple, everyday tasks - and that saw her mental health plummet.
Eventually, she went to her GP for help and was put on a course of anti-depressants for six months to help her sleep and relax.
"I wondered what I had done wrong for it to get so bad, and at this time I was in my early twenties which should be the prime of my life and it really affected my health.
“It affected everything. I was lucky that the job I was in at the time allowed me to work from home, and I did that a lot because some days I was barely able to move.
"It was too painful to shower, get dressed, move around, basically all the things we took for granted I could not do.
“I'd always try and live my life to the full when my skin was okay, and then I'd pay for it later and spend three to four days at home in bed unable to function."
In November 2017, she was referred to a dermatologist who found that her immunoglobulin levels were high and Amy was prescribed methotrexate, which is also a chemotherapy agent, to treat her eczema.
Since taking the drug, Amy's seen an improvement in her skin and has regained her social life - including meeting her boyfriend.
But it's not been all plain sailing; the drug also caused her exhaustion, minor hair loss and mouth ulcers.
Every now and then her skin still flares but improves after 48-hours.
Amy said: "I have tried pretty much everything. Every emollient, every cream, moisturisers, cutting down on certain foods, steroid creams, oral steroid tablets, you name it I’ve tried it.
"The methotrexate really is a last resort for me right now, and I’m grateful it's working.
“In terms of side effects, it can be quite mixed. The day after I take methotrexate, I get what people call the 'methotrexate hangover' and you really feel like you've been out on the town, so Tuesdays are usually not much fun.
“I also suffer from exhaustion and a bit of hair loss too. The worst side effect is the mouth ulcers associated with the drug, but I’m taking folic acid supplements manage those.”
Amy is speaking openly about eczema in adults as she has been asked if she is contagious, why she hasn’t “grown out” of it yet and told to wash more by adults who wrongly assume the condition only affects children.
Amy's eczema isn't the result of an allergic reaction.
She's got atopic dermatitis, which means that her skin will go hay-wire whenever she's stressed, rundown or the weather changes.
Methotrexate has allowed her to curb those changes. Although her ezcema isn't totally "cured", she is so much more confident that she's stopped using anti-depressants.
“I have become a person again, it's allowed me to regain my social life, pursue the job I wanted, I’ve met my boyfriend and life just generally is so much better,” she said.
“I still have days where I flare and I can feel quite down about it, especially if someone makes a comment that my skin looks sore or asks what’s wrong with me you'd be surprised at how many adults have asked if I have some sort of contagious disease.
“But in general, I’m much happier, I’m no longer on anti-depressants and I meet with my dermatologist on a regular basis to make sure I'm heading in the right direction.
"We've spoken about the fact I will have to come off methotrexate soon and we're putting a plan together to manage my skin when this date comes."
Eczema tends to be associated with kids, with the atopic variety being more common in young children - usually developing before their first birthday.
It can improve significantly or clear completely as kids grow older but adults can also develop it for the first time in adulthood.
“People always associate eczema with children and make comments like; ‘shouldn't you have grown out of that’, 'maybe you should wash more' or; 'have you tried coconut oil'," Amy says.
“The truth is, eczema can affect you well into adulthood and the effects can be life-changing.
"I became a shell of a person when my eczema was at its worst, the days where I couldn't even get out of bed were just unbearable."
She's urging anyone who sees or knows someone with the condition to"think before you speak", as they might be struggling with it mentally as well as physically.
“'To those of you that suffer from eczema, or any other skin condition, it might seem like a really lonely place, especially as many people just don't understand what you're going through unless they have it themselves.
“I'm really lucky to have the support of my amazing boyfriend, family and friends.
"But there is also a great support network of people out there on social media, and it's times like these where social media platforms can be a really positive place."
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She says that Instagram has allowed her to meet a lot of people going through the same experience, which has been a "vital support network" through her healing journey.
“Don't be afraid to reach out to others, it could be just what you need to get you through a bad day.”
You can follow Amy's journey .
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