New to Allergies?

This post is inspired by a friend who recently was diagnosed with a dairy allergy and is a little bit lost! I thought I would write a post with a few tips and tricks for being new to allergies or eliminating things from your diet.

1) It is not the end of the world! Whilst finding out you have an allergy might seem like the world is crashing down around you, I assure you it is not. There are so many worse things than having an allergy, though it may not seem like it at the time! There are so many fantastic support groups and communities out there dedicated to sharing allergy experiences.

2) It is natural to be anxious. After having an allergic reaction,it is expected that you will be anxious about eating out or consuming foods you are not sure of. Being anxious is nothing to be ashamed of! Every person with allergies goes through an anxious period but don't fret! You will soon find foods you can eat safely and places you can go out to eat without worry!


3) There are things you can eat! It might seem as though there is not a single thing you can eat, especially if you have eaten that particular food for your whole life thus far! Working around allergies is a matter of substitution and trial and error! It takes time to work out what substitutions and products work for you! Your diet does not need to be bland and tasteless, there are so many recipes and delicious foods you can eat!

4) Check every label! You will be surprised at what products contain your allergies. Chocolate can contain nuts, bread can contain milk and such things that you would never guess! It is important to read every single label of everything you eat/buy. You may also be surprised at what you can eat with your allergies, so read everything!

5) The health food aisle will be your best friend! The health food aisle in supermarkets has grown from a tiny bit of shelving to half an aisle! It has a mass amount of products catered to different allergies, and you can find some really amazing stuff in there! With all the new innovations in allergy friendly food, who knows what they will have next! Always do research, you never know what kind of food you will be able to buy next.

And Finally: RELAX! It takes time to adjust to such a major life change, don't expect to be adjusted to your new diet in one night. Remember to utilise the resources around you and don't be afraid to ask tons of questions! It can be a scary and tough time adjusting to life with allergies, but you can lead an extremely normal life despite cutting out major parts of your everyday diet.

I hope this post helps you or a friend who is going through an elimination diet or has recently discovered they have a new allergy. Let me know how this relates to your experiences!

Catch Up!

Wow! Welcome back readers, it has been absolutely forever since my last post as University exams and study overtook my life. But now that it is all over, lets have a chat and catch up on what has been going on!

I have had mini flare ups upon mini flare ups! The pollen has been driving my skin absolutely crazy; as soon as the wind picks up my face gets itchy and swells. I am so ready for spring to be over!

To combat this, I have been keeping on top of my antihistamine intake, using the appropriate creams that keep my skin nourished, keeping windows shut when it is windy and staying inside as much as possible and finally, using my airwasher and salt lamp!

Yes, I bought a Salt Lamp! Well technically it is an early Christmas Present. I have always pondered the use of Salt Lamps and Salt rooms and whether they would work. But after my first salt therapy session I knew it worked for me! I went from angry and flaring skin to calm and almost normal skin in 45 minutes! So I got a salt lamp. It sits in my room and honestly, it has made such a difference to my skin! Combining my air washer and salt lamp has ensured that my room has stayed free of dust, pollen and mould, which means my skin is a lot happier.

Stress has always been a factor in my skin and its flare ups, with stress making every bit of skin worse. With exams usually comes stress, however this exam period, I have kept everything under control! Learning to not stress and manage my stress levels has been instrumental in not only keeping my skin in a better state, but ensuring a clear head for my exams!

Finally it is starting to heat up here in Australia, so heat reactive eczema sufferers will be likely feeling a bit frustrated! I know I am! More on heat reactive eczema in another post to come sooner.

Expect more posts now that I am free of exams! Anything in particular you would like to see?

Chocolate Pudding? Yes Please!

My friends and I go over to each other's houses, and the host gets to cook for the rest of the group. I absolutely love doing this as it is great to spend time with each other and get a little bit creative at the same time! I had my night the other week and decided to go a little bit crazy in the kitchen and did Homemade Garlic Bread, Curry Chicken (recipe to come) and Chocolate Pudding :)

The chocolate pudding was so good I decided to make it again a few nights later! So much for the 6 serves I put in the fridge, it was gone in 4!

Ingredients:

3 Tablespoons Cornflour
2 Tablespoons Water
1 1/2 Cups Milk of Choice (I used Soy)
1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
Sugar to taste ( I only used a pinch, but you may want it a little bit sweeter!)

Method:

1. Mix Cornflour and Water in a separate bowl
2. Place Milk, Cocoa Powder and Vanilla Extract in a Saucepan on a medium heat
3. Add Cornflour and Water to the mixture
4. Simmer on a medium heat (You do not want the mixture to boil!) until the mixture starts to thicken.
5. Take off the heat and stir before pouring into serving dishes (Cups, Bowls etc)
6. Let it cool for 10 minutes or until the serving dish is cool to touch before placing in the fridge till serving

NOTE: Top it with whatever you want! I did crushed Freedom Foods X and O's and fresh mint leaves and I also did Berries and Chocolate Chips (Sweet William) :)

You can also add whatever extract you want instead of vanilla! I've also played around with coffee extract, orange flavour (juice etc) and it tastes great!

The Perfect Allergy Friendly Buttercream!

I have been baking allergy friendly for years and years, but I have always struggled to make a delicious icing to go with cakes and cupcakes!

Because Nuttelex and other dairy free margarine/butter options do not hold the same consistency or amount of oil as regular butter, the proportions were often wrong for the ingredients and it ended up tasting too sugary, too buttery or just being a mess on top of a cake. But I have found a recipe that had people wondering how I made it so allergy friendly! I thought I would share it with you all, let me know how it goes!

185 grams of Butter (I used Nuttelex)
2 and 1/4 cups of Icing Sugar
2 Tablespoons of Milk or Water ( I used water and it came out perfectly! But Milk also works well)
Flavouring/Colour of choice

1. Beat Butter until it is paler than normal
2. Add sugar and water gradually until combined
3. Add desired colouring/flavouring

NOTE: When I made this, I added coffee extract and cocoa powder which did alter the consistency a little bit. In the end it is all about playing around and adding tiny bits of each ingredient until you make it perfect for you. But this recipe is the best one I have done thus far! I found I added a little bit more water after I put the cocoa powder in, but it all balanced out in the end. This Icing is perfect for piping as well!

Good Luck and let me know how your Buttercream goes!

Just Allergy Things...

Just Allergy Things... those things that only those with allergies understand/do!

1) Carrying a mini pharmacy around in your bag. Antihistamines of different types? Steroid Cream? Epipens? Moisturiser? Hand Wipes? Steroid tablets for mild reactions? With all this and more, it's a wonder any of us can carry our handbags around!

2) Ringing restaurants before you even go out. "Hi, I was wondering if you could tell me your allergy policy, I am allergic to x, y, z and I would like to dine at your restaurant" You usually have a pre thought out speech for when you call or email a new restaurant so that you can establish whether or not you can actually eat there.

3) Reading all the labels. Before even placing that packet into the shopping cart, instinct tells you to flip it over and scrutinise the ingredients list. It doesn't matter if you have had that product before, or even if it states it is free of your allergies, you will always read the ingredients!

4) Taking your own food... everywhere. School Camps, Dinner out, Parties, Holidays and many more situations require you to take your own food purely because they cannot cater for your allergies or it is just simpler to take your own food.

5) Feeling the need to educate those around you. So someone at the next table made a snide comment about how long you took talking to the waiter, or made fun of you for reading a label on that snack you have in your handbag. Rather than let it slide, you feel the need to inform them that they are a little misinformed.

6) Being a whiz in the kitchen. With all your allergies it can be hard to buy things in the supermarket or at cafe's. So you whip up a quick batch of cookies, cupcakes, slices etc and there you have it! Allergy friendly treats. When you have allergies you get really good at cooking as you have to do it a little more often than other people might.

I'm not saying any of these things are bad, they are just some facts of life when you have allergies! Did I miss anything? What are your: Just Allergy Things...

Don't forget to enter the giveaway on the facebook page for a great QV or Kinnerton gift pack! facebook.com/theeczemaexperienceblog

Giveaway!

Time for a giveaway!

There will be two winners!

Winner One:
5x Kinnerton Chocolate Bars

Winner Two:
1x QV Shampoo
1x QV Conditioner
1x QV Gentle Wash
1x QV Cream
1x Dermaid
1x Sensitive Sunscreen
1x Flare Up Cream
1x Flare Up Wash
1x Flare Up Bath Oil

It is really simple to enter, it only takes 3 steps!

1) Go to www.facebook.com/theeczemaexperienceblog and like the page and the pinned giveaway post

2) Comment your best eczema or allergy tip on the post and tag a friend who would like the pack!

3) Share the post to your own timeline!

Winner will be chosen on the 1st of September so enter now for your chance to win!

Big thanks to Ego and Kinnerton for sponsoring this giveaway! :D

Spring is coming...

With Spring just around the corner, allergies and hayfever are almost upon us! If you are like me and pollen drives you absolutely crazy in terms of your eczema and allergies, I have a few tips! From simple to a little bit more expensive, these tips can see you surviving spring just a little bit better!

1) Shower at night!
It might seem a bit odd to say this, but showering at night can actually help! During the day you accumulate pollen on your skin and clothes. If you shower in the morning then you are taking all that pollen into your bed and it gets onto your sheets. This only makes your symptoms worse.

2) Keep your house well ventilated and vacuum regularly.
Just like keeping your house clear of dust, regular vacuuming and keeping the house dry and well ventilated can keep pollen levels inside the house as low as possible.

3) Keep doors and windows shut if it is windy.
Wind will bring an excess of pollen through those windows and doors and annoy your allergies! So if there is a lot of wind around keep the doors and windows closed.

4) Antihistamines!
From Zyrtec to Claratyne there are so many different types of antihistamines so that you can find one that works for you. Personally I use Polaramine as I find it is the only one that relieves my symptoms! However it can make other people drowsy, so be careful!

5) Air washer/Purifier
This is the most expensive of all the tips, but it can make a huge difference! Air washers clean the air in a room and can eliminate a lot of dust and pollen. I use the Cli-Mate Air Washer which you can add essential oils too and it has a colour changing lights to help kids fall asleep or if you want to enhance your mood for studying or relaxing! I bought mine from the Shaver Shop but you can get them at Harvey Norman as well. Here is the website so you can read more about them: http://www.cli-mate.com.au/products/desktop/air-washer

What are your tips to help beat the spring allergies?

Treat Yourself!

Those with allergies can sometimes find it hard to find treats when out and about during the day. When I was younger, there was not as many allergy friendly products around, so when my sisters bought an icecream, I would have to go without, or have something when we got back home. 

Now there are so many things out and about that allergy kids (and adults) can treat themselves with!

1) Perfect Fruit! 

Perfect Fruit is a soft serve fruit treat! It is dairy free and comes in a variety of flavours. 

They recently had a machine installed near my university, and trust me, I have been trying all of the flavours! :) 

It's a delicious 100% fruit treat that even those without allergies can enjoy!

Check the website out and see the store locator: http://spcardmona.com.au/en/healthy-brands/perfect-fruit

2) Leda Biscuits: 

These biscuits are delicious! They have gingersnaps, tim tam style biscuits and many more that make a great lunchbox filler or treat! 

The ingredients vary, but they do have ones that are dairy free, vegan, egg free and more!

http://www.ledanutrition.com/

3) Kinnerton/Sweet William Chocolate

Both of these brands do absolutely amazing allergy friendly chocolate. You can find them at supermarkets, Big W and Target.  Sweet William has many types of chocolate including No Added Sugar, Dark Chocolate Orange, White Chocolate Strawberry and many more! Where I live, there is only one type of Kinnerton on sale, but it tastes so good! You can use the chocolate in cooking or just eat it straight out of the packet...

4) Homemade treats

Homemade is just as good as bought! Cupcakes, biscuits, sorbet, custard, jelly and much more can be made easily at home and taste amazing! I love messing around in the kitchen and creating new and interesting treats, such as allergy friendly custard tarts, savoury muffins and much more! It's fun and you feel a sense of accomplishment when your treat tastes amazing. 

What are your favorite treats?

Note: None of the companies mentioned have paid me for these recommendations, I put these companies in because I enjoy their products and want to share them with my readers!

How I deal with Social Situations

A little while ago I published two posts; one about alcohol and the lack of allergen labelling in the industry, and the second about feeling left out. I thought I would post a bit of a part two seeing as both those posts gained very positive feedback.

I have heard from a lot of allergy parents that they are terrified of letting their allergy children out of the house unsupervised. This fear is not unjustified! There are so many ways that your allergy child can get hurt, and it's not just food that I am talking about.

However, it is possible for your kids to go out and have a completely safe and fun time!

In terms of food, I religiously research potential food outlets and choose one that I will eat at before I go anywhere new. I call the restaurant, speak to the waiter/waitress and the chef and explain my situation. That way when I get there, they already have an idea of what they need to be doing.

In doing all this research, I feel more comfortable and I am sure my parents appreciate it too! That said, sometimes you do not get the desired result.

Funny story time! When we order a 'special meal' quite often we expect to get a meal from a restaurant that is tailored to our needs, for example without a certain sauce, or swapping a bun for slices of bread. However sometimes this is not what we get. I went out for breakfast recently, which I never do as I find it to be one of the hardest meals for a person with allergies. I ordered a meal that was toast with bacon, eggs, baby spinach and grilled tomato. I told them my allergies and stated that I would have to omit the eggs and butter off the toast. So what I expected based on my conversation was toast with bacon, baby spinach and grilled tomato. What I ended up with was a plate of bacon. Just a full plate of bacon. See what I mean?

When I go out partying with my friends, I generally stick to the same non-alcoholic drinks, for a few reasons! By ordering non-alcoholic, I know exactly what I am eating/drinking and have a clear mind. I also know what that particular drink looks like when poured. I stick to lemonade or water, they come out of a handheld remote style controller that the bartender has, and it is easy to ensure that you do not get served the wrong drink.These drinks are often inexpensive/free, which means my bank account doesn't hate me at the end of the night! It also means I can remember all of the fun times!

When I go to the movies, iceskating or other social places, I generally eat beforehand or take my own snacks. This minimises the risk of cross-contamination or an allergic reaction! The same goes for university, I take my own lunch and if I do buy snacks, I buy the ones that are already packaged with ingredients and allergy information clearly displayed (e.g. Smiths chips)

At work, I take my own mug and teabags. I take these home with me everyday to ensure they are clean and untouched by other people.

I understand that this can seem a little bit over the top to someone without allergies, but in truth it is ensuring my safety in a world where people do not always understand what allergies are or how severe they can be.

These are just a few of the ways people with allergies can handle certain situations and help their parents to feel a bit more comfortable letting them out of the house.

Cold Snap!

Welcome to winter everyone! With a massive cold snap hitting the East coast of Australia at the moment, I feel like it is finally Winter time! The wind chill is bringing the temperature down to around 4 degrees celsius so I have reason to dig out all the winter clothing!

So I thought I would share some tips about keeping your eczema hydrated during colder weather.

Moisturise!
It might be obvious but moisturising is the best way to keep your skin happy during the colder weather! The cold and wind tend to dry out your skin a lot more, as the air is drier. So it is super important to moisturise more frequently and use more moisturiser than usual. Your skin will thank you!

Use a thicker moisturiser
As well as moisturising more frequently, it is important to use a thicker moisturiser. Especially one that will protect against dry weather and the crazy wind! I tend to mix my regular moisturiser with a paraffin cream, which is usually enough to keep my skin nice and moisturised.

Protecting the outer layers!
Whilst you can cover most of your body with multiple layers in the cold and the wind, some areas like hands and face can be harder to keep covered all day! So it is important to moisturise your hands and face during the day if necessary.

Don't get too warm!
I know it's tempting to jump in the shower and turn the hot water on full blast, but it will not do any good for your skin! It will heat up your skin and make it itchy! Plus it makes the air colder when you get out of the shower! Try a lukewarm shower instead.

Another tip to keep your body moisturised is to take an oil supplement or add it into your moisturiser. Such as flaxseed oil, rosehip or fish oil if you can have it!

I hope everyone is faring well in this cold snap, rug up and stay warm!

The Winter Blues

So for those of us who have allergies to egg, you have probably been told the same thing I have in regards to the flu vaccine: Don't do it!

In fact, I was told that they would have to do it in hospital with the epipen at the ready but even then it still wasn't recommended as the risk was too great.

About two weeks ago I lost my voice to a virus based just in my throat, which sucked but I got my voice back. 

I had a shift at work at the start of the week and as I work in retail, I am in constant contact with members of the public. As it is cold and flu season the common conversation goes like this;

Me: Good Morning/Afternoon, how are you today?

Customer: Oh pretty bad

Me: That's no good

Customer: Yeah I've got the flu/a cold

Me (internally): SO WHY ARE YOU OUT HERE INFECTING ME!

Seriously though, I cannot understand how people with the flu think it is okay to come out into a public place and infect everyone with their germs. 

Due to my allergies, eczema and the fact that I only just got my voice back, my immune system was compromised and I now have a cold. 

Which brings me to a few questions. 1) How can those with more susceptible immune systems cope? 

2) What are the best ways to deal with a cold?

So here are a few answers based off my personal experience

1) Wash your hands regularly and try not to do things like bite your nails or touch your face. 

2) Codral Cold and Flu tablets, Lemsip, Panadol, vaporub etc are all great but I also love the more natural remedies such as; garlic, onions, eucalyptus, lemon and honey, plenty of water and rest. 

Let me know how you fare during the winter blues and how you deal with sickness in your household! New post coming on Friday so keep an eye out! 

EGG FREE MERINGUE!

Meringue is something that those with egg allergies will never get to eat, because it is made of egg! As someone with egg allergies, I would watch my mum whip up the mixture and put it on cakes, tarts and all manner of desserts. I was constantly curious about what it tasted like, the texture and how on earth such a liquid came to be such a delicious food (so I heard).

However, there is a way to make meringue without eggs, and when I heard it I was a bit skeptical! It uses aquafaba, which is the liquid that comes in a can of beans. The most common form of aquafaba used for this recipe is chickpea as it holds it shape better and the taste is milder. So the basis for this meringue is the liquid from a can of chickpeas! Odd, but it works and tastes awesome :)

Recipe for Egg Free Meringue

Ingredients:

Liquid from a 400g can of Chickpeas
1/4 - 1 cup of granulated sugar (depends on taste)
1tsp Vanilla Essence
Pinch of Cream of Tarter

Method:

1. Set oven to 100 degrees.
2. Pour liquid into a freestanding mixer. If you do not have one, you can whisk by hand.
3. Start whisking the liquid, adding the sugar slowly as you go.
4. Add vanilla essence and cream of tarter
5. Whip until the mixture forms peaks and the bowl can be turned upside down without any mixture falling out.
6. Place on a lined tray in your desired shape
7. Bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes in the oven
8. Let the meringue cool before use

Note: You can add colours to make the meringue fun for the kids!
First time recipe note! When I made my first batch, I only used 1/4 cup of sugar. This worked well however there was a slight aftertaste, so try the mixture before baking!

Please let me know if you try this recipe, I'd love to see how everyone elses turned out!

ALLERGY AWARENESS WEEK DAY FOUR! Top Tips for Dealing with Eczema

1)      Moisturise

There is no other way to say it! If you have eczema, your skin has to remain moisturised in order to combat the dryness that can be the cause. Make sure to use the right moisturiser for the time of year and conditions you are facing. For example; if your skin is susceptible to the cold, make sure to use a thicker moisturiser during winter or when it is windy.

2)      Use the right products for your skin

There are so many products out there for people with eczema and allergies, but they might not all work for you! Each brand creates their product differently, with different ingredients or amounts of ingredients. So your skin might love Cetaphil but hate QV, whilst your friend with Eczema is the complete opposite! If a product isn’t working for your skin, it is important to stop using it and find something that will work for your skin!

3)      Avoid your personal triggers

Eczema flare ups can be triggered by all sorts of different things: Animal Dander, citrus, pollen, dust and sugar just to name a few. If you can work out what causes your eczema flare ups, then it can be a bit easier to control your eczema and how often it flares! Sometimes it may not be easy to avoid the triggers but it can help you and your eczema!

4)      Stay calm

Stress is the enemy for any disease (I hate calling it that!) that centres around the immune system. Stress can exacibate the symptoms of eczema and cause you to be itchier or for a flare up to be worse! In certain situations it can be hard to avoid or minimise stress such as exams, busy work life or stressful personal situations. However it is important to try and minimise the amount of stress or the impact it has. Relaxation is key!

5)      Support J

Having support in your life is super important. Support from friends, family, workmates and more is important to maintaining a positive environment around you! If they all understand what you are living with and how they can help make it a bit easier on you then life can be a lot easier! For example: My friends know that when we go out for dinner I might not be able to eat just anywhere, so they always check with me before deciding! And my boss was cleaning out my work and there was dust everywhere, so I was deliberately not put on to work, as she knew that dust made me flare! Make sure you have a team around you that can support you and that you trust.

6)      Be Happy

So you have eczema or allergies, it is not the end of the world and you have plenty to be happy about! Laughing and being happy makes your life so much better! Being sad and upset about what you are dealing with doesn’t make it easier for you or for those around you. Try and focus on the positives in your life and the rest will be easier to deal with! Make sure you have an activity that you enjoy that can relax you and keep you happy! It could be dancing, yoga, walking the dog or a multitude of things!

7)      When you do flare have a plan in place

Ensure you have a plan in place for if/when your eczema flares. For example: Get steroid cream, flare up baths, oat baths, special creams, wet wraps etc. If you have a plan in place then it will be easier to manage a flare when one occurs and it may also reduce the amount of time or severity of the flare!

8)      Live your life!

Eczema and Allergies do not define your life! Sure you might have to be a bit more careful on where you go and what environments you expose yourself too, but that does not mean you have to bubble wrap yourself! You have to live your life to the fullest, because flares will happen, you can only try to minimise them. Go out and have a lovely weekend everyone!

ALLERGY AWARENESS WEEK DAY THREE! Top Ten Products for People with Allergies and Eczema

Good Morning All! Welcome to Wednesday of Allergy Awareness Week. Today I would love to share my top ten products. Please know that these are ones that I have found to be really good for me and they may not work for everyone (see disclaimer). 

1) Thermal Spring Water - Avene & La Roche Posay

This product changed the way I handle my eczema! Summer is really bad for me, as my eczema reacts quite badly to heat and humidity, however I found this product which cools and moisturizes the skin. It comes in aerosol spray bottles which you buy from any chemist. The water contains certain minerals from the thermal springs in France, which reduce redness and itching. Prices range depending on what size bottle you buy, but they start at around $9.99-$11.99 for a small size. 

2) QV - Moisturiser, Gentle Wash

I used to use QV products when I was younger and they were great. Super moisturising, gentle on the skin and perfect for summer and winter. However when I started my first job I had the responsibility of purchasing my own products. As I only earnt a small amount, I decided the best place to compromise was my skincare! So I purchased cheaper moisturisers which resulted in my skin not getting enough moisture! Now I'm back to QV and my skin is so much better! I use the Gentle Wash and the Cream, which is a nice thick moisturiser. Chemist Warehouse has some great deals on QV most of the time. 

3) Kinnerton - Chocolate

I have only found Kinnerton recently, but I am completely in love with their chocolate! They started out as a completely nut free chocolate factory, but then realised that people were after a dairy, egg, nut and gluten free chocolate. So that's what they have delivered! When I first tried it, I thought "this must be what normal chocolate tastes like! And according to other taste testers, it is quite similar. Unlike Sweet William, Kinnerton is not as sweet and tastes more like a dark chocolate. It's yummy! :D

4) A Bit Hippy - Shampoo, Conditioner, Eczema and Psoriasis Cream

I am a big fan of the Shampoo and Conditioner from A Bit Hippy. They are made from all natural ingredients that are meant for those with sensitive scalps. I have eczema on mine, and I find that there formula is the only one that keeps me under control. The Eczema and Psoriasis Cream is great too! I find it good to use on those areas that get a bit drier or itchier than others. 

5) Cicalfate - Avene

Avene makes some great products. They are based on the thermal spring water that I spoke about above. The Cicalfate is a restorative skin cream which restores the natural barrier of the skin and calms irritation. I find this great to use where my skin has split or if my face is super dry. It's also great to calm the skin down during a flare. It varies in price but can be picked up for about $13. I have seen it on special for around $10. 

6) DreamWash - Lush

Shaving is hard when you have eczema. As someone with severe eczema, shaving my legs can sometimes be a bit disastrous and lead to a flare up or an angry rash all over my legs. I never really knew how to combat this until I tried the Dreamwash from Lush. It contains calming ingredients such as Calamine to soothe and calm the skin. I shave my legs with a soap free wash and then lather on the Dreamwash. I leave it on for a few minutes then wash off and moisturise my legs. Lush also has a Dreamcream which is the moisturiser version of the wash. I find that I like to follow the Wash with the Cream. They are not the cheapest product but I find them worth it. The dreamwash you can pick up from Lush for around $25 a tub, which lasted me approximately six months, but it depends on how often you shave. The Dreamcream comes in small tubs for $5.95, which is what I use, as I find I only use it when my skin needs some serious after shaving help!

7) Thick Cream - Dermeze

I am allergic to the pollen that emerges around September/October which makes it extremely difficult for me to live normally during pollen season. One product that I found created a really good barrier was the Dermeze Thick Cream. It is a really rich moisturiser that has parrafin as an ingredient so it creates a nice barrier to any irritants. It is moisturising without leaving a greasy residue on sheets and clothes. Perfect for winter when skin is drier!

8) Leda - Cookies :)

Buying ready made baked goods was always a dream of mine! To be able to walk into the supermarket and buy a muffin or cookies! Whilst the muffin dream remains a fantasy, thanks to Leda, allergy friendly cookies off the shelf are a reality! Gingernut, Arrowroot, Golden Crunch (tastes like an ANZAC biscuit but with coconut and no oats) even Choc Chip! They vary but are generally Dairy, Egg, Gluten Free, Vegan Friendly. Some of them do have may contain traces of nuts, so it depends on if you consume traces or may contain traces. I find them super delicious and perfect with hot chocolate, tea, coffee or in the lunchbox!

9) Freedom Foods - Snack foods/ Cereal etc

Freedom Foods has a range of Breakfast cereals, lunchbox snacks, fruit bars and other products that are allergy friendly. They are mostly nut free and some of them I have found contain dairy, but most of them are safe. Their cereals are delicious for breakfast and I found that they are quite filling. The school snacks are great as they are safe and delicious to eat whilst at school, work or uni. Prices vary but are generally affordable. 

10) Lipid Replenishing Balm - Avene

This product has actually changed my life! Avene recently expanded their range including a new Cicalfate product that focuses on drying the wound before repairing it (perfect for weeping eczema sores). The lipid replenishing balm has a airlock system which prevents bacteria from entering the cream. It also means that the cream contains NO PRESERVATIVES! None whatsoever! The lipid replenishing part of the cream is great as it is super moisturising without being heavy on the skin. I use this cream on my face and since using it, I have not had a flare up on my face! It is great! The cream itself is not cheap and retails for around $40, but I am willing to pay it for such great results!

That is my list! I hope you enjoyed it and learnt about some products that may help you or someone you know! I am not endorsed by any of the companies mentioned, I just really love their products! Have a lovely day and I will see you all tomorrow for another Allergy Awareness Week Post! :D

ALLERGY AWARENESS WEEK DAY TWO! Things we all wish everyone understood about allergies and eczema.

When we are out in the world with our allergies and eczema there are a lot of people that don’t understand or do not know what we all have to deal with on a daily basis. So here are a few things that I think we all wish the general public would understand about allergies and eczema.

We are not “making it up” I have heard it a lot that I am making my allergies or eczema up, that I can eat dairy and my other allergens, I just want to be difficult. Or that my eczema is ‘not a real disease’. The fact is that allergies and eczema are real! And we all know this because we deal with it all the time!

Eating what we are allergic to is not going to cure us! Desensitization is a valid and real way that some people can treat their allergies, but it doesn’t work for everyone and it has to be monitored carefully by doctors in terms of amounts. So we can’t just eat a nut and be magically cured from our nut allergy!

Yes we really do need to check the ingredients for EVERYTHING! Even simple things like bread can contain dairy and egg. For example: my sister is lactose intolerant and I am allergic to dairy. We had some bread in the freezer which luckily I checked before popping in the toaster because it contained milk! Allergens can hide in so many things that you wouldn’t expect and when I have been out sometimes I have heard “Do you really need to check that?” Yes, yes I do.

The 10 minute conversation we have with the waiter/waitress/chef is important. When eating out, it is super important for allergy sufferers to talk about what is in a dish, preventing cross contamination and ensuring a safe and fun meal out. I have had people say before: You held up the waiter and chef because you are selfish! No, I spoke to them because I need them to understand how serious my allergy is.

Whilst we really appreciate the effort you take to try and understand, sometimes we don’t want to hear about every new ‘cure’ you have heard about. Eating cabbage, painting your room red, walking in dirt, not using steroids, using a particular cream, eating a particular food etc. I’m sure we have heard it all! I totally love hearing about new things, but sometimes they just baffle me! Not every treatment is for everyone and the underlying cause can be different for everyone as well.

Is there anything I missed on this list? What other things do you want everyone to know/understand about allergies and eczema? Look out for ALLERGY AWARENESS WEEK DAY THREE tomorrow! Have a lovely day J

ALLERGY AWARENESS WEEK! Day One: 5 Things Allergy Kids wish their parents knew

Kids with allergies can be a lot to handle! Looking back on my childhood, I definitely wasn’t an easy child for my parents to deal with. So here are a few things that allergy kids might want their parents to know. 

1) We don’t want to be difficult. To you it might seem as though we are being frustrating on purpose by not taking care of our eczema properly or not eating certain foods that you know we can eat. We aren’t intentionally being painful or annoying. It could be that we don’t understand how to keep our skin the way you can, or that we don’t like trying new foods because we are scared of having a reaction.

 

2) Sometimes we detest going to restaurants. Even if there is a dish we can eat at the restaurant, the threat of cross contamination, and general fear can be hard to get over. Sometimes we just want a meal at home and not have to go through the whole explanation of allergies and speaking to waiters and chefs. 

3) When allergy kids have to start doing things on their own, they can be a little wary if they can’t read the labels on what they are eating. For example, even though the parents might have read the label on a sauce jar and seen that its perfectly safe, an allergy child may want to read it to be safe (I have done this!) It's not that they don't trust you to create a safe meal, it becomes habit to check every ingredient label, and they may feel uncomfortable if they do not check one. 

4) Sometimes we are just as scared as you are. As kids grow up they want to go out and socialise more. But that means letting them go into the world where others aren't as careful (more on this later in the week). Trust me when I say I understand a parent’s hesitation, but its not just parents! I know that when my parents starting letting me go out with friends, it scared me to think what could happen. However it’s important to learn to overcome the fear, as amazing experiences can follow from getting out of the house!

5) We seriously appreciate everything you do for us. I was thinking about it the other week: how many appointments, medications, specialists, food alternatives and everything else have my parents had to pay for? Drive me to? How many emotional times, sleepless nights and stress have they been through? I’m sure the answer would baffle me, but I know they do it all for love. Honestly? Through all the hard times, allergy kids truly appreciate everything parents do for them. From spending time making a separate dinner, to buying all the new creams ‘guaranteed’ to cure your eczema and everything in between! Allergy parents do so much, and kids appreciate it. Even if we don’t show it all the time. 

I hope everyone had a great Monday! Look out for tomorrow’s post: ALLERGY AWARENESS WEEK DAY TWO! 

Easter Bunny Cupcakes!

Happy Easter to all my lovely readers! I hope your day was lovely and allergy friendly! :D

Usually for easter my mum makes a chocolately cake for the rest of the family, and I have something allergy friendly. But this year I thought I would make something a bit cute and different!

So here are my allergy friendly Easter Bunny Cupcakes!

What you will need:

12 cupcakes
Buttercream Icing
Skittles
Marshmallows
Pink Sugar
Shredded Coconut

BUTTERCREAM ICING

Mix Icing Sugar and Dairy Free butter until it forms an icing consistency. Add food colouring/flavouring if desired (not necessary)

PINK SUGAR
Mix some white sugar with a little bit of pink food colouring until the sugar becomes pink. Only add a drop at a time, as you do not want the sugar to be too wet.

CUPCAKES
See my recipe for allergy friendly cupcakes from last year. http://theeczemaexperience.blogspot.com.au/2014/10/recipe-time.html

TO ASSEMBLE THE BUNNIES!

1) Ice the cupcakes with the buttercream (Make sure you have a little bit of icing left over for attaching the other ingredients!)
2) Dip cupcakes into a shallow bowl of coconut until the icing on top of the cupcakes is covered.
3) Cut the marshmallows in half and dip into the pink sugar.
3) Attach the marshmallows to the top of the cupcakes using some icing to form ears.
4) Take two skittles per cupcake and attach to the cake with icing as the eyes
5) Tear off a corner of a marshmallow and shape into a ball for the nose. Attach to cupcake.

Don[t forget to refrigerate them as they can melt and the face can fall off them!

Have fun and share your photos!

The cost of eczema

Eczema isn't something we can just get rid of, it needs careful management and lots of time put in to keep it under control. Unfortunately, this means using a lot of different products.

I have been working for 4 years now, earning money for my own expenses. My sister asked me the other day "How come you dont have as much money saved up as me, when I havent been working as long as you?" She got her answer when we went to the chemist; I have to buy products for my eczema. I spent $100 dollars in the space of an hour on my skin... Steroid creams, Moisturiser, Soap Free Wash, Antihistamines. That didnt even include the other creams I usually buy!

If I tallied up everything I wanted to buy/should buy for my skin, I would probably be looking at $200-$300 per week.

So how on earth can we make this more affordable? Well, the answer is not simple at all... in fact I dont think I can make it more affordable for myself! I already buy my moisturiser where it is cheapest, and I have a health care card so that my prescriptions are cheaper, but it still adds up to a lot of money each week!

I am a uni student with a casual job, so it can be super hard to afford stuff that I would really like to buy, when I have to spend so much on my skin. The frustrating part is; it doesnt even work; my skin still flares!

I know we are all in the same boat, spending so much money every week/month on the eczema and the allergies, making sure we take care of ourselves/our kids. How on earth does everyone else manage it? Any tips?

I just thought the other day, that I am going to have to do this for a long long time... Let's hope they come up with a cure fast!

Have a lovely day :)

PANCAKES!

Nearly everybody I know loves a good pancake! But when you have allergies, some recipes can be hard to find or adapt.

My mum has been making these pancakes for me on a sunday morning for as long as I can remember! And as soon as I could, I was learning how to make them myself! I wanted to share this recipe with you as it tastes amazing, is easy to make and is not only great for breakfast! They can be taken in lunchboxes or eaten for afternoon tea! 

These are Dairy, Egg and Nut Free and can be adapted to be Gluten Free and Soy Free as well! 

Ingredients

1 tsp No Egg

1 tbsp Water

1 Cup Self Raising Flour (Or your GF alternative)

1 Cup Soy Milk (or your preffered alternative)

1 tsp of Raw Sugar

Method:

1) Whisk together 1 tsp No Egg and 1 tbsp Water in the bottom of your bowl. 

2) Add Raw Sugar and whisk until combined

3) Add half of the flour and milk into the bowl and whisk. 

4) Add the remaining flour and milk into the bowl and whisk until completely combined. 

Cooking: 

1) Preheat pan and use oil/butter to lubricate

2) Pour some of the mixture into the pan

3) Wait until the top of the pancake is no longer shiny/ has tiny bubbles popping on the surface. 

4) Flip the pancake

5) Wait until the edges are brown and then your pancake is cooked!

6) Repeat until all of your mixture is gone!

Serve with whatever toppings you enjoy!

NOTE: You can add things such as chocolate chips to the batter before cooking for an awesome treat!

           - You can add more sugar to the recipe if you desire, I use less as I prefer them with a lower                   sugar content but if you think they need more sugar, add more!

Comment your pancakes below or on the facebook page! :D

What causes allergies?

There has been a lot of talk in the media lately about the cause of allergies. We all know that there are many theories about what causes an allergy to food or another substance, however some of these theories can be a little bit far fetched. Today I am going to outline some of the theories I have heard! Feel free to add on to this list in the comments.

1. If you feed your child the allergen, they won't be allergic

We have all heard this one. That the reason you or your child has an allergy is because you didnt feed them enough of it when they were younger/when you were pregnant.

From a personal experience side, I know for a fact my mum ate my allergens while she was pregnant with me, and tried to feed them to me before I was diagnosed with allergies. Well, lets cut straight to the point; IT DIDN'T WORK! Even when I was a baby, I would throw up after every meal, because I was allergic!

I'm not sure about everyone else's experiences, but from what I have read in terms of other parents, this theory seems a little bit far fetched.


2. Eat more dirt

I cannot understand this particular comment to be perfectly truthful!

Dirt doesn't have any particular qualities that make us healthier, otherwise I'm sure it would be the next superfood!

I do understand that by letting your children play in the dirt, you can strengthen their immune systems, but the truth is that allergies can be developed before kids are even old enough to go outside and play!

I heard this theory when I was younger and thought it was a bit odd!

3. Your house is too clean

This one kind of relates to theory number two in terms of strengthening the immune system. I still think it's not quite on track!

I know that as new parents, everyone is told to keep everything super clean in order to keep the baby healthy, but if you have multiple children, you learn that they can handle it if you don't dust the house every day!

This theory really doesn't lend itself to being truthful when there are multiple children in a family with allergies!

I know that the cleanliness story came up as my parents were told they had to be scrupulous with their hygiene as I was their first child. But by the time my sister came along, they realized they didn't have to wash their hands every few minutes just to pick me up, and she still has allergies.

If children don't know or understand allergies, then they may come up with their own crazy theories! Here are a few I heard when I was younger.

4. You have allergies? You must be an ALIEN!

I heard this one as a child and it threw me off guard a little bit!

The other child's theory was that my 'home planet' didn't have chocolate or nuts, so when I came to earth it was foreign which explained why I was allergic!

So I know I'm not an alien, but this one made me laugh when I remembered it the other day!

5. Your parents must not love you enough.

There are no words to describe how I felt when I heard this! It was a rainy day in primary school and we had to eat inside. The teacher (to her credit) explained that before we played boardgames, everyone had to wash their hands because of my allergies.

One particular boy turned around to where I was finishing my lunch and told me "You know why you have allergies? Your parents don't love you enough so they decided you couldn't eat all this stuff"

Now as an adult, I can look back on this and know that this kid was not only uneducated about allergies, but was just being plain mean! As a child, I knew it wasnt true, as my parents were investing a lot of time and money into finding a cure for my eczema and allergies but this comment really hurt!

We all know there are a  lot of theories out there, but no definitive answer. Sometimes it can be frustrating and we can try to blame a lot of different factors, but we just have to adapt and learn to live with it!

You are all doing the best you can so do not beat yourself up over the people who try and 'educate' you on why your child or yourself has allergies!

Have a great day everyone :D

An Allergy Experience

Whilst trying to come up with an idea for a quality post for everyone to read, I remembered a particularly scary situation from when I was in high school.

I went to the sick bay (nurses station etc) one day and I can't particularly remember what I went for. Perhaps I had a headache, cramps or something, but I remember it wasn't so bad that I had to go home.

Whilst lying there, a young girl was carried in. Now I have seen photos of anaphylaxis but I had not yet seen it in real life so I saw her red, swollen skin and coughing and my mind said: She must be having an allergic reaction. I was interested to see how the staff handled the situation, as this would be how I would be handled if I was to have such a reaction at school.

The story goes that her buddy from another year level shared food with her that everyone thought was safe, but it contained one of her allergens. The nurse spoke to the teacher and established that other medication had been given and they needed to use the epipen and call and ambulance straight away. The nurse communicated this to the young girl (who was year 4 at the time) who absolutely refused and started crying. As soon as I heard the nurse say: Michaela, we need to give you the epipen. My heart lept into my throat.

This girl has the same name as me, the same allergens and went to the same school. All I could think of was how scared I would feel in that situation and how it could so easily have been me instead of her. The nurse left the room to grab the epipen and tell one of her staff to call an ambulance, leaving her for a maximum of one minute. I jumped up from my bed and walked over to try and calm her down as she was sobbing and in pain.

I remember what I said first, which was commenting that we had the same name and the same allergies. I just wanted to distract her from what was happening so that we could save her life. When the nurse came back in, I had stopped her crying so much just by talking to her about general everyday things. I held her hand and kept talking while the nurse put in the epipen. I didnt leave her side until the ambulance and her parents turned up.

It was such a crazy experience as I didn't think about what I was doing until I stopped and sat down. Her parents and teacher came up and gave me a hug and thanked me and the paramedics said I did a great job calming her down. I heard nothing from the school, but didnt expect anymore thankyou's. I didn't do it for the recognition; I did it because I related and felt her pain and knew she just needed someone there to understand. A few months later I went back to the sick bay and was asked if I had received a copy of the letter. The kind parents of the young girl had written to the school commending me on my actions and asking the school for some recognition (which I received later in the form of a community service award). It blew me away that my simple action had such a big impact.

In my last few days at high school we had a primary school immersion day where we reminisced on our past. I sought out that young girl to see how she was going. She told me she appreciated what I did so much and that she hadnt had another reaction since.

It just goes to show that all we need sometimes is a bit of understanding to get us through. It got me thinking about how other young children reacted when they needed an epipen? Do you have any stories? How have your kids reacted?

Don't forget to enter my competition with A Bit Hippy! Even if you dont have eczema, the products they make are great for any skin type! Just send me a recipe on The Eczema Experience facebook page! It can be Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Nut Free, Soy Free or anything you can come up with! It can be a sweet desert, or a dish your family adores at dinner! Send them in for a chance to win a great prize pack! Enter here: https://www.facebook.com/theeczemaexperienceblog If you dont have facebook, comment below and you can email me your recipe instead!

Have a great week everyone! :D

Back to School!

With Back to School tomorrow, I thought I would give all the nervous parents out there a bit of relief!

School is a tough but fun time! Kids learn new things, make new friends and have some great fun playing with their friends!
However for parents it can be a little bit nerve racking! Leaving your kids in an environment you cannot control, especially when they have allergies isnt easy! But there are some things that make it a bit easier for you to relax and know that even if something did go wrong, they are in good hands!

Firstly: Make sure your child understands the allergies they have, what it means and how they should approach situations involving food (e.g. lunchtimes) Ensure they know their signs of a reaction, big or small, and how they should deal with it! Steps are a good idea e.g. For a small external reaction. 1. Wash the area 2. Find a teacher etc

Secondly: Ensure your child takes all necessary medication to school and that the school has some on hand! Make sure the school has copies of your child's action plan!

Thirdly: Chat with the school to make sure they understand your child's situation and how to manage reactions, lunchtimes, activities involving food and any other issues you want to raise. Don't feel like you are being an annoyance to the teachers and staff: Your child is the #1 priority!

Finally: Take a deep breath and relax! As long as the school and your child have all the necessary equipment and information to care for your child if any reaction should occur. School is fun! Don't let your stress impact your child as they may then fear going to school.

Take a deep breath and remember that if you have provided everything you can, there is no more you can do!

Have a great school year everyone! :D

Giveaway!

Alright Everyone! Welcome to the first ever giveaway for The Eczema Experience!

A big thankyou to A Bit Hippy who are sponsoring the giveaway!

I am constantly inspired and amazed by the unique things people come up with that are allergy friendly, so I decided that this giveaway will be centered around RECIPES!

Here is how it will work:

To enter the competition you must 'like' the Eczema Experience facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theeczemaexperienceblog

Once you have liked the page, send a private message to The Eczema Experience facebook page with your best allergy friendly recipe and a photo of the finished dish!

After you have sent the message, place a comment below saying: Entered! :)

I will then choose the best 5 recipes to receive a special prize-pack from A Bit Hippy!

Competition ends on Saturday 31st of January at 5pm AEST which is 6pm AEDT! I shall reveal the winner after that :)

Competition is open to Australian Residents who must follow the facebook page: The Eczema Experience.

Im super excited to see what everyone will come up with! Good LUCK!

Anxiety around food

Having allergies means being vigilant around food. And when you have to know every single ingredient in a dish and how it was prepared, trusting commercial kitchens can be tough and even scary! So today, I'd like to tell you about my experience.

When I was younger it was simple: If my parents said it was safe, I ate it! I trusted that my parents knew what was safe and what wasn't because parents know everything and what is best for you. This made dinner and lunch outings fairly easy as I would ask their opinion on whether a dish was safe. They would often communicate with the wait staff and figure out a safe option for me.

As I got older, I had more choice over what I ate and outings were not always with my parents. Which left me in control of what I put in my mouth. I started to not trust any restaurant or anyone that prepared my food apart from at home. I wanted to watch them make the dish so I could see what was going into it!

I started to get extremely picky! Only eating hot chips or even nothing at all when I went out, for pure fear of eating something that would cause an allergic reaction. The thought terrified me! My parents became slightly frustrated when we would go out and I would refuse to eat anything. Fair enough too! Because they always picked places where I could eat. Here is the thing though, I was too anxious about having food that I couldn't see an ingredients list for, that couldn't show me how it was prepared or what it was prepared near. I was just too scared to eat.

Now this isn't healthy! It was depriving me of trying new things, not to mention depriving my body of food! No matter how hungry I was, I just wouldnt eat.

Some things have changed since then! I'm still very cautious eating out, and I generally just stick to places that I know I can eat, or when I go somewhere different, I try and order a similar dish (e.g. Steak, Chips and Salad) At least I love steak! I always get people in fast food places (like Subway) to change their gloves before they make my food, and to be honest, they are really nice about it! For example: One day I asked the guy behind the counter to change his gloves for my sub, and he made everyone else who was going to touch my sub wash their hands and change their gloves as well! Little moments like that make me smile because others actually understand!

I still don't like eating at restaurants I don't know, or trying new dishes, but I'm getting there! A new Indian place opened up a little drive away and I went there and discussed options with the chef and had my first curry from a restaurant last year! It is a big help when waiters and chef's take you seriously and talk you through options. It makes you feel a little bit safer!

I wanted to write this post so that if anyone else feels this way, know you aren't alone! And if your child is exhibiting this behaviour; PLEASE TRY AND BE UNDERSTANDING! I know it can be frustrating but being frustrated doesn't make the situation any better for the allergy child.
This post wasn't easy for me to write, as it's something I've tried to push away. But I can admit it: I have anxiety about eating food. And do you know what? It's not something I'm proud of, but it's something I'm working on. And that suits me just fine!

Give this post some love in the comments below and share your story with me! Also jump on the facebook page (link is on the left)  and like and comment on the page! I can't wait for tomorrow's post, BIG ANNOUNCEMENT TIME! :D See you then!

Out on the town

Last week I had my first night out with my friends! Being 18 means I can go out and dance all night with my friends (as I said before: not big on the whole alcohol thing). Whilst your children, or you, might not be of that age yet, I thought I'd discuss nights out from an allergy point of view.

I'll admit, I was a bit nervous, crowded clubs where the bartender could mishear your drink order was the allergy concern, but it was mainly being in the city late at night... I'll assure you now: EVERYTHING WAS FINE!

In fact it was more than fine! I had an amazing time with my friends and encountered no problems.
I know that a lot of allergy parents don't let their kids do certain activities or go certain places because of the allergy. Whilst it is totally a personal decision, I thought I should point out a few things.

My parents are great, they have brought me up with an abundance of knowledge about my allergies so that I understand what they mean and my limitations. But they never denied me opportunities that came my way. I went to parties, sleepovers, school camps, excursions and out and about generally. I was always reminded to be careful, did I pack my medication etc and now I do the same thing to myself, but in my head!

I always remember taking my own food to parties or camps and calling the hosts to discuss food! Taking my own breakfasts to sleepovers and quite often taking my own lunch to outings with friends/family. It became normal for me to cater for myself, but I still relished the social life! I believe this is what has made me a better adult. My parents taught me that I can do everything a normal person can (with the exception of food competitions! LOL) but I just have to plan it out a bit more. This philosophy has helped me to do some amazing and fun things with my friends! Such as shopping trips, baking days, parties and most recently, nights out.

I'm all for protecting children, as I believe when they are younger and don't quite understand you need to watch over them! But the fact of the matter is that they will get older, and want to go out and socialise, and once they turn 18, you cannot stop them! Education is the key with allergies and eczema: If they have the knowledge, they can succeed on their own!

Have a great day/night and I'll chat to you all tomorrow!

Make 2015 a more positive year!

So I am making today Positive Sunday :) Why? Because although this isn't the first post for 2015, I wanted to make it the first one to spark a change.

Eczema isn't fun, it's not easy and it takes a lot of work to keep it under control. That is just a simple fact and it does happen where no matter how hard you try, there will be a flare up.

Flare Up's are far from a party, and I'm sure everyone can understand that they make you feel less than impressive!

I know that personally, I am always apologising for my eczema and allergies. For example, when I eat out, the sentence usually starts with: I'm sorry, I have allergies to _____ so could you please _____.

Why do we have to apologise for a fact of life? We shouldn't have to, but continue to do so as we believe that having these health issues causes inconvenience for others. Whilst it may in certain situations, we shouldn't have to apologise for it!

So lets make 2015 the year of no apologies. I will no longer apologise for making staff aware that they have to take extra caution around my meals. I will not apologise for not looking perfect when I go to work or uni because my skin is flaring. I will not apologise for having to do things differently because of my conditions!

What will you not apologise for in 2015? Let me know below!

Allergies and Feeling Left Out

I know I am not the only one who feels left out in terms of allergies and eating food.

When you are sitting at a table and everyone is eating chocolate cake or some other delicious dessert exclaiming how good it is, its hard to get excited over a glass of water, or an apple. This is particularly hard as a teenager.

Being a teenager means a lot of socialising with friends. Going out on shopping days, playing xbox at a friends house, dinners out on a friday night and movie nights in with snacks. Not to mention parties.

In all this social confusion, its easy to feel left out! When your friends want to go to a certain restaurant because its meant to be 'so good' but you have to decline because you cannot eat there. When you go out shopping and your friends all grab a coffee and cake and you have to sit there and watch them consume what looks so good.

It's so easy to start thinking: Oh I wish I didn't have allergies; I wish I could walk into any restaurant and just pick what I feel like without having to ask the waiter the ingredients or; I wish I could go and buy a piece of cake from a bakery. But this talk isn't positive and certainly doesn't help the situation.

Its perfectly NORMAL to feel left out! It has taken me a long time to realise that fact and that there are better things to do in this situation than feel sorry for yourself.

Firstly: Acknowledge the feelings! Don't push them away, acknowledge the fact that you feel left out because of your allergies, but ask yourself why? Is it because everyone else is doing it? OR do you want that particular food? There are plenty of ways to eat the same type of food (e.g. chocolate cake) but make it safe for yourself!

Although they are small things, here are a few little sayings that help me turn the situation into a bit of a positive!

1) I'm saving money for better things! Okay, so maybe this ones a bit odd but hear me out! Whenever your friends or family go and buy an ice-cream or cake and you miss out, think of what else you can spend that money on! Maybe a new video game, makeup, cool new clothes, ANYTHING!

2) Think of the calories you AREN'T consuming. I'm not the one to count my calories to make sure I'm not overeating, but this one makes me feel a bit better! Everytime you feel down because someone is eating that delicious thing that you can't, think of how much healthier you are being! E.g. Instead of that chocolate cake, Im having a fruit salad! So much better for me!

3) If your house is anything like mine, then all of my allergy friendly food is left just for me (because no one else enjoys sweet william chocolate!) BUT this is a good thing! You totally have more just for you! When Mum bakes a cheesecake or yummy pudding, it has to be shared with the whole family! But when I get a block of chocolate, its all just for me! Think of how special your food is, and how you get it all to yourself!

4) When you go out, think of all the special preparation that goes into your food. The waiter/waitress has to remember your allergies and your order and relay that to the chef, who takes special care and attention to make you an amazing meal! You get that little bit more care and attention into your meal than anyone elses: That makes you so special, and everyone else should feel left out!

5) Finally, just realise that allergies are a part of your life. There is no magic potion to cure allergies overnight, so its something we all have to deal with! But here's the thing: YOU ARE NEVER ALONE! There is a whole community of people online who completely understand your feelings! Out of all the people you see on the street, a high percentage of them will have an allergy to something! So whilst you might feel left out, just remember you are not the only one feeling that way, and it will get better as more people understand allergies and include you :)

Based on the content of this post, I would like to give a special shoutout to my amazing friends! They never complain about how my allergies affect their plans and always give consideration to what I can and cannot do and eat! I am truly grateful to have such awesome and understanding people around me :)

Let's start a discussion in the comments below on how having allergies makes you feel and how you deal with it, support each other and have a great day :)

Alcohol and Allergies

I realise that a fair few of my readers are mothers of children with eczema and allergies, but I really wanted to do this post to gather some opinions and knowledge!

As a new adult, I am finding that I want to try new things that I couldnt before. So having the occasional drink with dinner or for a special occasion. But here is what I have found: Alcohol is one of the worst regulated in terms of allergy labelling.

For example: I decided I wanted to buy myself a singular bottle of beer for new years. Upon entering the bottle shop and having a browse, I realised that beer does not have ingredients on it! Now I did some quick googling to make sure I wasnt wasting my money and found I was okay, but it came as a surprise to me!

Allergy awareness and education is constantly focussed on the childhood part of life. Which is perfectly fair as children are more vulnerable and rely on others to prepare food and generally don't know much about allergies.

But what happens when these children get older and encounter the world of alcohol? I would hate to think of a nut allergic child having a reaction to their first legal drink because they didn't know.

Truth be told, I'm not a big fan of wine! Not only do I think its not the best tasting, but the labels all have something along the lines of: Milk and Egg used in the process!
Okay so at least they put it on the label, but honestly, I think we as an allergy community need to do a bit of work on the alcohol industry to get it up to par!

Until then I think I'll stick with the 3 drinks I know I can consume safely!

After a bit of online research, I also found that alcohol can worsen allergic reactions and that the sulphites found in some alcohol's can cause allergic reactions! It's amazing what can be learnt, even after you think you have learnt it all over the past 18 years!

For a bit of further reading on the subject, I found this great website which lists a whole lot of alcoholic products that nut allergic people CANNOT consume: http://www.nutfreeninja.com/blog/2014/5/16/the-ultimate-nut-allergy-alcohol-guide

So what do you all think? Should we improve the labelling on alcohol? Should we educate allergy kids more on their adult choices? Or is it not a big deal? Please let me know your experiences as I need some opinions!

Have a great day everyone! :)

Exciting Christmas Gifts!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Sorry I've been MIA lately... Holidays are great, but when they end, work wants you everyday from dawn till dusk! Okay, so that may be a slight exaggeration, but I've barely had time to open my computer, let alone write a blog post!

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas surrounded by family and friends and ate some great food! As I have grown up, I've realised that Christmas isn't about the presents, but I got two this year that I was super excited about and pertain to my allergies and eczema.

1) Lush Dreamwash Shower Smoothie

So as you all would know, finding new products to use on skin with eczema can be hard. Between fragrances, soaps and nut oils its easy to stick to what you know.

So when a sales assistant at Lush pointed out my eczema and asked if I wanted to try what she called a 'divine' product, I'll admit i was skeptical and a little bit concerned it would aggravate my eczema. However I was astonished when it actually did the opposite! It took down the redness of the eczema on my wrist and left my skin super soft and moisturised.

It contains Camomile and Aloe Vera. It does contain soap, so it might not be for everyone, but I am finding it to be great!


2) Cli-Mate Air Washer

Okay, so whilst this is not the most exciting Christmas present ever, I was super stoked!

If you havent heard about the air washer, here is a simple explanation: It is a glass bowl that is filled with water. A filter is placed on top which sucks in the air and washes it in the water, taking out any dust or allergens in the air before sending it back out into the room. Now It is way more scientific than that, but its a simple explanation for a cool product.

I couldn't wait to start using it as I knew it would benefit my eczema.

Its super easy to use and change the water, and you can even put essential oils in the water to make your room smell nicer!

After I came back from holidays, I knew my room would be dusty and within 5 minutes of entering, I was sneezing and feeling quite itchy!

I turned on the air washer and left the room, and 30 minutes later, upon my return, my room was so much cleaner!

It is an amazing product, and I cant wait to see how well it works during pollen season!

If you would like any more info, just message the facebook page or comment down below!

Hope you all had a great new year and I will talk to you all soon! :)