Pearlywerkz - Singapore Beauty and Lifestyle Blog

I am sure every Eczema sufferer had to deal with this, at some point in their lives. Some of us have flare ups more often then others. While we cannot 100% free ourselves from every product in the market, or scrutinize down to every of their ingredients based on research and our own judgement, we still can try to minimize the aftermath in case if it happens.

The experience may come after using it for 48 hours or in some cases, even weeks. You may notice that your skin looks flushed, red, with a burning or stinging sensation. It may also feel itchy and swell up in some sever cases. Take note that you may not experience the effects immediately after using a new product which may be unsuitable for you.

What can we do when we experience an outbreak? I am writing this article as I've just experienced a terrible allergy outbreak from using an innocent piece of facial mask which reads, suitable for all skin types, and sensitive skin, even after researching its key ingredients, I still cannot pin point exactly what had gone wrong, so here are some key things you can do.



(1) If the allergy outbreak comes after using a particular product, stop using the product. Wash it away if it is still on your skin. You might want to keep the product with you so that you can take a look at its main ingredients and avoid using something similar down the road.

(2)  Wash/cleanse your skin with warm water or a mild gentle cleanser which you had used before, that works for your skin. Stick to your old trusty skincare regime, minus all the frills. (Serum, toner, essence, mask etc.) Do not use any products with scrub, exfoliant, deep cleansing properties or microbeads as these are too harsh for your skin. Do not keep washing your face as we need the natural skin oils to protect and repair our skin.



(3) The next natural thing to do is to MOISTURIZE! Do not just leave your inflamed skin open or worse still, try to cover it up using you clothing, surgical face mask or make-up. Fall back to your old trusty moisturizer which you had been using. It is best not to try using new products at this time because you do not want to further aggravate your skin. Your inflamed skin will need time to settle and heal so moisturizing helps to rebuild your skin barrier making it strong again.



You can use a gentle facial mist (Biowater) to spray all over to moisturize and cool your skin, or apply a soothing aloe vera gel to soothe your inflamed skin, if you are not allergic to any of them. Some people also recommend a cool therapy, applying ice or cold water over a towel to cool your skin down.

(4) Topical Steriods. I would like to discourage the use of steriods when possible as prolonged use of steriod causes withdrawal symptoms such as an extremely dry flaky, peeling skin, which is harder to deal with in the long run. Buy a hydrocortisone which you can get in the pharmacy if you must and apply only a thin layer on affected areas after you have fully moisturized your skin. Stop using the steriod cream after your inflammation goes away.



(5) Antihistamines such as Zyrtec, cetirizine, chlorphenamine, piriton can be taken to control the itch. If the itch becomes unbearable to deal with, or causes you to lose sleep over it, you are encouraged to take an antihistamine. These are available in the pharmacy/drug stores. They are usually used to treat the common flu and cold.

Your allergy/break out should go away and your skin should be on its way to recovery anytime within 3 days to 2 weeks if you had followed all steps. Your skin should be feeling better afterwards. If you've done all these and your skin does not recover, or get worse you are highly encouraged to visit a doctor.

To prevent this from happening again, always patch test a new product on the less sensitive part of your skin before mass applying it on affected areas. Start with small amounts and increase dosage slowly so that even if something unpleasant happens, you are able to stop using in time.

Have you checked out the other helpful articles which I had written for Eczema Suffers too?
1. Find out 4 types of commonly found Eczema in Singapore
2. 10 Tips to fight Eczema
3. 4 Types of food you need to fight Eczema
4. Facials suitable for Eczema Sufferer
5. 5 Essential Oils for the Eczema Sufferer
6. 5 Pharmaceutical brands with products suitable for the Eczema Sufferer
7. 4 Pharmaceutical brands with products suitable for the Eczema Sufferer
8. Showering with shower filters

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Few weeks ago I received an email to try out Oliva forte. Apparently the team read about my story and felt that I could give their natural health supplement a go! If you haven't already read about my eczema story, go click on the link and read about my personal battle with this incurable skin issue which I had battled with, for years .





OLIVA forte is a unique, natural health supplement containing HIDROX® which is a standardised freeze dried blend of organic olive juice which is claimed to be suitable for eczema, dry and itchy skin. The patented Olea europaea extract contained in the OLIVA forte™ product are absorbed through the gastrointestinal system and into the blood stream where they help fight the toxic free radicals found in the human body.



There is no gimmick in the product, only the use of organic olive juice. So, this is the first time I read that olive juice will help in my eczema condition. But they say you never try, you never know. So why not? No harm trying since it is just olive juice. There are 2 main products under Oliva Forte:


1. Essence - Pure organic olive juice
 (For Health) - multi-action biophenol supplement featuring anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-ageing, anti-bacterial and anti-UV damage properties. Enhancer to other consumed supplements depending on an individual's lifestyle needs;

2. Enchant - with Alpha Lipoic Acid
 (For Skin) - to look and feel younger with admirable radiant, flawless skin.

 

As I was battling with eczema, I was offered Enchant to try. I took 1 capsule a day before I go to bed and sometimes in the morning after my breakfast. Before this, i was already taking my regular supplies of multi-vitamins and omega fish oil, which I've read will improve my skin and strengthen my lungs.



Recommended Usage Directions:

To maintain a healthy lifestyle, the recommended dosage is 1 to 2 capsules daily.
For those taking for skin condition, the recommended dosage is 2 to 4 capsules daily.



To truly test the efficiency of the Enchant capsules, I did the following:

Week 1 - Week 3: Stopped all current supplements and took only enchant capsules at 1 capsules per day, either after breakfast or before bedtime.I even sacrificed my intake of collagen because I was afraid that it might affect the results of this test.

Week 4 - 5: Re-integrated my other supplements back into my routine, continued with 1 capsules per day after breakfast.

Of course I cannot solely rely on these supplements. I maintained my regular water intake, skincare regime, regular dose of fruits and vegetables as well.



Results:

Thou the results of my trial was not as astonishing as i expected it to be, as I had really high expectations of the product after reading raving reviews from users. There were 3 parts of my body that had obvious eczema spots at the time when I took Oliva Forte supplements. Only 1 part had visible improvements, the rest was improving but at a much slower pace.

I also had faced some diarrhea issues during the 1st week when I was suddenly put on the Olive Forte Supplements. I wasn't entirely sure if  it was due to the erratic weather, was it my weak tummy or suddenly introducing a new supplement into my diet. Therefore, I took the pills only at night, and on those days when my tummy was feeling better. This resulted in an irregular consumption pattern in the beginning week.

By the time I typed this review (I am at my 1 month+ of consumption), I was back on my multi vitamins, my Omega fish oil as well as Oliva Forte taken with time intervals in between consumption of all the 3 supplements. I no longer had diarrhea issues and had switched to taking this in the Morning after my breakfast.


Face:
I noted visible improvements most drastically on my facial areas. My forehead was not peeling anymore, same goes to the eczema patch on my cheek, they disappeared. There were also no new dry spots appearing despite the erratic weather. The eczema patch on my forehead was less obvious and itched less even when i had to deal with dust and furs, now they are completely gone. However, this could also be due to change of  my personal skin care products as well as the change in my lifestyle habits.


Hand: 


Photo taken before consumption of Oliva Forte


Photo taken after consumption of Oliva Forte for about 5 weeks

At my arm bend fold area, my eczema patch was still as itchy as before. The supplement did not helped much. Some days i would scratch so bad until my fold bleed and scarred. I still had to apply a thin layer of my steroid cream for those areas to heal. Can see you the scar on my arm folds?


Ankle:
The patch is still quite visible and itchy. The Oliva Forte supplement did little to improve my existing condition on my ankle much.



I guess 1 month + of irregular consumption of Oliva Forte may not be sufficient to prove if this product really works for me, but overall I am still happy to witness minor improvements on my skin and great improvements on my face. I will continue to finish my supplements and hopefully yield better benefits with my regular intake.

What works for some, may not work for others. There is no harm in trying this supplement if you are keen to give it a go!


For more information please check out:
http://www.olivaforte.com/


To Purchase:
http://www.olivaforte.com/purchase-store?country=35



Disclaimer:
Thank you Apex Pharma Marketing, Oliva Forte for reaching out after reading my eczema story and sending these products for my personal review. Review is 100% honest and based on personal experience. All photographs on this site belongs to the property of Pearlywerkz. Please do not take them as your own. Do ask for permission if you wish to utilize them.

Now that you acknowledge that you, or someone you know, is suffering from Eczema from reading my article the types of eczema and how to identify if you are suffering from it. I want you to know that you are not fighting this alone. There are plenty of resources available online for you to read about and countless of methods to try on. Your family members and loved ones are always with you.



Unfortunately, what works for one, may not work for everyone. While some sufferer's condition may be mild, others may experience more sever condition which can make them feel very depressing.

Doing something to help, is still better than doing nothing at all, and giving up any fighting chance. Everyone knows I am a fighter, not a quitter. That aside, I really wish that I can utilize my blog to reach out to more people like you and I, who are eczema suffers or who knows someone whom is suffering from it. The emotional support is so important.

With this, i would love to share with fellow eczema sufferers some tips which i found useful during my personal journey fighting eczema.



1. As our skin tends to get dry and crack easily, increasing our water intake is important. Take at least 8 glasses of water and hydrate yourself internally. Water acts as a detoxing agent, doing you more good than harm. While it can be difficult to achieve this, try to incorporate more vegetables and fruits into your diet. You can also take fruit juice or fruit infused water, to help you increase your hydration levels. Some people recommend drinking alkaline water, ionized water, diamond water and so on. I have not had a chance to try it but will definitely share more with you if I do get a chance. I am used to taking boiled water, so un boiled water taste weird to me.

Do avoid taking soda, sugary and artificially coloured drinks as those are really bad for the skin.



2. Avoid taking hot and long showers. While hot water offers you temporary relief, it can scald your skin, cause dryness, draws out moisture and essential oils from your skin. If possible, I would rather you take cold showers or at least shower with room temperature water. After showering, gently pat dry your skin. Some people also recommend taking dead sea salt, Epsom , Himalayan salt or essential oil baths. I have also heard of oatmeal products working great on skin. You can give them a try.

Avoid getting your hair shampoo on your face and body especially if you have eczema on your face areas. The chemicals from the shampoo may cause your body and skin to get sensitive.



3. Moisturise frequently. The best time to do it is immediately after a shower while you are still feeling all fresh and clean. This is also because when your pores are opened, your skin absorbs the best. It is also good to moisturise your skin before bed time, as your skin repairs itself while you are asleep.



4. Avoid fragrance and alcoholic based products as these may irritate your skin.

5. Use the right skincare products, those without alcohol, fragrance, parabens and with minimal ingredients works best for you. Do avoid switching products often. Use natural products so that you can minimize irritants. Try essential oils, or carrier oils (such as olive oil, organic virgin coconut oil, almond oil etc).

Always perform a patch test when trying on new products and ensure that they are suitable for your skin before applying on eczema areas. Yes, even if the product label says its natural or free from artificial ingredients, or suitable for sensitive skin.

6. Avoid layering on excessive make-up if the eczema is on your face as this gives your pores a lesser chance to breathe and you may irritate your skin further during the removal process. Ensure you remove your make-up thoroughly to keep your pores clean.



7. Keep your fingernails clean and short. Since you will be prone to scratching, resist it if you can as bacteria within your nails can interact with your eczema skin and will worsen your skin condition.



8. Stay away from food allergens. If you can afford the time, money and energy, go for a food allergen test and find out what you are allergic to. Be warned as it is a very time consuming and draining exercise. But if you know what type of food you are allergic to, it will help you minimize chances of your skin flaring. The more commonly heard allergens are peanut, dairy products such as cheese, milk and eggs as well as seafood. Eat well and eat healthy.



9. Keep yourself cool at all times. By keeping cool, I mean avoiding strong sunlight and activities that will cause you to perspire too much. Perspiration keeps your skin itchy and may aggravate your eczema flares. Wear loose, cotton clothing that are comfortable and does not stick to your skin. Although the temptation to cover up your eczema areas is high, let those area "air" where and when possible. Keep your cool too! Literally meaning it as eczema sufferer tends to get agitated and frustrated with their condition as there's little we could do for our condition.



10. Avoid using strong washing detergents or laundry detergents on the clothes as they come close in contact with your skin. Washing laundry in warm water and sunning them is great for killing germs and getting the sun kissed smell after.

I hope these tips works for you. Do comment below and share with me what are some of your tips and personal experience after trying these tips.


Disclaimer:
Words expressed in this article are based on research and some on personal experience. All photographs on this article belongs to Pexels.com. This is a non-sponsored post. However, if you wish to join me in my #letsfighteczema journey, you may drop me an email at pearlywerkz@outlook.com. I welcome comments, suggestions, sharing or sponsorship of products suitable for eczema sufferers.

Are you an eczema sufferer? Do you know what type of eczema you are suffering from? Acknowledging it, is important. I have listed some commonly found eczema types in Singapore for your reference. For a more accurate and specific diagnosis of your own condition, visit a GP or skin specialist to confirm.



Eczema, also known as dermatitis, is a very commonly found inflammatory skin condition in Singapore. The most prevalent type of eczema is known as atopic dermatitis or atopic eczema. It can occur in both children and adults. 

Atopic Dermatitis
You can commonly spot a dry, red, itchy and inflamed skin. Atopy refers to the tendency to develop hypersensitive skin disorders, including eczema asthma, or hay fever and this is often genetic.  

Seborrheic Eczema
There are two types, one most commonly seen in babies and the second common in adults. Areas affected tend to be the oily parts of the body, such as the scalp, face, groin and chest. Seborrheic eczema is not normally itchy.

Discoid Eczema
This condition is usually confined to the arms and legs. It consists of itchy, coin-shaped patches which may be weepy or scaly.

* I think I suffered from Discoid Eczema when I was a kid because I had those 5cent, 10 cent coin-shaped patches on my legs. They are usually weepy, and I would scratch so badly that my skin was broken, bleeding and it even stained my bed sheets. They have since recovered since stepping into adulthood.

Asteatotic Eczema
Condition caused by extreme dryness of the skin especially in elderly persons. Often seen as itchy, scaly and with cracks.

Varicose Eczema
This is a condition of the legs, commonly found in the elderly and people with varicose veins.

Contact Dermatitis
There are two types – irritant and allergic. Irritant contact dermatitis is caused by exposure to soaps, detergents, bleach and engine oils. Allergic contact dermatitis is caused by sensitivity to materials like nickel, cement, rubber and hair dye.

*I might also be suffering from Contact dermatitis because my skin was ultra-sensitive with the environment change. I once visited the doctor and was told I should avoid perspiring, so he gave me a medical excuse letter so I could be excused from Physical Education activities in school. He even told me I should not use rubber ties, to tie up my hair and I should avoid wearing watches with leather straps as all these causes further skin irritation.



Having known all the commonly found Eczema in Singapore, try to identify if you have one or more of the following symptoms. 

☑ Your skin is red, swollen, itchy, scaly, dry and you sometimes have fluid-filled blisters. Your itch feels so bad that you are constantly in an itch-scratch cycle. It doesn't matter if you identify these symptoms on a child or an adult, regardless of your age, you may be suffering from Eczema. Although it is more commonly found in a child, than an adult.



☑ The rash appears usually on your elbow bends, back of your knees and your neck. Some people also find them on their joint areas, fingers or even on their face.
*These are places that tends itch when you perspire frequently, you tend to feel the itch more.

☑ Certain products you use cause you to feel itchy. E.g- of such products are, rubber hair ties, leather watch straps, steel jewelry, even the clothes label behind your t-shirts gives you an itch so bad that you scratch until your skin turns red and look sore.




☑ A change of weather, climate or temperature makes your skin break out more frequently. E.g - When it is sunny, and you experience a suddenly change of weather and it keeps raining. This triggers skin irritation, and your rashes appears. A frequent change of weather worsens your skin condition, and you tend to sneeze easily.

☑ Your skin is constantly dry, to the extent that it becomes red, and it peels. These spots tend to stay on your skin, and it doesn't heal easily. Even when they disappear, they tend to return and often, they appear on the same spot.



☑ Eczema often occurs due to dryness in your skin. If it is extremely dry, cracking and flaky and start to turn red it might be a sign. Some people also have it around their lip area.



I hope that this article will help you identify if you have Eczema. If you do suffer from it, do not panic. Try to moisturize your skin frequently and avoid using products that may further aggravate your skin. Consult a doctor for further advise and if possible, avoid steroid cream as much as possible. I will be sharing with you more tips and how to handle Eczema in my next few articles.


Disclaimer:

My eczema had been with me since I was a child, being most prominent on my hands and legs. Over the years, the eczema on my legs have seem to get better, although they were always there. Those days, my family members were very desperate to help me, because itch is a condition that is impossible to cure. You can only apply temporary itch relief cream and the itch would return soon after. As an eczema sufferer, there is nothing much I can do when i feel the itch on my often broken, scaly and peeling skin.

As a young child, my mother can put mittens on my hands, make me wear socks, long sleeve shirts and long pants so that I would stop scratching, but as I grow older, this gets harder. I have tried almost every possible product in the market that was meant for Sensitive skin. To cut the very long story short, I have since started the Let's Fight Eczema column in my blog, hoping to help this special group of sufferers like me. You are not alone, let's fight this together.

What is Eczema?
It is otherwise known as Atopic Dermatitis, a skin condition that often results in red, broken skin and itch.

I have been on the look out for eczema skin relief products, and I saw Suu Balm while shopping in one of the local pharmacy and decided to read up about this product.

Suu balm featured here includes the 75ml tube, 15ml travel tube and sample sachets.

Who/What is Suu Balm?

Suu Balm is a product formulated at the National Skin Centre (NSC) for the purpose of relieving itch. The product is designed for anybody with dry, itchy skin to provide itch relief and increases the frequency of moisturizing, breaking the itch-scratch cycle to prevent further damage from scratching.



If you are wondering, Suu Balm does not contain steroid and is paraben free. You are encouraged to apply it anytime when your skin feels dry and itchy. Due to its menthol content, the cream is not suitable for children under 3 years. You are also not encouraged to use the cream on broken skin, wet skin or near your mouth and eyes as they can sting on these areas.



Suu Balm in 75ml , purchase online @ $19.90 and get the travel size 15ml tube for free.

Let's put Suu Balm to the test:



On day 1, immediately after I got my Suu Balm, I decided to apply it on my elbows and fingers.





You can see how bad my elbows and fingers are. Some spots are red and I have scratched till my skin are broken and cracking.



On day 2, I realise that the broken skin on my elbows were healing. The skin around my fingers were still cracking but the crack had begin its healing process too.



On day 3, my eczema was very itchy so I couldn't control myself. Even when I applied Suu Balm, it did not help me much with the itch relief. You can see new spots on the base of my elbow but the old spots were healing. The broken skin on my palm also worsen.



During this 3 days of the product trial, I feel that Suu Balm works better on my elbow than my fingers and palms. Even when I had an uncontrollable itch and scratch my elbows, Suu Balm still continues to moisturize my skin and heals them.



Review of Suu Balm



What they claim to be:
- Smooth & non-sticky
- Moisturizing
- Soothing

Texture: ★★★★☆
Suu Balm does feels smooth when applied as they proclaims, and it is a little oily than sticky when applied (that's the purpose of a moisturizer right?) It feels soothing because of the menthol content, that's when you get your immediate itch relief, similar to what you will get from applying calamine lotion or applying a medicated oil, but it does not dry out my skin compared to those. It is very light and more on the watery than creamy side, so it feels comfortable when applied on the skin.

Scent: ★★★★★
I am glad that they do not contain any artificial fragrance except for the menthol smell. I do not recommend you to put your nose near the product as it may sting your eyes.

Caring Tip:
As eczema sufferers, we should refrain ourselves from using any products which contain fragrance. This includes perfume or any strong scented products even on our household products or cleaning detergents.

Results: ★★★★☆
I like how Suu Balm relief my itch almost instantly when I feel like scratching my skin, especially on my hands and elbow areas. I also see myself reaching out for Suu Balm whenever i feel itchy more than reaching out for my steroid cream. I especially like that it contains menthol and give me the cooling sensation when I applied the product, this is something that most commercial moisturizers cannot provide me.

Suu Balm is most effective for me before bedtime as I would apply it, let the menthol do its job, sleep and wouldn't feel any itch.

Rating: ★★★★☆
Recommended for people with sensitive, eczema skin and need a relief from itch and scratching.
People with dry skin should also try Suu Balm.


Final thoughts:


Suu Balm in travel size (15ml), these are great for us on-the-go, especially for serious eczema sufferers, small tubes are easier to carry and lighter.

Unlike daily commercial moisturizers that only work to help boost the moisture content in your skin, Suu Balm contains menthol which acts as an almost instant itch relief. You can even use them for temporary relief of itch from insect and mosquito bites. I especially like to apply them before heading outdoors and before bedtime. I feel that the smell of the menthol in Suu Balm, helps me repel these nasty insects too.

No doubt Suu Balm is useful to moisturize an eczema skin, this is not a medication for eczema skin. It also depends on how serious is your condition so I would suggest you to continue your oral medication and steroid creams if you have very serious eczema but use this moisturizer as an added protection. For seasonal eczema cases or those with lighter skin condition, applying Suu Balm itself should be able to help your skin heal fast.

Suu Balm is especially helpful for eczema sufferers but people with normal skin looking for moisturizers can reap its benefits too. Use it as a daily moisturizer after your shower, after sports to moisturize your skin and give your skin some much needed love.

Regardless of any products, do check out its ingredient list to make sure that it does not contain any ingredients that you are allergic to. If unsure, always check with the pharmacist or your doctor before buying the product or you may want to request for a sample here, please note that samples are available for those residing in a Singapore address only, and do a patch test on your skin before applying on affected areas.



You can buy Suu Balm online, or visit Qoo10 and search for Suu Balm, or at most Watson’s Pharmacy stores and OG Department stores. Suu Balm can also be purchased at several hospital pharmacies (National Skin Centre, NUH, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Changi General Hospital) and from certain dermatologists and GP’s.


Disclaimer:
This product is sent to me by Suu Balm for my review. Thank you for the collaboration in my efforts for Let's Fight Eczema, with this i hope to reach out to more companies with products suitable for eczema skin. Let's connect.

All photographs on this site belongs to the property of Pearlywerkz. Do ask for permission if you wish to utilize them. Review is 100% honest and based on personal experience. There is no monetary rewards received for this product review.