Hey you, yes, you.
If you feel it's time to stop reading about atopic and start doing something about it...
If you're sick (in more than one sense) of feeling alone with your disease and you want to meet others with the same problem...
If you're a parent of a child that suffers from atopic dermatitis and you think there should be more being done...
... now's your big chance.
We are now in the preliminary stages of forming a group for atopic dermatitis. With the help of "Etza" (=literally "Advice"), the Israeli organization for Self and Mutual Help, two other atopic patients and I are forming the initial core of this group. We will be meeting, hopefully before Passover, to set our initial goals and priorities for this group.
You are very welcome to join us, whether you are an atopic patient yourself, or the parent of one. If you want to join us and influence the direction of this group, now's the time. (You can always join later, but now is better! :-)
Send me a mail: shiri.dori AT gmail.com
We would love to have you with us.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Urk! Urea/Uric Acid
I don't do this often, but some things have just got to be stated.
If you have Atopic Dermatitis and you're looking for a moisturizer, here's a really important tip. Make sure the moisturizer you're about to buy (and possibly pay ridiculous sums of money for), does not, I repeat does not contain Urea, or Uric Acid.
I repeat once again. Be extremely careful with products with Urea or Uric Acid. If possible, just don't use them. (Those two are not quite the same thing; but they have the same effect anyhow.)
Why such an outright negative reaction, you ask?
The answer is simple - painful experience.
Many pharmacists hear about your dry skin and recommend products that contain Uric Acid, or Urea (I'll just say Urea from now on). Even (unknowing) doctors will sometimes recommend such products. They do so because Urea, which is actually a product of urine, can do wonders for extremely dry or chapped skin.
What they (and you) may not realize is that Urea may have a devastating effect on your atopic-sore skin. A small dab of a cream containing Urea on the skin can send an atopic patient into a small, personal hell. It creates a burning sensation (sometimes very extreme) in the area that may last for several minutes. And due to the slightly delayed action of the Urea on the skin, you may manage to cover large areas with the cream before realizing the pain involved.
As far as I understand it, this burning sensation is caused when the Uric Acid meets the atopic skin, that is not just dry, but actually contains dozens of miniature cracks that may not be visible, as well as open wounds, cuts, and lesions. For all these, the Uric acid acts like alcohol or saltwater on an open wound - it burns, with a vengeance.
So be cautioned - read the label well before starting a new cream.
And with all new products for your skin, test them on your skin in a small area first, see how it reacts (even overnight), and only then move on to larger areas.
If you have Atopic Dermatitis and you're looking for a moisturizer, here's a really important tip. Make sure the moisturizer you're about to buy (and possibly pay ridiculous sums of money for), does not, I repeat does not contain Urea, or Uric Acid.
I repeat once again. Be extremely careful with products with Urea or Uric Acid. If possible, just don't use them. (Those two are not quite the same thing; but they have the same effect anyhow.)
Why such an outright negative reaction, you ask?
The answer is simple - painful experience.
Many pharmacists hear about your dry skin and recommend products that contain Uric Acid, or Urea (I'll just say Urea from now on). Even (unknowing) doctors will sometimes recommend such products. They do so because Urea, which is actually a product of urine, can do wonders for extremely dry or chapped skin.
What they (and you) may not realize is that Urea may have a devastating effect on your atopic-sore skin. A small dab of a cream containing Urea on the skin can send an atopic patient into a small, personal hell. It creates a burning sensation (sometimes very extreme) in the area that may last for several minutes. And due to the slightly delayed action of the Urea on the skin, you may manage to cover large areas with the cream before realizing the pain involved.
As far as I understand it, this burning sensation is caused when the Uric Acid meets the atopic skin, that is not just dry, but actually contains dozens of miniature cracks that may not be visible, as well as open wounds, cuts, and lesions. For all these, the Uric acid acts like alcohol or saltwater on an open wound - it burns, with a vengeance.
So be cautioned - read the label well before starting a new cream.
And with all new products for your skin, test them on your skin in a small area first, see how it reacts (even overnight), and only then move on to larger areas.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)