This Woman’s skin is hot as a frying pan

As a youngster, Maria suffered with occasional and very manageable eczema patches here and there.  From about the age of 21, Maria started to use a type of steroid cream called hydrocortisone every few years when her skin became very sore.

But then during the trip to Tuscany in 2015, she woke one morning with her eyes and face swollen and horrendously itchy.

  
 
 
 
 
 
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 Hello from this red flaky face, which is currently popping up in various news articles in the UK. If you're here following me cos you read about my story online then hi, welcome, hope my face photos and #TSW chat is useful/interesting. 🐙 If you're suffering with eczema or suspect steroid use has made it worse then please know YOU ARE NOT ALONE! There is this FANTASTIC community of people on here all talking openly about their struggles and successes, stuff that helps them, the ups and downs, endlessly supporting and encouraging each other. I couldn't have got through the last three years without this virtual space to speak honestly about my skin and associated mental health. It's full of love...and sadness and bravery and celebration! Healing does happen! I'm waaaaay better than I was skin wise though really struggling with fatigue right now. Follow @itsan.nonprofit for info about TSW and watch Brianna's AMAZING documentary 'Preventable' on YouTube. @preventable_doc Thanks for reading my story and posts. May all our skin be healed and our lives the best they can be. Much love, Maria #rss #topicalsteroidwithdrawal #eczema #skinissues #iamhealing #healinghappens
 
A post shared by  Maria (@tsw_eczemaria) on Apr 16, 2019 at 5:11am PDT
 

Maria Marzaioli, 43, says her skin became so hot after she suffered an adverse reaction to beer she drank on holiday that she “could have fried an egg on her neck”.  She woke up one day during a trip to Tuscany in Italy with her eyes and face swollen – which she believes was a result of wheat beer she drank the night before.

The itching was so extreme that she completely shaved off her long hair to try to ease the irritation. Maria’s skin was so irritated she would awaken with “blood all over her sheets” from scratching during the night.

  
 
 
 
 
 
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 Good morning face in the hazy sunshine. Thanks for behaving v v well over this past week! I have eaten everything I wanted to this easter without any reaction and minimal itching. Skin feels strong and (whisper it) approaching normal!! Had a beautiful day walking in bluebell woods with my boyfriend yesterday followed by dinner with his family. I even had a couple of small chocolate easter eggs! I have been feeling much more relaxed this week, meditating and getting out in the sun. I managed a daily sea swim too. It's easy to underestimate how much these things help. #topicalsteroidwithdrawal #eczema #rss #iamhealing #skinissues #tsw #calm
 
A post shared by  Maria (@tsw_eczemaria) on Apr 23, 2019 at 2:36am PDT
 

And after eventually ditching the creams after reading hundreds of online stories just like her own, Maria, who works as a quality officer, still faced an ongoing battle with her skin. She said: “At my worst, I would regularly wake with my eyes swollen shut, and blood all over my sheets from scratching during the night.

  
 
 
 
 
 
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 Bummer. I ate a flapjack yesterday I guess a flapjack was a bad idea? Wah! #tsw #rss #topicalsteroidwithdrawal #eczema #eczemadiet
 
A post shared by  Maria (@tsw_eczemaria) on Apr 11, 2019 at 2:58am PDT