Flare-ups
& Symptoms.

Texts / Thoughts.
It still happens: the flaring-up of my hand and feet eczema. Rigid diet and lifestyle, helped me a lot to reduce such episodes to once or twice a year. So no claim for healing here, just symptom reducing. It is hard to say, why they still occur. Presumably, due to the accumulation of too many exceptions to «the rules».
Flare–ups
So, this is what my excema looks like. In bad episodes, it occures on both hand and feet. Its getting very difficult to do any work, or walk then. Prepairing food, washing the dishes, or even walk to the grocery is painfull then.

It is difficult to find out why they still occure. Often, I assume, it's a combination of several small no-go's, which then accumulate and burst out into an eczema. (Woman, may also be aware and observe, at which time in the cycle the eczema arises. Maybe there is a pattern, to which to tribute attention to.)  

The last time the eczema appeared, was when it was very hot weather outside. Gras pollen was highly concentrated, I did some work with outside plants (without gloves), was lifting and caring a lot of heavy things, ate berries and was a bit more experimental in the kitchen as usually. Because it was summer and there have been all those nice fruits and vegetables and the sun was shining!
How beautiful — or not:


Flaring hand eczema.
(Two days later it went even worse.)
Flaring hand eczema.

Blue: healing ones.
Pink: small itchy ones.
Red: accumulated painful ones.


The itching was terrible, especially after waking up or washing the dishes. Best is to avoid scratching by adding a cooling cream and bandage it. Because of the swelling around the joints, movements of the hand and fingers are difficult and painful. Every touch of the blisters on the feet hurt.

To make things better, I've took myself back and stuck to my «should work» menus, until the eczema was starting to flatten. I was sticking to quinoa, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and kale. And I've weared gloves and shoes to touch things I usually don't — to exclude a contact allergy.

Once the blisters start to heal, they dry out and peel. It’s not itchy and swollen anymore, but still painful to open and close hands and fingers. Because the now dry skin around the joints cracks up all the time.

So, my go to tipp and conclusion is nothing, but to avoid everything that causes flare-ups. Hopefully my happybelly recipes will help to enjoy the permanent restrictions :-)

I usually write at the end of the recipes, if I used ingredients I'm unsure of, or which may cause seasonal symptoms. Please be aware of your own tolerances and try out for yourself.
Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS)
It's often easy to tell whether unsuitable ingredients have been used. The mucous membranes in the mouth or on the tongue quickly show signs such as small blisters, swelling, or hoarseness due to a dry throat. Such symptoms aren't dangerous in themselves, but they can become dangerous if they are ignored and accumulate over years.
Brain fog
Also the so called brain fog shows immediatly after cosumption of histamine loaded foods. It's comparable to the feeling of being slightly tipsy and not able to think clearly. But without the fun, because the point wasn't to get drunk; perhaps you need to work or think straight. It is very annoying, to loose control over the brain and awareness just because of food. And it lasts for several hours or days. If the cause is not found.
About other symptoms
What I consider as «normal» are the other symptoms, which are most of the time present; such as blocked and dry nose and eyes, or a runny nose, a feeling of dry airways, unusually dry skin, and fatigue. Salt water solution for eyes and sinuses is very soothing. 

You may guess, my most beloved time of the year is at the end of summer, beginning of autum, when it is still hot outside and pollen season is off. Besides this, it is the time to eat all those sun-drenched newly harvested vegetables. Yummie!

K N J R T S