"Three Years For Answers"

In 2022 out of nowhere I developed skin issues that after seeing three different GPs, numerous creams/emollients I was referred to Dermatology in October with them suspecting I had seborrheic that was in and behind my ears, on my scalp my eyelids and around my mouth. Also contact dermatitis between my fingers, insides of wrists and elbows and around my neck.

By January 2023 my neck was red raw and a fourth GP got in touch with a consultant for recommended treatment and my case was moved up to urgent. By the time I got to see a (visiting) consultant at Crosshouse in October 2023 my skin was better but still an issue and he arranged patch testing for further evaluation.

18 months later, my skin is behaving itself pretty well with no steroid creams, only emollient now and again, and I’ve had the patch tests which showed allergies to nickel and various fragrances. Now I have answers to what may have triggered this but not how and I feel totally overwhelmed with the information I have been given. I can’t help but think had it not been for covid causing backlogs and I’d been seen sooner when I was at my worst it would’ve been more helpful for both myself and the staff.

I thank Consultant Colgan for the information she supplied me with but I came out overwhelmed and on the verge of tears out of frustration. So I really want to give a huge thank you to Nurse Lorraine, you are a true angel, who not only started off my patch test week but went the extra mile to calm me down and spent time explaining a lot of it and giving me additional information and scenarios of how you can come into contact with and avoid allergens. I felt so much more positive after her chat and I know now that, although I have a lot of information to process and research, going forward it gives me the tools I need to keep on top of this. Thank you both.