The Scratch Mark

Twenty eight years of eczema has taught me a lot

[longlostdiaries]

I don't know who needs to hear this but:

-"it only hurts a little" is still pain

-"I can ignore it" is still pain

-"I can cope with/manage it" is still pain

-"it's bearable" is still pain

-"I can push through it" is still pain

-"it doesn't hurt that much" is still pain

-"it doesn't stop me from doing x" is still pain

You don't need to be in agonizing pain to be in pain.

[brandyschillace]

Today I will list the things that cause a sudden flare up of my condition:

1. Nothing.

Like for real, it’s the butterfly effect, it’s ocean currents, it’s nothing or everything—but I can tell you what it’s not. It’s not my ‘fault’ or due to some laxity of routine. Chronic conditions gonna chronic.

Have one? You don’t have to play 20 questions with yours either. Stuff happens. ❤️

[thememedaddy]

[erymanthian]

Paintings from the ‘Peripety’ series by Jen Mazza

[thescratchmark]

The realities of eczema that make me want to hide away. I feel disgusting today but I have to work

[wuntrum]

will graham hands for today

[bogfox]

"Epidermis" by Sophie Harris-Taylor

Normality is defined by the images we see all around us, we are led to believe all women have idealised, flawless skin - they don’t. Whether unshown or simply disguised, many women have conditions such as acne, rosacea and eczema and many of these women feel a pressure to hide behind a mask of makeup, covering up what actually makes them unique.

[contac]

[thescratchmark]

God I fucking hate this stupid stupid disease

All I want is a moment of peace

I just want to be normal I want to be not in pain

It's debilitating and I'm so fucking exhausted

[fitzeight]

me, casually picking and rubbing at my scalp as usual:

scalp: -bleeds-

me:

[thescratchmark]

Ouch

[thescratchmark]

Day 2

[thescratchmark]

Yeah this is hell someone help

[kitkat1003]

it be like this

[lawttes]

maroon nails digging into my skin

tiny white snowflakes rain down

as i scratch, as it stings.

it bleeds. i break down.

my hands are made of infernal machinery

frantically digging and it clinks;

they found gold, not that it makes me happy.

aurum oozes to the surface, it blings.

each stroke more painful than the last,

nevertheless, i keep going.

i enjoy this type of pain, for at least,

it is one i myself am inflicting.

extracts of a book i will never write, #2

[butchspace]

this is very random but just wanna shout out my fellow wlw with psoriasis and eczema

[edwardprendick1896]

no one:

the skin on my hands: