ASHLEY WALL: Growing up
with atopic dermatitis,
it was difficult. My parents,
they would bring me
to the dermatologist office
all the time.
So it really became
my second home.
I definitely didn't have
a normal childhood going
swimming.
The chlorine would completely
eat up at my skin.
I just remember trying
my hardest to cover everything
up and not stand out.
Of course, people would ask
and people would stare.
So I would say that was more
traumatizing.
More so than anybody
saying anything were just
the stares.
Once I realized it was
a lifelong condition,
it was just trial and error
of so many different creams
and lotions.
You know, it would help keep
the eczema at bay.
It might disappear.
But it always came back
with a vengeance.
I've dealt with it for so long.
So I kind of know what
my process is.
So with atopic dermatitis,
I have to keep my apartment
clean.
I'm so allergic to dust bunnies.
I'm constantly sweeping.
I'm constantly dusting.
I'm constantly changing my bed
sheets just so that it doesn't
trigger my skin to have a flare
up.
And any extreme weather sets
my skin off.
And also the changing
of the seasons.
At the moment,
I don't use any prescription
medications.
But what I do do that's helped
tremendously has been Dead Sea
salt baths twice a week.
And it's just been wonderful.
Atopic dermatitis definitely
plays a huge role
on your mental health.
Unfortunately, your life is not
necessarily normal.
You know, you have to look out
for things every single day.
Not only do you have to worry
about your skin, but you have
to worry about tending
to your skin.
The best thing is to try to stay
ahead of it.
But when you can't do that, you
just have to brace yourself,
maybe plan things that aren't so
stressful until it passes over.
For stress management,
I love doing jigsaw puzzles.
I'm an avid reader.
I love writing.
And I also love hearing
other people's stories.
And so I was like,
you know, let me start a blog
and start talking about what
I've been going through
and highlighting what's really
happening in the community,
how we've progressed.
So I was born in '87.
And I decided to name my blog
"Itchin since '87."
Through that, I've met so many
incredible people
all around the world.
Knowing that other people are
going exactly what you're going
through has been phenomenal.
Because you always feel alone,
you know.
Obviously, I've lived with it
my whole life.
And it was definitely
difficult in the beginning
because there wasn't so much
information back then.
One thing about having
atopic dermatitis
is you learn a lot
about your skin
throughout the years.
And so eventually, you become
kind of an expert.
You know, I like to call myself
an aficionado.
I've gotten so good at it.
I believe that I actually don't
have to go to the dermatologist
anymore.
You know, it's good to go
for a check up in case,
you know, God forbid skin
cancer, or things
of that nature.
But overall, I've basically
tempered it down to not let
it hold me back anymore.