Trip to Avène, France for Eczema Treatment

Monday, March 2, 2015

6 Months since our trip to Avène

It's hard to believe that it's been six months since we arrived back from France. Nirvana has had quite a few ups and downs, but we have continued to use the Avène products religiously. They have brought much needed relief to her- her eczema has improved dramatically and we couldn't be more happy. The wonderful thing is that we don't use any other products at all!

February 2015

As you can see from the photos above, her legs have improved so much. The first photo is just white marks left behind from the eczema that has completely cleared up. The scaring will fade over time, however. The second photo has a slight patch which we continue to treat. It is the only remaining spot left that flares up on hot days, or if she has eaten colourants or preservatives. When we have a flare-up we follow the normal routine of spray, repair and moisturise with Avène products and it helps so much.

Treating eczema is a continuous routine and I am so happy I can help my child with natural products that will not harm her in the long run. The Avène products have made this process so much easier, and the results are fantastic.

Before photo June 2014

What a long way we have come! I feel so sad when I look at those photos from last year. I can't believe how my baby girl used to suffer. We are truly grateful that these products, and our trip to Avène, came onto our path.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

One Month back from France

We've been back from France for a month now, and this month has had its ups and downs with Nirvana's legs.

Some days her legs were O.K, and other days she has had major flare-ups on her legs, as well as her arms. This was quite worrying, so I decided to write to Dr. Diana, who was our Dermatologist in France. She gave me some great advice on how to treat the flare-ups, for which we are very grateful! To my delight, and Nirvana's too, the treatment is working well. Nirvana's arms and legs are responding positively, and as I am writing this blog entry, she is just having so much fun swimming with her cousin.

It's wonderful to see her enjoying herself, without a care in the world- as should be the case for every child.

I suppose flare-ups are to be expected in any case of eczema, and the best any of us can do is to be consistent with treatment, and deal with flare-ups as they come :)

Water Condition for Skin problems

About two weeks ago I received a water report from the KZN municipality, and had it analysed by an expert at H20 water purifiers. To our delight, our water condition is excellent! The only problem is that chlorine is not really great for people suffering with skin problems... So I have installed water purifiers in our home to alleviate irritation on Nirvana's skin. We placed one on our kitchen tap for drinking and we also installed one on her shower.

We want the chlorine in our water to kill all the bacteria and germs right up to the point where it comes out of the tap. We need a filter at that point to take the chlorine out so that we don't drink it, or have it irritating our skin.

We are really trying to do every possible thing we can to decrease Nirvana's suffering, so we are looking at anything and everything that might be bad for her skin.

I hope that people who have eczema problems, and read this blog, can take some of these tips and apply it to their own situations. Hopefully it helps! :)

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Now we have been home for 6 days.

We have been back home for 6 days now, and this is just an update on Nirvana's skin.

We landed in a very dry Durban climate on Thursday night after travelling in the plane for 11 hours. Nirvana's skin immediately started reacting and had a flare up! By Friday night I was in tears over her skin breaking out and she was scratching so much.

I messaged my friend April (who I had met in Avene, her son Aidan has been using Avene products for over a year now) and I asked for her advice. She told me it was normal, and that Aidan had a flare up too when he got home. She advised me to continue with the creams as we were taught in the Avene healing workshop:

- Do a tissue compress, which is a layer of tissues sprayed with the Avene thermal water over the eczema region and leave for 10 minutes. It hydrates the region quickly and promotes healing.
- Then afterwards, use the Cicalfate repair skin cream.
- Continue to use the Trixera daily cream twice a day to maintain hydration of the skin.

So I have done this since Friday, and to my great joy Nirvana's skin is looking as good as it did the day I left Avene... Wonderful!! Happy Nirvana and happy mom :)

Friday, August 29, 2014

Our Trip is coming to an End.

We have had photoshoots, made movies and been interviewed. We have been treated like movie stars for 3 weeks of our lives. It's awesome to be famous!!!!! We received special treatment from everyone, and have made so many new friends. I know I have said it before but God really blessed us!

Yesterday, the journalists and the mothers had a chance to experience the treatments that our children have been receiving the past 3 weeks. I can see why they never wanted to leave each treatment- man were they great. I want to install a bubble jet bath at home and an eight spray shower... How wonderful!

Last night we had a dinner with the journalists and it really was a special dinner- we even drank French Champagne. Magnifique!