Introduction: My Early Stages and Background

I am an Asian-American, 21 year-old female that was diagnosed with Eczema when I was about 5 years-old following my family's move from San Francisco to Antioch in California. There's a significant difference in weather between the two cities so my parents believed off the bat that my condition was developed through the dry, hot, 100 degree heat. As I grew up seeing different dermatologists, I found that I had environmental allergies and asthma that both incorporated to the flare ups I would unpredictably get. My flare ups would last anywhere from days to weeks and happen as often as every other week to every few months. Just when I thought my skin was under control and improving, next thing you know I would develop flakiness, scrapes, raised bumps, open sores or pink tender skin prominently on my chin, mouth area, eyelids, neck, chest and shoulders

I've been prescribed multiple ointments and creams such as Alcometasone, Triamcinolone, Elidel, Desonide and Lidex on top of multiple Kenalog injections and rounds of Prednisone. Stress, weather, allergies and diet are all common factors that are said to effect Eczema but with the list being so broad-- it only leaves me with one question:

What specifically triggers my flare-ups and what can I do?

Unfortunately, I don't know. 

but

This blog is created to explore just that. My posts will go more into detail about what I've tried in the past and the treatments or lifestyle changes that I'm in trial with now. In between then, I'll also include other topics that are related to living with this condition as they come to mind. If you've stumbled across my blog and finished reading this far, chances are that you or a loved one is also like me and if that's the case-- I hope this was something you could relate to. -AC