Tag: health

(My year-long allergy story that looked like a skincare problem)

Thought your skin was the problem? I did too—until an allergy test changed everything.

For almost a year, I struggled with redness, itchiness, and uneven skin texture—especially around my mouth, on my neck, and on my arms. Being obsessed with skincare (hello, skincare junkies 👋), I tried dozens of products, routines, and miracle ingredients.
Guess what? They worked for a microsecond… then boom—back to square one. Only my bank account truly transformed (and not in a good way).

A bag of failed skincare routine.

When skincare becomes a money pit (and a mini addiction)

At first, I was honestly thrilled about trying new skincare products regularly. I loved researching, buying, testing. But somewhere along the way, I realized this was turning into an addiction. I became fixated on clearing up my skin. I wasn’t just chasing a healthy glow—I was desperate to fix something that felt deeper. And nothing worked. Nothing!

Dermatologist #1: “Your skin is healthy, just sensitive.”

I finally saw a dermatologist. To my surprise, he said my skin was actually quite healthy—but prone to sensitivity and rashes. He told me to stop using actives like vitamin C and salicylic acid and diagnosed me with keratosis pilaris on my arms. His prescription? A gentle cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen, and 0.025% tretinoin for closed comedones.

My prescribed products.

Spoiler alert: Five months on tretinoin = nothing changed.
(Backstory: I was also on Accutane as a teen for 8 months—so I wasn’t new to hardcore routines.)

Dermatologist #2: “You’re doing great!”

Me: Are we seeing the same skin?

After the follow-up, I heard the words “you’re improving!” but… I wasn’t. My skin felt even flakier, itchier, and more irritated. I switched doctors—same result.
At this point, I felt lost. My loyal companions—red patches, itchy bumps, and emotional burnout—were still with me.

The day everything changed: red, bumpy arms and legs

One day I woke up to a nightmare: my arms, legs, and stomach were covered in red, itchy bumps. It felt like something was hugging me with needles. I ran to my GP, who looked once and said:

“This is an allergy.”
Wait, what? Allergy? I explained the whole saga. She listened carefully, then prescribed me 5 mg of levocetirizine dihydrochloride (an antihistamine).

My prescribed antihistamine.

And I’m not exaggerating when I say:

❗ All the redness, bumps, and itching just… vanished.

It wasn’t my skin. It was my immune system.

That moment changed everything.
I immediately made an appointment with an allergist/immunologist. After ruling out other causes, my blood tests revealed I was allergic to:

• Dust mites
• Insects
• Household dust

A screenshot from my blood tests.

Mystery solved.

Living with dust mite allergy: a new chapter begins

Now I’m learning to live in harmony with my immune system, not against it. I’ve changed how I clean my home, adjusted my skincare routine to be allergy-friendly, and most importantly—I stopped blaming my skin for a job that belonged to my immune system all along.

Final thoughts: Please don’t ignore your body

If you’ve read this far, thank you—you’re a real one 💛
I wanted to share this because sometimes, what seems like a skin condition, dental or ophthalmologic problem might be something deeper. It might be your immune system trying to talk to you. This journey cost me a year, hundreds of euros, and a lot of mental exhaustion. Don’t wait that long.

If you feel like something’s off, don’t ignore it. Whether it’s through a dermatologist, GP, or allergy test, please advocate for your own health.

And if accessing professional care isn’t financially possible right now, speak to a trusted pharmacist or look for online consultations — many professionals offer accessible services. But whatever you do, don’t ignore it.

Also, to the healthcare professionals trying their best out there: thank you, endlessly.

💬 Your turn:
If you’ve had a similar story, or any tips to share, I’d love to hear from you!
Got questions? Let me know—maybe my trial-and-error-filled journey can save you a little time (and money). 🤓

💌hello@betweeneverywhereandnowhere.com