Atopic dermatitis is a large topic. With all the different types and how different people’s bodies react to them, it’s a wonder any of us can educate ourselves, much less keep our sanity, as we desperately try to figure out just what the [bleep] is going on.

I’ve said it before, but MyEczemaTeam is a true miracle. It gives all the eczema warriors out there a place to contribute and participate in the ongoing discussion about this [bleeping] disease.

Sorry about all the bleeps, but I can take just so much of being professional about eczema. Sometimes I have to vent, and my venting contains certain words that shouldn’t be shared in public. I avoid words like the m-word (“moist”), but I do toss about some that other people might refrain from using. Curse words are usually best shared among friends or those who share the same trials and tribulations in life. It’s not polite, and I apologize, but dang it, this disease really [bleeps] me off!

Thank goodness I have friends here — the kind of friends who not only understand what ails me but also don’t freak out when they see a photo of the latest manifestation of what I’m going through, mainly because they’ve already gone through something similar if not exactly like it. Their feedback offers crucial information that only friends can relate to and, hopefully, benefit from.

For example, a crusty, oozing mess that made the backs of my calves and inner knees look like I was turning into The Thing from the Fantastic Four comic series was driving me nuts — even more than what was happening on my inner elbows and my neck and back.

On top of that, the specter of infection causing pain and burning — yes, even heat — was just too much. I had to wait over a month for a dermatology appointment, so I resorted to spraying rubbing alcohol to, hopefully, fend off infection. This also helped with the itching, but my [bleeping] yelps when applying the treatment woke my wife. I finally got up the nerve to post some photos of the flares and started paying more attention to the responses to “How are you today?” on the website.

That’s when I saw that one MyEczemaTeam member mentioned lidocaine spray. During a quick trip to CVS, I discovered that their lidocaine spray also has antiseptic (benzalkonium chloride 0.13% plus lidocaine hydrochloride 4%). On the label, I read the phrases “soothing infection protection,” “relieves pain on contact,” and “kills germs.” No sweeter words have ever been written to a man suffering so [bleeping] much.

I checked with the pharmacist (be sure to consult with a health care professional before trying any new product), who told me to start by applying the spray to a small area, just in case there’s a negative reaction. I did so right there in front of her, and we were both happily amazed by the results.

My itching calmed immediately, much better than all the cream and ointments full of steroids that I’d used on the psoriasis I’d been dealing with since starting high blood pressure meds. The spray also stopped my suspected infection. The oozing, crusty, scabby areas that had been rather warm — a warning sign of infection — became cool to the touch. Having eczema is bad enough, but add the possibility of losing digits or limbs to infection just because you scratched your scabs off in your sleep … [bleep] that!

I owe it all to the MyEczemaTeam member who shared their discovery of something that helped them deal with the same affliction — our affliction. Anyone who helps me with this affliction is and will forever be my friend.

I thank everyone who posts their agony on MyEczemaTeam. You never know who might benefit from reading about your misery, even if they get just a moment of peace knowing that they are not alone — somewhere, others are suffering in the same way. (Man, I’m trying not to cry as I type this.) This team has made my struggle just a little — actually, a lot — easier. The only way I can return the favor is to share my experience and a few tears in the hope that someone else might get a few more hours of sleep and ward off a horrible skin infection.

Plus, I might make a few new friends while I’m at it.

On MyEczemaTeam, members discuss eczema from a specific point of view. Would you like to share your personal story to help others living with eczema? You can learn more about this paid writing opportunity from MyEczemaTeam here.

Members’ articles don’t reflect the opinions of MyEczemaTeam staff, medical experts, partners, advertisers, or sponsors. Content on MyEczemaTeam isn’t intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.