This cost of living crisis we are going through at the moment is really tough. Everything costs more, from petrol to bread and milk, and there are shortages too of staple goods. If you’re allergic to certain food allergens, buying even basic food items becomes a real struggle and a constant worry. Free from living on a tight budget – 20 tips for saving money with allergies20 tips for saving money on free from food on a budget Saving money on food shopping is already hard, without taking food allergies into consideration. Scouring the budget bins – If you time it right you can get some real sa ..read more

Recent shocking news that an ingredient in many high street over the counter cough medicines might be linked to anaphylaxis is worrying news for anyone who struggles with congestion, coughs and colds. This applies to all cough medicines that contain Pholcodine. Anyone who has used these cough syrups within the last year could be a risk. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said it was withdrawing pholcodine-containing medicines from the UK market as a “precautionary measure”, owing to the risk of anaphylaxis during general anaesthesia. Read ‘Cough medicine with anaphylaxis r ..read more

If you have asthma you may well have been prescribed a Ventolin blue reliever inhaler to help reduce symptoms of asthma attacks. I’ve certainly been using one for years, since childhood. Look out for this old faithful drug to be replaced soon, as Ventolin seems to be on the way out as an asthma medication. Your GP rejected your medication request! A while ago the asthma nurse told me they were bad for your lungs and caused damage over prolonged use. This sounded like just a nonsense to me because she didn’t explain how or why and also didn’t recall my old Ventolin inhalers or prescribe a safer ..read more

Tomorrow is world book so what better way to celebrate the power of words, writing and reading to soothe the skin. Writing my poetry book, The Shape of Skin was a labour of great therapy and a growing love for my own skin. If you love reading, check out this wonderful blog, reviewing three eczema books, Reading to soothe skin from the Eczema Clothing company. They’ve looked at books for ages, from kids to adults so there is something for everyone: The Itchy-saurus, by Rosie Wellesley (for the under 5s) The Shape of Skin, by Ruth Holroyd (poetry collection) Iron Skin, by Brendan John Lee – a m ..read more

It helped me to declutter my life and home while saving me money and making me some cash too. I know this is a break from the usual blogs I write, but I was just ruminating the other day about how my new Vinted habit has got me out for regular walks almost every day, even days when I really don’t feel like venturing out. An unexpected benefit of thrifting. Jacket £10 and jumper £6 from Vinted profits What is vinted? Vinted is an online phone app that allows you to sell and buy old pre-loved items in seconds. It’s so easy to use, much simpler and faster than Ebay and you don’t pay any fees. How ..read more

Last month I ate buttermilk – And nothing happened… why is that? Milk allergy – are all dairy sources equal? How much milk protein is there in buttermilk? So what is buttermilk? Buttermilk is a fermented dairy milk product, it’s when the milk is curdled and often has good bacteria added to it so that it is cultured. There is still milk protein left in buttermilk but perhaps slightly less than the original full fat milk used to make it. For more on buttermilk check out Healthline – Buttermilk. If you have a dairy allergy and want to check what you should avoid, check out Living with Milk Allerg ..read more

Check out this nut-free take on peanut butter cookies, made safe for those with common food allergies! These incredibly soft cookies aren’t just nut free, they’re also dairy free, grain-free, gluten free, and vegan. They take around 20 minutes to make from start to finish and make the perfect dessert for those with food allergies. This recipe uses Natureul Tigernut Kasha and Tigernut Spread to create an allergy-friendly version of a classic peanut butter cookie. The result is soft, chewy, and not overly sweet–all the signatures of this beloved cookie. Natureal is available in 48 US states. You ..read more

Topical steroid phobia, or ‘Corticophobia’ a phrase coined by dermatologists to help them categorise the hysteria of their patients is possibly one of the most insulting phrases I’ve heard in relation to eczema and topical steroid withdrawal. This study has appeared in The Educational Journal of The British Association of Dermatologists and was written by: Paula Finnegan – a young female dermatologist. Department of Dermatology, Cork, Ireland. You can find her on LinkedIn here. Michelle Murphy, Department of Dermatology, Cork, Ireland Cathal O’Connor – Department of Dermatology, South Cork ..read more

The most dangerous symptom of an allergic reaction is your body going into anaphylaxis. It creates a significant problem within the immune system and contributes to poor blood circulation and heart issues.  If you are at risk from allergies and are concerned about your blood circulation, here’s all you need to know about how they work together. What happens during an allergic reaction? Allergies are foreign substances, such as food, pollen, dust, mould, or others that cause your body to react, and the immune system triggers protection. When the immune system kicks into gear, it produces a ..read more

There are loads of skin health trends at the moment but one that seems really popular is taking collagen supplements. Firstly it’s not just for women, men can benefit from taking collagen too. But it’s a real buzz word and there are so many brands out there. How do you choose one and how does collagen work? Different ways to take collagen There are lots of different types of collagen, including: Supplements in capsule form Liquid collagen Creams Powdered There are also different types of collagen, which is a naturally occurring substance in our bodies that makes up the plumpness of skin and ..read more