Part 2: Flash forward.. it returns

Sooo.. The rash eventually dies down.. Everytime I go to dry Eastern Washington and leave Seattle, or when I was in Japan it was gone within 3 days.. And, once it's gone you forget about it.. Flash forward a few years and make the thing come back only in light waves of red eczema rashes after showers and I thought: meh.. I'm too lazy and maybe it's just something that happens to humans..

Living now 2012: Seattle
Trip to: Hawaii, end of the year..

The rash is back.. I've used Hydrocortizone for some time (they never really tell you the consequences, just "don't put it everywhere" Well, I did just that for the longest time.. Including the steroid creams 90% of doctors will give you for a-topic dermatitis.)

In Seattle I'd have little break outs.. Pretty irritating so I went to the doctor. Same old problem:
"Oh, it's a bad case of eczema!"
Me: "NOOOO How did you know?? (sarcastic humor)
Dr: "I have the perfect solution, sorry you'll have to loive with this FOREVER but this will help contain it" (prescribes cream, doesn't tell me it's steroids..)
Dr: "Now only put it where the rash is and don't use too often.."

FLASH FORWARD to HAWAII.. I've only used it about the 2 weeks max they told me to.. (Not the doctor's fault.. Just pointing out that someone should *really* tell them to warn patients a bit better about the side effects of this stuff)

Now, I haven't been in sun in ages, I used to be immune, 1/2 Filipino skin and all. Thanks to the gloomy 6 years of Seattle overcast weather my skin was tweaking out. (I'm typing this and it's 3 AM, sorry if my descriptive adjectives aren't all there atm.)

I am a giant sun-lover (not the crisp tanner type, but rather I miss it since Seattle is the place for vampires and land of tall, pale, and handsome??) so, naturally I lather on SPF 55 and head out.

Day 1: Time for salt water! *get in* STINGS HOLEY MOLEY.. Not bad enough for me to get out.. But not great.. That night I take a shower. Do my typical diet: 5+ energy bars (as I mentioned before I am extremely addicted to any and all things sugar / carbs) and shower. BURNS.. PUSSY.. Neck.. omgosh. pain. I'm traveling alone and freaking out. After reading the side effects on Wikipedia of all the drugs I've been applying I try to do minimal steroid creams and use lotion.
Get to bed: so much pain, want to cry but I like to pretend I'm a man or some hard-core lesbian like in the movies and hit the sack at a nice early 2 AM (so, 5 AM Seattle time).
Next day: Not too bad, luckily at night the thing tends to go away.. Praise the LORD..

Also, as much as I love my 160 lb Newfoundland.. These cute little cats at the place I was staying at didn't really help the issue and caused a bumpy rash on top of the hives. HAHA They were characters though. I just had to retreat and avoid their floating hairs. Dog hair tends to be fine but tiny critters may be an issue with your skin too. 

Day 4ish: I'm out to get surfing lessons from this hungover LA guy (who is awesome). We paddle out and my neck is burning like crazy. I don't want to whine and my arms are slightly sunburned and back is getting pounded by the rays at 1PM. No biggie. I'm Filipino, historically speaking I can handle up to 101* Fahrenheit of extreme dry heat.. My mind wasn't there though as I was busy trying to not wack corral and anger the locals and still catch a wave (which was awesome as well)..
I get out. everything rashy. Salt water stings. Luckily there is fresh water near by via an outdoor shower. my neck, everything..  The guy teaching me thankfully avoided that conversation and I'm all rubing Benedryl lotion all over my arms and everywhere.. Which is stinging. I can barely think.


Day 5ishh: I decide to go out to the surf ALONE (well, Waikiki so jammed with people) I attempt to catch some waves but can't help but be irritated by all my stinging flesh. I give up 40 minutes after as it's now 12:30pm and the locals say only a doofus would be out there esp with my creepy condition. The rash is worse.. I get out of the water.. people staring.. Is it because I'm so white? Am I naked? No.. I look at my arms. HOLY CRAP..

So to the right is what your skin will look like when you only rub the red areas with that steroid cream for a few days then go into the sun.

There are some people I've passed and tapped on the bus who say their island calls it "Sun spots" and the "cure" is rubbing it in the shower with Dandruff shampoo.. Like Selsun Blue.. I think.. This ain't gonna be solved with no SHAMPOO.. But, thank them as they leave the bus..

I also looked it up vigorously weeks later, and no doctor told me this name.. I think, perhaps it happens naturally but it's called Tinea Versicolor. Of course, mine was created unnaturally and at the time I was just freaking out..

I start praying it's not permanent  I mean at least it isn't too mad painful but I proceed to buy every potential solution in the stores.. Kikui Oil (10 bucks), Aloe Gel (5 bucks, 3 bucks for generics), colored creams, lotions. You name it..


Everytime I go to bed and wake up it's a tad bit better but once I hit the sun it at first feels better but then gets all blotchy and crazy looking.. next up! The after effects of showers!