Not very many people are aware of this, but I have been diagnosed with Eosinophilic Cellulitis.
Also know as Wells Syndrome, the disease is technically an “inflammation of skin cells” and involves problems with the immune system and white blood cells. Apparently, the disease is incredibly rare (fewer than 200 cases recorded in literature), and pretty much nothing is known about it.
The simplest way to explain the problem is to say my immune system likes to live in over-drive. Even the smallest injury (a mosquito bite for example) sends my immune system into a panic, thinking that I’ve been shot and am dying in a cold alley somewhere without treatment. Basically, my body tries to heal an injury that doesn’t really exist. So all of the little skin cells start swelling up, a rash breaks out, my skin becomes incredibly hot, and anything that touches it only spreads the problem further. It itches like crazy, like any healing wound, but if I touch it the skin cells break open, my skin starts peeling down layers, and it spreads and spreads. Even clothing is a problem. Continue reading
Deceptively Blonde 