In that light, after living a little since writing those posts and having realized that I left a few things off of my “10 cures for Eczema” post, here’s another group of little (or big) things I do on a regular basis to keep my skin healthy and happy and not at all itchy.
1. Eat Fat. Eating fat does not make you fat so stop being afraid of the creamy, deliciousness and incredible health benefits that fat gives us. Especially when you have skin issues, eating enough fat is of the highest importance. So, what do you eat? Well, have a simple goal of adding a healthy fat to whatever meal you’re having. Cut up half an avocado on your eggs in the morning and douse your lunchtime salad with olive oil. Shmeer ghee onto your garlic bread with dinner and add a little coconut oil to your tea before bed. Sounds like a lot? It is. And here’s why: you’re healing your dehydrated, cracking, itching skin from the inside out. Fat is moisture and it’s lubricating. You can’t go wrong here just avoid GMO oils: vegetable, canola, cottonseed, peanut, etc and think in terms of whole foods and fats that come from plants (nuts, seeds, coconut, flax).
2. Stop itching… in life. Ever felt stuck in a situation, like you’re “itching” for a change? Yeah, that’s real. And it can manifest on your body. Stuck in a rocky relationship? Living without a creative outlet? Hate your job? Living in an “itchy” life situation can literally make you… well… itchy! Figure it out and make a change!
3. Alkalinize. The symptoms of eczema indicate a pH imbalance in the body. The environment is acidic which allows disease (not just Eczema) to flourish. How do you become more alkaline? More fruit and vegetables and less animal products and processed foods! My favorite way to start the day right, on an alkaline foot, so to speak, is to drink a large glass of water with the juice of half a lemon and a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar. It’s great for the liver and metabolism and brings the pH of the body in the alkaline direction before your day has even started!
4. Therapy. It’s easy for me to say because I’m a therapist, but everyone needs therapy. Everyone. Even children need a guiding voice and a safe space to express themselves. Now, I’m not saying you need to seek out a credentialed professional who will take notes about you on a legal pad while you lay out on a couch. Therapy can mean scheduling a weekly vent session with a friend or family member over coffee. Therapy can mean writing in a journal or blogging. Therapy can mean hanging out in an online forum with members who care about you. Just get someone to really listen to you.
5. Alternative Medicine. In my quest to cure my eczema (which, in case you forgot, covered 85% of my body and was the worst case that several dermatologists said they had ever seen), I treated myself to acupuncture, massage, reiki, and Chinese herbal medicinals. I would say, looking back, that none of them worked by themselves but, in combination with all the other methods I used to heal myself, they were highly complementary.
Above all, be kind to yourself. Having eczema can truly change how you feel and act in your everyday life and studies show that people who feel ugly are less likely to advocate for themselves to get what they deserve in life. Eczema is ugly, there’s no denying it, but you, YOU ARE NOT UGLY. You are beautiful and special and under all that broken skin, lies new cells just waiting to be nourished, hydrated, and loved so that they can clear your canvas and face the world with you. It can get better but, in the meantime, be gentle and kind to yourself and your skin. Take deep breaths and think positive thoughts. You’re so worth the effort, trust me.
Please remember that I’m not a dermatologist. I’m just someone who suffered with an incredibly debilitating skin condition that doctors tried (and failed) to make better. I figured it out myself and I want to help you to figure it out for yourself too. Come back if you need me. I’ll be here.
Also, in case you missed the original posts:
This is my story.
And here are the original 10 steps to cure Eczema.
