Having Eczema isn’t easy, and I definitely empathize with anyone that has a major skin issue, as it takes a toll mentally and physically.

My first patch of eczema showed up when I was 4-5 years old, and it started out as a small patch on the back of my neck. At that particular point in time, we weren’t well educated on what steroids or a hydrocortisone can do to your body. So while the cream suppressed the patch (while also making my skin darker), it never eliminated the problem.

Fast foward to my late elementary school years, and this is where things became worse. I started developing it in my scalp which never happened before, and it just got worse. I was going to a homeopathic doctor for sometime in elementary school, which suppressed the problem for sometime, but again, never fully eliminated it. I had patches in middle school, but it was pretty much status quo. This is also the time, that my love for skincare and makeup was found again, and since I had this skin issue, I was researching ingredients and learned a lot about synthetics, etc. This was because I didn’t want what I was using to irritate the skin on my face or my body.

Come high school, we decided to go with a different homeopathic doctor, and this is where things got a lot worse. Homeopathy has a tendency to make things worse at first, and then better. But, this medicine blew up my eczema like no other. I had patches everywhere. I was wearing socks at night on my hands, so I wouldn’t scratch my skin off (which I’d do very often). I only wore long sleeves in school, because my patches hurt so bad, and I couldn’t bear to show them. Anything I ate, or touched seemed to set off my skin. I had no choice but to use the steroid cream to calm my skin down completely, and this seemed to do the trick, alongside some Ayurvedic herbs I was taking. I continued this particular medication for a few years, but eventually stopped as this doctor was in India.

I’ve even tried Ayurveda, but nothing has ever fully eliminated my eczema. It still pops up, depending on what I eat, what I use, etc. However, for the last few years, it hasn’t been a huge concern to me, as it has gone down quite a bit as compared to when I was younger.

Lately, I have introduced Grass-Fed milk in my journey of healing in relation to my hormones and gut issues. Now, while I haven’t faced any sort of stomach reactions, I am thinking this is instead aggravating my eczema.

I am currently dealing with a few patches on my fingers, eyelids, and near my ear. I have three different products that I am using to combat my inflamed skin. Now, as a disclaimer I have to say that I still use my steroid cream, once in a while, depending on where exactly the patch of skin that’s inflamed is. I would never use the steroid cream on the face, as the skin is much different from the rest of the body. And, I have no idea what steroid cream would do to the skin on the face.

For the patch around my eyelids, Ive been using the One Love Organics Vitamin E Balm. This has significantly helped to reduce the dry skin, and tame down the redness. For the patch near my ear and behind my ears, I have been using May Lindstrom’s Blue Cocoon. This balm is truly wonderful. The blue tansy in it, helps calm down the skin to a huge extent. I even use it on the patches on my fingers.

Lastly, I use the steroid cream, on small parts on my fingers, or on my body, but when needed!

My mom is amazing at making this homemade body butter, which is what I use. And, there are a ton of products in the eco-beauty market which are great for soothing the skin on the body as well.

Food, stress, sugar, and products all have an impact sadly. If you have this skin condition, I’d suggested switching out your body products to non-scented ones, or making your own body butters. Try avoiding essential oils in your skincare, and avoid night shades in your food. Sugar is highly processed and induces anxiety, which then can be a trigger for eczema.

It is a complicated journey, but you have to be persistent and not be hard on yourself, in the process of bringing it under control!

But because of eczema, I started this blog, and my love for all things eco beauty grew. So, in a way I am thankful, and for the fact that I can always offer support for folks who are going through the same thing!

-K