I’ve had eczema since I was little. It would manifest as red, dry, painfully itchy patches inside my elbows, on my thighs, and sometimes on my hands, flaring up and subsiding seemingly at will. I took care of it by using prescription strength steroidal hydrocortisone cream, usually applying a few times a week when the patches were especially red or itchy. I only recently came to realize that continuous and prolonged use of topical steroids is terrible for your skin and can actually trigger withdrawal symptoms. So when my eczema flared up to the worst it’s probably ever been back in the spring, I decided I was going to try to heal it as naturally as I could.
This post is several months in the making: from when this most recent flare up began, to starting to see my naturopath (more on this later), and now finally starting to learn what helps and what doesn’t. It’s been a journey and we aren’t even done yet, but I wanted to share what I’ve learned over these past several months, and how I’m treating and healing my eczema without the hydrocortisone.
As a disclaimer, I’m not a dermatologist, nor a naturopath, nor a doctor of any kind. What I’m sharing is simply what has worked for me.
Naturopathic Medicine I’m so fortunate that my work benefits allow me to see a naturopath, without having to pay anything out of pocket. I found the most amazing doctor and we’ve been working on solving the eczema flare ups together. She suggested an elimination diet, whereby I cut out gluten, dairy, and eggs for a month. This was not easy and I’m so glad that month is behind me! I’m now slowly adding those items back into my diet, one at a time in two week increments, to see if anything triggers a flare up. She also suggested several supplements, all targeted to gut imbalance, inflammation, and overall skin health. I won’t get into all of what they do, because again, not a doctor, but in short I’ve been taking a probiotic, L-glutamine, Omega-3, Vitamin D3, Vitamin B12, and iron. When I forget to take them one day, I do notice a difference in my skin, so I’m confident that they’re working! It’s such a privilege that I’ve been able to see a naturopath, but if you’re curious about trying it out I’d love to chat about it.
Skincare This girl loves some facial skincare, but it hasn’t been until recently that I started taking care of the rest of my skin in the same way I do my face. I’ve found some truly amazing products and a routine that works for me to soothe the itchiness, minimize redness, and improve the overall appearance of my skin. The goal here is moisture retention, calming ingredients, and healing vitamins.
Grown Alchemist Body Cream. Since eczema damages the moisture barrier, a good all-over moisturizer is crucial. This one in particular was an early quarantine splurge moment, but it’s done an amazing job at keeping my skin from getting too dry and itchy. I apply it straight out of the shower to prevent my skin drying out. It’s got some really great ingredients including shea butter, rose hip oil, and wheatgerm extract, a few of which I’ll talk about some more later. It’s a nice one-stop-shop for some powerhouse ingredients, but really any decent moisturizer will do the trick.
The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil. This is one of my all time favourite products for overall skin health. I use it almost daily on my face, and noticed a massive difference when I started using it on my eczema as well. I usually apply it on top of the body cream to lock in the moisture, and focus just on the patches that need it. Rose hip oil is rich in essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and Vitamin A, which help to heal, protect, and renew the skin. It also contains Vitamin E, which reduces inflammation. I honestly can’t recommend this stuff enough, and The Ordinary does a very reasonably-priced one.
Province Apothecary. A local Toronto brand that focuses on natural and organic beauty products, Province Apothecary makes some great products for eczema. I first bought their Healing Eczema Balm and Hydrating Rescue Balm back in July. The former has an almost pasty texture, with colloidal oatmeal and zinc oxide, and does a great job of quickly soothing any itch. I use it on top of the rescue balm, which contains nourishing beeswax and hemp oil. The ingredients are really awesome, so I use these products for that, but the textures are quite thick.
Liha Gold Shea Butter. Last but not least, this product is my new holy grail for my eczema. Full transparency, I’ve only been using it for about a week now, but the improvement in that time has been so incredible. Liha makes two types of shea butter: their lighter ivory shea butter and the slightly more moisturizing gold shea butter. Both are 100% pure, ethically sourced shea butters from Ghana and Nigeria respectively. Shea butter is naturally high in Vitamins A and E, which encourage cell turnover and repair, and has been used as a cure-all balm by African women for centuries. After a few uses, my most stubborn patches were no longer raised, red, and itchy, which I think speaks for itself. Plus it smells earthy and delicious, which is the cherry on top.
While my eczema is by no means gone or completely cured, these methods have made such an improvement to my quality of life. I’m no longer constantly reminding myself not to scratch, or unable to fall asleep because my skin is so painfully inflamed. The journey continues, but I’m so pleased with how far my skin has come.
