Defining Eczema
Atopic Dermatitis is a form of eczema, a common skin condition resulting in red, itchy, inflamed skin. Eczema does not have a known cause and can appear anywhere on the body. It’s believed that eczema is genetic, and usually begins in childhood. Only about 10 percent of eczema cases begin in adulthood (lucky me).
The Diagnosis
One night, I’m in my bathroom minding my business when my leg starts itching. After a few scratches, I look down to see a dry, flaky, circular area on my outer thigh. My first reaction was to freak out because initially I thought I’d somehow caught ringworm. Upon further examination, I ruled out ringworm but still didn’t know what this dry patch was on my skin. After a few failed attempts to alleviate the flaking and itching, I went to see my doctor.
My doctor took one look at my thigh and diagnosed me with eczema. I was surprised because I’m 28, and never had any issues like this before with my skin. After discussing some of the possible causes for my eczema, she prescribed a topical steroid and told me to call if things got worse.
The Triggers
Although there is no known cause for eczema, there are some things that may initiate or exacerbate the condition. Common irritants that can trigger or worsen eczema are stress, dyes, detergent, cotton & wool fabrics, chemicals (chlorine & bleach), molds, pets and dust mites. Its important to find the cause of your eczema and reduce any triggers by as much as possible to help prevent flareups.
The Treatment
My doctor prescribed me a topical steroid to treat my eczema and instructed me to buy products like Aquaphor. I was instructed to apply the steroid twice a day and the Aquaphor as needed throughout the day. Not only did this method not work, but after a month I started to notice more areas appear over my body. I became fed up, and honestly quite discouraged so I took to the internet to find a more natural remedy.
After a couple weeks of research and testing out formulas I found what worked for me. In addition to making lifestyle changes and reducing triggers, I followed a strict skincare routine which changed my life. I noticed dramatic results after adding full body exfoliation to my routine and cutting out lotion completely. Instead of using store bought lotion, I made my own body butter containing essential oils, which not only got rid of my eczema but the hyperpigmentation as well.
In addition to controlling outside factors, changing what you put in your body can work wonders. I increased my water intake to no less than 64oz/day, cut down on my dairy intake, and limited my meat intake to only chicken and fish (mostly fish). Not only did changing my diet help to clear my skin in a month, I also was able to drop 20lbs without exercising!
The Body Butter
The trickiest part of making my body butter was calculating the correct ratio of each oil to maximize results. I currently make and sell my body butter to help others overcome their eczema. However, if you’d like to make your own body butter, I will list below some of the oils I use, and how they aid in the treatment of eczema.
Coconut oil – Very nourishing and moisturizing to the skin. Has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Shea butter – Helps the skin to retain moisture which is crucial with eczema prone skin. Also provides itch relief and has anti-inflammatory properties.
Vitamin E oil – alleviates itching, flakiness and dryness associated with eczema.
The Regimen
Below is my skincare routine broken down step by step!
- Clean and exfoliate skin (exfoliate at least 3x a week).
- Pat dry.
- While still slightly damp apply body butter, giving extra attention to the affected areas.
- Reapply body butter as needed throughout the day and to hands after washing.
- Repeat steps 1-4 at night.
The main factor to my successful treatment of my eczema was consistency! It took me about 6 weeks to completely get rid of my eczema and around 12 weeks to completely get rid of the hyperpigmentation. Stay the course and you’ll see results!
*email me or comment below if you’d like to purchase my body butter*
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The Nice Nurse 