A special thank you to Aveeno for sponsoring this post for Eczema Awareness month. These views are my own.
My Eczema Journey with Aveeno
I was born with eczema. I didn’t have any choice in the matter. There have been days, even month-long stretches when I didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin. There are a lot of different ways eczema expresses itself, but for me it is an all over dry, tight, inflamed sensation. My joints get it the worst: my wrists, knees and ankles. I often describe it to people like the second day after a really bad sunburn.
My mom always kept a few things close by to help me when my days were really rough. Aveeno was always one of them. From face wipes, to shaving cream, to lotion–I trust they have the most gentle and effective products to get me through my day. When the brand reached out for Eczema Awareness Month, I was excited to partner up. I wanted to share a few tips that have gotten me through over the past 30 years.
Drink your water. Any skin care guru will tell you water is key. Water is important for a few reasons. Firstly, it filters out all the bad stuff in your body. Often, those bad things can be a part of your eczema triggers. If you keep your system flushed out, then you’re going to be better off. Secondly, when you’re hydrated from the inside, you are on the outside, too. Even when you’re having a flare up, hydrated skin is better than dry skin. Now, go pour yourself a big glass! Then pour yourself another one.
Use the right products. The first step is to use products that are hypoallergenic. The second step is to use products that work. Aveeno comes in on top again and again. I even did a test with Aveeno shaving cream in this post, and it beat out the store brand. Today, I’m using the new Eczema therapy line. I keep a small tube of the Eczema Therapy Cream in my bag when I’m out and about. I out on the Eczema Therapy Itch Relief Balm right after a shower, so it soaks in. This balm is no joke! I’ve never felt so moisturized for such a long period of time. I linked to some of my favorite Aveeno products below.
Adjust your diet. For everyone who has eczema, this is different. I spent years doing trial and error. Finally, dairy and gluten have been cut from my diet and my skin has never been better. This won’t be true for everyone. Start with some likely candidates and do an elimination test. Eventually you’ll notice a difference with one or more food groups. Once you figure it out, stick to it! You’ll discover new ways to eat and avoid those old, unhealthy foods. Here’s a good read about elimination diets.
Take the temperature easy. Sometimes you want a scolding hot shower. Repeated hot showers dry out and weaken your skin’s top layers. This is your armor and if you weaken your armor, you’re at risk of attack. I take warm showers instead of hot showers and use gentle temps when I wash my hands. I’ve even learned to love a cool shower. The more often you are good to your skin, then the more you can take risks from time to time. A hot shower after a day of skiing is one of my cheats.
Know your triggers. For me, my eczema is linked to my allergies. I know that I put myself at risk when I get into a dusty house or decide to pet a dog. All it takes is a few minutes to suffer for days. Sometimes it’s worth it, but most of the time it’s not. I speak up in different situations to avoid having a flare up. There’s no reason to suffer. There’s no reason to be self conscious.
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