My 4 steps to healing my skin from psoriasis and eczema

Four years ago, my life changed! A new chapter in my fight against psoriasis and eczema begun, and I felt like I was starting to win small battles but, more importantly, I was ready to win a war against an adversary that often seemed unbeatable.

I have been dealing with psoriasis and eczema for over 20 years. It has been upsetting and exhausting: years of confusion, embarrassment, and frustration. I have used cortisone creams for decades as prescribed by my dermatologists. At some point, I was told that I was using the strongest cream on the market (in Canada). But my skin kept getting more sensitive… to the point where I kept covering up during the summer. No more shorts or knee-length dresses. I became a master at hiding my skin irritation with long sleeves, pants, and scarves.

Itching, inflammation, and light bleeding were cries for help... In the summer of 2017, when my skin was screaming for help, I had to stop the cortisone cream and change everything. And so, fours years ago, I discovered my path to a freer skin and a freer me.

I want to share with you what helped me through this part of my journey.

I am sharing these 4 steps because, in the end, I realized that these solutions are not rocket science, but for me, it took a crisis to get there. It was a hard, confusing, and lonely experience.

The recommendations from the dermatologists and my online research were not giving me any long-term solution. One dermatologist diagnosed me with psoriasis; the second came back with an inconclusive assessment, saying that I might have either psoriasis or eczema. In both cases, they were a bit puzzled by the results because as they taught me then, psoriasis is not common for black people. Hence, I felt isolated and a bit lost when the prescriptions creams were no longer enough to take care of my problem. There seem to be no solution or advice that could really help me through this struggle.

So today, I am reaching out to all the black young girls and women who may feel lost in this battle. I am not saying that I found the one solution to healing psoriasis and eczema. I don't believe that there is a one-size-fits-all. This is not what my blog is about either. I am simply sharing information I wish I had when I felt lost, confused, and frustrated. I really hope it helps some of you find your way on your own journey.

I also invite anyone who has other tips and advice for natural care and nutrition that worked for them. After all, I genuinely believe that “Sharing is Caring” and that we can help each other overcome our challenges by simply telling our stories. So here we go…

Here are the 4 steps that helped me reclaim my skin from psoriasis/eczema:

ONE – Take a food sensitivity test

TWO - Eat what your body needs

THREE - Moisturize regularly (and no need for expensive body creams)

FOUR – Choose to stay healthy

1. Take a food sensitivity test.

I learned that I needed to know which foods my body loves and the ones it hates; it's that simple and a food sensitivity test can help speed up that learning curve.

First, I learned that food sensitivities are not the same as food allergies, which can generate immediate reactions such as hives, difficulty breathing, and anaphylaxis. The food sensitivity test helped me identify to which foods my body reacts negatively.

Four years ago, I got a requisition from my naturopath and got the test done at a local LifeLabs (in Canada). I got the results within a month. The test was categorized as an RMA FST™ IgG Food Sensitivity Test.

It showed that I was susceptible to a whole list of grains as well as cow milk among other food choices. Barley, oat, wheat bran, anything with milk protein are a few examples of my ‘Do not touch’ list. I can consume them, but I can surely expect some skin irritation, nasal congestion, or stomach pains in return.

This was a crucial step for me. It was eye-opening, and I'll explain why in the following step.

2. Eat what your body needs.

Knowledge is POWER. The sensitivity test helped identify what foods work for ME. Of course, I still listen to my body and check how it feels after a meal. Do I feel bloated? Do I stomach pains? Am I more congested? For me, these are often signs that what I eat is not agreeing with my body. I have learned to listen to my body.

Before I did my test, my usual breakfast was a combination of oatmeal (or egg whites), almonds, and yogurt. Probably a bit boring for some but still healthy, right 😊? This was my go-to breakfast for over a year until I realized that I was completely working against my body from my very first meal of the day. Almost every single food on my breakfast menu was categorized as extremely sensitive for me. It was quite a shock, but it also helped me understand why I was constantly congested (which I often confused with having cold or seasonal allergies).

Also, while I had my “healthy breakfasts,” my skin was rebelling and crying out for help with spreading irritation and inflammation.

Today I have switched the almonds and oatmeal for some fresh fruits and sometimes a gluten/dairy-free bowl of cereal or bread. I still have some eggs from time to time as they are part of the foods I should eat in moderation.

The main lesson for me was that what is generally considered healthy is not necessarily healthy for me. To fight my psoriasis and eczema and reclaim my skin, I really had to find what was healthy for ME.

3. Moisturize regularly

A dermatologist once suggested that I stopped using body lotion to control my psoriasis/eczema better. I was unimpressed, and I could not even respond to the advice… At least, not out loud.

I grew up applying body lotion AT LEAST once a day, and so for me, it is simply a must! There is something about the feeling of having fresh and smooth skin after I take a shower that relaxes me and makes me all happy inside.

I basically apply lotion on my body and hands after every shower, hand-wash, or anytime my skin touches water. Plus, I have very dry skin; so moisturizing lotions are my best friends. The advice of not hydrating my skin did not make any sense at all.

So, I disregarded it and continued applying lotion… and good news! … I learned quickly enough that skin lotions do not have to be pricey to keep your skin well hydrated.

For a while, I spent a good amount of money on high-end costly body lotions… only to find out that what worked best for me was simplicity. My go-to creams are Lubriderm Fragrance-Free and Lubriderm Advanced Therapy. I always keep a jar of Cocoa Butter and some essential oils that were basically my saviors in my times of skin crisis. Recently, I fell in love with Eucerin Complete Repair and Eucerin Advanced Repair - Yes, this brand is more expensive, but this is my gift to me.

Moisturizing and hydrating the skin while eating healthy made me realized that I didn't need the most expensive creams. Simple and affordable, and the occasional Eucerin-type cream work really well for me. My skin and my bank account thank me.

4. Choose to stay healthy

The final step is really putting all this information together and choosing your health above all.

I love butter and chocolate croissants, apple pies, French baguettes, cheese platters… and almonds… and bowls of gluten-filled oatmeal. I truly do … and I can still indulge in those from time to time. But I know that if I want to reclaim my skin from psoriasis/eczema and let it heal from years of suffering, these foods cannot be part of my daily diet. No matter how wonderfully tasty they are, they need to step aside!

I want to take care of ME, and the only body I have.

It is a matter of choice, really. I put psoriasis/eczema in the back seat, so I could have beautiful skin and a healthier me.

Of course, choosing to stay healthy is the one never-ending step. I have to make that choice every day from the moment I wake up. It is the hardest one because I often fall, but it's the most rewarding because I always have a chance to do better than yesterday and to eventually create something that I can maintain.

Final words

These 4 steps have been life-changing for me. As you are probably guessing, they are not necessarily sequential. In fact, they all work together. Other than the sensitivity test, I think that all steps are continuous. They are more about creating the right habits one day at a time, than going in for a quick-fix diet program.

This is still working for me. I went from bleeding skin irritations and overly sensitive inflammations to more manageable and soft skin. My journey is not over, and it is not always easy, but I know it is worth trying.

You might be thinking "Yeah... but..."

I realize not everyone might be able to get a sensitivity test. That's okay. It was part of my journey, but it doesn't have to be the only way. Even today, I still listen to my body and monitor how my skin reacts to the food I eat. You can do it formally with a journal or just informally.

And yes, it can be hard to find tasty alternative foods. There is nothing like a crusty double-cheese pizza. But let’s be honest, that double-cheese pizza is not your friend right now. So, you need to find your friendly food.

You may not like applying body lotion regularly. My suggestion is … Just try 😊 Start with a friendlier to sensitive skin like Lubriderm or Nivea. Remember, a body lotion does not have to be super expensive to do the work. When you find the right one, use it regularly and listen to your skin sigh of happiness 😉.

Reclaiming your skin from psoriasis/eczema does not have to be complicated. Know your body, give it what it needs (inside and out), and choose YOU always.

I hope you find this information helpful. If you do, please share with a friend or someone you know would need it.

Stay beautiful!

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