My journey of healing and
discovery of a purpose
discovery of a purpose
I've lived with eczema my entire life, starting from infancy. It began as severe rashes on my neck, and I followed the recommendations of dermatologists to control it with steroids, minimal water exposure, scent-free soaps, and dermatologist-recommended products. For almost three decades, this became my routine. Whenever eczema appeared in new areas or became uncontrollable, I would return to the dermatologist for stronger treatments and continue using daily steroid creams.
Throughout the years, I also developed numerous food and environmental allergies, some of which worsened as I grew older. Seeking natural solutions, I explored reducing dairy and meat in my diet and consulted with naturopaths and a Chinese medicine doctor. While I saw some progress at times, I never found a comprehensive solution that truly addressed my unique case.
Seeking natural help, but no one ever understood me as a complete case
In my mid-twenties, eczema began spreading on my hands and persisted despite stronger steroid creams. I eventually relied on the strongest steroid cream available, using it consistently for two years. Attempts to wean off the creams only resulted in recurring rashes. This condition started affecting my work and personal life, hindering activities like baking, cooking, cleaning, exercising and playing music due to raw and itchy hands.
As I was about to get married, my flares became more extreme but the dermatologist and naturopaths I was seeing had no answers. Internal medication was suggested by my doctor, but the side effects made me uncomfortable, so I resisted that option. Determined to find healing, I planned to focus on it after my wedding. However, in the months leading up to the wedding and after returning from the honeymoon, my eczema flared up even worse, spreading beyond my hands and appearing on the soles of my feet and entire body. Frustration, confusion, discomfort, and panic set in.
Panicked search for answers and severe suffering
Desperate Google searches led my mom to discover the website for the International Topical Steroid Awareness Network (ITSAN) and we first learned about topical steroid withdrawal (TSW). The symptoms described matched my experience, indicating addiction to topical steroids as the reason for my worsening condition and failed attempts to wean off the creams. Despite doctors' lack of acknowledgment, I mustered the courage to quit steroids on December 12, 2021.
Immediately after stopping the steroids, my hands deteriorated, and my whole body became inflamed with the distinctive "red sleeve" pattern typical of TSW. Over the next year, I encountered various symptoms such as swollen lymph nodes, excessive dryness, cracked and shedding skin, weeping skin, insomnia, hair loss, seborrheic dermatitis, hot flashes, swollen limbs, significant weight loss, increased food sensitivities, and hyperpigmentation.
To minimize inflammation, I embraced a clean diet, avoiding meat, gluten, dairy, sugar, processed foods, alcohol, and eggs. I used pure ingredients like coconut oil, jojoba oil, shea butter, castor oil, vitamin E, essential oils, and clean soaps/detergents. Since I couldn't use my hands much, my husband and parents assisted me with basic daily tasks.
Answered prayers for true healing
During this challenging time, I fervently prayed for true healing, and that's when I stumbled upon Eczema Conquerors, which was started by Abby Lai and inspired by her own eczema journey. Abby's page provided the answer I had been seeking, filling in the missing pieces from my previous treatments. Reaching out, I found validation, empathetic understanding, and a realization that my allergies and eczema were symptoms of an underlying root problem in my body.
To facilitate healing, I joined the Eczema Conquerors program, focusing on supporting my body's internal systems through supplements and homeopathic protocols. We worked on healing my gut, drainage pathways, liver, gallbladder, adrenals, immunity, and thyroid. For the first time, I was treated as a complete case and understood that everything I had experienced over my life, tied together - and could be healed.
I made adjustments in my living environment, filtering drinking water, adding a shower filter, using an air purifier and red light machine at home. I chose light, breathable fabrics that concealed grease and shedding skin, making them easy to wash frequently. Additionally, I underwent phototherapy to aid the healing of my hands and feet, regularly used castor oil packs, and gradually reintroduced foods that didn't trigger flare-ups.
While my healing journey continues, I've witnessed remarkable progress: my hands have healed beyond belief, my hair is regrowing, my skin has learned to heal itself, and the incessant itching has subsided. I now have fewer food sensitivities, and I've established habits of nourishing my body with healthy foods, using clean products for washing and moisturizing, and maintaining trust in my body's healing capabilities.
Eczema with a purpose
Small batch whipped body butter made from the purest ingredients to nourish your skin while raising awareness of topical steroid withdrawal.
Why imperfected? What does it mean?
Recognizing my own imperfections, I believe that in Jesus Christ, I am perfected even amid my weaknesses, sickness, and trials that I face in this world. My faith has been a huge part of my TSW journey and helped me uncover an opportunity to use my story for something bigger than myself. The scars left by my healing skin serve as reminders of my body's remarkable capacity to heal. These imperfections reflect the distance I've traveled and the journey that lies ahead.
"Eczema with a purpose" encompasses a few meaningful ideas. Eczema acts as a form of communication from our bodies, signalling internal problems that demand our attention. Rather than suppressing or ignoring it, we should listen to our bodies and address the root causes of our symptoms. I also want to help others become aware of TSW so they can advocate for their healing and hopefully avoid some of the traumas that come with it.
I believe that God created me perfectly and allowed me to embark on this eczema journey for a reason. My desire is to encourage and support others facing similar battles, sharing the message that trials develop perseverance. Instead of running from our challenges, He can use them to transform us into the people He intended us to be. Embracing eczema and understanding its purpose for you could mark the beginning of something incredible.
Inspired to share nourishing body butter with you
Throughout my journey, finding the right creams to soothe my skin while avoiding allergens was incredibly challenging. I resorted to combining pure oils to harness the natural healing properties each one offered. With everything I experienced, developing a natural solution became essential, so I created a pure whipped body butter that could provide my skin with the soothing moisture it craved.
When I couldn't do anything with my hands, I was so thankful for my mom, who whipped up batches of this cream for me. This unique mixture was the only one that never irritated my skin and remained easy to apply, even with raw hands. Today, as my hands have almost fully healed, I am thrilled to share this whipped body butter with you and nourishing soap too. These continue to be an integral part of my daily routine, as I strive to continue healing while maintaining a clean and healthy lifestyle.
If you're seeking eczema skincare that goes beyond mere nourishment, providing deep moisturization for your skin, these products may be just what you need.
Are you ready to give it a try and experience the difference for yourself?
