This post shares how to heal eczema naturally based on my own healing journey with dyshidrotic eczema. I struggled with dyshidrotic for 2 years before I began to find answers that helped move forward my healing. Everyone is so different, but I hope this post can give you some ideas if you too are struggling.
Having dyshidrotic eczema has been one of the most emotionally & physically draining health challenges of my life. Before I got eczema, I truly had no idea how bad it could be. I assumed that it was just patches of dry skin. This is why in October of 2020, I had no idea what I was dealing with. I was so unfamiliar with eczema in general & it wasn’t until many months into struggling, that I found out it was dyshidrotic. You can read more of my journey with dyshidrotic eczema here & here!
Did you know that a whopping 30% of the United States population struggles with eczema? Eczema is a chronic disease that is characterized by extremely dry & itchy skin. But as I’ve learned more & have seen other people go through their own journey with eczema, it’s so much more than just dry, itchy skin. In my opinion, that makes it seems mild. Which for some I’m sure it is, but for others, eczema can be life altering & downright brutal.
The type of eczema I have struggled with is called Dyshidrotic, otherwise known as Pompholyx. Dyshidrotic eczema causes a burning, itching feeling, & fluid-filed blisters, as well as, extreme dryness. It can affect hands, feet, palms, the soles of your feet, & the sides of your fingers. It is also considered to be a long-term condition, which makes sense as I struggled with this for over 2 years with little to no relief.
One of the most difficult things about having eczema is the fact that there is no “known cure” for it. Meaning if you go to a traditional doctor, instead of addressing the root cause, they will prescribe either eczema medications & or steroids to treat your symptoms. The problem with both of those options is that they are not getting to the root of where the eczema is stemming from, instead they act as a bandaid. Additionally, since medications & steroids aren’t healing you, you become reliant on them.
Eczema medications can contain ingredients that may be harmful to your health when used for a long time, but what other option do you have, if this is what your doctor is suggesting? Steroids also open up another can of worms. Steroids can become extremely detrimental because you can quickly become reliant. They also pose the risk of making your eczema worse & weaning your skin off of using a steroid can be extremely difficult & pose more health challenges.
If you are currently using a medication or steroid for your eczema, I am absolutely not judging. I too have been there. I used & tried a handful of topical & internal steroids at the very beginning of my eczema journey because I was desperate & in pain. So absolutely no judgement. However, I’m writing this post about 6 months after successfully putting my dyshidrotic eczema into remission following natural protocols.
I’m writing this post today as a source of encouragement if you are struggling right now. Last summer, I had some of my darkest days with my eczema (it was on my face as well), & I knew I had to make a change, quickly. So today, I’m sharing a round-up of natural ways to manage eczema flares & hopefully heal as well.
How To Heal Eczema Naturally
In the beginning, I did try steroids out of desperation. After completing a few rounds of internal & topical steroids with no improvement, I decided to seek a natural route for managing my eczema systems. I wanted to pursue something that I knew was safe for my health & wouldn’t cause my sensitive skin more harm. At this point in my eczema journey, I wasn’t even thinking about healing my eczema completely, I just wanted relief.
Although steroids & medication may provide short-term relief for some people with eczema, they’re essentially a band-aid for a bigger underlying issue. Also, in the vast majority of cases, it’s very easy to become reliant on that medication. For me personally, I didn’t want to be reliant on a medication without addressing what actually was causing my eczema symptoms. Additionally, most steroids & medications can pose awful side effects & contain harmful ingredients. Many people who struggle with eczema & use steroids also can experience steroid withdrawal if they ever want to wean themselves off the steroid medication. As I researched, I saw some horrific cases of steroid withdrawal & knew I never wanted to experience that.
All of this led me to seek out natural remedies in the hope of managing my dyshidrotic eczema symptoms. I tried many products, diets, supplements, & lifestyle changes. I also worked with a naturopath doctor for about 8 months. More on that below. About 2 years into my eczema journey, I finally turned a corner with my healing. I decided to do my first Medical Medium 369 Cleanse & for me, it was life changing. I truly believe completing the cleanse helped me clear out the dermatoxins that were lodged deep within my body contributing to my severe skin inflammation. Therefore addressing the root cause.
What Is Eczema
Eczema is a chronic skin condition that causes dry skin, rashes, scaly patches, blisters, itchiness, & skin infections. Although eczema shares some similarities with autoimmune diseases, it is not an autoimmune condition. There are several types of eczema, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, nummular eczema, seborrheic dermatitis & stasis dermatitis.
Although I was never properly diagnosed, I believe I had atopic dermatitis on my face. I did receive a dyshidrotic eczema diagnosis for my hand. Dyshidrotic Eczema is a chronic skin condition that involves clusters of blisters, called vesicles, on the hands, feet, or both, that intensely itch & burn. This condition may also be referred to as foot-and-hand eczema, Dyshidrosis, Pompholyx, Vesicular Eczema, Palmoplantar Eczema, or Cheiropompholyx.
Who’s most likely to get it?
Dyshidrotic Eczema is most common in people ages 20-40 & is twice as likely to affect women rather than men. If you already have another form of eczema, you unfortunately might be subject to getting dyshidrotic eczema as well. Some people may experience single flare-ups, but it’s much more common for this type of eczema to come & go over long periods of time according to the National Eczema Association.
As I mentioned, while eczema isn’t an autoimmune condition, if you do have an autoimmune condition, you also have a greater risk of developing eczema. I can relate to this since I am Celiac.
Symptoms of Eczema
Symptoms can vary but the most common eczema symptoms are…
- Dry, cracked skin.
- Sever itchiness
- Rash on swollen skin that varies in color depending on your skin color
- Small, raised bumps, on brown or Black skin
- Oozing & crusting.
- Thickened skin
- Darkening of the skin around the eyes
- Raw, sensitive skin from scratching
And for Dyshidrotic eczema specifically, the symptoms are…
- Small blisters on hands or feet
- Itching or burning
- Excessive sweating
- Pain in the effected, blistered area
- Scaly, peeling, dry skin
- Nail decay
Eczema Triggers
The exact cause of dyshidrotic eczema is unknown, but several things can trigger it such as…
- Stress
- Contact with certain metals, specifically nickel & copper
- Sweaty or wet hands & feet
- Warm, humid weather, or changes in temperature
- Certain treatments for a weak immune system (immunoglobulin)
- Seasonal allergies
- Having a family history of atopic dermatitis
- Exposure to chemicals such as fragrance in personal care products
While I’m sure these triggers can awaken eczema for some individuals, I truly believe it’s so much deeper than what we can see. Our skin is our largest organ & when something is trapped within, it doesn’t have anywhere to go except out through the skin. Ever since my eczema first showed itself, I knew it was caused by something off internally. Unfortunately, most conventional doctors won’t address the underlying root causes for inflammation, eczema is no different. That’s why if you google “how to cure eczema” you won’t find anything. They will tell you it’s incurable. Why? Because the root of the issue is never addressed or resolved.
Natural Remedies For Eczema
About 6 months into my journey with dyshidrotic eczema, I began to seek out natural remedies for managing my eczema symptoms & treating my extremely dry & irritated skin. There was a lot of trial & error. I feel like I tried most things with no avail. I tried a variety of home remedies, apple cider vinegar compresses, oatmeal soaks, colloidal oatmeal creams, raw honey, ice, you name it. For many months, the only thing that provided me any sort of relief when I had an itching flare (which occurred multiple times a day) was ice or running my left hand under cold water until I couldn’t feel it. This was obviously not ideal for managing my symptoms.
With that said, below are the natural remedies I personally utilized to achieve progress in healing my dyshidrotic eczema. As a reminder, most doctors will tell you there is no cure for eczema. After experiencing my own healing & putting my eczema into remission for over 6 months, I can confidently recommend becoming your own advocate for your personal healing journey. Don’t let someone else dictate your outcome. Eczema is too brutal of a condition to simply “deal with” for the rest of your life. Natural remedies are not a one size fits all, but there are so many out there, so know that you have options!
Medical Medium 369 Cleanse
I know everyone is different, but for me, completing the Medical Medium 369 Advanced Liver Cleanse was life changing when it came to truly healing my dyshidrotic eczema. At the end of Summer 2022, I was so desperate & used this cleanse as a last ditch effort to heal & to also get my sanity back after 2 years of struggling.
According to the Medical Medium, eczema occurs due to a pathogen, usually EBV (Epstein–Barr virus), in the liver that feeds off high levels of toxic heavy metals like copper & mercury (source). Usually there are also old DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) which is an insecticide & other pesticides in the liver also, which are high in copper. The Medical Medium says eczema is half copper & half mercury. When the virus feeds off these points, it releases a potent dermatoxin which floats up the skin. This is what causes the sever rashes, flaking, cracking, irritated skin, & itching.
Ideally, our liver would filter out these dermatoxins & they would leave the body. However, when the liver is overloaded & sluggish due to the EBV in the first place, normal detox processes are not able to be completed, hence why the dermatoxins have no where to go except through the skin. The more sluggish the liver is, the worse the eczema is.
Which now brings me to the cleanse. The 369 Advanced Liver Cleanse is a 9 day cleanse to expel toxins, eliminate trouble maker foods including dairy, gluten, sugar, & oils, & cleanse the liver. This cleanse is intense, it takes a lot of preparation, time, & willpower. But gosh, is it worth it. This is the only thing that moved the needle in my eczema healing journey & ultimately healed me. You can read about my first cleanse here & purchase the book Cleanse to Heal if you’re interested in completing the cleanse too. The book has all of the information you need.
Work With a Naturopath
About 7 months into my journey with eczema, I sought out help from a local naturopath doctor. I worked with her for about 8 months. Throughout our time working together, she put me on a supplement, dietary, & lifestyle protocol to help address the underlying root cause of my eczema. After my first appointment, we did a food sensitivity blood test & stool test to check for candida overgrowth & parasites. Other than a candida pathogen, the stool test came came back fine. However, my food test came back with some surprises. More on that below.
One of my lifestyle protocols was no jewelry, since metals can trigger eczema. She wanted me to limit touching metal whenever possible, which was simple not manageable for me. In the beginning of working together, I believe there was some progress made but ultimately I stopped seeing her because I felt like I was on a hamster wheel of no progress after about 8 months. My eczema was actually worse towards the end of working together.
However, I do think it’s important to have some clarity at the beginning of your journey with eczema. I had very little knowledge about eczema prior to working with her & was grateful for her guidance in the beginning. If you’re able to, I would seek out a naturopath in your area.
Supplements
To be honest, I hate supplements haha! However, that was something else the naturopath was able to help me with because it’s very difficult to go into a supplement protocol blind. Supplements & different dosages are also extremely specific to each person. My naturopath helped me with a pretty rigid supplement protocol to address my candida, add good bacteria to my gut, & lower my cortisol levels. Anything skin related, stems from the gut, which is why it was important to get on a good probiotic. She actually had me on two different types.
She also had me on a multi-vitamin & some supplements to help with my allergies & allergic responses. Supplements can definitely serve a purpose on your natural healing journey because it’s quite literally supplementing something your body is lacking.
Food Allergy Testing
Doing a blood test for food allergies was very helpful for my healing protocol. Prior to my test, I knew I was Celiac & had a dairy allergy but other than that, I could never pin point any other trigger foods. The allergy test showed that I was highly sensitive to almonds, peanuts, sesame, & eggs – just to name a few. I avoided all of these for well over a year & have only recently incorporated a few ingredients here & there as my eczema has healed.
Even though I had an allergy to the things I mentioned, I believe I avoided them long enough to give my body a much needed reset. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t consume, almonds, peanuts, sesame, & eggs daily, but I’m trying to approach a more intuitive way of eating, which feels good to me right now.
If you’re struggling with any skin issue, I’d highly recommend a blood flood allergy test as one of the first things you do. Everyone is so different, so your triggers will probably look completely different than mine. But actually knowing your triggers is so much better than trying to guess, which is what I was doing for a long time.
Mindfulness
As I mentioned above, part of my protocol was lowing my cortisol levels. Stress can trigger eczema & make flares significantly worse. I can speak from experience. My eczema was one of the MAIN things that caused me stress. Significant stress. I found myself in a spiral most days, especially during a flare because I felt so overwhelmed with the pain, itching, & overall uncomfortability. Therefore causing more & more stress.
Some of the main things that helped me quiet my mind was my consistent yoga practice & meditation. At the beginning of this past year, a friend of mine shared this 9 minute affirmation meditation with me & it resonated with me deeply. I start every morning listening to it. Another great free meditation resource is Insight Timer.
Thyme Out Spray
This Thyme Out Spray was truly the only product that helped me. I used this all-natural spray anytime I got an eczema flare, which was multiple times a day. It gave me back so much sanity because it calmed my flare enough so that I wasn’t itching profusely. If you struggle with dyshidrotic eczema, I know you know the itch. It is horrific. And as you itch more, the worse you irritate the skin & make the lesions worse. So to have a bit of relief for my itching skin truly helped me so much.
This affordable spray can be used if you struggle with any sort of skin inflammation, irritation, or itching sensation. It’s made from all-natural ingredients like organic thyme & aloe vera that help to soothe the skin. It is truly my top product recommendation for anyone struggling with dyshidrotic or any type of eczema. For many months, I brought this spray everywhere with me.
Other
Below are a few other products I tried when seeking natural products to soothe & treat eczema
- Eczema Honey Skin-Soothing Cream – features organic honey, almond oil, organic olive oil, colloidal oatmeal, & organic sunflower oil, which forms a protective layer on your skin. Unfortunately, the cream didn’t provide me with any relief & when I had it applied, I couldn’t do daily tasks because the formula was so sticky & thick.
- Eczema Honey Itch Cooling Face & Body Rounds – these were okay! They did provide a nice cooling sensation during a flare, but nothing long-lasting, as least for me personally. I much preferred the Thyme Out Spray!
- Honest Beauty Eczema Soothing Therapy Balm – this was one of the better balms I tried because it wasn’t too sticky. It was very thick & featured soothing ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, coconut oil, shea butter, & squalene. I used this balm primarily on my dry & cracked skin following a flare.
Putting together this post almost makes me feel sick, because the majority of the “before” photos were this time last year. This time last year was one of the most difficult few weeks in my eczema journey, the flares were just so so bad. A few weeks later I would begin the cleanse & take the first real steps towards relief.
I know many of you have found my blog because you too have suffered from or are currently suffering with dyshidrotic eczema. If you’re currently in the thick of it, please know that I see & hear you. I know how hard it is. I hope reading how I healed my eczema naturally, without the use of steroids or medication, brings you hope & encouragement. You do not have to suffer with this for the rest of your life, like you might read online. Healing is possible for you too, I know it!
To read more about my journey with dyshidrotic eczema, check out the following posts:
My Experience with Dyshidrotic Eczema Part 1
My Experience with Dyshidrotic Eczema Part 2
Medical Medium 369 Advanced Cleanse Review
Wishing you the very best fellow dyshidrotic sufferers, you got this!
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