What is your skin trying to tell you?
I know this article seems long… if you’re pressed for time I’ll give you the take home up front.
If you do read on you’ll get some surprises, interesting tricks and theories about healing eczema as I trace a case history from childhood until present day.
You may recognize the patient. And don’t worry, I’m not breaching any confidentiality issues. I have permission for full disclosure.
The truth is that skin can be a tricky nut to crack. In this article I share candidly my personal skin journey and provide examples of some underlying causes that can disrupt skin health. We also dive into some natural remedies to help your skin be as vibrant as it can be.
I’ll fill you in on what my skin is saying.
When I was 12 I went to a birthday party and we covered our faces in makeup and face paint. It wasn’t long before the itch started. Next the burn. I washed the goop off with some perfume laden soap, dried my face in a dryer-sheeted towel, and when I looked in the mirror my face was covered in a red, scaly, bumpy rash.
Just what one needs in grade 7.
This was the start of my skin journey.
My medical doctor prescribed a neutral soap and topical corticosteroids. My mom bought new laundry soap. And long as I was careful what I touched, smelled or wore, the rash would stay at bay – with the help of my steroids.
I’d like to take a second to back up even further in my personal health history. As a child I had what felt like hundreds of ear infections. It was as if I was constantly having to suck back the bananabiotics that seemed to always be in the fridge.
This will be come relevant soon. Keep reading friend.
In University, after deciding to become a naturopathic doctor, I became more focused on what makes a healthy body.
I started with something simple.
I began drinking more water. I drank my half my weight (in pounds) in ounces. For the first time in my life my eczema was clear without needing the prescription or over the counter creams.
I still had to be very careful about what I put on my skin. I found naturally UNscented products that seemed to help a lot too.
Skin problems are often the result of several factors.
For the purpose of this article I’m using the example of eczema but any skin disorder could be related to the same following factors.
#1, 2 & 3 are the eczema spots. Covered up with toxin-containing make-up. Yikes.
#4 is covered up by a nickel-filled ring. Yikes. The black area? Is the ring reacting with my skin. DOUBLE YIKES. And fret not. I’m only pretend crying / pouting for the photoshoot.
1. The things you touch – I don’t do well with perfumes of any kind, dust, raw chicken and nickel touching my skin.
2. The things you eat – I’m sensitive to wheat, dairy, beef, sugar and sometimes eggs**.
3. The things you breath – Again, I’m sensitive to perfumes of any kind.
4. The things that live inside of you – there are trillions of organisms that live in the body, especially the digestive tract. In fact – the microbes out number our human cells about 3:1. Sometimes the bad guys can out number the good guys in the gut. This is especially true after antibiotics (remember my childhood?) When this happens the immune function goes down, inflammation goes up. In my case, and possibly yours, eczema can result.
5. The things you’re sad about – In Chinese medicine the skin is an extension of both the lungs and the large intestine organs. What fascinates me about this ancient philosophy is that each organ system governs a specific emotion. In this case, the lungs, large intestine and skin are all related to grief. When this emotion is not properly processed, the skin health can decline. I would love for you to check out this amazing patient story here that beautifully illustrates how powerful these emotions really are.
6. The things you’re not eliminating – Because of the connection to the lungs and the large intestines, the skin is also a way to release toxins. If you’re not pooing regularly the body can use the skin as an emergency escape hatch.
Enough about you, back to me.
Only because I want to give you a real live example of how interrelated and synergistic these things can be.
This is my classic skin pattern:
I touch dust. Say if I were spring or fall cleaning. And I touch dust.
I get a rash.
I swear to never touch dust again.
Despite avoiding dust, the rash persists.
That is until I remove eggs from my diet for about 3 months.
**Normally I’m not sensitive to eggs. Except when I’ve touched dust. It took me about 2 years to figure this out with trial and error. Like I say. Skin is tricky. So I remove the eggs, the rash slowly goes away, and that’s that (as long as I don’t touch dust again).
My current rash was definitely dust induced. However, it is not following the typical egg removal pattern.
Geesh! Just when I thought I had it figured out, my body throws me a curveball. To be honest, I’m not frustrated, more curious. what is the lesson this time?
So as I go through the above list:
1. I’m being uber careful about what I touch. I realized I switched not one but FOUR body, clothing and home care products this fall. I’ve gone back to all those that I know work for me.
2. I’ve cut down on my egg intake, but as I mentioned it’s not following the same pattern this time. I do not eat wheat or dairy.
3. Like I say I’ve switched back to everything I used to use at home. However I do think there is a link between my skin and my breathing.
4. I’ve upped my probiotic intake. I’ve been tested at the clinic where I work and my bad microbes aren’t acting up or out.
5. Things are pretty good these days. I’m not CONSCIOUSLY aware of any grief that needs to be processed. There might be something lying beneath the surface (something under my skin?) of which I’m not aware. Sounds like it’s time for me to have some Brain-Based Transformation Coaching.
6. I’m a super pooper. Seriously. Too much? Anyhoo, this is not an issue for me. But I think the release aspect relates not to the large intestines, but the lungs.
Let me explain my theory. I have two really exciting things that are happening with in the week – one is a trip to Europe! There is a ton of stuff to do before I go, and I’m finding I’m not breathing. Deeply.
At all.
And I haven’t been since… oh…when my current rash started. Hmmm…
My lungs are not able to do their job to release what they need to release. And since my skin is connected to my lungs, it is trying to pick up the slack.
I’ll continue to avoid dust. But time for a new strategy.
Remember how effective the simple addition of water was for me years ago? I have a feeling the breathing will be equally effective. I’ll keep you posted about how it all goes.
(For completeness: I’m also applying an ointment made by a local herb farm that contains comfrey, zinc, aloe and chickweed. I’m taking adequate fish oil, vitamin D and avoiding sugar. The one thing I’m NOT doing is breathing. Now that it’s on the to-do list, it’s sure to get done.)
Here’s to your deep breathin’, jivin’ Health and thrivin’ Life,
Dr. Tonia
P.S. I’d love to hear your aha’s from this article. Anything surprise you? Any questions?
