8 Products For Healing Eczema After Quitting Steroid Creams! #TSW

Dear friends – after my post about my #skin healing up from intense #eczema after withdrawing from the strongest #steroid creams available (clobetasol propionate ointment), I received numerous inquiries from people about the products/supplements/practices I used during this process that helped me the most. After probably 200+ hours of research (I lost track, but I would research for hours, daily, for months on end) during the most intense period of physical and emotional suffering I’ve ever experienced, I’ve narrowed down the list to products I think ACTUALLY helped during this process. I saw dermatologists, homeopaths, and naturopaths, and I tried so many things (and spent a ton of money trying out so many expensive supplements and seeing some of the country’s best specialists either in person or over skype…I’m guessing I spent $5000-$10,000 during this process) and most didn’t work. I completely understand that everyone’s body is so different, but hopefully this list will give you a good starting point to help ease your suffering if you’re going through something similar. This condition is commonly referred to as #TopicalSteroidWithdrawal or #TSW.
 
Practices/Products/Supplements

1. Try to shower once every other day, or every 3 days. You can use a washcloth on the off-days to maintain good hygiene, but exposing all of your skin to water (which has a drying effect) only further exacerbated my eczema and prolonged the healing.  I switched to Free and Clear Shampoo: http://amzn.to/2nOWMPJ. I also use this as a body wash. Every since I switched to this shampoo, I have never had any scalp itching or dandruff which I had on and off throughout my life.

 

1. Minera Dead Sea Salt Baths – here’s a link to the salts: http://amzn.to/2oNOfBy . I recommend buying the 20 lb. bag to start (I bought a 2lb bag at first to try it, and it ran out after 2 or 3 baths). I put 3-4 cups in a warm full bath (try 2 cups in a half bath if you have a child wanting to try it) and stir it around until it dissolves. 1 cup isn’t enough to make a difference. I switched to bathing since I couldn’t shower during the first few months – it hurt too much. Your skin is all broken, on fire, and peeling. The dead sea is known for its healing properties. NUMEROUS people with psoriasis and eczema swear by these salts, and they greatly alleviated the itch for me. Most often I would not rinse off after the bath – just pat dry and put some moisturizer on afterwards before the skin completely dries. However, as my skin has healed, if I ever experience a minor flare, I will take a warm dead sea salt bath, then shower off, progressing from warm water to ice-cold water. I try to stay in the ice-cold water as long as I can bear. Even though it’s unpleasant, I feel amazing afterwards (there has been a lot of research on how cold showers can help your lymph system). I still moisturize after doing this, as the salts can have a drying effect on the skin, even though they greatly alleviate the itch.

 

1. Vitamin B12 cream - http://amzn.to/2oU0vxj . I searched high and low for a moisturizer that didn’t make my skin itch worse. I spent hundreds of dollars trying basic ones, as well as fancy ones. I tried all sorts of oils – coconut, avocado, olive, jojoba, etc. None of them helps my skin like this cream does. Dry skin is harder to heal. BUT, if your moisturizer makes you itch more, you will end up doing more damage to your skin which also prevents healing. Make sure to put this on right after you pat dry after you bathe or shower before your skin completely dries for maximum effect.

 

1. All Free and Clear Laundry Detergent - http://amzn.to/2oTXj4B . I’ve read a lot of mixed reviews about this, but this is the only laundry detergent (including the all-natural ones) that didn’t make my skin go crazy. Definitely avoid Tide or Downy or anything with strong fragrance, as these are a huge aggravator for eczema. Also, I don't use Fabric Softener sheets, but if you use them, I recommend Bounce Free: http://amzn.to/2rIaV7j

 

1. Sudocrem Healing Cream- http://amzn.to/2oq5nue (occasionally Amazon stops carrying this, then will restock it...you might have to find it on another site). This product did not work for me, but it has worked extremely well for my nephew and his eczema. He takes a Dead Sea Salt Bath, then uses baby lotion, then slathers this on top of the lotion, and my brother has said it has healed his son’s skin (note: he never used steroid creams, so this may be why he healed so quickly). This cream is on a lot of eczema forums, especially for those who suffer with TSW. It is very inexpensive – about $10 – and is packed with zinc which is very good for those with eczema.

 

1. Calcium D-Glucarate - http://amzn.to/2nGMAxL . I read that this helps to eliminate excess steroid hormones and toxins in the body, and thought I’d give it a try. I feel like out of the 50 or so supplements I tried, this was one that actually helped a lot! This is a high-quality brand of this supplement, and has received really good reviews across the board. A very respected naturopath that I consulted with over skype (very expensive sessions, but brilliant guy…Dr. John Thomas) loved this brand, and I’m glad I tried it.

 

1. L-glutamine - http://amzn.to/2nGIZzC . This is very helpful in healing the gut, which in turns helps eczema. I don’t know if it will speed up the #TSW process dramatically, but I tried it nonetheless and felt like it helped. It is a very inexpensive supplement. It is tasteless. When I was at my worst stage, I made homemade bone broth in a slow cooker and mixed a tablespoon of this into the broth. You can google “homemade bone broth” and many different recipes will show up. Whichever recipe you choose, I would highly recommend that you make it in a slow cooker or CrockPot for 24 hours on low, not 8 hours like some of them recommend. The longer cook time allows all of the marrow to cook into the broth. It’s one of the healthiest foods for healing the gut, and I find it to be quite delicious. You can also make soups out of it by adding veggies and/or meat. (You can also use this for weight loss...it is very filling and has a ton of protein in it!). I generally like to pour it into a container and let it cool in the fridge overnight - a layer of white, hardened residue will form at the top. I crack it an take it out, and the broth is much more palatable. Without doing this, it can taste like you're drinking straight grease.

 

1. Bob’s Red Mill Baking Soda - http://amzn.to/2qoeLih. I highly recommend using a pure brand of baking soda like Bob’s Red Mill, and not the cheaper Arm and Hammer or generic brand you find at the store (you can google why…I read a couple of articles on it and how some baking soda is refined…I didn’t want to risk it for only a few dollars in savings). Part of the battle with eczema can be balancing the pH of your body. Baking soda is extremely alkaline, and thus you must be careful when taking it, and do your own research before doing so. I read on an eczema forum that a girl’s eczema was GREATLY alleviated by taking up to 4 tablespoons of this per day. I never dared take that much, as a new set of problems can arise if your body becomes too alkaline. However, each night before bed I would mix anywhere from 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of this into a glass of water, along with a tablespoon of L-glutamine. I definitely noticed a positive difference.

 
In addition to these supplements, I noticed that cutting out soda, eating healthier, and exercise in small amounts definitely helped speed up the process of healing. Also, try to regulate body temperature as much as possible. I liked to keep my house at 72 degrees Farenheit. Heat is a big trigger for my eczema. Even to this day, with my eczema pretty much gone (I’ll have occasional tiny spots that flare up) I still notice when I do heavy workouts and sweat a lot, or am outside in the sun for long periods of time and sweat a lot, that I will get very itchy until I cool back down. I avoided sweating as much as possible when working out in the early stages, because sweat would cause my skin to burn unbearably. I mostly switched to a few sets of heavy weight exercises, rather than long cardio sessions. Try to cut out as much sugar as possible without going crazy, as sugar can feed yeast in the body which can lead to more itching. Sugar also makes the body more acidic, which can also lead to more itching. I actually lost 20 pounds in 3 months due to the extreme nature of the diet I tried (I went from 190 lbs to 170 lbs. At 170, I actually felt quite weak. I find that I feel best around 175-180 lbs). At night, I slept best when I used a breathable blanket that wouldn’t get too hot.
 
All of this sounds extremely nit-picky, and I realize that some of it is. However, these are the steps that actually worked for me. These 8 supplements and other things I’ve listed above really did help me through this horrible trial of quitting steroid creams and the backlash my body gave me when doing so. I haven’t listed the other 100+ things I tried that didn’t work, but don’t be afraid to deviate from this list. Do your own research, as everyone is different and reacts differently to certain foods and supplements. It is my sincere hope that something, even one thing, in this article can be helpful to you, or anyone you know, who is struggling with eczema. People who don’t have eczema don’t understand this terrible condition, how it can be all-consuming and the only thing you think about when you’re in a flare-up. Going through this process has increased my self-awareness, taught me patience, and increased my gratitude to God and to my body for the gift of healing. I wish each of you success in your journey of #healing.
 
(note: I am not a medical professional, and this is not medical advice and should not be taken as such. I have not been paid by any of the makers of these products to write this article…it is solely educational and a documentation of my own personal experience…I hope it can help).