Eczema + Me: Update 2019

Sunday, April 28, 2019
Way back in 2013 which seems like a lifetime ago, I wrote a post titled 'Eczema and Me' which was all about the products I was using at that time for my eczema including Protopic which is the only product out of everything I mentioned in that post which I'm still using. If you want the full background information on my eczema then check out my first post but today's update only features two points as together they've almost completely banished my eczema which back in 2013, I never thought would be possible.

I've had eczema for over ten years and initially it started on my eye lids as a basic dry rash of sorts but it slowly spread over my eyes, eyebrows, cheeks and then onto my hands about six or so years ago. I tried a gluten free diet for over a month, I tried so many prescription steroid creams and lots of drugstore sensitive moisturisers, most of which didn't help in the slightest.

The only product that has helped my skin consistently for the past ten years has been Hydrocortisone which I definitely recommend as it dramatically reduces eczema flareups but it is a steroid cream and over time it can thin the skin which is a side effect I have noticed as I have been using it on/off for ten years. Thankfully I don't need to use it anymore and if I do need a prescription eczema cream, I use Protopic which is a non-steroid cream and I'd highly recommend it as well.

Vegan Diet Is A Miracle? 
I have been vegan on/off for the past four years or so (you can see some of my recipes and veganuary posts, here) but since the start of 2019, I have switched to a fully vegan diet which unlike many non-vegan assumptions, it isn't difficult and it isn't restrictive. For the first month of 2019 I didn't notice any difference in my eczema and it was only after about two to three months that I noticed the difference.

I noticed the difference first on my hands which have had a constant patch of eczema on both for years. I haven't ever shown the eczema on my hands or face on my blog as it makes me feel awful about my appearance but just to give you an idea of my eczema: it leaves my skin red, very irritated, incredibly dry, tight, very flaky, puffy and inflamed. Now imagine that all over your eye lids, in your tea ducts, over both of your hands and you have an idea of what I've had to deal with for ten years.

I was incredibly happy to see the difference in my skin as eczema is such a horrendous skin condition, not just in the way it makes the skin look (it looks like burnt, inflamed skin most of the time on me) but it has such an emotional affect too as for the past ten years I've felt incredibly self conscious of how unusual my hands and face looked - it can make me feel so deeply upset.

My hands have been 100% eczema free for a month or two now which I never thought would happen and I'm over the moon about it; conversely it has made me a little more anxious as I'm hoping it doesn't come back and I think that's the reason the eczema over my eyes hasn't completely disappeared because I know that stress/anxiety triggers the eczema on my face.

I personally haven't changed anything else about my lifestyle, the products I'm using or anything else, other than switching to a fully vegan diet so that's my only explanation of why my eczema has completely disappeared from my hands and 70% from my face. To those who haven't had eczema, especially on your face, I can't explain how painful, itchy, uncomfortable and horrendous it can look/feel and I would have given up anything to get rid of my eczema so being vegan isn't a challenge or sacrifice as it's a cruelty free lifestyle and an eczema eliminating diet in one - I couldn't be happier. I wish my dermatologist (or any doctor I've visited about my eczema) had suggested a change of diet instead of being given steroid creams, as I could have been spared ten years of painful and thoroughly upsetting eczema.

La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume 
One product that has been helping when I've had a mini eczema flareup over my eyes and also when the skin around my nose has just been really flaky and gross from hayfever symptoms is La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume which I've had in my skincare stash for years but I rediscovered after a sort out a month or two ago. I'm so glad that I rediscovered it as it's become an essential product in my current skincare routine.

Whether I have a cold and my nose is all dry and sore or if I have a mini eczema flareup due to anxiety, this cream when applied in the evening has my skin looking and feeling SO much better the next day, it's very impressive. If you have dry skin, irritated, sore or eczema prone skin then I'd definitely recommend checking out this amazing product from la Roche Posay.

Do you have eczema? Have you tried Cicaplast from La Roche Posay? Have you tried a vegan diet?

26 comments

  1. I noticed a huge difference when I went vegan too!

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  2. I don't have eczema but my husband does and loves that LRP Cicaplast. It's very interesting about the effect of the vegan diet xx

    Beautylymin

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  3. I’ve seen so many people recommend Cicaplast for Eczema and really dry skin, but I’ve never tried it x

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  4. I absolutely adore cicaplast its honestly the best! its so good now that my whole family uses it haha everyone has their own tube :P

    Andrew James - theskincaresaviour.com

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  5. Cicaplast is amazing! I don't have eczema any more but definitely still suffer from dry, sometimes scaly skin, which can be a pain but nothing compared to the full-blown condition

    Jasmine xx

    Jasmine Talks Beauty

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  6. Oh wow that is incredible! Might need to pick some up for my son!

    Erin || MakeErinOver

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  7. My little girl has eczema. I hope she grows out of it because it looks so itchy and sore.

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  8. I've never had eczema thankfully but my boyfriend gets it bad in the summer. I might recommend this to him if his gets bad again this year x

    Jenny
    http://www.jennyinneverland.com

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  9. This was really interesting as my children both have eczema x

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  10. Whenever I cut out milk everything is so much better for me xx

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  11. I struggle so badly with eczema and a vegan diet has definitely helped me!

    Love, Amie ❤
    The Curvaceous Vegan

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  12. Cicaplast is so good, the Filorga and Avene options are great too! My aunt has eczema and really struggles sometimes.

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  13. I also think my vegan diet has helped my eczema. 🌸💜

    With love, Alisha Valerie x | www.alishavalerie.com

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  14. So glad your diet seems to have helped thats fab x

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  15. Wow it sounds like a vegan diet really helps! So glad you've found something that works for you xx

    Tiffany x www.foodandotherloves.co.uk

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  16. That's great to hear you've noticed some positive changes lovely! I swear by La Roche Posay, they're amazing.
    Chantelle x
    The Girl In The Tartan Scarf

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  17. I've heard the LRP cicaplast is meant to be really good - glad it seems to be improving for you. Have you tried SVR?x

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  18. I don't have eczema but I used to have chronically dry skin which improved a lot when I switched to a vegan diet. I love cicaplast too. It's a little miracle in a tube x

    Sophie
    www.glowsteady.co.uk

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  19. Its so interesting seeing what a vegan diet does to people. I'm not a vegan but I try to make sensible choices when I can
    Em x

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  20. Really random but when my Eczma flares up I use head n shoulders shampoo as bubble bath and it clears it up really well x

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  21. I'm so glad La Roche Posay has come to your rescue Heather!

    I do notice when I cut down on dairy - especially milk - my skin looks a lot better. I'm so glad you've found a diet and skincare product that works for you.

    - Laura | Makeupscholar.com

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  22. Mine is quite bad atm so I’m going to buy some of this after reading your post.

    https://littlemissmelanie.com/

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  23. That's amazing how a vegan diet helped. I really do believe you are what you eat. Choosing the right food helps me a lot for depression.

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  24. It's so interesting how your diet can affect this! x

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  25. Haven't tried this before - will be doing soon

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  26. I freaking love La Roche Posay, so good!

    www.upyourvlog.com

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