Last month, this question came in my inbox:
Hi Renee,
I would like to try hard lotion for my hand eczema.
Does it hurt when applied to open skin?
Is there a specific formula you would recommend?
Thanks, Lydia
I gave Lydia my recommendations of Beesilk vs. Beesilk Jr. (the first for general skin care that can handle the rubbing, the latter for more delicate skin… plus I like to include my disclaimer that this won’t necessarily heal eczema but should relieve the symptoms….).
Ten days later, Lydia wrote:
“Renee, thank you so much! The Beesilk Junior & Beesilk hard lotion have made a total transformation in less than a week of use! The change is absolutely incredible! My cracks are nearly all healed.“
So I asked a few more questions and this (I put in bold below) clued me in to what I’ve read about eczema:
“I have been using Beesilk Junior am/pm and regular Beesilk throughout the day. I really prefer the regular. I like the extra beeswax; it feels like it lasts longer. I ate an ice cream cone & it’s all inflamed again, but at least it’s moisturized & not cracking!”
There’s more to eczema than a random, unexplainable skin condition. There’s a root cause, and sometimes it’s food related.
Meet Corrina:
I sought out a certified holistic health coach to give me her input on the causes of inflammation and it’s relation to eczema and acne. Corrina Rachel put together 10 tips that may help you deal with the plaguing eczema in your family:
Tip #1: Understand Inflammation
Inflammation is a reaction to something you are ingesting or applying topically to your skin. Eczema flare-ups and acne breakouts are immune system responses.
Tip #2: Topical creams may help but won’t solve the problem
Steroid creams, which are anti-inflammatory, act to suppress the response and give temporary relief to the reaction. Unfortunately, they don’t prevent the flare-up or fix the problem.
Tip #3: Use anti-inflammatory food ingredients on your skin!
Not only should you eat anti-inflammatory foods like coconut oil, cinnamon and honey, you can apply them topically to your skin.
Use topically:
- yogurt
- cucumbers
- avocados
- baking soda
- apple cider vinegar
Tip #4: Be extremely gentle with cleansing and exfoliating
You can use grapes or strawberries to naturally exfoliate your face.
Tip #5: Digestive issues can affect our skin and immune system
Psoriasis is an auto immune condition that appears externally on our skin, but has its root internally, in our immune system. Probiotics can help to improve your digestive health, which will improve the appearance of your skin.
Click here to download the PDF file with Corrina’s 10 Tips.
Tip #6: Get more sleep and manage your stress
Add something to your lifestyle that will help you reduce your stress levels. One area of stress we all face is the stress of driving to and from a destination. Buy an essential oil diffuser for your car and let the scent of lavender relax you as you drive.
Tip #7: Food allergies can cause inflammation
Common causes: dairy and gluten
Pay attention to other allergies (asthma, digestive tract issues, etc.) Have a blood panel done to test for allergies.
Tip #8: Eat an anti-inflammatory diet
Avoid highly processed foods and refined sugar. Replace with whole foods (seeds, legumes, leafy green vegetables, fruits).
Maybe it’s psoriasis you’re dealing with? Scroll down to read Karen’s story
Tip #9: Your eczema might be fungal
Try an anti-fungal remedy. Investigate the cause of the fungal break-out.
Tip #10: Your acne may be bacterial (that’s how acne got its name… it’s the name of the bacteria that causes it)
Avoid harsh, anti-bacterial soaps that will kill off the good bacteria. Instead, use natural anti-bacterial ingredients like coconut oil, tea tree oil or colloidal silver.
Corrina goes deep with these skin care tips and gives suggestions for each one. She produced a video to explain it, and I put together a cheat sheet that outlines each of her suggestions that you can try if you’re looking for a natural remedy for dealing with eczema.
Click here to download the PDF file with Corrina’s 10 Tips.
What if it’s Psoriasis?
Same applies. Try the above solutions.
Last month, Karen wrote me this:
I just have to write and say how absolutely thrilled and thankful I am to have tried your products.
I have suffered with psoriasis on my hands and feet for about 4 years. They were sooo rough and dry and would crack and split, even while I slept. Sometimes I had bandaids all over my hands to try and type etc at work and could barely walk for the cracks on my feet.
I have tried about 30 different creams. Most over the counter burn my skin. Some like Burt’s bees honey and shea body butter brought some relief. But I started using your bee Silk Junior and saw even better results. THEN I began to use your pure shea at night. Oh my!!! My hands and feet are almost totally healed and smooth.
I am thanking God!
This is one of the best things to happen for me in the past 4 years.Thank you so much!
Karen in PA
Karen was kind enough to send me a photo:
How did she do it?
Karen writes, “I am not sure of the root. I did have one consult with the dermatologist and prescribed cream. I have read extensively and feel sure I have the type that is primarily hands and feet.”
She went on to describe that while it started about 4 years ago, the past 2 years were the worst. Karen believes it was mostly stress-related, with her family having to deal with a number of changes and unexpected issues.
She resolved to let go of responsibilities that were not really hers, and to stop controlling what she couldn’t control. She cut out sugar, added more rest, lost 50 pounds, and picked up socially and spiritually. She still dealt with some psoriasis but she finally added our Shea Butter to her routine, and that made the final, dramatic difference.
In case you didn’t catch that, it was just the ONE ingredient, not a drug, that she tried first. Shea butter.
One ingredient, plus plenty of hard work and changes in lifestyle… equals getting your skin back.
Got mild eczema? Try Beesilk.