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\n By Jamie Hickey, as told to Kara Mayer Robinson<\/i>
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I\u2019ve had atopic dermatitis (AD) as long as I can remember. The first time a doctor gave me a diagnosis was when I was 18 years old and in the Marines.<\/p>\n
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Having AD used to affect my mood a lot. When I was younger and more insecure, I wouldn\u2019t wear short sleeves if I was having a flare-up. I hardly ever wore shorts. At the pool, I wouldn\u2019t take my shirt off. I\u2019d even cancel plans with friends.<\/p>\n
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Now that I\u2019m in my 40s, I\u2019ve gotten past all that. I care less about what people think. Now, when I choose what to wear, it\u2019s based on how comfortable it is. My AD doesn\u2019t really change my mood unless I\u2019m having an episode that I can\u2019t get under control and the itching is nonstop.<\/p>\n
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It\u2019s taken some trial and error, but I\u2019ve gotten better at managing my daily life with AD.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n On a typical morning, I wake up and take a cool shower. I avoid hot showers because they increase inflammation, which makes my AD worse. Then I moisturize my body, focusing mostly on my arms and legs.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n I make sure to drink a gallon of water every day. I\u2019ve found that if I\u2019m dehydrated, I get dry skin, which can make my eczema flare up.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n When I leave the house, especially in the summer, I\u2019ll take a bottle of lotion, itch cream, hydrocortisone cream, and allergy pills with me. It\u2019s good to have them on hand in case I need them when I\u2019m out.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n I find that my AD gets worse in the spring. Pollen has a really negative effect on me and my AD, so springtime can sometimes feel miserable.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n My AD mostly shows up behind my knees and on my arms, especially my elbows. But in the past few years, it\u2019s started to show itself in my eyebrows. Heat, stress, and spring allergies cause it to flare more than other times of the year.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve tried a lot of treatments and remedies. I\u2019ve tried medical-grade lotions, oatmeal baths, oral allergy medication, anti-itch medication, warm baths, and mild soaps. I\u2019ve even tried some late-night infomercial remedies, which never work.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n I found that what works best for me, besides changing my diet, is hydrocortisone steroid cream. It reduces the inflammation, which eases the itching and allows it to heal faster. I use the steroid creams when I get a flare-up, and then I apply it twice a day for a few days.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n When I\u2019m about to get a flare-up, it\u2019ll start to itch, and then my skin will become red and inflamed. I\u2019ll put the steroid cream on and wait to see how bad it gets. If it doesn\u2019t go away after 7 days, I\u2019ll have to see my dermatologist to get a stronger ointment.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n I owe a lot to changes I made to my diet. When I was in my late 20s, a friend and I made a bet to see who could lose the most weight. I started eating healthier and stopped drinking alcohol, and I noticed that my flare-ups and everyday rashes decreased. So I made the connection and never went back to my old habits.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n I no longer drink alcohol. I don\u2019t eat processed or greasy foods. These changes have helped more than any other treatment has, especially not drinking alcohol and eating a whole-foods diet.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n (If you were wondering, I did win the bet.)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n I\u2019ve also stopped using things that cause flare-ups, and I\u2019ve found a few tricks that make it easier. I shaved my head years ago because it kept me cooler, and I figured out that certain types of shampoo and conditioner would make AD flare up on my eyebrows.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Now that I know what I\u2019m doing, my flare-ups are less severe. I think knowing your triggers and avoiding them makes a big difference. For me, it\u2019s heat, dehydration, greasy or processed foods, alcohol, and spring allergies.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n My biggest hurdle is being disciplined when it comes to my diet. If I have one day where I let myself eat greasy or processed foods, it can take me weeks to get my skin back to normal. I\u2019ve become much better at staying on track as I\u2019ve gotten older.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Stress is another hurdle. It definitely plays a role in my flare-ups. I\u2019ve had to learn how to manage my stress and anxiety to keep it under control. My doctor prescribed a mood stabilizer to control my anxiety problems. And as I\u2019ve gotten older, I\u2019ve learned to always do what\u2019s best for me and my family over anything else, which makes my worries and anxiety very low.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Every day is different, but it\u2019s been a learning experience. Now I can say I\u2019ve figured out how to live well with AD.<\/p>\n
\n <\/section>\nDaily Rituals<\/h2>\n
\n <\/section>\nTreatment: Trial and Error<\/h2>\n
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\n <\/section>\n<\/p><\/div>\nContinued<\/h4>\n
\n <\/section>\n<\/p><\/div>\nContinued<\/h4>\n
Getting Over the Hurdles<\/h2>\n
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