Life dramatically changed for Kyla when she moved to a new city surrounded by cedar trees, and soon after, her eczema exploded all over her body.
Images: Kyla's skin before and after.
Doctors prescribed topical steroid creams and Kenalog shots, and after a few years on these treatments, Kyla's skin seemed to become dependent on them, unable to control a flare without their help. This prompted Kyla to stop using them altogether.
“Topical Steroid Withdrawal* has been some of the darkest times of my life. Some days it has been hard getting up in the morning.”
*Topical steroid withdrawal (TSW) can occur in some individuals when topical steroids are abruptly discontinued after a period of frequent, long-term use. Short-term use of topical steroids appears to be safe for most people, and is often an appropriate and necessary part of management in moderate to severe cases. However, as with many medications, prolonged use over months or years may be associated with side effects in some patients, and the literature suggests the likelihood and severity of these effects can increase with duration of use.
Kyla tried various topical treatments, but these only addressed the surface symptoms rather than the underlying issue. With her skin at its worst, she decided it was time to embark on a new journey: helping herself naturally from within. She began the Food Intolerance Diagnosis (FID) program from The Eczema Detox book.
Kyla recounts on journey on the FID Program:
“It isn't easy. But I was so ready to heal myself I kept at it. It's been almost 10 weeks now and I have introduced a lot of foods, and have pinpointed some big triggers for me.
I think a big thing to keep in mind on FID is that healing isn't linear. Take it week by week. If you're generally improving then you're doing the right thing. I would get so stressed about my skin from day to day (one day being good, next day being bad, etc) but then I'd look at my skin from two weeks ago (pictures are important) and I'd realize that I was healing, bit by bit!
I have realized my main triggers have been gluten, dairy, avocado, eggs, tomatoes, and limes/lemons. It's freeing knowing what to avoid to help me heal. I think a lot of eczema sufferers think our body is our enemy. It brings us so much discomfort, so I understand that. But through FID and this healing journey I'm making peace with myself.”
To support her journey Kyla took Skin Friend AM and PM daily.
“The AM/PM supplements have been immensely helpful in my healing journey. Night one when I took PM I noticed I slept better. I've noticed my skin has been softer, less red and i've only been taking it about two weeks now.”
Kyla, like many warriors finds that stress is a significant trigger for her, so she has implemented lots of yoga and plenty of meditation into her routine. In addition, Kyla made some significant lifestyle changes so she can spend more time focusing on her health and healing.
"It has given me time to do things for myself. I hike, walk my dog, cook yummy food, and look for restaurants that will work with my healing journey.”
"My skin issues were obviously telling me something, and in the past I'd try and cover it up with creams and steroids, but now I'm ready to be my own 'skin friend' and really listen to what is going on in my body."
We are so thankful that Kyla has shared her amazing journey with us. If you suffer from eczema and are looking to heal, check out the Skin Friend website here.
Article by nutritionist Bonnie.
