✨EMILY BOWEN NICHOLAS✨ AKA @EmilyBowensLife is the first SKIN STORY we are sharing for #EczemaAwarenessMonth
We hope that these stories help you connect and feel less alone through mutual understanding of the way in which our skin can make us feel.
NOW OVER TO EMILY ⬇️🥁
𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙀𝙘𝙯𝙚𝙢𝙖?
As a baby I had a bit of eczema and very dry skin when I was born due to my birth. However, growing up as a child and a teenager I did not have any eczema, but I did have very sensitive skin and was using products for sensitive skin most of my childhood. I noticed my skin would get a lot drier than any of my other siblings and I was applying moisturiser from quite a young age. At around 22/23 years old I started getting small eczema patches on the inside of my arms and in the other creases in my body, but these calmed down and disappeared quite easily with a bit of moisturiser over a couple of days. In March 2020 when I was 24 years old I had the worst flare of my life – I was covered head to toe in eczema out of nowhere.
𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 – something that you cried about at the time but laugh about now?
I found it really hard to look in the mirror when I was going through my 2 year severe eczema flare so we covered every mirror in the house. It used to make me cry seeing what my body was going through and I almost did not recognise myself so I preferred not to have to see it every time I walked into a room. Now, it does really make me laugh because even though I would never want to go through it again, I cannot imagine not going through it and there have been so many positives (which I know is hard to believe) from going through what I did. I feel like a completely different person, with a different outlook on a lot of things and I have a whole group of friends that I’ve made by going through this.
What accounts have helped you the most when it came to accepting your skin condition? 9. What would be your biggest tips for self-love/acceptance? I know a lot of people struggle with this…
Well obviously firstly Katie and Daisy are the GOATS and have helped me so much and been such amazing friends and support systems. Other accounts which have really helped me is @thebeautyofeczema and their wonderful owner @camilleknowles if you have not read her book I would highly recommend it, it really helped me in my lowest! I also have made some amazing friends through Instagram which is crazy, so I really would recommend finding a community whether it is through social media or not to be able to relate to, feel supported by and to share freely.
My biggest tip for self-love and acceptance is that having eczema is a part of you but it does not define you. Make sure you speak kindly to yourself, your body and your skin and see it as something which makes you, you.
I know you might find it strange, but I am actually glad now that I went through what I did and continue to because even though I wouldn’t wish the pain on anyone I feel that I am now the best version of myself and have a new love for my body and my skin and who I am on the inside.
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬?
I want people to know that you are not alone. I think with any skin condition, it can feel very isolating and you feel no one around you understands fully all the emotional and physical battles that come with having a skin condition like eczema. Finding a community through social media or creating a safe support system is the best thing you can do.
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪?
My skin has taught me to slow down and to be grateful. Before my big flare I was always doing everything, running from plan to plan and not always putting myself and my body first. I never took time to work out a skincare routine or moisturise every night or listen to my body and rest if I needed to. Having to literally stop and say no to most things for 2 years gave me so much time to understand what my body needs, knowing how to listen to my body and understanding when I need to put myself first. I try and have at least one day a week where I literally do nothing and just spend it with myself baking, cooking, going on a walk, sorting out any house activities or just sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea and some Netflix. It has also made me grateful for so much in my life, and learning how to see the good in everything even when you are in the worst place.
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗲𝗰𝘇𝗲𝗺𝗮 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀?
One of my biggest pieces of advice would be to keep a skin journal. This is something which I did every day in the morning. I used a diary which had a page per day and I would write which areas were flaring, which areas had improved, what I had eaten that day, any medication I was taking, what I had done that day, any changes worth mentioning and any other factors (e.g. time of the month). As well as this I would write three things I am grateful for that day, to make sure I was still finding positives on some of the darkest days. This journal meant I could spot any links between foods, triggers and my skin and it also meant I had a record of everything I could take to any dermatology appointments because it is hard to remember everything. My dermatologist really appreciated my journal and made it easier to see possible triggers and monitor my progress.
EDUCATION:
What’s the one thing you’d like people without eczema to know?
One thing I would like people without eczema to know is that it is not just a physical skin condition. There is a whole emotional/psychological side to having eczema and any skin condition, which is just as important and if not more important. There can be so many emotional factors of going through eczema; self-hate, low self-esteem, anxiety, withdrawal from people, fatigue, feeling down, anger, PTSD and trauma. Please make sure if you know anyone going through eczema you are there for them in both their physical and emotional needs.
What has your TRIAL & ERROR taught you? What are your top ingredients to avoid when it comes to flare-ups?
Trial and error has taught me so much about what my skin needs and wants and also what it likes and doesn’t like. I know my skin likes to be oiled after it has been wet and then in the evenings likes a thin moisturiser so it doesn’t get hot or sticky over the night which leads me to scratching and everyone will be so different. The top ingredients I avoid when it comes to flare ups is anything fragranced (my skin hates fragrance)!! I also try and go back to my ride or die products when I am flaring which I know work and almost back to basics – a good facial moisturiser, a good body moisturiser and a milky/emollient cream for when I shower/bathe.
HELP:
What are the top products that have helped your skin? Or even your all-time ride-or-die brand for sensitive skin…
My favourite products are Salcura dermaspray and bath milk, Trilogy very gentle cleansing cream and very gentle moisturising cream, Aveeno skin relief body oil spray and dermexa balm, Avene thermal spring water and soothing skin recovery cream and La Roche Possay soothing repairing balm. These are also my ride-or-die brands too I trust them all!!!
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY EMILY,
love always,
Katie
Itch N Bitch 