Dermatologist Sandra Lee’s eczema journey and treatment tips

It’s always nice to know that you’re not alone when you’re struggling with stress, hair loss, and skin conditions like eczema. In fact, the National Eczema Association reports for those who suffer from eczema Over 31 million Americans suffer from itchy skin. A familiar face among those affected is the dermatologist Sandra Lee, MDwhich is also known as Dr. Pimple Popper from her beloved TV show and her huge fan base on social media. Dr. Lee works with a pharmaceutical company Incyte at an eczema awareness program called Moments of clarity Here, those who struggle with eczema share their experiences and what they’ve done to find relief. First for women talked to Dr. Lee discussed how eczema has affected her life and career, and shared tips and home remedies for eczema that will come in handy during flare-ups.

Dermatologist Sandra Lee’s experiences with eczema

“I have neurodermatitis [AD] And that’s something I’ve been concerned with my whole life, actually since I was a child,” says Dr. Lee. But during her medical studies she experienced a flare-up of eczema, which she still remembers very well. For some reason she had moved from the West Coast to the East Coast and hadn’t yet fully adjusted to the change in weather, but was feeling the cold that came with the changing seasons. While studying for a test in her dorm room, she grabbed a dusty space heater and turned it on.

“I held it right in front of my face and it blew at me and I just felt this eczema breakout and it was driving me crazy. That was a really, really scary moment because you just think, ‘Oh my God, how bad is this going to be?’ Am I going to have to go to the hospital? Do I need to seek treatment for this? And what will I look like tomorrow?’” shares Dr. Lee with. “And ‘will this itching and discomfort stop?’ I had a test the next day and something like that can really throw you off, and it’s scary to have a case like that.”

Since her time in medical school, Dr. Lee struggled with many more flare-ups and learned how best to avoid them. She says she does her best to avoid eczema triggers every day (read more below). Dr. Lee shares the same story with her “Moments of Clarity” video, which you can watch hereor watch a snippet in her reel below.

How eczema affects Dr. Lee’s career as a dermatologist

“I do not believe that [having eczema] That’s what motivated me to go into dermatology more than anything, but it’s definitely made me a better dermatologist and really empowered me to connect with my patients,” says Dr. Lee. “I always feel like I have a special connection to people with eczema because I make sure to tell them that I have it too. I can see them softening up pretty immediately because they see that I understand, because a lot of eczema struggles with not only the physical but also the mental toll it takes on you.”

She continues: “I am really proud to be partnering with Incyte for this Moments of Clarity program. I feel very lucky to be a part of it because it tells stories that will really resonate with other people with the same illness and make them feel like they are not alone.”

Dr. Lee’s tips and tricks for dealing with eczema

Here are some pointers that Dr. Lee suggests and which can help with eczema flare-ups.

Meet with a dermatologist to treat the eczema

When treating eczema, first and foremost, consulting a dermatologist is of utmost importance. A dermatologist will assess your skin and help you create a treatment plan. “There are definitely things we can prescribe that aren’t available over the counter that can help you,” says Dr. Lee. “And even if that’s not the case, there is advice we can give you that you may not know can be very helpful to you.” (More on this below, where Dr. Lee has more Tips and home remedies for eczema.)

Typically, dermatologists prescribe a steroid cream/ointment when treating eczema, or there are newer steroid-free options such as: Opzulera. There is evidence about long-term use of steroids Side effects such as skin thinning, reactions when stopping use and more. Therefore, it is best to see a dermatologist to find the best treatment for you, whether it is a prescription or an over-the-counter option.

Learn what your eczema triggers are

It may help to be aware of some common eczema triggers, such as: B. Products with fragrances, certain substances and stress.

Although we love smelling good and using scented products, it’s best to avoid fragrances when treating eczema. Because Dr. Lee says that not only can fragrances be irritating, but they can actually dry out the skin and cause inflammation and itching. And aside from just beauty products, it’s also a good idea to avoid scented detergents or scented extras that stay on the skin.

Another eczema trigger is wool, which Dr. Lee himself keeps his distance. The coarse fibers that make up wool can rub against the skin and cause irritation. In addition, the warm fabric can easily cause you to feel hot or overheat, which can cause itching of the skin. In addition, some people may even develop a wool allergy.

Stress is another cause of eczema and getting it under control is beneficial. “Stress makes a lot of things worse, not just our skin, but in my world it can definitely make a lot of conditions worse, including eczema,” says Dr. Lee. She goes on to say that the stress may make you more likely to pick and/or scratch your skin. “I’ve learned through my career as a dermatologist that it’s not just about making people feel better, but about giving people a sense of control so that they have control over their skin,” she says.

“So knowing that you have things that can help minimize a breakout or exacerbation of any type of skin condition gives you a lot more peace of mind, and that’s really important.” Dr. Lee adds: “I’m trying to give some of that control back to people and that will help minimize stress and hopefully help your skin condition improve too.”

Be careful about touching your face and what you expose your skin to

A very common area where eczema occurs is, surprisingly, above the upper eyelids. Dr. Lee says this is because facial skin is thinner than body skin, making it much more sensitive. “What’s interesting is that sometimes the eyes think they’re reacting to something they put on their eyes, but one of the most common things that this area reacts to more than anything else might be in the environment.” And one of the most common Things are actually something you touch, like money, and photocopying or even nail enhancements like getting acrylic nails can have devastating effects on the skin.”

The skin on our hands is thicker and may not react to these things. However, because we constantly touch our face and eye area throughout the day, this more sensitive skin can react much more quickly to irritants. So if you notice flare-ups in areas you haven’t noticed in the past, think about what skin you come into contact with and limit touching your face and eyes as much as possible.

Simple home remedies for eczema recommended by Dr. lee

Keep scrolling to see a few simple things you can do at home to combat or relieve eczema flare-ups.

1. Home remedies for neurodermatitis: Shower shorter and not too hot

While a hot shower can feel good, especially as the weather outside gets cooler, spending time in water that’s too warm can trigger eczema. When showering, it’s best to stick to warm to lukewarm water if you can tolerate it. If you prefer a hot shower, Dr. Lee to take shorter showers to prevent itching.

2. Home Remedies for Eczema: Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize

It is important to moisturize the skin in general, but especially after showering, emphasizes Dr. Lee. “If you take a shower and are wet right after, you might think that wet means you’re hydrated. “Well, when you get out of the shower, the water evaporates from your skin and it sucks out all the moisture,” explains Dr. Lee. “So this is the most important time to apply moisturizer because it helps lock in water in the skin.”

“I advise people to use creams in the winter when it is drier,” says Dr. Lee. Why? “Creams are oil-based, whereas lotions are water-based.” This is important because creams do not evaporate as quickly as lotions and the skin stays hydrated for longer. She also recommends applying petroleum jelly to the affected areas to keep them moist and help retain moisture in the skin, which also helps maintain and strengthen the skin barrier.

3. Home remedies for eczema: Use a cold steam humidifier

Maintaining humidity in your home during the cold, drier winter months is another key to treating eczema. Dr. Lee recommends using a cold air humidifier to add moisture back into the air when indoors are dry and hot. And if you choose a cold steam device, it can be much gentler on the skin and even further offset the dryness of a space heater. One to try is Hey Dewy Wellness Humidifier.