How Meditation Impacted My Journey With Eczema

Living with eczema and/or TSW (topical steroid withdrawal) oftentimes feels like trying to navigate in a storm that never seems to end. The ongoing itching, red and burning skin, lack of sleep all impact stress levels and make living feel like torture at times - physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Throughout my journey with skin and chronic health conditions, I’ve tried everything from topical steroids to all sorts of different diets, but nothing did much, and if anything, many of it made my skin even worse. It wasn’t until I discovered and truly started meditation, in addition to therapy and herbal support, that I began to experience a profound shift, not just in my skin, but in my entire life in general.

How has my eczema progressed since childhood?

Growing up, I even remember as a young kid how the red, scaly patches on my arms and legs made me self-conscious and caused a deep sense of shame within me. As I grew older and my skin and health worsened, it affected larger areas of my body and as time went by, none of the treatments worked at all. I had lost all hope and at many points, didn’t think I could even continue living the way that I was, as it just felt like a constant, never-ending cycle of suffering.

Why did I start practicing meditation?

A few years ago, I learned about meditation and mindfulness, and it was suggested I try it. I was definitely skeptical at first. How could sitting still and just doing nothing possibly help my skin? But desperation has a way of opening your mind, so I gave it a shot eventually. Though, it did take a while to make a concrete habit out of it. I started with just five minutes a day, using guided meditation apps to help me. (My favorite is InSight – which has a free version with tons of great stuff!)

How did I get through the discomfort during a flare?

At first, it was really difficult to meditate. My skin made it hard to focus on my breath or anything else, especially during more intense flare ups, when I was extremely itchy and uncomfortable. So. it took some time. I had to go back and keep trying it over and over again. It was sort of a process of trial and error. Sometimes, I would give up for a longer period of time, then decide to give it a shot again. Eventually as I continued doing that and getting back to it, not wanting to give up, I was able to make it into a daily habit, and to this day, it’s one of my “medicines” both for my skin as well as just my overall well-being.

What did I learn about the mind-body connection?

As I dove deeper into meditation, as well as both regular (CBT) therapy and hypnotherapy, I learned about the powerful connection between the mind and the body. Stress and anxiety are known and proven triggers for eczema flare-ups now, and meditation helps me manage the emotional stressors in a better way.

How did my eczema tie in?

Over time, I realized that my eczema wasn’t just a skin condition, and how truly connected it is to my emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. The more I practiced meditation, the more I became attuned to the signals my body was sending me. Over time, I’ve been learning how to recognize the signals my body send me, before they can manifest into a full blown flare up on my skin. Though I must admit, I still fall short, and that doesn’t mean I still don’t have flare ups to this day. But these days, they are much easier to deal with overall.

What impact has meditation had?

Meditation transformed my entire life, albeit in very subtle ways and over a pretty long period of time. I was able to cultivate more mindfulness and be more present in my every day. This helped me learn to listen to my body and honor its needs, including taking breaks and resting when I need to - without feeling guilty of not being “productive.”

My journey with my skin, as well as meditation, is still ongoing, and probably will continue to be. I still have flare-ups, but they are less frequent and less severe. When they do happen, I’m able to handle them much better mentally and emotionally. I turn to my self-care practices (meditation included) to find some peace and acceptance, and remind myself that healing is not linear, and that it is continuous journey.

So, while meditation isn’t a “magic cure,” it has helped me tremendously, and continues to. And on this journey with our skin and how difficult it gets, I’m grateful for anything that provides some calm and relief.