In the summer of 2021, I ended up in the hospital emergency room for dyshidrotic eczema. I had a heat blister that turned into a foot infection a week later.
During my visit, the doctor confirmed my dyshidrotic eczema symptoms… and what I already knew and had researched on my own in 2020 when I first experienced the condition.
With sensitive and thirsty summer skin that many of us have felt, the fiery summer effects of global warming are intensifying.
Today in fall, it’s cooler and gratefully we did see an in-between this year with some colorful fiery leaves 🍁
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Dyshidrotic Eczema
But, anything at any time like air could make the dyshidrotic eczema situation worse. And being smart, not eating too much sugar and eating some organic foods, help offset some causes and effects.
In my world, I’m known to consistently eat diverse from the rainbow 🌈, so I ruled out any one food or even diet as a likely cause. In case you didn’t already know, I have an Ayurvedic balanced food approach coupled with sustainable anti-inflammatory, gluten, and non-gluten foods. Whole wheat is good in my book.
But I’m also sensitive to other people’s food allergies having worked closely in catering foods and party planning management for a decade or so.
It’s individual. And in my case, if it were a gut issue, it wouldn’t be just hot weather and summers. But for some people, it is about the gut.
And like those sensitivities, I’m also careful not to tip the scales and exacerbate inflammation with foods high in refined sugar or overdo on excessive gluten flour.
Funny that I love baking, right? 👩🍳
I like to also fold in gluten-free flours like oat or millet flours (it’s not just to feed birds) as it makes me feel better.
…plus, s spice is everything nice and honey is the best jam. That would make good song lyrics 🎶
Those types of foods restore the balance of my Pitta (and please my Vata).
It’s good to check in to your imbalances once in a while and see what they are as the body gives so many outward hints and signs. You can also take the Body Balance Quiz to learn more and gain insight.
And when you operate in balance year-round, then you really notice when something is “off,” even if it’s just ever-so-slightly.
You can tell when your spice or candle preferences change. It’s actually not that odd, and those are a couple of fun Ayurvedic ways we can all test our bodies with.
We need more fun these days as our bodies can be tested in not-so-fun ways. And, to help offset this, leaning more into a whole, plant-based diet that’s Ayurvedic and anti-inflammatory gives us all an edge, as we do good for our body AND for the planet.
Our bodies rely on this livable earth where 10 degrees hotter is still doable compared to the 800-degree temps on Mercury. 🌎
And besides heat, dyshidrotic eczema flareups (like I had seen) have been linked to hypersensitivity to cobalt and nickel that are found all over the earth and in some of the healthiest plant-based foods such as cocoa, nuts, and even leafy greens.
Hmmm, what’s up with the healthy causing flare-ups?
Especially when some are your food faves like they are mine (..and actually, most foods are as I’m a foodie!)… but giving up those would be a challenge… for me anyway, and not a good idea for anyone in general…
They contain other anti-inflammatory pro-health benefits that offset their cons. Those foods are good sources of essential vitamins and minerals our bodies can use and need.
So, one adaptation would be to potentially reduce and eliminate consuming those foods as spot-on skin treatments when needed. And then leaning on the other great foods. And that’s why a diverse diet is sustainable. And Mother Earth is the Queen behind it all. 👑
I take health seriously (and you probably do too!). So I breathe the mantra that if you don’t have your health, then nothing else really matters.
So something as annoying but not life-threatening serious, like irritated dry skin, shouldn’t be brushed aside. Dyshidrotic eczema that I’ve learned to partner with is still a sign of inflammation. And while acute, it’s not that cute ☺️.
But it can’t always be rainbows and sunshine. And that helps us appreciate what we do have. And so we adapt.
Then you know better, and you do better. Thank you, Maya Angelou, for those encouraging word reminders.
And as part of doing better…
Coming up with a year-round prevention plan is a good idea if you or others you know are affected by outdoor allergens and changing nature patterns.
And especially during these climate-changing times when we need to evolve as a planet, so we have a better balanced, livable earth that you and I grew up in and want to keep thriving in.
(And these are some ways to better adapt with natural allergy solutions in case you have hypersensitivity to allergens.)
It’s also good to stay thankful for our bodies, and this week especially as we embrace Thanksgiving in America. We can think of all the things we DO have working for us that we can easily take for granted.
Our modern brain machinery like to focus on what we don’t have. But we can outsmart ourselves and be grateful we have a mind of our own 😉
And so we can stay in alignment with the person we want to be, that’s a better version than last year. Amen. That’s something else to be thankful for.
So I’ll leave you on that note. And, Happy Thanksgiving if you’re celebrating… and keep on keepin’ on! 🎉