5 QUESTIONS WITH: Alice from Healthy_Healer

Even though my blog is of course dedicated primarily to all things Topical Steroid Withdrawal, eczema is a condition that is very close to my heart and something I definitely want to address more on my blog in the future. For most of my life, I had eczema that ranged from mild to severe and it seems that most people who develop TSA tend to have had eczema first, hence our use of topical steroids (yay...). I think those who have never had eczema or any experience with it think of it as a condition where you get the odd non-invasive rash - and of course those who suffer with it will inevitably go on to receive the truly *brilliant* advice not to scratch, and the even more handy suggestion to try coconut oil (*dies inside*). My teenage years were filled with bleak trips to the hospital where I would be told by countless doctors to use strong steroids or choose from their vast collection of immunos in their arsenal as eczema was incurable. 

I would love to see the treatment of eczema more focused on the root cause rather than 'managing' the condition with a mask of immunosuppressants. With that being said, I could not be happier to welcome Alice to my blog. I came across her Instagram account only a few months ago and have been so inspired by her journey (and I know you will too)! So without further ado, let's hear from Alice:

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself and your skin journey.

I am 22 years old currently training to become a chartered surveyor. My skin journey started as I was going into my 2nd year of university, October 2013. As a child I had small patches of eczema on the backs of my legs and in the creases of my arms and did what doctors said and used steroid creams to 'get rid' of the eczema. In 2013 it started with swelling to the face and eyes almost like hives on my face. It started spreading quite quickly so I went to see a doctor and left with some creams. These didn't do much for me so every time I went back to the doctor I was prescribed a higher strength. Probably a month later the condition worsened and a panicked housemate persuaded me to go to A&E. I was prescribed a high dosage or oral steroids for 2 weeks. Of course after about 2 days my skin cleared, at the time it was a miracle!

2) When did you decide to heal yourself naturally through food and how long did it take for you to notice a difference?

I started researching eczema and whether there was a cure to it that didn't involve steroids. I read tons of articles on healing naturally and was instantly put off taking any more steroids, I didn't finish the 2 week course. I took a 'York food test' which showed that I was intolerant to about 15 foods. I instantly cut them out and saw a slight difference in my skin. A few weeks later I went to see a naturopathic nutritionist in Edinburgh by recommendation and was convinced from this moment on that food was the way to heal. I started a new diet which was high in omega 3 (salmon, nuts, seeds, mackerel etc) and very low in any type of sugar. I cut out dairy and limited the amount wheat and gluten I ate. I supplemented with probiotics and high strength omega 3. My skin started to clear up and I had a good spell of about 4 months - I lived a very normal life and had a very normal diet in those 4 months. 

I noticed that every winter my eczema started to flare up, so there was obviously something else that needed to change. I went to see a homeopath and was on homeopathic medicine for about 2 months, this actually made my skin much worse. Feeling helpless I went to see another nutritionist, and we did a series of blood and stool tests. Frustratingly this didn't show up anything that I didn't already know. I felt so low about myself and wondered if I was ever going to heal, maybe I was going to have to live like this for the rest of my life. I started an Instagram account @healthy_healer in January 2016 and connected with many other people that have healed their eczema naturally. Although I was frustrated that I hadn't already healed 2.5 years into my journey, I knew I was determined to heal through food. I came across an account called @medicalmedium and saw that people had healed their eczema through following his diet. I instantly bought the book and started the diet a few weeks later. It was a diet that consisted purely of raw fruit and veg with no grains. I was a little nervous about this as I was always told not to eat too much fruit! Within day 1 of this new diet my skin changed.

3) What do you eat now in a typical day and any tips for battling pesky junk food cravings?
I start every morning by juicing a bunch of celery and drinking it on an empty stomach. Then I make a smoothie bowl, maybe berries, avocado, spinach, spirulina, banana, cacao and coconut milk. 

Mid morning I will snack on some fresh fruit maybe. 

For lunch I always eat raw, maybe some guacamole and green salad 

Mid afternoon I snack on a piece of fruit sometimes with some almond butter. 

For dinner I tend to have something cooked, maybe roasted butternut salad with wilted spinach and plenty of fresh herbs. 

For dessert I will have a big bowl of fruit, sometimes I will make a special treat such as raw vegan millionaire shortbread or fudge.

To be honest I have never been a junk food eater so I don't get those cravings. But if I fancy chips I will finely slice then roast in olive oil potatoes and sweet potatoes. If I fancy a hot chocolate I make it with coconut milk and raw cacao, there are always ways around it.

4) Sum up your eczema journey in five words.
Challenging, grounding, frustrating, emotional, powerful.

5) What positives, if any, have you found from your whole eczema journey?

There are a WHOLE lot of positives! I have learnt how to look after my body and listen to what it wants and I know how to nourish it with fresh foods. I have also learnt how important a positive relaxed mind is... It really makes the healing process so much easier although I understand how hard this can be when you're having a horrible itchy flare up!! 

Thank you so much for taking part Alice xxx 

Her beautiful Instagram account that will make you want to do yoga in a bikini on the beach while balancing a smoothie bowl can be found here and my first 5 QUESTIONS WITH featuring the fabulous Henni from Rawsomesoul can be found here.

I have really loved working on these posts and opening my blog up to others within our ever-growing skin community and I hope you are enjoying them as more 5 QUESTIONS WITH are coming soon!

I hope you all have a lovely, comfortable, weekend <3
Cara xxxx

My Topical Steroid Withdrawal update – Month 39

It's been a quiet skin month and I've got no issues to talk about bar one. From Saturday 6th August 2016 I have had a little rash either side of my bikini line. I've had it before but it always goes quickly and it's so minor that I keep forgetting to mention it on here. It's come and gone all month and I think it is totally down to the hot weather we've had on and off in the UK and my English body not being prepared for it. As I hope you'll understand, I took no photos :) and as of today, it's practically gone!

There is something else TSW related I wanted to mention. On Sunday 28th August 2016, I met up with two TSW warriors (and fellow redheads - FABULOUS!); Steph & Jessica. I took one photo of us that was completely blurred unfortunately but we had a lovely picnic on the floor of the British Museum and chatted bed bath and beyond. It was a surreal experience to be able to talk to people who truly get it. My mum was there for me throughout my whole withdrawal and saw the horrors of TSW but to talk to others who are actually going through it, is something else entirely. There is apparently another London meetup happening in September so message me if you would like to come and I'll send you the details.

I hope wherever you are in the world that you're seeing improvements. Remember this process takes some people months, others years. We are all different.

Much love to you all <3
Cara xxxx

If you didn't see my blog post from last month, on Wednesday 17th August 2016 I hit one year since I suddenly recovered from TSA and it still feels like a beautiful dream. The blog post in question can be found here.