Chemical Free! - Stress...

So I was at the dermatologist for my annual skin check - we go yearly to check for possible skin cancer spots.  If something were to ever show up I want to catch it as soon as possible!  We got to talking about what I could do for my atopic dermatitis, aka dry skin, aka dandruff.  Then she made a profound statement...

Background...
I have pretty much always had skin issues.  I remember as a young child vacationing in Three Lakes, WI and getting this awful, itchy rash all over my torso!  It was so uncomfortable and happened every year that we went up there, which was every year!  In college my skin issues shifted away from my torso and to the inside of my upper arms.  Wearing short sleeves in the warmer/water ski season was unsightly!  Then after having my first child the skin issues spread to my upper legs.  My thighs, bottom and inside of upper arms were a mess and wearing shorts and short sleeves in the warmer weather was embarrassing!  To top it off, my scalp started flaking and my hands would crack and bleed all winter!  Skin issues all year round... 

Believe me when I say that I have tried a lot of things.  Yes, the steroid creams work, but I need to stay on them all the time and you can't when you are pregnant or breastfeeding.  I have since also realized that it is not good to put all those synthetic chemicals on your body.

I've gone through allergy testing and have talked to a dietitian.  I am allergic to a lot of things, but I have also been able to eliminate many of those allergens from my environment.  The dietitian didn't think that my plant-based diet was triggering my skin issues.

So what gives???

My dermatologist agreed that your whole body and all your systems are linked.  So yes, food or allergens that our bodies come into contact with could trigger skin issues.  Leading an overall healthy life by eliminating chemicals from the environment, eating right, exercising regularly and sleeping an appropriate number of hours each night may still leave you with skin issues!  

STRESS may be a major underlying factor to all sorts of ailments!  Everyone's body processes stress differently.  I had never made that connection!  I kept thinking that I could change my diet enough and that would provide me with relief.  Of course that got me thinking - maybe I need to de-stress more!

Implementation...

Using more Stress Away Essential Oil topically and diffusing that and other calming essential oil blends (see graphic above) may help me lower my stress levels too.  I should probably start putting some Stress Away in my water as it can be used as a dietary supplement too!  Since exercise is key in helping to release stress, I also need to focus on getting myself back into shape and taking care of myself.

Instead of turning to topical steroids, I'm going to continue searching for more holistic approaches to managing my atopic dermatitis.  The diffuser will be running more frequently in the rooms where I spend large chunks of time and I'm planning on heading to the local gym!  If nothing else, I'll be healthier, I'll feel better about myself and will be a less stressed mom.  Now the thought of THAT makes me sooo happy!!!

Do you have a favorite stress buster?  If so, please share!

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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.