Ashley Ann Lora doesn't remember life without eczema. The 33-year-old patient advocate, who has built a community for those living with the chronic skin condition, was diagnosed as a baby. As far back as she could remember, Lora dealt with an excruciating itch, frequent staph infections, and eczema's telltale scaly rashes that, at times, cover her entire body. "Growing up, I couldn't live without a tube of topical steroids or Aquaphor or Vaseline," she says—even if she was teased at school for having "greasy" skin because of the ointments. "If I left those at home, I would have a full-blown panic attack."
Lora is one of the more than 31 million Americans living with the painfully itchy, inflamed skin disease known as atopic dermatitis. She's also among the 60 percent of people with eczema who developed symptoms within their first year of life. While 80 percent of children outgrow the condition by age 8, the other 20 percent do not, and, like Lora, they live with eczema and its burdensome symptoms as adults.
Over the past three decades, Lora has learned a ton about eczema, including how to soothe the itch, prevent flares, and to mentally cope with the chronic condition. Here's what's worked for her.
Managing Triggers
As a child, Lora was under the care of her primary care physician, who only scratched the surface of her inflammatory skin disease. "I didn't even know the word triggers until way later in life when I researched eczema," she says. A trigger is a factor that can bring on a flare (worsening) of eczema symptoms, and over time Lora pinpointed hers as the environment, her emotions and certain foods. Avoiding or at least minimizing her triggers is one way Lora has been able to manage her eczema.
About eight years ago, Lora started doing "healing mindset practices" of meditating, journaling, and exercising. "I do these three things daily, and they bring me peace, love, and joy," she says. These grounding exercises help Lora to think beyond her skin. "Doing these practices consistently over time has supported me in managing my eczema, especially when I'm experiencing a flare-up."
Staying Prepared
When flares do erupt, Lora has an arsenal of tools at her disposal: Cold water, an antihistamine for an allergy-induced flare, or an over-the-counter moisturizer or ointment for soothing. "It's almost like a step-by-step process that I do to support me in calming the itch as soon as possible," she says. "Ice packs are my best friend." Even sucking on an ice cube delivers a cooling sensation that distracts from the burning itch.
Seeing a Dermatologist
When Lora started researching her condition, she learned about dermatologists—doctors who specialize in skin diseases like eczema. "I thought, 'Wow!' Why wasn't I referred to a dermatologist early on?" It wasn't until she was entering college that she finally saw one. "I wish I saw one sooner to see how it would've changed my experience and journey living with eczema."
Her current dermatologist suspects an underlying allergy is impacting her skin barrier, leading to eczema flares. There are seven types of eczema. The most common is atopic dermatitis. Lora also has contact dermatitis, which as its name implies causes rashes when skin comes in contact with an irritant or allergen. "That's been a huge trigger for me lately." So, her dermatologist suggested patch testing, which looks at 80 different types of allergens. "This will give me a better idea of my contact allergens so I can avoid them in products."
Calling on Community
"I definitely would not be where I am today without my community," says Lora, who has been holding online support groups for more than four years. "My community is why I became a patient advocate," she says. Talking to those who understand the symptoms and struggle and hearing what works for others is a game-changer, she says. "To have the words and the language to verbalize what you’re experiencing is super powerful, and community supports you with that."
Going with the Flow
Eczema can be unpredictable. "I have to go with the flow because there's so much I can't control at this point," says Lora. Her eczema has caused her to delay or even bail on plans, especially in her younger years, and she didn’t understand her condition as well. "I can only control how I respond to my eczema," she says. Still, one of the biggest downsides for her is the interruptions. "My day doesn't go as seamless as someone who doesn't have eczema," she says. Feeling an itch may mean a sudden trip to the bathroom to apply moisturizer. "I bring my creams with me everywhere I go." Many times, the creams are "just in case," but sometimes she has to pull them out and apply at an inconvenient time or location.
Connecting with Care
Finding a doctor who understands you, respects your decisions, and will co-create a plan with you is key, says Lora. and remember that not all treatments may be the right option. "I tell my community members that if something isn’t working, there is something else that will," she says. "There are so many options for us that we didn’t have growing up. Little by little, you’ll discover what works for you."
Krista Bennett DeMaio has nearly two decades of editorial experience. The former magazine-editor-turned-freelance writer regularly covers skincare, beauty, health, and lifestyle topics. Her work has appeared in national publications including Oprah, Shape, Parents, Cosmopolitan, Allure, and websites such as HealthCentral.com bhg.com, and prevention.com."
