This week’s guest blogger is health & lifestyle coach Camille Knowles – read her inspirational, empowering blog about eczema and her four key tips to taking back control.
By Camille Knowles:
About me
Hey guys, my name’s Camille Knowles and I am passionate about changing the lives of those living with eczema. Back in 2013, at the age of 21 I was hospitalised with the condition. I was offered anti-depressants and steroids to cope and supress my skin disease. That was not how I wanted to live my life. I can happily say I am now in control of my eczema. I am not on anti-depressants and I do not use steroids. I feel healthier at 26 than I did at 21 and eczema doesn’t hold me back in life anymore. I want you to experience that freedom too.
4 KEY PRINCIPLES
Food, Skincare, Stress management and Support are the four principles I live by. I don’t believe in miracle creams, or rigid diets. I believe in order to take control of your eczema you must be prepared to change your lifestyle. Trust me on this, it can be more fun than you ever imagined.
Food
“You are what you eat”. It is so important you listen to your body and figure out how you feel after eating certain foods. On my journey I realised dairy, refined sugar and gluten would lead to flare ups. I noticed eating a diet made up of fresh foods and less processed foods worked for me. I don’t feel restricted in any way. I still eat my own chocolate treats, make my own ice cream and cook up some creative meals. I am just aware of what foods work and what don’t now.
Skincare
Long gone are the days where I spent a fortune on the most expensive creams. I make my own multi-purpose cream and focus on using totally natural skincare products. If you are a beginner to natural products I highly recommend visiting the website www.lovelula.com . They have everything natural from haircare, body care and even makeup and nail polishes. Natural beauty is the way forward for me. (Not sponsored).
Stress management
In my experience, stress causes eczema and eczema causes stress. Stress can come from many things such as your career satisfaction, your environment (inside your home and even the weather), and lack of sleep and so on. It is so important to listen to your body and use relaxing techniques to calm yourself. Exercise helps me de-stress, I love yoga, netball, running and weight lifting. I also love a long walk in nature with the people I love, which brings me onto my final tip!
Supportive community
This is crucial. I remember when I was covered head to toe in the condition and didn’t want to tell any of my friends. I felt totally isolated, alone and like nobody understood the pain I was enduring. I am here to tell you, let your friends and family in, or let someone totally outside your circle in.
When you feel you are supported the condition no longer consumes you. If you are reading this, I am here to tell you, you are not alone, I know what you are going through and I know some days you just want to give up the fight with your skin, do not. Life will get easier. I believe you will be in control of your skin like I am.
Like to know more? Check out my blog…
I really hope you have enjoyed reading these tips and that they benefit you. If you are interested in reading more of what I have got to say, or would like to follow the food recipes I make, look out for my next blog on my own site.
For more information on the four key principles, you can visit my website at www.camilleknowles.co.uk
