Orleatha Smith is a consummate professional. This Los Angeles-based dynamo holds a biology teaching certificate and a master’s degree in education, and she is a published author who has written a book on healthy eating. She is also a certified holistic lifestyle and wellness coach with expertise in e-commerce. During her pandemic days, she co-founded Sip Herbals, which makes a gluten-free, acid-free, caffeine-free coffee substitute that immediately became a bestseller.
All of this would be impressive in any situation. But now consider this: “I was born with eczema from head to toe and have been dealing with it for the past 45 years,” she says. “I actually spent an entire month at the Mayo Clinic because I had a skin infection when I was young.” Today she says: “I feel like a black woman whose eczema is almost gone,” she said. [with the exception of] “A dot on my foot.”
How does she prevent eczema? Shop with Smith for recommended products to help you manage your skin condition.
Smith always checks fiber content labels while shopping for clothes. “I wear 99% cotton,” she says. “We also take great care to ensure that the clothes we buy do not contain too much latex. This is because latex can irritate the skin. If you wear synthetic materials, wear cotton underwear (such as bike shorts or tank tops) to minimize contact. [between] Synthetics and my skin. “I make sure the fabrics I wear are breathable.”
“I only wash my clothes with fragrance-free detergent, and I always add baking soda to my laundry,” says Smith. “This is to ensure that your clothes are free of allergens and irritants from daily outdoor activities.”
Although she uses oil to lightly cleanse her face every day (in her case, it’s non-irritating), Smith knows that’s not for everyone. “I use Cetaphil products when I feel like my skin needs a deeper cleanse without stripping it,” she says.
Smith selects a variety of natural products that she likes to combine, as well as some commercial brands. “I use a mixture of shea butter and castor oil after my shower,” she says. “I like to use Aquaphor on rough patches. “I only use Cerave and I always carry that brand’s hand cream in my wallet.”
This is a tricky problem. Smith hasn’t yet found the perfect makeup for her skin. Still, through her trial and error, she finds a brand she likes and wears it little by little. “I feel like with Neutrogena products, I just cleanse them as soon as I get home and my body doesn’t feel hot,” she says.
“They resist pilling and don’t dry out my skin,” says Smith. “It also tends to keep me cool, which helps prevent itchiness from overheating.”
In addition to purchasing the right products, Smith uses soothing techniques to help relieve eczema. “Meditation, especially for stress, has helped me a lot in controlling my flare-ups,” she says. “I find that when I itch, I feel emotionally stressed or irritated. Calming your mind will help your skin calm down. It didn’t happen overnight, but meditation has helped me tremendously.”
Another top priority for her is a good night’s sleep. With this in mind, Smith decided to give up her traditional coffee. “It was like that at first. really “It’s hard,” she says. “I tried it cold turkey and the headache made me run back to the coffee. I tried the car and it didn’t cut it. “I tried a coffee substitute, and there was something about it that made me angry.” That’s what led her to create her own coffee substitute. “Within less than a week of gradually taking the replacement, I finally felt relief and was able to sleep better,” she says.
Take a close look at your own diet to see what foods and drinks are bothering you. Are you addicted to caffeine? Do you eat heavy foods at night that cause abdominal discomfort or gas? If so, cut it out and cut it out. You may even sleep better. And the deeper you sleep, the less likely you are to be distracted by itchiness.
When it comes to shopping, Smith is happy to share her favorite products, but she knows that eczema is very individual. “Recognize that each of us is a unique snowflake, and what works for one person may not work for you,” she says. “Keep looking for unique solutions.”
