Hello and welcome back to the blog! For those that know me I’m glad you’re still reading, and for those that don’t, I’m a beauty guru – and I have an autoimmune disease. Living with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and trying to live my best extra life can be hard sometimes, and I know there are plenty of other women out there suffering in the same ways I am. That’s why I decided to start this blog; to share my tips and tricks with the internet and beyond.
Today I want to focus on one of the most elusive aspects of my beauty routine – skincare.
This is something that took me a lifetime to master and I still haven’t completely figured out (when your internal hormone regulator is off your skin tends to freak out randomly, so fun). But here are a few things I’ve learned about my skin, and a few products I use to offset the imbalances I face with an autoimmune disease:
1. I Have Dry Skin – Like, Really Dry Skin
In fact, a lot of women with Hashimoto’s do! It’s a typical symptom of the illness and can be super painful and uncomfortable. My biggest tip is to lather on the lotion any time you take a hot shower, and to make sure the lotion is scent-free and alcohol-free. Here’s my favorite brand: Aveeno Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream
2. Use a Dermatologically Proven Brand
This is especially true for my face. I can’t use brands like Neutrogena or Loreal that have a lot of alcohols and scented ingredients – these tend to dry out my skin faster and leave me prone to dry breakouts. Instead, I reach for brands proven by doctors for sensitive skin. These are usually scentless and have labels marketed towards “sensitive skin” or “dryness.” My two favorite brands for my face are CeraVe and Derma E:
3. Hyaluronic Acid is Bae
This brings me to my next tip – ingredients. My favorite ingredient for dry autoimmune skin is Hyaluronic Acid. Contrary to the name, this acid is actually moisturizing, and has really helped me restore my moisture barrier. That being said, everyone’s face is different, so an ingredient that works for one person may not work for everyone.
4. Don’t Exfoliate Every Day
I used to do this and couldn’t understand why I was breaking out – I kept my skin so clean! Then a good friend with Hashi’s informed me that exfoliating every day is actually very rough on your skin, and can create more damage and dryness- so save that exfoliant scrub for a once a week treat.
5. Rashes can be a Real Pain
Now this has been the worst one for me. With Hashimoto’s, I tend to get full facial rashes and all over body rashes – not pretty. I’ve found that the best way to deal with these is to treat your skin gently and really watch what you eat. Foods like gluten tend to flare my skin worse than others, so I eat a gluten-free diet. Also, make sure to always take pictures of your rashes to document changes with your doctor. Again, any dietary changes that work for one person may not work for others, so it’s imperative that you get to know your body so you can give it its best chance.
So, there you have it! A few odd skin symptoms I’ve had to deal with as an autoimmune person, and some tips and tricks to let the biggest organ in your body live its life to the fullest.
I’ll see you again next week,
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Written by | Ashley D. @Lapin_studios
Autoimmune & Beautiful
A weekly blog from an autoimmune beauty guru
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