I've suffered from eczema since I was a baby. As a child, my eczema was severe and very uncomfortable to deal with. As an adult, it has lessened in severity and sometimes disappears for months at a time. However, in the spring of 2018, my eczema made a reappearance, but this time more severe than it has ever been in my adult years. Usually, I've been able to manage at home with no problems, but this time it was so out of control, I visited a dermatologist for the first time in my life. I was prescribed topical steroids to apply to my problem areas (face, neck and ears).
After about a week of use and research on the long-term side effects of the steroids, I decided to ditch them and try some at-home remedies instead. Long story short, I have yet to return to the dermatologist for my eczema and my eczema flare-ups have lessened tremendously.
What Is Eczema?
According to the National Eczema Association, "Eczema is the name for a group of conditions that cause the skin to become red, itchy and inflamed. There are several types of eczema: atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, nummular eczema, seborrheic dermatitis and stasis dermatitis. Eczema is very common. And in many cases, it's also manageable... over 30 million Americans have some form of eczema."
Eczema Symptoms
Everyone doesn't experience eczema the same way. While some may experience mild itching every now and again, some may experience more severe ongoing symptoms that may interfere with their everyday lives. Some symptoms of eczema include:
- Dry, sensitive skin
- Inflammation
- Very bad uncontrollable itching
- Dark-colored patches of skin
- Rough, leathery, or scaly patches of skin
- Oozing or crusting on the skin
- Areas of swelling
Most dermatologists prescribe topical steroids to patients dealing with eczema. However, the long-term effects of topical steroids such as thinning skin are a cause of concern for many patients. If you suffer from eczema and want to find ways to naturally manage it at home without the use of steroids, here are 6 holistic remedies that you can try.
Eczema Remedies
1.Meditate and eliminate stress
GiphyBelieve it or not, your mind is powerful, especially when it comes to bodily functions and aliments. Stress is another known cause of eczema flare ups. Much like hives caused by stress, when you're already going crazy about the discomfort and itchiness that comes with eczema, stressing over it may cause the condition to worsen. When you're in an eczema-related rut, try calming your mind and taking your thoughts away from the situation at hand. If you're not familiar with meditation, you can try guided meditation apps to help you.
2.Hit the gym
Another great way to relax and relieve some stress is through exercise. And no, you don't have to do an intense 2-hour high-intensity interval training session to see results. Whether you're going for a light jog or participating in a beginner's yoga session, exercising can be a great way to get your mind off of eczema while improving your overall health.
3.Check your diet
GiphyMany people tend to forget that much like your heart, lungs, and stomach, your skin is an organ and what you put into your body does affect it. Though eczema hasn't been scientifically linked to diet, there are a few foods known to cause inflammation in the body. These include peanuts, milk, soy, wheat, eggs, and alcohol. Try eliminating these from your diet (even if it's for a short period of time) to lessen the inflammation on your skin due to eczema.
4.Clean up your laundry day
Even if you don't enjoy doing laundry, you must admit that the fresh scent of clean clothes is the one thing about laundry day that you genuinely look forward to. Unfortunately, all of those dyes, fragrances, and other added chemicals that we associate with the fresh scent of laundry are absolutely no good for your skin, especially if you are battling eczema. Instead, you need to be reaching for clean detergents that don't have any of those pesky chemicals that will further upset your skin.
5.Turn down the temperature of your shower water
GiphyWe all know how amazing a long hot shower at the beginning or the end of a long day is, but when you suffer from eczema, it's best that you shower in lukewarm water. Hot water (and cold water) tends to dry out the skin, while lukewarm water helps your skin retain moisture. When you already suffer from a condition like eczema, where your skin already tends to be dry and scaly, hot water will only agitate your skin more. If you opt to take baths while experiencing an eczema flare, try an oatmeal bath that can help soothe your skin (specifically the itchiness).
6.Transition to clean beauty products
Similar to what we said about your laundry detergent, the products that you put directly on your skin have a big impact on your eczema. Transitioning to clean beauty products that are free of dyes, added fragrances and other artificial ingredients that may be irritating your already inflamed skin can make a huge difference. Start by gradually incorporating natural and clean products into your skincare routine (face and body) until you find natural products that work for you and your eczema.
While eczema may be discomforting and maybe even frustrating, it's not impossible to take control of. Try these holistic remedies until you find one that makes living with eczema much easier.
Featured image by Getty Images
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The Black hair industry has definitely blossomed in the last decade with a wave of new stylists and salons popping up all over the place. As much as I love that for us, many of these stylists have become the subjects of viral TikTok and Instagram tirades because of their alleged questionable behavior and bizarre rules.
Excessive policies, strange fees, long wait times, poor performance, and the infamous “Hey boo” texts. Beauty is pain, they say… xoNecole got to the root of these issues with luxury hair extensionist Dee Michelle, who’s been in the hair game for 20 years and runs a seven-figure business - all while being a mom of four.
Antonio Livingston
“I started my business with my career in the hair industry [at] very, very young age when I was maybe like eight...So, over the years, I've just built a very successful seven-figure business very quickly just by offering high-end services and creating great experiences for my clients, many of whom are high-profile professionals,” she said. “I'm also a mother of four, including a set of triplets, which inspires me daily to show what's possible with my hard work and focus.”
Dee’s business has gone viral on social media because of what many call outrageous prices for her invisible K-Tip installs.
“When I developed my invisible K-tip extensions technique, I made sure that it wasn't just about the hair or the style, but about providing a high-end experience from start to finish. So, my clients just aren't paying for the extensions or just the style itself, but they're investing into my meticulous, seamless craft and premium hair sourced from the best suppliers…I've spent so many hours mastering my craft, creating this seamless method that gives my clients long-lasting natural results, and my pricing just reflects that - the value of my expertise and the exclusivity of the service.”
The K-tip specialist stands on business when it comes to catering to her clients and giving them an experience worth the cost.
“And it's just important for me to also say that my clients are high-profile individuals who value quality, their privacy, and their time. They want a service that fits into their lifestyle and their time. They want things that deliver perfection. And I deliver that every single time.”
I’m sure we’ve all seen the various TikTok rants about people’s nightmare experiences with stylists and uttered a silent “FELT!” We asked Dee her opinion on a few nightmare scenarios that beg the response, “please be so forreal."
On stylists charging extra to wash clients’ hair:
“I think they should just include it in the price, to be honest. Because I feel like when clients go to a stylist, they're expecting you to wash their hair. Personally, if I see that washing is extra, I just wouldn't go to the salon because it just shows a lack of professionalism, in my opinion, and a lack of experience.”
“I think they should just include it in the price, to be honest. Because I feel like when clients go to a stylist, they're expecting you to wash their hair. Personally, if I see that washing is extra, I just wouldn't go to the salon because it just shows a lack of professionalism, in my opinion, and a lack of experience.”
On ‘deposits’ that don’t go towards the cost of the service:
“I think that's kind of weird, too, for deposits to not be like a part of the service. I've seen people have booking fees and I just don't understand it, to be honest. I disagree with that kind of policy…By all means, people should do what works for them, but to me, it doesn't make sense. Why does somebody have to pay a fee just to book an appointment with you? I don't get it. It feels like exploitation.”
On stylists charging extra to style (straighten/curl) wigs, sew-ins etc., after installing:
“I don't get it. Clients come to us to get their hair done, to get it styled. So why is it extra for you to style it? If you're going to charge extra, just increase your price. I feel like it could be just a lack of confidence in those stylists, feeling like people won't pay a certain price for certain things, or just their lack of professionalism as well, because people are coming to us to get styled.”
On the infamous “Hey boo” text stylists send to clients when they need to cancel/reschedule:
“Professionalism in any industry, especially the beauty industry, is everything. So texting a client the, “Hey boo” is so unprofessional, and it's damaging to the client-stylist relationship. Clients book their appointments expecting a level of respect and care, especially when they're investing their time and money and a service. And I get it, emergencies happen, we're all humans. However, it should be done with a formal apology and a clear explanation.”
“Professionalism in any industry, especially the beauty industry, is everything. So texting a client the, “Hey boo” is so unprofessional, and it's damaging to the client-stylist relationship. Clients book their appointments expecting a level of respect and care, especially when they're investing their time and money and a service. And I get it, emergencies happen, we're all humans. However, it should be done with a formal apology and a clear explanation.”
We know all too well what kinds of things will keep us from ever gracing certain hairstylists’ chairs with our butts again. So, what should hairstylists do to provide a good service to their clients? What is good hairstylist etiquette?
“For one, being on time is an important rule for stylist etiquette. It's just not okay to require your clients to be on time, and you're not on time. Also, communication. Being able to communicate clearly, respectfully, and professionally, whether that's in person, via text, or on social media. Style is etiquette. Appearance matters. So just maintaining a clean, polished, and professional look. Clients respect you more whenever your appearance reflects your work. There's just so many things, but another thing I would say is active listening. So, being able to pay close attention to what your client wants and also clarifying any questions that they might have. Just to ensure that they feel heard and to minimize any misunderstandings.”
Dee also shared some red flags to look out for when considering a new stylist.
“Even me as a client, if I'm booking somebody and they have a long list of rules, I don't even book with them. That's, for one, just such a huge turn-off. Also, stylists who have inconsistent or unclear pricing, that's a red flag. People who change their rates too much without an explanation. Poor communication. So, if a stylist is responding very slow or responding unprofessionally, or giving vague answers to questions, that can make clients question whether or not they are respecting their time and their needs.
Another red flag - an inconsistent or low quality portfolio. And I feel like, I see this a lot with stylists stealing other people's work, and their portfolio on social media is just very inconsistent.”
We couldn’t let Dee go without getting the tea on what styles she predicts will trend in 2025.
“I feel like people are going back to natural-looking styles. So, a lot of people are ditching the wigs, the lace fronts, things like that. People are still wearing them, of course, but it is becoming more of a trend to embrace your natural hair and something that's not looking too fake. That’s one thing that we're going to be seeing a lot. I would say a lot of layers are coming back, heavy layers. Those are becoming really, really trendy. And people are leaning more towards platinum-colored hair. I've been seeing lots of like blondes coming out. Also, jet black is always going to be a trend. But I would say more like natural colors, but natural colors that are still making a statement.”
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Feature image by Antonio Livingston.
My bestie and I recently vacationed in Cancun and stayed at Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun. The resort was nothing short of stunning and our room gave the calm vibes we needed, especially after a long day of traveling. Our view from the room looked like a painting. The palm trees and crystal blue water provided the perfect backdrop for a nice getaway.
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There was a beach cabana available to us throughout our three day, four night stay as well as plenty of on-site activities and entertainment. Some of the activities offered were yoga, kayaking and biking. While I didn’t participate in the daily activities, I did enjoy the entertainment.
Our second night, the resort held a Mexican night, which included performances from a mariachi band and dancers. We enjoyed a three-course meal featuring chicken and lobster as the main course, and it was my favorite dish of the night.
We also partook in a variety of drinks and food from the on-site bars and restaurants like their French eatery Bordeaux and their hibachi spot at the Teppanyaki Table at Himitsu.
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For those looking for a little romance, the resort is currently offering their Where Love Is package, which includes a mimosa breakfast, a 25 minute couples massage, early check-in, late check-out, and a welcome gift.
One of the highlights from our stay was the spa. The spa had a lot of different services from massages to body scrubs and even a hair salon. It had a sauna, steam room, a pool, jacuzzi and even a cold plunge. What stood out to me the most was the aromatherapy used in each room and the calming sound of the water features throughout the space.
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This trip was the perfect way to start 2025 and recenter myself before jumping into new goals for the year.
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