When I was a kid, I had pretty severe eczema in all my creases (elbows, knees, knuckles...) and my mom was reminding me about how she used to use Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser to wash and moisturize me.
My shower has kind of been a torture chamber recently where I just stand, moaning and groaning while I scratch every inch raw. "This is how we cured your skin before" she kept repeating as she looked at my skin shaking her head. I kept telling her this is different than before! I just need time but all her tsking was getting in my head. Finally, my mom's nagging got the best of me and I said fine! I'll try it!
Took my last shower at around 4:30pm on Thursday and since then, I've been coating my skin with Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser every 8 or so hours and gently scratching the dead skin off. I use an old t-shirt to wipe off the excess with all the dead skin. Then I follow that with another coat of the cleanser, let that sink in and then cover it with Cetaphil advanced lotion to keep my skin kinda moist.
I am coming on 48 hours of not showering and so far so OK. My skin is still burning at this point but at least I am avoiding the skin moisture stripping shower.
I don't really know if there is a benefit to not taking showers but perhaps maintaining the moisture level in my skin will help it heal faster? Here's hoping. My skin is still red as ever as evidenced below but it feels less dry and scratchy at this point...
Have any of you all tried not showering and did it hurt/help?
Ummm, I have only taken 2 showers in the past 4 months of withdrawal. I take a dead sea salt bath at least 5 days a week. They are painful and dreadful but I find them necessary and helpful. I am actually in more pain and itch more if I skip a day or two. Showers are dreadful because the water pressure on the inflamed skin is too much to bear. I also find I cannot bathe anywhere with city or town water - I need to be home with our well water. The city water burns my skin like there is no tomorrow! I think it is from the chlorine and other chemicals in it.
ReplyDeleteah interesting. i was taking showers only as my place's tub was gross but now i have access to a bath so I'll try taking a few. was trying to avoid water at first but i think if i can take a bath every 2 days it will be ok.
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