Navigating Adult Eczema: What I Wish I'd Known in My 20s
As a writer, I often reflect on where I've been, where I am now, and what I've learned along the way. Living with eczema for more than three decades has shaped so much of who I am. While I can say with pride that I've navigated life to the best of my ability, I've also come to recognize the gaps in the things I wish I'd known or done differently, especially in my 20s.
That decade was full of uncertainty, but also moments where I now see I could have advocated more for myself, prioritized my health sooner, or simply given myself more grace. If I could go back, here's what I would have told my younger self, and what I hope others might take away as they navigate their journeys.
For starters, I'd tell myself to let go of the internal timeline I had built in my head. I used to believe, 'Once my skin clears, then I'll finally be able to travel more, because I won't have to worry about anything, as long as my skin is clear.' I convinced myself that everything I wanted in life was just on the other side of healed skin.
But that belief couldn't have been further from the truth. I was able to travel; it just required preparation and a plan so that if a flare-up happened, I knew exactly how to manage it. I absorbed unrealistic expectations about what my life should look like. When the bigger obstacle wasn't my skin, it was the limiting belief I carried that delayed my self-acceptance.
There's a famous line from Jerry Maguire, 'Show me the money,' that I've always found amusing, especially since I still haven't seen the movie. But honestly, it hits home. If I'd had a better grasp of financial literacy in my 20s, especially when it came to understanding my health care coverage, it would have made a huge difference. Back then, things like deductibles, FSAs, and maximizing my benefits felt confusing and overwhelming.
I didn't realize how often insurance plans change or how quickly coverage could shift. I wasn't paying close attention, and that lack of knowledge ended up costing me financially and emotionally. Now that I'm older (and hopefully wiser), I make it a point to understand my benefits and stay informed.
In my 20s, I struggled deeply with how I saw my body, and if I'm being honest, I downright loathed it. I didn't understand my triggers, and I certainly wasn't taking care of myself the way I needed to. I came of age in the era of airbrushed magazine covers, impossibly thin celebrities, and zero representation of anyone with a skin condition like mine.
Eczema wasn't just misunderstood, it was invisible. I didn't know that building strength through movement, nourishing my gut to reduce inflammation, or consistently tending to my flare-ups could make such a difference. Instead, I hid. I buried myself in oversized long sleeves, numbed my emotions with junk food, and convinced myself that my skin would always be this way and that I was stuck.
But thankfully, I didn't stay stuck. With time, I've come to learn that healing, both physically and emotionally, is layered. Today, I know that taking care of my body is an act of love, not punishment. I also know how powerful it is to see people who look like me thriving. That's why I turn to social media now not for validation, but for inspiration. I follow others living boldly with eczema, and I use it as a mirror to reflect a truth I now believe: a full, vibrant life with eczema is possible. And it starts with trusting myself enough to show up, inside and out.
Eczema has taught me that life doesn't wait for perfect skin, perfect timing, or perfect circumstances. Now in my 30s, I know how to advocate for myself, how to care for my body with intention, and how to rewrite the narratives that once held me back. It unfolds when we choose to meet ourselves with compassion, preparedness, and a willingness to evolve. My journey is a reminder to others that it's never too late to shift course, embrace your truth, and step into the version of yourself you were always meant to become.
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