If you struggle daily (and nightly) to deal with itching, swelling, and irritation from eczema, it can help to know you’re not alone. Over 36 million people in the United States — or about 10 percent of the population — have some form of eczema, according to the National Eczema Association.
Yet it can be difficult to find a community of people who have eczema and know just how complex, frustrating, and isolating this condition can be. That’s where Instagram can help.
A growing number of people with eczema are showing up on the platform to share their personal journeys with the disease, along with unfiltered photos, inspirational messages, and honest opinions on what has worked for them and what hasn’t.
Whether you’re looking to stay up-to-date on the latest treatments, explore alternative therapies, or simply feel more connected with the larger eczema community, here are 10 Instagrammers worth checking out.
@nicolaljohnston
Like many people with eczema, Nicola Johnston had to go through a lot of trial and error to understand what was causing her flare-ups. “Name a treatment, and I’ve probably tried it — steroid creams, light therapy, homeopathy, vegan diet, allergy tests, clay bandages, oral steroids … the list goes on,” she says.
Happily, she feels she’s finally reached a place where she understands her eczema. “Once I learned to stop seeing my eczema as the enemy, I was able to work with my skin, rather than against it,” she says. “Now, I know my body, what triggers it, and most importantly how to fix it.”
@eczemaconquerors
When it comes to healing your eczema, you need a support crew. That’s the message Abby Tai, a holistic nutritionist who also hosts the Eczema Podcast, wants her followers to know.
Her advice? “Build a strong eczema team and find trusted practitioners who can help you find the root cause of your eczema — rather than give you a ‘Band-Aid’ approach to help suppress your flares.”
She suggests having variety of medical professionals on your squad, including a dermatologist, naturopath, nutritionist, and counselor or therapist. “This will help support every aspect of your healing, including topically, internally, and mentally,” she says.
@wokewithinskin
Raelle Brown has had moderate to severe eczema since she was a baby. After many years of trying out different ways of managing her disease, she has developed a holistic approach that focuses on both physical and emotional healing.
What has really uplifted her is her “Woke Within” mindset, which she describes as a constant and conscious effort to stay positive and accept yourself no matter what is going on externally. She uses her channel to motivate others to remain hopeful and to keep moving forward no matter what set-backs they experience. “By focusing on how you are treating yourself internally, you will be able to always give your best self externally,” she says.
@skinsoul.health
Julia Blanka believes that managing eczema successfully requires detective work that includes analyzing the skincare products you use (which may contain irritating chemicals), along with examining your diet, exercise habits, and stress level.
“There's no quick fix or single cream that can help you solve this problem. You need to find out what's causing your imbalance and work on healing it on a physical, emotional, and mental level,” she adds.
On her feed you’ll find easy and nutritious recipes (like her raspberry and papaya smoothie), skincare tips (including key ingredients to avoid with eczema), and quick ways to bust stress (such as dancing to your favorite tunes).
@eczemafriend
If you have eczema, it can be hard on your self-confidence. “I’ve learned that there’s more room for questioning your self-worth when you have a skin condition that makes you different,” says Helen Evangelista.
With her account, Evangelista talks about her steroid-free approach to managing eczema and her experience using Dupixent (dupilumab), a biologic medication that is given as an injection every two to four weeks. Along the way, she tries to motivate her followers to stay positive and realize that having eczema can make you unique. “That’s the beauty in it — being different and loving yourself for it,” she says.
@gut.skin.nutritionist
Ever wonder about the connection between the food you eat and your skin? Rakhi Roy, a registered dietitian living with eczema, shares her advice on how to eat in a healthy way that benefits your skin, whether you have eczema or not.
Roy, who works as a nutrition coach, recommends a minimally processed, varied, and colorful diet rich in fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats (like olive and avocado oil). She also cautions against drinking alcohol during a flare, since it can cause flushing and dehydrate your skin.
@coachmichellemills
If you feel like eczema is keeping you from living your best life, you’ve come to the right feed. Michelle Mills is a health coach who has made it her mission to help adults who feel that their eczema is holding them back. She advocates healing eczema naturally through diet, supplements, and mindset.
“As someone who has severe eczema myself, I know all about the daytime itching and sleepless nights,” she says. “My biggest piece of advice is to start tracking your skin reactions to food and stress. That way you can learn your root cause and heal from there.”
Her feed also includes skincare tips (such as using avocado oil as a moisturizer) and hacks for improving sleep (like putting ice packs on flares at bedtime to calm itching).
@the_eczema_diaries
Larissa Cosgrove believes in doing small positive things for yourself every day. “Take the time to find things to be grateful for, take note of progress, and connect with others who share this experience — even if it’s sending a DM to a stranger,” she says. “This makes you feel less alone and may even open your eyes to solutions you weren’t aware of.”
She also encourages her followers to trust their instincts about treatments. “If you notice your current regimen isn’t working for you, don’t be afraid to pursue other avenues,” says Cosgrove. “You know your skin better than anyone else, and because no eczema solution is one size fits all, only you can be the judge of what feels right.”
@eczema.life
Author of The Healthy Skin Kitchen, Australian nutritionist Karen Fischer previously experienced head-to-toe eczema. Now she shares her eczema-fighting eating plan with her clients and on Instagram. To tame flare-ups, she suggests avoiding foods that can sometimes cause trouble, such as tomato, avocado, and citrus (though she notes that specific food triggers can be different for everyone) and seeing if this helps.
On her feed you’ll find recipes, product reviews, and lifestyle tips, such as using meditation to tamp down eczema itching. “Learning how to switch on the relaxation response in your nervous system via meditation can be a wonderful tool to stop the itch when teamed with a healthy, low chemical diet,” she says.
RELATED: Eczema and Diet: The Foods to Eat and Avoid to Prevent and Manage Flare-Ups
@eczema_warrior
Michelle Li has been off topical steroids since 2015 — a change that led to Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW), an adverse reaction that some people with eczema experience after curtailing long-term, daily use of high-dose steroids.
Li shares her rollercoaster journey with TSW on her Instagram account. “There were times when my skin was so red, swollen, and burning that it hurt to bend or even move,” she says. She had to take time off work, and suffered from insomnia and depression.
Happily, she’s now on the other side. Though she still gets occasionally flares, Li enjoys mostly clear skin and hopes that by sharing her story she can prevent others from experiencing a similar ordeal. “I don’t want people to have to go through [TSW] because once you start it, you have to finish it. So if we can just prevent people from not applying too many steroids and trying different treatments earlier that would make me happy.” If you have any concerns about TSW, bring them up with your dermatologist, who can develop an all-inclusive plan for your eczema.
RELATED: Is It Time to Change Your Atopic Dermatitis Treatment?
Ross Radusky, MD
Medical Reviewer
Ross Radusky, MD, is a practicing board-certified dermatologist at the Dermatology Treatment and Research Center in Dallas. Originally from New York City, he graduated summa cum laude from the City University of New York and then received his MD from the New York University School of Medicine. There, he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and served as chapter president for two years. He completed his residency in dermatology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical Center, and at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Dr. Radusky practices general and cosmetic dermatology with a focus on the early detection of skin cancer, and provides patients with a personalized approach to looking their best at any age. He has authored articles and textbook chapters on the clues that our finger- and toenails may provide us about internal disease, as well as on comprehensive therapies for cosmetic dermatology and reversing the signs of skin aging.
Complementing his medical practice, Radusky has a strong passion for the cultural arts, particularly in expanding access to youths and seniors. He previously served as an artist instructor for the Rockaway Artists Alliance, a New York City nonprofit arts and education organization, and then served as both a board director and treasurer of the organization throughout his medical school training.
Radusky enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife Robyn, son Oliver, and poodle Lucy, where he can usually be found preventing photoaging and reducing the risk of skin cancer beneath an umbrella in a wide-brimmed hat. He is also the proud inventor of Sunshotz, the world’s only sunscreen measuring cup, designed to help patients of all ages apply the proper amount of sunscreen needed to enjoy all the sun without the burn.
